Father and Son Brand new to Waterfowl. Guides in the Moses Lake/ Skagit area?

[JasonG]

Hello all, I have been posting 99 percent on the deer/ elk forum. I'm a new adult hunter with my first deer success this year after a lot of hard work and a couple of years. My son is very interested in waterfowl, he is 14 and has his license, etc... I joined Ducks Unlimited as I feel like conservation groups are very much part of the key to keeping people able to hunt. Anyway, I know nothing about waterfowl but I would love to get into it with my son. I was thinking about getting a guide for it just to learn about how the whole thing works. I live in Issaquah WA but I'm looking at different options Moses Lake? Or Skagit Valley. Does anyone have any suggestions on Guides? Thank You, Jason

[Dan-o]

Meseburg in Mkses Lake has a good reputation.     

[Badhabit]

Duck Taxi out of Mardon. Aaron Eckencamp. If you really want to go big, Eagle Lakes or Paul's Pond or Big Guns run by Saunders.

[Badhabit]

I think the Duck Taxi will give you and your son a great adventure as they hunt public land ie the Potholes not a privste pond or flooded corn complex.

[h2ofowlr]

I would join WWA Wash Waterfowl Association if your looking for better options.  The
Members may have open seats for you guys to hunt with.

[87Ford]

Check out Clint's Guide Service.  Pretty cool setting on Ebey Island and lots of ducks..

[Odell]

I think the Duck Taxi will give you and your son a great adventure as they hunt public land ie the Potholes not a privste pond or flooded corn complex.

This is what I would do as the boat ride itself would be worth the price of admission, plus its on public and could give you a vision for some spots you guys could try to hunt without a guide

[JasonG]

I think the Duck Taxi will give you and your son a great adventure as they hunt public land ie the Potholes not a privste pond or flooded corn complex.

This is what I would do as the boat ride itself would be worth the price of admission, plus its on public and could give you a vision for some spots you guys could try to hunt without a guide

The Duck Taxi sounds like a good route to go but in all honesty, I don't know how to call etc....?

[full choke]

I think the Duck Taxi will give you and your son a great adventure as they hunt public land ie the Potholes not a privste pond or flooded corn complex.

This is what I would do as the boat ride itself would be worth the price of admission, plus its on public and could give you a vision for some spots you guys could try to hunt without a guide

The Duck Taxi sounds like a good route to go but in all honesty, I don't know how to call etc....?

Google mardon duck taxi.

It is not run by the mesebergs anymore, but one of the guys who has guided for them forever. Ross is his last name I think

[EWUeagles]

You should Join WWA over DU since WWA doesn't just send money to private corn ponds and pretend it's for habitat.

Big Guns or Eagle Lakes are two I would look at. They shoot a lot of birds.

[Odell]

I think the Duck Taxi will give you and your son a great adventure as they hunt public land ie the Potholes not a privste pond or flooded corn complex.

This is what I would do as the boat ride itself would be worth the price of admission, plus its on public and could give you a vision for some spots you guys could try to hunt without a guide

The Duck Taxi sounds like a good route to go but in all honesty, I don't know how to call etc....?

Learning how to set up decoys and what kinds of spots, and then hide will kill a lot of ducks. A good caller has an advantage but honestly most waterfowlers out here (me included) are not great a calling but still manage to kill ducks. It's first about location, second is remaining hidden, then weather, decoys, calling etc...You can learn a lot just reading and then trying to do what you read and watching what the ducks are doing

[hunterednate]

I agree with the recommendation for going with the Duck Taxi. Will give you a better look at what hunting ducks on public land is really like. I'd hate to have your 14-year-old's first waterfowl experience be over a corn pond!

But another great option for new waterfowlers is to check out the quality waterfowl hunt program from WDFW:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/locations/waterfowl-quality-hunts

They have the blind set up for you, at a location you'll probably see some waterfowl, and even with just a few decoys out and no calling you'll probably get a shot or two. Worst case scenario, you have some quality time with your son in a duck blind.

[Badhabit]

Jason, The guide does the calling for the most part.  Lots of Youtube videos of hunts from the Duck Taxi so you'll get an understanding of what to expect.
Shelby Ross I believe runs it now. I'm not sure who his guides are but they'll know where the birds are.

[vandeman17]

After the holidays, you and your son are welcome to join me in the blind. I can provide all the gear you need and can try to share as much knowledge as I can.

[hunterednate]

After the holidays, you and your son are welcome to join me in the blind. I can provide all the gear you need and can try to share as much knowledge as I can.