Seaduck Hunt Guides/Outfitter

[bhammac]

My dad and I have always wanted to do a guided seaduck hunt. Open to anything new. Looking for suggestions with guides/outfitters in the regional area. Both have hunted ducks for many years, we aren't looking to be pampered/catered, just wanna hunt hard. It would be for next season.

Many thanks.

[cem3434]

There are a few, but most are leery of taking locals out for fear of having them come back to their spots. I've hunted with Chris Deckelmann at Triple Barrel Adventures and he's a good dude. I think his 3 day hunts run around $1500 per gun for a 2-3 person group. If you have 4 guns, I think he knocks off like $100 per hunter.

[h2ofowlr]

The good sea duck guides won't guide locals as they hunt public water and locals can then turnaround and burn their spots.  I don’t even take locals in the area that aren’t in my friend group as I see this happen too frequently as sea ducks are about the easiest duck to harvest.  High hunting pressure in specific areas really cut down the numbers.

[L8NITE]

PM Sent!

[fowl smacker]

If guides aren't bringing out clients for fear of having their spots overrun how are they in business as a guide? 

[Bullkllr]

If guides aren't bringing out clients for fear of having their spots overrun how are they in business as a guide?

It looks like they target well-heeled, out-of-state hunters who desire 'trophy' species. That's probably why they freaked out over the Harly restrictions. I guess people will pay a lot to shoot a Harlequin and some of the other species. Weird that we normally passed on those same ducks when we hunted the salt a lot.

I don't know anything about this outfit, but looking at their website kinda spells it out.
https://uwcadventures.com/washington-sea-duck-hunting/

[fowl smacker]

If guides aren't bringing out clients for fear of having their spots overrun how are they in business as a guide?

It looks like they target well-heeled, out-of-state hunters who desire 'trophy' species. That's probably why they freaked out over the Harly restrictions. I guess people will pay a lot to shoot a Harlequin and some of the other species. Weird that we normally passed on those same ducks when we hunted the salt a lot.

I don't know anything about this outfit, but looking at their website kinda spells it out.
https://uwcadventures.com/washington-sea-duck-hunting/

Crazy they can charge that.  Actually kinda makes me want to bring locals out and hunt them for free.  It wouldn't take long to find exactly where they are hunting the Harlequin.  The rest of the species are all along the coastline.  And yes I know Harlequin is closed.

[Dan-o]

If guides aren't bringing out clients for fear of having their spots overrun how are they in business as a guide?

It looks like they target well-heeled, out-of-state hunters who desire 'trophy' species. That's probably why they freaked out over the Harly restrictions. I guess people will pay a lot to shoot a Harlequin and some of the other species. Weird that we normally passed on those same ducks when we hunted the salt a lot.

I don't know anything about this outfit, but looking at their website kinda spells it out.
https://uwcadventures.com/washington-sea-duck-hunting/

I know one guide quite well.   He guides for all kinds of hunting/fishing/crabbing/shrimping trips.

But he also will only take out-of-staters on the sea duck hunt, for fear of having a local pay once and then shoot the place out.   It's only sea ducks that he worries about that.    That's really all I know.

[h2ofowlr]

If guides aren't bringing out clients for fear of having their spots overrun how are they in business as a guide?

All out of town folks.  Most are booked out 1-2 years.

[metlhead]

Heck, at $500 a day per gun, you buy me some decoys and I'll figr it out and take you for free!

[ASHQUACK]

Heck, at $500 a day per gun, you buy me some decoys and I'll figr it out and take you for free!

Hope you already have your captains license. Any monetary gain from hunting salt water requires it.

[cem3434]

If guides aren't bringing out clients for fear of having their spots overrun how are they in business as a guide?

It looks like they target well-heeled, out-of-state hunters who desire 'trophy' species. That's probably why they freaked out over the Harly restrictions. I guess people will pay a lot to shoot a Harlequin and some of the other species. Weird that we normally passed on those same ducks when we hunted the salt a lot.

I don't know anything about this outfit, but looking at their website kinda spells it out.
https://uwcadventures.com/washington-sea-duck-hunting/

  And the outfit you listed is a major reason us locals don't have a harlequin season any longer.  They were flying out of state hunters in and targeting harlequin to the point that WDFW shut it down because of the number of birds being killed. 

[h2ofowlr]

If guides aren't bringing out clients for fear of having their spots overrun how are they in business as a guide?

It looks like they target well-heeled, out-of-state hunters who desire 'trophy' species. That's probably why they freaked out over the Harly restrictions. I guess people will pay a lot to shoot a Harlequin and some of the other species. Weird that we normally passed on those same ducks when we hunted the salt a lot.

I don't know anything about this outfit, but looking at their website kinda spells it out.
https://uwcadventures.com/washington-sea-duck-hunting/

  And the outfit you listed is a major reason us locals don't have a harlequin season any longer.  They were flying out of state hunters in and targeting harlequin to the point that WDFW shut it down because of the number of birds being killed.

One of the main guides that really works over the seaducks in WA, started guiding in Alaska this year pounding the harlequin.  See how long it takes for Alaska to place new restrictions as well.

[metlhead]

I believe this state had a rough quota for harlis to maintain sustainable harvest. Manage them under a season structure similar to brant. Handful of days in January would allow folks to collect a beautiful trophy while keeping harvest numbers low.

[ASHQUACK]

I believe this state had a rough quota for harlis to maintain sustainable harvest. Manage them under a season structure similar to brant. Handful of days in January would allow folks to collect a beautiful trophy while keeping harvest numbers low.

Talk is if we ever get harlis back it will be draw only.

[Sundance]

I believe this state had a rough quota for harlis to maintain sustainable harvest. Manage them under a season structure similar to brant. Handful of days in January would allow folks to collect a beautiful trophy while keeping harvest numbers low.

Talk is if we ever get harlis back it will be draw only.

What about residents only? Would essentially kill the guide business for them

[bhammac]

Thanks for the input and insight as to the 'local' ethos.

If not in the Puget Sound/local. Where else? Oregon, etc? Not the end of the world if don't get a hunt in, was just something on our bucket list.

Thanks.

[ducks4days]

I believe this state had a rough quota for harlis to maintain sustainable harvest. Manage them under a season structure similar to brant. Handful of days in January would allow folks to collect a beautiful trophy while keeping harvest numbers low.

Talk is if we ever get harlis back it will be draw only.

I would actually love to see Harley’s move to a draw. Make people buy a license to apply, pump up those PR dollars for license sales.

Hell, let’s put swans on there too.

[metlhead]

No more draws or permits. We already buy 4 licenses to shoot a sea duck.

[ASHQUACK]

I believe this state had a rough quota for harlis to maintain sustainable harvest. Manage them under a season structure similar to brant. Handful of days in January would allow folks to collect a beautiful trophy while keeping harvest numbers low.

Talk is if we ever get harlis back it will be draw only.

I would actually love to see Harley’s move to a draw. Make people buy a license to apply, pump up those PR dollars for license sales.

Hell, let’s put swans on there too.

Swans will never happen in Washington. The "swan lady" has made sure of that. I went to Montana to get mine. As much as I'd like to see it happen here it never will.

[GWP]

No more draws or permits. We already buy 4 licenses to shoot a sea duck.

Four? Guess I need to read the Regs as I was thinking about going out.

[ducks4days]

No more draws or permits. We already buy 4 licenses to shoot a sea duck.

Four? Guess I need to read the Regs as I was thinking about going out.

Small game + migratory permit + duck stamp + catch card?

[SuperX]

No more draws or permits. We already buy 4 licenses to shoot a sea duck.

Four? Guess I need to read the Regs as I was thinking about going out.

Small game + migratory permit + duck stamp + catch card?

Isn't there both a Federal and a State duck stamp?

[metlhead]

Small game, state stamp, federal stamp, sea duck authorization

[Sundance]

Thanks for the input and insight as to the 'local' ethos.

If not in the Puget Sound/local. Where else? Oregon, etc? Not the end of the world if don't get a hunt in, was just something on our bucket list.

Thanks.

If you're looking for next year I'd offer to take you out. I have two layaway boats that are painted up and all the decoys/rigging. We can discuss details if you'd like, typically I go out solo. I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I did get 2 white wings monday morning. Trying to close the year out with some surf's but they haven't cooperated the past week.