I've had a lease in Arkansas for about 12 years, and it is definitely work. Some years more than others, but always work. The really good days are not as often as they used to be. Life was a lot easier when I just deer and turkey hunted.
Not sure what I’m gonna do
- Thread starter RUGER
- Start date
I'm telling ya @RUGER sell everything you got and spend that money on a few good trips to North Dakota. Not sure how easy the freelance is anymore (or if you'd want to do it) but even getting a guide up there once a year would create a ton of memories for you and man.
X-Tennessean
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Faced this 16 years ago now after moving to Missouri from Martin thinking I was moving to the next "Stugartt Ark". Growing up hunting at Terrell exit (primarily) along with Crockett and so forth and get to Missouri to which no one I work with is a fowler and I tackle Ten Mile pond, Otter Slough it didn't take long for me to get a belly full of all the headache and decide I was not as mad at ducks as I once was! I guess you can say I was spoiled and I will be the first to admit that I was and it was NICE!!
I have since decided to do a guided snow goose trip once/twice a year to get my fill but after some bad trips I just gave it all up......hence the reason I sold yall the decoys a few years back!
Do I have friends here that have some bang up spots....you betcha! Most are established with members to which I could probably get in but I just don't have the desire and have not opened that door, not to mention the $$$ it takes here.
I replaced duck with crappie and feel it fits me better, if I wanna go....I go and if I don't I sit and tell myself I shudda fished today! No hastle of trying to get guys together to prep and brush blinds or get decoys rigged or anything else that goes with the territory.
I am honestly getting that away with deer as I have not hunted the past two seasons but feel that will change with my son coming into the picture now days!
I agree as suggested as far as guides but I would pay the extra for a sure enough reputable guide even if it meant a 3-4 day trip outta state.
I have since decided to do a guided snow goose trip once/twice a year to get my fill but after some bad trips I just gave it all up......hence the reason I sold yall the decoys a few years back!
Do I have friends here that have some bang up spots....you betcha! Most are established with members to which I could probably get in but I just don't have the desire and have not opened that door, not to mention the $$$ it takes here.
I replaced duck with crappie and feel it fits me better, if I wanna go....I go and if I don't I sit and tell myself I shudda fished today! No hastle of trying to get guys together to prep and brush blinds or get decoys rigged or anything else that goes with the territory.
I am honestly getting that away with deer as I have not hunted the past two seasons but feel that will change with my son coming into the picture now days!
I agree as suggested as far as guides but I would pay the extra for a sure enough reputable guide even if it meant a 3-4 day trip outta state.
I just go fishing. It's less work. No decoys to set and pick up. If you are not where the fish want to be, it's easier to move.
i'm an addict, I can't give up the addiction of waterfowling, it's been single digit kill days for the last 10 plus days, today the blind killed 40+ birds. I'll just keep on keeping on
Bgoodman30
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That's right you can't be right in the head to keep chasing ducks your whole life...
I guess that's my problem, I am definitely not a duck hunting addict.
The ONLY reason I ever started was because my son did. All his life if he was interested in it I was too.
Just getting old I guess.
I have a good friend who has a buddy that owns one of the best duck holes in West TN.
It is a pit that's history goes back for over 50 years.
Long story short he reclaims use of it this coming year.
I'm sure I will be able to go there and hunt a couple times.
I mentioned getting "in" on it.
He said his buddy is talking about leasing "holes" in the pit.
He said they would be "around" $15,000.00 per hole.
My friends brother told him, sign me up for 2 holes.
I just had to shake my head.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
This waterfowl Bootheel Saga of Many
sure sounds similar to the deer-hunting Illinois Saga of Many.
How did just going hunting ever get so complicated (and costly)?
sure sounds similar to the deer-hunting Illinois Saga of Many.
How did just going hunting ever get so complicated (and costly)?
Hymie3
Well-Known Member
Yea. That's what I mean.. every good lease I've been on the "guy in charge has at worst paid for his own part of the lease through charging other members enough to cover himself and at best made extra money off of it. I definitely liken duck hunting now to, say pike county Illinois or similar for deer hunting. Unless you have relatives or friends with good property a duck membership is going to run minimum 3500 a head in Arkansas. That's tough to swallow for the average man.
Bgoodman30
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Supply and demand and mis management….
ImThere
Well-Known Member
As we get older it truly does get harder to keep up with our kids. Lately I been just as happy to watch the grandkids and let the parents go do the "thing".I guess that's my problem, I am definitely not a duck hunting addict.
The ONLY reason I ever started was because my son did. All his life if he was interested in it I was too.
Just getting old I guess.
I told my wife the other day, "I just can't keep up with him anymore."
She said, WELL YOU'RE OLD.
Thought that was rather rude.
Its a very tough sport. We havent zeroed untill this morning, but I left with a gun not being fired. They are still hunting, so maybe a group will fall in on them. We went from fifty to sixty days, to 10 - 12 a day, now 2=3 a day. Just no ducks. Ran tons out before daylite, went back to refuge, full moon kills it, plus so much fresh water. We need cold air. I love it, with all my heart, but it is really hard.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
Like I tell my wife sometimes the truth is simply the truth!I told my wife the other day, "I just can't keep up with him anymore."
She said, WELL YOU'RE OLD.
Thought that was rather rude.
webfeet7
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- Oct 15, 2015
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- 63
Not sure how much money you're wanting to spend or anything but I agree with the rest of these guys. Spend a little cash and take a trip or 2 every year. Canada is on the pricey side but as far as the experience it doesn't get any better. I've been 3 times and it's worth every penny. Wake up and go hunt a dry field in a layout or A frame, watch the dog work, kill limits almost guaranteed, and then return to the lodge for a huge breakfast and a relaxing afternoon. I'm sure you can do something similar closer and for cheaper if you do some research on good outfitters.
I agree fully. I have told several of my "unlucky" clients to spend the money with a guide. I told them to try in state and adventure to somewhere out of state. This can be like throwing darts at a board....Just like tying to pick a few days to go fishing. No guarantees but a good change of pace....
