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I am looking for a group in / around 77 WMU who has room for an additional hunter for waterfowl. I have participated on a few field hunts back home with buddies but am looking for a group close to home. pls send me a PM to dicuss further
thanks in advance
What can you offer towards the scenario?
Good company- safety conscious. I have property for bow hunt .
I think what Frosty was getting at, was in terms of gear. Sometimes guys will trade up, you wanna go hunting, have a ton of dekes, boat, dog, etc, so the guy bringing you doesn't have to haul all his. Works out for both of ya.Quote:
Originally Posted by hat
Althought the property for a bow hunt sounds like a good trade, long as it has game :)
LOL - i have nothing but my 12ga . Have only been out a number of times with buddies back home . They have full kit. Am looking to join in on a couple of local hunts to see if i get the itch before I drop $ on gear.
Those cudas or kings? If the former, did you eat them?
Then I guess you are looking for a guide.Quote:
Originally Posted by hat
You have been out a number of time with ur buddies and dont have the "itch" yet..... hmmmmQuote:
Originally Posted by hat
Does not compute
For the price of one morning with a guide you could buy a few decoys, a layout blind, and have a few bucks leftover for gas to go bang on doors.
I got my itch the first time I looked through the reeds at a sunset...Quote:
Originally Posted by hat
Didn't even have my pal yet.. Just had a call.. Learned how to call that day too.. As soon as the goose turned.... I knew I was in love.....
deaqd ringer - cuddas . yes they were tasty. If they are caught around Bahamas or Turks not advised to eat as they eat a coral that is toxic. southern islands catch =good eating if you can fillet them properly.
BTW thanks all for the advice / contacts
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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
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Originally Posted by blunttip
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Originally Posted by mox72
Don't know how some people got so high and mighty, or why they reply to a thread when they don't actually respond to the OP other then to criticise.Quote:
Originally Posted by topher
HAT asked if there would be anyone willing to take him out, 'ell I just offered a Snow Goose hunt to a fellow member, all for the cost of set-up and tear-down, he brings nothing to the table other then a strong back. I hunt with guys that I introduced to the sport, sure they got the itch; but they don't have the funds, I do. They are young, starting families, etc., I'm young at heart; but only middle aged. We are great friends, I own the trailer, I own the decoys, they help with set-up, tear-down, cleaning decoys, every other aspect of the hunt, they throw money at me to cover cost of gas for scouting... they are all good friends. One of them, with whom I hunted last week has gotten his feet under himself, while he doesn't have huge amounts of excess money, he mentioned that he wants in when I upgrade decoys next time.
There is nothing wrong with asking, not everyone has money to buy into a decent spread... a couple decoys won't do, but what one can bring to the table can vary from person to person. Sometimes it as Hat says, good company and a 12 guage, hopefully a strong back as well to do the fair share, or more of the work.
Good on you for helping out a fellow hunter and I agree with some of what you have said. I too am middle aged and I too have all the toys, but I require others that hunt with me to bring something to the table, otherwise they don't last. A young lad just started hunting with us and while not having too much equipment yet, he really has the drive and he also has the connections to gain access to land for our group (he may even overtake me:)). I am a little hesitant of taking on new comers from an internet forum as I have been burned in the past and no longer post pics or info of any kind regarding my hunts. I prefer to meet new partners through other modes of interaction. I do wish the OP luck.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug
How is my comment degrading or being high and mighty? I was commenting on how easy it is to get hooked in the sport.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug
Personally I can't afford equipment. 4 kids.. A mortgage.. Not a lot of cash.
So I couldn't offer.much but a strong back. My question would be what can someone offer as well an area decoys.. Help setting up.. To me I'm still in then"making a group" stage.. So I believe in pooling all our assets together. I am willing to go out with almost anyone. And learn from them or teach them.. And if i had any ability to take on a new hunter I would. But that would be like the blind leading the blind lol.
I think everyone does bring something in our group, often it is land, or access to land. Having people who work in the Agricultural business has proven to be benificial. Nowdays I rarely knock on doors, I call/text the crew with info on what field I want, more often then not one of the guys knows the owner and makes a call. One of the young guys was a landowner's son, over the years he and I have become very close friends, through him I have become friends with the whole family. As for the internet forum guys, I would not want to take a person out without first meeting them, we did just that with a board member this past spring; but I invited him, he didn't ask, so that is a bit different, plus the Snow goose hunt is a -7 hour drive, not like it is my best field locally. HAving hunted with him, and gotten to know him, I would now not hesitate to take him to my best properties.Quote:
Originally Posted by skeeter1
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Originally Posted by topher
Sorry Topher, I thought you had jumped on the wagon and was mocking HAT for not having 'caught the bug' on his firsr few trip.
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Originally Posted by Doug
Not a question of being high and mighty. I agree water fowling can be expensive however its the effort that's the reward. Its different if Hat had wrote..... went out scouting and found and secured a field holding birds in 77 however don't have the experience or equipment to properly hunt them can anyone help me out? Instead all he can offer is bringing his gun. For me really only a guide could help him out.
NP. I do agree with the mighty part though... I feel as if the "common man" water fowler is frowned upon.. You know the guy that doesn't have thousands to spend... The guy with an average pump action... I can't even afford cammos.. I know I get laughed at in the bush.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug
Lol what did I say??? I caught the itch before I ever went hunting and the first time I went out and saw a bird fall from the sky it was game on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug
No high and mighyness here. Im still a newbie. Infact if anyone needs a partner..... nvm lol
Just wondering why he wasnt hooked from hunting with his buddies. And what would be different with strangers that would hook him?
A few years ago I posted a similar ad saying I would like to go out with someone. I had a few dekes a truck to haul gear and money to pitch on gas and I got jumped on alot harder than hat lol.
Hopefully he finds someone to take him out. But dont hold your breath. And yes it certainly would help if he had some gear or land to bring to the table.
To the op j just noticed your in Bradford. Send Me a pm.. Maybe us two noobs can work something out. I live just south of you.
Didn't mean to cause a storm. I spend most of my hunt time - bow hunting for deer and the odd upland bird hunting excursion (spring turkey of course). One of my best hunting buddies is a guy who had no local property to bow hunt - I brought him out and the friendship (and hunts) continue today. Although i enjoy alone time in the outdoors, I find hunting with a buddy or being a part of a group much more enjoyable. All I was asking was to tag along on a couple hunts, - possibly to meet new buddies and to see if the waterfowl hunt is for me before i invested in gear. I wasn't looking for someones secret location or a free ride. .. just saying
Sometimes it doesn't take much to start a s**t storm around here, lol.
topher . pm sent.
I bet some of the best waterfowlers get laughed at. You can have all the fancy expensive gear you want, but if you don't have the experience, its all worthless.Quote:
Originally Posted by topher
Sure, you might get a shot at a duck, but spend a few years in the field, and your far better off with minimal gear, and lots of experience. Guys laugh at my gear all the time.
S.
Truer words have never been spoken.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinker
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Originally Posted by Doug
My response was more directed at the person who suggested he hire a guide, but I was also trying to give the OP a bit of a nudge.
When I first got into hunting I was in the same situation and only really got to go out when I was invited because I had no gear or spots. So eventually I realized that instead of being passive and just jumping at opportunities that were offered, I took the active route and banged on doors, got some spots, learned from being out there, and then slowly added gear that I needed here and there.
And as Sinker said, the tools that provide the most success are free and take up little space.
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Originally Posted by topher
Agree, like I've said before...I find a hint of smugness in the waterfowling community nowadays. Sometimes it reminds of golf.
And fly fishing
I'm not a waterfowler but if I was looking at getting into it and needed a spot, places like Luther Marsh and Tiny Marsh have public hunting for a daily fee. I have no idea how good it is but it is a place to try anyway? I grew up in Quebec and used to hunt snow geese religiously and being kids we had no money. We collected empty bleach jugs and used them as decoys and trust me you wouldn't beleive me if I told you how many snows we killed over those empty white jugs. My point is you need to think outside the box and there are budget solutions. My guess is here it's all about land access anyway so that would be my first priority but at this late stage in the year I'm sure most land is locked up which is why I mentioned Luther Marsh.
To the original poster,
My recommendation would be to book a couple guided hunts with the closest guide service to your area. Book a goose hunt one time, and a duck hunt the next, or vice-versa. Get some experience under your belt for a relatively inexpensive cost. (expect to pay around $200 per day)
A "good" guide will teach you more about waterfowl hunting over the course of a couple hunts than you can learn cutting your teeth with other hunters with a similar experience level to yourself. Make sure you book with a reputable guide service and not some young kid with a need to kill everything in sight and show off to all his friends.
After a few guided hunts, you'll know if you have "the itch". If you do get the itch, tt will be so dam itchy you'll want to chew your arm off...
...then you'll know you're hooked.
At that point if you still want to proceed into the world of waterfowling, get yourself some minimal gear (ie. a dozen or so decoys, and a couple calls, some good warm clothing, etc.) and look for people who share your like interest.
Your guide may be able to point you in the direction of some hunters in the same boat as you, and forums like these are also good places to meet people. You'll figure out quickly who's on here to help out and have fun, and who's here to be an "elitist".
Also take a trip to the local hunting stores in your area and ask if they know of any guys who hunt in small groups that would be looking for another helper.
Good luck this season and I hope you learn enough and have enough fun to be back posting here next fall.
All the best!!
Marc
GoHuntBirds_com
I asked originally what the OP has to offer, not to be a d!ck or an elitist, but waterfowling is our sport and it's dang hard work, it's not a club to be invited into, it's a sport where hard work and effort pays off and .......it's expensive with hundreds of hours of scouting and preparation that are put in by most.
I take lots of new people out every year, just like lots of people took me out when I started, but these are people that I come across in my travels who seem to be potential hard working waterfowlers, you can't sit on your hands and expect people to offer you the world, people that you don't know.
Sure I could take you out, but what skin do you have in the game? If you don't have any tools or equipment at least go and knock on some doors in your area, get a permission or two, your permissions, and I'll be quite happy to bring a rig over and share a hunt with you.
Frosty, hope you noticed I never found fault with your post, and for the others, if I misinterpreted the meaning of you post I apologize. I have recently joined a forum in another province, one in which I will be leaving to go hunt waterfowl in another week. I found this 'out of province' forum so obviously different in the treatment of newbies and guys asking questions such as the OP asked, the members are helpful, encouraging, 'ell there has even been a 'new' hunting group formed in the short time I have been a member. I posted explaining that I was from Ontario and asked conditions... it lead to 3 pages of dialogue. I find that many times on this board there seems to be someone willing to make a cut. or wise-assed answer, then many more people jump on the wagon.
IMO a forum should be the place to ask question, to ask for help, to ask to join a group, one should not be cut for asking. A forum should be a teaching and sharing place, not a place to ridicule and run down. I am a relatively newbie to waterfowling, I have read and watched everything I could get my hands on. I learned a lot of my skill from a forum, not this one, another, the guys there were extremely helpful and encouraging. As I grew as a hunter I was able to post photos of my hunts and write stories of the hunts, I was able to share what I had learned with those who taught me.
Can I take the OP out, no, due to proximity, and my dance card usually being full with local boys. Could I give him advice if he has a problem, sure I could try; but I also know there are many more on here more qualified then me, if they would only choose to share.
It is the criticism that I have problems with.
I'd put it to you Doug that you have success and got invited out initially because you actually worked at it, you sound like the kind of person that I would hunt with.....it doesn't take much, I'll warm to even a small effort!
Apology accepted. I just found it odd that you criticised people for what you perceived as criticism. Sure would be nice to welcome all with open arms however as you know in todays society you get as good as you give and on the internet you never know who is genuine and those who just want to take you for a ride.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug
I agree about the criticism. No need.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug
The problem is a lot of people will burn you for being a good guy. Been there, don't that, have the T-shirt.
People suck.
I have a core group of guys I hunt with, and invites are shared between that group, and that's it from now on. A lot of them are guys I've met here, or other online places.
I've taken MANY guys out, from newbies, to hardcore guys, and been burnt by both types, so I've come to the conclusion I'm better off to keep my mouth shut, and stick with guys I know. I love sharing hunts, and teaching new guys, but I've been jaded by a enough guys now that I've learned my lessons. If someone asked for help with set up, rigging, scouting etc....I have no problem sharing advice or experience, but I'm not handing out invites to any Joe blow off the internet.
Now, If Hat had done some scouting, burnt some gas, had bleeding knuckles from knocking on doors, and secured permission somewhere, I'd be happy to help, and we could trade some hunts from there and see where it goes....but....the way its been posted, he needs to hunt with a guide and see if he "likes" waterfowling first.
S.
Hunting with a guide would definitely be money well spent. It would teach him proper use of decoys, blind positioning that type of thing. Could save him a couple seasons of making mistakes I would think?
I appreciate everyone's opinions. I have been in contact with a few members on PM. I put allot of time and effort in bow season for deer and can appreciate the passion people have for their water-fowling. I am always open to meeting new potential "outdoor buddies" whom are as passionate as I am and exploring new opportunities.
Yes my knuckles are red and sore from knocking on doors. I have worked very hard for the permission and friendships with landowners that i have developed. (with the focus traditionally being for deer). I wish you all a successful pursuit for what ever game you chase.
I have to schedule a meet and greet with these guys..
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ps0a00e6c0.jpg
Hat another way to meet guys is to join a local club like DU or Delta and become a committee member, this will let guys get to know you a bit and may generate some invites.
ty snip I am a member of BDAHCC i will ask around at next meeting as well.
What's the bdahcc?Quote:
Originally Posted by hat
My guess is Barrie and District Anglers and Hunters Conservation Club.
That would be right. I'm a member there myself.Quote:
Originally Posted by skeeter1
http://bdhacc.com/
yes . Great club.
Hmm.. How do I get in there?
I can take you as a guest Topher.