? on Eastern Shore Goose Hunting Guides

platoonDaddy · May 13, 2015

Been meaning to post this question, well finally here is the question of course with my comment:

Friends paid premium price for a goose hunt on the shore and the outfitter required them to assist in the set-up|take-down of the decoys. I would have advised him to rotate on one of them.

Should one expect to set-up|take-down the decoys, when hunting with an outfitter?

Thanks

Devonian · May 13, 2015

Yes. Especially snow goose hunting where the spread is probably 2 thousand decoys.

Ifdot · May 13, 2015

Devonian said:
Yes. Especially snow goose hunting where the spread is probably 2 thousand decoys.

Goose, duck you will more than likely be asked to help out. The premium you pay is mainly for the location. Any jack wagon can call some birds. Hell I have been out with an outfitter who didn't even own a call, decoys and a flag.

STeveZ · May 14, 2015

Hunted snow geese for the first time last fall, the guides and the six of us set up together, still took close to half an hour.

PJDiesel · May 14, 2015

platoonDaddy said:
Been meaning to post this question, well finally here is the question of course with my comment:

Friends paid premium price for a goose hunt on the shore and the outfitter required them to assist in the set-up|take-down of the decoys. I would have advised him to rotate on one of them.

Should one expect to set-up|take-down the decoys, when hunting with an outfitter?

Thanks

Yes and no.

I'd have to hear this "premium" price before commenting further. I have a friend who may be offering very reasonably priced morning hunts this year, all inclusive, all you'd do is show up with a gun, shells and a valid MD hunting license.

Fireman51 · May 14, 2015

I have hunted the shore a few times...typically the snow decoys are already set up, we just helped with the pick up. When you have a couple thousand decoys and shells, it does take a few extra hands...but it is worth it for the right hunt.

platoonDaddy · May 14, 2015

Guess I am from the old school, in my opinion the outfitters job is to have everything ready for the client (s). Some clients might have physical issues and fortunate enough to make it to the blind, to enjoy a day of hunting.

If the outfitter expects the clients to assist, that should be published up front, that way the client can make an informed decision. Not the morning of the hunt, hearing that you must set out the decoys.

Is it normal for the outfitter to also hunt with clients?

mark71211 · May 14, 2015

I have been on two guided hunts for waterfowl and each time everything was set up ready to go when we got there. But we were pretty much hunting on the guides back yard so it was easier for them to have everything ready.

I went to a seminar that Sean Mann was giving at the Harrisburg show a few years back. One thing i remember is that he said he had the clients each carry in a dozen decoys or so and had them set them up with him.

Mark75H · May 14, 2015

platoonDaddy said:
Is it normal for the outfitter to also hunt with clients?

Depends on the client's skill level. Sometimes the outfitter/guide is the only one competent to make kills. Nice to have something to take home, even if someone else did the actual shooting vs the whole party being skunked and going home empty handed.

iggy · May 15, 2015

Mark75H said:
Depends on the client's skill level. Sometimes the outfitter/guide is the only one competent to make kills. Nice to have something to take home, even if someone else did the actual shooting vs the whole party being skunked and going home empty handed.

yep, there are a lot of times that I have taken out novices and let them have the first shots only to have to grab my gun and drop a bird or two as they fly off because the others are out of shells and didn't hit anything. I'm not a guide but I do act like one several times a year.

Mark75H · May 15, 2015

iggy said:
yep, there are a lot of times that I have taken out novices and let them have the first shots only to have to grab my gun and drop a bird or two as they fly off because the others are out of shells and didn't hit anything. I'm not a guide but I do act like one several times a year.

And there's the field bag limit laws as well. More legal hunters, more birds can be taken; ie the guide can take his field limit as well.

jimbobborg · May 15, 2015

When doing these hunts, is the shotgun still required to have a plug? Specifically for Snow Geese.

PJDiesel · May 15, 2015

No mag restriction on snows.

jimbobborg · May 15, 2015

I might have to try goose hunting some time. Don't know anyone (local) who does it, so it's not likely to happen.

PJDiesel · May 15, 2015

jimbobborg said:
I might have to try goose hunting some time. Don't know anyone (local) who does it, so it's not likely to happen.

Where is local to you? (Can't see it via tapatalk).

fabsroman · May 15, 2015

PJDiesel said:
Where is local to you? (Can't see it via tapatalk).

He is closer to me than you, but still in another state, (i.e., northern Virginia).

fabsroman · May 15, 2015

Mark75H said:
And there's the field bag limit laws as well. More legal hunters, more birds can be taken; ie the guide can take his field limit as well.

Is there really such a thing as "field limit"? If the warden is watching and can determine who knocked down which birds, you might find yourself in some hot water.

fabsroman · May 16, 2015

PJDiesel said:
No mag restriction on snows.

I believe it depends on whether it is during the regular season or the conservation season. Notice that the two seasons are split. The regular snow goose season applies to all counties. The conservation season is entirely different days than the regular season and it only applies to certain counties. It also looks like the conservation season is the only time when "additional methods" are allowed.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/pdfs/MGB_Flier.pdf

Correct me if I am wrong though, because this has been one hell of a week. Two hours before I normally hit the sack and I can barely keep my eyes open.

Devonian · May 16, 2015

jimbobborg said:
When doing these hunts, is the shotgun still required to have a plug? Specifically for Snow Geese.

It depends which season. Un-plugged guns are only allowed during the snow goose conservation season.

PJDiesel · May 16, 2015

Stand corrected on the snow limits. The late season ("conservation") is unlimited with no mag restrictions.

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