Doesn't this drive yall crazy out on the public lakes? AR did away with guiding on public land long ago, and it helped alot. People trying to make a living are a lot more determined to get a spot than someone just there for fun.


http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/spo/1498293474.html

Imo guides should stay off public

Doesn't bother me at all. Trust me, nobody makes a living on duck guiding alone.

Yeah, but there's money on the line, that changes things.

I guide on public land (part time) and I agree with you, however where I hunt on texoma the every day hunter has become just as aggresive as the full time guides. I think we are both to blame as guides and weekend hunters. There is an unwritten rule where we huntr as I'm sure it is everywhere. If you see somebody else set up in the spot you want to hunt you should move a good distance away. But I have had guides and regular hunters see me setting up before daylight and set up next to me within 100 yds. But it has become so hard for a guide to lease land without paying so much money that it's not worth the effort. If you hunt on Ray Roberts I think I know the guide you speek of and he hunted on texoma for years and we had the same problems here.

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Yeah, but there's money on the line, that changes things.[/quote]

Are you saying that it's not fair that they wake up earlier and beat you to a spot b/c they are getting paid?

I agree about the cost to lease private land being over priced, but it is what it is. Some of these guides don't have any other option.

No, I'm just saying that the good holes in AR, there would be someone there 24/7 all season. They would literally "own" that spot. I haven't been out on the lakes here yet, so I can't say from first hand, but it's got to be tough to guide on a public lake. What's to stop your former clients from taking all your spots and just adding to the mess?

yeah i definitely agree about your clients taking the spots. Hopefully they blindfold them on the way in!!

We do run into public guides that will send their buddy out on an airboat and have him drive around like a mad man to scare up ducks. That is some BS.

Not at all. I got to the ramp at 3 sat. morning, had a blind built in a good spot and when I got there somebody was already there so I gathered my brush and went about a half mile to another slough. I think some guides think they have more of a right to have prime spots than others. I think if you get up earlier than the next guy you deserve to set up wherever you want to. Any guide or hunter worth his salt should have more than one option in a given area. I always scout out my hunts and I do it with the thought that somebody might beat me to my spot in the morning but I try to always be prepared and optimistic. Hunting on public land is what it is and I think guides forget that b/c they spend so much time in the field they think they are better or have more of right than the average guy. I hope nobody ever thinks that of me.

And illegal! Can't use vehicles to corral or drive wildlife!! Just curious how bad it gets out there, I can only imagine.

Right right.....which is why God made fishing.