Looking for spots yet? There are plenty of watering holes out there. I hope they stick around for the season. However, I won't hold my breath.

Eh, not yet. Conditions can change too quickly around here. I will probably start looking the first of October for main duck season. Hopefully this dry pattern will hold for another month or so to give time for the emergent vegetation to grow. But then again, you can never not be happy for rain around here.

I can forecast the rain for you in Lubbock. It WILL rain a few days before the opener of dove season. Seems like it does this every year ruining my little dove pond behind the house for at least a week. Unfortunately it will not be enough rain to fill playa lakes to attract ducks.

I miss panhandle goose hunts already... going to have to get back up there to LBK for a hunting/football game weekend.

Any chance you lubbock guys can help out a couple of odessa boys on some goose hunting.
we have trailer, dekes, layouts and such.

just needing some places to go......don't want to pay an outfitter when we have our own stuff....
just need birds, land and water.....

we don't get to go alot, but would like to get out maybe 4-5 times this season.

I will look closer to the season and try to get some access to land not too far from me. It sure was easier to get permission when there weren't so many outfitters in the area.

I know that is what makes it tough. Those guys are eating up the land, but alot of farmers are getting messed around on the deal.
They pay $25-45 a head for each person they take to the farmer and charge $250 for themselves.
The farmers don't have any idea how many guys they take unless they actually keep an eye on it which they don't just have the time.

Maybe some of the farmers are ok with everyday folks not trying to make a killing. Offer the land owners a hunt as well.
that is what we used to do. A few took us up on it back in the day and brought their kid or someone.

Eating up all the land huh...Farmers getting messed around...Hmm..How do you make that call from all the way down in Odessa?? Get off your butt and do a little scouting, beat us too it...If you can't hang, take up golf or fishing...$250, there isn't an outfitter anywhere around here getting that for a goose hunt...Yeah, and decoys, labor, and diesel is free...I really do hate complainers...

Im gonna have to agree with blackfoot...I work for a local outfitter up here and will put well over 600 miles minimum on my truck, we let it known to the farmers that we are with an outfit, we pay them money and if an outfitter is charging $250 a head they are not gettin customers believe me...I am not only guiding hunts I am a full time student too, I am lucky I get the money I need by doing what I love, what all ya'll love...I know it may seem dumb, but every farmer that gives me permission received a greenburg smoked turkey for x mas last year and will this year paid for outta my pocket not my boss's...not trying to start a war but don't disrespect us cause of our job cause you dont see us bad motuhing any other person with another occupation, it's how we make a living so give us a bit of respect...thanks

You know what guys.... I lived in Lubbock for 30 years and hunted up there and did the leg work.....so I can make that call all the way from Odessa.
I did get off my butt and I worked for an outfitter up there as well as doing some freelance guiding.

And let's see prices $200-250 for goose hunts up that way. Yes I know what they are charging. Normally $250 unless doing a combo hunt then the price is around $300.

And that is why some of the outfitters have gone out of business up there and towards Amarillo. I used to guide all the way up towards Dumas.....even doing a hunt for Colorado Buck.

So I know what the heck I am talking about. Your a college kid doing it on the side. That is great. I am a 40 year old fart that's been doing this longer than you have been alive.

As for you blackfoot, your one of the ones that has stayed in business for a while and that is great. Glad to see you doing well.....But for someone like us who lives out here and doesn't have the time to make runs up there....reaching out is what we do....
We don't guide for a living...We didn't guide back then for a living....We did it for fun....



But let's see.....if I can find some guys on this forum that like to hunt, like to share the outdoors and are willing to let a couple of OLD farts that have a trailer full of dekes tag along on a hunt or two, What is the harm?

We hunt ducks down here all the time and have to scout and work to kill birds. Killed plenty as well......but there aren't many geese around these parts.....

kwr: you can come hunting with me anytime bud! I am not a guide and never will be. They will tell you its hard work and how many hours and miles they put on a truck, etc. Well guess what??? We do it bc we love it, NOT FOR THE MONEY!!

So, again you can come with me anytime. I will have to make sure I can slip away more often for this season though.

I appreciate that very much......

A duck for a buck. What a joke. Whatever, seems the greedy bastads from haskell n knox counties have made it farther west and north. To each his own. When I have to make a living at goose and duck hunting I will never hunt again. i have to much respect for our feathered friends. You cant put a price on getting out in the cold, predawn hours, setting up deekes and blinds, hearing birds on playas starting to awaken. Absolutely priceless, yet some want to turn hunting into a rich mans sport. See yall in Canada, done with the Obamanics of this situation