Guided Snow Goose Hunt Experience.......What do you think?

mrgoat said:
Yes and I also am out of touch with to-days costs of guided goose hunts as it has been the mid 80's since my days of going to Gabes goose camp in James Bay. Geese are so plentiful around these parts now they are now considered a nuisance bird, you definitely do not need a guide to find any. Thanks "Spank" on the enlightning post.
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There is a name I have not heard in ages!! Gabes Goose Camp! WOW!! We went to Kascheshewan-Hughes Goos camp back in the day, I was 16 and my buddy 18 when we went and we paid our own way. Man did we save our $$ for that!! LOL..........Those camps are all closed up now. Better shooting at home thanks to the resident Giant Canada explosion but those good old days are sure some great memories!!
 
I am a part time guide here on PEI and we are by law only allowed to shoot injured birds . OK , but almost every group wants me to shoot with them . And I can honestly say 90% of clients can't hit a bull in the ass with a bucket . That is likely why your guide was automatically shooting because he was used to clients who couldn't shoot and mad because they didn't have birds to go home with . On most days we count on having a certain number of chances and once you get 3 or 4 flocks in the decoys that may be it for the day so make your shots count. I have had four guys burn 48 shells and not touch a goose before then get pissed at me for them not having geese in the pit . I am not saying your group can't shoot , don't get me wrong but the majority of guys never touch a shot gun untill the night before they leave when it comes out of the closet . As for the pricing , sounded in line to me . Since it's all private leased ground down here and the cost of decoy rigs , fuel , scouting etc. my $.02
 
I have guided for a lot of years in both Ontario and the Western Provinces. while in Ontario yes i do have my gun and yes I do shoot, what I do is keep an eye out for cripples and finish them off. Personally I HATE not carring a gun out west because even with my dog it is a PITA tracking down wing tippers.

The Spank's post is bang on so I will not go further on that but believe me $200 isn't bad for a day. what does it cost to go skiing or golf on a Championship level course? I speak for most guides in that I have over $8k in decoys, $4k in a trailer, $2k in layouts, $800 in calls and it is nothing to spend $400 a week in fuel and counting scouting it is a 12-14 hour day. I'm not complaining mind you, I love what I do, but boys it ain't all profit.
 
Whether the guide shoots or not is one of those things to be sorted out beforehand or right after he does it the first time. Because the OP's group didn't say anything at the time the guide wouldn't have known they were unhappy.
 
huntingike said:
I am a part time guide here on PEI and we are by law only allowed to shoot injured birds . OK , but almost every group wants me to shoot with them . And I can honestly say 90% of clients can't hit a bull in the ass with a bucket . That is likely why your guide was automatically shooting because he was used to clients who couldn't shoot and mad because they didn't have birds to go home with . On most days we count on having a certain number of chances and once you get 3 or 4 flocks in the decoys that may be it for the day so make your shots count. I have had four guys burn 48 shells and not touch a goose before then get pissed at me for them not having geese in the pit . I am not saying your group can't shoot , don't get me wrong but the majority of guys never touch a shot gun untill the night before they leave when it comes out of the closet . As for the pricing , sounded in line to me . Since it's all private leased ground down here and the cost of decoy rigs , fuel , scouting etc. my $.02
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219F said:
I have guided for a lot of years in both Ontario and the Western Provinces. while in Ontario yes i do have my gun and yes I do shoot, what I do is keep an eye out for cripples and finish them off. Personally I HATE not carring a gun out west because even with my dog it is a PITA tracking down wing tippers.

The Spank's post is bang on so I will not go further on that but believe me $200 isn't bad for a day. what does it cost to go skiing or golf on a Championship level course? I speak for most guides in that I have over $8k in decoys, $4k in a trailer, $2k in layouts, $800 in calls and it is nothing to spend $400 a week in fuel and counting scouting it is a 12-14 hour day. I'm not complaining mind you, I love what I do, but boys it ain't all profit.
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Listen to these folks, I know 219F personally and have heard of Mr. Ike through Delta Waterfowl.

I also hunt alot and run an outfitter sized set up and have moonlighted a time or two as a "guide" all though around here there are a few who give guides a bad name and so I hesitate to associate myself with them. I speak only for my actual area and not anyone else.
Alot of folks can't hit a barn standing inside with the door closed, most guides want happy customers who can pose with straps full of dead honkers, so the guide shoots and gets darn good at it so his "dude hunters" will want to come back next year.

If you had spoken with the guide and requested he not shoot or clean-up after you and he went against your wishes then you'd have an issue.
 
I thought we would have some diverse input here and we sure did.
Some guides seem to shoot others not.This guide did not even consider asking us how we wanted to do things.
To repeat, our guide always got off the first couple of shots, popping up as he called "GO".The birds were well flared before the rest of us caught up to him. As a result,he got in way more shooting than any of the 4 paying clients.
In my opinion, he should have asked what our wishes were before assuming we were there to pay $ 800 to watch him shoot .He called the hunt over at 10:30 hours....2 hours after he shot the first single that came in.
 
Pete G said:
I thought we would have some diverse input here and we sure did.
Some guides seem to shoot others not.This guide did not even consider asking us how we wanted to do things.
To repeat, our guide always got off the first couple of shots, popping up as he called "GO".The birds were well flared before the rest of us caught up to him. As a result,he got in way more shooting than any of the 4 paying clients.
In my opinion, he should have asked what our wishes were before assuming we were there to pay $ 800 to watch him shoot .He called the hunt over at 10:30 hours....2 hours after he shot the first single that came in.
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Did you speak with him about it? Did you guy's express your opinion in the field? If not and you felt that he was doing you wrong you should have spoken up right then and there. And I am not trying to hurt your feelings or belittle you but $800 for 4 men is cheap! Remember it was not $800 as much as it was $200 for you, $200 for your buddy and $200 for each of the others. When my buddy who guides out west goes out he guides for a group of 6 @ $700 per man per day! So if you look at the total that is $4200! So $800 is pretty inexpensive in comparison. Just saying.......if you are really upset about it call the guy and let him know how you feel. Maybe if you are diplomatic about it you will get a hunt on the house in order to keep good will with his clients. I would be interested in hearing his side as well to be honest. Sometimes things are not as cut and dried as guys like to post on here! If it is as you say and after calling him and expressing your concerns, he does not want to play ball then do not use his services again and do not give him a recommendation to any others.
 
Spank,
All your talk about $ 700 a day for those western hunts may be misleading to some readers on this site.Anyways as I pointed out at the outset the $ are not the issue here.It was the guide's conduct.
Anyways back to your $ 700...........First of all you can never compare a Saskatchewan hunt to a Quebec hunt...... you should know that.
Secondly for your $ 700 in Saskatchewan you got more than a 2 hour hunt.You likely had an all day hunt.You likely had meals. You likely had accomodations.You likely had a civilized guide. You likely had transportation to the hunt site.You likely did not put out and pick up decoys. You likely had your birds processed for you.I have been to Saskatchewan more than once........I know what some Saskatchewan hunts consists of.
I know some guides are great..........just not the one we had on that particular Quebec trip.Your bias is more than clear,but you also know how sometimes language issues put some compromise on what you should have said to your guide when in this province.If you think our guy was so fair and fine, I can give you his number so you can see for yourself next year !!!
 
Pete G said:
Spank,
All your talk about $ 700 a day for those western hunts may be misleading to some readers on this site.Anyways as I pointed out at the outset the $ are not the issue here.It was the guide's conduct.
Anyways back to your $ 700...........First of all you can never compare a Saskatchewan hunt to a Quebec hunt...... you should know that.
Secondly for your $ 700 in Saskatchewan you got more than a 2 hour hunt.You likely had an all day hunt.You likely had meals. You likely had accomodations.You likely had a civilized guide. You likely had transportation to the hunt site.You likely did not put out and pick up decoys. You likely had your birds processed for you.I have been to Saskatchewan more than once........I know what some Saskatchewan hunts consists of.
I know some guides are great..........just not the one we had on that particular Quebec trip.Your bias is more than clear,but you also know how sometimes language issues put some compromise on what you should have said to your guide when in this province.If you think our guy was so fair and fine, I can give you his number so you can see for yourself next year !!!
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What is the name of the outfitter you used in Quebec? I'm going with a group next april in Quebec through Kennebec Outfitters. They seem like they are a good group to deal with but I havent heard of anyone that has had experience with them.
 
Pete G said:
Spank,
All your talk about $ 700 a day for those western hunts may be misleading to some readers on this site.Anyways as I pointed out at the outset the $ are not the issue here.It was the guide's conduct.
Anyways back to your $ 700...........First of all you can never compare a Saskatchewan hunt to a Quebec hunt...... you should know that.
Secondly for your $ 700 in Saskatchewan you got more than a 2 hour hunt.You likely had an all day hunt.You likely had meals. You likely had accomodations.You likely had a civilized guide. You likely had transportation to the hunt site.You likely did not put out and pick up decoys. You likely had your birds processed for you.I have been to Saskatchewan more than once........I know what some Saskatchewan hunts consists of.
I know some guides are great..........just not the one we had on that particular Quebec trip.Your bias is more than clear,but you also know how sometimes language issues put some compromise on what you should have said to your guide when in this province.If you think our guy was so fair and fine, I can give you his number so you can see for yourself next year !!!
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here is what you get for $1000 p/d (1100 if you count tips for guide, spotter and chef) out west. you get lodging, ammo, food but not transportation, BYOB. bird processing is $3 per bird on top, and an average day is 100+ birds for a group of eight so that 3 bucks adds up. IF you didn't get your limit in the AM we would go out to fill or try and find snow geese. Not a poor man's vacation. With airfare some guys were dropping 5000 for the three days.

I will agree with you that your Quebec guide needed to be filled in if he was shooting first and often.
 
bbert84.........

We were not with your outfitter/guide......so that is going to be good news for you.
I do not think it is appropriate for me to "name names" on this site if I am unable to say good things about their guide service.
Our guy shall remain nameless, but you know that my buddy and I will never book again.
 
Although having never goose hunted I have dealt with a great number of guides and PHs and you need to have an understanding beforehand of expectations and responsibilities. If an issue crops up that wasn't anticipated you need to deal with it right there and then. The situation you descibe should have been addressed after the fist shot! I'm sure it would have been resolved and you would have come away with a totally different outlook on your hunt. Remember you are in control of your hunt, the guide doesn't know your particular ethics or rights and wrongs or do's and don'ts. If you don't tell him, then it is you who is responsible for the lousy morning you had.
I can tell you had it been me in that blind and he shot the first bird, he would have known in no uncertain terms, regardless of language differences, that this was unacceptable and any further breech would be grounds for full refund!!
 
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Pete G said:
Spank,
All your talk about $ 700 a day for those western hunts may be misleading to some readers on this site.Anyways as I pointed out at the outset the $ are not the issue here.It was the guide's conduct.
Anyways back to your $ 700...........First of all you can never compare a Saskatchewan hunt to a Quebec hunt...... you should know that.
Secondly for your $ 700 in Saskatchewan you got more than a 2 hour hunt.You likely had an all day hunt.You likely had meals. You likely had accomodations.You likely had a civilized guide. You likely had transportation to the hunt site.You likely did not put out and pick up decoys. You likely had your birds processed for you.I have been to Saskatchewan more than once........I know what some Saskatchewan hunts consists of.
I know some guides are great..........just not the one we had on that particular Quebec trip.Your bias is more than clear,but you also know how sometimes language issues put some compromise on what you should have said to your guide when in this province.If you think our guy was so fair and fine, I can give you his number so you can see for yourself next year !!!
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I am not trying to belittle you or make you feel bad. And to be honest, I have never been on a guided hunt out west. I have no need of it because I can freelance and get all the quality hunting I want. I am just trying to say that I think your expectations based on what you perceive your guide "raked in" are a bit out of touch. I never said your guide was right either, what I said is you should have asked instead of assumed! Would you buy a car without asking what motor it has? What fuel mileage you can expect" What the resale value may be in a few years time? Your guide has responsibility in this too but to be honest the lions share lays on the shoulders of those booking the hunt, after all it is "your" hunt!
Read the post by 219F........it is dead on the money as is the post by c-fbmi, that is all I was trying to say.
 
I have replayed that morning more than a few times in my old head.I know now that c-fbmi is" bang on" in the way I should have handled the situation.
Why I did not is beyond me.......I am certainly not the "turn the other cheek" kind of person !!
I think that the language issue had me a little out of my normal comfort zone.
There was also the issue of the two other hunters and not being totally sure of how they expected/wanted the "guide" to behave.
Live and learn I guess.......I just always thought that by definition the "guide" guided and the "hunter clients" hunted.
Next time, if there is a next time with some other guide, as has been pointed out here, things will be clarified ahead of time.
Thanks everyone for all the input here.
 
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