how to start being a guide.

[drakekiller08]

just wandering how everyone got started, it has been a dream of mine to guide hunts for waterfowl for a few years now, any help would be helpfull to know

[Killer Miller]

Im with you man!! I am only 19 but that is definately what I wanna do too. I mean, getting paid to go hunting. Come on. How fun would that be? I know it wouldnt be just killing all the time, but I know I could do it if someone gave me a shot. I think the first step is to get noticed by some guide services. Win or at least place in some contests and there should be some people interested in you. Thats the thing though. I am a good meat caller, but have never called in contests. I may call at the Iowa contest though.

[drakekiller08]

yea thats what i thought, i am only 18 and have been told by my friends that i would be the one calling that day, which was 3 to 5 times a week, have you ever been to Big Marsh

[IowaMigr8tor]

I dont think KillerMiller has been up there yet but I plan on guiding him around up there next season. I am with you guys I would love to be a guide!

[Killer Miller]

Drakekiller, I would say Im the caller of our group too. But Iowamigr8tor isnt too shabby either. We hunt with IAwaterfower88 and he's not bad on his SMH either. Iowamigr8tor is right. I've never hunted Big Marsh, but would like to. I hunt Saylorville alot. I think its gonna get pressured more this fall because I have heard rumors about Redrock being closed next year. That would suck cause Im sure Saylorville would have at least some more pressure than usual.

[kill em' and grill em']

Being a guide isn't just about the money. Being a guide means youre also hunting for free. You might not shoot every time, but you will kill your birds.

[drakekiller08]

Big Marsh has alot of hunting pressure to not so much during the late season. Iowamigr8tor how many times and which sides of the marsh did you hunt, i might have seen you. I hunt in Big Marsh 3 to 5 times a week. Know of some all the spots that you can stay out of hunting pressure.

[Max4Gooser]

Being a guide also means dealing with people who are going to become disgruntled when the birds don't show up, or are going to be impatient, or just make dumb mistakes that flair birds, then blame you. Being a guide means spending extra money at least in
illinois, for a guide license and insurance that would pay for a lot of other hunts with friends. And by the time you figure up all the expense it is not the easiest way to make money, and unless you own a huge club with multiple pits, you are probably not going to be able to survive as a guide alone.

That being said with my full time job, I only work 90 days a year, so if you need to hire some extra guides, give me a buzz :wink:

[philly]

ya me and sgtsltr are going to try guideing this fall as long as we get beter on the smh . i think we have the duck thing in hand . i can call in a goose or two most of the time :D i think it will be a good time

[SGTSLTR]

It's gonna be a great time, good learning experience. I would have to say we do have the ducks covered. We'll be ok! :D

[kingkilla]

killer miller there is no way you could become a guide. you cant even get up to go to school at 9 in the morning so how would you get up around 4 or 5 to guide hunts. hehehehehehhe

[SMOKE]

BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[Hunter Brown]

a guide job is a dream come true and that is alot of money if you do it right.

[kill em' and grill em']

Im with ya there max4gooser. You hit the nail right on the head. Clients want birds.

[IowaMigr8tor]

I'm gunna back that BURN up! I have only been up to big marsh for early seasons. You prolly havent seen me up there cuz I have to walk in where ever I go, at least til this fall I'm planning on buying a boat. I only go up because season is closed after that I hunt on Hartford Marsh, Badger Creek, and a couple private marshes. It is quite the drive for a one or two day hunt so I usually make the trip only once or twice a year, this year only once. Why can't weekends be longer?

[drakekiller08]

iowamigr8tor when you come up here to Big Marsh let me know i walk in all the time and if you want to i will show you around to some different places away from the hunting pressure. just trying to help.

[Max4hdmatt]

me n hunter brown are gunna try n guide together when we get older

[IowaMigr8tor]

Drakekiller08 thanks for the shout. I'll remember that for this fall. I don't know whether I am getting a boat yet or not but IF I do, I don't know how desirable it will be for me to walk in :lol:

[drakekiller08]

what do you mean by desirable, like you dont want others getting mad at you or what, if you do want to walk in and depending on the wind i can show you around in spots were boats can not go.

[IowaMigr8tor]

What I ment is it would be hard for me to walk away from a new boat to walk in.

[kingkilla]

kill em and grill em, there is a guy around where i live who is a guide, and he guarentes birds. like if you dont shoot any birds one day you get to hunt again for free, or until you kill some birds. his name is Lemkie or somthing like that. apperently he goes all around the midwest to find the birds.

[drakekiller08]

i see what you mean iowamigr8tor, i have also heard that name kingkilla, there are a crap load of canadians in big marsh an a few ducks, iowamig8tor i would like to buy your finisher blind but i just had to get new tire's and a new alternator on my DAMN CHEVY. sorry

[IowaMigr8tor]

Thats what u get for buyin a chevy! :lol: Make me an offer what will work for you?

[dixiehunter13]

im with y'all i would love to be a guide, im 13 though, and im practicing callin all the time. i wanna follow in my grandfathre's footsteps, hunting guide and waterman. He hunted and fished for a livin

[drakekiller08]

hey keep that dream alive what would this world be if it werent for dreams

[Scott Curtsinger]

Being a guide isn't always the funnest job in the world. I spend half the yr guiding and it can be really fun or totally dissapointing. Not only do you have to produce birds EVERY day, but you have to be a people person. not everyone understands the concept of goose hunting. you will get sick of people asking the stupidest questions on a daily basis: which direction will they come from, how come the spread is set like this. this isn't how we do it at home, how come that group didn't work like the last one, and it never ends. the way clients treat your equipment sucks, you can count on completely wearing out a truck and trailer before its time. But in the end if you do things right manage your money right, its the best job in the world, as long as you like getting up at 4-4:30 every morning for 25-30 days in row, without a day off. do i enjoy it, hell yes, greatest thing out there, but its not for everyone.

[drakekiller08]

sounds good to me still

[Gary Crafton]

Scott pretty much hit the nail on the head, there is a lot to guiding, A lot more than just calling in birds and calling the shot, Trying to make every client have a great hunt is sometimes difficult, if the birds don't fly, But it is fun meeting new people all the time. There are 2 guys i still laugh about , one asked me what time of the day i usually start calling, i replied usually when i see some,, The other was trying to load an automatic shotgun, he was having problems , so i asked what he was doing, he replied the instructions says this gun holds 3 shells but i can only get one in it.. I told him one, was probaly all he needed, Safety has to be a big part of guiding or hunting, and not everyone is up to date on that so you have to watch for everything , But despite the hard work, and the bad days you don't produce birds it's still fun and beats punching a time clock, As for becoming a guide , calling is a part of it , but understand a good personality and being a good people person,is also a big part of it, always have a positive attitude, never talk bad about other peoples equipment, and if the birds don't fly that day , you can always say, you should have been here yesterday, or you can say i talked to a friend just north of here he said the birds were pouring thru there headed our way, tomoorow will be the day since they didn't show up today,, just kidding always be truthful and just do the best you can to make hunters happy that's all you can do.

[MinnesotaMike]

SGTSLTR and Philly, if you boys want some help or just a couple dozen more full bodies give me a shout. I would like to get into guiding and ive talked to a bunch of guides about it while i was in South Dakota and around here and they said "It's baby sitting man, you dont wanna do it" and i have no choice but to believe them, i have no clue. but it doesnt change my mind about wanting to give it a try. Ill be working hard all summer and fall but if you need to find some birds in my neck of the woods (north metro mississippi area) i can put you on some. Give me a call.

[ROLAND CORTEZ]

BEING A GUIDE MEANS EARLY MORNING GETTING UP AT 3AM AND NOT STOPPING TILL AFTER DARK I GUIDE HUNTERS EVERY MORING AND IT'S HARD WORK.BUT IT PAYS THE BILLS .TO ME IT TAKES THE FUN OUT OF HUNTING.ME AND FREINDS HUNTING IS FUN IMO.

[Justin Mcdonald]

I have a friend with a lot of land and one day swans started showing up so we saw the buisness oportunity and advertised swan hunts and people paid alot of money to shoot such a big bird . then my friend and I changed half the prperty in to waterfowl impundments and now we guide ducks and geese I unfortunatly have to go to school but when ever I can help out theres alwys a spot for me . I hope that sort of gave you an idea of how to get started , and geting payd to hunt is so much fun you will love it.thats just my opinion.

[wilsonracing400]

Guiding is a job of a life time, but it is not as easy as it looks there is alot of work involved behind the scene. and going for months at a time seeing new people every 3 to 5 days, who are looking for something different. and every so offten u will find that bad apple that will push all your buttons and all you can do is smile back at them. If you are wanting to find a job guiding you should probly do some searching for some local outffitters close to your area and do some talking with them if this is the life that you want.

Wilson: Guide for Pro Outfitters