Conservation Season
 

I'm thinking of putting together a group hunt during the Conservation Season and know nothing about it. Any recommendations on guides, locations etc. All information is appreciated. If any of the Salty Cajun members might be interested in a group hunt chime in as well. I think it would be fun to get a big group together for a hunt during the Conservation Season.

If a group wants to go I may be interested.

If I'm off, I'd be interested.

IF I'M OFF... Count me In...

I have nothing better to do, I'll go in with the group

Heck yeah, if the day is right.

X2

Looks like we have good interest in a group hunt.

The Statewide Conservation Order for light geese will open the first segment in the West Zone on Dec. 15 and run to Dec. 19, and the second segment will run from Feb. 2 to March 1. The first segment in the East Zone will run from Dec. 8 to Dec. 12, and the second segment will run from Jan. 26 to March 1. The first segment in the Coastal Zone will run from Dec. 15 to 19, and the second segment from Feb. 2 to March 1. During this time, only snow, blue and Ross geese may be taken and daily bag and possession limits are eliminated. The use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns is allowed. Shooting hours during the Conservation Order begin one-half hour before sunrise and extend until one-half hour after sunset.

I'm sure we will want to hunt the Coastal or West zone. Any recommendations in a particular location and Outfitter? Preferences on dates? I'd like to do it the first week it opens for the second segment if possible. I have to return to work on Feb 8.

I'm in and have buddies from Idaho who want to do it also

I know we have some guides here and I would prefer to book with someone off the site. Any recommendations?

How about a list of people wanting to go.

I make oil + 3
Ckitchen
Paul Myers
Biggun
RigRatNoMeaux
Speck-chaser
Meaux-fishing
fishingpox + ?

11 people so far.

I don't know of any outfitter that just flat out blisters white geese for conversation hunts. They get wise fast down here. I think you'll have to travel to somewhere like Missouri to put up numbers. But I might be unaware of somebody that has the jump on em. Good luck

X 2...

I tried to put a conservation hunt together a few years ago but no one had many geese.

They referred me to some other states. So I pulled the plug on the trip.

Gonna have to go to Missouri. I called one year and Habitat Flats does them but that's a haul and its a bit pricey. Not sure of who else guides that flight back North.

One day when I get older and have time, I want to follow the flight of ducks/geese down and back up. Kind of like the Flyway Highway show but without all the plugs for advertisers!

Go with Northern Skies Outfitters or Migrator Valley Outfitters. Both are probably mostly booked by now, but both kill them hard in Arkansas, Missouri, and South Dakota. We huted Mound City, MO last year in March with Migrator Valley and killed them decent. The number of geese was unreal, nothing down here comes close.

Every conservation hunt I've ever been on has been a drag.

I'll give them a call and see if they have any openings and check prices.

This is Northern Skies prices. We would need 6 hunters. I can commit to 2 spots on a trip like this. I'd like to make 2 days out of it. Anyone else still interested?



http://www.northernskiesoutfitters.com/pricing/

We try to keep our fields limited to 8 hunters. Groups of 6 or more will get their own field. Smaller groups will be put together to fill the field. Well mannered dogs are allowed with groups that have their own field.

1 day adult $235

1 day youth age 15 or under $175

2+ day adult $195 per day

2+ day youth $150 per day

I may be able to line up a trip in N LA at a minimal cost to everybody. Wouldnt be able to put a date in stone till the last minute though, depending on if there are birds or not.

Personally I'd rather hunt in Louisiana. If you can put something together in Louisiana while I'm home I'm in.

I guide duck and goose hunts for a living on nine farms in southwest Louisiana. We get lots of calls for conservation hunts. I will not book them. I tell the people looking to book these hunts that a lot of the geese are already gone (moved back north) and or are on big green fields with no great way to hide people. I could go on and on why it's very difficult to successfully guide clients on conservation hunts. Long story short, the chance of all these necesary variables falling into place on the the day you have a hunt scheduled is slim to none. Here's what you need. A large body on same field for at least three days. Very good concealment in that exact field. Clear windy day is best. If any of these are lacking, your wasting your time. Also rain and calm are deal breakers. That being said, Arkansas, Missouri and other Midwestern states do crush them pretty good in the spring. Go north. Be ware there are a few unscrupulous guides down here who are happy to take your money on these "no limit - no plug" hunts.
Scott Ritchey
Louisiana Outfitters

Thanks Scott. I guess this hunt will be a wash then. I appreciate your honesty.

How come, if the birds are wise to the ways of the fields in south Louisiana, they are not still wise to fields a few weeks later in Missouri? No snark intended. I've been on several conservation hunts with actual birds in the area in Louisiana and every one of them was the same: They took a long look at the spread and the loud speakers and ultimately didn't commit close enough to even sky-bust.

Seems like the guys up north bust 'em up good. Wondering what the difference is.

90 percent of birds taken on good conservation hunts are juveniles. All of the big outfitters in the midwest pray for juvies. The adults are the first to head back north, and they push hard along the freeze line. Once they are gone and just the juveniles are left, the hunting is best.

Like Scott said, if all of the factors align down here, it is possible to have good hunts, but those days are few and far between. The vast number of birds north of here increase chances greatly. Arkansas and Missouri in late Feb to mid March are the places to be.

Makes sense. Thanks.

Those outfitters are geared for conservation hunts. $10k in full body snow dekes makes a difference.

Winds socks are the way to go

You can kill snows down here during conservation. Trust me

I'd be interested in a trip North and have a dog and dog box to travel.

Let's do it.

I'm ready. Since it doesn't seem that I can hunt Conservation season in Louisiana, if I'm home I'll go.

Did Northern Outfitters say if they had any dates open?

He has not responded to me yet. The only response I got was from a guy named Charles LeDoux in Louisiana so far. I called but he didn't answer me. I'm at work and it shows up either as a call from Nigeria or Geneva Switzerland on caller ID. If no one else wants to I'll call him when I get home on Wednesday.

Conservation Season
 

Do yourself a favor and DO NOT call Ledoux.

I've sent emails to both Northern Skies Outfitters and Migrator Valley Outfitters requesting dates for openings.

X1000

So I am in contact with both of the above outfitters, how many days does everyone want to hunt? I told him weekends prefered. I was thinking 2-3 days since it sounds like you sit in the fields the entire day.

I will do two if we can book before Feb 8th. I am available during the week also.

I can do two.

Im in for 2 if the dates line up where I can go. It wouldnt make sense to drive all that way and only hunt 1 day

Agreed, I thought 2 days min.

What I've seen online shows mid Feb thru March for those two. Still waiting to hear back though for exact dates available.

I just got out of a meeting saying that I will be working a shutdown from Jan 28-February 12th so that obviously effects my dates. I'm looking at the weekend of the 13th-15th or 20th-22nd. I'm still waiting on available dates through Northen Skies Here are the dates available through Migrator Valley Outfitters:
South East Mo
FEB 6-7 4 PEOPLE
FEB 4-5 1 FULL GROUP
FEB 8-11 1 FULL GROUP
13-15 1 FULL GROUP
16-22 1 FULL GROUP

NW MISSOURI
FEB 26-MAR 5TH 1 GROUP

I'm out then. I'm like you guys work comes first. Good luck to anyone who gets to go. I know this will be a great time.

If you make that FEB 6-7 hunt he can mix your group in with the other group...just throwing that out there if you were trying to make a hunt.

I can do that but I'll have to hustle home that night to catch my flight out on the 8th. When do yall think will be best days for the Salty Cajun Group to go?

I definitely cant do the 13-15th, possibly the next weekend

Weekend of the 21st works for me better as far as vacation. May be me +3. Waiting to hear from the others. They'll hunt 8 out of a field. 6 or more gets you your own field.

Boy if this page doesn't get your tadpole moving I don't know what will. http://migratorvalleyoutfitters.com/our-videos.html I spoke with Shane at Migrator Valley last night for about an hour. Before I told him the dates that I wanted he said that he considers the most consistent hunting to be from the middle of February until March for Missouri. Sounds like a level headed honest guy who shares our passion for killing birds.

I can do the 6th, 13th or 27th of feb. Mason has a big tournament on the 20th.

I can do a weekday trip as well.

Here is what Northern Skies responded back with:
[SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3]We could do January 28,29,30 in AR or March 10,11,12 or 13 in MO. If you end up with a smaller group there would be a few more options . The only weekend I have for a group of 6 or more would be March 21,22,23 in SD.
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