Can happen to anybody!!

Use me as an example...do not trust a soul when it comes to hunting spots!!

Alittle history...

My Dad started hunting a location with my Grandpa, I then hunted it with my Dad...in order to keep the location to hunt with my son I agreed to work for the landowner as a guide. The deal was...I can still take my family and friends free of charge which to me far outweighed the ridiculous $20 per hunter I was making...yeah, if there was only 1 hunter...I was in the blind all day for $20, alot of days I worked for NO PAY just so the landowner could look like such a great guy for donating a hunt. This was my time, my equipment, and my dollar for advertising...shrugged it all off just so I could keep the history alive and have a close spot for my kids, my Dad and Uncle even if they only hunt 2-3 times a year anymore, and just as important have a place for close friends to BS and kill afew birds in the process.

How things change...

3 older guys who I trusted and thought as good friends, 2 of which were regulars the past several years blew everything apart. 2 of them stopped over just before I left for the spring, "we hafta talk to you about something." They then told me they just got done writing the check, "the deal is done." SERIOUSLY WTF!! I was never asked to be in on this deal...even though I was basicly these old bastards little monkey the past several years, they did cook breakfast...I will at least give them that. They then ask me to work for them...Im feeling pretty damn betrayed at this point but I wanted to hear what they had to say. They are offering $40 per guy but I can no longer take friends...SCREW THAT!! I bit my lip at the time cause I had the spring to worry about yet.

So...my spring is done and almost instantly they are wanting to talk again. The thing that pissed me off the most was they wanted me to guide durring youth season...I told them it was boarderline EVIL and refused to charge durring the youth hunt, "then you might not have a job". Sorry, but I have this thing...when somebody tells me how its gonna be, I will SHOW THEM how Im gonna do it. They then start talking about going the membership route, no guests, they would still be charging Mini-me...and I know DAMN WELL, I would again be the one providing the equipment, the general work, and would end up being thier bird dump. In other words...I get to PAY to be somebodies guide, and I dont get to hunt with close friends, only these 3 that stuck the knife in my back and whatever other sucker they got to buy a membership. Still dont know WTF they were thinking at first, cause knowing the landowner, they might have got it for $6000 this year...you bet your ass he will be looking for $8000 next year and this place IS NOT the cats ass.

I have plenty of places to hunt with friends, 1 of which is within calling distance and closer to the geese from the spot above...you can bet your ass its my mission to make these old bastards my bitch everyday I hunt next to em.

Im DONE fall guiding, Im pretty pumped for the upcomming season, being mobile and not tied down to commitments. Have acouple places that I can put in a blind on the river, can hunt another spot that will probably be the killingest(if thats a word) Mallard hole in eastern Nebraska...in other words, Im ALOT better off now than I was, just hafta drive more than 5 minutes. Might still do the spring gig just so I can get a month long hunting trip out of the deal.

Use this as a warning and dont trust NOBODY! People do stupid crap when web footed critters are the game.

[bowonly]

That is some bull$hit! Sounds like you handled it good I would have lost my cool.

[platteriverretrievers]

Uh ohh....I better kill my bucks before that late October wind.

[James Watson]

Is it THUNDERing out? what a pricccccck

[justducky]

Just remenber one thing. Hunting leases and "special hunting permission" spots never last.
Get you name on a deed! Its the only way to insure having a spot for yourself and your family and friends for the future.

Originally Posted by platteriverretrievers

Uh ohh....I better kill my bucks before that late October wind.

You got plenty of time to chase your overgrown squirles. You know just as well as I do when the hot time for geese is down there, that 2 week period is when we will put the meat between the cheeks.

[HailCall]

That sucks Josh. We have talked about how I feel about it. Bad deal.

[thumpper]

That sucks!! With any luck who knows maybe things will change over the summer and a good resolution will come about it.

Best of luck and sorry that happened. Anyway you look at it thats a pretty crappy thing they did!

[Evenflow]

That really sucks! If your hunting close to them, I would make sure to fire a few rounds in the air every time they have a flock working them.

[Jon-Barta]

EvenFlow, in my mind that would just make things worse. Then if you ever had anything working, they are going to do the same thing. I think hater has it right in saying that everytime they are out, make is the worst possible day they can have. How? make that a very expensive goose and duck WATCHING blind. Pull everything away from them. If they are chicken sh__ enough to pull something like that behind your back, make them think about it a little bit. Had the same exact thing happen 7-8 years ago. I used to think a handshake and a mans word was enough. If you dont own it, ANYTHING can happen.

[Evenflow]

I realize thats probably not the best option, I was just spouting off because that is really a bunch of bull that those guys pulled behind his back like that.

[justducky]

If you mess with somebody like that, " fire a few rounds in the air every time they have a flock working them. " it can also happen to you!
Best just let the best man win by decoying the flocks and getting all the shooting that way rather that getting into a pizzing match and ruining it for everybody and educating the birds!
Just remember what goes around comes around.

[Jon-Barta]

Agree with you evenflow. Josh is right though when he said people will do some crazy, stupid, sneaky, shady things with duck and goose spots. Right or wrong, if you dont own it, its never going to be completely safe. Even if you think you know the owner and have a good relationship with them.

[platteriverretrievers]

Originally Posted by Evenflow

That really sucks! If your hunting close to them, I would make sure to fire a few rounds in the air every time they have a flock working them.

Ya...that chit ain't getting started. Never turns out good.

Enough flocks get flared as it is because once everything starts moving, it sounds like war on that end of town.

[Sorny]

that sucks a fat one. May have to spend a little more time down in the basins.