Florida Duck Hunt Guide

Andrew L.

Andrew L.

Well-known member
Hey guys,

The DU committee has chosen Florida as this years destination for a guided duck hunt, we choose a new state every year to offer as a package, we buy or get a hunt donated and try to cover some of the traveling costs for the winner.

Rather than doing a google search I would prefer first hand experiences. Looking for suggestions on guides to use or guides to stay away from, PM if you'd like.

Would like this hunt to target tree ducks and black belly whistlers to offer something new for the Yankees up here. I look forward to your responses.
 
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Several Florida residents here so I'm sure you'll get lots of input. One member is John Hitchcock. He's the president of the United Waterfowlers of Florida. Look him up. He has lots of contacts and will keep you from some that'll.........lets say he knows the lay of the land.
 
Look at the Florida Youth hunt thread.

Capt. Scott is your best opportunity for the Tree ducks and the BEST Spacecoast Guide...I'm sure he would donate a hunt.

Hitch
 
Andrew,

For the most part, most of the licensed guides are good people & put their clients on the birds.

Saying that, we have more "unlicensed guides" in Florida that for some reason continue business as usual no matter how many complaints are made against them.

The biggest problem down here is our game commission refuses to address the unlicensed guides, feeling it is a USCG problem.

Our state guides association has requested numerous times for a "state" license & everytime it back to the a USCG issue.

And it's not just duck guides, the saltwater flats are covered in guys just trying to make an extra buck.

It's kinda "you get what you pay for" & some people like spending $75.00 a day to get dropped off in the middle of a alligator & snake infested marsh & picked up (4) four hours later. Then again, some don't realize what they paid for till it's to late & they're told to jump out of the boat.

I would suggest beyond the references, whoever you chose they have the following (4) four items:

1) USCG license
2) Liability Insurence
3) Enrolled in a random drug testing program
4) TWIC card (if still required)


Good Luck!!!
 
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Andrew,

For the most part, most of the licensed guides are good people & put their clients on the birds.

Saying that, we have more "unlicensed guides" in Florida that for some reason continue business as usual no matter how many complaints are made against them.

The biggest problem down here is our game commission refuses to address the unlicensed guides, feeling it is a USCG problem.

Our state guides association has requested numerous times for a "state" license & everytime it back to the a USCG issue.

And it's not just duck guides, the saltwater flats are covered in guys just trying to make an extra buck.

It's kinda "you get what you pay for" & some people like spending $75.00 a day to get dropped off in the middle of a alligator & snake infested marsh & picked up (4) four hours later. Then again, some don't realize what they paid for till it's to late & they're told to jump out of the boat.

I would suggest beyond the references, whoever you chose they have the following (4) four items:

1) USCG license
2) Liability Insurence
3) Enrolled in a random drug testing org.
4) TWIC card (if still required)


Good Luck!!!
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Thanks for the reply Jeff. First state I have heard of not needed a guides license. Is your webpage down? The link on your signature doesnt seem to work
 
Thanks Jeff for not bringing all the angst, dislike, disgust, stupid nicknames, and just plain old BS that runs rampnat on every Fla. website to this site as well.....its much appreciated.....
 
Listen to Hitch and who he recommends. He will steer you in the right direction.

You'll get "screwed" by those "other" guys!!!
 
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Andrew,

I'll vouch for Scott as well. Though I have never hired him as a guide I have spent time in a blind and hunting camp with him. Scott is a stand up guy with some good stories.
 
Thanks for the reply Jeff. First state I have heard of not needed a guides license.
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The Florida Guides Association has pleaded for years!!! All we have ever asked for if the (4) four items I listed above.

What's funny is these are the same documents (+ a county biz license) to become part of the FGA.

FWC (game commision) even puts a disclaimer on their site that they are not responsible for the people that they list "on their own site."

It was a nightmare in our area this year!!! We had a couple of guys dropping hunters all over the marsh & on top of other groups.

FWC finally wised up & stroked them for "rallying" as they drove from party to party "checking" on their hunters.

Problem was it was never in a straight line!!! lol
 
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Hi guys. I'm new to this forum and thought I would chime in on this issue. I also want to be up front and let you know I am an active duty Coast Guard officer involved with recreational boat manufacturer compliance to safe boat building regulations, this includes duck boats and homemade boats. The Coast Guard does not require guides to have a duck hunter guide license. What we do require is if you are taking people hunting on your boat and accepting payment or some other gratuity, you are now operating your boat as an uninspected passenger vessel which requires the operator to have an CG Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) license also known as a Six Pax or higher license. When taking people for hire, it is expected that the operator have more expereince and knowledge to ensure the passengers make it back safely. I read the casualty reports and accidents and fatalties with unlicensed duck hunter (guides) is a major safety problem.
 
Big thanks for everyones help. Custom adventures gave us a duck hunt and a local hotel chimmed in today with a free nights stay as well. Will make a great package on our silent auction and another thing to get yelled at for for spending money at banquets ;)
 
I use an unlicensed flats guide up in your neighborhood Jeff. He charges me nothing, won't let me pay for gas or buy him lunch. He even lets me kill a couple of his pet redfish to feed to my family for dinner. I don't know how he does it.
 
I use an unlicensed flats guide up in your neighborhood Jeff. He charges me nothing, won't let me pay for gas or buy him lunch. He even lets me kill a couple of his pet redfish to feed to my family for dinner. I don't know how he does it.
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He's no guide!!!

Haven't you ever read the signs coming into Sebastian???

He's taken the place as one of the grumpy old men!!! lol
 
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