How many hunters is too many?

Well, I'm not Todd Osier or anything, but I have been accused of being a little opinionated. I hunt most with two good friends, each of whom has a similar reputation. The three of us trying to agree on where to hunt, how to set the decoy spread, which boat to take, when to move to a better spot, and all the other little decisions involved in a hunt would make for a pretty good sitcom, I think. Sort of mix between Seinfeld and Duck Dynasty, with New England accents.

I once came home from an unsuccessful hunt and my wife, who knows both of these guys well, said, "When you three hunt together, how do you all manage to be in charge at the same time?" To their credit, they both laughed as loud as I did when I told them what she said.

I wouldn't trade a minute of any hunt the three of us have spent together, and I am giddy with anticipation for our traditional opening day South Zone hunt next Friday, but it works better when only two of us have to come to agreement.

Four is too many for the spots I hunt, no matter who they are.
 
I like Phil's thoughts, your blind, your rules.
We have 6 blinds at our duck club, we have 3 man, 4 man and one 5 man. It all can work but, someone has to be in charge to keep things kosher. I would recommend hearing protection with that many in a blind. As I get older, I do appreciate a one man layout blind more and more... No question, who got what duck and, who missed it...
 
We hunt divers. And our boat fits 4 people. Usually there is three of us and we will bring one of our buddies almost every time. Granted we have enough divers around here through the season that normally everyone gets a shot during the morning and that's enough to keep us happy. Everyone is used to hunting together out of the boat and when flocks come in we communicate and call the shot at the right time as they light in the decoys and everyone can get a shot. However I have been on duck and goose hunts where I didn't know everyone, and some guys thought they could call the shot all day when the birds were on the edge but gonna come in hot. I think the big thing is being comfortable with the guys you go with, being on the same plane with safety, calling the shot and all that.
 
I have a 17' TDB...It can and has on many occasion taken on a 4 hunter group. It can be fun if you hand select the guys and you know their personalities and how they hunt etc..That being said aside from those early times when all my hunting was done with my Dad...most of my best hunts have been when its just me and the dog!
 
As this thread developed I was reminded of someone once saying that you should be more careful choosing hunting partners than choosing a wife. Most of my regular hunting partners have either died, switched to upland or just plain lost interest. Maybe they got tired of bad company but now almost all the time it is just me and Booker. I enjoy good company as much as anyone but not til after the hunt.
 
This time of the year all he cares about is getting in the truck when it leaves. He says thanks for the good thoughts.
 
Well, its sorted itself out with just a few days to the opener :)

One fellow decided that 4 is too much so he opted to hunt the blind back from us.

My guess is at some point he'll get tired of watching us shoot (at) ducks all morning and will try to make the walk out to the "mud blind".

Cheers all, and thanks for the opinions.
 
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