How many hunters is too many?

J

Jon Zuccolo

Active member
Hi all, got a question I am trying to deal with in my group of hunters...

How many people in a blind before it gets to be too many? I've made a very nice blind for 4 people, and one guy is appalled that I would hunt with so many and decided he is going to bail on opening day.

So folks, how many is too many? I figured 4 is pretty OK..

Jon
 
I personally prefer 2-3 but 4 isn't bad. I've been on a cpl of hunts with 5+ and always say I'll never do that again.... (who's the dummy in that scenario?)
 
It all depends on the crew, I also have friends that do not like to hunt in large groups, but I have hunted eight guys in four boats end to end and had a blast shooting bluebills. When we go to North Dakota we are a group of four so I have no issues with that number.

I would suggest that you invite your friends when the number of hunters is lower and not worry about his aversion to sharing. Half of the appeal of hunting ducks over deer is enjoying the company if friends and ribbing them for their faults.
 
I hunt almost exclusively from a boat so maybe my opinion isn't that valid in this case. I have no problem taking four guys. I prefer that only two are the designated shooters at a time though. I have hunted out of pits for geese with four plus guys and it worked ok. Not really my thing. 2-3 guys in a boat blind is my comfort level.
 
I've hunted with 4 guys before and if it's the right group it works. My preference is 3 total or less. Frankly, I kind of like hunting alone
 
Jon & Hank~

Great thread! I use my Rule of Three. I've hunted with more plenty of times but it gets inordinately more difficult/potentially hazardous and less satisfying.

And, when gunning with others, we almost always shoot one at a time - unless there is a big herd of Brant or the like - in which case we try to shoot in place. We "back up" ONLY after the designated shooter is empty. Somewhere is a great old article called "The Etiquette of the Blind" which captures these same tenets. I will try to dig it up. Shooting one at a time allows the others to really watch and enjoy the spectacle.

Finally - I enjoy hunting by myself about half the time.

All the best,

SJS
 
I've hunted with 4 guys before and if it's the right group it works. My preference is 3 total or less. Frankly, I kind of like hunting alone
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agreed 100%. I much prefer alone or maybe with 1 other person, but have taken 3 other guys with me in the big boat when the situation called for it.
 
Depends upon how much room there is to hunt. On opener we can hunt up to 8 on a large point. Granted, the folks down towards the bay don't get as many shots as the guys down towards the point but we rotate spots. Makes the hunt fun, everyone gets the opportunity to shoot, and the amount of shit given should the one hunter miss is worth all the folks hunting together. Number of people hunting don't matter much to me as long as everyone understands the "rules" and gives everyone a chance to shoot at a bird.

Mark W
 
I've hunted with 4 guys before and if it's the right group it works. My preference is 3 total or less. Frankly, I kind of like hunting alone
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I'm with Hank on this one. I also prefer to go alone unless its my boy or someone I know really well and can trust in the boat. Me plus 2 others is the absolute max.

Only time I have gone over this was in a TX winter wheat field shooting snows, which is a completely different ball game.
 
Three for me. When hunting with four the two in the middle get squeezed big time. If hunting with four take turns shooting and rotate through so everyone spends time in the middle.
 
Me + 2 max is my prefered. More than 3 guns is a hazard at best. I like to actually think I shot the birds in my bag.
 
I'm there for "fooling" the ducks, so I'm OK being one of the middle shooters. When we hunt 3 or 4, I'm typically one of the last to shoot my birds (OK, that might have something to do with my shooting skills :)

One of my best hunting buddies is the same way, so there have been times when ducks come in, land, get up and leave and we both ask "why didn't you shoot those ducks?" We've discussed hiring a shooter to join us :)

I agree that 2-3 is the ideal size for a hunting party because it does become a lot more dangerous with 4 guns/people to keep track of, hide, hold still and be quiet all at the same time. I was very disappointed with some of the state managed areas went to a daily lottery system where parties with more people get better odds of hunting than those with fewer hunters.
 
2 is ideal, 3 is ok. For me four is a no go.

Biggest issue is lack of opportunities. With the number of shots I get on most days three people taking turns likely means one or two I fired guns.

No I try not to measure the hunt by the body count, but if I just wanted to sit and bs with a couple of guys I wouldn't have gotten up at 3 am and frozen half to death to do it,,,
 
Ground or floating blinds max 3, lefty shoots on the right. Shooting out of one man duck boat I like 2, 3 in the right situation. No more 5 on opening day, did that once...
 
Hunting with just a friend is nice, deeper conversations from time to time, easier to blame each other and have fun making the hunt.

I really prefer 3 though. Just the standard thing about get two guys together, can be fun, 3 always makes it more dynamic.

I had a lease on rice prairie here in Texas for a few years and gave it up mostly because the owner's version of fun was the largest kill photos possible. 15-20 people on teal hunts. 8 on duck hunts and no less than 10 on goose hunts. It quickly becomes every man for himself and usually there was little attempt to hide the group. Yuck. I REALLY like the guy that runs that club, the hunts are just not for me.
 
As many have said, it varies by the group and the circumstances. I've had an absolute ball shoulder to shoulder with 6 other hunters conducting themselves like gentlemen. I've been absolutely miserable with two other hunters in the same size blind! Select your hunting buddies carefully and the numbers will take care of themselves.
 
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