Went west for a few days last week

[WWR]

Three days in the Panhandle with Blackfoot went way too fast, but we had a blast. Sounds like the crop/water situation is jacked up and the usual fields aren't huntable. Doesn't sound like the birds are roosting in town. Very dry, but any playa with water on it is absolutely covered with birds. I think he'd rather target geese but that seems to be a little harder this year.

The pic I included was the most fun hunt. There were several times where we could have shot pintail, cranes or geese at once as they were all spinning on top of us. That was pretty cool and a first for me to have three species in range, basically all morning.

Seems like everyone is going after cranes now. Wonder how long until they become unhuntable...and I did see some in a cotton field.

[BlueGoose]

Every single goose and crane I've shot here this year has come out of a cotton field. It's drilled with winter wheat, which helps tremendously. There is still a ton of sorghum left that hasn't been cut, thus the reason the crop situation is messed up. And they've all taken to hunting cranes, because they can't kill geese without doing it over roost water.

I don't know where you stayed, but there is a bunch of geese roosting in the city.

[El Pollo Loco]

I see AQ’s son was on that hunt.

[WWR]

And they've all taken to hunting cranes, because they can't kill geese without doing it over roost water.

I don't know where you stayed, but there is a bunch of geese roosting in the city.

We stayed SE of town and didn't hunt ANYWHERE near town.

Blackfoot does a good job at shooting them in fields. Every time I've hunted up there we have hunted dry fields and always limited on Canadas (unless we targeted cranes).

[Quackerbox]

I see AQ’s son was on that hunt.

beet me to it. After 20 years he still looks like a chode

[El Pollo Loco]

Correct. Maybe he’s into taking pics of dudes in their underwear these days.

[DUKFVR]

Great hunts WWR! CONGRATS!

[DUKFVR]

I see AQ’s son was on that hunt.

Lol!

[Patos el supremo]

looks like a really fun trip.

[Elpatoloco]

There is Water EVERYWHERE out there this year. Fresh drilled wheat over cotton or anything is a gimme for cranes. Ive thought about heading up and chasing some Geese. Still have access to some spots.

Piles of birds between here and Amarillo.

[BlueGoose]

We stayed SE of town and didn't hunt ANYWHERE near town.

Blackfoot does a good job at shooting them in fields. Every time I've hunted up there we have hunted dry fields and always limited on Canadas (unless we targeted cranes).

I have no idea where y'all were, since those turbines have popped up everywhere out here. But, I know Blackfoot is just about the only legitimate outfitter out here. They tried to lease the fields I'm hunting, but my buddy told 'em no. That's a true friend right there. He didn't let that offer of $75 a gun cloud his judgement, especially when they were trying to lease it to keep a roost nearby and had zero intention of ever hunting that field. Which is not a problem, since I've talked to the owner of said roost twice and he won't let anybody hunt it.

[Elpatoloco]

I have no idea where y'all were, since those turbines have popped up everywhere out here. But, I know Blackfoot is just about the only legitimate outfitter out here. They tried to lease the fields I'm hunting, but my buddy told 'em no. That's a true friend right there. He didn't let that offer of $75 a gun cloud his judgement, especially when they were trying to lease it to keep a roost nearby and had zero intention of ever hunting that field. Which is not a problem, since I've talked to the owner of said roost twice and he won't let anybody hunt it.

Wellllllll they dont exactly lease anything. They get the landowner to sign that they have first rights of refusal or exclusive rights. Only time the landowner gets anything is if they hunt. They tie up lands with squat out of pocket. My experience anyhow. You are aware of the drill.

Its a Win/Win for the outfitters. Pretty smart. Fugs the farmers eyes out.

[Greenheadless]

I see AQ’s son was on that hunt.

Who dat?

[El Pollo Loco]

Who dat?

Second from left. Must have pic of Richard’s wife to get invited on the trip.

[DUKFVR]

Drundel

[Greenheadless]

Isn’t that the ‘duck god’ that posts atm or what ever.

That, and who is Richard?

[El Pollo Loco]

Richard = WWR
That dude holding the dog may as well be atm.

[BlueGoose]

Wellllllll they dont exactly lease anything. They get the landowner to sign that they have first rights of refusal or exclusive rights. Only time the landowner gets anything is if they hunt. They tie up lands with squat out of pocket. My experience anyhow. You are aware of the drill.

Its a Win/Win for the outfitters. Pretty smart. Fugs the farmers eyes out.

Yeah. That was exactly what I told Stephen. They sign him up and I'm done. I told him that he'd never see a dime, but nobody else could hunt it. He thought that was a pretty shitty way to operate. I told him to talk to his farmer as well, because they'll go around landowner to farmer or vice versa. I've already had someone try to run me off, but it won't work. He told me go out there and hunt every damn day if I want to.

[BlueGoose]

As an aside, I love the fact that we're getting more and more specklebellies out here. I've already shot more specks than Canada's this season and I'm fine with that.

Glad y'all had some fun out here, WWR.