I'm looking into taking a trip up there next year. I don't know if I should take a guide or try and go public. Maybe a little of both?I know the public will be a lot harder and different than any hunting I've done before but I think the reward would be better. If any of you guys have feedback on any guides you've taken up there I'd like to hear about it.

Study and go public with some friends, you will have a blast.

I would have to disagree. I say start saving money now. Find a really good guide and have hiom put you on a classic timber hole. I would imagine their public hunts are like here. Where their are ducks their will be too dern many people shooting at them.

I would have to disagree. I say start saving money now. Find a really good guide and have hiom put you on a classic timber hole. I would imagine their public hunts are like here. Where their are ducks their will be too dern many people shooting at them.

X2.....

Can I just say... a group of guys from my church (including myself - of course) just got back from Popa Duck Lodge in Ark. It was a great trip, they put us on the birds and the lodge was clean & meals were great!! Call and ask for Dean - he owns the place.

http://www.popaducklodge.com/

I think I'm going to do a little of both. Hunt public for the first part of the week then take the guide for the last 2 or 3 days

Go public, better know how to call well though because them Arkansas boys speak duck as a second language

Or just be on the "X"

Doing the public thing will make you feel really good even if you dont get on the birds.A guided hunt is what it is,But I guess if its your first time then do a guided hunt to learn the ropes.

Go private. Public up there is a zoo. People sleep in their boats/trucks at the ramp and then it's an all out boat race through the trees in the dark. And when you get that many hunters in one place, the birds won't work. It's all pass shooting and sky blasting.....barney style.

If you can go with buddies who have done public in Arkansas before, then do that. I'm leaving in a week for my first trip and am going with guys who have done it for the last three years. We'll hunt in the morning and scout in the afternoon. I'm sure private would be great too but it is what it is.

Great plan but flip it. Get up there and get shown the ropes by a guide, then go public. If you're going there for the timber make sure your guide is settup for it and has enough ground.

If you end up heading to the Stuttgart and Bayou Meto areas and have some questions shoot me a PM, I'll do what I can for ya.

OOOOOH Texan1554 dont send him to Bayou Meto,Man he aint ready for that.

I have no buddies that have been. In fact the only guys I know that hunt are a few that I took for the first time this season.

Notice I said "do what I can"... those parts that can only get you so far.

But hey, if he wants the timber experience there ain't no place better.

I with ya,That is one heck of a Timber experience there.
I cant wait to go back to THE METO.

Well fallin you may want to get a guide.That can be some dangerous stuff if none of you know about the Woods & Wetlands of Arkansas.Also the laws that are on the rivers and swamps there, like in Bayou Meto, no one can have a boat with a motor on it larger than 25hps.

Public can be dangerous and tough....if you end up going with a guide service they will have access to more land (fields and woods) do your homework if you plan on public and also do your homework before booking with a guide service....there are plenty of really good ones but also some that might as well be scam artists...shoot me a pm if you got any specific questions