Question For The Duck Hunters

I have 14 ponds on the ranch with the biggest being about 3 acres. Couple of others are back to back and about 1.5 acres each, the rest of the ponds are an acre and smaller. One of those backs up into some flooded timber. I'm not a Duck hunter nor are my friends that Deer hunt here. I'm thinking about leasing my ponds out after Deer season. I have Pig hunters coming in on Jan 18th so I could only do it from Jan 4th thru the morning hunt of Jan 17th. I have a bunkhouse that hunters can stay in while your here. You can look on my website, I have a pic of the 3 acre lake on it. No Ducks will be shot before this date. This will be all fresh ponds, and the group that leases it will be the only ones hunting Ducks. As a Crow flies, I'm about 5 miles SE of Hubbard Creek Lake.

I have no idea how many guys (guessing 3 or 4), nor do I have any idea of what to charge,,remember, lodging included on the ranch. I would prefer doing this for one group of guys to come out and hunt 2 or 3 times. This is for Ducks only, no pigs or anything else. Do any of you have an idea of a fair price to charge, or if it's even worth messing with?

Thanks

Thanks guys for all the input. I think I know where my pricing and number of hunters need to be now..I was lost and y'all came through for me. Now I just need to decide if I'm going to do it..

Could be a great deal for a group of guys, should be loaded with ducks by that time.

How many guys and what do I charge? I have all kind of Ducks here but mostly Wigeon and Gadwall, but I've seen Mallard, Teal, Pintail, Ringneck, Canvas Back and Hooded Merganser. Some Redheaded Ducks too but not sure what they are, Redheads maybe. Oh yea, I have Sandhills and Geese get into my 30 acre wheat field at times too.

How many guys depends on the birds. You've been at the dove game a while and the principles are the same. Every hunter there wants a chance at a limit and then some. Ducks don't handle being shot at like dove. They will move from a hot spot after lots of pressure, but you might be able to rotate ponds if they are far enough apart.

Price depends on the quality of the trips you're expecting. If you have easy limits, with great service, and nice accommodations then a higher price can be asked.

$500 is fair for the group. I got that by charging 4 hunters $40 each per hunt for 3 hunts and then rounding up to $500. Self guided day hunts are normally about $25-50 per person. If they use the lodging then you could bump that up assuming they would probably stay the night before hunts....so you might be able to charge a total of $750 to $1000 to the group.

Even thought he ponds won't be hunted you are giving these guys a very short window to hunt and ducks come and go...one week it could be holding birds and the next week not. If it was holding birds ok I think 2 to 4 hunts would be about right.

There are a lot more factors involved here. Are these birds roosting, loafing or feeding? If it is a roost pond, you will get maybe 2 hutns and then the hunts are over for the year. So when are they arriving on the ponds if you can remember?

As far as quality of service this is a DIY hunt. The bunkhouse has about everything. There are grills and a smoker provided. As far as Ducks go, some years we have some and others a lot. Hard to tell how many are going to be here till Jan. The Ranch is over 1000 acres so the ponds are spread out all over the Ranch. There are no Duck blinds on any of the ponds. Remember, I've never done this before. Since I've owned the Ranch in 1998 there have only been about 15 Ducks killed on it. We're just not Duck hunters here.

These are not roosting ponds, they roost on Hubbard Creek Lake about 4-5 miles away. They arrive on the ponds at daylight because I can hear them whistling over the Deer stands in the morning, and hear them quacking on the ponds. Remember guys, this is all new to me.

I'd try to set up a small group this year on a diy hunt and see how it goes. A nice bunk house, with smoker, and away from civilization is worth $100 a day even if the ducks don't show up.

I could run up there from Abilene for a free "scouting" hunt if that helps you out.

Are you saying you'd come here before season to check out my place to see if it's worth me doing? Or is this a pun for a free hunt,,lol. whoops, never mind, I reread your post...No free hunts here my friend,,lol

FYI,,I said there are no Duck blinds, but this is not open country. Most of the ponds have Mesquite trees around them to hide around.

So here's what I'm thinking,,correct me if I'm out of line. 3 hunters, come in on a Friday afternoon, scout things out. Hunt starts on Sat morning thru Sun morning and includes the bunkhouse for Fri and Sat night for a total cost of $500 for the group for hunting and lodging.
Is that about right? It's going to be a bit of a gamble though, might be great, mediocre or bad,,you get what you get. I wouldn't be doing this if I thought it wouldn't be decent though.

So, $500 for 3 guys for 2 days sound about right??

If I do it this way it looks like I have 2 weekends to hunt, Jan 8th-10th and Jan 15th-17th..Might, just might be able to do it Jan 1st-3rd too.

Input please guys.

I duck hunted 10-12 hunts a year near Breckenridge every year for 10 years or so. I don't think I'm the guy to tell you what this package is worth, but I can tell you that I do not think limiting will be a problem at all. We absolutely slayed them out there. Mostly Gadwall and Wigeon, with a sprinkling of Mallards, Teal, Pintails, and Ringnecks.

This is a bit of a unique situation, so pricing is a little tough to figure out. I think you could probably get $200 per person for 2 days of hunting and two nights lodging, but the guys will be disappointed if they don't hammer them. $100 per person and I think they will be satisfied even if they only shoot a few. $150 per person might be a good sweet spot. That's assuming the lodging is comfortable, but nothing fancy. The DIY nature of this hunt, and the fact that you are not a duck hunter detracts from the value some. Sounds like they will pretty much have to figure it out on their own, which can be tough when you have never been to the place before, and only have one afternoon to prepare.

How about I offer to pop on the first weekend with cash but I need to be able to bring more than 2 guests?

Yep not out of line at all and gives it a break between hunts. Willing to bet being that close to Hubbard creek they can all limit easy on some un-pressured ducks which equals happy hunters.

I was just giving you a little hell on the free hunt, but wouldn't mind riding your place with you one evening just to see what you got. I'm not a champion duck hunter by any means but I've killed a few piles of them.

Stomps I would go something like $200/gun 4 guns a weekend for this first year. That seems like a safe number to where if the guys get skunked they still got a weekend out in the woods with the guys. As said above, ducks are here one day gone the next. Keeping an eye on the numbers of birds in the weeks leading up to it and their locations would be helpful. If I'm scouting for paying hunters I'm wanting to see at least 15 birds per gun on a scouting trip to ensure a good hunt. Even that doesn't guarantee a good shoot.

You could also throw in varmints to give them something to do in the evenings. Nobody really dick hunts in the evenings, most outfits with lodging will make their lodged duck hunts a combo with something to waste time. IIRC you've got a pretty good little skeet setup out there, that as an option would be good too. As it progresses, you could add blinds to the productive tanks and up the price as it gets nicer.

If you need folks for a duck hunting test run to baseline the ponds, I'll gladly volunteer my services.

You are welcome anytime you're in the area to stop in, I'd be glad to show up around and get your feedback.

Been doing some reading and research and I think I might be close. How about this,,

Total cost for coming in Friday afternoon and setting up, start the hunt Sat morning, hunt Sunday morning and leave after Sunday morning hunt for a total cost of $700. This is for no more than 4 hunters and if it's less, the price stays the same. That's for 2 nights lodging in my bunkhouse and 2 days hunts. Comes out to $175 per hunter for 4 hunters....How about that,,sound fair? My only job is to show you the ponds and the bunkhouse, I might even do a little pond scouting for you a couple mornings before you come.

I'd probably pass on that unless there were some amazing scouting reports. But I'm someone who does not have to travel far for some duck hunts. I'm sure there are plenty of big city guys that would do it.

No, yes, maybe???^^^^^^

Hang on,, got to wrap my head around everything first. I'm just trying to figure everything out right now.

^^
I'd think about it stompy....He will shoot you straight on the way of ducks.

Wal would be the type of guy I'd want to lease to if I owned hunting property. Just so you know Stompy.

I don't see how all y'all missed this,,I know I don't dick hunt in the afternoon.. Your mind elsewhere Ramball? Sorry, I'm 53 but it's still funny.

Thank you for the kind words gentlemen!

I know how you west tx fellas are with your dick hunting

I think 200 / gun for 2 nights and 2 days hunting is more than reasonable. Especially if you able to deliver a "scouting report" on Friday so it's not totally blind. Also if the bunkhouse is nice like you said, $200 isn't too far off from just a nice accommodation for 2 nights, not to mention the hunt.

I'm in! I'm thinking there are two weekends for duck after deer season?

I'd go in on a weekend hunt with some THF'ers. My place will be old and tired that late in the season and a change in scenery would be welcome.

In on this. Heck of a deal. Still a crap shoot but good deal if I can bring my boy and he does all the shooting.

I've had incredible duck hunts right next to Stompy's ranch when there is water. This year looks great. You will have no problem getting that price.

Also, those "redheads" you think you see, are very likely canvasbacks.

I'd join in if there was a spot free. Would just be me, still yet to meet anyone from here or find any hunting buddies. Seems like a good price to me

im in for jan 8-10

Guys, if I decide to do this the spots are already spoken for. Thanks for y'alls input and interest.

Well then

I would let them hunt for free. Need a few more groups to keep birds from finding that one pond that no body is hunting!!!!! LOl it always happens like that

Might have the weekend of Jan 30-31st open if anyone is interested. Send IM if so. The other two weekends are sold but there is a 2 week rest period for the ponds. I measured my 3 acre lake and it's actually 4 acres.