When do you plan your fall hunt?

[goldenboy]

Hey guys. I typically get a group of 6-8 guys together every year and head out somewhere to hunt the running roosters. We typically go after Thanksgiving so the opening day pressure is not there. My question is when do you get guys to commit and give you deposits so you can start to reserve motel rooms, talk to landowners, etc?

 

[thornton]

I never hunt in groups...that must be very difficult at times, logistics-wise especially.

 

[Chip]

I have the same size group as you made up of mostly of family. We put our deposit down 2 weeks after our hunt for the next year. Planning goes on for the whole year which makes it that much more fun. Currently we have our hunt for this season paid in full. Needless to say we are getting very excited. I think this is our 4th year at the same place and our 8th year going to SD. Good luck and be safe.

 

[mmelton]

get your stuff together now and plan on one or two guys dropping out

we usually plan for 6 guys to go and seems like two or three always back out of the deal last minute. Always makes me mad because it is sure nice to have a few blockers. Or even split up and work in different area's too

If you can find a house to rent just tell em hey were planning on bringing 6 but you know how things go most people especially after thanksgiving are very flexible

 

[Chip]

I know what you mean about people dropping out at the last moment. I started the guys sending me a nonrefundable deposit 6 months before the trip. That ended the drop outs

 

[small munsterlander owner]

we already got our MN opener rooms reserved now... we mostly camp out & hunt... alot of major big hunting guide services start booking up b4 june i was told so ud probably want to start around then 4 opener about SEPT for a DEC hunt???

we always do a late season hunt also DEC 1 mostly & we never have to worry about rooms give a call & ask if there booked up the wk u want to go u will be good that way... we will reserve a room after we hunt opener if its good if not we will go someplace else but i will call a few hotels in the new area we hunt in DEC just after the opener hunt...

short answer 2-3 months at most if u do it B4 that u will get drop outs no doubt i stopped relying on others to plan hunts im the planer in my group been brunt a few times so now only other serious hunters even ask to join in lol

 

[Toad]

I have two "regular" hunts I do with friends. 3-4 is the biggest group I'm comfortable with, even though I know there are times when more might be more effective...

Anyway, one is always scheduled for the second weekend in December. It's been on that weekend for years now, and I like it that way. It gives me a chance to schedule my vacation a year in advance at work. And my family accepts that the trip is happening regardless of what second-cousin's wedding I might miss, etc.

The date of the second big trip varies somewhat, but usually falls in late November/early December either just before or just after Thanksgiving. I also schedule this one in January, with the same work and family understanding...

So far, I've only had trouble with one regular drop-out, but he has been uninvited for a few years now.

It just depends on where you are in life, how much planning you need. For me, anything that involves an overnight away from the kids I plan way out. Otherwise I would end up being the guy that cancels, and I hate that guy. :laugh:

 

[huntingRI]

Just put my deposit down on my first SD hunt last week. I'm in for a late season hunt with 1 or 2 other family members. I know I may be taking a risk with weather late in the season, but it is the only time I can take off with work. Really excited about the opportunity to hunt wild birds. Here in New England we have small patches of wild birds, but all of our hunting is stocked birds.

 

[mustistuff]

planning

usually i don't hunt opening weekend or the so called big weeks, so rooms are no problem, never, never hunt in groups bigger than three and at that many, rarely. my next hunt is planned as i start walking out of the field of my last hunt, always thinking about it, my dogs i am sure feel the same way. i also camp a fair amount, getting old but still like it once in awhile

cheers

 

[BritChaser]

I start thinking about it February 1st. My hunting partners are of long standing and we always hunt in the same places.

 

[mgorvi]

Planning

I start planning after the Christmas holiday has wound down.This year I'll spend two weeks by myself and hook up with a couple of guys that I'm getting to know from other parts of the country, and then a few members from my family come out and will hunt a ranch near Highmore for four days. Then for the past couple years I go back and hunt the last week of the season in the snow and that has been either great or terrible depending on the weather, but still fun. I'll do that again this year. The best thing about this site is not only the information, but the camaraderie that it can build. That is especially important to those who are new to the sport, as I am.

 

[BleuBijou]

I usually plan for one hunt and then all the other ones are open!!! What I mean is I can leave at the first sign of weather or a day trip. Usually make around 5 day trips and a couple 2-3 day trips that are last minute!!! :thumbsup:

 

[mustistuff]

trips

I usually plan for one hunt and then all the other ones are open!!! What I mean is I can leave at the first sign of weather or a day trip. Usually make around 5 day trips and a couple 2-3 day trips that are last minute!!! :thumbsup:

you almost can't go pheasant hunting without going by the house, next time wave will ya

cheers

 

[BleuBijou]

you almost can't go pheasant hunting without going by the house, next time wave will ya

cheers

That or pick you up!!!! All my waterfowl spots are over there as well!! At least the close ones!!:cheers:

 

[quail hound]

My most memorable hunts have been spur of the moment when I have a few days off and I just wake up and decide which direction to point the truck.:thumbsup:

 

[davidtodd]

We start planning next year's hunt about 3/4 of the way through our current one, then we procrastinate and change stuff until we are scrambling into the next year!!
Seriously though, we hunt pretty much the same country every year, myself and buddy.
We pick up friends along the way, but us two are the base crew.
We don't see each other for the whole year between hunts as he lives in Manitoba
DT

 

[carptom1]

My most memorable hunts have been spur of the moment when I have a few days off and I just wake up and decide which direction to point the truck.:thumbsup:

Spoken by a man without a wife and kids. I too long for those days. Now that the kids are older, it takes less planning. But when we were first married with three small kids, the trip better be planned well in advance. I don't remember missing many, but did get a good guilt trip or two

 

[small munsterlander owner]

thats my brothers M.O. every year he cant make plans early enough to avoid guilt trips lol really must be a pain??? not prepared for all that headache yet lol...

 

[Toad]

Spoken by a man without a wife and kids. I too long for those days. Now that the kids are older, it takes less planning. But when we were first married with three small kids, the trip better be planned well in advance. I don't remember missing many, but did get a good guilt trip or two

AMEN SIR!!! Guys without a wife and kids can't appreciate how exciting the anticipation of the trip is. When you start packing a week in advance, and calling and texting your other married buddies every night for a week or two before the trip...

Then you hit the open road with a couple buddies and your dogs packed into a truck with no responsibilities for a few days... The feeling is magic!:cheers:

Then after a few days of being stinky and scraggly, eating at crappy cafes, sleeping in a cheap hotel, riding three days in a truck with your stinky buddies and dogs,,, you're ready to be domesticated again. :laugh:

 

[kick them up]

Here's the deal

I hunt with our opening weekend group every year for the last 20 plus years. All other hunting involve my main hunting partner for the last 20 years and he doesn't cancel anytime for anything.

Here is the deal. We just plan on the same time same place every year and you are expected to be there every year unless of a Death in the family, Divorce proceedings( ususally due to the rules we have). You can miss one year with advanced notice due to work or sickness, but other than that if you miss a year don't come back the next year. It's been the rule now for years and seems to work. :cheers:

Kick'em Up!