Duck Guide in AR or LA?

[Shoreman]

Looking for a recommendation on duck guides in AR or LA for a trip I'm putting together for this fall. Hoping to take 5-6 guys that I go to church with for a weekend trip. Any insights are greatly appreciated.

[Razrbk89]

What kind of hunting are you wanting to get into?

[Shoreman]

Thinking flooded timber or rice fields.

[CookieMonster]

Following...

Need some ideas for father/son trip

[Sparkles]

Arkansas
Jake a guide at Big Creek will get em so close it seems like you could use a tennis racket to take em

[Shoreman]

Any body else have recommendations?

[Cajun Blake]

I have access to hunting flooded rice fields in SW LA or hunting the Gueydan area

10-15 yrs ago both were considered some of the best duck hunting areas in the US and MS flyway

Now, duck hunting is a hit or miss in LA primarily due to DU focusing conservation efforts in the Midwest. Ducks no longer have to fly to LA during the winter months unless Mother Nature forces them. Birds hold up in Arkansas in the flooded timber and lots of agricultural land has been converted to flooded rice fields. With mild winters, birds never leave Arkansas


I would love to advocate a marsh or rice field hunt in SW LA, but honestly feel your chances of success are greater in places like Stuttgart . Of course weather plays a huge factor as I believe the bird numbers in LA are down. If you do book LA, I would hunt as late as possible to take advantage of the colder weather.

if you want to get the skinny, call places like : Hackberry Rod n Gun , Doug's Hunting Guide Service, and Grosse Savanne Hunting Club to see what they say regarding duck numbers

[Razrbk89]

The hunting is almost always going to be at least decent in the area north of the Arkansas River and east of highway 67. Some areas within this region have notably better hunting than others. These areas can and do change some over the years with rice production trends, and with water levels especially. The fields will usually be fair/decent consistently unless we have good water in the river bottoms, which tends to slow down the fields. Fields are also pretty susceptible to freezing after the first few weeks of season. I'd try my hardest to find a good timber hunt, maybe at Five Oaks or somewhere like that. The club I hunt is in the Humnoke/Geridge area and I know quite a few people guide around there. If the White isn't out, we are covered up.

You're pretty much guaranteed to see large numbers of ducks up here, though killing them can be hit or miss depending on spot. Lots of habitat and lots of water (usually). And if you come up, please shoot some geese while you're here. You'll see what I mean.

[mdnabors]

It's not Ark or La, but if hunting ducks in the heart of the MS Flyway is any interest to you then checkout some of my close friend's operation in the MS Delta. They are super well known for an awesome operation and doing it right southern style with lots of hospitality to go around and a Mecca for ducks with thousands of acres of family farm land they flood themselves strictly for the ducks! Been on outdoor and sportmans channel quite a few times. Great people!! "Catfish" Flautt is a legend!


https://tallahatchiehunts.com.

They have a Facebook page too. Check em out or I can help with getting in touch with them.

[txdukklr]

I love to duck hunt . . . folks ask about my handle thats where it came from.

I've hunted this flyway from the top down to Texas . . . . Arkansas is a mess . . . I trust Cajun that Louisiana aint that great. Honestly the best hunting i've had is either canada or . . . .

The texas panhandle in the high plains mallard unit is some of the best I've hunted. Goose in the morning, ducks in the evening . . . maybe even chase some crane. Low hunter density, high number of birds, and not nearly as expensive. I hunted out of Amarillo up into areas like Dumas.

Guys up there will be ****** I told ya . . . . it's that good

[Razrbk89]

I love to duck hunt . . . folks ask about my handle thats where it came from.

I've hunted this flyway from the top down to Texas . . . . Arkansas is a mess . . . I trust Cajun that Louisiana aint that great. Honestly the best hunting i've had is either canada or . . . .

The texas panhandle in the high plains mallard unit is some of the best I've hunted. Goose in the morning, ducks in the evening . . . maybe even chase some crane. Low hunter density, high number of birds, and not nearly as expensive. I hunted out of Amarillo up into areas like Dumas.

Guys up there will be ****** I told ya . . . . it's that good

I definitely share your passion! I'm curious to why you say Arkansas is a mess?

I'm also curious about the panhandle hunting, I've heard from folks in Texas that it is pretty good! Don't mean to derail the OP's thread but what is the hunting like up there? What kind of water do you have to work with? Tactics, etc? I may give it a try one of these years

[TreeNap]

I've hunted ducks in more states than you can shake a stick at…

And I would consider Stuttgart a mess, not Arkansas in general. Meaning there are more hunters in that area than a crowded Walmart on a clearance day.

If you like hunting small shallow water ponds or fields, West Texas can produce.

But killing ducks in a dry field just doesn't seem exciting to me anymore.

Timber hunts are hit and miss in Arkansas due to weather. You gotta hope the sun shines that day.

If you have a rice field option, it helps when the clouds are out.

I hunted with a guide in Stuttgart by the name of Davy Crockett Guide Service.

It wasn't' a 5 star lodge and a nickel hunt.

It was old school hard core timber hunting. When the sun shined, we got em.

[Horn a holic]

Check out Hansonoutdoors.com. Edd guides in the Lake Fork area and has had good success. You can see his rates, photos, and locations he hunts on his web site. Fun guide to hunt with! Give him a shout...

[Razrbk89]

TreeNap^ I agree, it can be quite the rodeo around Stuttgart during season. Public groud around there gets lots of pressure and can be intimidating (even to me who has done it a lot). The hunting can still be top notch, you just really have to know where you're going and what you're doing.

As with most places, a lot of the best spots are private clubs and farms, and prices are HIGH.