Unfortunately, I think you are about 30 years to late on your offer of $1,000. I still remember the “Old Days” when you could just ask a farmer to hunt ducks and geese or pay a smaller amount for a blind. This was before everyone was afraid of being sued and before the grand explosion waterfowl popularity. I’ve watched the popularity of my favorite type of hunting go up and up with the invention of new waterfowl technology, everything from boats to new loads in shells and bigger guns to shoot higher, new moving decoys, more gear and TV programs etc. I love to watch the cable shows and get all of the new and best gear but this has changed things.

I watched places like Gueydan, Whiteville, Roanoke just to name a few, get chopped up into tiny postage stamp, outrageously priced hunting opportunities, not to mention the increase of hunting pressure placed on these areas. The local river landings full of trucks and camo-clad boats adorned with blinds and barking dogs at 4 am speak volumes to the increase in the interest in the waterfowl sport.

I will suggest that if you find a place to hunt ducks and geese for $1,000 these days, it would not be very good. Walk-to or drive-to blinds in south Louisiana typically run from $3,500 to $5,000 and exceptional areas $10,000. Some of these high priced blinds are so close to someone else that you can see cigarette smoke or you are calling at the same birds and have trouble with people parking their trucks with shooting distance. (I wish I was exaggerating)

You can still find blinds in the marshes of the extreme South West part of our state for around $1,800 but you will have to deal with the expenses of camps and extra boat costs.

If you do find a good place for around $1,000, let me know and we can get together and jack up the price and sub-lease it out for a profit! We’ll take the money and use it to fund a mallard shooting trip up in the mid west!! :)

Duckaholic

Hey flies,duckaholic is right about the price of blinds. You may consider going in on a blind with other guys to help share the cost. Good luck!

Another route to take would be to get into a Deer lease/club that has a lot of water and happens to be in a decent flyway. A couple years back I was in a deer club that would run dogs, but it had a river running through it, plenty of cypress heads and prairie lakes. As a result it was slap full of ducks. I had to be careful not to step on any deer hunters toes, but it was worth it. It was so nice to just drive the truck in, park it and walk 5 minutes to a pond. Plenty of deer leases that are 500-1200 bucks that will have plenty of ponds, swamps and lakes. Just a thought. Now if you're interested in a marsh lease down at the coast, you could get something closer to your budget thats exclusive for Fowl.

yea $1000 might not be enough. if you want guaranteed water it may be at least 5 to 6 thousand per blind. i been in the same lease for the last few years with a couple friends we split 2 blinds between 4 of us. thats the route to go.

Thanks guys. I guess my only option is getting into a blind with a dew others. I do have more money to spend if it is worth it. Where can I find places that I can split a blind with a few others. Anyone have any info on who to call or where to look? Or if anyone know of any deer leases that are duck hunt able please let me know!

We have some ponds available in Lafitte.Email me for info

Flies never underestimate the success to be had on public land. Save that money and spend it on a used flat boat with a godevil and enjoy all that public hunting has to offer. In the meantime try out the lottery hunt on South Farm at Sherburne WMA. It's just like a free guided hunt if you get picked. I kill just as many ducks as most guys on leases, just have to work a little bit harder.

Plenty of deer leases/clubs in the classifieds. Just call and ask, look on flash earth if they'll give you the where abouts of the club. I know a while back they had a club in Iberville Parish that was like 500 bucks had plenty of water and you had to have a boat to even hunt out there. Just start looking and calling. Check on MS Sportsman, Alabama Waterfowler, and all Timber companies that lease land. Just do the homework. Odds are that if a club is thousands of acres and in South East Louisiana its going to have sloughs, bayous, swamps and ponds. But like others have said, a boat and some WMA's might be your best bet.

If you try south farm, dont count on getting picked. Your there with about 40-50 other people and during the first split they only pick 3 blinds sometimes. Deffinately have a back up place to go to if you dont get picked. Ive been about 20-30 times over the past 2 years and haven't got picked once.

I've been picked many many times at south farm. The trick is going by yourself. If you don't get picked there are often groups of two that will let you hunt with them. I'll give you a few more personal tips on south farm if you would like, but I don't want everyone to catch on and ruin the odds.

Duckaholic: You had all very valid points in your suggestions as to why duck leases were expensive/overpriced/etc and so on. You wouldn't happen to think this may have something to do with it too would you, '....If you do find a good place for around $1,000, let me know and we can get together and jack up the price and sub-lease it out for a profit! We’ll take the money and use it to fund a mallard shooting trip up in the mid west!! :)'