[7pntail]

I have done dog lessons with kids, and it is very rewarding.


Donated a duck hunt in the Butte Sink, and I must say nothing wen't like I expected. The guys paid 500 bucks, and I wanted them to get their money's worth. I was/am a volunteer for CWA, and we set a date. Looked at the weather, and it could not have been worse for killing birds. Tried to reschedule, but that was their weekend. Good guys, but very few shots fired. Ended up with a couple of teal, and a snow goose. Cooked them breakfast, and offered my trailer ( not a posh hunt obviously) to spend the night, and hunt the next day. They declined and were off to the Bay Area. I was a wreck-thinking I had not fulfilled my obligation.

They said they had a great time. I was elated, but will never do it again. Way too much pressure!

It gave me a whole new perspective on guiding. I can shoot ducks, and can catch Salmon in the best conditions, but when things are SLOW I ain't got the gift of gab. Long day in the boat or blind!

They obviously understood the donation thing, thank goodness!

Professional guides---you earn your money!

 

[Angie B]

I can imagine your discomfort.. That is a lot of pressure to put on yourself.

Our kennel is a big support of DU and Delta Waterfowl. We donate an e-collar and a months training. Some organizations split the donation while others keep them together.

Some use it for obedience training and others use it for our retriever program.

It's worked pretty well.

Angie

 

[Bill Watson]

Several years back Uncle Bill put up a 4 day Phesant hunt for 4 people, the benifit to go to HRC. There was a close finish to the auction and UB honoured both top bids! Cleo was one of the winners and she sent my son and I and two other close friends to South Dakota.

It was a 2 day drive up there and two days drive back, but man, UB really did himself proud as a host and as a guide. We all had a blast and the dogs loved it! The HRC Foundation got the biggest donation (I belive) from the event. Also, UB fed us too! It was a great time had by all.

As a bonus, it got me out of Cleo's hair for eight whole days also. Bill

 

[Bob Tebbens]

Tried to donate a waterfowl hunt and a puppy to the wounded warriors this past season.The gentleman in charge thought it was a great idea but dropped the ball and did nothing with it.Very very disappointed.

 

[RJW]

I have been in that predicament myself. Don't beat yourself up over it. There is simply NOONE that can control mother nature. The majority of the time, it seems you plan something like that and she is right there to throw you the unavoidable curve ball. I am sure the guys understand and it wasn't your fault. You did indeed try to reschedule the hunt. What more could you have done?

 

[Kyle Farris]

I donated a hunt for my CWA dinner and it was a very slow shoot for the guys who won the hunt. It did pay off in the end, one of the guys brought his 14 year old son who said he had a great time especially after he killed a banded darke mallard and his first speck.

 

[Diamond 1]

I make my living guiding pheasant hunters and some walleye fishing. It can be a tough business but as long as you give 100% each day for your clients, 99% understand that you cannot control the weather and other factors that can affect their experience. As long as I take care of the things that I can control most clients are appreciative. They would call it killing and catching if we could produce 100% of the time which would take the challenge out of it and I suspect the interest of many.

 

[hillsidegoldens]

I have donated my time and dog on several youth pheasant hunts. All were great days for youth hunters and there parents or mentors, but more so for me.
The first time I did this took 5 kid and 4 mentors and myself in the morning one boy limited out with 2 rooster, others each got 1 rooster. After lunch another boy joined us and the bird sat tight and the shooter shoot straight all but boy that joined us late limited out. Everyone got birds. Another time we worked hard but mother nature beat us up. The birds ran or flushed at edge of gun range. Only one young lady harvested a bird but all thank the dog handlers still seemed to have good day.

Great to hear stories of people donating time to keep our past time going.
Try donating time with kids does more for me than it does for the kids, just to se joy on there face when something happens.

 

[GulfCoast]

I have donated a couple of duck hunts. It IS a lot of pressure when you do it for someone else. ;-)

 

[Dman]

That's they way it goes. There are no guarantees in hunting. You win some and you loose some. Don't worry about it.

 

[Hunter06FLKY]

I was on a club back in Florida with some guys heavily involved in the NWTF and every spring they would donate a hunt to be auctioned off for a parent and child hunt. I can definitely understand how you felt.

I guided for them one day because I had already shot my limit for the season. It was later in the season and the birds weren't responding to calling at all. I was able to call a hen into 5 feet of so of the guys 10 year old son and he loved it!!! I felt bad for not getting them a bird but the son enjoyed himself so much that they bought another hunt that we put at the next banquet!