Probably another foolhardy idea…

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Now this is not advice, it’s not even a suggestion it’s just something to reflect on while your minds still clear… Dr. E.W.Hostetler played by Jimmy Stewart in the shootest.

I’ve been kicking an idea around for awhile now and have been unsure how to broach the subject but it seems like as good a time as any with the ever increasing costs associated with hunting and degrading dollar value.

I propose the idea for discussion among our forum members that we work towards some sort of a reciprocal host/hunting system. Where one member host another and guides them on a hunt and in return the recipient does the same at a later time.

Possible benefits I see for the community include more in person interaction between members. Members from lower economic situations being able to experience the joys of travel hunting. A chance to hunt regional game animals ex. East coast hunters being hosted to hunt western game and vise versa.


Well there it is an idea born from too many hours on wheel watch with nothing to do but think. But now that the idea is out there perhaps it’s atleast worth hashing over.

 

[cwpayton]

north American hunting club used to do that, if they are even still active. but in my state and others in the west you would be walking a fine line for guiding without a license.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

north American hunting club used to do that, if they are even still active. but in my state and others in the west you would be walking a fine line for guiding without a license.

That would definitely need to be considered I looked into it here in Nova Scotia before I posted this thread. It’s possible to get a special guide license for 7 days to guide a friend provided no money changes hands.

 

[Elkeater]

I’d be into this type of idea. I think as long as folks are smart about it and people treat it like just two friends trading hunting experiences (I do this already anyway) there shouldn’t be any issues with guiding in a legal sense. Some of us probably have some cool local stuff. I don’t have much to offer beyond coues deer and coyote and fox hunting but I’m sure other folks have cooler stuff than me.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

I’d be into this type of idea. I think as long as folks are smart about it and people treat it like just two friends trading hunting experiences (I do this already anyway) there shouldn’t be any issues with guiding in a legal sense. Some of us probably have some cool local stuff. I don’t have much to offer beyond coues deer and coyote and fox hunting but I’m sure other folks have cooler stuff than me.

I’d bet there’s someone who’d just love to hunt coues deer , if I remember right I believe @WAB built a rifle specifically for hunting them.

 

[BRICKBURN]

north American hunting club used to do that, if they are even still active. but in my state and others in the west you would be walking a fine line for guiding without a license.

For big game in Alberta there are issues with the law. Significant restrictions are in place.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

For big game in Alberta there are issues with the law. Significant restrictions are in place.

I was under the impression that Alberta had a hunter-host program similar to Nova Scotia’s special guide licence program.

 

[CBeck]

Following along, but there are rules in states where one friend can’t hunt with another because it’s considered guiding?

Anyway….youre welcome to come sit on the front porch shoot a whitetail or ten and we can grill a steak and sip some bourbon.

 

[Milo]

Following along, but there are rules in states where one friend can’t hunt with another because it’s considered guiding?

Anyway….youre welcome to come sit on the front porch shoot a whitetail or ten and we can grill a steak and sip some bourbon.

It gets talked about a lot in Alaska because dudes are looking for cheap hunts.
If it's clearly bartering a hunt for some form compensation such as a hunt in your state, yes it would be illegal guiding.
If it's two buddies hunting together, it's not.
You know which one you're doing. Can it be proved? Doubtful.

That said I'm licensed to guide waterfowl so if anyone wants to trade an elk hunt for some brown September puddle ducks, hit me up.

 

[WAB]

I think it’s a great idea. When I lived in New Brunswick I got my Level two Guides license just so I could take non-resident friends hunting. It really wasn’t that big a deal and cost me about twenty five bucks a year to maintain.

 

[CZDiesel]

I think it would be a hard thing to show malfeasance if it was just a gentleman’s agreement to host one another in each other state…

 

[Sarg]

Great thread, thank you for posting it.

I did something like this many many years ago & it helped me get almost all the animals available in Alaska, in these times I could barely afford to even fly up there.

I only had a very young fella with me who had a Guides license & I did all the stalks (Guiding) & prep work, lots & lots of packing mine & others animals out, this is HARD work on Moose & Big Bears .

Wish I could find some one in C.A.R, Cameroon or Tajikistan/Mongolia to swap with lol !

 

[Doug Hamilton]

north American hunting club used to do that, if they are even still active. but in my state and others in the west you would be walking a fine line for guiding without a license.

What, you've never taken a friend hunting on land you knew, or gone hunting with a friend on land he knew or had legal access to? As long as nobody is being charged any money, I.don't see how it could be a crime.
Maybe Canada is different?

 

[skydiver386]

Love the idea and have done this before on other forums.

Right now I'm still in Ohio , but after I retire in a few years and move to Florida I might be able to host for Whitetail, hogs, Turkey, quail, gator, both saltwater and freshwater fishing and scalloping.

 

[Michael70]

A great idea and I am sincerely gobsmacked that in the land of the free it is this difficult to hunt with a friend or acquaintance.

Looking on with interest

 

[RedTag]

Not a bad idea… doesn’t work so well with wives.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Is that the voice of experience? Asking for a friend.....

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

I think it’s a great idea. When I lived in New Brunswick I got my Level two Guides license just so I could take non-resident friends hunting. It really wasn’t that big a deal and cost me about twenty five bucks a year to maintain.

I was registered to take my guiding license in 2020 but the corse got derailed due to Covid. I’ve got to give them a call and get rescheduled. 400$ here and a 3 day corse in Nova Scotia now.

Perhaps some of the rest of the gentleman here could look into what is needed to host a friend for no monetary gain in their Provence/state and report back? We may be able to get something really wonderful going amongst ourselves.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Not a bad idea… doesn’t work so well with wives.

Never worry we’ll make sure everyone gets their own keys when the party breaks up.

 

[Oil & Dirt]

I think this is a great plan. I like to manage deer and a 150”-170” whitetail is not uncommon here, though between food, stands, minerals, habitat improvements it gets pretty costly. I was thinking of selling a hunt or putting a spot out for lease to subsidize this but I’d certainly be open to a trade.