Duck Hunting
Lake Okeechobee Florida Guide Service
Florida duck
hunting on Lake Okeechobee has always been excellent even in years
when duck migrations were poor. The size of Florida's Lake Okeechobee
(750 square miles) along with it's shallow depth and vast array
of water plants has a special attraction to migratory ducks.
Florida duck
hunting on Lake Okeechobee is considered to be the best in all
of Florida and perhaps the nation. Duck hunters can expect to
limit out on duck - or run out of shells trying.
To
locate the 2010-2011 season meeting place click on the below link for a location map
& directions
Map & Directions
FLORIDA
DUCK HUNTING SEASONS: 2010 - 2011
ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Duck
Hunting (Early 5 Day Season): September 25 - 29, 2010
Duck
Hunting (First Phase): November 20, 2010 - November 28, 2010
Duck Hunting (Second Phase): December 11, 2010 - January 30, 2011
Youth
Waterfowl Hunting Day: February 5 & 6, 2011
Children under
the age of 16, supervised by an adult 18 years of age or older,
may hunt waterfowl on these 2 days. Shooting hours and bag limits
are the same as the regular duck season. Adult supervisors are
prohibited from hunting on these days.
BAG
LIMITS
The September 25 - 29, 2010 early season daily
duck limit is 4 per
hunter. This duck limit shall consist (in any combination) of
blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and no more than 2 wood duck.
No other species of duck may be taken during the September early
season phase.
The
November 20, 2010 - November 28, 2010
&
December 11, 2010 - January 30, 2011
duck season daily bag limit for duck is 6
per hunter. This duck limit shall consist of no more than 4 mallards
(2 hens); 2 scaup; 1 black duck; 1 pintail, only during pintial
season; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling duck; 1 canvasback;
3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; and 4 scoters. All other species of
duck (except harlequin ducks) may be taken up to the six-duck
daily limit.
Coot daily limit is 15
Mergansers daily limit is 5, only two may
be a hooded merganser
Possession
limit is two days'
bag limit.
It is your
responsibility to check with the Florida
Fish & Game Commission for the type and daily limit of
each duck a hunter can take.
LATEST
DUCK HUNTING REPORTS & PICTURES
Click
here for (January 2010) duck hunting
reports and photos.
Click
here for the (December 2009) duck hunting
reports and photos.
Click
here for the (November 2009) duck hunting
reports and photos
Click here for the early teal & wood
duck (September
2009)
duck hunting reports and photos.
Click
here for (January 2009) duck hunting
reports and photos.
Click
on the below links for:
12
YEARS OF DUCK HUNTING BRAG'N BOARD PHOTOS
12
YEARS OF DUCK HUNTING REPORTS
DUCK HUNTING
PER DAY RATE
"Only
$100.00"
DUCK
HUNTING PER DAY RATE 1 Hunter Cost Per Each Day Is Only: $100.00
Required
Reservation Deposit Per Hunter Per Each Day Is:
$75.00
DUCK
HUNTING NON-HUNTER RATE 1 Non-Hunter Cost Per Each Day Is: $100.00
Required
Reservation Deposit Per Non-Hunter Per Each Day Is:
$75.00
What's
Included
The
above rate of $100.00 is for either 1 morning or 1 afternoon of duck
hunting, guide, airboat transportation to hunting area, gas &
oil
What's
Not Included
(1) The guide staying
in the blind with you, calling in ducks, identifying ducks or
cleaning ducks for you.
(2) Duck hunting
decoys, waders, shotgun, shells or any other equipment,
Equipment
needed for duck hunting: decoys, chest waders, seat, tote sled
& a battery operated
Mojo decoy
can be rented if you do not have them or can not bring them with
you.
DUCK
HUNTING LAKE OKEECHOBEE
SPECIAL RATE
2
Day 1 Night 1
Person Rate
For Only $240.00
Required
Reservation Deposit Is: $150.00
This 1 person
2 day 1 night special rate is for 1 afternoon of hunting, 1 night
of lodging and 1 morning of hunting on the following day.
How it works is your arrive for your first hunt that afternoon,
stay the night after your afternoon hunt and then hunt on the
next day morning.
This
package besides being an affordable duck hunting event also allows
a duck hunter to take "two limits of duck" instead of a one day limit
simply because each duck hunt is done on two different days!
What's
Included
The
above rate of $240.00 is for 1 afternoon & 1 morning of duck
hunting, 1 night of lodging, guide, airboat transportation to
hunting area, gas & oil
What's
Not Included
(1) The guide staying
in the blind with you, calling in ducks, identifying ducks or
cleaning ducks for you.
(2) Duck hunting
decoys, waders, shotgun, shells or any other equipment.
Equipment needed for duck hunting: decoys, chest waders, seat,
tote sled & a battery
operated Mojo decoy
can be rented if you do not have them or can not bring them with
you.
SHOOTING HOURS
Legal Florida duck
hunting shooting hours posted by the Florida Game Commission are
one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Click
here to get sunrise
and sunset times for every month of the year
A
DUCK HUNTING DAY
Consists of
either one morning (A.M.) session of hunting -- or one afternoon
(P.M.) session of hunting. Our morning of duck hunting is from
5:00 to 9:00 A.M. Our evening of duck hunting is from 2:00 to
sunset
Please
note - these hours vary with sunrise and sunset
standards.
Duck hunters prior to their hunt are required to check with us
for the correct time to meet!
DUCK
HUNTING ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE OVER DECOYS
Is conducted
on Lake Okeechobee by standing or sitting in 6 to 12 inches of
water.
We
do not duck hunt from a boat!
My
airboat is used only to take duck hunters out to the hunting area
Duck hunters will
be taken out by airboat and placed in a natural vegetation blind
of reeds, stand of trees and reeds or around small floating grass
islands as shown in the photo. Your guide will advise what direction
to face, where to set up your decoys, etc and leave the hunting
area out of gun range and anchor within the area.
Hunters are
encouraged to carry a cell phone with them while duck hunting
in the event of a emergency.
PLEASE
NOTE a emergency call
is not a call to be moved because the ducks are not flying where
you are!
Your guide will have a cell phone with him and can be reached
at this number: 863-287-8484
Cell phones can be keep waterproof while hunting if you seal them
in a Zip Lock freezer bag.
DUCK
HUNTING TERRITORY AREAS & BLINDS
We
are not permitted by Florida law to build permanent duck blinds
on public waters.
The
spots a party will be hunting from have been scouted out, watched
for duck activity and GPS marked.
The spots you will be hunting from are just for you and anyone
else in your party.
YOU
WILL NOT BE MIXED WITH OTHER HUNTERS YOU DO NOT KNOW
Click
here to view photos
of the areas and natural vegetation blinds you will be duck hunting
from on Lake Okeechobee.
The
photos on this web page will give you a visual idea of the area
and type of the territory you will be hunting from.
DUCK HUNTING
RETRIEVER DOGS
Ron's
Guide Service welcomes duck hunting retrievers. A duck hunter
can bring his dog with him free of charge. Click here for more information
on duck hunting retrievers. This link also has many on the lake
photos of duck hunters and their retrievers. Items to bring and
other information is covered in this link.
THINGS
TO BRING
Shotgun
not larger than 10 gauge plugged to a three-shell capacity, shotgun
shells (50 rounds per each hunter) loaded with steel shot in either
shot size of BB, 1, 2 or 4 (bismuth-tin and 
tungsten-iron
are also approved). Bag of 12 and no more then 24 standard decoys
in either blue or green-wing teal, wood, mallard, ring-neck or
any other types. A (Mojo) battery operated type of decoy. Duck
calls. Camo clothing & poncho type rain gear. A good flashlight
or better yet the type you attach to your head. Foam ear plugs
for the airboat ride (airboats are loud). Zip-Lock freezer size
bags are handy for storing shells and keeping your hunting license,
cell phone and other items dry. Bug spray, canteen of drinking
water, chest high waders and a folding seat to sit on. Because
a hunter's hands and face can give him away immediately, camo
gloves and a face mask, or cold-cream-based paints are a necessity.
Shiny gun barrels need to be camo tape wrapped. A shiny gun barrel
is the number one cause of ducks spotting a hunter and not coming
near or into the decoys.
Chest waders, standard decoys, Mojo battery type decoy, folding
seat & a tote sled can be rented as noted below if you do
not or can not bring any of these items with you
DUCK
HUNTING ITEMS YOU CAN RENT
Any
of the below items can be rented if you do not have them or can
not bring them with you. So as to compensate for wear, repairs,
damage and replacement of these items we charge a rental fee per
each hunter per each separate time they hunt.
Example
(1): if
a hunter hunts either a morning or afternoon during 2, 3, etc.
different days the rental charge would be per each day at the
below listed rate for each item.
Example
(2): if
a hunter hunts both a morning and afternoon during the same day
the rental charge would be double the below listed rate for each
item.
Chest
Waders
You will need
chest waders. If you don't have them each person can rent a pair
with adjustable shoulder suspenders for $10.00 per each morning
of duck hunting and/or each afternoon of duck hunting.
You
must notify me if you want to rent waders.
Battery
Operated Decoy
Other them
standard decoys a party has the option to rent per each hunt one
Mojo type battery operated decoy that includes batteries for $10.00
per each morning of duck hunting and/or each afternoon of duck
hunting. There is no question that these type of decoys bring
ducks in.
See
Mojo type battery operated decoy in photo below
You
must notify me if you want to rent one of these decoys.
Floating
Tote Sled
A floating
tote sled with a poly tow rope attached that is 48 inches long
by 25 inches wide and 6 inches deep can also be rented for $5.00
per each morning of duck hunting and/or each afternoon of duck
hunting. This sled will hold a duck hunters rucksack, gun, decoys,
shells, etc.
See
tote sled in the photo below.
You
must notify me if you want to rent a tote sled.
Folding
Seat
You can relax
and duck hunt sitting in comfort with a folding seat. Such seats
are sold by Cabela's or other such sporting stores. A 24 inch
high seat can be rented for $5.00 per each morning of duck hunting
and/or each afternoon of duck hunting.
See
folding seat inside sled in the above photo.
You
must notify me if you want to rent a folding seat.
TAXIDERMIST
SERVICE
Click on this link for the address and phone number
information on a local taxidermy service that is available if
you would like to have a mount made of your duck. Any questions
you may have about the mount cost, shipping cost, required deposit,
how long it will take to complete your mount can be answered by
a simple phone call.
INCLUDED
LODGING INFORMATION
Motel lodging
at the Glades Inn was provided on our 2 half day 1 night duck
package.
Please
note the Glades Inn is currently closed.
When they will re-open is not known.
We
now allow the client to choose where they want to stay rather
then where we made arrangements for them to stay at. As noted
below the lodging refund of $40.00 can be applied to the cost
of a clients lodging at the motel of his choosing.
The Rice
Motel
(863-946-0424) in the town of Moore Haven offers lodging for $40.00
per night.
Lodging
Refund
We offer a
courtesy lodging refund
in the amount of $40.00
for the 1 night of lodging that is included with the 2 half day
1 night duck hunting rate. This credit will be subtracted from
a party's 2 half days 1 night duck hunting package rate total
cost.
Example: if a party of 2 hunters each
booked the 2 half day 1 night package they would get a $80.00
($40.00 each) lodging credit that they could use to pay for their
own lodging with!
The $80.00
lodging credit is also applicable if a party has other lodging
options available such as a RV camper, trailer home, camping out,
staying with friends, etc.
Lodging
Options
There are also numerous other motels in the town of Clewiston,
Moore Haven, Lakeport & Okeechobee to stay at:
TOWN
OF
CLEWISTON
MOTELS
HOLIDAY
INN on U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-5100 or 800-313-4591
BEST WESTERN on U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-3400 or 877-478-1700
EXECUTIVE ROYAL INN on
U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-3141
MOTOR INN on U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-4115
WEST EXPRESS INN on U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-9161
RELAX INN on U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-9309
PLAZA TRAVEL INN on U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-5181
ANGLER’S MARINA MOTEL off of U.S. 27 Ph: 863-983-2277
CLEWISTON
INN on U.S. 27 Ph: 1-800-749-4466
CLEWISTON KOA KAMPGROUND on CR 720 Ph: 800-562-2174
Kamping Kabins, Kottages, Lodges, RV and Tent sites.
Please visit them at http//:www.clewistonkoa.com
Click
here for city of Clewiston
online motel rates, reservations & location map
TOWN
OF MOORE HAVEN MOTELS
RICE
MOTEL off U.S. 27 Ph: 863-946-0424
GLADES INN on U.S. 27 Ph: 863-946-2642
TOWN
OF LAKEPORT MOTELS
LAKEPORT LODGE on SR 78 Ph: 863-946-2020
ARUBA on SR 78 Ph: 863-946-1324
Little Big Man Marina on SR 78 Ph: 863-946-1441
TOWN
OF OKEECHOBEE MOTELS
HOLIDAY
INN on SR 441 Ph: 863-357-3529 or 800-465-4329
BEST WESTERN on SR 441 Ph: 863-357-7100 or 800-305-6237
FLAMINGO MOTEL on SR 441 Ph: 863-763-6100
TRAVELERS INN on N. Parrott Ave. Ph: 863-763-3146
BUDGET INN on SR 441 Ph: 863-763-3185
ECONOMY INN on SR 441 Ph: 863-763-1148
PIER II MOTEL on SR 441 Ph: 863-763-3146
TREASURE ISLAND MOTEL on SR 441 Ph: 863-763-2895
TROPIC MOTEL on S. Parrott Ave. Ph: 863-467-0053
WANTA LINGA MOTEL on SR 441 Ph: 863-763-1020 or 800-754-0428
Camp
Grounds, Tent Camping, RV Parks, Etc:
This type of information is best answered by the local Chamber
of Commerce. The Moore Haven number is 863-946-0440. Clewiston
number is 863-983-7979 and the Okeechobee number is
863-763-6464
DUCK HUNTING
RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS
Reservation
deposits are listed
after each rate and can be made by
money order, certified check, or
online
by credit card
Personal
checks are not accepted.
Balance due is payable upon arrival by Cash or Money Order only.
We do not accept credit cards or personal checks on the balance
due.
Reservation date/s are final and can not be rescheduled.
Reservation deposits are non-refundable in the event of a cancellation.
See our:
CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY
HOW
TO MAKE RESERVATIONS
ONLINE
CREDIT CARD DEPOSIT
To
make reservations online with a credit card
Click here to make reservations
ONLINE
WITH A CREDIT CARD
MONEY
ORDER DEPOSIT
To
make reservations by U.S.Postal Mail Service, UPS or FedEx
Click
here to print out the
required
RESERVATION
FORM
you
will need to mail out with your money order deposit to make reservations
by U.S.postal mail.
RESERVATION
CONFIRMATION
Ron's Guide Service will
e-mail a written confirmation upon receipt of a party's reservation
deposit confirming receipt of deposit, the total cost of the duck hunting
trip that
would include the
guide rate, gratuities, the date of the reserved hunting trip,
lodging credit if applicable, optional cost of rental items ordered
by the party if applicable, where to meet, time to meet, balance
due upon arrival and other information.
The
total cost of the hunting trip and balance due upon arrival (minus
the deposit) will also be listed to ensure that there are no additional
hidden fees or charges whatsoever!!!
It
is your responsibility to e-mail me back as soon as you receive
my e-mail confirmation verifying that the information contained
in it is correct.
HUNTING
LICENSE
IT
IS THE HUNTER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE ALL LICENSES LISTED BELOW.
There are no refunds issued if a hunter can not duck hunt on all
or any of his reservation days because he does not or can not
for whatever reason have or get all or any of the licenses required.
PLEASE
NOTE: do not wait
to the last minute to get your licenses!
A Florida Hunting
License, Florida Duck Stamp, Migratory Bird Permit and Federal
Duck Stamp are required to hunt ducks in Florida. Resident hunting
license cost is $12.50. Nonresident 10 day Hunting License cost
is $46.50. Florida Duck Stamp cost is $3.00. The Migratory Bird
Permit is issued free of charge.
This year's
Federal
Duck Stamp which will
cost you $15.00 can now be purchased at any hunting & fishing
store or tackle shop in the state of Florida.
Hunter
Safety Mentoring Exemption
Effective
Aug. 1, 2006, anyone 16 years or older and born after May 31,
1975 can hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter, 21 or
older, without having to complete the state hunter safety certification.
The newly established “Hunter Safety Mentoring Exemption”
enables those persons to purchase a Florida hunting license and
hunt during a one-year trial basis.
The new mentoring exemption was passed by the Florida Legislature
to help persuade more people to experience hunting. It is designed
to encourage experienced hunters to teach novice hunters about
safety, ethics, wildlife, hunting skills and respect for Florida’s
outdoors.
Until now, everyone 16 or over, and born after May 31, 1975, needed
to complete the hunter safety requirement before they were allowed
to buy a hunting license.
“This should be a great incentive for getting more people
to give hunting a try, and hopefully, we can hook some of these
folks on the hunting tradition,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission hunter safety coordinator Bill Cline.
“If a novice hunter enjoys the sport, we hope they take the
hunter safety course and continue the experience for years to
come.”
Individuals taking advantage of this try-before-you-buy approach
would have to take and pass a hunter safety class to be eligible
to purchase a hunting license and hunt the following year.
Click here for more information about the
Hunter Safety Mentoring Exemption.
It
would be a good idea to print the above from the FWC web page
in the event when you purchase a hunting license the seller of
the license is not aware of the new law exemption.
Click
here for more information
about the hunter safety course.
Click here
for other information pertaining to Florida hunting license
PURCHASE ONLINE
YOUR FLORIDA HUNTING LICENSE, MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT & FLORIDA
STATE DUCK STAMP
A online computerized
license option is now available in the state of Florida. Duck
hunters may purchase their Florida Hunting License, Migratory Bird
Permit and Florida State Duck Stamp online using a credit card. Online agents will
issue by e-mail a license number which will entitle hunters to
hunt immediately or at some later date during the calendar year.
Click here if you would like
to use this convenient option.
PURCHASE ONLINE
YOUR FEDERAL DUCK STAMP
The
Federal Duck Stamp is also sold online or by calling either (800)
DUCK499 or (800) STAMP24. However, unlike the hunting license
you can purchase online and hunt immediately with, you will have
to wait for the Federal Duck Stamp to be mailed out to you before
you can duck hunt!
Purchasing
your Federal Duck Stamp online is a convenient method of getting
your Federal duck stamp. A frameable photo of the stamp and Certificate
of Appreciation is also included with the stamp.
Click
here if you would
like to purchase the Federal Duck Stamp online
from the FWS.
Click
here to purchase the
Federal Duck Stamp online from the USFWS.
Click
here for other online
Federal Duck Stamp places to purchase the stamp
AIRBOAT
- DIAMONDBACK
2006
YEAR MODEL
Here's
Captain Ron's new 2006 Diamondback 20 foot custom crafted airboat.
This one of
a kind huge airboat on Lake Okeechobee is powered by a 496 cubic
inch GM Levitator 8.1 HO fuel in-jected motor that has a horse
power rating of 425 - 450 hp. A CH 2.1 gear reduction box that
turns a 3 blade ultra wide Q series Sensenich propeller 4800 rpm
and a custom built stainless steel exhaust system makes this airboat
the quietest airboat you will ever ride in.
I
have not to date had a client ask for ear plugs!
Custom built into
the deck is a large insulated livewell and cooler. There are also
7 other large built in below deck and 2 under the seat storage
compartments. A custom installed 80 lb. trust Minn-Kota trolling
motor, 2 front mounted removable seats, a 6 foot bench seat, 2
KC lights in the grass rake covered by Lexan, 2 KC lights on the
prop guard cage, center console instrument panel, Power Pole Anchor
and full walk around deck makes this airboat a true pleasure to
ride in. A fold down bimini top is an added pleasure of providing
shade and rain protection during a party's trip.
DUCK
POPULATIONS
Duck hunting this
year (2008 - 2009) is expected to be excellent. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service estimates a total duck population of
more than 41.2 million -- a 14 percent increase from last year's
estimate and 24 percent above the long-term average. The Federal
Wildlife agency predicts a fall migration of "MILLIONS"
of waterfowl. Best news this year is the abundance of:
Blue-winged
teal at 5.9 million birds. This value is 28 percent greater than
last year's estimate of 4.6 million birds and 30 percent above
the long-term average.
Green-winged
teal at 2.6 million are 20 percent greater than last year and
39 percent above the long-term average.
Gadwall at
2.8 million are 30 percent greater than last year and 67 percent
above the long-term average.
Northern shovelers
at 3.7 million are 69 percent above their long-term average
Pintails at
3.4 million is 32 percent greater than that of last year.
Click
here to read their
report
DUCKS
AT A DISTANCE
A
Waterfowl Identification Guide
Click here for
a guide that will help you recognize birds on the wing
it emphasizes their fall and winter plumage patterns as well as
size,
shape, and flight characteristics.
Florida's
Waterfowl
Florida
Mottled Duck: click
here for
information and identification.
Florida
Wood Duck: click here
for information and identification.
Fulvous
Whistling Duck: click here
for information and identification.
Black-Bellied
Whistling Duck: click
here for
information and identification.
Migratory
Waterfowl of Florida
Click here for
information and identification.
Click here
for Duck's Unlimited waterfowl identification gallery and other
information pertaining to duck hunting. This link has excellent
identification photos and much more things of interest about duck
hunting
EVER
WONDER HOW MANY PELLETS ARE IN A SHOTGUN SHELL
SIZE BB TO 4
Click
here to find out
YOUR OWN
WEB PAGE FREE
You get your own duck
hunting internet web page FREE when you hunt with
Ron's Guide Service!
Imagine
being able to brag about your hunt and have your photos posted
on your own web page for all your family, friends and a young
hunter's school friends to see.
To enjoy this one-of-a-kind great offer just e-mail Captain Ron
at capon1943@aol.com your photo/s and all details about your hunt
such as hunter/s name, city, state, e-mail address, weapon used,
caliber, size, sex and type of the duck/s bagged or anything else
you found amusing about your hunt.
A link to your own personal internet web page will be e-mailed
to you from Captain Ron. This link will give you, family and friends
you send it to access to your web page.
You can also add photos of other game you bagged, fish you caught
and even your pet's photo at anytime you like.
RON'S
GUIDE SERVICE
MOORE HAVEN, FL 33471
Web
Site:
http://www.duck-hunting-florida-lake-okeechobee-guide-service.com
E-Mail
CELL:
863-287-8484
Click
on any of the below links for more information on our duck hunting
and other Florida hunting and fishing USCG licensed guide services
we offer.
Online Credit Card Deposit Option
Duck
Hunting Reports
Duck
Hunting Brag'n Board
Duck Hunting Testimonials
A
Wild Boar Hog Hunting Florida Guide Service
Florida
Year-Round Alligator Hunting Guide Service
Spring
Osceola Turkey Hunting
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Okeechobee Hunting & Fishing Guide Service
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Okeechobee Fishing: Bass-Crappie-Bluegill-Shellcracker
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Ron's Guide Service