Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Last Updated : 03/22/2022
Q: Is the $3800 for the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program per hunter or for the entire group of four?
A: The $3,800 is for the entire group. It provides up to four (4) hunters the opportunity to hunt every Wednesday through Sunday of the season except the five (5) days of Christmas. Mondays and Tuesdays are rest days to manage hunting pressure. This breaks down to $950 per hunter for the season.
Q: What equipment do I need for the Season Hunt Option?
A: Hunters will need to provide their own decoys and layout blinds can also be utilized in the assigned holes. Some hunters also like to use portable dog stands / blinds. Specklebelly hunting is popular among the groups, so we recommend that you include some speck decoys in your spread. ATVs make access to the hunting areas easier but are not absolutely necessary. All trucks must be parked at the edge of the field roads and are not allowed on farm roads. A boat is not required.
Q: Why are farmers/owners reluctant to leave crops in the field as a food source for waterfowl?
A: The input costs of a corn food source are approximately $200 per acre. Rent income ranges from $150 to $250 per acre. In an 80 acre field with a 10 acre planted food plot the $2000 input cost plus $2000 lost income equals $4000 to which you add $800 for pumping water to arrive at $4800. Even if you get a hunt group to pay in excess of $5,000 for a single field, the profit margin is small. If he leases the field with no food source for $5000, he does as well as in the managed scenario. No economic incentive for a landowner to manage a food source. In addition, this simplified example does not even account for the issues of chemical compatibility, difficulty of cultivating around planted food areas and other farm management issues.
Q: Do you give out the names and contact info on current hunters as references for other prospective groups to utilize?
A: While we appreciate the desire that prospective hunters have to talk to our current and former hunters, there are several major business and legal reasons that prevent us from handing out names and contact information. First, it violates federal privacy law to share personal information that our company accumulates through the course of regular business. We are all inundated with privacy notices sent out annually by everyone from the banks to the utility companies. Second, we are not a club and many of our hunters choose us because of this fact. They are busy professionals who hunt for relaxation and release. They choose not to be in a situation that requires them to communicate with other people about their hobby. We handle the complaining and pressure that goes along with dealing with groups of duck hunters and shield the landowners and other hunting groups from the sometimes negative onslaught. Finally, we go over the top in explaining the nature of our program so that expectations of the hunters meet the realities of the program. We answer numerous emails daily and spend hours on the phone and conducting tours. Our staff is extremely generous with their time, but we do not presume to give away the valuable time of others. We very much respect a hunt group's choice to hunt with another outfitter and would in no way attempt to pressure them to do otherwise. We offer an extremely affordable opportunity to hunt a variety of venues for the entire season and are proud of our product. Any prospective group is welcome to visit, take a tour, question the field staff and make an informed decision without pressure or obligation.
Q: How are the blinds assigned in the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program?
A: The blinds are assigned daily. A member of your hunt group would contact the staff phone at (662) 299-0111 by voice call or text prior to 5 p.m. the day before the hunt. You will be assigned a blind for that next morning's hunt, and a field staff guide will contact you and set a meeting time to help you locate the assigned hole, or drop a pin in the location so that you can locate the blind. A dropped pin is the method preferred by most groups in recent seasons. While you may not hunt every hole, you will hunt a variety of the areas over the course of the season.
Q: Is September Teal or Light Goose Conservation season included in the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program?
A: September Teal and Light Goose Conservation seasons are not included. The program includes Duck Season only.
Q: In the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program are there enough holes to hunt during dry periods?
A: In dry years, such as the 2010 - 11 and 2016 - 17 seasons the hunting areas are more restricted. Some of the brakes and low-lying areas depend on rainfall and rising water to become huntable. However, we do include enough "guaranteed" water holes in the program to accommodate all of the hunt groups.
Q: Do the field staff guides scout the areas for the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program?
A: Our field staff guides are in the hunt areas on a daily basis throughout the season. They observe birds in the areas and use this knowledge in making assignments. Also, they will discuss general numbers and conditions with hunt groups contemplating a trip to hunt. However, conditions and numbers change and fluctuate daily. A hole can be covered up with ducks one day and completely empty the next. Numbers can be good in the area on Wednesday and then decrease by the weekend because of a warming trend or severe cold which shifts the freeze line further south. The field staff members are extremely busy talking with groups and handling assignments during the season so time spent scouting specific holes is limited.
Q: Do participants in the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program require access to a boat?
A: The program is designed for easy access, and a boat is not required. Participants do need waders and a dog stand if they use a retriever.
Q: Is there a place to store equipment for hunters included with the program?
A: No
Q: Are guests allowed in the season program?
A: Guests are allowed in the season program. If you have purchased a season license for a group of four, then as long as one of your named group is present the other three hunters completing the party can be guests.
Q: Can a dog be used in the season program areas and will there be areas of cover specifically for the dog?
A: You can bring your own dog to hunt. The holes in the season program are yours to hunt for the morning just as they would be in an individual lease. We build brushed up areas of cover as blinds for the hunters in almost every hole with the exception of a few areas where the hunting is from natural cover. We do not build separate dog blinds. You can either include a portable dog blind as part of your equipment or allow the dog to share the brushed up area provided for the hunters as his source of cover. The decision is up to you. You will need a dog stand for some of the flooded brakes and sloughs.
Q: Is there a money back guarantee in the case of a poor duck harvest?
A: In scheduling holes for the season program opportunities, we consider the availability of water as well as variety in the hunting venues. We include enough holes in the program that can be pumped up with irrigation water to assure water for each hunt group for the season. In addition to the guaranteed-water-blinds other holes will depend entirely on rainfall for flooding. In extreme dry years, such as the 2010 - 11 and 2016 - 17 seasons, some of these low-lying areas may remain too dry to hunt and we will schedule around them. There are other environmental factors that may limit your hunting success on a given day. For instance, in the cases of a hard freeze, we cannot guarantee you open water - you will have to make the most of the situation that nature provides. In all of our hunting areas, we provide the hunters with the opportunity to hunt but do not guarantee "kill numbers." Some seasons will exceed others in the number of ducks harvested. In addition, we have no control over the days scheduled by the governing authorities for the season, and the opportunity is to hunt the days legally allowed for duck hunting by the state and federal wildlife officials (subject to the scheduled rest days). With farm and recreational properties, the rent is paid for the opportunity to farm and hunt. If the crop harvest or duck harvest is disappointing or totally fails due to Acts of God or unfavorable natural conditions, there are no refunds. It is the opportunity, not the harvest, that is licensed for.
Q: Who is responsible for liability arising from hunting activities conducted on the exclusive or shared season program properties?
A: The Terms of MS Delta Hunt Programs provide that the hunt group will indemnify MS Delta Ducks and the landowner from any liability that arises from the hunting. It further provides that each hunt group will make certain that the members of their group have adequate liability insurance coverage for situations that could arise. MS Delta Ducks and its affiliates does not arrange for any insurance coverage for the members of the hunt groups or their guests. It is important to read the Invoice Addendum Terms in its entirety and to understand all of its provisions.
Q: Do members of the field staff guide the hunt groups in the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program Option?
A: The field staff guides will provide assistance to the season hunters in locating holes and will discuss methods of placing decoys and hunting the areas if the hunters request their input. They are not present at the hunts. The field staff guides are experienced duck hunters and can be invited by a group to join the hunt. They enjoy the opportunity of interacting and hunting with the season groups when invited and time allows.
Q: In the season program, is the hunt group assigned to the same blind for the entire season?
A: There are a number of blinds over thousands of acres scheduled for the duck season and your group will hunt a variety of the venues (harvested grain fields, moist soil habitat, habitat complex areas and sloughs).
Q: Are any of the limited guided morning hunts conducted in the same holes as those hunted by season hunt groups?
A: One of the things that we are obsessive about is making sure that the hunters’ expectations meet the program. The season hunt program affords hunters the opportunity to hunt over 1000s of acres of varied habitat managed by our company. Some holes are planted with food sources, others utilize nature’s food while others offer harvested waste grain. Water levels can be controlled in some holes while rainfall dictates in others. Each season we drop holes and add others as we continue to seek the best combination. The important point is that the hunting area is compiled and managed by our staff and operated as a commercial enterprise, not a club or lease. We schedule the holes and regulate the hunting pressure. If you are looking for a good area to show up and hunt (with minimal effort and preparation) then the program may be for you. If, however, you enjoy selecting and preparing the holes, a club or lease will be a better fit. The season program is targeted to hunters who are limited by time, budget or distance in their ability to manage an individual property but who prefer hunting on their own without a guide, using their own dog, decoys, calling, etc. The limited guided hunts are a different opportunity altogether. They provide a higher level of field staff support and equipment to the hunter and offer an opportunity to get to know our area and staff. There are season groups who were guided morning hunters the prior season. Guided hunts will be conducted in the same area as the season hunts while season hunts will be conducted in holes that are not on the list of scheduled season holes but have been added later or are being hunted on a more limited basis. We do log the hunts, control the pressure and conduct all hunts on MS Delta Ducks properties. The end result is that for future seasons some of the guided holes will become season holes and some of the season holes will be dropped from the program. Putting field staff on the ground in hunts (observing and participating) and introducing new hunters to the area are both part of the formula. It gives the staff valuable first-hand experience in the holes and much needed extra revenue to keep their time affordable and available for the season hunters. As with any commercial enterprise, we weigh the satisfaction and input of our existing customers and the expectations of our target audience for expansion against the economic realities of doing business. Together with fairness to the groups and monitored pressure, this serves to strengthen our overall program while keeping it affordable and accessible.
Q: What is the hunter’s role during the season?
A: First and foremost to be courteous and cooperative with the field staff. These are young men who love to hunt and spend time with hunters. They make very little money (after expenses) for their efforts and want to enjoy their experience as you do. When they meet a hunt group to show them into a blind, it is important that the field staffers ride with you from the meeting point to the blind and that you return them to their vehicle. The miles that they rack up going to and from the hunting areas as well as performing routine matters quickly add up. If, in turn, they drive hunt groups around, the costs of gas exceeds their check. Always make certain that you have enough room in your vehicle for a staffer to climb in when you meet.
Stay on the field roads and ditch banks with your ATVs. Driving across rows in the field can cause difficulties for the farmer and require expensive and time-consuming repair work in the spring. The dynamics of irrigation make this vital. Farmers set the rows after the fall harvest in preparation for spring planting. If the hunting activities have caused ruts and cuts in the rows in addition to the deterioration caused by the flooding for waterfowl, it becomes economically infeasible to continue allowing the hunting.
In addition to ruts in the field, be aware that the gumbo on the banks and field roads will build up on your tires and lock up the wheels of an ATV. Never drive a truck off the public roads even to retrieve an ATV. Call your field staffer for assistance.
Once the season begins, the field staffers are extremely busy handling calls, assigning holes, and meeting groups. You can help out by keeping a supply of zip ties in your gear and freshening up your blind at the end of the morning’s hunt. A few extra minutes a morning helps to keep the blinds huntable for everyone. Also, pick up shell boxes and casings lying around.
After the hunt, text your field staffer with bag numbers and reports of bands or other interesting tidbits. This helps the staff to keep a pulse on where groups are experiencing success.
Q: Will the field staff or Nathan answer calls and assign holes after 5 p.m.?
A: It is important that calls or texts requesting holes be made prior to 5 p.m. and no requests will be accepted after the 5 p.m. cut-off. The staff will still be talking to groups into the evening as they work diligently to get everyone settled for the next morning. The program has a very limited number of rules, but the ones in place have a valid reason based on experience. If the staff makes a habit of allowing exceptions to the 5 p.m. rule, the assignments and showing become disorganized and unmanageable.
Q: What are some of the complaints that MS Delta Ducks receives about the Shared Duck Leases Season Hunt Program?
A: The shared leases program is designed with the goals of providing affordable duck hunting free from the hassles affiliated with public land and of providing hunters with a greater level of staff support than would be the case with a traditional duck lease. At $950.00 per hunter for the season, the cost is equivalent to a two to three day guided duck hunt. The program goals are its strength and weakness.
First, to keep the costs down blinds are built utilizing cost effective materials. Some hunters prefer more expensive pit blinds and sled blinds with spring loaded drop-down doors along with other high tech features. Pit blinds are too expensive to construct and maintain to be a part of the program. Additionally, many farmers and landowners are averse to having pit blinds buried in their fields. Farm machinery is highly mechanized and is most effective on long rows without obstructions thus utilizing the onboard GPS navigation systems. We have added additional sled blinds every season and no longer have blinds built from t-posts. These blinds didn’t have seats or floors in prior years so we recommended the use of marsh stools. All the blinds now have seating for the hunters. Brandon and Nathan will evaluate and add additional blinds at the end of each season. While keeping the program affordable and accessible we consistently endeavor to improve the quality of the blinds with each successive season.
Second, hunters always want more food management and ideally would prefer to hunt in an unharvested corn field. While we agree that hundreds of acres of food left standing in the field makes for dream hunting, these situations will only be found in exclusive, private clubs like Fighting Bayou, Six Shooter, Moses Stump, and York Woods. Our staff does provide food management in our hunting areas. Millet is planted in low-lying areas that aren’t suited for crop production and many of our farmers agree to leave areas of unharvested crops in the low end of the fields. When permitted we overseed these areas with additional grain; however, chemical compatibility is a consideration. For example, millet is not “Round Up Ready” and will be killed by applications of this chemical in grain fields. All of our food management is designed to attract and hold wintering mallards - nothing better than bagging a limit of greenheads. However, all of our printed and verbal communications make it clear that over the course of the season a mixed bag of dabblers should be expected including gadwall, mallards, northern shovelers, pintail, teal, and wood ducks along with small numbers of canvasback, red heads, ring necks, scaup, and specks. Gadwall, mallards, northern shovelers, and teal comprise the species with the largest numbers in the bag. The migration of mallards is heavily dependent on the weather conditions north of us while northern shovelers, teal, and to some degree, gadwall, move into our area to winter as part of their routine migration patterns.
We have added food management for Specklebellies in recent years. Interest in hunting and harvesting this species of waterfowl has grown significantly for hunters in this part of the flyway.
The other part of the program subjected to scrutiny by hunters is the hunting habits of our field staff. During the first season of the program we instructed seasonal staff to assist the hunters in locating their blind and then go to an area set aside for staff hunting only. This area was in no way superior to the holes in the program, but because the staff guides are skilled hunters by design, there was an appearance of a “honey hole” and after all, appearance is reality. We changed courses the next season and began to encourage our staff to offer to hunt with season groups as a quasi guide. This turned out to be an effective practice and strengthened the program as well as relationships with our hunters. Now the staff guides are hunting with a group almost everyday and are hunting the same holes that the groups are hunting.
We always review any complaint lodged by a MS Delta Ducks hunter and take all of the input seriously. Despite our best efforts we can’t make the hunting conditions perfect and do make mistakes which we strive to correct. We feel that if you spend time on our Website and Facebook page that our transparency will be evident. There is a vast amount of information available to analyze how the various programs might meet your needs. We are almost always available to answer questions, provide information, conduct tours, and address concerns. Our mantra is that we “want your expectations to meet the program.”
Give us a shot and come hunt the Delta!
Mississippi Hunting License Regulations
All persons born on or after January 1, 1972, must satisfactorily complete a hunter education course approved by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks before purchasing a Mississippi hunting license. If it is determined that the holder was not entitled to issuance or obtained the license or hunter education certificate by fraudulent means, the license will be revoked or canceled. It is unlawful to issue a hunting license to any person in this age group without proof of completion of the hunter education course. [MS. Code 49-7-20]
Resident - Each resident of the State of Mississippi ages sixteen (16) through sixty-four (64), must obtain a hunting license, except while hunting on lands titled in his name. Any person sixty-five (65) or older, or any person otherwise exempted from obtaining a hunting license, must have documentation with him/her at all times while hunting as described in "Exemptions". [MS. Code 49-7-5] below.
Non-Resident - All non-resident hunters, except minors under the age of sixteen (16), are required to obtain a hunting license while hunting in the State of Mississippi.
Exemptions
Residents who are blind, paraplegic, a multiple-amputee, adjudged totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or totally service connected disabled by the Veterans Administration are not required to purchase a HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE. [MS. Code 49-7-5 and 49-7-9]. Residents exempt based on this criteria are required to have proof of their age, residency, disability status or other physical impairment in their possession while engaged in hunting and fishing activities. All exempt licenses previously issued for DISABILITIES are null and void.
Proof of Residency
ONLY PERSONS DOMICILED WITHIN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AS DEFINED IN SECTION 49-7-3 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE, AS AMENDED, ARE ENTITLED TO OBTAIN A RESIDENT HUNTING/ FISHING LICENSE.
Under this section, a person's domicile is that person's principal or primary home or place of abode. Provided, however, a person holding a current driver's license is deemed to be domiciled within the state that issued the driver's license. Even if a person currently resides within the State of Mississippi, for purposes of obtaining a hunting license, he/she is considered to be domiciled in the state which issued the driver's license.
I. If you HOLD a current driver's license:
a. If you hold a current MISSISSIPPI driver's license, you are entitled to purchase a resident hunting license.
b. If you hold a driver's license from any state other than Mississippi, you are required to purchase a non-resident hunting license.
II. If you DO NOT hold a current driver's license from any state:
You are entitled to purchase a resident hunting license if Mississippi is your principal or primary home or place of abode. A current Mississippi resident income tax return or a homestead exemption receipt may be considered as evidence of domicile, but these are not necessarily determinative. You may be denied a resident hunting license if you fail to provide adequate proof.
EXCEPTIONS
Even if you are domiciled in another state, you may purchase a resident hunting license if you provide either (1) a current identification card from a Mississippi college or university; or (2) a current military ID card showing that you are an active member of the Armed Forces (excluding Reserves and the National Guard) and proof that you are stationed on a military base in Mississippi.
Proof of age may be shown by the following:
A. A valid driver's license; or
B. Copy of birth certificate
Mississippi Lifetime License
Resident lifetime license applicants must prove that they have been domiciled in the State of Mississippi for a minimum of eighteen (18) months immediately prior to issuance of such licenses.