As the title implies, I have a group looking for a duck lease around the Houston area. Willing to travel up to 3 hours one way. Assuming most of the availabilities are going to be at large clubs (Riceland. Blessing, etc.) so I'm hopeful that some here will share their experiences with those clubs both good and bad.

Riceland is pretty poorly managed. It was one of the cheaper ones but they went up on their rates and our group said f it and left.

The better ones all have wait list so doubt you will get in on one this season.

Let's just all go in on the lake property a few threads below

Can't remember how long ago it was now - several years anyway - we had a bunch of us on here get together and try to find something but it seemed like every club was either a sht show on management, full or the cost vs. what you had available was just not palatable.

Look in the Eagle Lake/Garwood/Egypt/El Campo area, that's where most are these days. There used to be a few in the Bay City area as well but don't know if any are still around these days or not. If you can't find a club, Pintail is always a good fallback for a one off hunt or even for a season. I've never had a bad hunt there, but admittedly don't know the cost either since every hunt was an invite by a client/vendor.

I will second Riceland as the most over promising, mismanaged, garbage of a lease I have ever seen. He brings on anyone and everyone, only puts 'his guys' in the good blinds. I am using the term 'good' blinds very loosely.....

avoid that guy.

Riceland is a joke. I was a member in 21 but did not re-join after seeing what a poorly managed lease it was. They had a members only facebook group that I joined when I was a member. I didn't get kicked out of the facebook page until after the 22 season. At the start of September Teal (best opportunity to kill birds) they had leased more groups than blinds available. They held a lottery to see which groups got to hunt opening weekend.

I can always hunt public on the coast but even that has gone to **** over the last few years. Seems like we used to be able to kill a few birds. Now it seems like I'm waking up in the middle of the night to waste my time.

Blessing is in that area but not sure on there availability. Thunderbird is also in that area but not sure you'd get past the waitlist for next year or two. It's also pricey but it's the best club in TX and we always kill ducks. Happy to answer any questions.

Maximus Johnson said:

---

I can always hunt public on the coast but even that has gone to **** over the last few years. Seems like we used to be able to kill a few birds. Now it seems like I'm waking up in the middle of the night to waste my time.

---

Welcome to duck hunting everywhere in recent years. Not saying there arent good hunts to be had, but they are much fewer than they used to be. And that's even on some of the best private properties out there.

RO519 said:

---

Riceland is a joke. I was a member in 21 but did not re-join after seeing what a poorly managed lease it was. They had a members only facebook group that I joined when I was a member. I didn't get kicked out of the facebook page until after the 22 season. At the start of September Teal (best opportunity to kill birds) they had leased more groups than blinds available. They held a lottery to see which groups got to hunt opening weekend.

---

Basically same thing happened this last teal opener. It was chaos.

I would just find a reputable guide or outfitter with access to different spots and book them.

I dont like hunting with "guides". I have all of the stuff and the know how to do it myself and dont want some 22 year old yayhoo blowing a mallard call in the marsh.

You know what thunderbird costs per gun?

Maximus Johnson said:

---

I dont like hunting with "guides". I have all of the stuff and the know how to do it myself and dont want some 22 year old yayhoo blowing a mallard call in the marsh.

---

Thank you for saying what I was thinking. Reminds me of our trip to Hackberry La for a guided teal hunt years ago. The biggest mistake was getting into his truck at hackberry for the drive down to the marsh hunting spot. White knuckle ride with my son in the truck also….
Speaking of La, I've heard the best duck hunting within 2 hours of Houston the last 5 years has consistently been the farm fields South of the Vinton area. But I have no idea of availability as my friends hunt with landowner friends down there.
At our place on the NE side of Houston, there are very few rice fields in production and the duck hunting has dropped off considerably. Winnie/ Anahuac areas around rice fields has been much better in recent years.

Maximus Johnson said:

---

I dont like hunting with "guides". I have all of the stuff and the know how to do it myself and dont want some 22 year old yayhoo blowing a mallard call in the marsh.

---

I've never had a guide at Pintail that was under about 40 or so.

Last time I hunted I don't think he even blew the call once. Granted, it was teal season at the time but still - there wasn't a need and he didn't F up any opportunities for us.

Sent you a PM

I rarely call anymore. Most of the time you're only screwing things up

Maximus Johnson said:

---

I dont like hunting with "guides". I have all of the stuff and the know how to do it myself and dont want some 22 year old yayhoo blowing a mallard call in the marsh.

---

Try going on an El Campo guided goose hunt and the guide shows up hung over and forgot 3/4 of his decoys. Then tries to start a fight over a banded snow my buddy shot.

Mas89 said:

---

Maximus Johnson said:

---

I dont like hunting with "guides". I have all of the stuff and the know how to do it myself and dont want some 22 year old yayhoo blowing a mallard call in the marsh.

---

Thank you for saying what I was thinking. Reminds me of our trip to Hackberry La for a guided teal hunt years ago. The biggest mistake was getting into his truck at hackberry for the drive down to the marsh hunting spot. White knuckle ride with my son in the truck also….
Speaking of La, I've heard the best duck hunting within 2 hours of Houston the last 5 years has consistently been the farm fields South of the Vinton area. But I have no idea of availability as my friends hunt with landowner friends down there.
At our place on the NE side of Houston, there are very few rice fields in production and the duck hunting has dropped off considerably. Winnie/ Anahuac areas around rice fields has been much better in recent years.

---

Havnt hunted that area yet, but went fishing and stayed at Grosse Savanne and you could have shot 5 limits of teal from the road mid-summer.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

---

I rarely call anymore. Most of the time you're only screwing things up

---

All about the motion in the ocean

Ok, just a suggestion. I was referring to an outfitter with access to different private landowner spots, not a guide at a club. I have had mostly good experiences going with an outfitter, and I book multiple times when I find one I like. I just show up with my gun and a bag, and they do all the work for me.

Bringing this thread back to life. The place I hunt has no water so it looks like this year is going to be a bust. Yes I get that tomorrow is opening day around POC but I was wondering if anyone knew of any open places for two. The coast has gone crazy the guides staking their claim on public land every 100 yards so hunting a club or lease is preferred.