The concept behind Ducks Everywhere is simple: Instead of spending thousands of dollars to hunt one blind all year and stay in a motel, everyone pools their resources for a lodge, a shop, and a variety of different hunting locations that include timber, sloughs, and fields. This provides the obvious advantage of being able to hunt where the ducks are on any given day, all for considerably less than the cost of leasing a blind in one field on a traditional lease.
If being a part of one of Arkansas’ oldest duck clubs and a good group of friends sounds good to you, continue reading more about the club below, look over the rest of the website, and submit the online application. Richie or I will continue the application process by giving you a call at some point to visit on the phone or in-person. Our visits help us decide who we believe would be the best fit for the membership and who think we would enjoy hunting with day in and day out. If at any point you aren’t sure we’re the right fit for you or your circumstances change, just say the word. Other than being willing and able to pay your dues right way if you’re invited, there’s no obligation on your part to do anything other than talk hunting for a while to see if Ducks Everywhere is right for you.
The number of members is limited so that every member could show up on the same day and have a choice of places to hunt. While this formula allows for a maximum number of hunters on any given day, its practical application allows us to manage all of our locations for a minimum amount of pressure since we rarely have more than a few members and guests hunting on even the busiest of days. From one year to the next, our membership ranges from 10 to 16 members, depending, in large part, on how many top-tier properties are available to us. We don’t have a lot of turnover in membership, but life’s circumstances do change for everyone and as a result, we do occassionally have one or two openings to fill. We usually begin phone interviews for those spots in April or May, and invitations are usually extended in August or September. Those are just generalities. You could be called and a position could be filled anytime throughout the year, so it’s never to late to apply.
Each member gets twenty guest passes. A member must use two of his passes each time his guest hunts a club property, and one pass each night his guest stays at the lodge. You may use your guest passes anytime space is available (which is pretty much always given how infrequently members actually bring guests).
New in 2024, Ducks Everywhere members each get two days where they can bring as many guests as there is room for without having to use their other guest passes. These “super-passes” can only be used with advance notice and only with the approval of other members that will be hunting that same day. This change was made by agreement with all the members so that those who want to bring a larger group of family or friends for just a day or two can do so without burning all of their passes for rest of the season.
The lodge has bedding for up to 20 people. Each member has his own bed and, if desired, a bunk above it for his guest or extra storage. Bed selection is based on seniority. The most senior members stay in the rooms downstairs, while other members stay upstairs in the “bunk room”. Bathrooms are both up and down stairs, and there is a large mudroom with a washer and dryer downstairs as well.
There are two TVs and a pool table in the living area, and a large dining table in the open kitchen area. Members are invited to leave their gear and hunting equipment at the Lodge throughout the season, either in their bunk area or in the large heated and attached shop with TV where we prepare and maintain equipment and frequently hang out for cookouts and fish frys.
The question most asked is how we determine who hunts where each day. The answer is simply that we decide it the same way we expect all friends do: We just talk about it the evening before and work it out. Some general guidelines we consider are that the members that put in the time and fuel to find the birds deserve the right to hunt them; members with guests generally choose their location last; and we try to save a hot field near the end of the week so the guys that may not get to hunt as often that are coming in on the weekend can hunt it with us. These general, flexible guidelines are a starting point in deciding who will hunt where, but exceptions may be made when needed.
As a member, you become “one of the guys”. We guarantee you and your guest a place to hunt and room at the lodge. You are not buying 60 days of “guided hunts” and maid service. Members are expected to participate in three work days before or after season (but may buy-out each of those days for $125/day if participation isn’t possible). Throughout the course of the season, every member is expected to help others prepare for the hunts and care for the lodge and equipment.
The club has about 2,000 duck and goose decoys for use. Members are expected to help maintain those decoys, and we all chip in a little bit every few years to replace some of them as necessary. Members are expected to provide their own toys (motion decoys, SWDs, etc.) and hunting gear to be able to go out on their own, but we all share and hunt over each others equipment when we hunt together, as is usually the case. If you own a hunting boat or ATV, bring it. If you don’t, no worries. There’s generally an extra or two available to borrow for the asking.
Annual dues are $4,900 for members joining in 2024. Once you join, you may expect your dues to remain at that level for as long as you are a member. Guys that joined last year, did so for $4,800. Guys that join next year will do so for $5,000. Get the picture? There’s no guarantee this pricing model will continue cover our expenses and last forever, but we’re about 15 years into this pricing model and we’re still holding on!