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Finding a Fishing or Hunting Guide or Outfitter in Missouri

This page should only be a starting point for you in finding someone to guide you and your hunting or fishing partners in Missouri. Finding a guide involves locating someone familiar with the area and species for which you want to hunt or fish. But that is only the first step. A good guide not only knows where the game or fish are located and is good at thunting them, but is honest and reliable. He or she should also be a good communicator and follow through on his or her promises. So, use this database as a place to begin your search. But do not let it be a "one stop shopping experience."

Hunting Guides and Outfitters Section

You should either develop a list of criteria that you are looking for, or use the one below. If you spend some time doing research on the web for guides and outfitters, you will read some unfortunate tales. These tales range from last minute cancellations to outright fraudulent behavior. Do not jeopordize your time or your money by not doing due diligence before booking a hunt or a fishing trip.

Some basic questions to ask and have answers for:

1. How many years have you been in business in your current location?
2. What percentage of hunts are successful, and what defines a successful hunt?
3. How many hunts have you had to cancel during the last season?
4. Can you provide in writing a list of what is included in a package along with costs?
5. Can you provide me with references? (keep in mind this is only marginally helpful because if there are people with negative experiences, he will not likely give those names)

Hunting Guides by Missouri Geographical Region

Fishing Guides and Outfitters Section

When you begin your research for a guide, perhaps the best thing you can do first is to research the body of water and the fishing prospects on that body of water to the fullest extent possible. If you want to fish for walleye, then you should choose a body of water where fishing for them is great (or at least good). If you are mopre interested in the body of water than on the species you catch, start there. Knowing for example that Taneycomo is renowned for trout fishing will get you on the right guide sooner. The table below is organized by body of water. We categorized by what seems to be the guide services number one area. There are many that advertise they serve many areas. For example, few guide services only guide on Table Rock Lake. They usually also guide on Taneycomo and perhaps even on Bull Shoals. This is just our opinion, but if one lake is predominantly good for fishing one species, and a guide specializes on that lake, it seems to us a mistake to hire him to guide another species on another lake. Undoubtedly, there are some guides who can do an adequate job guiding multiple bodies of water. However, the saying "jack of all trades, master of none" comes to mind. You'll have to make that de3cision on your own.

When it somes time to choose between guides, the same questiones we proposed for hunting guides generally apply. There are some differences. You will want to know the quality, size, and type of boat taht will take you out. You might also wish to ask whether other fishing parties might be brought along in the same boat.

Fishing Guides by Body of Water Predominantly Served

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