I have been an avid hunter since I was a teenager. Goose hunting became a passion of mine early on. I got an opportunity to guide for the first guide service that opened in Rochester in 1982, at the prime age of 19. I guided for 5 years for that service. Being out every day of the hunting season taught me quickly how to kill geese in any situation.
In 1996 I took over the Rochester Goose Hunting from Mark Leitzen and have been on my own ever since. I also enjoy turkey, deer and pheasant hunting very much with any free time that I get.
As owner of Premier Flight I've tried to incorporate a fun learning experience for our clients and create the best opportunity to harvest geese on a daily basis. I take every hunt personal and want to show people the best hunting experience possible.
I was 7 years old when my dad started Premier Flight and some of my earliest memories involve painting wood silhouette decoys, loading up trailers full of big magnum shells and Bigfoots, and helping with getting the fields ready once the crops were cut.
I have been fortunate enough to spend many days in the field with some of the best waterfowl hunters in the country. I try to utilize this knowledge and experience to give our clients the best hunt possible every day I am in the field. The best parts of waterfowl hunting for me are experiencing a person's first hunt or first bird (especially kids), teaching and exchanging knowledge, and taking a moment during each hunt to appreciate the opportunity that we have as outdoorsmen.
Looking forward to seeing you in the field!
Scott grew up hunting around the goose-rich area of Rochester, he started guiding at the age of 15 and nine years later still enjoys taking people out hunting. Besides spending more then 120 days in the field hunting from Canada to Tennessee each year, Scott is also an accomplished goose caller and is involved in contests around the country.
He holds 19 major calling championships including the 3 Minnesota state titles, the World Team Championship three runner-up finishes at the World Championship, and the 2008 World Live Goose Calling title. In Scott's words, "I believe Premier Flight is by far the most dedicated group of hunters I've seen, from safety, field location, and professionalism you won't find a better outfitter around".
At an early age, I was introduced to waterfowl hunting with my Family. I have been hooked ever since. With 40 years of experience, my favorite part is continuing to make new memories.
I have been an avid waterfowl hunter since I was 18 years old. I truly love to be spending time in the fields or on the water chasing birds. I love getting out setting up a spread and watching hard work come together. I enjoy guiding because you never know what is going to happen and who you are going to meet. Some of my favorite hunts are with the growing youth of the sport. Nothing excites me more than getting a flock of birds in close and watching our youth hunters shoot their first goose or duck.
There is no better way to connect and meet new people than to do it doing something you love to do. Waterfowl hunting is my passion. Everyday I am in the field I am using knowledge learned to try to give our hunters the best experience I can. The goal is to give the hunters a story they can share with their friends and family about their experiences with us.
I am a father of three wonderful children, and I have a super supportive wife. My Children have developed a passion for hunting as they grown up. My oldest is just starting to hunt and loves to be out there by my side. Just remember there is always a chance and in waterfowl hunting you must be present to win. Looking forward to having the opportunity to make memories and share stories with you.
See you in the field
I absolutely love Canada Goose hunting. For me there is something about a Giant Canada Goose, wings bowed up, wingtips almost touching each other, descending into the decoys that just can't be beat!
I started goose hunting at a young age using a hockey stick as a gun. When I was able to swing a single shot 20 gauge I would join my Dad for an extended weekend, along with some good family friends and travel to Lac Qui Parle, MN to pass shoot geese coming off of the refuge. I asked my Dad if I could put out some decoys in front of our dug out dirt pit we had rented for the day. That is when I caught the bug. The first flock of geese to come over the tree line and lock up on our decoys lit a fire that has been burning for 40+ years.
A lot has changed since that first goose hunt. Steel shot, guns, decoys, calls, and hunting partners. The one constant has always been the geese.
At Premier Flight we strive to make every hunt enjoyable and memorable. Get a group of friends together and plan a weekend of entertainment with us at Premier Flight! I would love to be a small :) part of it!
I've been hunting waterfowl seriously for over 25 years. I did some hunting prior to that but really took a passion to it later. I also Bow hunt and fish. I would say hunting geese is by far my favorite of all. I enjoy every challenge they give which makes the rewards more satisfying.
Being with Premier Flight also gives the opportunity to meet others from all over the US and honestly from all over the world. The socialization while hunting with others make every hunt worth every minute of successful days and the unsuccessful ones.
I was bit by the waterfowl bug at the young age of 12 on my first duck hunt in western Minnesota. For most of my early years of chasing waterfowl, ducks were the game for me. That all changed around the mid 90's in Fergus Falls when my brother and I decided to try our hand at field hunting for geese. I have been hooked on hunting these birds ever since that day.
Now almost 30 years later I still have the same passion for chasing geese as I did all those years ago. I enjoy sharing that passion for goose hunting with all the hunters who come to Rochester to enjoy a day in the field with Premier Flight.
I have been an avid waterfowl hunter since the day I picked up my first shotgun ! I spent many of my younger days retrieving birds for my father as he taught me about this great sport. I guide hunts every year from Arkansas to South Dakota . I enjoy watching the birds work in close just as much as taking the shot . Hunting Canada geese is in my blood, they are my favorite species to hunt, there's nothing better then a foggy morning with a flock of giants breaking through into the decoys!!! I also enjoy archery hunting and fishing in my spare time!!! Hope to see you out there soon!!!
I have over 30 years waterfowl hunting experience, and have been guiding goose hunters in the Rochester area since 1993. I enjoy fishing, hunting and camping with my family in my spare time.Premier Flight is the Best in this area, no other guide service has better fields and quality guides than us. We strive to make each hunt a memorable one for you, let us do the work so you can sit back and enjoy the hunt.
I would be glad to give a few goose calling tips as well, I'm a two time Minnesota goose calling champion, two time Grand National goose calling champion, IWA North American goose calling champion and the Minnesota Regional goose calling champion. Please stop down to hunt with us this season you will be glad you did.
Steve "Smitty" Smith is a legend in the Premier Flight family. With the nick name of dead feathers, Smitty knew how to kill geese with the best of them. He embodied what it meant to be a true outdoorsman, and brought passion to his work every day. Smitty was just as entertaining with his many stories of shots missed and the ones that just should have never gotten away. Rest in Peace.