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goose hunting?

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2002 6:20 pm
by gator
what's up? have ya'll that do goose hunt had any luck...sitting here bored watching a duck video and wishing i could do some of that right now...just wondering what yall's up to...would love to hear some stories to pass the time...and if'n you got a spot for a never been goose hunter, well, i'm yo man :D

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2002 7:40 pm
by Anatidae
Well, it has been a great year so far........We've seen geese everytime we've gone........'seen'em fly right past the decoy spread.

I went on a scouting run this morning and had several groups of 6-8 birds land within 50 yds of me......what a thrill! (Too bad I was sittin' in my truck watchin' em land on the playground.) There was a young woman pushing a baby stroller around the jogging path. She hesitated a moment to let some incomers fly past at 20 feet high. I couldn't believe how close they came to her.

All-in-all I saw around 200 geese during trips to 3 different areas, including 42 mallards and 8 BW teal. 'Have a decent prospect for decoying some birds, tomorrow.......but I 've thought THAT, before. That's what's so great about this game....the anticipation.

I've made 6 scouting runs and 4 hunts. .......and so far, we've managed to take 4 birds on one hunt.

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2002 8:51 pm
by SB
I've made one hunt with two guests. We all got our limit. It was a blast.

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2002 9:59 pm
by Swamp Rat
Anatidae: Trade the camo for some Nike toggs and the eliminator for a stroller full of goose shells. You luck may change.

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 5:37 am
by Anatidae
'Swamp Rat'.......my wife liked your idea. She put a bonnet on her Golden Retriever and pushed her around the jogging path in a stroller she borrowed from a friend.

Well, not exactly...........but we ended-up with 10 geese, Saturday morning. The scouting run of the previous day proved to be the key........that and a lot of luck!

When the birds flew-out to feed, we pass-shot 4.

Then we set-up on a shallow flat where they were the previous day and waited. At 10:00 they came back to water. We were up against a small island the had some tall 'bean stalk' stuff over hanging the leaward side so we pushed the boat under the leaning canopy. We were in about 6" of water and placed 30 goose floaters around the area in groups of 6-10.

They landed about 100yds out and were curious enough to swim-in and check us out. My wife and her dog were bug-eyed when the group of about 15 birds perched on a log 40yds away. Fortunately, I was able to keep my wife from shooting and just wait to see what they'd do. I mean, they're in-range......we got'em.......let's see if they come closer.

Well, much to my surprise, 2 birds bailed-off that log and waded toward us, perching on another log at 25yds. They were juvinile birds so I told her to hold-on. Then the others (one-by-one) followed suit until we had 15 honkers wading and preening at 25-30yds.

The wind had been gusting to 20 knots all morning. It was blowing from us to them, which meant they would have to come toward us to get outa there. We finally called the shot and jumped'em up.

It was mayhem! We ended up with 6 birds outa that covey rise. 'Dog' went NUTS!! She hasn't been around that many floppin' geese at one time.

That's the most geese we've ever managed to kill in one day.......10. Scouting pays off........and finally, our luck did, too!

'Took a friend the next morning (to an different area) and he killed 2........one bird was around 9-1/2 pounds.

We ended-up taking 16 birds all season..........great start on what we hope to be a great year. 'Hope everybody else had similar luck with the geese.

What's next?........buy a bigger crock pot and spend the week scouting for teal.

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 8:17 am
by gator
hey anat, is the early season over...i don't know, i had the idea of going out to sardis this weekend when i go to the game...just curious, don't know the dates, and don't want to break any law...

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 4:39 pm
by Anatidae
Yup......closed Sunday at sundown.

Your next opportunity to hunt honkers will be Nov 18th - Jan 26th but the limit is 2 or 3, instead of 5.

Go out and start getting an idea of what they do during different moon phases and weather conditions so when the season opens, you'll have a jump on their 'patterns'. Just try not to disturb them as you observe.

Good luck!

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 7:02 pm
by Wingman
Y'all ought to come shoot some of these 21 pounders we have up here. Carry a few of them out and you'll be sore the next day.

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31
http://www.fowlmood.com

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 7:48 pm
by gator
when and where?

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 7:51 pm
by gator
well, shoot, i just realized that anat gave me the dates...well, wingman, i guess i don't need to know when and where just yet :( but hey, teal season starts up so maybe i'll get me a few of dem rockets :D

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2002 5:24 am
by Anatidae
Oh, I'd love to see some of those 'greaters'....... I bet they look like 747's coming-in.......'make yo heart jump outa yo chest, huh?

I think we're hooked on this goose thing, now that we've had a little success at decoying them. That's the ultimate....seein' those big birds coming toward you......skimming the water about 2 feet high. 'Like watching a squall line approach. Bring it on, baby!

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2002 7:40 am
by duforester
Hey Anatidae, sounds like you and the wife had fun chasing them there geese! Have you seen any teal at all???? I'm itching to do some hunting!

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2002 5:34 pm
by Anatidae
'Most teal I've seen in one spot,so far, is 8. 'Saw another pair 12 miles from THAT spot. "had a single buzz our goose spread twice, Saturday and she sat down in the decoys for a spell.

For some reason teal seem safe with geese.......there have been several occasions over the years when teal plopped-down in the goose spread......but never when teal season is opened, too. Funny how they know.

I'm going to scout Friday. Not expecting any great revelations but the cooler weather this weekend might make the birds move better.

This time last year I witnessed a group of around 75 birds in a wad.....saw'em two days in a row.......but during the Fall goose season.

Right now.......ain't much to get excited about, bird-wise

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2002 8:02 am
by duforester
Oh well. Maybe this cooler weather this weekend will push some our way!