pass shooting / snow goose in SE Saskatchewan

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rkr

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is anyone going to chase them this spring? I'd like to try and would be my very first season and was looking for advice. How effective is pass shooting? I only have a 535 mossberg and no decoy :)
A friend of mine told me to drive in the country and just stop when I see them and start shooting.
 
Sounds like a great idea.....don't even get out of the truck, just let fly through the window........might as well use a rifle as well.





I would suggest you not take any advice from your friend....
 
In my experience, you won't get close enough unless you're very well camo'd and in a spot where they're either departing or arriving. They will probably be traveling way too high for pass shooting. I'd suggest getting even a few decoys.
 
It takes a LOT of luck to get under a flyway the geese are using with any degree of regularity as they go to feed, more luck to have them fly over within range, more luck to avoid just making them all go another route with your first shot, and I suspect from the question it will take some luck to hit them.

How lucky do you feel? Nothing is impossible, but there are very few snow geese killed by just driving around until you see them, and then jumping out and shooting.

Good luck to you.
 
yidava25 said:
In my experience, you won't get close enough unless you're very well camo'd and in a spot where they're either departing or arriving. They will probably be traveling way too high for pass shooting. I'd suggest getting even a few decoys.
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I may try some decoys, but at 2$ each I can't afford 500 of them. Just too expensive. This is my first season and still learning.
What's the best ammo for geese? I have a 28inch mossberg.
 
It's my favourite game. Find where they overnight and slip in close. At first light they'll all head out. You might get 10 minutes of good shooting, but it'll be fast and furious while it lasts.

Enjoy.
 
rkr said:
I may try some decoys, but at 2$ each I can't afford 500 of them. Just too expensive. This is my first season and still learning.
What's the best ammo for geese? I have a 28inch mossberg.
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I'm not too familiar with snow geese, especially in the spring, but who told you you need 500 decoys? Start with a dozen or two and add some every year... it's what I've been doing.
Any 3" #2 or BB steel shot will work. Unless you're pretty good at wingshooting don't waste money on the latest and greatest dollar-a-pop super ammo.
Good luck
 
You can stake the pampers down sticks or steel tent pegs , some guys spray paint a black V on them for affect. They do work well and are can be use over & over again depending on how wet they get.

pounder
 
yidava25 said:
I'm not too familiar with snow geese, especially in the spring, but who told you you need 500 decoys? Start with a dozen or two and add some every year... it's what I've been doing.
Any 3" #2 or BB steel shot will work. Unless you're pretty good at wingshooting don't waste money on the latest and greatest dollar-a-pop super ammo.
Good luck
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By the time the birds have made it back here in spring they have been pounded continuously since September. They are a tad educated! Spring snow goose hunting is a numbers game. Even a spread of 500 is a small spread for spring snows.
 
the spank said:
By the time the birds have made it back here in spring they have been pounded continuously since September. They are a tad educated! Spring snow goose hunting is a numbers game. Even a spread of 500 is a small spread for spring snows.
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Huh ok cool. Never tried for them in spring. I know it's almost impossible to get them into our Canada spreads in September because they're always in flocks of hundreds, lots of eyes.
 
rkr said:
A friend of mine told me to drive in the country and just stop when I see them and start shooting.
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And people wonder why they get tough to hunt?:bangHead:
They've had every trigger happy jump shooter on them since early sept and get pounded non stop for their entire migration right up to the breeding grounds - they've seen that game lots. Get under a flight path if you are going to try it without decoys. Before you go jumping fields maybe consider or ask if someone has been scouting that field and plan on hunting it in the near future? Heck, they might even want to bring you along if you run into them or ask around. Theres nothing more frustrating than seeing fields you've scouted, contacted the landowner, and did the rest of the prep work for get jumped just for a couple of birds if you're lucky.
 
yidava25 said:
Huh ok cool. Never tried for them in spring. I know it's almost impossible to get them into our Canada spreads in September because they're always in flocks of hundreds, lots of eyes.
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That and the fact the average Snow Goose is a decade old and has made the trip back and forth twice a year over every hunter with an eye to pursuing them. The only ones in the bunch that haven't seen it yet are the juvies. It doesn't take them too long to catch on either!
 
chisholm said:
And people wonder why they get tough to hunt?:bangHead:
Get under a flight path if you are going to try it without decoys.
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how do know what is their flight path? I guess this is more than a weekend thing. I'll ask some farmers that I know, hopefully they can help me.
 
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