Bowhunting geese -- tips?

TheCoachZed

TheCoachZed

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I've been offered access to an insanely packed honeyhole of geese. Landowner wants me to use a gun, but I'm not comfortable with the distance from houses. Would rather use a bow. I know it's doable, I've seen it on YouTube many times.

Anyone here ever try it? It's a field hunt, and I'm mainly curious what broadheads I can use without blowing up my arrows if they hit the ground. I hear judo points are unreliable on geese.
 
Don't waste your time. Use a shotgun, if you're worried about distance to houses then use a.light.load.or.maybe it's not a place.you.shouod be hunting to begin with.
 
Confirm you have 200 meters and bring out the shotgun. If you really want to use a bow invest in some "flu flu" arrows if non ground shots will be taken, a conventional arrow shot skyward is way more dangerous than a load of BB's, 1's or 2's raining down to earth.
 
Ive shot dozens of ducks and geese with archery gear. Forget the flu-flu's... use the same arrows that you use for big game... to avoid lost arrows, you can use constrictor washers which grab the arrow shaft and kick it up in grass.
 
hoytcanon said:
Ive shot dozens of ducks and geese with archery gear. Forget the flu-flu's... use the same arrows that you use for big game... to avoid lost arrows, you can use constrictor washers which grab the arrow shaft and kick it up in grass.
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Are you wing shooting them with archery gear?
 
hoytcanon said:
Ive shot dozens of ducks and geese with archery gear. Forget the flu-flu's... use the same arrows that you use for big game... to avoid lost arrows, you can use constrictor washers which grab the arrow shaft and kick it up in grass.
Click to expand...

Same broadheads too? Not sure I can get away with the Muzzies in goose season due to provincial regs. I was going to try judo points but everything I read says it's a bad idea, you lose geese that way.

Also -- aluminum arrows or carbon? I figured aluminum would be less likely to blow up in my hand after hitting something hard on the ground.
 
TheCoachZed said:
Same broadheads too? Not sure I can get away with the Muzzies in goose season due to provincial regs. I was going to try judo points but everything I read says it's a bad idea, you lose geese that way.

Also -- aluminum arrows or carbon? I figured aluminum would be less likely to blow up in my hand after hitting something hard on the ground.
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I don't like the Aluminum arrow idea after a hard shot, you can flex carbon arrows (which id do after every shot) you'll be able to tell if they're out of commission. Aluminium arrows can bend and you won't be able to tell.

Broad heads will be a tough one to figure out because a standard broad head will just do some much damage and cutting clean through fairly easily I don't think it will be what your looking for. Depending on how far the shots are TBH i'd try a turkey guillotine style or a Turkey heart craft (i can't remember who makes it maybe NAP) they have like a secondary claw almost that makes them dig in.

And ^^^^ if you are going to shoot them in flight that arrow is going to be an absolute nightmare to find.
 
It's a lot of fun popping geese with the bow. A few tips:
- build your blind or cover to allow for several seconds of ranging, drawing and aiming. With a shotgun you don't need to plan for this.
- use your normal broadheads. I use rage knockoffs and they are absolutely devastating. Broken wings and breastbones are common even at extreme range.
- be prepared to lose arrows either through breakage or just going missing. There should be lots of shooting and geese tend to bugger off quickly when they see you draw your bow.
- just flex your carbon arrows after a miss and if they're crunchy, toss them. If not, keep shooting.
Good luck!
 
hoytcanon said:
Ive shot dozens of ducks and geese with archery gear. Forget the flu-flu's... use the same arrows that you use for big game... to avoid lost arrows, you can use constrictor washers which grab the arrow shaft and kick it up in grass.
Click to expand...

Curious Hoyt? How is hunting waterfowl with a bow legal when using a firearm with a single projectile is not ?
 
the spank said:
Curious Hoyt? How is hunting waterfowl with a bow legal when using a firearm with a single projectile is not ?
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Range and deflection are the answers to your question... an arrows limited range makes it far safer than bullets and they do not ricochet off water.

Other than a pair of bluebills taken on wing with a Snaro tipped flu-flu, all other birds were decoyed in and taken on water or on ground.
 
gps2 said:
It's a lot of fun popping geese with the bow. A few tips:
- build your blind or cover to allow for several seconds of ranging, drawing and aiming. With a shotgun you don't need to plan for this.
- use your normal broadheads. I use rage knockoffs and they are absolutely devastating. Broken wings and breastbones are common even at extreme range.
- be prepared to lose arrows either through breakage or just going missing. There should be lots of shooting and geese tend to bugger off quickly when they see you draw your bow.
- just flex your carbon arrows after a miss and if they're crunchy, toss them. If not, keep shooting.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

I'd planned on using a popup blind with shoot-through mesh.
 
Shooting migratory birds is illegal here in Alberta with archery equipment.........might want to to check with the nearest fish cops..............Harold
 
All it will take, is a single picture of a sturdy Canada goose, flying around or sitting in a park with an arrow sticking out of it's butt, to have the practice banned everywhere.
mbogo3 said:
Shooting migratory birds is illegal here in Alberta with archery equipment.........might want to to check with the nearest fish cops..............Harold
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I'd be fine with seeing head/neck shots only (with proper broadheads), but this is a slippy slope to walk on. So many goofs out there, that won't take it as seriously as a proper hunt.
 
Here's the rules read them!

Fully legal to the feds to use a long bow or compound bow however no crossbows. But you are still subject to provincial regs which can prohibit archery.
 
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