Goose Hunting on the Cheap? Post ideas!

oneskilledshooter

oneskilledshooter

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Okay, so I and I bet lots of other guys want to hunt goose, but the costs can add up fast. Especially the decoys. I have managed an okay duck setup by buying some used decoys and hiding at the waters edge in a basic blind made from natural (read free!) materials.

So I would like to hear your suggestions for Canada goose hunting in both water (with/without a boat) and in fields. I have heard that you can make decoys that work out of garbage bags? How does that work? How about home made ground blinds?
 
Well , I think the garbage bag idea works only for snow geese with white kichen catcher type garbage bags. as for Canada's it is relatively easy to make silhouette decoys. Get a sheet of 1/8" mahogany plywood make a pattern and cut out with a jigsaw. I made the body and heads separate and if memory serves me correctly got 17 decoys out of 1 sheet. Paint black and white and attach heads to body using small bolts, this way you can adjust for feeding or alert posture. As for blinds, it will depend on your setup. Natural cover is better or you could try burlap and corn stalks etc. Keep it light. Hope this helps.
 
If you can find an area to pass shoot it can be cheap and does not need decoys. In the past we have hid in willow bluffs on the edge of high banks by bodies of water. Wait till the birds go out to feed and if conditions are right they will fly low enough over you to get a shot when they return to the water.

At times it can be some great action but please check your local regs for legal areas to do this. The only expense is gun, shells, camo, and the cost of getting your butt there. ( Liscense don't hurt either )
 
powdergun said:
If you can find an area to pass shoot it can be cheap and does not need decoys. In the past we have hid in willow bluffs on the edge of high banks by bodies of water. Wait till the birds go out to feed and if conditions are right they will fly low enough over you to get a shot when they return to the water.

At times it can be some great action but please check your local regs for legal areas to do this. The only expense is gun, shells, camo, and the cost of getting your butt there. ( Liscense don't hurt either )
Click to expand...

Doesn't get cheaper then this or sneaking in on a flock.
 
Where are you? Lots of guys are glad to take an extra along. I went out on Fri by myself, so there is often room for another. & help putting out & picking up decoys can be work. Just ask around; gun club, Ducks Unlimited, any mens group,etc. Good luck AJ
 
hmr-hound said:
I hunt in cornfields every year. I use yellow painted water bottles (about 60-80) along with my 15+ canada goose decoys, I usually put my crow decoys out too.
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If yellow painted water bottles are suppose to imitate corn, it is illegal.
 
What about the fake plastic corn Avery sells then??

Never used the stuff though but when I think about it....you use fake geese to look like real geese...fake corn to look like real corn....whats the difference then?

Just went through the majority of the bird act and cant really find where it lists anything to do with the use of fake bait. Would love to see the rule just to see what the hell they are talking about and thinking.
 
Crazy_Farmer said:
What about the fake plastic corn Avery sells then??

Never used the stuff though but when I think about it....you use fake geese to look like real geese...fake corn to look like real corn....whats the difference then
...
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Yeah I think that there was a conviction for it in Ontario a couple of years ago. I was surprised too.

Let the birds guide you. If you see a big flock in some field, get permission as they'll likely come back the next day with no need for a big flock of expensive decoys, because they know the (real) food is there.

RG

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If I wasn't living in town I could just stand in my back yard and hammer them flying over some years.
 
Lotsa guys get nailed doing it in mitchells bay every year its illegal to use bait or imitation of bait. For me geese hunting is easy I go to my drive way drop the tail gate n shoot them as they just clear my house n trees. I live outta town on a flyway. If u have ditches and ponds try jumpin them there great fun to snap shoot. When I do field hunt I wear my ghilli suit works like magic
 
hmr-hound said:
I hunt in cornfields every year. I use yellow painted water bottles (about 60-80) along with my 15+ canada goose decoys, I usually put my crow decoys out too.
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I should start reading before typing I guess.

If memory serves a few guys have been arrested for using the yellow painted water bottles, by the law it can be considered baiting apparently. I'll see if I can find the new story.
 
Crazy_Farmer said:
What about the fake plastic corn Avery sells then??

Never used the stuff though but when I think about it....you use fake geese to look like real geese...fake corn to look like real corn....whats the difference then?

Just went through the majority of the bird act and cant really find where it lists anything to do with the use of fake bait. Would love to see the rule just to see what the hell they are talking about and thinking.
Click to expand...

I believe the wording is "bait or imitation of"....

I will see if I can find it.
 
On the cheap... When we where kids we used a big burlap bag spray painted as a ground blind and for decoys, we took three 5gal pails, split them in half, painted them like a goose and made wooden heads for them.

We killed lots of geese
 
"bait" means corn, wheat, oats or other grain, pulse or any other feed,
and includes any imitation thereof that may attract migratory game
birds;

From the MBA.
 
Thanks for all the tips gents. I like all of the home made decoy ideas (plywood and painted plastic pails especially!). Good discussion about artificial bait, I never would have guessed that was a no no. And that would be federal, so it applies to all of us I suppose.

It would be great to go with some guys, I just don't know any around here that hunt birds. I am in Guelph ON. I have a buddies farm up on the bruce peninsula where I can go plus some crown around here (very limited and not good goose habitat). It is hard to find farmers willing to let you hunt their land around here with so many guys asking, lots of guys who don't ask and ruin it for everyone else, plus I don't think that people out this way are as friendly or trusting as most other parts of the country. I am not giving up on it, but it is frustrating to say the least.

I do have a nice lake to go to near Ottawa and I have a boat, that's why I was curious if anyone had lake (floating decoy, etc) tips. I should be able to find some spots to pass shoot there, but I will have to look where they are flying naturally. We don't have many resident geese on the lake, but lots passing through all fall.

Gear I have currently is some camo to wear and a bunch of mallard duck decoys. I suppose that it wouldn't hurt to put out the duck decoys when goose hunting (in addition to goose decoys as well)? Do ducks and geese hang out together or would that look weird?

If anyone in southern ON has room for another guy sometime I would be up for that. I am responsible, willing to volunteer in some capacity to compensate and can give references too.
 
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