need some pointers on geese

[Billythreefeathers]

Many years ago, in my youth, Dad would throw out a bunch of duck decoys, we would shoot ducks, and then row out to retrieve them,, Well FF about 40 yr. to today. Property is surrounded by wheat, peas, canola and whatever else farmers grow. The property itself is just prairie grass, a few rolling hills, and an old shelter belt. The geese do fly by on their way to one or two lakes close by (5km),, Any suggestions on getting them to come in?? like decoys, blinds, calls. Aside from duck hunting in my youth, it's all new..

 

[Lead Loader]

Decoys and lots of them, a good goose call and an avery power flag might bring them in if they are far away.

 

[ValleyGunNut]

What he said!

 

[cupar1]

Agree with lead loader. Other thing would be setting up 30minutes before sunrise.

 

[Grouse Man]

You might be best off by setting up at one of their destinations and see where they are feeding/loafing. If they are just flying over your area, it may be hard to pull them down.

 

[Jonny_Cannon]

Keep something heavy for hand-to-hand to dispatch the wounded. They're mean buggers.

Cannon

 

[hoytcanon]

Partner... Forty years of experience has taught me one irrefutable goose hunting law... Never break it if you want to be consistently successful... Hunt where the birds are. Scouting between 9 am and 11 am... Is key to knowing where to set-up in the morning... 95% of the time the birds will be back tomorrow... If you are where they want to be, SIX decoys are plenty... If you are where they DON'T want to be, six DOZEN decoys won't be enough.

 

[kamlooky]

You need a pointer to git yer feathers.

 

[mbogo3]

I like to set up 18 field full body duck decoys in a loose group on one side and a dozen or so shell Canada decoys on the other side in a U shape leaving a landing spot in front of your blind.Face the blind with the wind at your back as waterfowl like to land into the wind. Furthest decoys can be set as rangefinders so you know when the birds are in the kill zone. Harold

I like heavy metal #3 or Black Cloud #3 with the last shell a BB load for a going away present!

 

[Grouse Man]

What hoytcannon said. If you are where the ducks/geese want to be, even shooting won't keep them away.

 

[Billythreefeathers]

tks guys,, I'll be scouting over the next couple of weeks or so,, I may lay out some decoys as suggested just to see if they will come in. The one lake just west of my place is a bird sanctuary so that's probably out.

 

[caramel]

What i do on my farmland, at the end of one field, i have little dam that cant be block with a thick plywood, i installed it one week before opening day, it create 100 feet by 100 feets shallow water, one dozen decoy floating and my calling... My boys and i usually do our limit in an hour or so, when they fly up Outawais river they have my little path of water between point A and B... They are drawned to water, work very good... JP.

 

[Home3]

Decoys and lots of them, a good goose call and an avery power flag might bring them in if they are far away.

......or just come to Toronto and grab as many as you can by hand (please do)! Tens of thousands of them are basically calling Toronto parks, any field and sidewalk grass....year round home. Pesky creatures. Only second to Toronto Raccons

 

[UKdave]

They follow "flight lines" find the lines, and as has been said 6-12 dec`s and a call and you should be golden, oh and give plenty of lead, they are going faster than they look.

 

[MattLS]

The more decoys the better. The V pattern is usually an ideal setup.

 

[the spank]

What you are inquiring about and describing is known in today's goose lingo as "running traffic". Trying to draw birds that are merely passing over in their usual routine to get to their feeding and watering locations. Running traffic requires a #### ton of decoys, usually making alot of noise by virtue of GOOD calling, not beginner's sounds, in combination with alot of flagging to catch their attention and convince them this is where the party is at.
Finding where they want to be and hunting that spot known as " hunting the x" is much easier and requires alot fewer decoys not to mention you can usually pull them in tight just by use of the decoys alone if you are not a competent caller.

 

[Radiohead]

In your opinion, what is the best sounding goose call? I use a long flute that sounds OK but it sure doesn't sound like anything I hear from the Pros on TV.

 

[Superbrad]

I lnow it's not my opinion you are asking for but I have a mick lacey zinc call and am a "par" caller and I find it the easiest to use and it helps me make a more accurate sound...