Goose decoy question

rob bishop

rob bishop

Member
Rating - 100%
5   0   0
Location
Western New Brunswick
I own a cut winter wheat field I'd like to hunt this year. My problem is all the geese are landing across the river in an oat field that belong to an anti-hunter farmer. Would leaving some decoys in the field help get them used to the field or just spook them once they're there. As far as someone stealing them, very unlikely.

Thanks, Rob
 
I would put the decoys only out when hunting,good calling a proper spread will bring in the birds,they will hit your field later after the oats are cut and spillage is gone. Ive seen guys that are good at calling ,bring geese in close away from others.dont be afraid to use your call.and make sure your hidden well with a few decoys and youll be fine
 
No. Put your decoys out when you hunt. No point acclimating the birds to a bunch of toy soldier birds. It will only make it that much harder to hunt them later. If they are passing over or within good visibility and hearing distance of your field you could probably traffic them with some good calling and lots of flagging but if you're not that experienced at calling, flagging and especially reading birds then best to wait until they jump fields and start hitting your place. Hunting the "X" is much easier than trying to bring them to where they prefer not be.
 
the spank said:
No. Put your decoys out when you hunt. No point acclimating the birds to a bunch of toy soldier birds. It will only make it that much harder to hunt them later. If they are passing over or within good visibility and hearing distance of your field you could probably traffic them with some good calling and lots of flagging but if you're not that experienced at calling, flagging and especially reading birds then best to wait until they jump fields and start hitting your place. Hunting the "X" is much easier than trying to bring them to where they prefer not be.
Click to expand...

In a scenario like this I'd probably run a 4:1 or 5:1 female:male ratio when trafficking geese! What would your ratio be Spank? :)
 
That's pretty much what I figured about leaving the decoys there. We're not the best callers but we can usually turn them in our direction. The biggest problem is there's a river pretty much between us, and they just lift out of the river, feed and go back. It's been around 30c here for a while and they're staying right in the water
 
dogger1 said:
Is the river big enough to jump shoot from canoe,assuming the river splits your properties or you have access .
Click to expand...


That would be the dumbest move yet!! That speaks of total inexperience right there. Blow them off their roost and they are gone for good. Leave the roost alone and they will hang out a long time allowing you to get many opportunities to get after them in the fields!!
 
dogger1 said:
Is the river big enough to jump shoot from canoe,assuming the river splits your properties or you have access .
Click to expand...

Couple of noob questions here... what is jump shooting?

Also if the river is really shallow can you just walk in with some waders? Is it legal to shoot birds on the water?
 
Suther said:
Couple of noob questions here... what is jump shooting?

Also if the river is really shallow can you just walk in with some waders? Is it legal to shoot birds on the water?
Click to expand...

Jump shooting is sneaking up or floating up quietly on them, getting within range and shooting them as they "jump" from the water to take flight. It is a highly effective method of ensuring you blow them right out of the area. You may get lucky and drop 3 with your three shots but you just educated the rest and scared them completely off their safe haven causing them to move to find another and that could be 150-500 miles away depending if they decide to book out altogether which they often will. Shooting the roost is the equivalent in human terms of burning your house down. If you burn your house down you have to move because you have no place to stay but if you burn the restaurant down you can go to another restaurant the following day provided your house is ok. Get what I am saying? Shoot the food sources. You hit them today on field A and tomorrow you can hit them on field B. They will just keep changing feed sites as long as the roost is left alone and they have a safe resting haven. That also means you just increased your odds of putting a posession limit in the freezer over several hunts as opposed to 3 birds and no more hunts?!!
Save the jump shooting for end of season here today/gone tomorrow kind of weather and last stragglers to leave when the odds are good they may not be there tomorrow because the weather is turning cold and freezing them out or the food sources are done for the year.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom