Hunting for geese in Alberta

[j_06]

Illegal?? And what does three post have too with anything?? God damn this notion that your number of posts correlates to your knowledge:experience? It doesn't mean anything other than he signed up for a forum at a different date, it is so stupid it's not even funny. You yourself prove your logic is ####ed having 3681 posts and are still clueless! Maybe your the one who should stay home and familiarize yourself with some regulations.

Illegal as well. Sounds like the OP doesn't have a clue and might be better off staying home till he familiarizes himself with the regulations. 3 posts ?


Grizz

 

[j_06]

.....

 

[j_06]

Forgot to add: appreciate the heads on the choice of shotgun. Good to know I don't need anything above 3". In fact Cabelas has a sale on this: Maverick 88 Security 3'' 12-Gauge Pump Shotgun for $299. Seems like a very nice gun and probably more than I need as a starter gun but failing finding something used in decent shape for a very good deal, it's good to know a new one can be had for not that much.

I have the security and like it, but you need to find a maverick 88 field model if you want to go with a great budget shotgun. 26" barrel and removable chokes would be much better suited for your needs.

 

[Jim870]

Again, thanks for the valuable educational tips. Didn't even realize the plan was to shoot them during flight. This ought to add a whole dimension of challenge. But have to ask: if the bird is say, standing near the shore (of this large pond as would be the case with my hunting grounds) wouldn't it be preferable to shoot at this virtually stationary target? I mean, the spread from a 3" shotgun shell ought to hit every part of its body with sufficient power to penetrate through the feathers. Is this not the case? I can see why hitting it from underneath to be preferable as it's far less protected but it would also add tremendously to the challenge of actually hitting it. Assuming I can get within 20m of a standing goose, would it not be preferable to take that straight shot?

If indeed shooting at a flying bird to be the preferred method it'd be a very good idea to find a place where I could go shoot some skeets. Never quite knew what the fascination with skeet shooting was till I read what you said above. Guess it means a way to hone in your shooting skills in order to hit those birds during flight, huh?

Sounds like you have a bit to learn, with regards to shotgun, loads and choke as well as their effect. Fortunately the sporting shotgun forum here should answer most of those questions for you.
Waterfowl, either duck or goose when sitting on the water has the majority of their vitals bellow the water line and the remaining vitals other than CNS are covered by their wings and in a goose in particular those wings can prevent shot from reaching the vitals with enough energy to be quickly mortal. When shooting on the water or "puddling" as it is known locally you're really hoping to achieve a head shot, and while certainly possible, to do so consistently requires more than passing familiarity with your gun and the load it is shooting.

Yes skeet is an invaluable practice method required to make most of us good wingshooters(some rare individuals are naturals). The more time and shells you spend breaking clays this summer in particular under the tutelage of someone who knows shotgunning the vastly further ahead you will be and less shells you'll spend trying to get your birds. Also try to practice estimating range, until you are able to tell the difference between 30 yards (inside a shotguns effective range) and 40 yards, the maximum range for the majority of shooters, guns and loads to all be effective together. Aside from being great practice the clay games themselves are great fun and can be an addictive rabbit hole to fall into.

If you are hoping to successfully hunt this property for geese multiple times this fall it may be in your best interest to establish if the pond in question is a roost or watering hole. If a roost it will likely only take hunting pressure once before the geese wise up and move on. If you can find where the geese are feeding in fields you may be able to hunt them longer.

 

[JayCal]

Yep, much to learn. But thankfully the AB Hunters association has a course that I certainly plan to take next month. They cover everything including choice of firearms - something that clearly I also have much to learn. For instance 'till the replies here I had no idea there was a "security" shotgun vs. a hunting one. Looks like I greatly under estimated the amount of knowledge and investment - in both time and money - required to hunt geese. So much so that I'm even questioning if it's worth it. For instance, been reading on it and it seems that to successfully have birds to land near you a few dozen decoys are necessary. Plus tons of patience as you sit in your blind and wait. And wait. And wait some more.

As for the above, think it will be wise for me to go to the farm a few times to study what the geese are doing, figure out if they feed off the pasture nearby or just use the water hole. It would be a shame if I was to scare them away and not have them return next year, if this is a roosting pond for them. Then again I'd imagine that a different flock wouldn't hesitate to use the pond, so hopefully it isn't all that bad.

I have no interest to go door knocking asking for permission to hunt in someone's land. Am fortunate to have been offered this idilic scenario that's only 85km from home (each way). But I think I better start thinking of goose hunting more of an enjoyable sport than a way to get delicious meat for the BBQ. Not a cheap initial investment, that's for sure. But something tells me I'd greatly enjoy it. Just hope the first experience doesn't turn into a frustrating one where I come home with nothing but red on the face.

First steps first. I got a good deal of info from you folks here, got pointed in the right direction. Next is to take the course at the end of July. Then if it all doesn't seem way too complicated, look for a proper shotgun. Hit a shooting range where skeet is offered and practice, practice and a bit more. Then buy cammo clothing. Descent boots. Decoys. Materials to build a blind... all without any guarantee if I'll even get the chance to fire up the BBQ with some non antibiotic-filled avian meat.

But hey, if it involves shooting a gun then it'd still be worth it.

PS: read elsewhere that shooting a goose standing on the ground to be unsportsmanslike. And since I doubt one would let me get to within 30 metres of it, I suppose a head shot may not be in the cards, so guess flying it is.

 

[Jim870]

Yep, much to learn. But thankfully the AB Hunters association has a course that I certainly plan to take next month. They cover everything including choice of firearms - something that clearly I also have much to learn. For instance 'till the replies here I had no idea there was a "security" shotgun vs. a hunting one. Looks like I greatly under estimated the amount of knowledge and investment - in both time and money - required to hunt geese. So much so that I'm even questioning if it's worth it. For instance, been reading on it and it seems that to successfully have birds to land near you a few dozen decoys are necessary. Plus tons of patience as you sit in your blind and wait. And wait. And wait some more.

As for the above, think it will be wise for me to go to the farm a few times to study what the geese are doing, figure out if they feed off the pasture nearby or just use the water hole. It would be a shame if I was to scare them away and not have them return next year, if this is a roosting pond for them. Then again I'd imagine that a different flock wouldn't hesitate to use the pond, so hopefully it isn't all that bad.

I have no interest to go door knocking asking for permission to hunt in someone's land. Am fortunate to have been offered this idilic scenario that's only 85km from home (each way). But I think I better start thinking of goose hunting more of an enjoyable sport than a way to get delicious meat for the BBQ. Not a cheap initial investment, that's for sure. But something tells me I'd greatly enjoy it. Just hope the first experience doesn't turn into a frustrating one where I come home with nothing but red on the face.

First steps first. I got a good deal of info from you folks here, got pointed in the right direction. Next is to take the course at the end of July. Then if it all doesn't seem way too complicated, look for a proper shotgun. Hit a shooting range where skeet is offered and practice, practice and a bit more. Then buy cammo clothing. Descent boots. Decoys. Materials to build a blind... all without any guarantee if I'll even get the chance to fire up the BBQ with some non antibiotic-filled avian meat.

But hey, if it involves shooting a gun then it'd still be worth it.

PS: read elsewhere that shooting a goose standing on the ground to be unsportsmanslike. And since I doubt one would let me get to within 30 metres of it, I suppose a head shot may not be in the cards, so guess flying it is.

I had not meant to be discouraging, it is certainly possible to put a stalk on and "jump hunt" geese, though difficult because they do tend to have be a little more aware and be warier than most birds. There are few guarantees with hunting, or else everyone would still be doing it but the best thing you can do for any type of hunting success is invest as much effort into scouting and recon as you can. In my opinion camouflage clothes aren't needed, wear natural colors, browns, greens etc, the most important part is remaining as still as possible. I know some view jump hunting as another "unsportsmanlike" behavior and personally disagree with them. While I won't target large flocks, too much risk of wounding birds accidentally and perhaps not recovering them, a well executed stalk resulting in a successful shot or hopefully 2-3 to me is damn near as rewarding as carefully hiding blinds, setting decoys and skillfully calling to have birds come in wings cupped and feet down to 20 yards. As I am sure your course will teach you your individual ethics are something only you can decide upon.
Pass shooting is another option that doesn't require decoys. Just setting up where the birds fly over in range and you can hide, think ditch or fence line, but shots will likely be a little longer so more consideration must be given to the choke and load used, also practice will be more important as nothing replaces actually shooting to get good at doing it.
Shooting the roost may put the birds out for a few days or the remainder of the fall, hard to say I don't know the migration in your area. I hate to say it but the only cheap animal based protein easily attainable is what you're trying to avoid.

 

[stubblejumper]

Yep, much to learn. But thankfully the AB Hunters association has a course that I certainly plan to take next month. They cover everything including choice of firearms - something that clearly I also have much to learn. For instance 'till the replies here I had no idea there was a "security" shotgun vs. a hunting one. Looks like I greatly under estimated the amount of knowledge and investment - in both time and money - required to hunt geese. So much so that I'm even questioning if it's worth it. For instance, been reading on it and it seems that to successfully have birds to land near you a few dozen decoys are necessary. Plus tons of patience as you sit in your blind and wait. And wait. And wait some more.

As for the above, think it will be wise for me to go to the farm a few times to study what the geese are doing, figure out if they feed off the pasture nearby or just use the water hole. It would be a shame if I was to scare them away and not have them return next year, if this is a roosting pond for them. Then again I'd imagine that a different flock wouldn't hesitate to use the pond, so hopefully it isn't all that bad.

I have no interest to go door knocking asking for permission to hunt in someone's land. Am fortunate to have been offered this idilic scenario that's only 85km from home (each way). But I think I better start thinking of goose hunting more of an enjoyable sport than a way to get delicious meat for the BBQ. Not a cheap initial investment, that's for sure. But something tells me I'd greatly enjoy it. Just hope the first experience doesn't turn into a frustrating one where I come home with nothing but red on the face.

First steps first. I got a good deal of info from you folks here, got pointed in the right direction. Next is to take the course at the end of July. Then if it all doesn't seem way too complicated, look for a proper shotgun. Hit a shooting range where skeet is offered and practice, practice and a bit more. Then buy cammo clothing. Descent boots. Decoys. Materials to build a blind... all without any guarantee if I'll even get the chance to fire up the BBQ with some non antibiotic-filled avian meat.

But hey, if it involves shooting a gun then it'd still be worth it.

PS: read elsewhere that shooting a goose standing on the ground to be unsportsmanslike. And since I doubt one would let me get to within 30 metres of it, I suppose a head shot may not be in the cards, so guess flying it is.

'Security" is a name used by Mossberg, other companies call similar guns "defense" guns, or" tactical" shotguns, or something else. It takes more than just setting out a few dozen decoys, you need to know where to set them up, and how how to set them up properly, so they look natural, and don't actually spook the birds. You set up decoys where the geese are actually feeding or landing, not just a place where you want them to come. Poor calling is also worse than no calling. Successful goose hunting is usually the result of knowledge and preparation.

 

[the spank]

Don't get discouraged before you even start. For a minimum investment you can successfully hunt geese. Remember that the equipment investment can last you years and years so it may seem steep in the beginning but averaged out over time it is actually not that expensive. Decoys for example are made of plastic and if stored and transported with a bit of care can last you many years. One fellow I used to hunt with up until a couple years ago is still using the goose decoys he purchased in the early 80's and duck decoys he bought in the 60's. He still kills his share of birds over them. As for blinds if you are a hunting a slough edge mother nature will provide you with all the material you will ever need. Using the natural cover, keeping your profile hidden or broken and face covered is all you need for hiding yourself from wary eyes.
Yes shooting a goose standing still say 20 yards away is not an issue to kill it. A tight choke with sufficient shot size and a shot to the head will pretty much guarantee mr goose's goose will be cooked, trouble is getting to within twenty yards of one standing still. Opening day you may be able to sneak up on the birds on your friends slough and get a shot but any survivors are not going to let that happen on your next visit. Once shot at they get wise quickly. As for blowing them off the roost, they will return usually early on but shot at a few times and they will be gone for the season generally. You won't put them off permanently unless you happen to kill all the birds that called that slough home and that is pretty doubtful so no need to worry about them not returning for the next breeding season. They will be there year after year come hell or high water.
You will probably find you enjoy it very much and can make the decision in time if you want to add to your investment or run with what you have. It just depends how serious you become. I can tell you from my experience that learning to call and being able to have birds answer you back and talk with you right into the decoys is more of a thrill than shooting them is most days.

 

[JayCal]

Agreed, other than the initial hefty investment, the yearly costs would be only that of all the permits and shells. When you consider the cost of beef, you see why this could be a great investment. However when I presented all the costs to the boss, CFO of my wallet, Supreme Commander in Charge of Finances - aka the wife - I got a resounding NO!

So I did what any smart husband would while facing such opposition: I conned her into going to visit our friend this weekend
The pretence being that we're going to go visit an orchard nearby where she likes to buy flowers from, something we're overdue. While there I plan to take plenty of pics of the area and learn more about these geese from our friend's account. May be just what's needed to convince my better half that this is something worth looking into. And how we can literally fill our large freezer with this grade A meat. And our friend's freezer. While avoiding all the scary chemicals found in commercial poultry. With the icing on the cake being that soon I'll be able to bring our oldest hunting with me, something that one simply cannot put a price on.

So yeah, come Sunday night check here for some pics and hopefully even a video of the area. With some luck there'll be some geese visiting that day. Hope that "seeing" what's there that it may give you guys a better idea of which approach I should take and/or if this is going to be a lot trickier than it's worth for a beginner.

 

[the spank]

This time of year you will see adults raising their young. Once the little guys can fly its a different story. That slough may just be a spot birds from around the area use as a major roost. Only scouting will tell. As for a CFO for my wallet dictating my hobbies? Never!! Remember you can't eat flowers and they don't last the rest of your life like a gun will!!

 

[cant_rope_the_wind01]

if we lived within reasonable traveling Distance I would say skip the buying of anything this year, come hunt with me I have enough equipment you could use
but a 14 hour drive just isn't reasonable unless its a week long hunting excursion
hopefully you will meet someone who would be willing to mentor you close by
a good experienced hunter with patience of teaching is invaluable
but the experience would be well worth it

 

[JayCal]

Thanks for the offer, I completely agree that something like this demands mentoring. But below is the reason why I will pass on your kind offer.

Went to the farm as planned, it all worked to perfection and I came home with a huge smile in my face. First off, wife got her many flowers at a price far cheaper than the local big box stores. This part of the con went flawlessly. But best yet, she was there when I spoke to the farm owner, a close friend of the missus. Better yet, our other friend, the older gentleman that has a lot of hunting and farming experience - and the only other person she will allow to hunt in her large farm - was there too so I got all the info I needed from both parties. And this only gets better: will be able to use the husband's shotgun. He no longer lives at the farm due to an unfortunate severe health issue and as such his guns were sent away for safekeep since no one in the residence has a PAL. Long story short, shotgun will be returned to her next month and I will be bringing it home with me for safekeep (since I have a Pal). With this big hurdle behind, wife is now onboard with going ahead with me taking the hunters course and obtaining the permits.

As for the geese, the news is good too: only large pond around and our friend has scouted it plenty. He even said what has been said here, that even if they get scared away for a couple of days they will return. He expects I can kill 4 a day easily, even as a newbie. There are hundreds of them, although I only saw one today in the middle of this mini lake and I couldn't make up if it was a goose or a duck. But different story come September. This friend of ours has a hunting license but does not have a Pal (yet), which is why together we'd have it all covered. He lives a lot closer to the farm than I do and he goes there often as he's landing the owner a hand keeping things going. And he will be there when I show up in September to not only mentor me, but also to help himself to the goodies. Also deer and moose are a very real possibility as these are common there too. He even suggested slugs for the shotgun to be more than adequate for deer, although I have to argue against the not ideal open sights of a shotgun. Anyway, depending how things go I can always look at a 30-30 down the road, especially if I don't have to spend money on a shotgun.

So I have the green light from the missus. Will be booking the hunters course for July. Should have the shotgun in my hands by the first week of July. Then just a matter of getting shells and practice a bit, at the farm. And on coyotes Apparently there's a group that has been harassing them most nights. Plan to bring my tent trailer there and spend a couple of nights at the ready (suppose I will need slugs for coyotes?).

I'm not typically a devious person but the con I pulled on the wife worked so well, I confessed to her on the drive home. She was OK with it, as she's a sucker for decent meat and apparently they don't get much better than antibiotic free geese (and hopefully deer too).

Also reminded her that this golden opportunity that landed on my lap isn't something anyone should pass on. Told her that I know people that would kill for this privilege. So there you have it, getting the PAL has opened up some doors I never imagined.

 

[Cintax]

You can make your own silhouette goose targets if you are on a budget. Silo socks are another inexpensive option for decoys, so is buying used.

Don't get discouraged, just do your research and educate yourself as much as you can. Alberta is a land of opportunity for all hunting pursuits so be sure to explore them.

But different story come September. This friend of ours has a hunting license but does not have a Pal (yet), which is why together we'd have it all covered.

He will need his own PAL unless you plan to share a single gun.

 

[Superbrad]

This has been an amusing read....

Jaycal, I will give you only one piece of advice as Spank and others have steered you in the right direction....

Forget everything you have learned from shooting pistols and or rifles at paper on the range.... Goose hunting (or hunting any bird, for that matter), is not about sniping, shooting them where they have less protection etc..... This is not a tactical takedown of some sort.....

Get yourself some camo, a decent shotgun, build a blind near the pond and learn how to call geese by buying a call and mimicking .wav files you can get online.... Then, try it out in the feild before hunting season... Decoys are always a big plus, and in a pond situation, you only need a handful....

Then, once sufficiently addicted, prepare to spend a lot of money and time..... lol

 

[JayCal]

Here's a pic of the area, to give everyone a visual of what has been discussed here:

Made this panorama from a video, poor quality but gives an idea of the size of the pond. Basically it's huge although virtually dry, due to the lack of rain in AB this year. There's already a canoe there, something I wasn't aware. So fetching birds from the water without being eaten alive by leeches shouldn't be a problem.

I don't know where the property line is but it extends well beyond the pond in all directions. This is a large chunk of land. The house is 60m behind me, the pond some 40m in front of me. Other than a few ducks and ducklings, didn't spot any geese. Our friend that has lived in this farm for over 20y says hundreds arrive in the fall. According to this other friend of ours we can pretty much pick a decent spot for a hide and rake in the yield. He's that confident it will be that easy. No one has hunted these grounds since the husband fell ill 4 years ago. Deer and moose have become accustomed to come here without any human intervention. If this isn't an ideal hunting spot, I don't know what is. Hard to believe the good fortune that has befallen me. Bet some of you experienced hunters that have been through it all may think I won the lottery. Well, come fall we'll see if I can cash in.

All is coming along nicely. Having access to what I'm sure is a decent shotgun is a huge hurdle I no longer have to worry about. No one could give me any info on the shotgun but since it was purchased by the land owner, an avid hunter, you can bet your pennies that it will be something decent. Will be posting pics once it's in my possession and try and learn as much about it as I can, from you folks.

This other friend of ours, the only other person allowed to hunt here and someone that knows his stuff, says that we don't even need to bother with decoys as the geese won't move out. He seems confident that all we need is a hide and a good aim. So yeah, having him show me the ropes will be great, as this whole thing apparently is a lot tougher than I had realized. And yes, we'd be sharing the same gun. Although if I was to bring two guns could I not just "lend" him one? After all he's with me, is this not right? I ask cause there may be a centre fire .22 in the house somewhere. Unfortunately the owner cannot speak due to his illness and it'd be up to us to locate it (trust me, easier said than done). But if we do locate it, can a centre fire be used for goose hunting? Friend claims it is OK, although my understanding is that a shotgun must be used. He said a rim fire isn't allowed but a (rare) .22 centre fire is. Maybe someone could clarify this? Sure would be a lot better if we could each use a gun (not that he'd have much chance shooting one off the skies with a .22)

 

[Superbrad]

You can't use a rifle on geese... Shotguns with steel shot only.......

You need to prioritize and get your hunting course done...... Then many of your questions would be answered....

Your friend needs his hunting license as well as a PAL to hunt alongside you.....

 

[stubblejumper]

Here's a pic of the area, to give everyone a visual of what has been discussed here:

Made this panorama from a video, poor quality but gives an idea of the size of the pond. Basically it's huge although virtually dry, due to the lack of rain in AB this year. There's already a canoe there, something I wasn't aware. So fetching birds from the water without being eaten alive by leeches shouldn't be a problem.

I don't know where the property line is but it extends well beyond the pond in all directions. This is a large chunk of land. The house is 60m behind me, the pond some 40m in front of me. Other than a few ducks and ducklings, didn't spot any geese. Our friend that has lived in this farm for over 20y says hundreds arrive in the fall. According to this other friend of ours we can pretty much pick a decent spot for a hide and rake in the yield. He's that confident it will be that easy. No one has hunted these grounds since the husband fell ill 4 years ago. Deer and moose have become accustomed to come here without any human intervention. If this isn't an ideal hunting spot, I don't know what is. Hard to believe the good fortune that has befallen me. Bet some of you experienced hunters that have been through it all may think I won the lottery. Well, come fall we'll see if I can cash in.

All is coming along nicely. Having access to what I'm sure is a decent shotgun is a huge hurdle I no longer have to worry about. No one could give me any info on the shotgun but since it was purchased by the land owner, an avid hunter, you can bet your pennies that it will be something decent. Will be posting pics once it's in my possession and try and learn as much about it as I can, from you folks.

This other friend of ours, the only other person allowed to hunt here and someone that knows his stuff, says that we don't even need to bother with decoys as the geese won't move out. He seems confident that all we need is a hide and a good aim. So yeah, having him show me the ropes will be great, as this whole thing apparently is a lot tougher than I had realized. And yes, we'd be sharing the same gun. Although if I was to bring two guns could I not just "lend" him one? After all he's with me, is this not right? I ask cause there may be a centre fire .22 in the house somewhere. Unfortunately the owner cannot speak due to his illness and it'd be up to us to locate it (trust me, easier said than done). But if we do locate it, can a centre fire be used for goose hunting? Friend claims it is OK, although my understanding is that a shotgun must be used. He said a rim fire isn't allowed but a (rare) .22 centre fire is. Maybe someone could clarify this? Sure would be a lot better if we could each use a gun (not that he'd have much chance shooting one off the skies with a .22)

Firstly, don't get caught discharging a firearm at night in Alberta. Secondly, hopefully the shotgun mentioned fits you, as fit is important, thirdly, don't listen to anything that the person that is telling you that it's legal to use a .22 caliber cemterfire for waterfowl says, because he is clueless. And by the way.22 cal centerfires are not at all rare.

 

[medvedqc]

an ar15 and 30 shot magazine should make one of the best geese slayer dont you think? of course multiple lols ....

 

[the spank]

I gave up on helping this guy after reading between the lines. All this guy wants is a cheap source of meat to appease his wife and his obvious cheapskate side. He doesn't want to have to spend a dime if possible or learn to hunt. He has been given tons of advice on how to get started at the most minimal of costs yet all he keeps yammering about is wanting to ambush geese on a single pond to collect "x" number of birds per trip to make his $20 worth of gas and ammo feasible. We have all hunted with these types over the years and its why they always have nobody to hunt with eventually.

 

[JayCal]

Thankfully for you, I'm not asking you to join me. And what's wrong with having that as an incentive to get into the sport? Having meat that isn't raped by chemicals as a prize is a great target to aim for. Even if I bring home nothing but empty shells it'd gotten me started. Besides, the land owner who is struggling to make ends meet after the downfall of her husband's health has this incredible source of natural resources that can be tapped into so your take is, let it be since our incentive is to hunt for food??

You have your opinions and that's fine. Appreciate the all the help you provided so far. If everyone else feels the same way, well there's always the unsubscribe button.

Edit: lets see how you'd feel if you became a single mom all of a sudden with 3 kids to raise, while seeing this incredible amount of resource literally at your doorstep. But hey, suppose a "real" hunter isn't in it for the meat huh?