Hunting for geese in Alberta

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JayCal

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New to the sport, could use a bit of clarification.
Friend has a large farm and has invited me to do some hunting there, possibly geese as they flock to the large pond in the fall. Are we allowed to hunt geese and if so, how do I go about obtaining a license? Any idea how many can be taken down? We'd be splitting the bounty, hoping to be able to get at least 4, if that's even a possibility. Can someone please share some insight on this? This would be my first time out hunting, could use a bit of guidance as I'm as green as they come.

Also, what would be a good gun for the occasion? A 12 gauge I presume? Have my PAL but not looking to spend much as a starter/first time venture.
 
As far as licwnce and limits check out provincial hunting summary and federal govt migratory bird regs. Invest in some good commo clothing a good call or two and some decoys. Spend hours and hours practicing your call or the birds may get spooked. As far as guns an older 12 ga pump or semi with a modified choke would do, but i woild recomend looking at a winchester sxp or sx3. Preferably with a 3" chamber.
 
How many geese you are allowed to kill, and how many a totally green person with zero experience will kill, are usually very different. With proper gear and preparation you could be very successful, but with little to no preparation, no decoys, no calling skills, and poor shooting skills, you may not kill any geese.You need to start by completing your Alberta Hunter education course, and then learn the regulations and the seasons that apply to the location. Then it would be worth your while to go and shoot some clays to see if you can actually hit anything that you aim at with a shotgun. I have seen people shoot boxes of ammunition, and not kill a single goose, because they lacked wingshooting sklls, and they were often shooting at birds that were well out of range.
 
Shoot at geese on the water and see how short a season you end up with. You need to get them when they come in the feed on the fields. Of course then you will need a few decoys and a blind of some kind also. You also get a chance on a few ducks if you do it right.
 
As stated you'll need to take a hunter education course if you haven't already. Then you will need to purchase a Win card(AB), a provincial bird license (can't recall the actual term) and then a Federal Migratory Bird Permit which is available around the first of August each year at any Canada Post outlet. Now armed with your licenses next you'll need a shotgun, probably from all around capability and cost of non-toxic shotshells a 12 gauge would be your best value. You DO NOT need 3.5" capability. A gun with a chamber capable of digesting both 2 3/4" & 3" ammo is plenty sufficient and having screw chokes designed for steel shot which most come standard with nowadays is your best bet.
I do not know the size or type of pond you intend to hunt but you will need some form of way to retrieve any birds downed over water. A trained dog is best if you have one or a hunting partner does. Failing that a canoe or waders(depth taken into account of course) will suffice. Now if say you are hunting a very small dugout or slough being used daily you may get away without decoys and just lay hidden in wait however most times you will require at least a few realistic decoys. Canada Geese on water are suckers for the most part and will decoy to very few decoys. A 6 pack of NICE decoys like Dakota Honkers are deadly on them. If you cannot call, don't. Poor calling is 1,000x worse than no calling. I would however suggest buying a short reed style goose call along with a good instructional DVD/CD and practice, practice, practice until everyone around you thinks you have lost your marbles! Once you learn to speak goose the combination of quality decoys and good calling is a recipe for alot of goose recipes. Now get busy and get going now to get ready for season and enjoy your first goose season.
Of course if all that is too much you can just go with the I haven't any clue or that sounds like work approach and just sneak up behind the cattails to within range and ambush them by jump shooting them but thats about as much fun as watching paint dry or going golfing.
 
Grizzly Adams said:
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 ? :confused:


Grizz
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Where do you get that idea? It sure is not illegal under Federal Regulations and waterfowl fall under federal jurisdiction. Season dates, bag limits, and general regulations for waterfowl are set for each province by the feds, not each province. Exceptions may be applied for by the provinces but must get federal approval. Some provincial water bodies and marshes like some DU projects may not allow hunting but it is not illegal to hunt waterfowl over or on water anywhere in Canada, the US or Mexico. Sounds to me like someone else needs to study the regs before setting forth or telling others how they may or may not hunt.
The Spank
 
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Thanks, this gives me a better picture of what's ahead. Will be contacting AHEIA tomorrow and see when the next hunting course is available. I also gather by the responses here that shooting at geese isn't the same as shooting at a stationary target, walking up to the downed meat and pack it in a freezer bag. Having been fortunate enough to have a friend that will allow ONLY me another friend of ours hunt in her land is a rare treat and I may as well take advantage of it. I know many that would kill to have my good fortune (no pun intended).
Oh and as for the water: not a chance I'm stepping on that pond. It's filled with leeches. Wonder if that's what attract so many geese.

Oh and yes: a low number count is a superb way to tell one's shooting ability (now where's that rolling eyes icon?)
 
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.
 
JayCal said:
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.
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Do not buy a short barreled fixed cylinder choked gun for goose hunting. Buy something with a 26" to 28" barrel, and preferably with interchangeable chokes, or a fixed IC or MOD choke. And to be legal for hunting birds in Alberta, the magazine must be limited to two rounds.
 
^^^^^^ what he said. Don't buy a security shotgun for duck goose hunting. You can go as cheap as you want even a single shot if it tickles your fancy. It's your hunt. Personally I would suggest a pump or semi. Make sure to go and do some shotgunning before you hunt. Pattern your shotgun as well with different loads.
 
Buy a proper length barreled shotgun. Security guns are just that. Designed for security. Buy a hunting gun! Second all the leeches in the world can't get at you in a canoe or waders and are pretty much dormant once the water cools. Not much chance the geese are there for the leaches either. They are there because its either 1) their roost(home) or 2) their water source to get a drink and bathe after feeding. You have lots to learn . Go online and research. Learn your quarries habits and habitats.
 
See, that right there is proof of how truly green I am and how I stumbled upon a great source of knowledge to get started. As for a shotgun style, think that cost may be the determining factor but given the opportunity would love to land something with open sights instead of those simple beads. Will see what pops up for a good deal.

Just got off the phone with the AB Hunter Ed, the first step is to take the hunting course (which spreads over 5 or 6 days). Cost is per donation, similar to when I took the PAL course with them. Wouldn't think twice about taking the course there, had a great time during the PAL classes and they have superb instructors.
The paperwork goes like this:
- WIN card cost $8.40
- Game Bird License $15.80
- Wildlife Certificate $28.22
- Federal Migratory Bird Permit $17.00
(am I missing any?)

Geese season spans from Sep to Dec and then from March to July (with variations depending on the species). Applying for the permits now would allow me to hunt till the end of next year's spring.
Here's the best part: limits. Incredibly you can hunt up to 50 snow geese and I think this is a daily limit - although I'd be surprised if a single human has been able to bring down half that in a day. Canada geese are 8/day or a combined total of 24. Wow and here I was worried about being allowed one or two.

Interesting side note: today I took my 4yo to a park in town adjacent to a small lake with plenty of geese families. Boy was able to walk up and nearly touch the younger geese as they walked across the path, although daddy geese had a close eye on him but there was no hissing or threatening moves. I'm assuming that "wild" geese aren't as comfortable around humans? I mean, if one must invest in camo clothing, a number of fake geese figurines and special whistles, it leads to think that hunting them things to be a lot harder work than I had first envisioned. Will definitely be watching some videos on geese hunting to see if it will be worth my while at this time.

One last note that may help me pursue this: how does geese taste like in the BBQ? Can you freeze them and eat them throughout the year? We no longer buy the disgusting antibiotic daily-fed commercial chicken in stores, we simply cannot stand them. Love the idea of feeding my children something that is "natural" but they wouldn't touch it if it has the consistency of a rubber tire. Anyone that has tried it can comment? Some of these birds are nearly the size of turkeys, so I suppose 3 of these would lasts us quite some time.
 
Yes freeze it like any other meat. Goose is red meat. It can be prepared many different ways. There are tons of good recipes out there. One of my faves on the bbq is to cut goose breast into 1.5" cubes, marinate overnight in your favorite meat marinade and make shish kebobs. Served with wild rice there is none better!
You need to get away from the open sights/security style barrel mindset. A 26"-30" barrel with a bead is what you need for wingshooting. Open sights are going to be a big blob handicap in your vision trying to focus on shooting a goose. When you shoot a bird like a goose or duck it is much easier to get a clean kill when they are flying. You focus your vision on the bird, not the gun. Those big open sights are going to make your focus on the bird shift back and forth from target to gun and that will cause you to miss every single time! You are not placing a single projectile on target you are firing a string of shot that is ever widening as it continues on its flight path. Your only concern is getting the target and that string of shot to connect at the same time.
 
And yes Park geese are accustomed to people through continued interaction and feeding. The birds nesting in the sloughs near my house would first try to run and hide their brood from peoples approach and 2, barring they had nowhere to escape would more than likely attack you to protect themselves and their young.
 
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?
 
you really truly need to educate yerself first and foremost ( hunter education courses)
then pay attention to what others have told you
know your fire arms what they are meant for deigned for and the capabilities of them are
do not buy a shotgun with a rifled barrel or open sights unless you buy a combo deal with two barrels
one barrel for slugs for deer hunting one barrel for wing shooting 26 inch or 28 inch
((((home defence guns are a waste of money in Canada as you cant even use them legally use them here in Canada to defend youself in your own home know the laws and regulations point a gun at a criminal breaking into your home and you just become a bigger criminal and will be charged worse then the guy you are defending yourself against)))
then read everything you can go to seminars (cabela"s and bass pro shops hold them)
you tube is a great source for information
wild geese are very smart and very challenging nothing like a calm park goose they become very elusive once shot at a couple times
they have an eye sight greater then a hawks and can spot a hunter or something out of place a mile away easily
find an experienced hunter to mentor you would be best
its not as easy as going out and shooting them it takes skill thus practice on clays as much as possible
learn to call them
study the biology and the habits of geese its never ever ending what you will learn
they make awesome peperoni and sausage and jerky as well
the recipes are endless
as for leaches just put some salt on them they shrink up and drop instantly
but most of all educate yerself don't think its going to be as easey as a walk in the park looking at all the birds eating popcorn from city bunny huggers
 
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JayCal said:
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?
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The idea is to shoot birds on the wing, while their wings are spread, providing a larger target, instead of the wings covering their body, providing extra protection over their vitals. Sights are a handicap for wing shooting, you point a shotgun while wingshooting, you don't aim it. As for "skeets" there is no such thing, "skeet" is a game just like hockey is a game, calling the targets "skeets" is like calling the hard rubber disc a "hockey". Just think how it would sound if you went to the sporting goods store and asked for a half dozen "hockies".
 
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