Silly question: Anyone able to take me out snow goose hunting (Near Ottawa)?

CheeseBurger said:
Have you tried striking up a conversation with guys at the range?
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I usually shoot at a gravel pit..... lol. (It's the same distance, literally the exact same 50KM one way, as the range, so I would rather not pay to shoot, since I use NR rifles anyway). I have met some nice people there, but they don't hunt. I will try next time I meet someone there, or if I am being a "guest" at the range :)
 
So you don't want to knock on doors, eh??? You want someone else to do the scouting, and buy all the equipment and knock on all the doors for you and then just let you tag along and take advantage of their hard work... hmmmm...
 
hoytcanon said:
So you don't want to knock on doors, eh??? You want someone else to do the scouting, and buy all the equipment and knock on all the doors for you and then just let you tag along and take advantage of their hard work... hmmmm...
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I was waiting for one of these responses. There's always that one or two. Most people are supportive, but you always get the old school warriors. I am surprised it took that long for someone to chime in with the "Damn you for trying to reach out and ask the community for a little help".

Honestly? I tried knocking on doors. I am shy and hate doing it. I hate invading people's privacy by just going up on doors. Apparently you have no problem , but I like to keep to myself. Maybe you don't understand it, but I don't like it. It doesn't mean I will stop, I am just looking for a little boost/help in my situation. You do realize that if someone takes me out, and introduces me to the farmers/land owners, that's networking. They meet me, then maybe they refer me to someone else with land, who has a "goose problem". Chain reaction. Much easier, than just showing up. (sort of like a job interview. Are you going to take someone you don't know, or someone that one of your employees introduces to you/vouches for?)

Additionally, if someone has some land locally, or access to it, and would not have a problem taking a newbie along (I am not asking for them to go make new connections and find new land, as you implied, but if they already have been there for years and hunt there regularly), then why not? It is a great way to introduce someone like me to goose hunting, to give me some pointers, teach me the ropes.

Do you honest believe everyone who tries goose hunting for the first time, goes out and buys 6-7 dozen decoys, a trailer, buys thousands in other gear, and then with ZERO knowledge of the hunt, goes around asking for fields, finally gets permission, then just plops down their gear and successfully hunts? What fairy tale, thick-wallet world do you live in? Most people I have talked to, were introduced via being taken on hunts by friends/people they meet through the community.

I want to start slow. I want to be introduced to the hunting process, learn from someone who is seasoned. ONCE I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING, then I will go and look for my own land access, get more of my own gear. I live in an apartment. I don't have space for all those decoys, etc. Should I NOT be allowed to hunt, just because I don't have the ideal circumstances? Because of a budget and space issues?

Your critical approach is really "poisonous" (in a metaphorical sense) to young hunters' enthusiasm. You are condemning them to failure and in the the end, overall discouragement. My attempt to enthusiastically try hunting waterfowl, is something that SHOULD be ENCOURAGED, not shot down. Please stop trying to make hunting some "elite only", unapproachable sport. Maybe you're scared I will shoot all the geese and there will be none left for you? ;)

That's all I have to say.
 
emilio613 said:
I was waiting for one of these responses. There's always that one or two. Most people are supportive, but you always get the old school warriors. I am surprised it took that long for someone to chime in with the "Damn you for trying to reach out and ask the community for a little help".

Honestly? I tried knocking on doors. I am shy and hate doing it. I hate invading people's privacy by just going up on doors. Apparently you have no problem , but I like to keep to myself. Maybe you don't understand it, but I don't like it. It doesn't mean I will stop, I am just looking for a little boost/help in my situation. You do realize that if someone takes me out, and introduces me to the farmers/land owners, that's networking. They meet me, then maybe they refer me to someone else with land, who has a "goose problem". Chain reaction. Much easier, than just showing up. (sort of like a job interview. Are you going to take someone you don't know, or someone that one of your employees introduces to you/vouches for?)

Additionally, if someone has some land locally, or access to it, and would not have a problem taking a newbie along (I am not asking for them to go make new connections and find new land, as you implied, but if they already have been there for years and hunt there regularly), then why not? It is a great way to introduce someone like me to goose hunting, to give me some pointers, teach me the ropes.

Do you honest believe everyone who tries goose hunting for the first time, goes out and buys 6-7 dozen decoys, a trailer, buys thousands in other gear, and then with ZERO knowledge of the hunt, goes around asking for fields, finally gets permission, then just plops down their gear and successfully hunts? What fairy tale, thick-wallet world do you live in? Most people I have talked to, were introduced via being taken on hunts by friends/people they meet through the community.

I want to start slow. I want to be introduced to the hunting process, learn from someone who is seasoned. ONCE I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING, then I will go and look for my own land access, get more of my own gear. I live in an apartment. I don't have space for all those decoys, etc. Should I NOT be allowed to hunt, just because I don't have the ideal circumstances? Because of a budget and space issues?

Your critical approach is really "poisonous" (in a metaphorical sense) to young hunters' enthusiasm. You are condemning them to failure and in the the end, overall discouragement. My attempt to enthusiastically try hunting waterfowl, is something that SHOULD be ENCOURAGED, not shot down. Please stop trying to make hunting some "elite only", unapproachable sport. Maybe you're scared I will shoot all the geese and there will be none left for you? ;)

That's all I have to say.
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That may be all you have to say but I'll add this... you are lazy. How the heck do you think the rest of us do this... everybody starts small... nobody likes knocking on doors... nobody wants to invade peoples privacy... and you are looking for introductions to landowners??? Oh you mean the landowners that I had to knock on doors to find... You are looking for handouts... there is nothing elistist about hunting... anyone willing to get off their butt and off their computer can do it... I have run into guys like you many times over the years... you are not willing to do your share and you are not willing to invest the time and energy into the sport... so I question your drive and commitment... if that hurts your feelings then so be it.

As a case in point... I hunted your exact area for geese for the first time last November... I scouted on Friday morning, knocked on doors Friday afternoon and hunted Saturday and Sunday... I don't know ANYBODY there... we bagged a pile of geese with a dozen shells and NO blinds... just tucked our camoed selves into a drainage ditch and did some calling... yes it takes some effort but anybody can do it... you can do it, without looking for somebody to hold your hand... I don't mind mentoring young hunters... I have been doing it for 40 years... but you have to take responsibility for making it happen... and that doesn't mean sitting around eating Cheetoo's, playing video games and checking your CGN thread twice a day.

You call my "approach" poisonous... I'll tell you whats poisonous and why other cultures are kicking our butts in industry... too many of our kids are just handed things... how much do you really value something that came so easily??? If you really want to hunt, start taking baby steps... you were given some good advice above... and whether or not you like this advice, it will help you if you heed it... get out there and scout, talk to people, make it happen.
 
hoytcanon said:
That may be all you have to say but I'll add this... you are lazy. How the heck do you think the rest of us do this... everybody starts small... nobody likes knocking on doors... nobody wants to invade peoples privacy... and you are looking for introductions to landowners??? Oh you mean the landowners that I had to knock on doors to find... You are looking for handouts... there is nothing elistist about hunting... anyone willing to get off their butt and off their computer can do it... I have run into guys like you many times over the years... you are not willing to do your share and you are not willing to invest the time and energy into the sport... so I question your drive and commitment... if that hurts your feelings then so be it.

As a case in point... I hunted your exact area for geese for the first time last November... I scouted on Friday morning, knocked on doors Friday afternoon and hunted Saturday and Sunday... I don't know ANYBODY there... we bagged a pile of geese with a dozen shells and NO blinds... just tucked our camoed selves into a drainage ditch and did some calling... yes it takes some effort but anybody can do it... you can do it, without looking for somebody to hold your hand... I don't mind mentoring young hunters... I have been doing it for 40 years... but you have to take responsibility for making it happen... and that doesn't mean sitting around eating Cheetoo's, playing video games and checking your CGN thread twice a day.

You call my "approach" poisonous... I'll tell you whats poisonous and why other cultures are kicking our butts in industry... too many of our kids are just handed things... how much do you really value something that came so easily??? If you really want to hunt, start taking baby steps... you were given some good advice above... and whether or not you like this advice, it will help you if you heed it... get out there and scout, talk to people, make it happen.
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Never said I WON'T do that. I am determined to get some land access! But any time I asked, I was given the yuppy "we don't support hunting" approach. Maybe I was knocking on the wrong doors.

As for being handed things... haha. Man, I haven't had a single thing handed to me ever. I buy/work for/earn everything. I was just trying to use technology to my advantage. I mean, think of it this way: If you've NEVER EVER done anything. Actually, let's just use shooting as an example: When you first started shooting, did you just grab a gun and go shoot? Or did someone introduce you, did someone show you the basics?

Additionally, when you FIRST started hunting, first times in your life, did you just go out into the field alone? or did someone show you? (Be honest, please. I have a feeling no one went hunting alone, on virgin land (to them), never having even tried it before, for the first time.).

I've never waterfowled. I just want some pointers, and an introduction. I did NOT ask for a season. I am literally asking to be taken along for ONE HUNT. ONE. UNO. UN. 1!

I just need pointers and some advice on how to setup, how to call, when to shoot/when not to (as in, bird approach), yadda yadda.
 
Op, check out waterfowl360 online. Its part of DU and has many great tips for anything from woodys to snows. Keep knocking on doors, your bound to find one land owner that doesnt want his wheat field destroyed. Or move to South Western Ont., farmers hate geese around here.
 
Well... I'll give the OP cedit... he PM'd me requesting helpful hints on a finding and approaching landowners... to me that is the right direction... read as much as you can, spend what you can afford... the rest is "experience"... you have to get out there and try it and learn from your successes and failures... good luck. Hunting is a lifetime sport and can bring much satifaction in time spent with family and friends.
 
Emilio, PM me later this Fall & I will take you out with us for ducks & geese. I am a safety instructor @ EOHC, & shoot there fairly often. If you are interested you could tag along sometime. I realize it can be daunting to talk to landowners for permission, but there really isn't any other way to do it. For hunting ducks you can get by with a dozen mallard decoys & a pair of chest waders. If possible, get a small kayak that you can carry on the roof of your car. There are plenty of small rivers & lakes in the Ottawa area that have public access. I started out hunting ducks on my own years ago using the same method. This was before the internet & youtube, lol. Field hunting geese is even easier. Again you can get by with a dozen goose shells. They can be stored in the same cardboard box they come in & don't take up alot of space. Start small & work your way up. Try to get involved with a local hunting club. Ducks Unlimited is always looking for volunteers to help with their many projects. The Wild Turkey Federation is another good group to get involved with. Just remember to smile & be yourself. The worst thing a landowner can say to you is NO. I suggest that you go further East looking for properties to hunt Canada geese. Hoytcannon has written some really good posts on how to approach landowners when asking for permission. I wish you all the best in finding a property to hunt.
 
start on public land, this will give you a taste for geese hunting. Do some wing shoots, find where they roost at night and catch them on the pond. This will give you a taste of goose hunting and if you want more, then go start knocking on doors. Don't be discouraged, remember the definition of insanity (to do things over and over hoping for new results). You have to keep on pushing and have that drive, that fire that burns inside of you. Do you currently own a shotgun? If not go out and buy an economical one. Small steps will lead to big things. I started small and love it, can't get enough of it.
 
CottageCheese said:
Hey! Me and my buddies opened up our own guide service about 35 min out from montreal! I don't know if that's too far for ya but the birds should be here starting next week. We have guys out scouting right now. We have plenty of great spots pm me if it interests you and for pricing info!
-TeamGooseBand
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Can you PM me some info on your service ?
 
lewiss009 said:
start on public land, this will give you a taste for geese hunting. Do some wing shoots, find where they roost at night and catch them on the pond. This will give you a taste of goose hunting and if you want more, then go start knocking on doors. Don't be discouraged, remember the definition of insanity (to do things over and over hoping for new results). You have to keep on pushing and have that drive, that fire that burns inside of you. Do you currently own a shotgun? If not go out and buy an economical one. Small steps will lead to big things. I started small and love it, can't get enough of it.
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Yep, have a decent Over/Under (figured if I can't hit anything with 2 shots, I don't need a semi to use the 3 lol), about 12 decoys (shells, but they work), a few other things. I need to get some decent camo, but I figured that once the fields are cut down/the ground is messy, my fall camo should be good enough if I keep still.
 
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