Archery elk season is long gone and I won't be able to chase a doe deer until December, so I'm going to try and get a goose. I don't intend to shoot a flying goose, which may make the proposition more challenging but I am not a fan of seeing a $10 arrow fly off and I don't have a segment on Impossible Shots. I've been fiddling with a call for a while, and can make a decent honk, but goose hunting is all new to me. I have a field to hunt where geese frequently landing and roosting in and even a small pond. My plan is to set up in my ground blind and possibly get a shot. I'll get a decoy or 2, that may help. I would appreciate any help getting a trad goose, as I'm sure someone here has done this a time or two. Thanks.
keep the wind direction in mind. They generally land with the wind in their face to slow them down. Leave some space in your decoy spread for them to land and make sure your face and hands are covered.
I know of a guy in ft Collins that does it exactly like your saying, ground blind and a couple of decoys, if the geese are already coming there a couple of honks to get their attention and then let them come in. One of the goose kites or whatever they are called are supposed to work good in addition to your hard shell decoys. I'd have a couple of flu flus to shoot while they are approaching just in case they get nervous and stop short of landing and regular arrow for if they actually land
I used to go goose hunting every fall with my Dad, relatives and friends. We had a lot of decoys and had good success.
Setting up for the wind, leaving space for them to come into the decoys, and some calling were all part of the strategy. We would scout the afternoon prior to hunting and determine which fields were attracting them. Movement provided by the kite decoys seemed helpful also.
We never used blinds, just camo and laid right in the decoys. It was a good time, except for laying on the frozen North Dakota fields in the pre-dawn, freezing my rear end off!
But, what a rush when you fool a good sized flock and they start fluttering down almost on top of you. Usually tho it was singles or very small groups that we were most successful with. Loved those foggy mornings.
I am guessing you could get them to land around you, if you are patient. It happened occaisionally, but usually we shot them in the air.
Thanks for the tips. I'd never of thought to hunt the wind for geese. I have a couple of choices, but right now, I think I'll hunt them with my 55# lil creep with 520 grain GT Trad 5575 with 200 grain Zwickey Eskimo. Unfortunately, I can't hunt until the 31st, so I suppose I'm going to be a goose hunter this Halloween. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post, since I'll have until the last part of January to hunt.
Thanks for the tips. I'd never of thought to hunt the wind for geese. I have a couple of choices, but right now, I think I'll hunt them with my 55# lil creep with 520 grain GT Trad 5575 with 200 grain Zwickey Eskimo. Unfortunately, I can't hunt until the 31st, so I suppose I'm going to be a goose hunter this Halloween. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post, since I'll have until the last part of January to hunt.
I've hunted them for decades in MD with shotgun and some bow. I used flu flus with broadheads but never got any shots. My friend did with a compound and hit one in the neck last year and killed it. His son shot one on the ground with a compound from a blind. My goal was to take one in the air with recurve. For this type hunting you need them to land into the wind and in range.
I would imagine after they land you would have a very hard time getting off a shot unless you are concealed in a blind or hedgerow where they couldn't see you draw. Lying on the ground you'd never even have time to sit up before they would take wing. They can be spooky.
I used flu flus before and the arrows were almost stopped before they got to the goose. The premise sounds good, but reality is a different story. Maybe just 5.5" fletch to slow it down a bit ?
If you are using a dog to retrieve, be aware that your broadheads could present a danger.
Good luck.
ChuckC
We used to take camo netting and lay it over us on the ground in the area they always landed. A ground cover to lay on helps keep you from freezing to death. They spot pop up blinds or anything sticking up above ground level a half mile before they get there.... I swear they can read a news paper at a 100 yards.
The best luck we had was waiting till they land, sit up and shoot as they were taking off.... Most our shots were 20-30 yards flying straight away from us..... a LOT of fun!
QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
I used flu flus before and the arrows were almost stopped before they got to the goose. The premise sounds good, but reality is a different story. Maybe just 5.5" fletch to slow it down a bit ?
If you are using a dog to retrieve, be aware that your broadheads could present a danger.
Good luck.
ChuckC
X2 above. Far from an expert, but goose and ducks have always been too far for flu flu fletching for me. Pretty frustrating.
Hope you get one, looking forward to how it happens!
Sorry guys, something is up. Posts are multiple. Must be me, I'll sign off.