Looking to start out geese hunting

Hello guys,

I spend a lot of my free time outdoors, always taking the opportunity to scout for deer, small game, turkey and uplands

I recently came across a couple of good spots with geese and ducks

I have all I need for duck hunting and a couple of friends who hunt ducks to guide me through, but nothing for geese

I'd like some advice on geese hunting:

Decoys: floating, field
Approach, time of the day
Basic call skills
Spread arrangement techniques
Etc...

I should note that I have a retriever and a boat (fishing), but I plan on doing mostly walk in hunts
I am looking for anything basic just to get me started, and I will pick it up along the way (even looking to buy used decoys, as new ones are ungodly expensive)

Thanks in advance
Mike

give a shout 613-863-5483 I can help you with locations on public lands around Ottawa for those hunts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikedinoro

Hello guys,

I spend a lot of my free time outdoors, always taking the opportunity to scout for deer, small game, turkey and uplands

I recently came across a couple of good spots with geese and ducks

I have all I need for duck hunting and a couple of friends who hunt ducks to guide me through, but nothing for geese

I'd like some advice on geese hunting:

Decoys: floating, field
Approach, time of the day
Basic call skills
Spread arrangement techniques
Etc...

I should note that I have a retriever and a boat (fishing), but I plan on doing mostly walk in hunts
I am looking for anything basic just to get me started, and I will pick it up along the way (even looking to buy used decoys, as new ones are ungodly expensive)

Thanks in advance
Mike

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Scout facebook marketplace and kijiji daily for decoys. A lot comes up everyday, i seen some decent deals just in the last few days.

For set up/calling watch youtube videos. Lots of good info out there.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikedinoro

Hello guys,

I spend a lot of my free time outdoors, always taking the opportunity to scout for deer, small game, turkey and uplands

I recently came across a couple of good spots with geese and ducks

I have all I need for duck hunting and a couple of friends who hunt ducks to guide me through, but nothing for geese

I'd like some advice on geese hunting:

Decoys: floating, field
Approach, time of the day
Basic call skills
Spread arrangement techniques
Etc...

I should note that I have a retriever and a boat (fishing), but I plan on doing mostly walk in hunts
I am looking for anything basic just to get me started, and I will pick it up along the way (even looking to buy used decoys, as new ones are ungodly expensive)

Thanks in advance
Mike

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Pick your poison with goose hunting. You can hunt essentially all day, whether it's field or on water. Decoy set up should always take the wind direction into consideration as they want to land flying into the wind. Geese roost on water and usually head to the fields for breakfast, roost/rest mid-day and hit the fields again before dark. So you can hunt on water or fields pretty much any time of the day and might have luck. If field hunting, make sure you have a good layout blind and try to eliminate shadows as much as possible. You want to be in the middle or very close to your decoys to allow for close range shooting. As for decoys, I just bought a 4 pack of goose shells from Canadian Tire for $64. Not really the best deal but a good starter option. Sail currently has a 12 pack of goose shells (field decoys) for $119 and as mentioned keep your eye on Kijiji. You don't need to break the bank to goose hunt. I've sat over a freshly cut corn field with no blind or decoys and killed geese before. You have an even better chance over water as they leave in the AM or come back mid-day/evening. No decoys required, although better to have some.

Note, I don't have a layout blind at the moment so I stick to tree lines and ditches where I field hunt. Set up my decoys about 20 yards away and hope to convince geese to fly in. As for calling techniques/tips, Youtube is your best friend. You can find all kinds of calling tutorials and tips for anything waterfowl related. Best advice is stick to the basics and master the honk and cluck/moan. Don't over do it.

Let me know if you ever want to get out for a hunt, I'm in the London area and field hunt near Thorndale.

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Originally Posted by anfield21

Note, I don't have a layout blind at the moment so I stick to tree lines and ditches where I field hunt.

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Easy enough to jerry rig a layout on the cheap. small "A" frame plywood backrest, ground sheet(I've used a inflatable sleeping bag pad. Large sheet of burlap with veg thrown over and you are good. As far as decoys don't need to buy 'em. Once you figure out where the birds are going an invite posted here should get you offers of equipment use at your picking.

Some apps are great to figure out which way the geese are gunna be coming from along with the wind direction etc

This screen shot is from an app called

"Huntstand"Attachment 40771

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https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/f...0799p.html#srp

I just got these and put 3/4 pipe insulation on the bottom with zip ties so I can use them in both the field and water, hey it's a start.

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Originally Posted by sash

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/f...0799p.html#srp

I just got these and put 3/4 pipe insulation on the bottom with zip ties so I can use them in both the field and water, hey it's a start.

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I have a different brand but did the same trick. They work fine for me. Just can't throw them out like a regular floater, you have to place them nicely right side up that's the only difference I've found.

Gents,
Apologize for the late reply, been dealing with a little Covid scare as one of my client's staff got confirmed as positive....

I truly appreciate all the answers:

Mark line052- will definitely give you a call
Anfield21 - thank you sir, I'd love that , appreciated
SongDog - thanks, I've been watching youtube but most are marketing for their own tools, informative nevertheless. I do not have FB
finsfurfeathers - I was thinking about building one, seen some cool ones on YTB, thx for comfirmation
Bowjob - awesome, thanks for the app tip
sash, dean.f - great share& thanks for the tip. getting some decoys tomorrow

Thank you everyone who was kind to lend a knowledge hand!
Got out last day of the early season, got the decoys in a small pattern, wind facing, dog and I got into the tall grass cover and I started calling once in a while

20 mins or so in the sit, a flock changed course towards us, but they didn't like something, so they left
Not long after the first fly by, 6 geese decided to answer my call, started imitating their tempo as much as I could, and the end result is in the freezer.

Attachment 40814
Attachment 40815

Very nice!

You don’t have to get into bodied decoys if you don’t want to.
I’ve been goose hunting for almost 20 years with A set of 10 silhouette decoys that I made out of thin door sheathing. I used a photo of a commercial silhouette decoy to paint them, and they have been drawing geese in like a magnet. I use a canvas firewood carrier to carry them in, and have removable flat steel stakes to anchor them in the fields.
I’m 73, and carrying the gear thru fields was starting to be a drag, so I got a folding utility cart on sale from CTC, mounted 2 lawnmower wheels on it, painted it camo, and using it this year to wheel my decoys and pack into the fields to hunt.

sweet success on the last day of early goose, awesome, which call are you using?

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Originally Posted by mikedinoro

Thank you everyone who was kind to lend a knowledge hand!
Got out last day of the early season, got the decoys in a small pattern, wind facing, dog and I got into the tall grass cover and I started calling once in a while

20 mins or so in the sit, a flock changed course towards us, but they didn't like something, so they left
Not long after the first fly by, 6 geese decided to answer my call, started imitating their tempo as much as I could, and the end result is in the freezer.

Attachment 40814
Attachment 40815

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That sure looks tasty... Congrats...
Very nice, what's your way of cooking them?

You mention, you were facing into the wind?
Geese always land into the wind, so I find it best to have the back of my head feeling the wind with decoys out front, some on the right and some on the left, leaving the middle open for them to land...Just something I do and seems to work.
Good luck this coming weekend

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Originally Posted by genec

You don’t have to get into bodied decoys if you don’t want to.
I’ve been goose hunting for almost 20 years with A set of 10 silhouette decoys that I made out of thin door sheathing. I used a photo of a commercial silhouette decoy to paint them, and they have been drawing geese in like a magnet. I use a canvas firewood carrier to carry them in, and have removable flat steel stakes to anchor them in the fields.
I’m 73, and carrying the gear thru fields was starting to be a drag, so I got a folding utility cart on sale from CTC, mounted 2 lawnmower wheels on it, painted it camo, and using it this year to wheel my decoys and pack into the fields to hunt.

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Thank you sir! I would love to see a picture of yours
I was just looking at these silhouette decoys, a bit tough with full bodies dog, equipment, marsh walking alone in the dark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGuy...ature=youtu.be

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Originally Posted by fratri

That sure looks tasty... Congrats...
Very nice, what's your way of cooking them?

You mention, you were facing into the wind?
Geese always land into the wind, so I find it best to have the back of my head feeling the wind with decoys out front, some on the right and some on the left, leaving the middle open for them to land...Just something I do and seems to work.
Good luck this coming weekend

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Thank you Fratri!
I butterfly the breast to reduce the thickness, generous salt and pepper, melt butter in a pan, fry 3mins on each side (or to desired rareness)

Decoys were facing the wind, but I see what you're saying, thank you for the suggestion!

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Originally Posted by dean.f

Very nice!

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Thank you!

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Originally Posted by sash

sweet success on the last day of early goose, awesome, which call are you using?

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Thank you
Believe it or not, a cheap Flambeau from CDT for 10$ - rasp with high pitch break, and a Primos flute. I alternated between them to mimic multiple geese calling. Slow moans and lonely calls until I hear a response, then I tried to mirror their calls. Still learning

I just bought 5doz Divebomb silhouettes. Should arrive today. I usually run 3 doz full bodies but adding these silhouettes should help, quicker set up and less space in the truck.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by genec

You don’t have to get into bodied decoys if you don’t want to.
I’ve been goose hunting for almost 20 years with A set of 10 silhouette decoys that I made out of thin door sheathing. I used a photo of a commercial silhouette decoy to paint them, and they have been drawing geese in like a magnet. I use a canvas firewood carrier to carry them in, and have removable flat steel stakes to anchor them in the fields.

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Silhouettes can be very effective. To us they look 2 dimensional and flat. To a goose in the air, with their angle of view always changing, a flat bodied decoy gives the illusion of movement.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikedinoro

Thank you
Believe it or not, a cheap Flambeau from CDT for 10$ - rasp with high pitch break, and a Primos flute. I alternated between them to mimic multiple geese calling. Slow moans and lonely calls until I hear a response, then I tried to mirror their calls. Still learning

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lol, I was hoping that was the call you were using, I was thinking of buying it but the reviews were mixed, now I know it works in the right hands.