Labor Day weekend in Wisconsin – a weekend spent up at the family cottage or cookouts and ‘get togethers’ with friends – a three day weekend of socializing, relaxation and the acceptance that summer is officially over. That was how I used to spend my holiday… This year I took a new approach by hunting the Early Goose season.
Growing up, I marveled at the formations of geese that would fly overhead at the early transition of summer into fall. An awe-inspiring sight that would make any viewer stop in their tracks to take a moment to just observe and listen to the ‘Flying-V’ flock of Geese.
Early Goose hunting is all about location. Scouting will help you find where the geese are so you can be where the geese want to be.
Playing the wind is probably the next most important variable after location. All waterfowl, geese included, like to land into the wind. When setting up your blind(s) it is key to have them facing downwind so that the birds start their landing process right in front and towards you. There is nothing worse than having a flock of geese come in from behind your setup and your group having to reposition in an awkward shooting position or shooting lane.
But, that is hunting. Conditions can and do change quickly, all hunters in a hunting party need to be prepared to respond quickly. You can only plan for the best situation – make sure you also talk about what your strategy would be if the geese choose a different landing method than the one you are set up for. And, in a situation where you need to make a change to your decoy setup due to wind or lack of interest on the flocks’ behalf – don’t wait – make the change. You might learn something about how specific conditions create specific results.
The setup of your decoys will help give the geese an easy-to-see open area in which to land. If all goes as planned, the geese will work your decoy spread and land where you want them to, allowing for optimal shooting conditions.
To deploy or setup decoys: first think about what spread formation you are going to use. For most field situations during early Canadian goose season, you can get away with a smaller lot of decoys. About two – three dozen will do in anything from a half-moon formation to an ‘X’ to marks the spot for the flying flocks to take notice.
When using the half-moon pattern, allow the open end of the shape to be the landing area for the incoming geese with six to eight bird family groups of decoys. Within each family group, set up two or three upright decoys with the rest being setup as feeders. If at all possible, try to use full bodied decoys because over time, the geese become ‘over worked’ and educated to any difference in the norm.
It is also vital that your hunting blind(s) be camouflaged and camouflaged well with the natural vegetation that is around you. This season I was given the opportunity to hunt in a rye field, green grass, and a harvested corn field - each time I added vegetation from the location I was in.
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Heidi patiently awaits an incoming flock of geese, Emma alert and ready too.
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Another factor to take into consideration is movement. When hunting with several people in your hunting group it is very important to keep movement to a minimal. The more hunters in your party, the more decoys you might want to have to cover any movement. On the flip side, it can be to your advantage to add ‘movement’ to your decoys with the use of motion decoys in efforts to convince geese that the setup is real. Motion decoys are very effective, particularly in getting the attention of far away or long distance flocks.
Once you have figured out all the variables to your hunt, prepare by scouting out the location, figuring out the direction of the wind and then deploying decoys to create an easy to see and open area for incoming resident birds.
I received my crash course in Waterfowl-Goose hunting the night before opening morning! Having the opportunity to hunt five different setups before my group and I harvested birds – I learned a lot more through each varied condition and changing scenario. The Early season in Wisconsin runs from Sept. 1 – 15th with a daily bag limit of five birds per day (10 in possession).
This year my hunting party and I started our scouting by checking out the area fields and talking with local farmers and friends who had seen the geese land in their fields or fields near by. If a flock of geese is sighted feeding in the evening in a particular field, it is fair to say they will be back the next morning to feed again – sometimes the case, but not always!
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| Heidi practicing her form while awaiting geese |
Opening morning, my hunting partner and I drove to a rye field in a neighboring town where we met the rest of our party: a father/son and uncle; guys who were very seasoned in the ways of the goose. I, being the newbie of the group, had so many questions about how to set up, and what to expect. If I wanted to harvest a bird or two, I would have to act quickly as there is no time to sit and smell the roses once you hear the command to 'take-em.’
The veteran hunters used their calls in efforts to persuade the flocks of geese into our area. The geese did not come, but we noticed they landed in the field just behind us where we also had permission to hunt. We packed up our rye field decoy setup (as it is illegal to leave your decoy setup unattended) and prepared to take action in ‘jump shooting’ the flock. One lucky hunter had volunteered to be the ‘decoy’ and walk in on the birds in efforts to channel the flock to take flight right over our strategically spaced out group of four hunters along the edge of the field.
Whether the geese saw movement or just instinctively stayed close to the road, they flew over 80 yards away from our setup and were out of range.
The next day we hunted in a dewy grass field about two miles away from our first setup. Our group was able to call in a long distance flock from about a half a mile away. A group of twenty birds cautiously glided just behind our decoy setup. None of the members of our group had a good shot. I don’t know if I would have anyway – I was just taking in the moment as the flock over head glided through the air making the most streamlined sound that I can’t describe. It reminded me of race car drivers as they turn through the track corners – minus the sound of the motor and exhaust.
The flock flew through and beyond our group - The morning stayed still.
We hunted another two mornings with no sight or sound near by. I was starting to wonder if there were any geese left to fly by. My hunting partner continued to remind me that this was just early season – the birds will keep coming, flying south to their wintering grounds.
One Thursday morning, I hunted with two others and a hunting dog Emma, a chocolate lab with an intense curiosity, but disciplined in her duty as retriever.
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| Quarry for the day, Hunting partner Ryan, Chocolate Lab Emma, and Heidi |
This morning was unlike any other I had witnessed, a rarity it seemed. Within fifteen minutes of setting up we heard geese in the distant river valley and we soon had our first flock approaching our setup. In a harvested corn field, our decoy/blind setup was the place to be. We had flocks of geese all morning with numerous opportunities to practice our skills in shooting in efforts to harvest the resident geese.
I finally harvested my first Canadian goose. I am very new at waterfowl shooting and the use of my shotgun in the field versus the trap range. In my excitement to see what was going on if front of me, I had a number of shots where I lifted my head in a tendency called ‘flock shooting.’ I was teased a bit by my fellow hunting group but all chuckled in delight of my obvious excitement and relish in goose hunting.
I have a lot to learn and I certainly learned a lot my first goose hunting season. It brings a smile to my face to think of how I spent my Labor Day weekend in Wisconsin this year. I look forward to applying my new found knowledge in the field for regular Canadian goose season this fall into early winter.
