Goose shooting

[Philmypower]

Hi guys for the last 3 years around this time of year i have geese in there hundreds flying over every morning and evening, but despite trying and trying i cant get any in close enough to shoot, ive tried decoys, calling, even getting to high ground but just cant seem to get one. What i was wondering is if there is any one who lives in the north wales area who would be willing to take me under their wing and show me what to do i would really appreciate it. i am a full shotgun and fac holder but would be quite happy to come and watch, just to learn.

Thankyou

[TJ91]

Hi guys for the last 3 years around this time of year i have geese in there hundreds flying over every morning and evening, but despite trying and trying i cant get any in close enough to shoot, ive tried decoys, calling, even getting to high ground but just cant seem to get one. What i was wondering is if there is any one who lives in the north wales area who would be willing to take me under their wing and show me what to do i would really appreciate it. i am a full shotgun and fac holder but would be quite happy to come and watch, just to learn.

Thankyou

 

can you not get a go where they are roosting or feeding?

are they well up? migratory geese well up on a flightline to there favourite grounds will take alot of persuading to come down to decoys even with a good call

how many decoys have you put out?... the more the merrier, 100+ on a big open field, put them near the middle and dig a pit or lay on the ground and cover yourself with a camo net or straw (depending on what kind of field your in)

they like to be well away from hedges, high/steep banks etc

Edited September 20, 2010 by TJ91

[Philmypower]

The only problem is they all go to a lake nearby, but the lake is on a nature reserve owned by the council and id neve get permission to go there. its just getting frustrating as ive spent so much money buying new stuff to try just to get a goose it would be so much cheeper just to go and buy one, but not half as fun

[shakin stevens]

Buy a cheap second hand anti aircraft gun!! best bet here is start without the gun and watch the flightlines and times

i do this regular soon as i see them on the move log the time, look at the wind direction, and try and work that in your

favour it takes time to get to know the birds and habits, i decoyed a field saturday very few on in the morning around

200 on at tea time these birds where feeding up before flighting back to roost, shot 7 in total and me mrs shot her first

goose!

[swiss.tony]

8 bore is nearly anti aircraft gun so that should kill em or use rimfire that all ways works

[Philmypower]

Is that safe ?

[anser2]

Phil you do not say what sort of geese they are , but I am guessing they are greylag or canadas. If the birds are not feeding on your ground just passing over it forget about decoys. But be aware these flightlines will change as they change feeding fields. You will need to study the flightlines. Geese are creatures of habbit and will follow the same route into and out of their feeding ground. Often following a land mark such as river.

Be aware that side winds can swing them down wind of their normal flightline. If the geese fly too high for a shot you need to wait for a strong head wind or a fog when they will fly much lower.

 

Have a look arounfd to find what fields they are feeding on. Estimate their flightline between the roost and feeding area and be out before dawn to try and get under the flight line. This may take several attempts but you will soon sort out their flight lines and then given the right weather you shouls get your chance.

 

When flighting geese on a flight line the shots are likely to be on the limit of your guns range so get some Hevi-shot shells .

[jonnybgood]

8 bore is nearly anti aircraft gun so that should kill em or use rimfire that all ways works

You should not use a rifle to shoot geese!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dave-G]

Uh oh

Edited September 28, 2010 by Dave-G

[wildfowler.250]

You should not use a rifle to shoot geese!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You sure? That's why the semi auto .22 was invented...aim at the front one and keep pulling the trigger,(you might get one 6 birds back)

 

 

In all seriousness though, watch flight lines as previously mentioned. strong winds and fog usually works a treat! Oh and don't scrimp on the cartridges either, they tend to be cheaper for a reason,(easier said than done I know ).

 

 

Good luck

[worthy130]

PM sent

[henry d]

can you not get a go where they are roosting or feeding?

 

Never shoot roosts, you will move the geese from your area and cause them harm in the long run.

[TJ91]

Never shoot roosts, you will move the geese from your area and cause them harm in the long run.

 

 

Best bit of advice i have seen in a long time

[henry d]

can you not get a go where they are roosting or feeding?...............

 

 

Never shoot roosts, you will move the geese from your area and cause them harm in the long run.

 

 

Best bit of advice i have seen in a long time

 

 

So why did you say it as above ?

[WGD]

What is on your ground - grass, stubble etc?

[chrispti]

So why did you say it as above ?

 

[TJ91]

So why did you say it as above ?

 

they roost on estuarys...peolpe shoot on the edge of estuarys, not right where they actually roost but near it, i meant flight them near the roost, yes i could of worded it better...

 

this i will word right...

 

you need to grow up henry

[henry d]

they roost on estuarys...peolpe shoot on the edge of estuarys, not right where they actually roost but near it, i meant flight them near the roost, yes i could of worded it better...

 

this i will word right...

 

you need to grow up henry

 

No not really, you offer opinion which is incorrect, like the above amongst others. Geese will roost where they are or feel safe and comfortable and usually in that order. Dupplin Loch near me had seen numbers up to circa 62 000 and has decreased due to a few factors, one which is significant is the otters on the Loch.

As I said above you give other erroneous information such as this gem from another site -

geese feed during the night and roost in the day (9 times outa 10)

 

[TJ91]

No not really, you offer opinion which is incorrect, like the above amongst others. Geese will roost where they are or feel safe and comfortable and usually in that order. Dupplin Loch near me had seen numbers up to circa 62 000 and has decreased due to a few factors, one which is significant is the otters on the Loch.

As I said above you give other erroneous information such as this gem from another site -

 

 

 

So no geese roost on estuarys?? yes not all do but i am certain that plenty do.

 

you got me on that, i was wrong, i should of wrote night and day the other way, so sorry henry

[Richie10]

Dig a lake and invite the public to feed the birds, you'll get them all flocking down before long.

 

Other than that no idea. Good luck they taste nice!

[henry d]

......you got me on that, i was wrong, i should of wrote night and day the other way, so sorry henry

 

Even that isn`t quite right is it ?

[TJ91]

Even that isn`t quite right is it ?

 

No Mr perfect

Nothing i say is

 

I will leave it to you, i will keep out of the goose shooting threads and let you, the old goose whisperer help others out

Edited October 5, 2010 by TJ91

[manxman2]

Decorum, or we are all goosed.

[Cosd]

Mr HenryD, you have been called many things, but never do I recall you being called a "goose whisperer"

 

I would take that as a compliment

Edited October 5, 2010 by Cosd

[henry d]

No Mr perfect

Nothing i say is

 

I will leave it to you, i will keep out of the goose shooting threads and let you, the old goose whisperer help others out

 

I`m sorry you feel that way, the reason we are here is to discuss and pass on knowledge, if it is flawed, then it has to be either discussed more or shot down. Any generalisation can lead to people dismissing things, take for example "Geese fly off their roosts in the morning and out to their feeding grounds." This is GENERALLY correct, unless there is a moon, or disturbance, bad weather.......... so gaining knowledge through observing what the geese are doing is the key.

So in your first reply to the OP you were GENERALLY correct, but again this doesn`t help the OP. shaky, WGD and anser all looked at what the problems were and gave their replies which were to do with learning the habits of the species of geese that he is seeing as they will affect the way you try to decoy/flight them.

 

Have a think first about what the OP is asking and has given, then ask for more info if necessary and then have another think before answering otherwise you don`t help the OP.

Finally, if you think you have all the answers when it comes to geese, woodpigeon, duck etc. think again, I know I have been made to think again.