Goose V-Formation question

[Toombsy]

One for the old fowling hands out there....

 

When geese flight after feeding, do they almost immediately begin pulling together into a V-formation, or do they generally take a good while in flight before they start to form the V ?

 

It's a bit of a random question, but there is a reason behind asking

Edited September 12, 2009 by Toombsy

[JRS]

if they are traveling short distances they may not assume the clasical V formation , but canada's traveling only half a mile will do

a lot depends on species , brents are a haphazard bunch at the best of times . what sort of geese are you looking at

[v-max]

Pinks & greys will fly off but they often form some sort of V flight within minutes of flight that i have seen for my 20yrs at them.

The goose in the front has the map so to speak.

Sorry but honestly they fly like it for areodynamics & the geese slip sream each other & the leader is rotated when it needs to slip stream/rest. They can sense pressure in there beaks hence they fly so high on long jurnys.

[Toombsy]

Thanks for the replies lads.

 

These are greylags flighting in to a mere where I shoot.

[Suffolk shooter]

The goose in the front has the map so to speak.

 

Hence, you shouldn't shoot at the lead birds in a V as these are generally the older birds and are Tough to eat. The younger (this years birds) will be behind at the sides and they're the ones you want to shoot at. Plus if you shoot stuff from the back, sides (dependant on which direction they come at you), you are less likely to ***** or wound multiple birds as they pass.

 

SS