Skip to main content

I am going to hunt geese!

Photo from Ducks.org
While drinking coffee and reading the latest issue of Ducks Unlimited, I decided that I want to shoot a goose.  I know nothing about it; not what type of gun and ammo to use or how close I need to be.  I did learned that the season in Maine is the fall, which will work well for my schedule and learning curve.

When I was younger, my neighbor and I would track geese in the corn fields.  We were not trying to hurt the birds, just wanted to see how close we could get.  At our best, we got within 20 feet of a flock of snow geese before they saw up coming up over the knoll. The thunderous sound of the birds taking off was startling and amazing. 

I have never shot a bird, only deer.  Dad and I will go turkey hunting again this spring, but I think I want to learn how to hunt geese. 

Any tips or comments that I should know before I jump into this new adventure?



Labels:

Comments

  1. Passinthru OutdoorsJanuary 13, 2014

    Erin if you try waterfowling you will be hooked so be prepared for a new passion. Waterfowling can be frustrating at times, but it is addicting. The biggest challenge is these birds can move large distances at any time and depending on their needs - food, shelter, water, etc this will happen daily or even by the hour. Scouting is your friend when waterfowling. Find where the birds want to be and gain access to that spot and you will win. - Well normally. I am no professional in any shape or form but I would be willing to help you out on your new mission if interested.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ErinJanuary 14, 2014

      Yes! I will take you up on that offer. There are corn fields near my deer hunting area that are always stopping points for geese. I think I have seen them every fall for the past 20 years. I am hoping that if I talk to the landowner, he will let me hang out there for a little bit and see if I can shoot one... and what would I use to shoot said goose with??

      Delete
  2. SavageJanuary 13, 2014

    Passinthru is right. Hunt where the birds want to be. I guess the saying is true with deer, turkeys, and squirrels too. Try and find some open fresh water this time of year like a river. I am willing to bet it will have ducks and geese working hard to keep it open. Once most of the fields get snow covered and ponds and rivers freeze they make their way to the saltwater. You will like waterfowl hunting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ErinJanuary 14, 2014

      Thanks Savage! I'm excited to try it and see how I like it. I clearly have a lot to learn between now and this fall.

      Delete
  3. Eastern Shore OutdoorsJanuary 15, 2014

    Erin...before I moved to the Eastern Shore of MD seven years ago, I had never hunted, period. Waterfowling can be gear intensive and addictive, as mentioned before, but it is a great deal of fun and a great way to spend time with other hunters. To your point on what to use, I would recommend a 12GA with 28" barrel and Mod choke. Shots will be under 35 yards, generally, and I find 3 inch #2's steel works well. Alternatively, my son uses a 20GA with 26" with 3 inch #2's and does well. Keep an eye on their head and let them come to you...best of luck..Phil

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where are the women?

This week, my interview with Steve at The Maine Outdoorsman went live. Steve said yesterday 200 people hit his site viewing over 500 pages. That is a lot of people reading about little ole me and hunting. Why? When I think of women who are in the general public's eye and hunt, I can think of 2 - Country singer Miranda Lambert and Sarah Palin. Why only two? Why is the female hunter such a fascinating thing? (I should probably note that I do not have cable so any and all female hunters on the hunting stations are lost to me. I'll keep it to the general public because that's what I am familiar with.) People/media were fascinated by the fact that they could get footage of Palin and her gun, shooting (and gutting) animals but I feel like the nostalgia would be lost if they had the same footage of McCain. Lambert and her hubby Blake Shelton tweet photos of their kills, and comment on what/where they are hunting. I only know this because I follow both. That's it....
15 comments
Read more

Do Outdoor Women need to toughen up?

I hope you get shot out in the forest and wolves gnaw on your dying corpse…..WHILE YOU’RE STILL ALIVE I’d like to rip off your f*$%ing head and pour gunpowder down your f*$%ing throat and light it on fire Only c*%t’s shoot animals and take pleasure in it. I hope you die a horrible painful death As I began to look at how female hunters were being bullied, I had to ask myself if it was because we were easy targets as women or if we needed to just toughen up a little. Once I started asking my fellow female hunters about their experiences, the things that they sent to me as examples of what they deal with daily made me sick to my stomach.  I’d like to meet you outside someday with a gun in my hand, I would shoot you several times and laugh over your f*$%ing body as you die like you do to those poor animals that can’t defend themselves.  MURDERER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Generally threats are basic name calling. They include sexist remarks, racist remar...
12 comments
Read more

So much to celebrate - let's give away stuff!

As you know from my last post, this month I am celebrating the one year anniversary of this blog, 10 years of hunting with my Dad and a milestone birthday. In honor of all three, I want to give away some great Maine stuff to all of you! Rules: 1. Leave a comment 2. On Oct 28 (my big bday), Dad will pick a number and the corresponding post will win. What will you win? A big basket of great Maine and outdoor things! Such as: fly fishing flies, blueberry something, Maine maple syrup, apple butter (to be made by me on Tuesday), something related to deer hunting and a couple of great books signed by local authors. (Pictures will be posted when I am back at a computer). So thank you for your support and for helping my celebrate such a great month!!
17 comments
Read more