Advice for a pre-Christmas goose shoot

[smorrison]

Hi guys,

first time poster, long time lurker.

Just have a couple basic questions about goose hunting. My brother and I are new to hunting although we did have some successful duck shoots this year. We want to get out this weekend from Calgary for a Canada goose field shoot.

A coworker has suggested we try the Stavely area, but it seems to me 1. we should be closer to open water (e.g. the Oldman River or Bow) and 2. it might make more sense to head east toward Brooks/Bassano where I assume goose forage is more readily available (more pea/grain fields etc) - even though I already bought the Willow Creek county map...

I guess what I'm asking is:
- where should we focus our efforts generally (within a couple hours of Calgary)?
- at this time of year are geese still making a morning and evening trip to the fields or do they just stay on the food all day (i.e. don't plan for an evening hunt)?
- do you have any tips or strategies that you'd share with a couple of greenhorns?

we'll have 8 decoys (i can't believe how expensive they are) and will probably use mats of chicken wire filled with straw as blinds. I'm taking Friday off work to scout.

Many thanks to anyone who takes time to answer, I definitely appreciate advice from cagey ol' vets!

[bessiedog]

8 decoys.....

At the end of the season.

I strongly suggest you find some experienced friends WITH decoys.

Head to Taber.

Make sure you get permission.

[xterratitan]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

8 decoys.....

At the end of the season.

I strongly suggest you find some experienced friends WITH decoys.

Head to Taber.

Make sure you get permission.

X2

[Dale S]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

8 decoys.....


Head to Taber.

Make sure you get permission.

The farmers in the Taber area never had time for fall work in the fields. So not many of the corn fields are plowed under. And they are full of geese still. I saw 2000 geese in a corn field Tuesday. I heard a shoot going on Sunday morning. Sounded like they went threw lots of shells.

[recce43]

lots of geese in se area of calgary around langdon and carsland

[alpinebeers]

I watch a flock of about 500 geese fly over evergreen every single day like clockwork heading for some fields, just west on 22x I'm guessing somewhere.

[smorrison]

Thanks fellas, much appreciated. I know 8 dekes is a bit pathetic.

Originally Posted by bessiedog

8 decoys.....

At the end of the season.

I strongly suggest you find some experienced friends WITH decoys.

Head to Taber.

Make sure you get permission.

So...anyone want to go goose hunting this weekend? I've got 8 decoys to add to the spread

[Cowtown guy]

That sounds promising. You can shoot me a PM for more info if you want.

[Habfan]

I think you might have a good chance out by the old man reservoir if you spot the first few birds coming off the lake then sit in a ditch in full camo !! 8 decoys won't cut it, but there are so many ducks and geese that if you get a good breeze they will be flying low enough to do well !! I've been hunting deer and elk in the area and the birds are thick out there ! They have been feeding heavily along hwy 510. Lots of Hutterite land, so easy to get permission. Birds come out from about 10 till noon ! Only feeding once ! If you throw decoys into the field it won't hurt, but if you go out there with a blind they will spook ! Some birds are using the coulees to as a flight path, if you find the right one you will pound em !

[oldgutpile]

Not too much in the air around our areas anymore. Even with that stretch of mild weather, everything is pretty much frozen up solid!
Likely to have way better luck, south in the Oldman river areas.

[smorrison]

Thanks again guys. Good info here. Oldman River sounds like where it's at.
Gonna be a fun weekend!

[threeforthree]

Your 8 decoys will be just fine, find a Fields the birds are in, Set decoys 20 yards out from a well covered fence line and hunker in.....you will not get them all but i bet u will get a few singles to come to get a limit,,,your after one limit not 4-5.. birds have already started to go into smaller groups, and most in our area are covering the whole field.

[Habfan]

How did you guys do ? I was in the area and man there is a ton of geese !!! It was pretty windy and the birds were coming up over the banks of the river barely off the ground. Hope you went to Pincher Creek area ! I was getting permission for a late elk hunt in 300, but should have shot geese instead !

[smorrison]

We did go to Pincher Creek on Sunday and like you said there were tons of geese flying low in that wind. We were set up in a field by the airport that all those geese were landing in...about 200 m to the NE haha. Still, enough groups came by to check out our decoys that we shot ten. Saturday we were near Fort Macleod and did alright for a couple of rookies lying under sh!tty straw matts
We definitely bungled a number of great opportunities but I guess that's all part of it. I bought a flag on the advice of Cowtown_guy and it seemed to help a lot.

Anyways, my brother and I had a great time. Thanks everyone for the valuable advice. Can't wait to do it again!

[catnthehat]

That's fantastic!
Maybe I will get down one year, but there are other more important things to do up here this time of year....
Cat

[densa44]

What could be more important than entertaining ourselves?

For the poster pray for wind! It will do more for you than anything else.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by densa44

What could be more important than entertaining ourselves?

For the poster pray for wind! It will do more for you than anything else.

Um, lessee, keeping my job so I can go hunting other places at other times of the year , and keeping my wife happy so I can actually go to those places under my own power instead of in a wheelchair??!!
Cat

[Cowtown guy]

Glad it worked for you. Next year!!!

[Habfan]

I have a trailer full of Bigfoot decoys and wont be drawn for anything next year , so I'm putting in for 1st 2 weeks of Dec. Anyone interested pm me and put in for your vacation now. I have room for 2 to join, no cost !! you find a field and I find a field, only rules I have !!

[Rockman]

Oh man, how did I miss this thread when it was still useful to me? Darn it...

Congrats to those who connected.