The Canada Goose is a large game bird that thrives in North America. The big honkers can be seen in farmers’ fields, parks, parking lots, and suburban green spaces all year long. Traditionally, the birds wintered in the United States, then migrated north to Canada during the summer, but large flocks of them remain in the northern states year-round. Their food is vegetation and aquatic macroinvertibrates, so they congregate wherever they can find both food sources in abundance. The geese become a nuisance when they do significant damage to agricultural plantings or accumulate in large flocks in parks or suburban areas. They foul the area with their droppings, and if threatened, they can become aggressive toward humans.
With wing spans of 3 to 6 feet and weights of up to 18 pounds, Canada Geese are imposing birds. Both males and females sport gray feathered bodies, long black necks, and distinctive white cheek patches. According the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, there are at least 10 distinct subspecies. They produce clutches of 4 to 6 eggs in the spring, and incubation lasts from 24 to 33 days. A Canada Goose family, drifting along on a pond or lake with several fuzzy little goslings swimming in a row, is a common sight.
Waterfowl Blinds and Concealment
Hunters can shoot Canada Geese over land or water. Geese are wary of motion, so the hunter must get into position and be well concealed before the flock flies in. Portable blinds, pit blinds, burlap bags, or camouflage netting can all work. However, since hunters may have to spend a long time waiting for the arrival of geese, a blind that is large enough for some movement is best. While hunters debate the necessity of purchasing a camouflage patterned blind, most will agree that brown is fine, since the blind will be covered with local vegetation. Some hunters “muddy” the blinds, creating a natural camouflage with the application of mud, but others find an application of paint to be cleaner and work just as well. Each hunter’s individual experiences will determine what works best for any given area.
Canada Goose Decoys
Geese instinctively flock together, and they are drawn in by what appears to be other geese, so decoys are essential. When on land, hunters can position themselves in the middle of their decoy pattern, so that they can shoot the birds from any angle. When hunting over water, a frequently used trick is arranging a large group of decoys, with a smaller group off to the side. Incoming birds will usually join the smaller group. Geese prefer to land into the wind, so the decoys can be placed to allow the hunter the best possible shot when the birds approach. Some hollow decoys are large enough for the hunter to hide inside, but this is far from comfortable for large people. Decoys can be photographically realistic and flat, three-dimensional, or even wind-driven for motion, and all of them are expensive enough to require a significant investment, since it takes several of them to create a natural-looking flock.
Goose Calls Bring in the Birds
Canada Geese make two types of calls, “clucks” and “honks.” Ideally, hunters will have scouted the area to be hunted and be familiar with the calls. Just as with turkey calls, goose calls take practice to master. Two or three hunters calling are more effective than a single caller, but too much calling can keep the birds away. Game calling is an art that is hard to describe. The best callers have an instinctive knowledge of when and how to lure in the game, and that instinct is the result of hours spent in the field, observing the animals’ behavior.
Shotguns and Ammo for Hunting Geese
Goose hunting requires quick and accurate shooting. Many shotgun manufacturers tout their offerings, but the best information comes from the people who use them. Hunting clubs and online forums are excellent sources of advice about the performance and value of shotguns, along with product reviews from hunting magazines and organizations such as Ducks Unlimited. Hunters should check with the natural resources departments of state where they wish to hunt to find out if there are restrictions on the type of shot that may be used.
When all goes well, and the hunter has bagged his birds, he can take them home and produce a fine meal. Wild geese are leaner than the domestic variety, but laying a few strips of bacon over them as they roast will keep the meat moist. Lots of the honkers are out there, and hunters can get ready to harvest a few for the roasting pan.
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