by L. Woodrow Ross

Created on: September 20, 2010

Goose hunting is a great sport, but it requires some special preparation and skills for success. None of these skills are beyond the average hunter's reach, but some dedication is required to consistently bag these crafty birds.

A good goose hunter must be able to accurately hit his target with a shotgun. Shooting sporting clays is a good way to improve shooting skills.

Geese are big birds and require large shot such as BB's to bring them down. It would not be advisable to use anything less than a 12 gauge shotgun with 3" magnum shells. A pump or semi-automatic is a good choice, but federal law requires that guns used for migratory birds must be plugged to restrict them to a maximum of three shells.

Most blinds for geese are not accessible except by water, so a watercraft is needed. A duck-boat, canoe or even a kayak is okay, but it you carry a retriever, you will need a more stable craft. Also, bigger boats allow more room for decoys and other gear.

It would be a good idea to go online or purchase a book about decoy spreads and how to rig and set them prior to going on a hunt. Wind direction is critical in setting up decoys. Also, leave an opening in the decoy spread where the geese can land easily. This opening should be in easy shooting range of the blind.

Plan to wear full camouflage when you hunt geese. They have excellent eyesight and can detect movement readily. Geese are often spooked and flare when a hunter looks up at them as they circle over the blind. The human face (especially Caucasians) reflects light and is visible from great distances. For this reason, it is advisable to wear a camouflage face net or use camouflage face paint. Keep your head down and watch from under the brim of your hat with not movement. Don't raise the gun until the birds are within range. It is a good idea to shoot at the last bird in the group. This makes it easy to swing through and target the next bird for a second shot. If you shoot at the front bird, you will have to swing the gun back and restart your swing for the second bird, which is much harder.

Use of a good retrieving dog breed such as Labrador Retriever is desirable, This will assure that cripples do not get away. This means that the impact on the resource will be minimized.

There are many nuances to goose hunting that can make your more successful, but these will be added as you get afield and begin to experience the thrill of the hunt. If you have an opportunity to hunt with a mentor, you will learn much faster and it will add profoundly to the experience.

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