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Post by drfleck on Nov 29, 2022 13:57:40 GMT -5
Always wanted to try waterfowl hunting. Luckily, got my deer early and now I have some free time.
I have a very rudimentary understanding of how geese roost, feed, loaf, etc.
I do have a boat that I'm going to try some river/reservoir hunting with. I don't expect much other than to have some fun. My buddy lent me a few sacks of decoys. Have some full bodies, floaters, shells. Also, have some duck dekes. I assume a call is necessary? I've heard that goose calling can be difficult to master. Been looking at the local sporting goods store. Wide range of prices. Can I get something usable to learn on for 50 bucks? Anybody have experience with the Rich n Tone Goozilla call? It's a cheap call that seems to get good reviews. If I find the geese can I set up some decoys and hide without calling? Or is calling a must? Any other advice for a newbie would be appreciated. No advice is too basic...I don't know much at all.
Thanks
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Post by genesis273 on Nov 29, 2022 22:36:27 GMT -5
Good luck on your education. I am also just getting into waterfowl hunting. So much to learn. Lots of smart, experienced hunters on here though.
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Post by esshup on Nov 30, 2022 0:44:18 GMT -5
The only advice I can offer is Scout, Scout, Scout. See where they are landing when feeding. Get as close to that area as possible, even setting up the dekes in that exact spot. Blend in as good as you can. Bad calling is worse than no calling. Don't move until they are set, feet out ready to land. Then shoot them in the lips.
If you aren't on the "X", there isn't much you can do to call them away from where they want to go. 3" or 3 1'/2" shells, BB or BBB loads, get them moving as fast as you can - speed does kill. Pattern the gun with those shells at that distance you expect to shoot the birds at. Pea poor patterns wound and educate the geese.
I don't know much about it but a buddy does. I was out in a field with him and a few other guys. In a 4' deep ditch that was filled with snow. We dug pit blinds in the snow and had pure white camo on. He was calling when we should move to shoot them. We couldn't' figure why the geese were flaring away around the 100 yard mark. Then we watched the other guys stand up and get ready to shoot before he told us to shoot 'em, and the geese were around the 100 yd mark when they did it. We were on the "X", and then doing that basically blew the hunt for the whole day.
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Post by wadwinger22 on Nov 30, 2022 8:15:54 GMT -5
The only advice I can offer is Scout, Scout, Scout. See where they are landing when feeding. Get as close to that area as possible, even setting up the dekes in that exact spot. Blend in as good as you can. Bad calling is worse than no calling. Don't move until they are set, feet out ready to land. Then shoot them in the lips. If you aren't on the "X", there isn't much you can do to call them away from where they want to go. 3" or 3 1'/2" shells, BB or BBB loads, get them moving as fast as you can - speed does kill. Pattern the gun with those shells at that distance you expect to shoot the birds at. Pea poor patterns wound and educate the geese. I don't know much about it but a buddy does. I was out in a field with him and a few other guys. In a 4' deep ditch that was filled with snow. We dug pit blinds in the snow and had pure white camo on. He was calling when we should move to shoot them. We couldn't' figure why the geese were flaring away around the 100 yard mark. Then we watched the other guys stand up and get ready to shoot before he told us to shoot 'em, and the geese were around the 100 yd mark when they did it. We were on the "X", and then doing that basically blew the hunt for the whole day. That always makes you mad when that happens. I’ve always been the kind of guy that says let’s just hunt together instead of trying to hunt right next to each other and blow the hunt. |
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Post by drfleck on Nov 30, 2022 9:58:14 GMT -5
The only advice I can offer is Scout, Scout, Scout. See where they are landing when feeding. Get as close to that area as possible, even setting up the dekes in that exact spot. Blend in as good as you can. Bad calling is worse than no calling. Don't move until they are set, feet out ready to land. Then shoot them in the lips. If you aren't on the "X", there isn't much you can do to call them away from where they want to go. 3" or 3 1'/2" shells, BB or BBB loads, get them moving as fast as you can - speed does kill. Pattern the gun with those shells at that distance you expect to shoot the birds at. Pea poor patterns wound and educate the geese. I don't know much about it but a buddy does. I was out in a field with him and a few other guys. In a 4' deep ditch that was filled with snow. We dug pit blinds in the snow and had pure white camo on. He was calling when we should move to shoot them. We couldn't' figure why the geese were flaring away around the 100 yard mark. Then we watched the other guys stand up and get ready to shoot before he told us to shoot 'em, and the geese were around the 100 yd mark when they did it. We were on the "X", and then doing that basically blew the hunt for the whole day. Thanks for the advice. I'm shooting 3 inch BBs out of a modified choke and the pattern seems acceptable to hunt with. I will probably devote all day Saturday to scouting then hunt Sunday based on what I find. My buddy tells me I'll have better luck on the water than the fields on public due to hunting pressure. Would you agree with this? Plan on glassing the river from a bridge at dawn. Should be able to see quite a distance. Hope to see them roosted on the river then note where they fly to feed. On a side note, I have an 870 Magnum. Barrel says it's rated for 3 inch shells. Can I shoot a 3.5 inch shell out of this or would that be a bad idea. I know that there is an 870 super Magnum rated for 3.5 inch but also heard the receivers between the Magnum and super mag are the same. |
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Post by wadwinger22 on Nov 30, 2022 10:04:13 GMT -5
The only advice I can offer is Scout, Scout, Scout. See where they are landing when feeding. Get as close to that area as possible, even setting up the dekes in that exact spot. Blend in as good as you can. Bad calling is worse than no calling. Don't move until they are set, feet out ready to land. Then shoot them in the lips. If you aren't on the "X", there isn't much you can do to call them away from where they want to go. 3" or 3 1'/2" shells, BB or BBB loads, get them moving as fast as you can - speed does kill. Pattern the gun with those shells at that distance you expect to shoot the birds at. Pea poor patterns wound and educate the geese. I don't know much about it but a buddy does. I was out in a field with him and a few other guys. In a 4' deep ditch that was filled with snow. We dug pit blinds in the snow and had pure white camo on. He was calling when we should move to shoot them. We couldn't' figure why the geese were flaring away around the 100 yard mark. Then we watched the other guys stand up and get ready to shoot before he told us to shoot 'em, and the geese were around the 100 yd mark when they did it. We were on the "X", and then doing that basically blew the hunt for the whole day. Thanks for the advice. I'm shooting 3 inch BBs out of a modified choke and the pattern seems acceptable to hunt with. I will probably devote all day Saturday to scouting then hunt Sunday based on what I find. My buddy tells me I'll have better luck on the water than the fields on public due to hunting pressure. Would you agree with this? Plan on glassing the river from a bridge at dawn. Should be able to see quite a distance. Hope to see them roosted on the river then note where they fly to feed. On a side note, I have an 870 Magnum. Barrel says it's rated for 3 inch shells. Can I shoot a 3.5 inch shell out of this or would that be a bad idea. I know that there is an 870 super Magnum rated for 3.5 inch but also heard the receivers between the Magnum and super mag are the same. I believe if it doesn’t say 3.5” on the barrel do not attempt to shoot them. |
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Post by esshup on Nov 30, 2022 13:31:48 GMT -5
The only advice I can offer is Scout, Scout, Scout. See where they are landing when feeding. Get as close to that area as possible, even setting up the dekes in that exact spot. Blend in as good as you can. Bad calling is worse than no calling. Don't move until they are set, feet out ready to land. Then shoot them in the lips. If you aren't on the "X", there isn't much you can do to call them away from where they want to go. 3" or 3 1'/2" shells, BB or BBB loads, get them moving as fast as you can - speed does kill. Pattern the gun with those shells at that distance you expect to shoot the birds at. Pea poor patterns wound and educate the geese. I don't know much about it but a buddy does. I was out in a field with him and a few other guys. In a 4' deep ditch that was filled with snow. We dug pit blinds in the snow and had pure white camo on. He was calling when we should move to shoot them. We couldn't' figure why the geese were flaring away around the 100 yard mark. Then we watched the other guys stand up and get ready to shoot before he told us to shoot 'em, and the geese were around the 100 yd mark when they did it. We were on the "X", and then doing that basically blew the hunt for the whole day. Thanks for the advice. I'm shooting 3 inch BBs out of a modified choke and the pattern seems acceptable to hunt with. I will probably devote all day Saturday to scouting then hunt Sunday based on what I find. My buddy tells me I'll have better luck on the water than the fields on public due to hunting pressure. Would you agree with this? Plan on glassing the river from a bridge at dawn. Should be able to see quite a distance. Hope to see them roosted on the river then note where they fly to feed. On a side note, I have an 870 Magnum. Barrel says it's rated for 3 inch shells. Can I shoot a 3.5 inch shell out of this or would that be a bad idea. I know that there is an 870 super Magnum rated for 3.5 inch but also heard the receivers between the Magnum and super mag are the same. Even though the shell will fit, when the shell unfolds/uncrimps, the plastic of the shell will unfold/uncrimp into the forcing cone area, making it even smaller in diameter, and then the shot/wad has to force it's way past that, raising the pressure in the gun to past SAAMI Specs. Not saying that the gun will blow up, but that is a possibility. Also, 3.5" shells can be loaded to a higher pressure than 3" shells and still be within SAAMI specs. The receiver on a 3" gun has an opening that will barely fit a fired 3" shell. If the gun isn't designed for a 3.5" shell, then it might hang up in the ejection port. |
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Post by drfleck on Nov 30, 2022 15:28:24 GMT -5
Roger that. I'll stick to the 3 inch shells.
I shot a few 3 inch goose loads through the gun for testing purposes, they certainly have a bit more punch than the low brass game loads I'm used to for rabbit hunting. You fellas using electronic hearing protection when you are waterfowl hunting?
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Post by esshup on Nov 30, 2022 18:34:31 GMT -5
Roger that. I'll stick to the 3 inch shells. I shot a few 3 inch goose loads through the gun for testing purposes, they certainly have a bit more punch than the low brass game loads I'm used to for rabbit hunting. You fellas using electronic hearing protection when you are waterfowl hunting? I use electronic hearing protection when hunting most of the time, be it shotgun or rifle. I probably should when using the .22 rifle, but now since I have hearing protection that I can put on a number of rifles, if the hearing protection is on the rifle I don't wear any. When in college I developed a 20% hearing loss in my left ear after 1 week of shooting on the rifle team. We shot indoors, .22lr and I was shooting roughly 500 rounds a week in an Anschutz model 52 rifle using Sonic II ear plugs instead of the supplied ear muffs. 4 position range. FYI for the muffs to work properly they should fit tightly over the ears, NOT over the outside of a knit cap. Brownells makes cloth covers for the muffs, so they don't get all sticky and sweaty. They might not allow the muffs to give the full db reduction, but they sure do making wearing muffs more pleasant when it's warm or very cold out. www.brownells.com/shooting-accessories/ear-eye-protection/ear-muff-accessories/deluxe-cloth-ear-muff-covers-prod22128.aspx |
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Post by drfleck on Dec 1, 2022 17:43:05 GMT -5
Well I just made this to cover up with as I don't yet have a layout blind. Piece of burlap, some braided fishing line, clear zip ties, and some weeds from the yard. Second picture I'm laying under it wearing a ghillie hood. Might make another with corn stubble. Think I'm gonna call this the "swattin' sack". What do you think? This will work right? Hey, if nothing else I took care of those weeds my wife has been bugging me about.   |
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Dec 1, 2022 18:12:43 GMT -5
I’d say that looks pretty dang good.
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Post by esshup on Dec 1, 2022 23:13:03 GMT -5
Looks great!
What 'cha going to do if there's snow on the ground?
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Post by marshallco on Dec 1, 2022 23:51:41 GMT -5
Plenty good enough to fool some dumb old goose. Making that kind of stuff is half the fun!
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Post by drfleck on Dec 2, 2022 11:07:27 GMT -5
Looks great! What 'cha going to do if there's snow on the ground? Maybe a white sheet sparsely decorated with corn stubble or grass. If there's not much more than a dusting I would give it a shot. Not sure I'm tough enough to lay in deep snow covered up with only a bed sheet. Might have to just go rabbit hunting in those conditions. |
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Post by esshup on Dec 2, 2022 14:01:18 GMT -5
Looks great! What 'cha going to do if there's snow on the ground? Maybe a white sheet sparsely decorated with corn stubble or grass. If there's not much more than a dusting I would give it a shot. Not sure I'm tough enough to lay in deep snow covered up with only a bed sheet. Might have to just go rabbit hunting in those conditions. LOL Haines makes white hoodies and sweat pants. Get them in a size large enough to go over your warmest hunting clothes. That's what we used. No decoration - pure white. It worked great for us. Even used the white camo tape on the guns. |
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