Ultimate Canada Goose Hunts

Posts Tagged ‘Snow Goose’

Snow Goose Production Up, Strong Fall Flight Expected; Delta Waterfowl to Goose Hunters: ‘Get Ready’ WINNIPEG, Manitoba—Could a bumper crop of snow geese be in the offing for waterfowl hunters this year? It was a huge production year for snow geese in the arctic Dr. Robert “Rocky” Rockwell, a biology professor at City University of New York and one of North America’s leading authorities on snow geese, thinks so. Rockwell says the summer nesting season in the subarctic region of La Perouse Bay in northern Manitoba was “spectacular.” “This is a huge production year,” says Rockwell, who was concerned about nesting success after last year’s dismal production. “This was the most bizarrely wet year I’ve ever seen up there. The birds nested 9 or 10 days earlier than normal, and as a result nest success was very high.” Translation: Goose hunters are staring down the barrel of what could be a banner fall flight. “Predicting hunting can be a fool’s errand, and I never like to do it, but the upcoming season appears to be shaping up awfully well,” says Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson. “My message to goose hunters is this: get ready. The migration could be packed with young-of-the-year birds.” Rockwell agrees. He says high nest success means lots of juveniles will be making the flight south. “We’re talking about juvenile to adult ratios of 1.5 to 1,” says Rockwell, “which means those puppies are going to be sucked right into decoy spreads. Harvest always goes up when you have a high juvenile-to-adult ratio, so I think there’s good opportunity and I think it’s going to be early, because geese are already moving south.” Rockwell says snow and Ross’ geese are foraging heavily on berries inland from the Hudson Bay coast. Thousands are currently south of the normal La Perouse Bay breeding range near the Broad River and are staging all the way to the Ontario/Manitoba border. The eastern arctic is also looking good, says Dr. Jim Leafloor, a research scientist for Environment Canada who just returned from a banding program on Baffin Island. “We’re expecting good production on Baffin, for all species, not just snows,” says Leafloor. “On South Hamption Island it’s the same deal, so the eastern arctic seems to be doing well this year.” It’s a slightly different story in the central arctic. The migratory bird sanctuary at Karrak Lake south of Queen Maud Gulf is the breeding ground for 10 to 15 percent of the mid-continent snow goose population. “Production of young at Karrak Lake has declined in the last four years,” says Dr. Ray Alisauskas, a research scientist with Environment Canada who’s been studying the colony since 1991. “There was later-than-average nesting due to delayed snow melt and delays in nutrient storage, stemming from reduced food availability because of very high densities of geese on subarctic feeding areas.” It could be a banner year for snow goose hunters While nesting productivity is down, Alisauskas says overall populations of both snow and Ross’ geese remain very high. The number of nesting geese at Karrak Lake has grown from 400,000 to more than a million in less than 10 years. A recent assessment found survival rates have not declined since 1989, even with concerted efforts to reduce the population through liberalized hunting regulations and a special spring conservation hunt. “This harvest is showing that it’s sustainable,” says Alisauskas. “These birds are so resilient. You see video in the spring and you say, ‘Wow these birds are getting pounded quite hard,’ but when you look at the estimates of survival, they haven’t changed in the last 20 years.” Olson says their sublime taste hasn’t changed in 20 years, either. Delta’s president isn’t a preacher, but he has become an evangelist for snow geese, which he says are among the most underrated waterfowl species for the pot. In fact, he insists they’re among the best. “I don’t know where the propaganda started, but the myth that snow geese are inedible is just that—a myth,” he said. “I think they’re absolutely delicious—certainly not winged liver, as some have suggested— and I challenge hunters this year to prepare these succulent birds for their friends and family. They won’t be disappointed.” For Rob Olson’s snow goose recipes, see www.deltawaterfowl.org/hunting/recipes/archive/024-goose.php

Snow Goose Hunting Maryland, New York and Delaware

Beep. Beep. Beep. Goes the unforgiving alarm at 3:30 in the morning. I think to myself, Man I have got to get one of those alarms that plays music or honks like a goose. That thing has got to go. OK, sit up on the edge of the bed. As I rise to my feet I hear a creaking noise. What was that, the floor boards. No, stupid, that was your ankles cracking. Alright now, you got to get the hunters going this morning. Man, that fresh brewed coffee smells great. You gotta love those timers on the coffee pots, especially at 3:30am.

Let’s see now, where did I leave those long johns? Oh here they are. Thank God, my wife washed them. That is probably a good thing. This is the sixth day in a row of Snow goose hunting and Lord knows those babies have to be ripe by now.

As I hobble out to the bunkhouse, breaking the kinks loose in my ankles, I remind myself of a saying that I have posted in my office that simple says, “Never Regret Growing Old Because Many Are Denied the Privilege”. Words to live by for sure. OK now, get the guys up. Right, they are so full of jitters they could hardly sleep last night. Unlike myself who has learned to get your sleep or you get sick. You can bet my head hit the pillow at 8pm.

Mornin’ fellas. Ready to whack’em and stack’em. “We have been ready ever since we got here” Bubba Hollers. We got about two hours of sleep. Between nerves, Buddyweiser, and some good scotch, we kind of lost track of time.

Not a problem guys as long as everyone is sober. We’ll fill up thermos at WaWa (Indian for Goose. Pay attention to the sign next time you go by. How appropriate.) That’ll snap those eyes lids open. If not I guess I’ll have to kill your geese for you.  Let’s get moving. Bubba, will you ride with me. I’ll give you the low down on this Delmarva Snow Goose hunt. OK Big Joe.

As we get on the road to the field, I tell Bill that there was about 50 acres of Snow’s on the field the day before. At about 750 birds per acre, that works out to about 37,500 birds using the field the day before. We just might kill a few. As we get to the field the temperature is warm, about 55 degrees. The guys are bummed out. Not to worry fellows, warm weather causes fog. And I can already see it forming in the headlights.

OK fellas, I’ll drive around in the field and the young bucks Charley and Steve, you get in the back of the trailer and pitch out decoys. Let me know if I’m going too fast. Ha!! Ha!! Ha!!

Bubba sits in the truck with me and while we are riding around he asks, Did you hear something? Yeah Bubba, sure did. It’s the young bucks in the back of the trailer getting bounced around when we crest the corn rows.  They’ll be alright. That’s why I wanted the young fellows to do the pitchin’. Their bones are more flexible than us old Farts.

OK fellas, as we pitch out the decoys, spread them in the field about 6 feet apart.

Paul asks if that isn’t a little far apart. Give me a break Paul. When is the last time you ever saw a Snow Goose with a tape measure. Besides, our 800 decoys looks like a thousand or better when we spread them out some.

Hey Bubba, did you see something in the headlights then. I thought so but it was fast. Hard to see what it was in the dark. Look out George. That thing is flying straight at you. George instinctively throws a Snow Goose shell at the object just barely missing the Juvi Snow Goose. Man, no one is going to believe this. I am sure glad you didn’t hit it before sun up. I don’t know if that would be hunting before legal shooting hours or just pure self defense.

After we get all 800 decoys out and placed we switch to the blinds.Ok remember how I showed y’all how to pop up the layouts. Let’s get those up and put a little brush on them. OK, as I go down the mental checklist,dekes out, layout blinds in place, coffee poured, and shotguns ready to roll. Looks like we are ready for some Snow Goose Swattin’. The fog is thick. It looks like it is going to be a good morning.

As the red sky starts to form over our shoulders, mixed in with the fog, Bubba says “Hey guys did you hear something.” Steve says I think so. It is way off. What is it? It sounds like truck traffic in the distance. No, Steve, That’s sound like about 5000 snows coming this way and they are making one hell of a racket. OK, get buttoned up in the blinds. Game on. I’ll do the calling. They won’t be able to hear us anyway. It will be more sight than calling that will get their attention anyway.

All those geese know is that they have flown about 30 miles to be in this field this morning. How in the heck can they find this field 30 miles from their lift off point in the Atlantic in a fog is beyond me. But here they come.

Get ready guys. You won’t be able to hear me Holler take ‘em, just look for my gun barrel to go up in the air. All of a sudden they bust through the fog and hit the ground out of nowhere lighting all around us. Oh Crap , that one just landed five feet away and almost took off my head. Man, the goose shit is about ready to fly. I holler Kill ‘em, Kill ‘em, Kill ‘em as we pop up and the mayhem begins. Darn, how do I pick one? OK, deep breath, focus, follow through, squeeze. Bamn!! That’s one, Swing, follow through, and shoot again. Bamn!! Miss. How could I have missed? That was a wall of snow goose white.

One more shot. Follow through, squeeze, Bamn!! and thump goes the goose body as it hits the deck. YEAH!!! Two out of three ain’t bad. I’ll take that. Man these Snows can gain altitude fast. How can a 10 lb. bird move so fast?

OK guys stay put and reload. They are coming back. 2000 or so birds that were on the far end of the flock never heard us shoot. They don’t have a clue what’s in store for them. Take a deep breath, relax and focus when you shoot. 100 yards and closing. Get ready; their wings are set and landing gear down. OK, Kill’em Kill’em Kill’em. Thump, thump, thump the white birds go as they whack the ground. Man did you see that one hit the deck. He must have bounced three feet in the air.

Good shooting guys. Stay put and Summer (my Yellow Labrador) will get the birds. Watch her. Her instinct will take over now. She has already seen the sailer, as she gets on the birds butt, and runs a good three hundred yards to get the cripple.

As she brings the bird back she mentally takes note where the other birds are laying. The instinct of her knowing which bird is crippled and which one she should go after first is amazing. She hands me the bird and tears off for the next one. Rick says I got three that hit the ground behind us and Steve got two on the far left. After Summer finishes retrieving all the birds we do a quick count. Man what a great start. 8 guys shooting and 15 birds so far.

OK guys button up. A small bunch of about 500 “Only” coming at us. Here comes a single ahead of the flock. Don’t shoot he should bring in the others as the bird settles down in the wheat field and immediately starts to feed.

Here come 10 more following up the single. Let them come in too. Almost enough birds to shoot now as they start to touch down they sense something is wrong and they begin to back pedal. We had better shoot now as I scream Kill ‘em Kill ‘em Kill ‘em.

The guns roar and eight of 11 birds tumble. Guys that is some great shooting. We’ve got 23 for the grease now.

As the sky clears of birds and fog and the madness of the morning becomes a memory for life we are standing around the rig talking about the sight of 8000 birds coming straight at us in the early morning light. (Take note that when the birds came in earlier it was 5000 birds. Oh yeah the fish tale starts to grow already).  Man did you see those birds in the decoys. There must have been a 1000 on the ground when we sat up to shoot. (Right…., more like 100 at the most. But the story sounds good anyway.) Thinking to myself, Let’em have their fun Joe.

They’re building a hunting memory that they will tell their Grand kids years from now and Lord knows how many birds they will say came in at daybreak and how many thumped the ground. One thing for sure, the number of birds we saw that morning won’t get any smaller as the years go by.

Oops, reality check. Here comes a single. Get in the blinds. But Joe he’ll see us move. Don’t worry about that. That bird is at least 500 yards out and he can’t make us out. All he sees is movement and that will just bring him in faster. Everyone dives in to their blinds and buttons up as the bird starts sailing to land with wings cupped. That bird is at least 250 yards out and with the wind blowing now at about 25 knots, it seems like it takes hours for him to get in range. I whisper to the hunters next to me, Wait, hold, hold, hold,……..( Meanwill Beeds of Sweat Break out on Their Foreheads). OK I think to myself, you let ‘em suffer long enough, TAKE ‘EM as all 8 shoot at the bird and he crumples. Oh boy that one is going to be a good eating bird. As I sarcastically say “Shouldn’t have much shot in IT.”

As the time approaches noon the birds start flying about a mile high, heading back to the ocean for the rest of the day and night. Well guys it looks like our hunt is over. The birds are heading to roost. Let’s pack up and head back to the barn. We have a few birds to clean.

We get back to the lodge and get the birds cleaned, wash our birds, take a good hot shower and throw another log into the wood stove stoking the fire. Did someone say nap time?

Even the young bucks feel the warmth and nod off for a snooze. About five my wife comes in to a sleeping crowd and announces supper time. Another delicious home cooked meal. My wife grew up on one of the islands in the Chesapeake and one thing those women can do is cook. After the meal, with bellies full and a couple of shots of good bourbon in our bellies it is becoming obvious that we won’t be long for the sack, and dreams of a day of ducking tomorrow. Man this is living. Another great hunt with DOA Outfitters. Nite y’all.

BIO BOX: Joe Austin is the owner of DOAOutfitters.com a waterfowl guide and Big Game

outfitting service for the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New York  and North Carolina areas. For

information on the various hunts provided visit www.doaoutfitters.com or www.ultimategoosehunts.com  for all the details.