just started gees hunting

[Phooj]

just starting geese hunting what do i need? how to call? do i over call?

[dan z]

go to your local sporting goods store and ask the sales guys/gals to help you out with a few good things to have for a starter guy. decoys,calls,blind,as everyone knows the list never ends

[Finlander]

Go to the Minnesota Duck and Goose Callers meeting at Cabela's in Rogers whenever you can. They have there meetings once a month on the last thusday of the month! Also look around for any seminars that might be going on, but now I think most of the big name pro-staffers are hunting and not much selling!

Check out some goose hunting videos, they are real good for information!

[Musky Buck]

Been hunting geese since 1980. There weren't many local birds around except they transplanted from Rochester to 2 miles from my grandpa's farm in central MN which was nice. Once that batch went over 100, grandpa said we could take 1 bird per day which was the limit. Anyway, times have changed and when we set up decoys at this time of the year after early Sept. hunt and getting pounded coming out of town 5 days a week, we use our decoys as just that decoys and we go 50-100 yards behind them with our blinds, so many smart flocks aren't just going to come right in, they skirt us 9 out of 10 times so we're set up perfectly for that. They often will land out of range as they've been ambushed out of chair goose/ bale blinds etc. Now if we see a loner or pair we may send a guy to the dekes as they often will come in tight to the decoys, but this method is after 31 years of hunting them.

[Quackaddict9]

It's a lot of fun, not just the shooting but to watch them come right in and the sound of their honking is what gets me excited...although I can't hear until they are close to me.

It is a different ball game on every hunt, sometimes its the same stuff (types of calling: clucks, double clucks, moan, murmur, honk. Decoy placement, Blind placement)

You can find many great decoys for cheaper than new in classifieds if you do some research. Calls, It's a personal preference...go blow a few and see what you like the best. I highly recommend Bad Grammar DVD by Scott Threinen, He tells you it all with some hunting situation clips as well.

Blinds, Look around on classifieds- I would avoid goose chairs, hay bale blinds unless you hunting in hay bale fields. Blind Reccomendations: Avery Finisher, Power hunter (not the most comfortable blind but great low profile) GHG GroundForce, Final Approach 2006 model S.U.B blind, X'landr, and there are a few others.

Scouting tips- go in the morning and watch where the flights are going, same thing as late afternoon/ early evening time. Knock on some doors and ask for permission...be friendly, who you are, where you are from, my grandparents have a farm down the road etcetc, Do not wear camo, no chew or have a cigarette in your mouth when doing this.

A few things you can look into, you will learn a lot along the way and from others. Have fun and post reports!

[bucketmouth64]

Hire a guide and see what they do. Maxxed Out Guides does a wonderful job and Graham doesn't mind teaching you the ropes. Very affordable all day hunt in Western MN, you can see how the geese react to the calling.

[tracker x-2]

Go out as much as you can,there is nothing like experience (practice).Each time out they will react different to set-ups, calls decoys, blind concealment, etc.. One thing for sure if you think you have them figured out they end up fooling you. But there is nothing like when it all works out and there wings are set and there in your face. Every one will have a different idea of what works for them. As for us mix up the decoys fulls, silhouette, we like shells with motion heads keep your motion decoys towards the center of the landing zone to keep there attention there. I have to quit now i could go on and on.

[Phooj]

i went out on friday the 14 i fired over 12 shell and did not hit none of the geese what did i do wrong? they were coming from all over, left to right, str8 at me, and back to front?

[Gordie]

You may not have your lead down yet or you may be stopping your swing when you pull the trigger.

Follow thru is the most important part of shooting. you have to keep your swing going.

A lot of people think that these geese are flying slow and they fly as fast a mallards. so its deciving in that way also.

Hope this helps

Take the time to shoot at a few sporting clays someplace. It will help improve your shooting skills

[carpshooterdeluxe]

probably shooting at birds too far away or not leading them properly if they were in range.

[tracker x-2]

where they coming in or flying over?

[TylerS]

Geese fly deceptively fast. They're just as quick as mallards, but their slow wingbeats make them seem slower. Get that bead out front, and if you miss, put it out further!

[honker23]

Best advice I have is watch the birds. If the first flock didn't come in, analyze the spread/cover/calling and change something. Too many times I have watched a flock work us but not commit and said "they were too smart or local birds" Then the next 4 do the same thing until we make the right adjustment.