Early season geese over fields

[CANOPY SAM]

Okay. My bad. I knew we couldn't up here, and I assumed the same applied to all Minnesota early season goose hunting. So I guess it's just a problem for me...

Boy I wish we could see more oat fields up here. Used to see em' pretty often, but it's really rare now. Big bears LOVE oat fields!

[erikwells]

Canopy Sam, I'll trade you the oates for big bears.

[CANOPY SAM]

That could be a tricky deal. If I trade you the big bears for the oats, then I don't need the oats anymore. However, if you can throw in early season goose hunting over water, and some oats, I'll see if I can wrangle a bear your way.

[Proskier2038]

Good luck out there today boys!

[Bryce]

Any shooting problems? As in: How far do you lead em? Depends on how fast they're swimming or walking. Lot of flightless geese out there yet. Hard to imagine that sodak opened last weekend. Weird year with the late spring. Did see some wheat coming down by Medford on the way home. Not sure if that's in the zone or not. Just don't hate geese quite enough to bother with this summer stuff. Good luck all.

[erikwells]

We stalked a flock on the water Saturday afterneeon only to determine we could not get close enough to shoot. No birds flying. Talked to a few other hunters who had like days. Hard to be real excited for the weekend but we will see.

[CANOPY SAM]

Literally haven't seen a bird in the air in our area for several weeks. Aren't they on the back side of molting right now?

I've seen several broods that are pretty big, and putting on adult plumage, but I don't think they can fly yet.

[erikwells]

We are hunting new london MN area (Northern Kandiyohi county). We did get these birds to jump and they were able to fly. They just failed to circle over us. These were the only geese we saw this weekend that were flying. fyi.

[paceman]

I can't remember the last time I saw or heard a goose flying this summer. Conseqently I do not know of a single person that went out this past weekend...

[Gordie]

Just saw three flocks of geese fly over Zimmerman this morning while at the vet and my chocolate lab noticed them first

[tracker x-2]

I have been seeing a few fly. My wife drives past the field I will be hunting, on her way to work and has been texting about how many geese are out there...... Makes for a long day of work.

[Gordie]

I have been seeing a few fly. My wife drives past the field I will be hunting, on her way to work and has been texting about how many geese are out there...... Makes for a long day of work.

Heinz moment....Anticipation its making its way....

[dan z]

Tracker just a heads up those geese probably will move by the time sept rolls in. These early birds love fresh fields even if they arnt shot at.

[erikwells]

I went out Friday evening and managed to do a little shooting and ended up with two birds. Saturday morning was slow and I didn't see birds moving much at all. Saturday evening they moved and we decoyed several flocks well. We did not shoot well. My brother and I ended up with 4 however we educated more geese than we killed for sure. The wind out of the south with our backs to the west sitting in the corn with our decoys in front of us made for some interesting hunting. When they are circling and at your back and they are loud but you cannot see them is borderline nerve racking. What a rush! Anyone else making jerky?

p.s. I expected the birds to be easier to kill this early in the season however I was hitting them pretty good with 12 ga. 3 inch black cloud BB and and most birds required 2 shots? Mauybe its just me?

[HunterLee]

Geese are geese, but they may have been a little higher than you thought or just not hitting them well.

[erikwells]

I am lucky enough to have a place to hunt early geese this weekend. The weather is calling for some hot days no doubt. Any theories on if hot weather makes the geese less active? My guess is it does not have an effect as they still need to find food. This last weekend the morning were pretty slow and the evenings were pretty good. The evenings I hunted most birds moved earlier than I had expected. I had most of my activity 6:00 - 7:00 and very little activity after 7:15 or so. I sat in blind until the bitter end of daylight expecting some ovement during the low light but was disappointed. Happy as can be to be hunting again and I'm so blessed I have the opportunity to bring my three boys out this weekend. I may have to bring a kiddie pool to keep us from melting.

[Kyle]

This kind of heat absolutely effects geese. They will hang to water as much as possible. They don't have to fly for days if they don't want to as they have plenty of food in the slews still. Just like humans, animals are not fans of extreme temperature either... This is all not to say you won't see some birds in fields. In fact, I saw birds this morning in fields before the sun was up. They likely spent the night in the field feeding. Early season can be very difficult in that the birds pretty much do what they want. Haha

[CANOPY SAM]

That probably explains why I still haven't seen squat in the air around here. Man, was it HOT yesterday! Worked outside all day yesterday and it reminded me of Liberia, Africa!

If I were a goose, I'd be wallerin' around in the water all day too!

[erikwells]

I took my brother, his daughter and my three boys out Friday evening

we had a lot of action ending up with 5 geese. We sat in the same spot

and had the same wind etc.. Saturday evening and we were pitched a shutout. Only had one flock fly near us and they stayed far enough out that we were unable to get a shot. I expected the same type of hunt on Saturday as we had Friday, silly me. Is that just the way it is or should I have moved or done something different?

[fishadb]

You just shot at them the day before, During the early season I never hunt the same place two days in a row.

[paceman]

Geese are actually pretty smart. They tend to avoid places where they were shot at. At leats for a few days...

[Quackaddict9]

You just shot at them the day before, During the early season I never hunt the same place two days in a row.

Not directing this post to you but to everyone: I have many times, Most days have turned out to be a good hunt as well. I guess it depends the numbers of birds are using the field, shooting at big flocks? Hunt and limit out quick, get out fast if you can? It depends I suppose...

[erikwells]

I am planning on going out in the a.m. Sunday morning and sit in the corn on the edge of the oates with a dozen shells and see what happens. There is a small lake about a half mile or so from the field I hunt and I have been told there is a group that will be hunting it on the water.

A lot of the geese we shot came off this lake. I'm not sure what the effect will be other than once the geese are shot at on the water they won't likely come back. Any theories on this? I'm hoping some other hunters in the area will help get some birds moving. I have never gone out on opening morning of early goose season. Anyone want to share with me what I may expect? I'll be hunting Northern Kandiyohi county. Attached is a photo from last week with my boys. Looks like my Christmas card this year. Thanks.

[CANOPY SAM]

With the heat, and hunting pressure from the water, and the fields, the birds will most likely ditch the whole area pretty fast. That's typically what we've seen with these early season geese. They all peel out early, then we have to wait for the regular migration to start.

Looks like a great Christmas Card!

[erikwells]

Thanks canopy sam, I guess I'll hunt the a.m. and head to my deer land to tune stands and check cameras. After that I'll be forced to do some speed trolling for Mr. Pike. Good luck.