early season goose

[Nova]

Does anyone know if you can use the robo goose motorized decoys for early goose season? I know you can't for the first week of the regular season, but can't find info about early season.

[snowgoose]

Nova

I don't know if that is legal or not. I have found that Canadian geese tend to flair away from the robo type decoys. I have used the robo Mallard in my field spreads and have a hard time getting them to commit when I have it turned on. Canadians like the motion of a flag from a distance but when they get up close they get nervous around them. IMO

Todd

[Eric Wettschreck]

My early season experience has taught me once the flock starts coming your way, all movement should stop. I don't know if motorized decoys are legal, but I don't see the need for them anyway. Like what was said earlier, use a flag to get their attention. Once you have them coming to you, relax and wait.

[Tyler Holm]

Nova,

Hate to break the news to you, but I would sell that roboGoose (if your just going to use it for goose hunting). They tend to flare geese consistently. Do as previous posts have recommended.

I would think early season would be your best bet if you are going to use it. Might get some yearlings falling for it.

Your best bet is to use the roboGoose out field duck hunting (for mallards). Setup your duck decoy spread and have a few small groups of honker decoys along with the roboGoose. This has proven deadly. I actually have never hunted over a roboGoose, but roboDucks work awesome for most ducks and I don't see why the roboGoose would be any different.

tyler

[Nova]

WOW, the opinion seems to be the same with everyone . The reason I ask is that last year we were hunting in Canada and saw a lot of guys using them for goose hunting. Most of them were snow goose hunting, but some were Canadian hunting. I figured if that many guys had them they must work. I just gave my Dad one for his birthday so I could use it . Maybe I should get him something else . Thanks for the input and if anyone knows if you can use them in early season legally I would like to try it at least.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Have your dad set up in a field about a mile away from you. That way when his spinner scares them off they will come in to you!!!!

Ok, I'm just kiddin. If you're going to get him something you can use..........buy the fella a case of beer!!!!!

[Nova]

Boilerguy, 2 things. First of all, where the heck were you when I was shopping and trying to find a gift. Secondly, I like that idea about setting him up a mile away. Then I can rib him cause we got more geese.

[eyepatrol]

I agree with the others on the robo decoys. I've used the roboduck and I've seen others on the lake I hunt use them, along with the robogoose and they're good for getting the attention of birds. Ducks seem to like them more than geese though, from what I've observed. Too many times, in fact almost every time, I've had a goose coming in on me or seen geese coming in on guys and with the roboduck or robogoose going, when they reach about 200 yards out, they'll flare up and away. I've had geese locked in, wings cupped, looking just gorgeous coming in and once they glimpse a sight of the robo decoy, they're gone!

I don't even use my roboduck anymore. I do just fine without it for ducks, and more especially, the geese.

That's what I've experienced. As for the use of them during the early season, I'd just call the DNR and get it straight from the horses mouth if I were you.

Good luck!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Nova, if you were looking for gift ideas you should have asked, dude!!! Heck, I would have helped ya shop.

Seriously for a second, watch a couple flocks of geese land and see what they do. They land, then they walk. They walk around and eat. The only time I've really seen geese on the ground move a lot......wings flapping, running, etc, is when they are taking off. Ok, why are they taking off??? They are either done eating and going back to roost or something scared them away.

Relate this to our own life. You're hanging out in your living room and you get a little hungry. You the wife and kiddos jump in the car and are going to go to the local cafe. When you get there everyone is running out the door. Any red flags poppin up in your head????

Decoys work best when they mimic real life. Not what we think real life should be. Ducks like movement, sometimes. Geese kinda just want to hang out.

[ironman]

different question same topic: I had a buddy of mine at work tell me you cant hunt over open water for early goose..I dont recall reading that in the rule book. Is this true or false, hopefully false because I was planning on hunting water.

[Quackaddict9]

I read that in the 2005 fall regulation book that we will not be able to hunt geese within 100 yards from water.. unless it is something that caused the land to flood from like rain as a example. Last year we were able to but I guess it went back to the old rules. So no it is illegal this year until regular season.

[Tom Wilson]

Quack,

That is only in certain zones. Actually it didn't change at all from last year. You might live in one of those zones, but it is legal depending on where you're at.

Tom W

[eyepatrol]

Yep, Tom is right. Same regs as last year. Depends which zone you're in.

[mr wizard]

No hunting with-in 100 yrds of water in the NW, SE, Twin Cities metro zones. No hunting with-in 100 yrds of water at Carlos Avery and Swan Lake either. Rest of the state is good to go. Please try too gain access to fields so that your not shooting them off the roost. They will stay in the area longer if they can find a safe place to roost.

[huntnfish]

I was hoping that they would go back to the no hunting within 100 yards of water. The geese stayed around the area much longer when there weren't people chasing them off every body of water that they try to roost in. It doesn't take long for the geese to wise up and get out of the area completely.

[ironman]

I'll gladly except any field invites!! This is my first year goose hunting and I dont have any decoys yet...my budget is only going to allow half a doz to maybe a doz deks. As far as I can gather most field hunters use alot more. I've also read that on water smaller sets work good. In addition to invites I also except lots of advice.

[huntnfish]

In the early season I don't think that large spreads are all that important. If you could get 2-2 1/2 dozen I think you would be OK. This year I am going to be pretty much by myself as my partners moved out of state. If you were closer I would offer to take you along. The most important thing is to find the field that the birds want to be in. And when you find that perfect field study the birds and see how they are grouped and their exact spot in the field. (the X) With only a couple dozen decoys I would recommend putting them in family groups of 5-6 and keep them spread out. This time of year geese aren't bunched up in fields, so be sure to get some space between the decoys. Again, if you're in the field that the goose want to be in, it makes it much easier. Good luck.

[Quackaddict9]

Tom- Thanks, I didnt read that part, my bad, But yeah I hunt in NW zone sometimes but wont be a issue anyways.. thanks and have a great season guys!