Early season goose land

[bigeyes]

Well we have put in 5 evenings now looking for land, managed only one new spot for this year on not so good cover. Going out tonight to try one last time. While out driving around I have not noticed many metro geese this year. I don't think it will be much of a hunt compared to last year. You guys seeing many geese in the metro?

[jbell1981]

Geese are all over on the west side of town.

[Dean Schellinger]

For one reason or another I have seen significantly fewer geese out feeding, just flying around, and simply sitting around this year compared to years past. I am not sure what it is but hopefully they start flying once opener gets here and everyone starts pushing them around.

We have not had much luck finding a field being used by the geese either. So we plan on hunting over water this year. We have a spot that has been holding a lot of geese. So with a little luck we will be able to bring a few flocks in. Good luck to everyone. If the goose hunting doesn't work out, I will just have to fall back on the dove hunting. That is always fair at worst.

[Buckslayer]

I guess I cant speak for Metro geese, although I live in the south metro, but I am sure we are experiencing the same thing you are. There is a group of five of us, and for the last four weeks, atleast one of us have been out driving and scouting everynight. We hunt anywhere from half hour south of the burbs, down to Albert Lea, and seeing plenty of birds but the problems come with the land owners. So many previous hunters have f'ed up in the past that it is getting hard to get permission. I did happen to run into an old family friend that hasnt let anyone on his fields for 5 or 6 years that gave me permission. (I'll definetely have to get him something nice) Anyways point being, hunting is becoming more of a competition among hunters, especailly around the metro, so you have to put your time in, keep scouting , you'll get on em!

[thaJman]

Bigeyes - what area have you been scouting/asking??

[Mark Christianson]

One of my problems that I have run into is this:

We have been hunting a family owned farm for many years. Its owned by the Dad and 2 sons.

I used to hunt a 200 acre chunk a mile or so from their farmstead. Low and behold a few years ago, there were no trespassing signs......

I asked one of the sons about it, and his dad leased it out to someone.

Bottom line, someone came to their door with cash in hand, and whammo, I lost 200 acres I had hunted by myself for years.

[bigeyes]

west and NW. Have been seeing a few more geese in the last few days, but overall not many in the NW metro.

[Ebiz]

I was fishing on the Mississippi Tuesday night just north of the Dayton launch. Right after dusk we had 20-30 birds come in to land almost right on top of us. They didn't see us until the last minute, almost could have touched them with the rod. It was pretty cool - definitly put the icing on the cake, I've been getting ready for Saturday ever since.