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Contributed photo
Tom Wolters of Madawaska Lake, left, and Bill Graves used a hay bail blind and Greenhead Gear full bodied decoys to coax September geese in shotgun range.
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MAINELY OUTDOORS
by Bill Graves
Thirty years ago it was rare to spot a Canada goose anywhere in Aroostook County. Once or twice each autumn I would travel with family and friends to Maryland’s Eastern shore to enjoy exceptional gunning for huge honkers. Later on I hunted New York and Connecticut as the flocks seemed to build up in these northeast locations. For the last decade or so I’ve been able to enjoy great goose hunting right here in Northern Maine, and this fall should be another memorable season.
Thanks to a trap and relocate program ramrodded by the Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife, regional waterfowlers also enjoy an early native goose season in addition to the regular hunt for late fall migrating birds. September used to be devoid of outdoor opportunities, mostly a changeover period from fishing to hunting gear. Currently fishing season is still open, black bear and the first moose hunt are on tap, and goose gunning spans most of the month.
Sports who normally lug a scattergun in search of partridge, woodcock, pheasant, or turkey need only invest in some steel shot and camo clothing to pursue honkers. Twelve gauge shotguns are most popular, although 20s and 10s work too, and 3-inch shells packed with #2 or BB size steel or other non-toxic pellets do the job on these big thick-feathered, fast-flying birds.
Geese possess eyesight equivalent to a 10 power rifle scope so camo clothing is essential, and not just for the body, gloves and either a face mask, head net or camo face paint are crucial. Just the flash of a bare hand while calling or the white of a forehead or cheek in the sun as the gunner looks for approaching birds can flare an entire flock. Some style of commercial lay-out blind or natural foliage formed into a hedgerow or woodline hideaway also increases the chances of coaxing geese into range.
There are three proven tactics for gunning native geese during the September season. Setting up on roost waters always provides shooting, but care must be taken to vary locations. Hunt the same roost pond or river more than a couple of times in one week and the honkers will relocate.
The technique for hunting roost areas is to arrive and set out a dozen or so decoys, a mix of floaters and standing positions, after the birds have flown off to feed in the morning or late afternoon. Generally the geese will return in small flocks after a couple of hours and attempt to land among the fake fowl within range for well hidden hunters.
Since Canada geese feed heavily to fatten up for the upcoming migration southward, setting out decoy spreads in area grain fields that have been harvested is the most popular tactic. The downfall to this system is that native geese can be unpredictable. For a couple of days a group of honkers will inundate a certain field at dawn and dusk, and suddenly for no apparent reason relocate to another spot two miles in the opposite direction.
Field hunters can only scout well, set up their decoy rig and hope for the best. Whether a great shoot ensues or the whimsical birds go elsewhere, it’s back to scouting again the next day. I much prefer full-bodied decoys to shells, rags or silhouettes. Two dozen Greenhead Gear fully-flocked, full-bodied feeders, resters, and sentrys work better than five dozen of the other styles.
The third style of early season shooting requires no decoys at all, and very little equipment. It does however depend on a good deal of scouting and good fortune. Pass shooters intercept geese flying low overhead when they return to a roost water or fly into a feeding field.
Full camo, a shotgun and ammo are the only necessities for pass shooting. Once a waterway or grain field has been scouted to assure regular use by local geese, it’s simply a matter a finding a hedge row, rock pile, irrigation ditch, field berm or wood line to hide in. Waterfowl always like to land into the wind so select shooting spots accordingly each outing.
Early goose season runs throughout most of September and there are plenty of birds around already. These wily waterfowl are a challenge to hunt, a taste treat on the table, and can be found throughout the Crown of Maine. Neophytes to goose gunning need to remember that a federal and state duck stamp are required in addition to a regular hunting license.