Geese Hunting Tips
Geese hunting may be exciting but also frustrating when we don't find the proper way to shoot down those birds. There are days when everything we need seems useless and geese simply don't land near our decoys, the natural question is What am I doing wrong?
Well, perhaps everything is OK but geese don't find attractive your strategy, so follow the next hints; sometimes small variations make a big difference.
1. Be still
No matter how good your blind is, or how well covered you are; if there's movement inside the blind, geese won't get close. Perhaps you are sitting still enough but your blind partners are putting their heads off to see the geese or take a couple of pictures, big mistake! If you (or your fellas) see the birds, the birds are seeing you, and it can be taken for sure, they don't wish to be near a human menace.
So, be quiet and still and move only when the shot is called. Move as less as possible to stay invisible and you will see the difference.
2. Deploy your decoys apart from each other
If you are a goose the last place where you wish to land is on a crowded area; especially if more than one bird are landing because with a wingspan between 4 and 6 feet each bird, space is mandatory to land safely, so if your decoys are too near one to another, the birds simply will find a less congested area.
Try to put your decoys in small groups (between 2 and 5 birds) separated between 4 and 10 feet from each other; this way you'll be mimicking geese behaviour pattern when landed, joined on small groups to feed, separated one from the other.
Be sure to make room for a secure landing and geese will come towards your decoys for sure.
3. Movement is the key
Movement instead of decoys density is the key for success. Many hunters prefer to deploy a lot of full body decoys with poor results, while some others with just a bunch of floaters achieve a remarkable number of birds down. The reason? Movement.
Geese might think they will be fooled when there's a lot of still birds in the ground, after all they are living, motion animals who won't be as statues on the field; instead they are moving to interact among them and feed; so floaters give you an edge, especially if there's current, because your decoys will have a more natural, living aspect.
4. Be aware of the wind
When windy birds will land short and out of the wind, so instead of flat areas, find a hillside, tree lines or any other natural formation which cuts the wind to set your position. You may be sure geese will land near you, especially if the calls are aggressive; which means high pitched and powerful volume.
Following these tips you will increase your odds, however there's always something new you may find out, depending of your experience and patience, but if luck does not show any particular day, don't get frustrated, at the end, geese will be there the day after for a new try.