The News Outside
Life jackets a must for boaters, Steve Sarley, May 21
DNR needs sustainable funding, Dale Bowman, May 21
Bowfrogging for trophy croakers, Don Gasaway, May 21
Parts of Johnson-Sauk park closed, Star Courier, May 21
Pros, cons of Hackmatack refuge, Northwest Herald, May 20
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Recent entries
- Mass exodus ahead at DNR May 21
- They make snake baits for a reason May 11
- Central Illinois crappie biting May 09
- How high did the Mississippi flood? May 08
- Illinois Fish Management Fund? May 07
- Bass bedding in local strip pits May 07
- Boats needed for veteran fishing event May 03
- Miller makes plea for DNR funds May 02
- Wind + Emiquon = Short trip May 01
- Wading for crappie at Rend Lake Apr 30
- Was this a record smallmouth? Apr 28
- Ever seen an owl nest in goose box? Apr 26
- Chef Todd hooks a monster tiger Apr 26
- Illinois lakes make Bassmaster Top 100 Apr 25
- Turkey hunting plan? What plan? Apr 25
- CRP acres declining dramatically Apr 10
- Emiquon crappie very impressive Apr 09
- Asparagus up and bluegill biting Apr 03
- A day of kid fishing Apr 01
- River Monsters series returns Mar 30
JEFF
LAMPE
Scattershooting
When will the geese fly?
Thu, January 12, 2012
Well, the plan today was to hunt geese this afternoon. A forecast calling for cold weather is what we’ve been waiting on to get the birds moving.
But this blowing, falling snow is a wild card. All the experts I speak to say geese don’t fly much in the snow.
Now once it stops, the geese will fly. At least that’s been my experience and that of people who know more than me.
So my inclination is to wait until the morning to hunt. By then, the show should be stopped, the geese should be hungry and the cold weather will have them moving early.
Sounds good, right? But you know the geese will probably fly any minute, ignoring the snow. Unless I lay out in a field. Then they will stay put.
That’s always the issue in goose hunting. What are the birds going to do? You just never know. It’s maddening. And kind of enjoyable, truth be told.
Because if geese were completely predictable, what fun would it be?
Comments
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I’ve got the dekes loaded but can’t make it out until 2. My bet is they will fly at 1:45.
Posted by BSHENAUT on January 12
I would think we should see an abundance of migrators shortly… with 6-10 inches of snow expected up in Wisconsin, we should finally get a push!
I am going to be out on Monday in Fulton county to chase some geese.
Good Luck, if i were you, i would go out this afternoon and tomorrow just to be on the safe side
Posted by FULLDRAW on January 12
My friends and I limited out a few years ago in minutes during a nasty snow storm. It took longer to get set up than take our limits. The geese were flying into feed from every direction as we set up decoys. You couldn’t see them until they were less than 100 yards away, but you could sure hear them. By far the best goose hunt I ever had.
As a side note, the geese came from a big lake about 8 to 10 miles away, so they obviously didn’t mind flying in the wind and snow.
Posted by mountain man on January 12
Jeff,
I wouldn’t wait around to long! Had some of the best goose hunts in the snow…....and if I had a pit to sit in right now I would be there!
Posted by 2takem on January 12
My worry is that they had 50 degrees yesterday and could eat grass and grain to fill their guts. Not sure if they need to eat today.
Posted by Jeff Lampe on January 12
If i could still hunt here in the northern zone, i would be chompin at the bit to get out in this weather. We shot a limit last weekend on the most blue skied, warm day possible. You guys down there have to of received a new group of birds, and a large group. The goose hunting should be killer for the rest of your season. Lucky! Jeff, your last 2 sentences in the article are what its all about and what make harvesting a couple of geese one of my favorite hunts. Good luck!!
Posted by carrollcountyhunter2024600 on January 12
We hunted the river this morning. No geese were flying but the ducks didn’t mind taunting us.
Posted by gbricka84 on January 12
Well, you guys got me all fired up. So I headed out to see. Not a bird in the sky anywhere. None on the lakes we usually see them on. And winds that would make keeping a decoy upright virtually impossible. About the only way I see to hunt them this afternoon is by pass shooting (if they fly) or by really staking your decoys down good and then freezing.
Posted by Jeff Lampe on January 12
This should help the deer hit the food plots for this weekend. Enjoy the snow
Posted by malrd7 on January 12
went out this morning and what a show! saw hundreds upon hundreds working our field and got 2. we screwed up on the second bunch and they landed long. then the next 15-20 groups lit with the live birds. cant compete with the real thing. ran the dog out to scare them up and the geese went to the next field and sat all day. trying again in the morning.
Posted by prison hack on January 12
can’t kill ‘em on the couch….some of the quickest fastest days are snow days…especially in the beginning of a snow squall or the beginning of a snowy day…even on patterned up geese….they get screwed up and bust back into small family groups and get stupid….just for a few hours.
Posted by jedro on January 12
To me the issue today was that we don’t have a pit and the layout blind just didn’t seem like a good action. I heard from lots of guys who shot them down by Canton: specks, snows and honkers (even a few bands). The birds flew. The guys who killed them were in pits with heaters, near as I could tell.
Posted by Jeff Lampe on January 12
tough hunting in those conditions for sure….the guys I know in layouts struggled too….weary birds landing short. They have out too many decoys…need to go to a pair and that is it. I am hunting a borrow pit…still have open water….and as you said…HEAT. struck out tonight….not because of the snow but because of the wind.
Posted by jedro on January 12
So did you guys down there have any luck yet Jeff?
Posted by carrollcountyhunter2024600 on January 14
Lots of birds flying at snakeden this afternoon.
Posted by jcurri on January 14