Canadian Geese ?

[ouchfoss]

This might be a stupid question but Im kinda new to waterfowl hunting so bare with me. There is an area around here that I know where there is several canadian geese and they frequent it enough that it would an easy hunt. Thing is, I have never been duck or goose hunting so Im not sure of the seasons. I looked at the waterfowl regs and it seems like you can only hunt canadians for about a week in september. Is that correct or am I reading it wrong. Its got a part that says the season for canadians and geese in two seperate spots. Im confused.

[gadwall]

Look a little closer at the regs.  There is a general season listing for geese in the regs right under canada geese.  The season you are referring to is just the early canada goose season.  You can hunt many areas into January depending on location.

Gadwall

[ouchfoss]

Thats what I thought but I wanted to be 100% sure. Hopefully I can post some pics of some sucessful goose hunting this week. I cant wait!

[lokidog]

Geese from Canada?  Or Canada geese?   

Put em in the fridge, unless you are in the area that you need the goose ID class.....

[CP]

Careful, lots of regs out there.  Weds & Saturdays there but not here, this one OK, but that one’s too dark.  That one’s dark but his bill is long enough, not that one, he got a square head and big patch.

  

[ouchfoss]

Ive spent a little more time going thru the regs and I think I have it down but correct me if Im wrong. I dont have any decoys yet but I think I understand that part of the rules easy enough. Im in goose management area 3 and so long as its not modern firearm season I dont have to wear orange and I set up my gun to where it only holds 3 shells (1 in the chamber and 2 in the pump). Someone told me that you have to use non-toxic shot for all waterfowl hunting but from what I read, it seems like you only have to use it in wdfw wildlife areas but it seems like like a smart thing to use anyhow. Also, what size shot should I use for geese? My gun is a 2 3/4 pump 12 guage.

[CP]

OK - area 3 is easy.  It's open 7 days a week.
You always need non-toxic shot for waterfowl, everywhere.
You never need to wear hunter orange
Yes, 3 shells max in your gun

[ouchfoss]

OK - area 3 is easy.  It's open 7 days a week.
You always need non-toxic shot for waterfowl, everywhere.
You never need to wear hunter orange
Yes, 3 shells max in your gun

Thanks for the correction!

[gadwall]

Hey Ouch,
You're getting closer to being ready to go.  On the 2 3/4 shells, I have been shooting steel for 25 years and back in the day, our only choice was to shoot the shorter shells 'cause none of us had 3's or 3.5's.  I like #2's  in 1 1/8 oz or 1 1/16 oz loads for geese in the 2 3/4 because the speed is up there at 1400-1500 FPS where you get some knockdown power on those big birds.  Winchester, Remington and Federal all have loads of this type.  Keep in mind though that you do not have alot of shot going out there in any 2 3/4 steel load so keep your shots to reasonable ranges, say 30 yards max to avoid as much crippling loss as possible.  Keep some 4's handy to dispatch wounded birds.  Good luck,

Gadwall.

[duckhunter]

i would probably use 2 3/4 inch bb in your gun if all it can hold is 2 3/4 inch shells! good luck! hope to see some pics soon! 

[h2ofowlr]

Ive spent a little more time going thru the regs and I think I have it down but correct me if Im wrong. I dont have any decoys yet but I think I understand that part of the rules easy enough. Im in goose management area 3 and so long as its not modern firearm season I dont have to wear orange and I set up my gun to where it only holds 3 shells (1 in the chamber and 2 in the pump). Someone told me that you have to use non-toxic shot for all waterfowl hunting but from what I read, it seems like you only have to use it in wdfw wildlife areas but it seems like like a smart thing to use anyhow. Also, what size shot should I use for geese? My gun is a 2 3/4 pump 12 guage.

Wow,  I would scout areas this year, practice shooting your shotgun, learn about waterfowl and practice identification so you don't come back with a limit of pintails or mallard hens.  You should first try to accompany an experienced individual before you go out.  Sorry, but I wouldn't recemend that you go at it by yourself with all the information you are still in need of.     Maybe someone in your area would be willing to help get your feet wet.

[lokidog]

Ive spent a little more time going thru the regs and I think I have it down but correct me if Im wrong. I dont have any decoys yet but I think I understand that part of the rules easy enough. Im in goose management area 3 and so long as its not modern firearm season I dont have to wear orange and I set up my gun to where it only holds 3 shells (1 in the chamber and 2 in the pump). Someone told me that you have to use non-toxic shot for all waterfowl hunting but from what I read, it seems like you only have to use it in wdfw wildlife areas but it seems like like a smart thing to use anyhow. Also, what size shot should I use for geese? My gun is a 2 3/4 pump 12 guage.

Wow,  I would scout areas this year, practice shooting your shotgun, learn about waterfowl and practice identification so you don't come back with a limit of pintails or mallard hens.  You should first try to accompany an experienced individual before you go out.  Sorry, but I wouldn't recemend that you go at it by yourself with all the information you are still in need of.     Maybe someone in your area would be willing to help get your feet wet.

 

If you keep your shots under 35 yards you will do fine with #4 steel on ducks, 2 3/4" shells.  We used to drop geese left and right with #2's, again, no shots over 35 yards.  Nowadays, I like #3 for ducks and #1 or BB for geese, I do not take shots over 40 yards.  I also really like the #6 steel for swatting cripples as they provide a very dense pattern at close range.

Another tip, if it is still swimming, shoot it again!!  You will be amazed at how well a wounded duck can dive and swim away unseen.

[ouchfoss]

Ive spent a little more time going thru the regs and I think I have it down but correct me if Im wrong. I dont have any decoys yet but I think I understand that part of the rules easy enough. Im in goose management area 3 and so long as its not modern firearm season I dont have to wear orange and I set up my gun to where it only holds 3 shells (1 in the chamber and 2 in the pump). Someone told me that you have to use non-toxic shot for all waterfowl hunting but from what I read, it seems like you only have to use it in wdfw wildlife areas but it seems like like a smart thing to use anyhow. Also, what size shot should I use for geese? My gun is a 2 3/4 pump 12 guage.

Wow,  I would scout areas this year, practice shooting your shotgun, learn about waterfowl and practice identification so you don't come back with a limit of pintails or mallard hens.  You should first try to accompany an experienced individual before you go out.  Sorry, but I wouldn't recemend that you go at it by yourself with all the information you are still in need of.     Maybe someone in your area would be willing to help get your feet wet.

More than likely I will end up going hunting with my dad or my cousin. My dad use to duck hunt quite a bit so hes pretty good at identifying the difference between the birds but its been a while since he last duck hunted and my cousin is a waterfowl hunting freak so I think he could be a real help. I went hunting with him a few years back (just to watch) and after a while I had a pretty good idea too on identiying the different kinds that are around here. (teals, mallards, merganzers, drakes, hens, geese.) Im not so much worried about the ducks as I am the geese. I'll gladly pass on some ducks and be quiet waiting for some geese to come in. As far as practice, I plan to do a bunch of practicing before I head out. I might wait until next week until I head out so I got time to get everything ready, plus I wont have to wear orange because late buck will be closed by then.

[lokidog]

As posted earlier, you do not have to wear orange when waterfowl hunting, anywhere, ever!

 If you bring a couple of non-toxic slugs along and have a deer tag, then put the orange on before you shoot the deer....   

[ouchfoss]

As posted earlier, you do not have to wear orange when waterfowl hunting, anywhere, ever!

 If you bring a couple of non-toxic slugs along and have a deer tag, then put the orange on before you shoot the deer....   

I forgot about what CP said. Seems kinda weird that someone could be deer hunting 50 yards behind me and would be required to wear orange but I wouldnt even though I have a loaded shotgun duck hunting in the same GMU. This is why I achery hunt everything else.