Spring and autumn goose hunting

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Among those who love to hunt wild birds, the goose is considered a very honorable trophy. But at the same time, one must understand that hunting for a goose is not the easiest occupation, it requires certain knowledge from the breadwinner. Due to the uncontrolled shooting of prey and poaching, the population of many bird species has declined so much that they are included in the Red Book, therefore hunting for them is strictly prohibited. Any harm to their population is punishable by law, so it is worth knowing which bird can be hunted and which one cannot.

Goose hunting in spring and autumn

Main features of spring goose hunting

Many hunters love to hunt these waterfowl during the spring summer. Spring hunting for a goose is an interesting, but not the easiest thing to do, because this bird cannot be called stupid or inattentive - an incautious hunter will not even be able to get close to it. Even with goose hunting, you need to take into account local legislation, and know which game birds are allowed to shoot. If these birds do not appear in a given area, then you need to decide where to buy tickets or a voucher for the trip.

Before choosing an area for hunting wild geese, before choosing equipment, weapons and ammunition, you need to study the habits of this bird. You may have to spend one season just observing the behavior of game birds. We need to learn to distinguish between different types of geese, because at the moment, spring goose hunting is allowed only for the white-fronted goose and the bean goose. At the same time, some methods of extraction are also prohibited as too cruel or causing huge damage to the livestock of waterfowl.

There is now debate about banning the spring shooting of wild geese altogether. Various reasons are used. For example, some people believe that it is better to catch these birds only when they have already hatched chicks. Others say that hunting for wild goose in the spring was introduced from the north, where survival literally depends on it, so you need to monitor what laws are passed so as not to earn a serious penalty for shooting at the wrong time. It is also worth knowing which hunting for a wild goose is prohibited in Russia:

• On the territory of Russia, there are only 8 species belonging to the genus of geese. In the spring, you can hunt only 2 of them: the white-fronted and the bean. In autumn, in addition to these two species, you can also catch the gray goose. The other five species are the white and mountain goose, the white-fronted goose and the white-fronted goose, as well as the small white-fronted goose (aka Lesser White-fronted Goose). In principle, it is forbidden to shoot these five.
• Even in Russia and a number of neighboring countries, geese, medium-sized and very beautiful waterfowl can be found. They are easy to recognize by photo or video, and they are included in the International Red Book. This means that shooting them is prohibited.Anyone who tries to catch these birds will face severe punishment.
• The closest relatives of geese are swans, which are also found in Russia. Most hunters would not even think to kill these beautiful creatures, but it is advisable to clarify: hunting them is also prohibited by law.

Additional tips for spring goose hunting

The first step is to find out in which region the goose hunting is allowed in the spring and in what period. For example, in Belarus, the beginning of the 2017 season fell on March 11, and it ended on May 14. During this period, the hunter usually has one decade left to hunt for these waterfowl. At the same time, you cannot shoot more game than is allowed by law. It is also worth looking at which method of extraction is allowed, as well as what species of birds can be shot during the specified period.

Before the hunt itself begins, you need to choose a suitable place on the path where the waterfowl return to their nesting sites. There are several important factors to consider here that can affect the success of the entire enterprise. First you need to choose the right place for shelter for hunting a wild goose. Usually it is placed on a lake, swamp or river, where flocks will settle. The choice of location is also influenced by the presence of competitors: if several hunters decide to place shelters in the same territory, then someone will be left without prey.

You also need to prepare in advance for the fact that for success you will have to work a lot in cold weather, in the cold and in the mud. Even at the best time it will not be easy and it will be right for the hunter to count on a long and difficult job. If it was decided to hunt in May, then there will be enough problems too: mosquitoes, stuffiness and the need to endure these and other delights in heavy clothes. Moreover, most of the work will have to be done at night so that the waterfowl do not notice the human presence.

Preparing and conducting spring goose hunting

First, the breadwinner must make a suitable shelter for himself, and he must be able to do it with his own hands. In the foreground is disguise: a cape of a suitable color for the shooter himself, a camouflage net for cover, and the like. The colors should hide the hunter from the attentive eyes of the game, so they should match the colors of the fields or melted snow. It all depends on the opening of the season, the terrain (whether hunting takes place in the fields, in the taiga or in the tundra) and other factors that every experienced hunter knows about.

When preparing a shelter, a novice shooter must remember that it must be done in the dark. If you have to give up your tent or a comfortable but conspicuous suit, the geese will consider this a threat and fly by. For the same reason, it is better not to place stuffed animals and shelters near various man-made objects. Their wild waterfowl prefer to fly around just in case. The shelter itself should be invisible from a bird's eye view, and not stand out against the background of the surrounding area.

Some hunters prefer to look for a shooting spot even before the season opens when it will be possible to beat these waterfowl. After the opening of the goose hunt, they prepare a suitable shelter for themselves. There are certain rules for hunting from behind. In the case of geese, you need to understand that freshly dug skradki from a height look like black spots to which the flock will not fly up. It is advisable to mask them so that the entire ground is covered with grass, snow or some other similar method.

Tips and some options for hunting wild geese

There are certain tricks and secrets that can help you hunt wild goose in spring. Firstly, according to many experienced miners, the best hours to shoot these waterfowl are at dusk and dawn. In the morning, the flock flies to feed in the meadows, and in the evening it returns to the water.Moreover, the routes of the flocks usually do not change, therefore, it is not possible to beat them on flights immediately, but it will not work to get several geese at the same time: once caught, the flock will not return.

Another good option for prey is near the field, where geese fly to feed. Moreover, you should not hit them from a raid, because shooting in advance is not accurate, and the hunt may turn out to be unsuccessful. It is worth remembering that the day is not a good time to shoot birds, and in the fields it is best to catch game in the morning, when the flock just arrives at the feeding place. Regardless of where the hunt takes place and how long it will last, you must come 1-1.5 hours before the arrival of the flock. Some hunters prefer to appear 2-3 hours before the flight of birds.

Hunting geese with decoys or stuffed animals

Hunting for a wild goose with stuffed animals or with a decoy gander is also practiced. In the case of using decoy or semolina waterfowl, you need to act in the same way as when hunting a wild duck. Now, many do not use this method, due to the fact that they do not want to waste time catching goslings. Moreover, the young are caught alive and without damage. You can also take geese during molting, when they will not be able to fly away. The choice should fall on the loud-voiced gander, whose cry will surely attract the flock, which will be the prey of the shooter.

For the same purposes, stuffed wild geese are purchased for hunting, but it is also recommended to take a suitable decoy for them. Scarecrows should be placed on the path of the flight of the flock so that there is someone to shoot. The decoy should sound exactly the same as the voice of the gander, otherwise the leader will sense the falsity and lead everyone away from the suspicious place. Spring, in particular, March and April is a rather hungry time for flocks, but because of this they do not become less suspicious. Some hunters prefer to use electric girls that accurately reproduce the voice of a goose.

You can also use the so-called profiles, which can also be useful help. Profiles are flat images depicting wild birds. They can attract flocks too, although not as effectively. But, although some people use profiles or homemade stuffed animals, it is most effective to take a weather vane with you. These are volumetric stuffed animals that imitate the movements of living waterfowl in the wind. With them, the spring hunting for a wild goose is greatly simplified.

Differences in autumn goose hunting

Goose hunting in the fall is not so often practiced on the territory of Russia. The fact is that in autumn the hunting season for many other birds and animals opens; a large number of hunters scare away this cautious waterfowl. Spring goose hunting begins when the birds have not yet been scared away, and in a short time you can collect a lot of hunting trophies. But there are regions in which it is customary to hunt this bird in the autumn period. At this time, there is a large influx of hunters, most of them do not leave without prey.

In particular, it is worth paying attention to goose hunting in Kazakhstan, which is praised by many experienced hunters. A voucher or ticket is inexpensive, and it is not difficult to beat a bird in this area. It is advisable to seek the advice of local experts who can recommend good shooting spots. The fact is that in this region the flocks stop for fattening for a long time. Within 50-60 days, they fatten up before the long flight, and the hunter has ample opportunity.

The rules for harvesting in the autumn season are no different from those typical for spring. The same methods are used: shooting from an ambush, using profiles, stuffed or decoy geese. Of course, the guns and cartridges used are exactly the same. And, of course, what you shouldn't do is beat the birds too much or shoot them out of season. Otherwise, those who have already hunted in the spring can act in the same way in the fall. We must not forget that geese are always careful and so simply will not let the shooter approach them to shoot a rifle.

Various equipment for hunting geese

In many ways, the success of a hunter depends on what kind of equipment he acquires: an experienced hunter with inexpensive equipment will be much more successful than a beginner with the latest ammunition. First you need to choose a gun for hunting a wild goose. It is desirable that its effective firing range be at least 50 m, otherwise it will be too difficult to hunt. It is recommended to take a semi-automatic weapon that is loaded with shot. Even such old models as MC 21-12 will do.

Some people use pneumatics or hunting carbines, for example, various modifications of the Saiga carbine. But here you need to understand that the bullet requires greater accuracy, and it is generally better to forget about pre-emptive shooting. The fraction is easier to use and much more reliable. But not every weapon is adapted for this type of ammunition, so it is better to find out in advance what kind of ammunition this or that weapon is made for. And you also need to evaluate the ammunition in terms of price and availability in this particular region.

Some hunters recommend that beginners take air guns, as they are not so scary of the game and their cartridges are cheaper. But here you need to take into account one important detail: many powerful pneumatic models are forbidden to be used for hunting. You should not take expensive new items only to find out that they cannot be used. You also need to choose the right sight for your weapon. You can take a mirror, collimator, or the most expensive - a holographic sight. It all depends on financial capabilities.

Additional hunting equipment

Some equipment options can be made on their own, or you can buy at the nearest hunting store. In particular, a camouflage coat of a suitable color will be a good purchase. You can buy, order, or even make it yourself if you have the appropriate skills. It is also worth taking ordinary or electronic goose decoys, they will greatly facilitate the hunt for this game. Purchased recumbent ambushes and stuffed animals or weather vane (for example, a greenhead) will not be superfluous. But here's what hunters write about equipment:

“Good hunting equipment for hunting a goose will not interfere with anyone, one cannot argue with that. But it can never replace experience and skills. Moreover, the skill of shooting is far from the very first place. More important is the ability to hide from your prey and an understanding of its habits. Then even such a complex game as a wild goose will not get away from the shooter. A beginner should not take the most expensive equipment. You need to practice, learn about successes and failures, and only then decide what to buy for the next hunt. "

Types of geese for hunting

In Russia and neighboring states, only three species of wild geese are hunted. Each of these birds has its own peculiarities of appearance and its own habitat. But their habits are similar, and therefore they can be obtained according to the same principle. It is only important to understand that profiles, stuffed animals, decoys and weather vane for each species have their own differences. And every hunter should know what his prey looks like. In order not to confuse, for example, the white-fronted goose and the lesser white-fronted goose, which cannot be hunted. Hunting is allowed for the following types of wild geese:

• Grey goose. He has a large pink beak, clearly visible in the photo, a large body and gray-brown plumage. The weight of one bird ranges from 2.5 to 5 kg, and sometimes more. It breeds both in the European part of Russia and in Siberia. Hunting for him is allowed only in autumn.
• Bean goose. Outwardly, it looks like a gray goose, but somewhat smaller (4.5 kg - maximum weight) and with darker plumage. The main difference is a dark, almost black beak with a light stripe at the end. This bird nests somewhat farther north than the gray goose.
• White-fronted goose. Hunting for a wild white-fronted goose is the most common type of such hunting. The thing is that, although this bird is smaller than the other 2 species, it is the most common. Its mass does not exceed 3.2 kg, and it is easy to recognize it by its light white-pink beak.But one must be able to distinguish a white-fronted goose from a white-fronted goose, with which this bird is very similar in appearance.

Conclusion

Hunting for a wild goose is a very challenging but interesting activity. According to hunters, geese have the most delicious meat of all waterfowl, so such a trophy is worth the effort that will be spent on catching it. It is only important to choose the right time, place and equipment for hunting. And knowledge of the habits of prey will also be useful.