How many birds needed for a field shoot?

[Rockymtnx]

When I was a young lad and if me and Dad seen 20 geese feeding in a field we were setting up a hunt. Things have changed a lot for us in the past 18 years.

How many birds (ducks or geese) do you need to see feeding in a field before you consider hunting it?

[threeforthree]

300 to 400, coming in small groups

[Gordoats26]

Couple hundred minimum

[trapshooter]

Depends when, if it is early season and only locals around I will do a field shoot with a minimum of 20 geese. As the season gets later I usually will do a field shoot with a minimum of 100-120 geese.

At least 8 per hunter

[Renegade Rambo]

aint that the truth Sheep!

[bearbuster]

Originally Posted by trapshooter

Depends when, if it is early season and only locals around I will do a field shoot with a minimum of 20 geese. As the season gets later I usually will do a field shoot with a minimum of 100-120 geese.

x2 Were not in a flyway here so pretty much all we get are locals. 20 in a field and we will set up. Would love to have more though!

[catnthehat]

I don't have the luxury of shooting fields up here, so when I set up on the water I may get the same group i saw the night before but may not.

When I go south to my buddy's place if all he has coming in are 20 or 30 in a field then it's go time.
We hunt local geese down there mostly, but at times we do get bigger flocks coming in.
I prefer to hunt small local groups anyway for several reasons.....
Cat

[winged1]

I like a lot of commotion. For snows, a thousand or more. For Canadians/ Specks I need 3 or more groups.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by winged1

I like a lot of commotion. For snows, a thousand or more. For Canadians/ Specks I need 3 or more groups.

We rarely get snows landing in my area, but I have hunted in places where large groups came down.
Lots of fun, and great to see the big flocks like I used to in Manitoba when i was younger.

Cat

[Advantage Taxidermy]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

At least 8 per hunter

Got to agree with you

[shakeyleg02]

Originally Posted by threeforthree

300 to 400, coming in small groups

x2

[Rockymtnx]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

At least 8 per hunter

Good answer!
Reminds me of a story that some people who I took out this year told me. Apparently they took their brother out duck hunting and he brought 9 or 10 shells. 8 shells = 8 ducks was his theroy LOL.

[Zekeland]

Tough to answer in one line.

It all depends on a bunch of factors.

-time of season; hunting locals...fresh migrants
-species targeting; snows, lessers, honkers, ducks
-number of hunters to hide
-what does the X field look like; tall stubble, winter wheat.

If I cant hide a couple finishers or powerhunters I move on.


Lots of unmolested birds this year here in SW MB feeding in the black fields that are everywhere.....

[Mike_W]

Early season field shoot would be 100 minimum and small groups of birds. Late season 200 min with medium groups 10-20 most hunts are two to four guys.

[wwbirds]

Or it won't be a shoot!
Just camping out in a stubble field unless the birds show up.

We look for hundreds if not thousands now (looked this morning and couldn't find them) but in Ontario 30 years ago they traded back and forth everywhere so we just set up in stubble and some birds always showed up. Pass shooting with decoys.
Rob

[winged1]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

We rarely get snows landing in my area, but I have hunted in places where large groups came down.
Lots of fun, and great to see the big flocks like I used to in Manitoba when i was younger.

Cat

We do the annual Saskatchewan goose hunt (I missed this year due to Ford) and when the main bunch heads to the field, we got no time for the wayward flocks. I'm guessing no less than 5000 plus will string out over 3-4 fields. Our strategy is to let them start to string out then get in the flight path. Love the smell of a shotgun in the morning.