Snow Geese

committed · #1 11-10-2008, 03:49 PM

Anybody have some advice on going after some snow geese; going out to the vertigree area by Warner and will try to "Coulee pass shoot"; does decoying work for these guys? Thanks!!

Versatile · #2 11-10-2008, 03:58 PM

Schooten the last time I was out we had some guys lay in a field with a bunch (2 dozen) decoys and 1 guy dive around and scare them all up. Or we would hang out at the DU marsh on the highway and wait for them to come and go.

ABDUKNUT · #3 11-10-2008, 04:00 PM

Contrary to popular belief, snows are great birds to decoy and are very co-operative most days, if you have the right equipment and use it correctly.

Pass shooting is fun too, requires less of an investment in time and money, and is productive during certain weather conditions. Use a fast load of #2's and get underneath them.

committed · #4 11-10-2008, 04:55 PM

Thanks guys! I think we will try both (we will have about 10 guys) and see what happens! I'll be sure to post some pics!

glen d. · #5 11-10-2008, 10:59 PM

If you don't have any snow geese decoys i have used newspaper and have had very good luck , just crunch it up and through it on the ground , if you can find some stubble burlap from a sports store that should work fine , it's important to keep your cover and the stubble the same colour may have to but some straw on your cover to blend.

Okotokian · #6 11-12-2008, 02:01 PM

gulp

Rockymtnx · #7 11-12-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Shot my first snow goose yesterday. Was out for ducks, but a group of snows flew by, so... OMG it looked bigger than my Brittany! No wonder he wouldn't retrieve it. Had to wade in and get soaked in the freezing water myself.

Weighed it at home. 22 lbs! The breasts and legs alone filled a large glad freezer bag. Now have to find a good recipe.

I don't see any laughter or giggles in your reply. I hope your joking......

Joe Fehr · #8 11-12-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Shot my first snow goose yesterday. Was out for ducks, but a group of snows flew by, so... OMG it looked bigger than my Brittany! No wonder he wouldn't retrieve it. Had to wade in and get soaked in the freezing water myself.

Weighed it at home. 22 lbs! The breasts and legs alone filled a large glad freezer bag. Now have to find a good recipe.

THAT sounds like a swan not a snow goose!!

theduke · #9 11-12-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Shot my first snow goose yesterday. Was out for ducks, but a group of snows flew by, so... OMG it looked bigger than my Brittany! No wonder he wouldn't retrieve it. Had to wade in and get soaked in the freezing water myself.

Weighed it at home. 22 lbs! The breasts and legs alone filled a large glad freezer bag. Now have to find a good recipe.

did it have any black on the wings and how long was the neck, lol sounds like a swan to me man never seen a snow that big

Okotokian · #10 11-12-2008, 05:07 PM

oh god, I feel sick. F&W just said it was a swan. Damn my stupidity. Never shot any geese before and just got so excited when "they" went overhead. Now I'm a poacher. I've let so many deer go because I couldn't be 1000% sure whether it was a whitetail or a mule, always let pheasants go when not in season when I'm partridge hunting, and now this. Will find out later what the legal repercussions are, but I don't even care about that right now. I don't even feel like hunting at all now. I just feel sick. I apologize to everyone here who is ethical and knows what they are doing. You don't have to berate me, I'm doing that myself. Can't call myself a hunter anymore.

SBE2 · #11 11-12-2008, 06:05 PM

Don't beat yerself up too bad over it, honest mistake and one less swan won't matter. The fact you admitted to it and posted it is enough in my book. Can't stop chuckling though, thanks for the story....too funny. Just a tip though, at 22 pounds it is about 3 times the size of a snow, if it looks like a white hang-glider, probably not a snow.

ABDUKNUT · #12 11-12-2008, 07:32 PM

There's a huge push of swans moving south through AB right now.

So let's get this straight... you shot one?!?

At least it wasn't a whooping crane...

Versatile · #13 11-12-2008, 07:38 PM

I hope you get punished to the full extent of the law. No better than the guys who shoot at sounds in the woods when deer hunting. How oblivious do you have to be to mistake a swan for a snow goose.

Donny Bear · #14 11-12-2008, 08:00 PM

Man Oky I hope that F&W recognize the mistake as just that! A person that knowingly does something like this deserves to experiance the full extent of the law. An honest mistake is just that. You are not a poacher you made a mistake and I feel for you. I would feel for a guy who has shot hundreds of Ducks and Geese and one day kocked 2 or 3 down with one shot and was over his limit does that make hin a poacher.

In the words of Christ "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

Good luck

zewks · #15 11-12-2008, 08:12 PM

HAHA i actually find it kinda funny, honest mistake though. I wouldnt beat myself up about it too much. But this does bring a question to my mind, why cant we shoot swans? Is it because there pretty???

ABDUKNUT · #16 11-12-2008, 09:05 PM

Honest mistake? Seriously, mistaking a swan for a snow goose is like mistaking a deer for a caribou.

Other than the fact they are both white birds, there is no similar characteristics whatsoever. You're damn lucky it wasn't a whooping crane you 'thought' was a snow goose.

Jamie · #17 11-12-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Versatile

I hope you get punished to the full extent of the law. .

Yeah.. That would be as bad as useing Lead on waterfowl....... Glass houses my friend.. Glass Houses

Oko. I am sure you must feel like the bottom of a garbage can right now.
Lets hope the punishment isnt to harsh.
As for the bit about not being able to call yourself a hunter.. Thats a load of hogwash. You have just shown the ultimate sacrifice in the hunting world.
Good on you I say.

Plese lets know how it goes.

Jamie

ABDUKNUT · #18 11-12-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zewks

But this does bring a question to my mind, why cant we shoot swans? Is it because there pretty???

We can't shoot swans because there is no hunting season for them Alberta. If you want a swan season, contact SRD... or maybe talk to APOS and see if they can pull some strings.

ABDUKNUT · #19 11-12-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBE2

Just a tip though, at 22 pounds it is about 3 times the size of a snow,

22 lbs is AT LEAST 4 times the size of an 'average' lesser snow goose.

Versatile · #20 11-12-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie

Yeah.. That would be as bad as useing Lead on waterfowl....... Glass houses my friend.. Glass Houses

Oko. I am sure you must feel like the bottom of a garbage can right now.
Lets hope the punishment isnt to harsh.
As for the bit about not being able to call yourself a hunter.. Thats a load of hogwash. You have just shown the ultimate sacrifice in the hunting world.
Good on you I say.

Plese lets know how it goes.

Jamie

Ya I agree it would be just as bad using lead on waterfowl but who does that these days?

Friend? When did we become friends? I always knew deep down you wanted to be my friend Jamie.

cujo1969 · #21 11-12-2008, 09:44 PM

Oko you should maybe get a copy and read them before going hunting. http://www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

gopher · #22 11-12-2008, 09:45 PM

My first question is how did fish and wildlife find out about this?
This was a mistake and there is know need to jump on this guy for killing a swan. As far as no lead for hunting water fowl that is ******ed. I shot trap at the brooks gun club for years and there was never any lead found in the slough that was just behind the trap line. You guys are jumping on this guy for killing a swan how many geese you guys wound form using steel???????????

Versatile · #23 11-12-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gopher

My first question is how did fish and wildlife find out about this?
This was a mistake and there is know need to jump on this guy for killing a swan. As far as no lead for hunting water fowl that is ******ed. I shot trap at the brooks gun club for years and there was never any lead found in the slough that was just behind the trap line. You guys are jumping on this guy for killing a swan how many geese you guys wound form using steel???????????

Mistake or no Poaching is poaching.

ABDUKNUT · #24 11-12-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gopher

...how many geese you guys wound form using steel???????????

Gun goes 'BOOM'

Geese goes 'THUD'.

Dead geese tell no lies, my son...

Jamie · #25 11-12-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Versatile

Mistake or no Poaching is poaching.

For once on this board you are correct. However stepping up and admitting your mistake does have Value. It shows maturity and respect for the game laws we have in place. Remember its not what you do when others are around.. Its what you do when you are alone. Some valuable lessons in that story. Lessons that we all can learn from.

Compassion is a wonderful trait...

Jamie

Donny Bear · #26 11-12-2008, 10:26 PM

I stay clear of most of the bantering and crap Last week an old member returned under a new name and in one of the first post I saw from him accussed another member of trying to draw him into a fight. I hoped for change a new start something different

gopher · #27 11-12-2008, 10:35 PM

Well Versatile you just keep hunting huns on the 15 of September hope dogs you keep bragging about don’t point to many meadow larks and you got to turn your self in to fish and wild life.

Rob Miskosky · #28 11-12-2008, 11:04 PM

Okotokian has asked that we close this thread. I will grant him his wish. Looks like it is headed in another direction anyway.