Early Canada Goose Hunting Tips and Tactics

Resident Canada goose populations have exploded in recent years. As a result, there’s more and more hunter’s taking the field each September. If you’re new to the season or a veteran, Try these tips and you might see better success when hunting early season resident Canada geese this year.

Just like any waterfowl hunting season, scouting is the key. You could set up in any field and you’ll probably get some company, but being in the right spot requires a little more than luck. Scouting should start in early August when your doing nothing more than prospecting. Try to find what roosts the geese are using, where the favorable crops are located, and if possible, where the flooded areas are located. Get some good optics, and take a few trips out into some encouraging goose areas. The more areas and roosts you scout, the more options you have as the season comes in.

Canada geese will roost in any type of water. It is important to leave the roosts undisturbed. When there’s no pressure on a particular roost, it can hold birds all season long and makes scouting easier. When a roost gets shot out, the birds will be gone with little chance of them returning. If you like to hunt geese over water, target them on the shallow flooded areas where they like to rest for a short period of time. You can hunt these areas just like fields, and you’re not pressuring the roost.

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You can pretty much use any type of goose decoy early in the season. Try to use full bodies, and stay away from silhouettes on sunny days to eliminate the possibility of shine. You don’t need too many decoys, 1-2 dozen will usually be adequate. By the end of the early season, use more decoys as the birds start grouping up. Place the decoys in families of 4-8, and keep the families at least 15 feet away from the other families.

Some other tips that might give you an advantage are quality camo and flagging. Concealment is one of the most important elements while in the field. Flagging can be just as deadly as calling. Use something to extend the flag to keep the flag away from your body so the geese don’t pick you out. Try to imitate a goose coming in to land in the decoy spread. Use the flag just enough to get their attention, but don’t overuse it.

Remember, to bring plenty of fluids, wear lighter clothing and don’t forget the bug spray, or you will be swatting mosquitoes while goose hunting this September . Good luck !