How to Hunt Geese

Hunting geese is a popular sport in many northern parts of the United States and Canada. Experts say that one of the most difficult things about learning to hunt geese is finding a good spot.

Things You'll Need

• Goose call
• Camouflage clothing
• Hunting blind
• Rifle

Instructions

Scout a Location for Geese

1. Do your homework before you settle on a location from which to hunt geese. Speak to your state's Department of Wildlife Services to get maps of areas geese have been known to inhabit.

2. Drive to potential hunting spots the day before you plan to hunt. You will look for fields where geese are feeding. Geese will feed in the same place when food remains available and they have not been disturbed.

3. Request permission to hunt in the location you have found. Ask the owner of private lands if you can hunt geese there the next day. You should also request that the owner not give permission to other hunters for that day.

Conceal Yourself Well

1. Purchase a field ground blind. A blind is a small, tent-like enclosure that shields you from the sight of the geese. You will stay behind the blind until you are ready to shoot.

2. Wear camouflage clothing. You are apt to come home without any geese if they see you before you see them. Always wear a camouflage hat, too, but be careful to follow any local hunting rules about wearing enough orange to be identified by other hunters.

Lure the Geese to You

1. Make use of decoys to draw geese into your area. Decoys help geese feel safe, since they can see that others (your decoys) are feeding without sensing danger.

2. Purchase the most realistic decoys you can afford. Experts generally agree that more realistic decoys work better. But keep in mind that you need to deploy many decoys, so the cost can become prohibitive quite quickly.

3. Employ a commercial goose call to bring the geese close enough to shoot. You will need practice using the call before you go out hunting.

Choose a Comfortable Weapon

1. Choose a 12 gauge shotgun that you are comfortable using.

2. Practice with the shotgun unloaded. Practice jumping up and quickly placing the gun at your shoulder and aiming. This is how you will hunt geese, so it is best to get it down to a smooth motion.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to get your goose blind quite dirty before you pack it up to go hunting. You don't want anything new or different-looking when you are hiding from your quarry.