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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Guy]
#6215113
03/09/16 01:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473
Tru2lifetaxidermy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473 |
I am military and station down here now and know there are birds down here.....do any of you chase them in Texas? Why make the trip up north if you can kill them local? I can relate to the "hunting trip" as it's nice to get away and hunt.....just curious I guess. If someone wants another partner to chase them here in Texas give me a shout. It's always great to meet folks who live the sport of hunting and seems to last as life time friends. Yeah I have to agree, I have not hunted them much, but south of DFW area and north of Austin, I duck hunted down there and seen them all over the green winter wheat fields, and a couple days that nice pasture of green winter wheat goes to bare ground, so maybe we should open our own seasonal business, "Goose Busters", "free service!!!". Hell in in! One would think with the devistaion they cause to the fields that the land owners would allow you to keep them in check and off their crops. I have seen the same as they can devistate a field in just two days....
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6215118
03/09/16 01:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473
Tru2lifetaxidermy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473 |
And if it takes me a flat of shells every couple of days to save the tundra than so be it....ill be your huckleberry
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Guy]
#6215128
03/09/16 01:42 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,489
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,489 |
I am military and station down here now and know there are birds down here.....do any of you chase them in Texas? Why make the trip up north if you can kill them local? I can relate to the "hunting trip" as it's nice to get away and hunt.....just curious I guess. If someone wants another partner to chase them here in Texas give me a shout. It's always great to meet folks who live the sport of hunting and seems to last as life time friends. Yeah I have to agree, I have not hunted them much, but south of DFW area and north of Austin, I duck hunted down there and seen them all over the green winter wheat fields, and a couple days that nice pasture of green winter wheat goes to bare ground, so maybe we should open our own seasonal business, "Goose Busters", "free service!!!". This is just another great idea from your uncle Guy, so one of you guys need to head this up, and I offer my free service as a consultant and goose buster.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#6215141
03/09/16 01:48 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,489
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,489 |
I am military and station down here now and know there are birds down here.....do any of you chase them in Texas? Why make the trip up north if you can kill them local? I can relate to the "hunting trip" as it's nice to get away and hunt.....just curious I guess. If someone wants another partner to chase them here in Texas give me a shout. It's always great to meet folks who live the sport of hunting and seems to last as life time friends. Yeah I have to agree, I have not hunted them much, but south of DFW area and north of Austin, I duck hunted down there and seen them all over the green winter wheat fields, and a couple days that nice pasture of green winter wheat goes to bare ground, so maybe we should open our own seasonal business, "Goose Busters", "free service!!!". Hell in in! One would think with the devistaion they cause to the fields that the land owners would allow you to keep them in check and off their crops. I have seen the same as they can devistate a field in just two days.... Yes..This is an effort that needs to be lead, you are da man.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#6215663
03/09/16 02:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387
john paul
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387 |
I think a few guys may have taken pics of a pile or two and will have them send a few and post them. I did not take any as we hunt til last possible shooting light and then spend the next 4-5 hours packing the spread and redeploying or changing it for the morning wind. We had anywhere from 4-16 guys in the spread and over the years have gotten pretty proficient at the debacle of deploying and redeploying to stay in the "x". We used to just run traffic but now chase solely the "x". It may be way more work but when your shoulder hurts from shooting it makes it all worth it. I'm not an expert by any means but don't you think you could get away hunting the X with a lot less decoys? Have y'all tried using 1000 full bodies only? If y'all have, is the success rate that much better with 4000 decoys that it is worth it to set decoys for 5 hours every day? Honest questions here. I have some friends that own a lot of property and have a lot of connections around Yankton, SD and we are tossing around the idea of giving it a shot next year.
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Tru2lifetaxidermy]
#6215753
03/09/16 03:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
wal1809
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788 |
I am military and station down here now and know there are birds down here.....do any of you chase them in Texas? Why make the trip up north if you can kill them local? I can relate to the "hunting trip" as it's nice to get away and hunt.....just curious I guess. If someone wants another partner to chase them here in Texas give me a shout. It's always great to meet folks who live the sport of hunting and seems to last as life time friends. At one point up until a few years ago we had over a million geese come to the coastal prairie in Texas. Last year we only had 180000. It is also very difficult to knock and talk down here. In Texas it is big money for hunting rights. I can still do it around my house, but there is no point when the roost near me only holds 500 birds at best now days. I don't know your base but I have family we visit at the hood all the time.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6215914
03/09/16 04:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473
Tru2lifetaxidermy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473 |
Yankton is a great area to hunt. The birds stage along the river for sometime there. We put a bunch of dekes for this reason. When the birds stack up like that they come off the roost in large numbers 1-2 thousand at a time. Safety in numbers and drawing power is why we use that many. Also putting the socks out 2-3 hundred yards down wind shows more safety but the birds will finish at the full bodies and key in on the movement. If you just running traffic less dekes will work
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: wal1809]
#6216074
03/09/16 05:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124
Blue Tick
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124 |
[/quote] At one point up until a few years ago we had over a million geese come to the coastal prairie in Texas. Last year we only had 180000. It is also very difficult to knock and talk down here. In Texas it is big money for hunting rights. I can still do it around my house, but there is no point when the roost near me only holds 500 birds at best now days. I don't know your base but I have family we visit at the hood all the time.[/quote]
This is all a direct correlation to the loss of crops along the Gulf Coast over the last several years. Texas used to be the largest producer of rice and now Arkansas has surpassed that with well over 1 million acres planted. Farmers around Eagle Lake, Garwood, Nada and other areas are having to fight harder with the LCRA and others to get water. I can remember hunting the Katy Prairie with birds out the wazoo, even the same east towards Winnie. As a kid, we'd drive down to China and other areas, scout around and ask the farmers. I can't recall ever being told no or how much money can you pay. Not so much anymore. And as you mentioned the crazy $$$ amounts landowners want. Besides a few trips out of state to more birdy areas, I'm hanging up my Texas waterfowling.
Last edited by Blue Tick; 03/09/16 05:51 PM.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6216193
03/09/16 06:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542
snowbuster
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542 |
This year will be very different there should be a lot more rice! they have water now and the price of rice is very good right now!!
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6216211
03/09/16 07:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473
Tru2lifetaxidermy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473 |
I think something else to add is that not all the birds are making it this far south. Winters have not been very harsh and many birds are wintering as north as Kansas. Call it global warming, El Niņo/El Ninia but times are changing. More hunters trying to take these birds = smarter birds. Which is why many target the juvies, these birds can make it to 30 years of age and have seen every tactic we have thrown at them
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6216248
03/09/16 07:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,964
jdickey
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,964 |
Had several big flocks Saturday heading back north. My house is close to the Cameron Park area in Waco and the geese fly over the confluence of the Brazos and Bosque Rivers and it never fails, they will circle the area for 5- 7 minutes while they "discuss" which direction they need to go. You'll see some branch off and start flying south, while another group circles, then they all join back up and start back north up the Brazos. Usually they maintain a high altitude, but on occasion they have been low enough, that you can hear and feel the droppings as they circle!
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: snowbuster]
#6216278
03/09/16 07:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124
Blue Tick
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124 |
This year will be very different there should be a lot more rice! they have water now and the price of rice is very good right now!! It would be nice to have more crops, but I'm afraid the damage is done. The old fields down Katy Hockley and east/west of there are virtually almost all houses now, or quickly headed that way. Add in above what was said about the warmer winters, the birds aren't coming any further south than they have too.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: snowbuster]
#6216280
03/09/16 07:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387
john paul
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,387 |
This year will be very different there should be a lot more rice! they have water now and the price of rice is very good right now!! There might be more rice but that doesn't mean the geese are going to magically reappear. Is someone going to send them a text to let them know more rice is going to be planted this year?
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6216298
03/09/16 07:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542
snowbuster
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542 |
Hunting will for sure be different in a way, we will never have the numbers that we use to. There will be no reason for them to even make this far with all the food up north but when that harsh winter does come (praying sometime we will get one)
You are right the Katy Prairie will be done in about 10 years. Trust me I know I live there and guide there, the Duck hunting is still great out here but the goose hunting is not there. The geese stay all together its not like it was were you would be laying in a spread and could watch 10 plus different roost get up. Now it is one, maybe two on a good year but that is it! I grew up out here and just watching it first handed get knocked away everyday!
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: snowbuster]
#6216310
03/09/16 08:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124
Blue Tick
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124 |
Hunting will for sure be different in a way, we will never have the numbers that we use to. There will be no reason for them to even make this far with all the food up north but when that harsh winter does come (praying sometime we will get one)
You are right the Katy Prairie will be done in about 10 years. Trust me I know I live there and guide there, the Duck hunting is still great out here but the goose hunting is not there. The geese stay all together its not like it was were you would be laying in a spread and could watch 10 plus different roost get up. Now it is one, maybe two on a good year but that is it! I grew up out here and just watching it first handed get knocked away everyday! Who do you guide for? I've been hunting that area for a while and the last 2 years have been just piss poor IMO for birds. To be completely honest, I didn't even hunt a single day this past season. Just about the time I'd start loading decoys or getting ready the night before I'd hear reports and talk to folks and just run put my stuff back up. I've relegated my dog to just working him with bumpers and launchers to at least keep him in shape.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6216337
03/09/16 08:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542
snowbuster
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542 |
I run most of my hunts with Double JJ Outfitters, I had some great hunts this year
who do you hunt with?
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: snowbuster]
#6216349
03/09/16 08:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124
Blue Tick
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124 |
I run most of my hunts with Double JJ Outfitters, I had some great hunts this year
who do you hunt with? I hunt some with David Pruett and some other friends down around that area. I've heard of Justin and some decent reports from people who have hunted with them. Never met them personally.
Last edited by Blue Tick; 03/09/16 08:24 PM.
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6216404
03/09/16 08:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542
snowbuster
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 542 |
David is a good friend of ours we do all our calling competitions with him! Justin is a good guy, we strive our best around this area and put in a lot of work with what we have just watching the houses go up next to some of our best spots!
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6222030
03/13/16 06:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 869
Bdontexoma
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 869 |
Any updates from this weekend?
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Re: Snow Goose Reports?
[Re: Buffs 1]
#6222898
03/14/16 02:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 503
Buffs 1
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 503 |
Just got back from Mound City. Not many birds around. Our guide was moving most of his guys up to the Dakotas with the big push of birds last week or so, but we had too many guys with travel plans that couldn't be changed, so we stuck it out in Missourri. Friday was 70 degrees, and we only had one small group finish for us. Saturday was spitting rain all day, and I don't think we saw more than 100 birds all day, it was brutal. Then finally on Sunday morning we got to shoot a dozen or so in the fog before we left. All in all it was a great trip, just not a great hunting trip.
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