So I have a friend in another state that has a private lake. He doesnt know how to waterfowl hunt but wants me to come teach him. The lake is covered with duck and about 30 goose at any given morn in season so it should be very fun. Anyway since I have never hunted goose I am trying to teach myself (cause thats how I learn anything). Flags, rags, decoys, silos etc. Got it.

Obviously I can't go to my buddies every week especially having to pay for the out of state license. So I am wanting to learn about North Texas Goose hunting. Especially on COE land or public land.

Do any of you hunt geese on public or COE land? ( I don't see many on the water ever)
Field hunting. Corn? Grain etc? Scouting, where would I scout?
Is large open water or fields really the only place they light?
Do private lands have all the luck with Goose in the North?
As a beginner what kind of call is best? What kind of decoys? How many?


I have found some info on the web but it is pretty limited as to teaching where and how to goose hunt. Any info would be appreciated. Also I don't have the cash to go out on any guided hunts so going amatuer on this one, the same way I learned duck. Thanks.

Trial and error is the only way to learn. Every scenario is different. Also depends on what type of geese your hunting white, darks or specks.

But from a cost perspective guided goose hunts can be worlds cheaper than the expense of getting into goose hunting yourself. Every spread we run has $7-10k invested in it. (Trailer, blinds, decoys etc..) not to mention lease costs & fuel for scouting.

You can shoot geese on public though I have friends that do. Just spend your time driving and scouting. Try and make some friends that y'all can pool equipment.

Good luck this year

Thanks. I have asked my friend and his land mainly brings in Canada geese. I know geese are a lot more expensive to hunt but I plan on making a purchase of a doz or 2 of decoys a flag or 2 and make some rags. I shouldn't have any prob with his land just wondering about here at home.

Although I could pay for a guided hunt I gain more satisfaction from like you said trial and error in the field. For me its about the purity of the hunt. Its my native american blood I guess. lol. I'd rather be trudgin though the field with my kids passing along the tactics that trial and error have taught me. Going on a guided hunt will get me kills but won't teach me how and what to pass on to my kids. Kinda like the old saying give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime.

Good luck this year to you also.

How do you set your spread when hunting duck and geese at the same time? mixed or not?

Thanks.

If your hunting both at same time don't even even worry bout duck decoys. They will decoy to a goose spread just as good. If your over water get some floaters. Don't waste your time with rags. If your gonna use socks buy sillosocks much better. Especially if your only buying that many. You'll be glad u did. Also with geese if you can't call don't. Keep it to a minimum worry more bout the hide.

k. Thanks for the advise. I'm looking forward to it just to see them fly in. Should be good times.

He said it best. Ducks will decoy to goose decoys but geese will not decoys to duck decoys. Now days you need full bodies and silosocks to have a good goose hunt, rags don't cut it any more.

I guess I'm the exception...all the geese I have shot or shot at have all came into a duck spread.

Oh it happens, but your key word phrase was (shot at or shot) not decoyed. But then again what do I know!!
Day in day out hunting geese over a Goose spread will decoy more birds.
Kinda like fishing gonna catch alot more with bait on your hook.

And you could be the exception maybe I should hire you to take my clients out.

if you are only going with such few decoys sillosocks are a good way to go. Cananda geese will decoy to just about anything, just worry about staying hidden. if you want to beef up more and are on a tight budget rags do work. If you have some money to play with and are looking at only a few dozen get some full bodies and floaters.

Have to agree with this guy again!!

Oh they decoyed, son. If anyone knows me they know I won't shoot at anything that ain't close to the decoys. I like it up close and personal.

Called in a small flock of darkies from across the way and they passed behind the blind and landed in a field to our left. Called some more and they picked up and came right into the deeks.

The snows that were shot had actually sat their butt on the water in the deeks.

Have had several others that have came right to the decoys as well but we won't talk about my shooting.

In fact, when I do put out a goose spread or even a few deek I don't even see any geese. Pick them up and boom geese everywhere. I, too, am baffled by this strange occurance.

Now, by no means am I a seasoned goose hunter, I'm just stating my experiences. But, I'd be happy to take your clients out.

Glad you said your not a seasoned goose hunter,Im just saying with all your experiences. I dont think our clients would be happy ....

I don't care who is a seasoned goose hunter or not. Geese have and will continue to decoy to duck decoys. I think my clients would be happy as a pig in slop.

I'm glad you shoot a few every year that way. Quite a few people do.
I think I will stick to what I have learned over the past 25 yrs of goose hunting.
Don't get me wrong I'm always up to learn new tricks but that friend WILL NOT produce the results my customers and I are looking for.

Thank you for applying for a guide position but I have decided to go with someone a little more experienced in goose hunting. Thanks for your interest.

.

One minute you are saying/agreeing that they will not decoy to duck decoys and then the next you say they will/do...

Never once did I disagree with your statement about day in/day out killing more geese over a goose spread. I guess I should have quoted the phrase I was refering to...

I didn't mean to make you all defensive.


It's too bad about the denial of my app. I guess I will keep looking.

Thanks though,

Jeff Foiles

I once decoyed 4 snows into a duck decoys spread. Dangdest thing I have ever seen. I mean legs down talking. Would I tell people that geese consistantly decoy into duck dekes? No I know better. But I really just told that story so I could tell the story. Really had nothing to add.

I've killed geese over ducks spreads! But not consistently, and never enough to make a limit of get close to a limit.

Jeff, Dont drop the soap

I'll try to paraphrase...

Duks-R-us said:

I said:

You said:

I then reiterated and explained further that (shot or shot at) does indeed mean in the decoys.

Then you said: and then went on a to belittle my hopes/dreams of becoming a goose guide.



So, let's make this simple: Will geese decoy to a duck spread? My answer is yes and I believe you agree with me.

Occasionally yes blind squirrels find a nut.
Wooooo!
Glad you clarified all that. LOL!

Yes.

Geese are more wary than ducks, but if your on the X and can be still instead of giddily trying to unload your duck loads and load your goose loads like a nervous school girl they will come in.