Thanks to a successful transplant program of nuisance geese from other New England states into northern Maine a couple of decades ago, Aroostook waterfowlers now enjoy September honker hunting.
Despite the growing population of native Canada geese, regular gunning success remains iffy due to the vast acreage of farm fields spread over the Crown of Maine where geese visit randomly to feed. Nonetheless, a bit of scouting and a few special field hunting tactics may bring honkers and hunters together for a memorable early autumn outing.
Three basic techniques are used to intercept waterfowl: set up decoys in likely feeding fields, find a waterway where the birds rest and drink during the day or roost at night, or select a rock pile, hedgerow or brush island the birds fly over each time they leave a field, pond or river and attempt pass shooting.
The last two ambush methods come with consequences since the birds will certainly relocate their roosting and watering spots if shot at more than once in a week’s time. It’s far more advantageous to leave the R&R areas alone so the geese keep returning, and then watch and follow the flocks when they fly out to feed fields a couple of times each day. Then utilize tactic No. 1 and set up layout blinds and decoys on that favored food plot to wait for the next feeding foray.
Until flight birds begin to arrive from the north in October and larger flocks form, most local geese travel in family units. Groups may contain only half a dozen honkers or as many as 20, but between four and eight geese generally compiles the two adults and this year’s hatchlings. Oddly, spring goslings are now nearly as large as the parents and can only be truly aged by checking tail feathers once they have been shot. Early goose season offers some advantage to area gunners, especially novice waterfowlers with limited calling experience, because most of the younger birds aren’t as wily and decoy and call shy as the experienced adult Canadas.
Another plus for inexperienced waterfowlers during September is that far fewer decoys are needed to attract geese into shotgun range. Since most flocks are family groups, they expect to see other small bunches in feeding fields, so often only a dozen or 15 decoys prove sufficient. Since good decoys are fairly pricey, the fewer needed the better. During the late season when flight birds stopping over to feed and fatten for their trip south arrive, they have been called to and shot at all along their flight route. These wary, wily honkers may require decoy setups of 60 to 100 decoys to be hoodwinked into a close fly-by. Neophyte waterfowlers who don’t yet own layout blinds or haybale blinds can make do with laying on a sheet of plastic or small tarp to stay dry and covering over with a piece of camo cloth or burlap that matches the ambient color of plant life or dirt. Decoys should be set out in small family flocks of three to six birds in the form of a V or C with the open landing hole in front of the hiding hunters. A goose flag that may be waved at distance flocks makes it seem birds are landing in the decoys and attracts passing flights to check closer.
Over the years, I’ve used air-sock decoys, silhouettes, rags, spinning wing and shell-style decoys with fair success, but currently my spread consists of only full-body, life-size dekes. There are several reputable manufacturers and I’ve experimented with most, but Avery’s Greenhead Gear fully flocked models and Avian X full flocked imitations in a combo of feeding, resting and alert models draw geese like metal filings to a magnet. Fairly priced, but not inexpensive, far fewer of these full bodies attract geese better than three or four times as many other style decoys.
Maine’s native goose season began Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 25 with a daily bag of six birds and possession limit of 18. A Maine duck stamp as well as a federal stamp must be purchased, the first at the town office, city hall or online and the second at the post office. Steel or other acceptable non-toxic pellets must be used in shotgun shells and 12-gauge and 10-gauge scatterguns remain most popular. Many small-framed women and youth hunters opt for 16- or 20-gauge shotguns with reduced weight and recoil the benefit. Camo clothing is a must, especially gloves and mesh face mask for blending into brushlines or field foliage – even if a blind is being used.
Currently underway, Aroostook’s early goose season provides a great introduction to waterfowling for newcomers to the sport and young guns. Weather conditions remain comfortable, hunting pressure is moderate and geese are a bit less cautious since they have not been shot at too often. Another plus is the increasing number of grain fields being harvested to offer more food plot options.
Canada geese are a wild and canny quarry, great tablefare and are exciting to pursue. Perhaps you should find time for an outing this month.
