While the dog days of summer have reached their peak across the nation, hunting has begun in various states in the far north for the early resident Canada goose season. Hunter success has varied in the Dakotas, with the harvest best in active feeding areas during the first cool hours of the morning, or just before sunset. The first groups of migratory blue-winged teal have been reported in northern portions of the Mississippi Flyway, and they have begun to stage in larger groups in breeding areas.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Hunting the early goose season takes some gump’– hardcore gumption in fact (to use the proper vernacular). Honestly, snuggling down in cozy layout blind during a December snowstorm is a cakewalk compared to an August day in these portable, camouflage saunas. If it weren’t for the mosquitoes and horse flies, the early season goose hunter could be half tempted to strip down to his skivvies, a baseball hat and some face paint before climbing in his well-thatched, folding death bed. Now this practice, while unsightly, would finally explain those few pages of camo-undies in the Mack’s Praire Wings catalog each season. Should the day come when your hunting partner jumps out of his testosterone-fueled four-by-four with some plumbers-crack stuffed in a camo-thong, a perfectly acceptable response would be to run across the field in the opposite direction while frantically rubbing your eyes and screaming, “It burns, it burns!”
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the early season hunter that arrives wearing his regular season gear to insure his hunting success. While those layers of Thinsulate™ work wonders at soaking up the buckets of sweat they expel while putting out the decoys, such insulation is really not required to survive that predawn chill of 80 degrees or more. Should they become pale and dizzy as the sun pokes over the horizon, hand them your Mack’s catalog (folded open to the camo-undies page) and let them know you would rather suffer the effects of severe mind scarring than see them die of heat exhaustion before the regular season opened.
At Waterfowler.com we try to take a sensible approach to the early goose season and we’re of the ilk that believes two-dozen spinning wing decoys can create good cover and a nice breeze. When combined with a lawn chair, a spray bottle of Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil and bug repellent, you have the makings of a fine early season hunt. Granted, the smart geese aren’t going to buy into this method, but you will have the entire season to chase those. In all likelihood, you will cull an ample amount of the not-so-smart ones to replenish your jerky stash for the season and get a good tan in the process. If you happen to be hunting over water, just substitute the regular lawn chair with one of the floating varieties – you should be able to pick one up cheap at an end-of-season sale. Of course, in states where electronic decoys are prohibited, fanning yourself with a goose flag will help keep you cool and attract birds.
Until our next report, hunt safe, keep a sense of humor and stay hydrated during your early season hunt.
