Pennsylvania Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Christian-Boyd
Field Editor

Somerset County 08-14-2007 08:37
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So what’s the good word? Anyone completed any preseason scounting or talked to local farmers about crop harvesting or permission to hunt?

Sept. 01 is right around the corner. Time to count the brass and inspect decoys. Good luck.

Posted By:
paskip
Web Member

Canada Trip 08-12-2007 16:06
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I have 2 openings for our annual trip to Manitoba,CAN.Leave 9-28,Return 10-6. E-mail for futher Info. paskip730@comcast.net

Posted By:
dallas01
Guest

08-08-2007 15:09
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24 more days

Posted By:
dallas01
Guest

08-03-2007 12:22
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28 more days gentlemen. Shoot strait and let the high ones fly

Posted By:
Chris Vogel
Guest

07-28-2007 08:12
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I seem to run into waterfowl wherever I go. River, ponds, lakes, streams. I think it’s going to be a great year!

Posted By:
Joe W.
Web Member

07-26-2007 17:03
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After reading this I guess they handled the best way they could. i would like ot seen something different done. what concerns me is that would this happen across the state in my area there few geese most of whitch live in a state park. A big flock here is 20 birds, I see sometimes but for the most part it is small flocks of birds flowing one anther to a resting site.

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

07-25-2007 15:47
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wag,
you had some good points i just feel they could have done a better job then they did. comeon goose season

Posted By:
goldenwag
Web Member

07-25-2007 11:23
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by the way this is what really got me fired up about the whole thing and the “rights” group.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07206/804061-192.stm

Posted By:
goldenwag
Web Member

07-25-2007 11:20
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I agree with you guys that gassing those geese was a bad move on some aspects. I called the county office and volunteered to assist on moving the geese. I never got a response and to be honest I didn’t really expect one. It would have been nice to move the birds to an area that allowed them to be hunted or another “park”. I think agree with thte “rights” groups on that but when you take the time, effort and money involved to do some of the ideas they wanted it was easier and cheaper to do the “harvest”. At least the meat is to be used for a good cause. Dumpstering them would really be a waste. I’m sure that if enough people guranteed to volunteer for a moving event then maybe they will use that option next time. Also, rumor has it they will be draining the lake to clean all the trash out and to regrade it. I think that may cut down on some of the numbers but since the geese really have no predators at the lake they may just stick around anyway.

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

07-25-2007 08:28
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christian,
place has been too quiet this summer,no one arguing,was due time!lol
anyhow,here is a link to the adopted limits!same as last year,sept 1st-25th,8 a day here! only diff get to smack em 1/2 hour later !

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172049

Pennsylvania Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Christian-Boyd
Field Editor

Somerset 07-25-2007 07:33
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Didn’t mean to stir the pot with the geese issue. I just wanted to shed some light on a local “problem.”

I would have helped transport some birds to other areas, but that wasn’t an option.

Does anyone know if the duck stamp increased in price? I bought my license recently and was fired up about the price (again). I also decided to buy and stock my own pheasants on a local farm since the PA Game Comission cut the stocking program in half last year.

When are the migratory bird hunting guidelines going to be published? Is there a link for it?

[Edited By Christian-Boyd on 2007-07-25 07:34]

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

07-25-2007 05:31
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YES GOLDENWAG HAD SOME VERY GOOD LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND INFO ON THIS ISSUE!TO BE HONEST I DIDNT KNOW THE POP WAS OVER 700 BIREDSTHAT DOES MAKE A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN MY TAKE ON IT,HOWEVER,(MATT YOU KNEW)LOL,

GEESE R NOT HOMING PIGEONS.YES SOME SPECIES OF GEESE DO HAVE A BETTER GPS SYSTEM IN THIER NOGGIN THEN OTHERS,AND DO MAKE MONSTROUS MIGRATIONS THAT TAKE THEM THOUSANDS OF MILES AND BACK TO THE SAME SPOT YEAR AFTER YEAR,BUT THOSE R YOUR MIGRATORY BIRDS,AND THEY R TAUGHT THIS BY OLDER BIRDS,NOT BORN WITH IT.
SO…..
I BELIEVE RESIDENT BIRDS, MOVED A MERE 50 MILES,OR BETTER YET, 100 MILES, WOULD MOST LIKELY NEVER RETURN AS THEY DONT HAVE THAT HOMING INSTINCT THE MIGRATORS HAVE!!
IM ALL ABOUT CONSEVATION,DISEASE CONTROL AND KEEPING THE PARKS CLEAN AND POOP FREE AS POSSIBLE, BUT TO ME, TO GAS 270 BIRDS IS GENOCIDE,NO MATTER WHAT SPECIES!!! NO IF ANDS OR BUTTS ON THAT ONE!
I BET IF THEY WOULD HAVE TALKED TO THE PGC AND GOTTEN SOME INPUT FROM HUNTERS IN SAY WASHINGTON OR SOMERSET COUNTY, WHERE THE BIRDS ARE MORE SCARCE,THE HUNTERS MAY HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO TRUCK THE GEESE TO A POND OR LAKE IN THIER AREA TO ESTABLISH A NICE GROUP SOMEWHERE(CWMOSS,CHRISTIAN BOYD??)

Posted By:
NDspoiled
Guest

07-24-2007 21:32
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GOOD POINTS GOLDENWAG!! Very good input on the subject.

Posted By:
goldenwag
Web Member

North Park Geese Issue 07-24-2007 11:22
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I am guessing you guys are talking about the North Park goose population issue. Question…. Have any of you been to North Park this year? I go out there all the time and I have to say I agree with how they handled it. 1. If they would have just rounded them up and took them somewhere there is a good chance they would come right back. 2. All the meat from the geese is to be tested and then sent to local food banks (which really need it) 3. 277 geese removed still leaves over 500 resident geese. Local animal rights groups (whom have of the “spokespeople aren’t even from the US) say they should use harassment techniques, dogs to chase them, and oil the eggs… to me that is more tax dollars out of MY pay going to the local government. I would rather they spend one day taking care of the problem than employing handlers and dogs everyday and then a big “egg oiling” project a few times in the spring, how much is that going to cost me. The geese are still interrupting traffic, ruining the picnic areas (which are rented to bring in money to take care of the park) eating all the vegetation that is causing more erosion and generally soiling the entire park. To see it on TV and listen to the “geesepeace” people it sounds as though they just said “let’s go kill some geese today” well that is not the case. Due to the large number of complaints they had to do something a little more drastic, and like I said 277 out of over 700 is nothing. And talk about poor class to go to a guys church and protest on Sunday to say he has “moral issues” because his department made the call is uncalled for. If you want to go after people about geese, lets go after the jerks who go out and see how many they can shoot, exceeding their limits and then “trick shoot the birds”, like seeing how many times they can hit the same one on it’s way down then just throw them all away. Too many videos out there show it and unfortunately the younger kids are seeing it and thinking it is OK. Teach them and teach them right, how many people hunt differently when they have a youngster with them? Why? You should hunt safe and responsibly every time…

Posted By:
dallas01
Guest

07-23-2007 21:09
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Any fellow members out there belong to the Northern Piedmont Retriever Club?

Posted By:
Joe W.
Web Member

07-23-2007 19:54
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I am a little put out by the pittsburg thing leave it up to the politics to do somthing stupid. My question is were are all the tree huggers duing this they usally make a fuus over killing a flea let alone a flock of geese.I am total against it just isn’t right I am going to talk to my state rep about this.

Well that said I had the dog out over the weekend and started brushing up his retrives he was a little rusty on the direction but that came back pretty quick. I am tring to get him a little more steady on the sitting part he is starting to come around but it is slow. I have been working on that all summer long.We did see lots of woodies around though good area for em.

Posted By:
Rob-Heslep
Guest

se pa 07-23-2007 14:30
Cloudy, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Saturday morning I was awakened by the familiar sound of geese on the move. The wheat field across the road from me was the LZ and they have been feeding morning and evening ever since. Good to see them on the move.

Posted By:
NC Spinning Wing
Guest

07-21-2007 21:21
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Woody is right, they most likely have “followed the rules” and have gottem the correct permits, they are targeting the resident geese only, not the migrant population. But hunting can be used as a tool here, in conjunction with a depredation permit to help reduce the damage these birds cause. I would still encourage you to voice your concern to the PGC and USDA, at least it will keep them in check, and let them know someone is keeping an eye on things, if you catch my drift.

Woody PM sent your way

Posted By:
super-x
Web Member

07-20-2007 13:49
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They just posted the approverd early canada goose season and bag limits as well as the youth season.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=172049

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

07-20-2007 06:50
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as far as feds go i think the trickle down effect is in place here.as long as the migrating geese r protected,the states then have certian leeways to what they do with resident birds.spin would know better but

i know there r things called predation orders and such that i believe r supposed to be issued before a city can do these things be interestingto find out .
spin any help??

Pennsylvania Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
PaCowboy
Guest

07-19-2007 21:05
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Wouldn’t they have to have approval from the Fed’s or the Game Commission to start with? Aren’t ALL geese federally regulated including resident flocks. Seems to me if they didn’t have preapproval there should be some serious legal issues here. I will be right there with you in making my voice heard Woody. THIS IS B.S.

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

07-19-2007 09:24
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spin,
i will do both.we gotta stop it now or every township in the state with 25 geese in thier park are gonna want to do the same,then there will be way less residents around period.
remember, all of the geese we hunt in sept are those very geese.somewhere there will be 10 less flocks of 25.
how many people would love to have just 5 flocks of 10 come in to the dekes in sept?
us lazy hunters need to wake up and speak up when the need arises.we are way to compacent as a group,those(like me) who speak thier mind might be considered loudmouths,whatever!if we didnt speak,itd be like no one did!

spin send me your telephone numbers please i dont have them anymore due to destroyed phone! thanks for the heads up on where to complain

Posted By:
NC Spinning Wing
Guest

07-18-2007 19:06
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WOODY, You can contact USDA APHIS Wildlife Services in Harrisburg, I think the number is 1800 4 USDA WS, or better yet, complain to the game commission, they will put some heat on them!

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

07-18-2007 12:22
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what,
since they went through all the trouble to round them up and cart them somewhere to be gassed,couldnt they just have carted them to a lake or river and let then go.thats b.s. in my book.

here we go it will happen all over now you watch.
christian,

who do i contact to complain?

woody

Posted By:
Christian-Boyd
Field Editor

Somerset County 07-18-2007 11:27
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Just spent a week fly fishing the Gallatin Canyon and Madison River in Montana…..lots of ducks there, especially mergansers.

North Park (Pittsburgh, PA) euthanized 272 geese recently. The birds were put down using some type of “gas” and the meat was given to a poor shelter.

Here’s a link to the story:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/13699940/detail.html

Posted By:
KennyW
Guest

07-08-2007 14:19
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i will separate the feeders if you would like. send me a pm

Posted By:
dallas01
Guest

07-08-2007 09:52
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KennyW would you sell just the feeders or do you want to sell the whole lot?

Posted By:
KennyW
Guest

07-08-2007 07:46
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have some decoys for sale in the classifieds
fyi

Posted By:
Joe W.
Web Member

06-26-2007 20:01
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Was out looken for new places to hunt tonite and talked to a farmer who is the process of putting in two new ponds about 10 acers each for irrergation. Gave me permission to hunt em this fall for ducks and geese. Also scoped out some farm crops in the area. I don’t think anyone evry heard of grain around here everyone has corn and soybeans.It was just a bit warm and muggy out with a few bugs.

Posted By:
Christian-Boyd
Field Editor

Somerset 06-26-2007 10:27
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All these geese are messing with my bass fishing. Can’t wait until September.

Pennsylvania Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Christian-Boyd
Field Editor

Somerset County 06-21-2007 06:27
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Woody #’s are up this year. I have seen several different hens with broods while fly fishing local streams. The geese are tearing up the local farm ponds also (as usual). Farmers have approached me and have been asking how long they’ll stick around. Not sure.

Posted By:
Joe W.
Web Member

06-19-2007 21:11
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Same here looks like lots of geese and ducklings around all my fishing buddies are giving me reports. plus I have been out looking around also seeing lots of both.Also up behind the house on sunday and saw some bucks with nice horns on already. WOW!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By:
KennyW
Guest

06-19-2007 18:14
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have plenty of geese behind the house with the feathers already coming out. Also heard a huge flock of geese flying over the house on friday around midnight. Or maybe I was drinking to much beer! Lots of woodies around this year.

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

area lake 06-19-2007 06:06
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wow
seen over 250 geese there(seen over40 goslings) i may need to look into this spot for the season
one thing i did notice was there were some of this years brood allready getting thier black necks and white patches and had a good covering of real feathers not down,some 1/2 that size,and some that had no feathers at all just down,id say 1-1/2 months old?
very wide hatch range this year it seems,i remember guys on here saying they were seein goslings really early this year!

Posted By:
Rob-Heslep
Guest

se pa 06-05-2007 14:51
Cloudy, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
The baby geese in the area seem to be growing fast and in the last week or so starting to see some good numbers of ducklings as well. The geese that don’t have any young seem to be doing some moving around in the morning and evening. As the wheat, rye, and barley start coming off in the next couple of weeks I think the movement will increase.

Posted By:
locked up Pa
Guest

Canada Nestying Report from on Md hunting reports 05-29-2007 07:06
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Have heard weather in Canada Goose nesting regions has been very very cold with much snow cover. If things do not change in next week or 2, nesting will be grim. Egg laying has not even begun and body energy is being spent on hanging around waiting for weather to change with little food avaiable.

No new info on scaup issues…..considerations….population is relatively high compared to certain other ducks, hunting is the only thing that can be “controlled’, flyways vary in bag, ring neck causes problems on IDing birds, drake only hard to consider in some regions in early season where plummage not as distinct, etc. Look for some mixed type solution trying to perhaps address these issues in a regional or seasonal manner.

Wood duck obsevrations by many are very good and well up over prior years with good year to year survival indicated.

Clif BrownHave heard weather in Canada Goose nesting regions has been very very cold with much snow cover. If things do not change in next week or 2, nesting will be grim. Egg laying has not even begun and body energy is being spent on hanging around waiting for weather to change with little food avaiable.

No new info on scaup issues…..considerations….population is relatively high compared to certain other ducks, hunting is the only thing that can be “controlled’, flyways vary in bag, ring neck causes problems on IDing birds, drake only hard to consider in some regions in early season where plummage not as distinct, etc. Look for some mixed type solution trying to perhaps address these issues in a regional or seasonal manner.

Wood duck obsevrations by many are very good and well up over prior years with good year to year survival indicated.

Cliff Brown

Posted By:
super-x
Web Member

05-28-2007 07:27
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Took a ride on the river last evening.
Seen a lot of geese with a few young and even one banded bird. Also seen a couple mallards and wood ducks. Turkey season is now over. That means the next season is Goose! Won’t be long! Can’t wait!

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

05-20-2007 18:43
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link to pics of matts wedding great to see jason y and his lady,carrie.
and the boys got moves!!!lolcheck the pics guys!!!

priceless!!!!

it was a great ceremony,matts bride was beautiful( and matt cleaned up well too!!!),seen a few old friends and got drunk,woooooohoooooo.

www.photoshow.net/publish/gM7Sa9mi.swf?w=240” />

[Edited By woodyhunter on 2007-05-20 18:45]

Posted By:
Joe W.
Web Member

05-20-2007 08:35
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Seeing lots of little geese out and about now. No ducks as of yet

Posted By:
woodyhunter
Guest

05-18-2007 09:52
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youth day daniel(my boy) missed a nice one walkin,other then that me and blindspot have yet to connect,seen a coyote last sat in perry cty