"GREEN LIGHT, BUZZER, THROW THE LID, FIRE!"

By: Noel Vick (Editor)
Picture this......... Autumn's cool morning fog suddenly blazes orange as the sun breaks above nearby hills. Hundreds of upright silhouettes gradually become visible, but are they real geese or decoys? The rich scent of recently tilled earth is in the air. You are hunkered down inside a comfortable pit listening to the distant, yet familiar, call of approaching Canada Geese. The commander-in-chief suddenly beckons for his guests to drop from sight, a flock draws near. Your guide bursts into an impeccable imitation of the bird's natural trumpeting, while waving a flag, which portrays a goose dropping down to feed. The stage is set. A light goes on, a buzzer sounds. It's show time.

The aforementioned scenario is what you can expect while goose hunting with a professional guide. Fish and Game Finder staffers participated in such hunts last fall. We will return again this season. Throughout the Midwestern states and south central Canada, goose populations are flourishing. And even in our very own metropolitan area there are now over 20,000 resident birds. If so many geese exist one would imagine that bagging honkers would be simple, right? Not always so. The greatest obstacles we face are the lack of accessible and productive lands. It is often difficult for private citizens to locate quality public land. And even harder for hunters to "pitch camp" on private land with permission. Compounding the dilemma; geese are extremely resourceful. They tend to gather in places where shotgun sounds rarely echo across the skies. Geese hang-out in metro parks and lakes, private agricultural fields, and protected game refuges. With the high number of birds available for harvest being opposed by the scarcity of huntable fields, is there a solution? Yes, and a professional goose guide can let you experience the solution. Last issue I dispelled the myths about how expensive and humbling guided fishing trips are in "Hanging with Harold on Pepin". The same facts hold true for guided goose hunting. Success ratios are high and the rates are not. Areas such as Rochester, Waseca, Fergus Falls, Lac Qui Parle, and Big Sauk Lake host impressive goose populations along with acres of private land. Fortunately for hunters, local goose guides have access to dozens of bird attracting fields. Strategically placed, these fields surround frequented watering holes and forage covered game refuges. Guides often switch from location to location depending on wind conditions, feeding habits, and what crops are being harvested by local farmers. After your guide has selected the proper field, what happens next? Most established guides have spent long tedious hours excavating pits that are later used as subterranean blinds for their guests. The pits are often aligned in a half circle, providing excellent shooting opportunities for everyone. Your pit may come complete with panelled sides, comfortable seating, heat, and a retractable cover. What more can a hunter ask for? Flocks of geese and plenty of shooting? You guessed it! Just like any variety of hunting or fishing, there are good days and bad days. As a matter of fact, my father-in-law and I experienced a "bad" day of goose hunting last season, and we still managed to unload on a few incoming singles and doubles. But more importantly, we downed a few Giant Canada Geese to proudly display for the camera. And for every "slow" day, there are numerous bountiful ones, complete with parties bagging limits of geese by the noon hour. Large groups commonly down 20 birds or more in a single guided trip. Planning and outfitting for an autumn or early winter guided goose hunt is easier than you might think. First, contact the guide services advertising in this section. A short phone conversation with a guide can help your party visualize the hunt before heading out. After your party has set a date, and the guide has prepared you over the phone, it is simply a matter of getting your stuff together. A reliable shotgun, either 12 or 10 gauge, clothing to match weather conditions, and a strong desire to hunt are all you need to bring. Some guides will even provide firearms to guests who come "gunless". And don't get overly concerned about not owning an L. L. Bean catalog goose hunting wardrobe. Because when you're entrenched within the pit, only your head and shotgun barrel are exposed. So do take along a camo hat. The popularity of goose hunting is rising in proportion with bird populations. And if you have never hunted these giant waterfowl specimens, it's time to start. Make plans early for the 1995 goose hunting season and experience what you have been missing.

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