By Teresa Patterson, Holidaysburg, PA

I have been getting geared up for the start of Pennsylvania’s Resident Goose season opening day of September 1, 2007.

Periodic scouting throughout the month of August produced scattered numbers of resident geese. The week prior to the season opener allows one to get in tune for the upcoming hunts.  Up at 4:00 AM running and gunning to attempt and follow local birds from the roost sites to their favorite dining area in the mornings. Logging finds in a field notebook kept each year to further compare notes. Then returning again in the evenings to assure route’s of travel and destinations do not change up before opening day.

Finally, the morning and evening prior to the opener we make our determination as to the set up and manner of which we will attempt to harvest our quarry. Anyone who has hunted geese, especially a resident flock of birds and then throwing in the equation of pressure from other hunters, one can admit these birds adapt well and change their flight patterns with a flick of a feather.  Patterns can be changed by the bird’s biological clock demands the need for protein and carbohydrates (corn) for their winter survival and/or migration. Not to mention that in my experience of hunting, geese seem to have a sixth sense of lurking danger.  Perhaps it’s an animal’s natural instinct for survival or it’s something “not quite right” with their birds eye view.

We arrive at 3:30 AM only to find other waterfowlers have set up a spread and blinds right on the “X” (the “X” is known to water fowl hunters as the EXACT spot where the geese routinely land in a field. Usually a higher spot for safety and viewing reasons then they will tend to move on to other areas of a field.)  Well good waterfowl hunters usually have a plan B.  This is where you learn to adapt and overcome and scouting pays off.  We re-locate our spread of “Outlaw” silhouettes and shell decoys in an attempt to lure the birds directly in front of our position.  We were hunting a cut cornfield with adjacent standing corn, which allows a tactical approach of total concealment without placement of our blinds.  Which when hunting with 9 people puts a lot of clutter in the field.  Daylight comes and we did see and hear the music of the calling geese departing roosting sites and heading off to feed. Once again some of the birds changed overnight their flight pattern and all we could do is sit and watch as the birds got further out of sight and hearing the musical flute of geese calls fainting in the distance.  This did get the blood pumping and the butterflies fluttering with anticipation.  Moments later birds were sighted again and we start working our magic with the lifting of the final approach double trouble goose flag along with multiple choruses from our goose calls.  The birds hear our chants and see the flag.  They turn on a dime and bank directly into our gun mode and three birds come to their demise. Frank 2, Bob 1.

Later that evening we set up again.  We set up in the area we originally were going to hunt in the morning.  The rest of our hunting party opted out to hunt doves all day in the heat and deciding to call it a day.  This time just Don, Jimmy and myself.  Although Jimmy is only 11 and too young to hunt waterfowl this year he loves to participate with us in the field. Don has taught him to duck and goose call.  This boy can call a goose better than some men hunting even longer can!  Plus he still feels like part of the hunt, loves the camaraderie and allows him knowledge to keep the heritage alive.  Hopefully he will pass on to his friends and they too can become interested in the outdoors.  We chose not to utilize any decoys and only use a flag again with calls.  A successful hunter needs to sometimes think “out of the box” and use different tactics.  Resident birds become very weary of decoys and blinds especially once shot at.  Around 7:10 PM we hear birds in the air and a visual is confirmed.  The flag is lifted and the notes begin flowing off the reeds of our calls.  The birds see the flag and commit themselves to our field.  Seven birds in all.  They bank left and drop altitude directly in front of our sights.  The command “TAKE EM!” echoes out and three birds down out of the seven.  Not bad shooting!  The Kent Faststeel comes through again.  This is an exceptional steel shot.  Then it’s time for our 18 month yellow lab, JTD’S GUNNIN “DRAKE” to go to work.  The retrieves are made and another aspect of the hunt is enjoyed.  All the training in off-season and to see your dog work, as they should can sometimes be the best part of the hunt!  Drake LOVES his sport

Another wonderful day spent in the field with friends and family.  Looking forward to the next time we get to hear the whistling wings and trumpeting moans of such a beautiful and graceful bird in flight!

Weapons used, Beretta Xtrema 2 12 gauge, Remington 870 12 gauge; RNT Quakhead Godzilla Goose call; Mick Lacey Black magic Flute Call; Final Approach double trouble Flag; Kent Faststeel 3 inch #2 shot 1 1/8 ounce.