Got to hunt some geese this week while i was working in Canada. I was up in North East Saskatchewan. It made for long days with getting up at 0440 and then working the rest of the day with my farmers, usually ending with dinner somewhere and finally getting to bed no earlier than 10PM.
I was shooting my Browning BPS pump with a modifeid choke. Using 3" Winchester Xperts, either 2's or BB's. My hunting partner was a local guy who just enjoyed bird hunting. He knows all my farmers and as his boys have gotten older he just doesn't get to hunt with them much anymore. He was using 2 3/4" #4's out of a fixed full barell pump shotgun! He had no problems either!
Anyway day 1 started out in a cut pea field. We set up about 3 dozen hard body Canada decoys and brushed in for the hunt. Hunt started off great, with a flock of specs coming in and we dropped 3 of them. A long wait and then the cackling geese started, knocked a few of those down and before long the big Greaters started coming in. Hunting is fast and furious, you have to get your birds each time and then run back to the blind to get ready for the next flight. It only lasts about 45 minutes and then they shut off as most birds are in the field by then.
Day 1 limits (8 each) came quick.
Day 2 was the same way, started in anothe pea field. Birds worked good and I was shooting great, I think I had my first 6 birds with about 8 shots. My buddy had his limit. But then I had some trouble, 6 shots and no birds. And that was it, the birds were done for the morning. When picking up I noticied one of my birds was banded! We took pics and I took a load of birds to the truck. He called out and asked if I had the banded bird and I said yes. He yelled back, "Then we have another one!" Neither of us could belive that out of 14 geese, two would be banded!
Day 3 was a bit tough. Birds weren't in the area like before and we had to hunt a cut wheat field. These fields are harder to hide in due to the color but we gave it a shot. Birds were wary and not as many as the prior days. Not a lot of fresh birds coming down, but we ended up with 5 and a bonus mallard. Great time!
I had a great trip and for the cost (>$200 for license and tags) it was a steal. Since I had the local connection I didn't need an outfitter. If you guys are big bird hunters you need to consider going up and hunting. A guided hunt with lodging should run less than $2g's. Normally the snows are flying and you can shoot both in the same trip. Just a bit warm still so they haven't come down yet.
looks like a blast