Trying to figure out if that's even a real possibility for us. I have 3 sons age 17, 22, and 24. We have only been duck hunting for about 5 years so we are still learning. Boys are wanting to try a goose/duck hunt on or near the TX coast. I have been checking with outfitters in that area and 175/200 a day person x 2 days is out of our price range. I am not saying it not worth that much as I realize they have lots of time and equipment invested in their operations, it just adds up to about 1500,1600.00, plus lodging and fuel, there's no way I can swing that.
A few questions that I have for now. Any public hunting that we could walk in to and have a chance at geese? Private land for day leasing? Minimum amount of goose decoys that would be needed? While not expecting to wack and stack a 15 minute limit, I would hope that we could kill a few geese.
Also would like to join up with a few others and pool our efforts. I have some decoys that I could borrow, strong backs and a good dog.
I know scouting is the answer to a lot of the questions but I'm in NE TX and this trip will have to serve as our first scouting/hunting trip down that way.
Thx in advance. Tim, Jake, Zach, Luke, and Remi.

This is a tough one. Your best bet would be to get permission to hunt a field from a land owner. This might mean knocking on some doors or researching who owns what. Then you have to overcome the fact that many places will already be leased up.

On the plus side based on ages I'd say two of your boy should be paying their own way if it's that important to them. I'd say the hardest thing about goose hunting...and really lots of hunting in general has nothing to do with really hunting but more of who you know or money.

There are a few public places you might be able to kill geese. How many decoys do you have? You're going to need at least 500 rags/sillosocks to get competitive.

I would wait until it gets cold and check out Big Boggy, they usually plant some rye grass down there. There are good numbers of birds on the refuge at times.

Some day they will be able to pay their own way, and mine, I hope. Oldest is in his 3rd year on medical school and 22 yo is in his first year of law school. Try that on a fireman and school secretaries salary LOL.
Prolly could round up a combined total of about 100 full bodies, shells and rags. Not looking like near enough.
Trying to do this around 12-28,29,30 while they are all home on break. Will look into Big boggy and the refuge (name?).
Any other tips? Thx

The only thing about Boggy is if the geese are there, then so is everybody else. They get jumpy as all get out and it is very difficult to get them into a good spread.

Check with WGO Outfitters out in Waller. They maybe a little closer to your price range.
http://wgohunt.com/WATERFOWL.html

You have a few options when it comes to coastal waterfowl hunting on public land. Below are links to maps and info available publicly on the web. I have found success in a couple of these areas.

For walking in, you may want to look at the middle bayou hunting area at Brazoria NWR. It seems to be fairly easy to get to some

http://refugefriends.org/Hunting_Regs_2012/TexasMidCoastHunt2012.pdf

http://www.refugefriends.org/Hunting_Regs_2012/BigBoggyHunt2012.pdf

http://www.refugefriends.org/Hunting_Regs_2012/SanBernardHunt2012.pdf

http://www.refugefriends.org/Hunting_Regs_2012/BrazoriaHunt2012.pdf

Also, if you do end up down this way, I may have a few bags of rags in the barn you could borrow.

i would honestly go to the panhandle if you're looking for a goose hunt and driving from northeast texas. Easier to get access over there and much more gullible canadas on nice windy cold days when they are hungry. That or you could go to arkansas where the geese are really thick.