When you are hunting early season geese you should scout to determine which areas the birds like to rest in, and which areas have the proper food sources in them before the season begins, especially if you are leasing land. If you are hunting on water check to see which of the nearby wet areas have water in them, and which wet areas the birds are using as resting areas. If you are hunting on land check nearby fields to determine what crops are growing in them. Farmers often rotate their crops; what may have been corn one year may be beans, wheat, rice, barley or alfalfa the next year. It pays to know well in advance which fields have the right crops in them.

Continue reading "Preparing for Early Season Goose Hunting" »

Posted by T.R. Michels at 08:35 AM | Permalink

As a guide, researcher, speaker and writer, I have always been interested in learning about the animals I hunt: how they react to the weather, which calls they use and why, and when and how they mate; so that I could use the information to become a better hunter. Even though I'd cut my eye teeth on a duck call, and I'd been hunting ducks for over thirty years I knew I didn't know it all. So, when I met well known waterfowl biologist and goose researcher Dr. Jim Cooper a few years ago I decided to pick his brain. I specifically asked him what calls were best for hunting. He told me that if I really wanted to learn about duck behavior I should read the book Handbook Of Waterfowl Behavior by Dr. Paul Johnsgard. He also suggested the book Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America. What I learned from my conversations with Jim, and from those two books, has dramatically changed the way I hunt ducks and geese.

Continue reading "How to: Call like a Duck" »

Posted by T.R. Michels at 10:01 AM | Permalink

The two most important aspects of goose calling are tempo (frequency) and volume (intensity). The tempo of a call is related to the action of the goose. The faster the movement of the goose, the faster the call. When a goose is calling on the ground to keep the family in contact it’s calling is slow. When a gander is chasing an intruding goose it’s calling is fast. When a goose is flying the calling is directly related to the downbeat of the wing stroke, which is when the goose contracts it’s chest muscles and exhales. When a goose is flying in formation its call is a slow, measured honk. When a goose is pumping its wings rapidly during takeoff or landing it’s calling is fast.

Continue reading "Advanced Goose Calling" »

Posted by T.R. Michels at 10:00 AM | Permalink

Normal duck hunting techniques work well during the first part of the season on the "locals" and early season migrants. But the local ducks usually learn that the season is open in a very short time. They know where they'll get shot at, what decoys spreads to avoid, and which calls to stay away from. Shiny gun barrels, thermos bottles, shell casings, glasses, or white shiny faces are enough to send even the youngsters downwind in a hurry. This is when it's time to try something different.

Continue reading "Advanced Duck Hunting Techniques" »

Posted by T.R. Michels at 09:00 AM | Permalink

When you are hunting geese decoys provide the visual stimulus needed to attract birds to a particular location. The more visible the decoys are, the more effective they are at attracting geese. There are five different ways to make a decoy spread highly visible; size, numbers, color, movement and location.

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Posted by T.R. Michels at 10:05 AM | Permalink

There are four genera and six species of geese in North America. The genus Anser consists of two species in North America, the White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) and the Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus). The genus Brant consists of four species in North America, the Brant (Branta bernicla), the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) and the Cackling Goose.

Continue reading "Introduction to Geese" »

Posted by T.R. Michels at 08:53 AM | Permalink

As a waterfowler, all the knowledge I have obtained has always come from someone else. Well, maybe with the exception of what not to do, that all was self taught. Fun stuff like, testing water depth with a new gun, or trying to substitute toilet paper with willow leaves (Not durable, let me tell you). But all the things that make me a half way decent wing shot today I learned from someone else. My Dad taught me that it was always good to have a durable thermos for those cold mornings, and if you didn’t have a durable thermos, to have a pretty decent cup and a buddy with a durable thermos. When I first picked up a call, my Uncle told me that he could put some pitch into it and with just a little of my Uncle’s “pitch”, my call was sinking in the decoys. Obviously trying to tell me something, I figured it was time I find a new sound.

Continue reading "Buck Gardner Interview..." »

Posted by T. Fanning at 09:00 AM | Permalink