[duckhunter82]

Here's the deal. I found a few hundred honkers roosting in this huge cow pasture and open field. In the morning they get up in small groups and head out to feed. Well when they go out to feed, they don't all go to the same field, they stay in the small groups (3-30 birds in each group) and spread out and hit at least 7 different fields that I have seen. Not enough on each field to try and hunt. Its really weird. Well starting in late morning going into the afternoon, they start trickling back to the pasture in small groups. Actually, they bounce back and forth all day until late afternoon. Between the pasture and feeding fields there is a river and I have narrowed down the area that they all fly over while trading back and forth. So my question is would it be worth setting up on the water and just try and catch them in between? If so, do you have any tips for doing so? To answer some questions that might come up, the river is about 80 or so yards wide, and calm enough for birds to sit on, I have seen some sit there before. The pasture is on one side of the river and the birds sit about about 300 yards away from the river. Feeding fields are anywhere from 1/4 mile to 2 miles on the opposite side of the river. I have 2 dozen floaters. While passing over the river, they are to high to try and just pass shoot. Plus I only shoot what comes into the decoys.
Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Professor Chaos]

any reason to not hunt the pasture?

 

[eiderman1]

If you can get permission to hunt the fields hunting the small groups will give you more hunts. If you hunt the roost you might get one good hunt but after that the geese might move altogether.

 

[duckhunter82]

I can't hunt the pasture because the landowner won't let us. Also, I don't think I would anyway because I don't want to bust the roost and run the risk of maybe pushing the birds out of the area.
I was thinking the water would be a good idea because I would think they would want to stop and get a drink after feeding. :huh:
As far as the fields, I followed a big group this morning and they sat in a field with a total of about 120 birds. Found the owner and got shut down. The house over looks the field and his wife likes to watch them come in. :no: Found a couple other fields they are using but they only have like 30 to maybe 70 birds on each.
Should I just try and get one of those fields and try to pull more in and give up the river idea?

 

[i_willie12]

Would give the river a try wont hurt anything. The only problem is that they have been using that pond for a while and once there gets to be geese on it its going to be hard to pull geese to you but you never know unless you try.
Also are the geese using the same fields?? Even if its only 30 or 40 in a field if there using the same ones then try to hunt them. I would rather hunt a small flock than be on the big X field if thats the only geese in the area!!

 

[goosegetter79]

Worth a shot trying the river, then you'll atleast know if they will come in to you or not.

 

[duckhunter82]

Well, we went ahead and gave it a shot today. We suckered 3 to come in. Singles. Had a couple small groups circle a time or two then roll out. It was cool to sit there and watch them all morning anyway. Got to do some serious listening to help me out with my calling. So it turned out to be pretty good. Thanks for the replies and advice. :thumbsup:

 

[Decoy King]

I would try it I would put floaters out on the water and some sleepers on the shore. That usually convinces them a little bit more. I think that it will be a good idea to try.