Opening weekend of Turkey Season

Post by **franklauzon** » Tue May 05, 2009 7:01 am

This is our second year going to Quebec during the turkey opening weekend, and it's always much better than turkey hunting. :first:

On Friday we had pouring rain and high winds, which later in the morning turned into sideways drizzle, but the birds were working GREAT!

We ended up with 78 Snows and 1 Ross on the first morning

The next two days of our hunt was blue skies, and little wind. The birds would fly in high, and weren't overly interested in the decoys. Saturday we shot 7 more, and Sunday we got the old Skunkarooo!! That's snow goose hunting for yah... Friday more than made up for the remainder of the weekend.

Post by **Doug** » Tue May 05, 2009 7:43 am

WOW!

Did you go with an outfitter?

Is it expensive? (out of province licence etc)

I have never shot a snow goose, nor have I eaten one, guess I am overdue...........

Doug

PS) I would MUCH rather go on a goose hunt than a turkey hunt, any time!

Post by **franklauzon** » Tue May 05, 2009 9:09 am

Hey Doug,

Yeah we're with an "outfitter", but it's just a guy who loved smacking geese and brings out a couple groups a year.

Cost was bout $750 for the three days of hunting, hotel, food, liscence...

The liscence is about 85$ and you need your previous years migratory permit.

Post by **Carl** » Tue May 05, 2009 9:10 am

Man that's a wicked haul!

Wish I could have joined ya this year but just had way too much to do and spent way too much this winter on Cuba.

Glad you had a blast.

Post by **Wallyboss** » Tue May 05, 2009 2:12 pm

Frank just for my curiosity, what is the limit on geese???

Post by **Doug** » Tue May 05, 2009 3:19 pm

Outstanding!

Did you hunt from pit blinds, or ground blinds, or coffin blinds (OH I HATE THEM), or ?????

Doug

Post by **franklauzon** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:19 pm

Dan, the limit on Snow geese is 20 per day, posession 60... In new york state they have a spring snow season with no daily limit, and no plug in the shotgun. The purpose of the spring snow goose hunt is one of conservation, to try to get the numbers under control as they are decimating the tundra.

Doug, we were dressed in white and using backboards...

They work well for snows, but don't see them working for Canadas...

Layouts aren't comfortable to hunt out of for sure, but they are hard to beat for decoying canada's.... fun to shoot em in the face at 20 yards!

Post by **Wallyboss** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:31 pm

That sure fills up a freezer in a hurry. I heard that smoked goose is good.

Post by **Doug** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:33 pm

Heck, I can shoot Canada geese at twenty yards or better by calling them in to dekes, no need to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a coffin blind!

If I am given the choice of likely 30 yard shots from ANY other location, or shooting geese at end-of-barrel range from a coffin blind set-up, I'll take the long shots every time!

Those back-boards look interesting, for sure, and same for the snow camo. I reckon this just got put on the "TRY THIS!" list for next year.

Thanks for sharing this info, I really appreciate it!

Doug

Post by **Doug** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:35 pm

Back to wallyboss..........actually twenty or thirty geese is not all that much meat in the freezer, you usually only keep the breasts and legs.

Smoked goose is indeed excellent, and goose breast jerky is the BEST jerky. I have a pile of personal recipes if you are interested.

Doug

Post by **Jimmy_1** » Tue May 05, 2009 7:09 pm

Doug wrote:\ I have a pile of personal recipes if you are interested.

Doug

I am interested!

Oh on another note a buddy of mine tagged a 24lb turkey opening day!

Now he's off to Nebraska for the Merriam Turkey's......Lucky bugger!

Post by **Doug** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:24 pm

I will start a thread with goose recipes in it. All of them are my own, and field tested.

(Ask out4trout how his familiy liked sweet and sour goose legs and goose breasts teriyaki!

)

Doug

Post by **LeGrand** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:46 pm

Nice picture and nice harvest Frank. Honestly, wish I would have been with you snow hunting (remember if that outfitter/guy ever feels like adding one guy to the usual group of yours, please place me on your list).

If not, then I'll try next Spring canvasback's outfitter.

Been out for the opener turkey in Ontario and nothing, went out this pass saturday morning and only saw two hens.

Season is still young, but heck, it sure isn't the same action as goose hunting, that's for sure.

Keep looking at my boat in the backyard, and also wondering when I'm going to go fishing.

Choices, choices

Post by **Wall-I-Guy** » Fri May 08, 2009 10:12 pm

Great work Frank!

You have those Snow Geese figured out pretty good!