Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019 - 19

are feeding and a few head-up birds that
are keeping watch.
Witmer says he usually runs small
spreads of mainly silhouettes. A few
others of the best September goose
hunters I know are part of the silhouette
school, as well. Others swear by fullbody decoys with the velvet-like flocked
coating that looks like real feathers.
Whatever decoy type you choose,
just remember that realism is critical
and that you often only get one chance
to convince the birds to land.

location
There are two primary setup locations
for September geese: in the field or on
the water.
By far, the majority of waterfowl hunters gravitate to fields in September, as the
first-harvested crops draw hungry geese
to these limited resources.
Water is an option worth considering, though, as geese will congregate
midday at locations where they drink,
bathe, and loaf around before heading
out to feed again in the late afternoon
and evening.

blinds
In order to fool the eyes of geese and
convince them to land within range, you
need to be very well hidden.
For birds in fields, this often means
hiding in standing vegetation like cornstalks next to a harvested field, or a thick
hedgerow adjoining a pasture.
Sitting on a camp stool or padded
bucket seat is a good way to stay comfortable while awaiting geese.
This type of "natural blind" works
well in that you do not have to actually
build anything.
Some scenarios might allow you to
use lightweight camouflage netting or
SEPTEMBER 2019

fabric to build a temporary blind to hide
in.
By far, the most popular type of
goose-hunting blind is the layout blind,
which allows the hunter to lay on his or
her back, with the head slightly elevated
and the body enclosed in a camo-clad
capsule.
Attaching pieces of vegetation to the
layout blind - whether cornstalks, dead
grass, or cattails - helps the hunter stay
well hidden and conceals movement.
If you're hunting a pond or river's
edge, a standard type of stand-up blind
will allow the group of hunters to avoid
the eyes of the geese.

calling
On many a September goose hunt,
we'll never pick up our calls.
Unlike during the regular goose
season in late fall, when loud and aggressive calling can be necessary, geese in
September seem to dislike hearing much
noise from other geese.
Witmer recommends a conservative
approach to September calling.
"Calling is very subtle with soft moans
and honks," he said. "Less is more on
these geese. On rivers or ponds, we run
small spreads, but will be more aggressive with calls because often these birds
are returning to water after being pressured."
And don't worry if you don't sound
like a champion caller. Giving the geese
a few simple calls is often all it takes to
convince them to join the spread.
By putting together these simple strategies for approaching your goose hunt in
September, you will increase your odds
for a successful outing.
Find the birds, make a good decoy
setup, hide well, and you'll find yourself
in for a fun time afield.
19
Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019
