Geese?

Rauly · 12-25-2001, 05:55 PM

I don't think we have as many geese in the north valley this year. Does anyone else have any differant observations this year so far. :whazzup:

Bounty Hunter · 12-25-2001, 08:59 PM

Well I know that the numbers at Sauvie Island are down. I talked to the check station guy for the private land last weekend, and he said that there aren't as many geese using the island this year. He said he usually checks 100 birds a hunt day the past years, but only checks around 20 each hunt day this year.

Went out on this past "blue bird" Saturday, and I only saw maybe 30 birds flying in my area.

Tilla · 12-27-2001, 06:32 PM

We haven't seen the big 1000+ flocks around like we do every year on the island. (That's why Fishalot gets his geese inside of chicken wire fences :shocked: )
The food availability seems to be good in the area. I guess I will be more patient.

Fishalot · 12-28-2001, 09:37 PM

Tilla I thought for sure that no one saw me sneakin around the geese in the fenced area. I guess that is why you are the president of Team "Sneaken" Out". I thought you had shown me the sure fire way of sneaken into thouse chicken wire fenced geese.
Don't you just hate it when great things happen and your not around?

It was fun kidding around got to go for now.
fishalot :tongue:

willametteriveroutlaw · 01-04-2002, 08:59 PM

I thought that the geese had went back north. We don't have many at all in the south valley either. The only concentrations I have seen have been the usual prision geese. We went out to william finley and there weren't hardly any birds there. And really none in the surrounding fields either. We only had three flocks cross our field, whare as two weeks ago we killed 16 birds out of there in 4 hours? (If you've seen me shoot you know there were alot of birds out there) Although I did see a bunch of geese in tillamook on thursday. no small birds though, mostly westerns, duskys, lessers, and tavs, I think.. I didn't get a real good look at some of them.

birdhunter · 01-05-2002, 10:34 AM

Tons of geese out around Govt Island on the Columbia. I was there a few days ago and although we were duck hunting, we got more shooting at the geese. This was just pass shooting at birds that were unlucky enough to fly over the blind. Easily several thousand geese going between Blue Lake and the river.

If I'd have had the decoys and the calls.......oh baby!

Lured In · 01-09-2002, 08:38 AM

I too have noticed the distinct lack of geese over the last few weeks. Then I noticed that a usual spot has about 4X as many geese as I can ever remember seeing. Anyone passed by Delta Park lately? The number of geese rolling around in that mud hole south of the Expo Center is unreal. They roost there and then fly across the freeway and "go out to pasture" on the soccer fields. The number of geese I have seen there in the last week rivals any feeding frenzy I have seen on Sauvie.

Time for ODFW to come up with a NW Residential area goose permit.

Rauly · 01-09-2002, 08:56 AM

I wonder if soccer balls are legal for geese?

The range would have to be close but maybe I could hide behind the goal post.

A little wonder bread for decoys and wham. :grin:

Lured In · 01-09-2002, 09:39 AM

Rauly I am glad my boys don't have to play soccer out there. Its bad enough having to lay down in the stuff to hunt them. :shocked:

How long do you think it will be before someone complains about how sanitary that field is? Sounds like that park fiasco in Seattle.

Dogfish · 01-09-2002, 12:39 PM

Lots of geese around Elma. I also turned in my AHE late goose hunt application, so I'll be hunting geese until mid March, on private land, and the state sets it up. All I have to do now is sit back and wait.

One interesting sighting that I had yesterday was a number of flocks of swans, well over 100 total, near the Satsop River. The most big white birds I have ever seen in the area.

Tilla · 01-09-2002, 01:34 PM

Speaking of the water south of the Expo center, for those who have noticed, wouldn't you consider that a wetland, and what are they doing to it?

Bounty Hunter · 01-10-2002, 08:41 AM

Hey Dogfish, what's the AHE late goose season? Is that something that is only in Washington? I called Oregon DFW and they said that they did away with their depredation hunts a couple of years ago. I've got the NW Goose tag for Oregon, but I thought I figure I'm on my own as far as finding a place to hunt for that 3rd season.

???

Dogfish · 01-10-2002, 01:02 PM

BH,

The late goose season goes until the middle of March, and is more of a harassment hunt than anything else. Only AHE grads with a "dusky" card can participate. The hunts are on Satuday, Sunday, and some midweek days too.

I did it a few years back and had a good time. Only person out there chasing lots of geese. I even called in a few coyotes!

This is in Washington State.

Lured In · 01-10-2002, 04:09 PM

Tilla noticed I used the term "mud hole". At times during the summer it looks like grass may be trying to grow and an occasional cattail looks to be popping up. If I remember correctly I thought I saw some heavy construction equipment out there over the summer. Could be that like what most of the point used to look like it was once real wetlands. Certainly hard to tell it these days though.

Tilla · 01-10-2002, 04:39 PM

That area south of the Expo center has tons of waterfowl in it during the boat and the Sportsmans show every year. It looks like they are doing some development that is trying to control the water. It would have been nice to revert it back to a wetland.

BUGLEMAN · 01-10-2002, 10:46 PM

Man I saw the flock by the freeway too. What a bunch of birds

I live near Tanasborn, Beaverton, OR. I Have heard quite a few birds flying the last few days. Eves. and even some larger flocks during the day. I would say 50% cacklers. Every one has been headed South. Mayby new birds are fileing down. It was wierd though. The usuall fall flight and then very few for almost a mounth. Now here they are.

Good shooting.

Labsforme · 01-10-2002, 11:42 PM

Yesterday when I checked in at the SI goose check
in station there were only 10 birds checked,so that made 12 for the day at 4pm.There are clouds of birds around but they seem to be sticking close to areas where their not getting shot at.I haven't seen the number of birds at the same time as last year,however,I'm ahead of last year's birds in the bag.