Time to Buy More Shotgun Shells
The 2022/2023 hunting season is fast approaching. As of this writing, the first significant cold front is forecasted for next week. My observation is that specks begin arriving around Columbus Day, and snows traditionally start to show up around Halloween.
For me, there’s nothing like the sound of the first geese of the year honking high in the sky. To this day, that sound makes my heart leap with excitement.
Even though this will be my 53rd season of goose hunting, I get the same thrill I did as a 17-year-old on my first goose hunt. My wife says it’s because I’m crazy, and she may very well be correct – I’ve been studying and chasing these birds a long time.
In pre-internet times, we had to rely solely on the newspaper for hunting news and advice, and for the what, when and where to go for the best hunting. I religiously devoured famed Houston Chronicle sportswriter, Bob Brister’s, daily reports and twice-weekly columns detailing his hunting adventures.
Over the years, I observed that when it came to goose hunting, the outfitters who had consistent success were the ones who controlled large tracts of land that contained a designated rest area, or sanctuary, where birds could be safe.
Waterfowl require four things to survive and thrive: food, grit, water and safety. A rest area provides two of their needs, water and safety. With a designated sanctuary, hunters have a better chance of figuring out where the birds are and where they will head when they leave their roost. A good outfitter observes the birds daily to see when they leave their roost and which way they fly.
After several years in Arkansas, I have observed that there is little to no roost management, and most days begin with duck hunters busting the roost. The geese get scared shitless and then it takes them a couple of hours to settle down and start to decoy.
This year, I’m happy to announce, that we have acquired enough property and cooperation from landowners to provide roost ponds. To say the least I am excited.
The even better news is the reports from banders in Canada. So far, they’ve reported that both specks and snow geese had a good hatch. The last time we had a good hatch we averaged 45 birds per hunt.
So, between being able to properly manage birds with designated roosts and reports from Canada of a good goose hatch, I am expecting fantastic hunting this season.
You can bet my heart is jumping with joy!
