New Hunter

[SonofNone116]

Hi all... I have yet to firearms hunt (at all) and, so far, have been unsuccessful at bowhunting (in 3 years). I have yet to get my shotgun hunters class. I also have no one to teach me all (read as any!) the ins-and-outs of hunting birds. We have a rather large migrant goose population in our town during the fall, and I really want to tap that reserve to fill mom and dad's freezer. Tips, suggestions, etc.? I have a goose call (dunno how to use that either, need to look at the DVD), a single-shot 12 gauge Stevens shotgun (Last Christmas, mom DEFINITELY surprised me...), mixed-and-matched camo, and 0 experience. I live in Connecticut ( ), if that helps... and plan on only getting town tags. I'm also 15 (dad'll take me... age counts, dunno about the whole "responsible" part)

[Lonegoose]

May wanna start with the gun class so you can legally hunt with a gun. Without that, doesnt matter what you got or don't because you wont be hunting. After that you will need a place to hunt.Either your property or have to ask permission to hunt others. Make sure you know the city limits and boundaries law. Then it would probably be a a good idea to get some decoys, You could buy used from here, Ebay or new from Rogers, Macks, Cabelas, gander mountain. Always can find sales here and there. You could pass shoot the geese with out decoys but with no experience prob not the best idea. Dont need a call to kill geese but it definately helps. Watch youtube(free) or buy the numerous instructional dvd's out there. Too many to list. After that practice practice practice. Learn from your mistakes. Most of important be safe so you can enjoy many more years of waterfowling. Think thats bout sums it up.

[pro-honker]

First, from Pa. Lonegoose offers great advice, it doesn't really take all that much to start hunting geese, you have most of the basics except a few decoys. Good Luck

[SonofNone116]

Thanks sirs.

I FINALLY got a definitive answer online about town code, and I have my bowhunting permissions...the landowner said i could use whatever I wanted, pretty much on all of his property (Most of which is in the CT river flood plane, lots of big open corn fields...). And I can't discharge a firearm within 500ft of any occupied building...that section is precluded by a clause "The provisions of this chapter relating to firearms shall not apply to any person discharging any firearm on an established target practice range of an organized rifle or gun club or on any indoor range, nor shall they apply to any landowner using firearms when in the act of protecting his property from destructive animals."...Is my mind my property, and does that include destroying my mental health, d'ye think? And I think I'm gonna have to talk to my dad...I know he has friends that teach the Firearms class (Not that I don't know most of the conservation/dressing/tracking from the bowhunters course, and the firearms safety/paraphernalia/terminology from shooting just for the heluvit.

O well, guess we shall see. and again, thanks!

[SonofNone116]

BTW, I dont need any decoys... the cut-down cornstalks are all the attractant those suckers need... yesterday they were within 25 yards of our property line, I could have lobbed stones at 'em and got one..... 'cept that's illegal, and not too nice to the one that gets injured that you don't catch...

[Lonegoose]

Decoys are used as an attractant. The geese may not always want to be in that field but when they see decoys they may change their mind. Also using a smart decoy spread sometimes you can manage to land the geese where you want for closer shots.

[pro-honker]

Decoys are used as an attractant. The geese may not always want to be in that field but when they see decoys they may change their mind. Also using a smart decoy spread sometimes you can manage to land the geese where you want for closer shots.

[SonofNone116]

now i understand the point. Thanks! (Lucky for me, Cabela's is a 15 minute ride away)

[deano686kx]

Sounds like youve go a sweet spot. Like whats been mentioned before, get the firearms course under your belt, learn as much as you can about geese and how to hunt them, definetily drag dad along (as it is time well spent between father and son), don't over hunt your sweet spot (the birds will stop coming there with too much pressure), have fun, and most of all BE SAFE!!
Good Luck!!
I'm pretty sure there are a couple guys on here from Connecticut that you might be able to contact that might be willing to take you a time or two, so you can get a general idea of how it's done. You might be able to find something on swap hunt......just a couple ideas!!

[buckshot5792]

I'm surprised no one else mentioned this already...to hunt waterfowl you must use steel or other non-toxic shot. No lead! If you have any shotgun shells they are probably lead as that is what everyone uses to hunt deer, turkey, dove, etc. Also make sure your gun is steel safe. Steel is much less malleable than lead so it might explode your barrel if it is too constricted. I know my single shot doesn't take chokes and is a fixed full choke barrel. I wouldn't shoot steel out of that gun unless it's a modified, or improved cylinder choke. Also don't forget your federal and possibly state waterfowl stamps.

Good luck!

[kwacksmackin]

i was in your position at one time listen to these guys they know what they r talking about i just got caught in early season without my federal duck stamp didnt know we needed one all i had to go do was go to the post office and get a 15 dollar stamp and have a police officer ( which i know personally) to sign it. deff. get on the swap hunt so you can see how its done learn how to set up your goose spread and practice practice practice that call your parents will hate it but heck theres days i drive to work or school and blow on it alittle just to stay fresh. watch where the birds are landing and put your set up right next to where they were the day before and watch where they are flying to different fields so you can get permission to hunt it because they wont stay in the same field all year ive been in 15 different fields this year.

[SonofNone116]

Thank ya'll so much. As far as I know, i'll have Start the Firearms safety course in 2 or three weeks, then it's straight to DEP HQ the next monday to get all my tags-deer, turkey, small game, waterfowl, in both Bow and firearms. and, since Ill be 16, a fishing license.