WOMEN’SOUTDOORSNEWS January 2014
My first goose-hunting adventure occurred some 4 years past. My (now) husband and his buddy, Devin, were in
attendance. Our home state of North Carolina had just opened its early Canada goose season in September, a
time of year that is best classified as “still summer” as opposed to “almost fall.”
The mercury hovered around 100 degrees the entire hunt, with a balmy 87 percent humidity. I, eager to impress my
comrades, had gone a little crazy with the camouflage face paint. It ended up dripping in multicolored rivers down
my bare arms only minutes into the hunt. I got stuck retrieving decoys and never once shot my gun. It wasn’t until
months later that the stars aligned to allow my first goose kill.
Moral of the story? Goose hunting, much akin to all waterfowling, is difficult. It’s muddy, it’s exhausting and it can be
downright annoying if the birds aren’t cooperating. But when the birds are plentiful and your shots connect, it’s one
of the most rewarding hunting experiences you’ll ever enjoy.
Without further ado, let’s delve into The Writing Huntress’s basic guidelines for newbie goose hunters.
Chapter 1: Know your goose
Bird identification is key. In some cases, it’s a matter of keeping or losing your hunting license if you accidentally
shoot an out-of-season bird, or one that is federally protected.
Your best bet is to do a lot of studying before season — focusing on characteristics of different kinds of geese, from
their honks, the way they fly, to what each one’s silhouette looks like from 30 yards away. Visit your local Game and
Fish office to procure information about the kinds of geese in your area. When you’re there, ask if you can talk with
a game warden or wildlife biologist, if one is available, about your identification questions.
Lucky for you, Overwhelmed, you’re focusing on Canada geese, one of the most easily recognizable geese in
North America. Even though you may be comfortable visually identifying a Canada goose from a Snow goose, be
sure to be absolutely positive before pulling the trigger.
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