"WATERFOWL NOTES"

CONSERVATION SEASON

Most duck, spec and Canada goose seasons have closed by now, but the most exciting and rewarding season is just starting – Snow Goose Conservation season. If you are a snow goose hunter if you don’t have a Benelli Black Eagle, now is when you wish you had the Benelli semi auto with a magazine extension. 

During conservation season a lot of regulations are abandoned. Your shotgun can hold all the shells you can shove into it. Electric calls can be used, no bag limit or possession limit.

Shotgun - Extensions are available for the Benelli semi auto that allows to blast away with 1/3 box of shells per loading. It surprises me that shell manufacturers don’t get a list of Benelli owners and send each an extension - free.

Shotgun Shells - There might be better steel shells for duck hunting or decoying geese, but I’ve found the Winchester Supreme 3-1/2” BBB shot is the very best snow goose shell. In tests this writer conducted over the summer, the shell we call “Black Death” had deeper shot penetration in pine 1 bys at 50 and 60 yards than similar steel loads.

The Supreme BBB pattern at 40 yards was similar to the pattern of several of the other 3-1/2” BBB shells, with enough pellets in the 30-inch pattern to kill any snow goose.

In conservation season, more so than during regular season. Shots are taken at 50 and 60 yards. With unplugged guns there are 4 to 10 shots available that aren’t normally legal to the hunters during waterfowl seasons.

The non-toxic type shells are considered. The cost is such that most snow goose hunters take way too many shots to afford the cost of the least expensive of these shells. My hunting partners and I harvest 500 to 600 snows over several weekends – and at times considerably more. If every shot brought down a goose the synthetic shells could put a hunter in more financial trouble than a lost or stolen credit card.

Of Interest: Winchester Supreme 3-1/2” No. BBB are $ 160.00 per case (25 shells per box & 10 boxes per case = 250 shots), Hevi Shot Nitro Magnum High Velocity Waterfowl Loads 3-1/2” No 2 are 250 shells per case, Dead Coyote Goose Loads 3-1/2” No. T $ 206.90 a case (10 boxes of 10 shells per box = 100 shots), Bismuth 3-1/2” No. BB are $ 219.90 per case (10 shells per box & 10 boxes per carton = 100 shells). The non-toxic shells are over $ 2.00 per shell and the Supreme are around $ 0.64 per shot. 

Electric Callers - There are several electric callers on the market. HS carries the Stewart callers and Cabela’s carries the Cabela’s electric caller. Either one will work; our recommendation includes only a couple of conditions. First get a caller that is waterproof – there is not one chance in a lifetime that the caller will not be caught in the rain if much hinting is done during conservation season, second a caller that automatically changes the cassette tape from sides A to B and vice versa – As with most things when you least need the problem it arrives, if geese are hovering the tape will stop, to continue on someone will need to move to turn over the tape. Third, get a case – keep the tape player, charger and snow goose tapes in the case.

Also, it is a good idea to have two callers. Place one at one end of the spread and the other at the other end of the spread. It doesn’t take much wind to reduce the distance that most tapes can be heard. Any type sound booster is also a nice extra.

Snow Goose Tapes - There are only two tapes that we have used over the past four years that seem to work everyday. The Texas Hunting Products Snow Goose Tape (available on CD also) that we use when using a large spread 1,200 decoys plus. The Kirk Snow Goose with Canada cassette tape. That we use when the spread is less than 1,000 decoys.

Place a dozen or more dark rags or All Wind Canada decoys through out the spread. The Kirk tape doesn’t sound like a thousand birds sounds like a couple hundred with occasional Canada sounds mixed in.

Decoys & Spreads - For the past couple years at the end of the conservation season our group uses 600 Headless All Wind snow decoys, 5 dozen All Wind decoys (24 snow, 12 Canada, 24 Blue), 12 Goose Magnet decoys (9 snow, 2 blue, 1 Canada), one Wave Magnet snow on 10-foot poles and half dozen Airgoose snow decoys secured to the Wave Magnet decoys. Three Farm Form kites (in 10 mph plus winds) two snow and one blue. Two electric callers with Kirk snow with Canada cassette tapes. We place the decoys 10 foot apart to give a larger area of spread coverage. This also allows two or three hunters to put out and pick-up a spread in 30 minutes. On still days we incorporate two Mr. Lucky electric spinning wing decoys (painted to resemble snow geese) in the spread to give flash and movement. The balloons float up-down-side-to-side and move the Wave Magnet decoys to add movement.

TIP: In some states battery operated spinning wing decoys are outlawed. It is our understanding that the wind powered spinning wing is legal. Air Lucky is a full body decoy with hard plastic wings that spin in light wind. To reduce required wind a squirt of Slick 50 at the joint of the body and wing rod works extremely well. Unfortunately Air Lucky decoys are sold out for this season. Purchase 2 to 4, paint to match snow and blue for the 2006 duck/goose season.

The above spread with Headless All Wind as the main decoy works when snows have no apparent reason to use the field. The field is a rice field that has been ploughed and flooded for duck hunting, and then drained after the duck season. The appearance is a ploughed muddy mess. We use low profile Lewis Flip Top Blinds along the edge of the field in high weeds rather than dress in white and hunt from the spread .

This decoy spread has worked so well that geese passing within a mile on any side will turn, fly over and as they arrive over the spread stop like seeing a red light and start to circle down. Not all flights but easily 7 out of 10 flights. On one occasion last year a flight of 7 specs landed and spent almost 10 minutes walking around in the spread. They left when a large flight of specs flew over and called them up.

TIP: We use the Lewis Flip Top Blind built for two hunters. The booklet on instructions (with diagrams) to build the blind is available. However, some hunters want a portable blind. The Strong Built Ground Blind is a one-man blind that is easily folded up to transport and unfolded to hunt.

Blinds, Boots & Shoes - We have found that low profile duck type box blinds placed to in natural vegetation along the side of a field doesn’t cause snows to avoid the field. Sitting in a chair with a rigid floor is far more comfortable than lying in a muddy field – even using sleds and back rests or low profile blinds – and much cleaner.

TIP: Walking in a muddy field, especially fields that the hunter sinks up to his ankles in sticky mud can pull off the normal waders or hip boots. Obtain a pair of shoeless camo waders, the inexpensive waders and an inexpensive pair of wader shoes. Lace the shoes tight and walking through the mud and putting out decoys in a muddy field is far easier and less time consuming. Obtain a bootjack. When you get back to the auto (if you have no water or there is no ditch around to wash off the mud. Loose the laces, pull off the boots with the jack and place the boots in a trash bag for the ride home. DO NOT FORGET to wash them when you get to an outside water hose. The camo waders, if muddy, can be rolled up and placed in the trash bag as well. Last year I was able to get both for under $ 30.00 total. Look for sales.

FEBRUARY CALL IN SPECIALS

U.S. Freight FREE on ALL orders exceeding $ 100.00
(Reduced freight out of the U.S.)

Call (281) 821 – 3795             We accept Visa, Master card & American Express

All Wind Decoy Kits – The ultimate windsock decoy. Replaces most ground field goose decoys – full body, shells, silhouettes, and some windsocks at a less price per decoy. Box contains 12 each polyester goose bodies, 12 each 24” x 3/8” hardwood stakes, 10 feeding heads and 2 alert heads. Also included are the screws and plastic washers. To assemble a small Philips head screwdriver, either battery operated or manual and 30 minutes of you’re time or less. Available in Snow, Blue, Spec and Canada. -  $ 38.00 per box of 12

Headless All Wind Kits – Box contains 200 each polyester goose bodies, 200 each 18” by 3/8” hardwood stakes. Also included are the screws and plastic washers. To assemble is done with a small Philips head screwdriver, either battery operated or manual. Available in Snow goose.  - $ 140.00 per each per box of 200

THP Goose Heads – Hard plastic goose heads, available in alert and feeding and in white (for snows and blues), brown (for specs) and black (for Canada). Available in packs of 6. - $ 11.00 per each 6 pack

Goose Magnet Landing Decoy – injection molded polystyrene head is highly detailed and extremely durable. Wing struts are injection molded ABS which is impervious to heat and cold. Body and wings are made from Ironhide (Ironhide is a strong spunbound fabric that wears like iron). True to life feather coloring. Body is a windsock to keep decoy facing into the wind. Works extremely well on ½” metal conduit or graphite mounting poles. Available in Snow, Blue, Canada and Spec. - $ 23.00 per each 

Graphite Mounting Poles – All purpose high tech graphite and carbon fiber poles. Black to dark gray color, does not require camo painting. Weight 3-oz, 45-inch in length, tapered for easy insertion into ground. Allows for totally free pivoting for Goose Magnets. - $ 18.00 per 3 pack

Wave Magnet string decoy – A string decoy with 38-footr long line and 5 highly detailed, life-like, magnum sized bodies made from Ironhide fabric which is impervious to the weather. Built with a pocket in the tail to catch light wind and for a weight to prevent flapping in high wind. Fabric is quite and non-glaring like some string decoys. Rolls to compact size to fit in a coat pocket or Blind Bag. Can be strung between two each 10-foot ½” metal conduits (painted camo, dark brown or tan) or two each 45-inch by ½” graphite poles. Available in Snow and Canada decoys. - $  34.00 per each

Mr. Lucky Spinning Wing Decoy – Full body drake mallard in landing position. Heavy-duty direct drive quite motor, lightweight strong wings, run with a 6-volt rechargeable battery. Decoy pack includes decoy body, wings, 6-volt battery, charger and adjustable mental stake. Very easy to set up in the dark. Body can be painted with a spray can of flat white paint. Rose paint for bill and legs. – $  85.00 per each

Mr. Lucky Bag – Black heavy duty cordura fabric, hard bottom and padded sides, adjustable carrying straps, contoured carrying bag that secures duck in place with interior pockets for wings, battery, 3-part stake and charger. $ 22.00 per each

Mr. Lucky Remote Control – 3-way switch for constant running, on and off. Receiver will pick up at 90-feet, plugs in easily to decoy with a small transmitter that attaches to call lanyard or outerwear for quick accessibility. The simplest installation and use of remote control on the market today. Built for Mr. Lucky only. - $ 59.00 per each

Air Lucky Spinning Wing Decoy – Wind blow spinning wing decoy. Full body mallard drake decoy with new Turbo hard plastic (colored brown and white) wings, the most advanced and effective wind activated spinning wing decoy available. Self rights into the wind, wings spin in winds as low as 5 mph. Decoy wing assembly and pole included. Easily painted with a flat white on the body with rose on the bill and legs. Not necessary to paint wings. - $ 24.00 per each

Airgoose Balloon Decoy – Snow goose, lo shine plastic, life size when filled with helium or air. Also available in mallard drake and Canada goose. $ 24.00 per 6 pack

THP Snow Goose Cassette – The best snow goose tape of the sounds of snow geese on a roust. Professionally recorded and edited by professional goose guides and long time hunters. Also available in CD for a few dollars more. - $ 10.00 per cassette

Dennis Kirk Snow Goose Tape with Canada Cassette – The best small spread snow goose tape. Perfect for 1 to 3 hunters than don’t want or have time to put out a spread of thousands, but put out several hundred with dark decoys mixed in. Not heard by snows on every field during conservation season. $ 12.00 per cassette

Lewis Flip Top Blind Plans – Step-by-step instructions with drawings, list of materials needed and list of tools required to build. In August of 2005, the materials at Home Depot were less than $ 30.00, and could be transported in an SUV. Blind can be built in the garage in very light weight panels, carried in an SUV to the place to hunt and assembled with a cordless screw driver in less than 20 minutes. - $ 25.00 per booklet

Strong Built Ground Blind – Aluminum frame, Gore-Tex waterproof fabric sides, bottom and top, with built-in comfortable one-man seat, foot top flipper to flip top to the rear. Available in camo patters of Corn Stalk and Real Tree. Set up dimensions 48” x 45” x 34”, lightweight 25 pounds, Fold Up (transport) dimensions 49” x 33” x 7”, Easy open peep hole in top and back. Can be set up in a couple of minutes in the dark of early morning. - $ 162.00 per each

DNG Waterfowl Spice – Developed by waterfowl hunters to give old or young ducks and geese that “I want more” taste. - $ 6.00 per 6-oz shake plastic container

DNG Bar B Que Spice – Developed by a multi-winner of Bar BQ contests to spice any meat. - $ 6.00 per 6-oz shake plastic container

Sweet Chipotle Season-All    - The very best of the spicy steak dry seasonings, super good as a marinate spice for duck and goose. - $ 6.00 per 6-oz shake plastic container

Dave’s Peppa Royale – The award winning liquid replacement foe Pickapeppa, A1 sauce, Worcestershire sauce or Tiger sauce. Dave’s was a two-year winner over all comers. It can make a taste difference. - $  per 5-oz glass bottle

COOKING EQUIPMENT  CALL-IN SPECIALS

Call (281) 821-3795                 We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express

NOTE: Purchase any two (2) items in BLUE and receive an additional five (5 %) percent off

Weston Deluxe EM-2 Meat Grinder – Electric, designed so that steel shot passes through rather than getting hung up and damaging the rotating blades. Perfect for chili meat, spaghetti meat, sausages, meat loaf and hamburger. - $ 110.00 per each  (U.S. freight included).

Jaccard Deluxe Meat Tenderizer – 48 stainless steel blades produce incredibly tender meat. Enhance the penetration of marinades. Dishwasher safe. Eliminates pounding with half the effort and mess. - $ 27.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

15” Barbeque Tongs – Not the normal tongs. Allows the pickup of large pieces of meat and vegetables on the grill with out dropping the load or scorching your hand. –
$ 11.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

10” x 11” Wire Basket –Open and place in large or small pieces of meat and vegetables, close the lid. Turn over; never loose any ingredients and/or cooked food. Great for grilling goose stakes, fajitas, hamburgers. $ 19.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

Kabob Basket – Includes skewer frame and 6 skewers. Flip waterfowl kabobs all at one time. No burned fingers or lost food into the fire. - $ 24.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

Kabob Skewers – Package of 6 extra skewers for Kabob Basket. Load extra skewers to save cooking and prep time. - $ 6.00 per pack of 6 (U.S. freight included)

Rib Rack – Holds 6 slabs of beef ribs, 12 slabs of pork loin ribs, non-stick, size enables use of for roast or smoking an entire large goose or turkey. - $ 15.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

Meat Press – inch-by-inch steel plate with wooden handle. When grilling breasts, steaks, etc. place the press on top and reduce the cooking time. - $ 14.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

COOKING WATERFOWL

Over the past 40 years I’ve averaged cooking over 45 ducks and geese each year. I’ve grilled, baked, fried, deep fired, barbecued, slow cooked in a crock-pot, and made jerky from teal, all species of puddle duck, every specs of goose found in the continental USA.

If a hunter doesn’t allow the waterfowl to spoil, soaks the meat until all blood is removed, every type of waterfowl – except fish eaters is excellent food.

Waterfowl can be main courses, appetizers, gumbos, salads, soups, stews, soups, jerky, sandwiches and snacks.

If you don’t have access to a vacuum seal freezer-packaging machine, think seriously about purchasing one. Walgreen’s had one just before Christmas for less than $ 30.00.

The vacuum packages last through the winter, spring and summer with zero freezer burn. If possible, soak the waterfowl meat and remove the blood before freezing.

The vacuum packaging machine can be used to improve marinating the meat. Fill an injector with the marinade of your choice; inject it in the meat – breast and/or thigh. When the machine removes the air, it marinate is forced through out the inside of the meat.

To tenderize the meat, nothing beasts the Jaccard Deluxe Meat Tenderizer. The machine is designed to make many slice like punctures through the meat. Nothing is better.

The proper doneness is rare to medium-rare; doneness past this point makes the meat tough and rubbery.

It is my opinion that all waterfowl should be skinned. Every bird has fat under the skin, next to the meat. The fat can have and mostly does have a bad taste. Coat the breast and thighs with bacon grease, vegetable oil or cover breast with strips of bacon held in place with wooden toothpicks. Oh yes, if you want to check for yourself. Place two ducks or geese – same species in a cooking bag with a cup of water. One skinned, the other with the skin in place. Bake at 325 degrees F until meat starts to fall from the breastbone. Remove; allow to rest 10 to 15 minutes. Pull a few pieces of each and with no spices, only removing the blood, see if you like waterfowl with skin on or skin off.

When cooking a whole bird, lightly stuff the cavity with pieces of fruit (orange, pear, apple, etc.), grapes or slices of potato. NEVER – pack the cavity tight. It changes the cooking time and can cause the bird to be under cooked next to the bone and over cooked away from the bone.

RECIPE

WHITE STIR FRY over RICE

6 ea snow goose breasts, deboned, skinned, sliced across the breasts ¼” thick
Water
Cider vinegar
DNG Waterfowl spice
1 Tbls Canola oil
4 Tbls butter, divided
1 cup purple onion, course chopped
1 cup green bell pepper, seeded, diced
1/2 cup celery, chopped
3 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled, grated
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tbls honey (or brown sugar if desired)
3 Tbls Dave’s Peppa Royale
3 Tbls red wine vinegar
1-1/2 tsp cornstarch
6 cups cooked white rice, hot

In a non-conductive bowl place goose strips. Cover with water plus a tablespoon of vinegar. Refrigerate, change water with vinegar every 20 minutes until water runs clear. Pour off water and discard; pat dry meat with paper towels. On a plate place the meat, sprinkle on all sides with DNG Waterfowl spice. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 4 hours to overnight. In a skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in hot oil. Sear meat on all sides until rare to medium rare. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and set aside, keep warm. Add remaining butter, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, ginger, pepper flakes; cook until vegetables are tender. In a bowl whisk together cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Stir in honey (or brown sugar), Peppa Royale, vinegar and cornstarch mixture. Add back goose strips and cook until all ingredients are hot. Serve over hot rice. Yield: 6 servings.

RECIPE

SNOW & VEGETABLE STEW

6 ea snow goose breasts, deboned, skinned, cut into 1” pieces
Water
Cider vinegar
Chipotle Season-All
1 Tbls olive oil
2 Tbls butter
2 cup medium red potatoes, peel left on, cubed
1 ea medium yellow onion, course chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 rib celery, diced
2 ea medium size carrots, peeled, diced
1 ea bay leaf
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp Serendipity
4 Tbls all-purpose flour
1/2 cup red wine
4 cup chicken stock
1 cup frozen whole pearl onions
1 cup frozen green peas
1 tsp Cajun chef’s Green hot sauce

In a non-conductive bowl place goose pieces. Cover with water plus a tablespoon of vinegar. Refrigerate, change water with vinegar every 20 minutes until water runs clear. Pour off water and discard; pat dry meat with paper towels. On a plate place the meat, sprinkle on all sides with Chipotle Season-All dry spice. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 4 hours to overnight. In a skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Melt butter in hot oil. Sear meat on all sides until rare to medium rare. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and set aside, keep warm. Add potatoes, onion, garlic, celery, carrots and bay leaf. Sprinkle with thyme, Serendipity and flour. Cook stirring until vegetables are tender. Transfer skillet to pot over medium heat. Add wine, cook approximately 3 minutes or until alcohol has dissipated. Pour in  stock. Add pearl onions, peas, hot sauce and meat; raise to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cover until everything is tender. Taste. Adjust seasonings. Yield: 6 servings.

The January winner is Tyrus Bender of Glen Burnie, MD and the runner-up is Gary Lindblad of North Branford, CT. Tyrus will be receiving a pack of Game Tags and a special wholesale pricelist good through the next six months of 2006. The give-a-way for February is a pack of waterfowl game tags and a special wholesale price list of DNG products.

If you haven't yet subscribed to the monthly "Waterfowl Notes", go to: MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGNUP. Fill in the information and start receiving the FREE recipes, tips, columns, etc in your email every month. Plus, find out the products and hunting tactics that really work.

DUCKNGOOSE.COM
21302 Old Ranch Road
Houston, TX 77073

EMAIL