"WATERFOWL NOTES" |
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CONCEALMENT, CONCEALMENT, CONCEALMENT
“Besides good timing and appropriate field selection, concealment is the most important key to successful snow goose hunting.” A quote from Dennis Hunt, guide, writer, speaker and student of snow geese for close to 50 years. I agree under certain conditions - Pass Shooting. In pass shooting decoys and spread are omitted from the hunt. But, decoys and decoy spreads are necessary to attract geese to the field you are hunting. Concealment gets the geese in harvest range. Hunting fields in a flyway, even those fields not presently being used as feeding fields, by can attract snows, specs and Canada geese by using the correct decoys and the correct decoy spreads. Concealment is on equal footing with decoys and decoy spread. The correct decoys, proper decoy spread and perfect concealment can equal a satisfactory harvest. You can control -
All of these things can be ideal and the geese still tend to disregard the spread, then CONCEALMENT is the missing ingredient – the geese are seeing something they don’t like. On any hunt unless all the hunters, dogs and gear are invisible to the waterfowl – especially snow geese – no birds will be harvest that day.
BAGS & EQUIPMENTBurlap sacks – fill with straw, corn stalks and vegetation from the different grain fields. Throw it over and around the hunters lying in the field. Backrests – Backrests (range in price from $ 30.00 to $40.00) make lying in a field comfortable. Backrests can be purchased or can be made from 1-by treated wood or plywood. Backrest not only places the hunter in a raised shooting position but add safety to the hunt. The shooter is in position to shoot; he or she is not required to rise up from flat on the ground to get in position to shoot. The backrest eliminates the possibility of a shotgun going off parallel to the ground and harming a fellow hunter. TIP: Write Duckngoose.com, 21302 Old Ranch Road, Houston, TX 77073 or email address bfiedler@airmail.net to regest details and how to layout for either the 1 x 12 treated wood or the ½” or 5/8” plywood backrest. Waterproof Mats – What you carry depends on how you are going to get from the vehicle parked for the hunt to the spot in the field where you plan on setting up. Our recommendation is one of two choices. The Avery Layout Mat for around $ 20.00 or a piece of camo tarp 4x5 feet (a camo tarp 8x10 feet can be purchased from Mack’s for around $ 13.00 and cut in quarters making four mats 4x5 feet). Camo is better than nothing, but when hunting in white parkas, use a white facemask (Hawkeye Headnet in white for less than $10.00). For those hunters wearing glasses, use a baseball style cap with a long bill (or some other hat with a long bill), pull it down and don’t look into the sun, better yet don’t look up until you are ready to shoot. Look at the ground. Any glare will flair the geese. Gloves – Cover your hands and wrists. Be sure all watches, rings and bracelets are covered. Any movement of your arms that flashes uncovered jewelry will send the circling waterfowl to another field or pond. The gloves can be camo Gore-Tex with Thinsulate for cold weather or white (with white parkas) or brown (with camo) yard cotton gloves ($ 1.00 in most Ace Hardware stores) No matter which you prefer, but obtain several pair of gloves, keep a pair of brown in your Blind Bag, another in your Shell Bag, and a third pair in your coat and/or vest. 3D Poncho Suite – In this category there isn’t but one. The IT suite by Cross Gear. The IT suite is a lightweight 3D camo pattern (available in Max4, Realtree Hardware and Advantage Timber) with a built-in hood / facemask and individual cuffed sleeves. For bow hunting the movement is unlimited, the sleeves allow for considerable range of motion. To transport the suite can be stuffed in the head with a total weight of several
ounces less than 2 pounds. Allows waterfowl hunters, dove hunters, turkey hunters, deer hunters to dress in either (depending of the temperature that day) warm cloths or cool cloths; carry the IT suite, when they arrive at the spot to hunt, put on the IT suite and become invisible to the game. All of this for $90.00 – the IT suite replaces the hat/cap, facemasak, coat and pants - all in one lightweight package. Make a Camo Parka - Not all the time is the camo clothing going to blend in with the vegetation. But you can increase the odds with a homemade parka. Many sporting goods stores and mail order stores like Bass Pro, Cabela’s, Mack’s, etc. offer 12-foot long Die Cut Cerex or Burlap camouflage. The 12-foot rolls are not expensive, less than twenty-five dollars. Roll out a 12-foot roll, cut in half so you have two 5’W x 6’L pieces. Fold one 6’ length in half, the material now is 5’W x 3’L. In the fold cut a hole in the center (only large enough for you to get your head through with out a hat or cap). To hold in place you will need to attach the “parka” on both sides. Put the “parka” on and mark the spot under your arms that you feel most comfortable to close. Place a snap or Velcro at this spot under each arm. At most Ace Hardware stores and Hobby Lobby stores you can purchase a package of snaps or Velcro strips. The snaps are packaged with a tool to install the snaps or the Velcro can be stapled and glued in lieu of snaps. You can make several of these in different camo patterns. The half not used for a parka can be used as a 5’W x 6’L Camo Blanket. White Parka – Available in cotton/polyester combination white parka with hood and rubberized non-shine white parka with hood. When purchasing the white parka think about the no-shine rubberized parka. It can be hot in warm weather, but it serves more purposes for the snow goose hunter. (1) It is a raincoat, (2) it is a windbreaker and (3) it is very easy and inexpensive to clean. If it gets muddy - and it will, hang it on a fence and wash it off with a water hose. Camo Blanket – A piece of camo approximately 5 x 6 foot that can be used to cover hunters or gear to match the ground vegetation. There are several patterns to chose from in the Die-Cut Cerex: Max4, Shadowgrass and Breakup. The Die-Cut camo cost about $ 20.00 for a 60” x 12’ roll. Camo Burlap in cornfield, Max4, New Breakup and Shadowgrass rolls of 54” x 12’ less than $4.00 per yard. Several camo pattern rolls can be purchased. Make a blanket with half (or less) and use the other half (or less) for a Homemade Parka. Clothing – When hunting in white, a white parka with hood is 90 percent of what is necessary. If your pants and/or boots are camo, most will blend in with the ground. If not cover them with a piece of camo blanket. Most goose hunters wear camo caps, coats and/or vests – depending on the weather. If you are going to buy new clothing, spend a few extra dollars to get the camo pattern that is most common to the vegetation where you hunt. An inexpensive method of changing you upper camo is with camo Tee shirts. They are inexpensive, and the largest size will fit (with a few cuts) over a hunter in an insulated parka. Camouflage your dog - There are a number of helpful items that all snow goose hunters with a dog should consider. If hunting in a spread, have a tailor make a white vest from any no-shine white material. A heavy sheet with Velcro strips for closure. The vest can be designed similar to camo dog parka. When hunting in camo just use a camo dog vest. Give the dog a designated spot to sit with his handler, use A padded burlap bag large enough for the dog to lie on. The padding can be folded decoy bags. Also, a camo field doghouse is even better for concealing the dog. Hunting around Farm implements – If there are only a couple of hunters and there is a large enough farm implement left in the field and it is in the right spot to hide and set out your decoy spread, then with the help of camo blankets set up around the implement. Geese are use to seeing farm equipment in fields and are not adversely affected by it. The IT suite can be used to simplify the hunters concealment. Hunting in vegetation at Rock Piles – Rock plies are great places to hide. In fields the area around the rock pile is allowed to grow in weeds by farmers that don’t want damaged high dollar farming equipment that could hit a rock. The start of the hunting season the weeds are normally 4 to 5 feet tall. The decoy spread can be positioned 40 to 50 yards upwind of your hiding spots in the rock pile vegetation. The shots should be 30 to 40 yards as the waterfowl fly over the rock pile. You can be much more comfortable if you are able to set up with the Expedite Blanket Blind. This blind is inexpensive, light to carry, easy to set up and a snap to store. Or a piece of camo tarp to keep the moist ground from getting you wet and the IT Poncho suite to become invisible to the waterfowl. Hunting in Ditches – Normally a ditch has water in the lowest point and/or has soft soil on the sides. The hunters should lay on a side near the top (but do not let any hunter’s head stick up above the top of the ditch) Have all the hunters lay on Avery Layout Mat or a piece of camo tarp. After the hunters lay down on a ditch side, they should cover-up with a Camo Blanket. Add natural vegetation to the blanket with 11” cable ties used to attach handfuls of natural vegetation. Remember NEVER take concealment for granted. Snow geese fly in large groups with many eyes looking down. and other waterfowl are leery of low flying over ditches that are not bordering water. The camouflage MUST work from the peering eyes in the sky as well as from ground level. For safety all hunters should lay on the same side of the ditch, never across the ditch from each other. Any mistake – a dropped gun, a slip when raising the shotgun to shoot, or any number other mistakes – can be deadly. A decoy spread can be placed upwind to hunt as birds fly over the ditch, or downwind 50 yards to hunt the Landing Zone between the ditch and the spread or placed on both sides of the ditch with Landing Zones on both sides of the ditch. This last option is best when the wind is blowing down the ditch, not from either side. Hunting at a Fence line – Used mostly as hiding spot for pass shooting. Normally this location is just for one hunt, and if the geese start to pass further down then the hunter must pick-up and move to a location under the geese. When the hunter gets to a spot to hunt he become invisible by putting-on the IT Poncho suite or cover each hunter with camo blanket if they are sitting or kneeling. If you have the time attach natural vegetation to the blanket with cable ties. Most of the time the blanket must match the vegetation or be a close match. If the vegetation is low, drape camo blankets over the fence for a make shift blind. Field Hunting from a Layout Blind – There are dozens on the market. Your pocket book will determine which one you use. The best of the layout blinds is the Field General by Double Bull. Lightweight, easy to transport and store. Simple to set up. Conforms to your body, is waterproof and has snaps to attach natural vegetation. The Field General has a price around $ 225.00. The very best inexpensive layout blind is the Blanket Blind by Expedite, lightweight, easy to transport and store. Simplest blind to set up and carries the lowest price tag of any layout blind. If you plan to field hunt and plan to hunt downwind in camo, your best results are going to be in a layout blind. Hunting from a Low Profile Blind – NOT recommended for placement in a field. Though I have some and have used them on several occasions, I don’t feel that a hay bail blind is a good choice even in fields with natural hay bails. The Lewis Flip Top Blind is an ideal two man blind, the hunters are covered from all sides including g the top. But it is recommended ONLY when concealed in high weeds at the edge of a field or pond. The plans can be purchased on line at Duckngoose.com. Also, DNG has plans on the Lewis PVC Blind. Similar in nature to the Lewis Flip Top Blind, this blind can be disassembled, placed in a top opening duffle bag and used as a portable blind or semi-permanent blind. Not counting labor and camo material the material cost for either Lewis Blind at Lowe’s or Home Depot is less than forty dollars – or was last July. Blinds are very good for waterfowl hunting. Blinds allow hunters to move inside the blind with out the movement being seen outside the blind. Most the most part they are much more comfortable than any other method of waterfowl hunting. Remember, the waterfowl hunter MUST BE comfortable. If a hunter is uncomfortable that hunter will move – and move constantly. Any set up for ducks or geese should be done with every hunter comfort to prevent twitching and movement. Proper concealment is much much better done with a still hunter. So how weary are snow geese? Snow geese age is an average of 10 years. The average season is 240 plus days long. A goose will fly over a minimum of 3 spreads per day. The number of spreads is 10 years times 240 days times 3 spreads = 7,200 spreads. It appears that geese – all geese operate from memory; if something is a bad experience then they are on the look out for that cause. Decoy spreads are designed to mimic feeding or resting waterfowl. There experience with decoys is bad, so as they get close to the spread they become more suspicious; they don’t want to get blasted again. If anything doesn’t look right – poor quality decoys, bad spread layout or movement within the spread. To waterfowl un-natural movement is bad, if hunters are in camo the movement could be one of the geese’s four legged enemies of a goose are fox, wolf, coyote, dog, wildcat, possum, and skunk. ALL waterfowl will move away. Hiding within the decoy spread –Some long time goose hunters are opposed to hunting in the spread in white parkas. For a group of 4 to 8 hunters (or more) I believe this is the most practical method of hunting over decoys. The main reason is MOVEMENT. While hunters are dressed in white parkas with hoods, and move an arm or head, these movements and like movements resemble snow geese moving in the spread and don’t appear to flair circling geese. |
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APRIL CALL IN SPECIALSU.S. Freight FREE on ALL orders exceeding $ 100.00 Call (281) 821 – 3795 We accept Visa, Master card & American Express
IT Suite – A poncho-style garment, lightweight, made from 3D material in 3 camo patterns. Built-in hood, facemask and individual cuffed sleeves. The hunter’s personal concealment suite. Is carried by stuffing the suite into the head. Very easy to carry the 1.8 pound bag. Wear what you want to any hunt, even bight orange coat. Slip into the IT suite and blend into the vegetation. One size fits most. 3 camo patterns – Max4 (best for waterfowl hunters), Realtree Hardwoods Green and Advantage Timber. $ 90.00 per each suite Duckngoose.com Cap – White baseball cap with Duckngoose.Com logo. THP White Curtain Cap – White baseball style cap with white screen that you can see through but geese can’t see your face. $ 9.00 per white curtain cap Rubberized Parka – Muy Granda - white, rubberized outer (Lo Shine) (6XL) Fits a 250-pound hunter wearing a parka. Easy to clean, hang on a fence and wash off with a water hose. $ 30.00 per each Rubberized Parka Cloth Parka – (3XL) White, poly/cotton one size fits all – largest white parka available. $ 25.00 per each cloth parka 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 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 THP Snow Goose Cassette – The best snow goose tape of the sounds of snow geese on a roost. 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 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. This blind is equally good for turkey and deer. $ 162.00 per each Field General by Double Bull – One-man layout blind in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass. The ultimate in comfort because of heavy-duty, super-thick ergonomically designed foam bed sculpted to match and support the curves of your body. Urethane coated shell with multitude of elastic brush ties; screen-type viewing cover and spring-loaded, wire-framed cover flap for total concealment. The best, the longest lasting and diffidently the most comfortable – the last layout blind you will ever own. $ 232.00 per blind Maxam Lockback Knife with clip – Overall length of knife when open approximately 7-inches with a blade of 2-3/3-inches. Lifetime warranty. Perfect knife for the waterfowl hunter’s pocket. Holds blade edge through out the hunting season. $ 9.00 per knife 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. - $ 9.00 per 5-oz glass bottle DNG Coozie – Shadowgrass, keep your can drinks cold, carry one in each coat, vest, Blind Bag and Shell bag. – $ 2.00 per coozie
SPECIAL - 1 Coozie with each $ 50.00 0f purchase
COOKING EQUIPMENT CALL-IN SPECIALSCall (281) 821-3795 We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express
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 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 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. 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 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 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 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 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 Meat Thermometer – 5-1/2”, instant read pocket model with temperatures from 0 to 220 degrees, plastic case with pocket clip. - $ 8.95 per each Life Time Marinate Injector – Much more durable than the very inexpensive injectors or those injectors attached to bottles of marinade. - $ 7.50 per each
SPECIAL – Lock Back Pocket knife with each $ 50.00 of kitchen equipment purchased |
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RECIPECHEESE & GOOSE NOODLES1 cup grilled white front goose, cut into ¼-inch pieces In a mixing bowl combine goose bites, cottage cheese, sour cream, onions, Peppa Royale, rum and garlic salt. Add noodles, toss to combine. In a greased 2-quart casserole, fold out noodle mixture. Sprinkle top with baby Swiss cheese. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until casserole is hot and bubbly at 350 degrees F. Yield: 6 servings. |
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RECIPESPICY GOOSE CASSEROLE4 ea snow goose breasts, cubed 1-inch In a non-conductive bowl place goose cubes; cover withy water plus 1 tablespoon vinegar. Refrigerate. Change water every 20 minutes until it runs clear. Pat dry and place on a dish. Sprinkle with DNG Waterfowl spice; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. With the Weston Deluxe EM-2 Meat Grinder; grind the meat. In a high sided skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Melt butter in hot oil. Sauté meat, onions, bell pepper and celery for 3 minutes. Add sugar, Serendipity, Sidewinder spice, lemon juice and hot sauce; cook stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and broth; reduce heat to low; simmer 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes. In a 2-quart casserole combine and mix well saucepan mixture, rice and cilantro. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes until casserole is heated through. Yield: 6 servings. |
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The winner for the March drawing is John Greathouse, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Runner-up is Malcum Gorde, Blythewood, SC. Congratulations to both. The Give-A-Way for April is a pack of Waterfowl Game Tags plus a discount sheet good for 6 months on all Duckngoose.com items. |
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©2004 DUCKNGOOSE.COM
All original material on this site, including graphics,
is copyrighted by DUCKNGOOSE.COM & Designs by Pam.
All rights reserved.
Some items may be copyrighted elsewhere and are used by permission.
DUCKNGOOSE.COM
21302 Old Ranch Road
Houston, TX 77073
(281) 821-3795
©2003 DUCKNGOOSE.COM
All original material on this site, including graphics, is copyrighted by DUCKNGOOSE.COM & Designs by Pam All rights reserved. Some items may be copyrighted elsewhere and are used by permission.
