Goose hunting!!

[palmtree]

Dose any one know where to go for some goose hunting here in fl??

[BlindHog]

My guess is noone really has much of an answer since Canadas were not legal in 99% of Fla for the last few years. Snows are seen occasionally up here in N Fl but Canadas are everywhere in stormwater retention ponds, golf course ponds, etc.

I am sure lots of hunters are eyeing their local flocks of resident geese, but they seem to like staying right in the middle of civilization better than natural water bodies.

We have 100s in Tallahassee but I bet there wont be a dozen shot around here. They are too able to go where its quiet and still have food even sometimes provided by humans.

I have never seen a Canada while hunting here but they are always in my backyard pond (city limits - no gunshots allowed.) I did see some preseason on a huntable lake once but were gone by first shotgun blast of season. Last year one flock was sighted by a hunting buddy on my "home lake."

The ones on Lake Seminole were legal last several years but hard to pattern. Very few have pursued them for this reason.

[DrakeDuster01]

They're all over the place around northeast Florida. You just have to put miles on your truck to go and look for them in huntable locations. My group has 2 farms locked up and we have hunted them both. This morning we hit the field and stacked up the birds. It should have been an easy 4 man limit, but those big beasts can soak up some BB's and still fly. We ended up with 13 by 10:30am and all of us managed to make it to work on time.
:occasion14

[vbnolefisher]

I had a flight fly over me two years ago on lake jackson when i was hunting one of the ponds off of crowder. Well within range but they were closed back then. It took all i had not to raise up and let them have it.

[BlindHog]

VBNole-

Yeah, the Canadas I mentioned seeing two yrs ago were on Jackson in between Faulk and Crowder landings. Maybe the same ones you saw. Probably a single family group, 5 to 7 of em. I was scouting a couple weeks before season.

Six or seven yrs ago my son and I saw a Snowgoose standing on a floating island on Iamonia. We motored over to him (canoe and electric motor) and he just stood there with no apparent fear. We were within 30 yds. I think he was very tired and very lost.

About 5 yrs ago I saw a pair of Snows in field off Cap Circle SW grazing on some planted winter rye.

Also have seen a few Snows at PCS on two occasions.

And hey, if you havent joined UWF, its well worth the $25.

[jpe05c]

Agreed, join UW-F. Best $ I ever spent. Sounds like you all are from the Tallahassee area. You should see the progressive #'s of Canada's across from house at the baptist church off Mission+Gearhart. Since it flooded a month ago, I have counted a total of 65 that started with 12. They keep flying back to roost and letting their buddies know the food is there with no threat. I saw em all leave the area to go to roost and they flew over my house in the direction of what looked like Immonia, but who knows. They would probably be nasty considering the crap they have been feeding on, but fun to shoot and watch em' thud!

[jpe05c]

O, and the ones on lake Seminole can be taken by havin your buddies run around on the baseball fields at sundown to get them airborne and settin up a few decoys and flag for a landing beacon. Killed 4 last year like that. A little unconventional, but there were too many to count and it got frustrating.

[BlindHog]

I actually was driving down Mission the other day and noticed those Canadas you are talking about. Ironically I actually had the idea pop into my head of having someone chase them out while setting up on Jackson for em. Thats the nearest big body of water.

[kbare]

I have lived here in central Florida all my 47 years and have never seen a goose here.

I am leaving Sunday to go to Canada for 4 days of hunting them. I will post some pictures when I get back.

[N. Cook]

The November issue of the UW-F Newsletter will have an entire page on successful canada goose hunting in north Florida this first season of the state being open.

The area and numbers are small today....but I remember when 200 canadas were placed on a lake in central Ohio (nuisance birds from the Toronto waterfront)....in about 10 years there were over 7000 birds in the area and good hunts. There is every chance that at least the northern part of Florida will support some fair canada goose hunting with the passing of time. They will probably always be local birds and many will be in areas with "no hunting"....however, these "sancturaries" do a good job of supplying birds out into other huntable areas and keep the numbers growing despite the harvest.

Three years ago I was looking for a UW-F project that was targeted for our northern Florida members (and prospective members). We placed the white and canada goose "statewide" season in the FWC Rules Change system and thanks to the support of Diane Eggeman the regulations were passed by the FWC Commissioners.

[BlindHog]

I sure do hope a bunch of them move out into the area's "wild" lakes, but I havent see a whole lot of that. May have to go on a harassment campain in a ninja suit at night.

I think most Canadas almost enjoy proximity to people. Probably all the handouts.

Still grateful for the new rule thanks to Newton and Dianne.

[duckmanJR]

Great idea Carl...get a bunch of members to go roust them every night for a week before season ...you should get at least one good hunt out of that.

[David B]

Wonder Bread and .............