02-28-2008, 08:10 PM
Wrapping up the season
Hunters need not hang up their shotguns just yet, there's still plenty of wing shooting to enjoy with the Conservation Light Goose season, which runs through March. The Conservation Season began several years ago in an effort to keep the snow goose population in check. The gregarious birds have been decimating their nesting ground on the Tundra in Alaska and Canada. Geese pull grasses up to get to the roots and hundreds of acres of their nesting grounds have become void of native grasses.
Conservation Season hunts can provide some exciting shooting. Granted, late season snow geese can be challenging to call and decoy within shotgun range, but with regulations such as the use of electronic callers, unplugged shotguns, no limit on birds harvested and extended shooting hours, hunters have a much better chance of success.
I remember my first hunt during this conservation season several years ago with waterfowl guide David Cox of Palmetto Guide Service. Cox had been guiding goose hunts on ranches on the Katy and Garwood Prairies along the Texas coast for years. We set out several hundred silhouettes and full body decoys, and when the local population of snow geese heard the recording of thousands of what they thought was their kind being blasted through speakers from Cox's boom box, they were quick to set their wings and glide within shotgun ranch.
We enjoyed several hours of shooting with wave after wave of birds coming to our decoy spread and electronic calls. But not all late hunts go so well. Cox is quick to point out that after being hunted from Canada to the Texas Coast, snow geese can be extremely difficult to decoy; but if everything is done correctly and Mother Nature provides a little wind to keep the decoy spread moving, shooting is often excellent.
"We hunt flocks of birds on several big ranches and I've found that being flexible is the key to good hunts during the conservation season," Cox said. "Most of our shooting is over green fields of rye grass this time of year, and sometimes the birds move from field to field with little notice. We have to remain mobile and ready to pull up and move with the birds.
"This time of year, when shooting gets slow, my guides and I will scout and find a concentration of birds, plan a way to get our hunters in without spooking them and enjoy some pass shooting. It's all about being in the right place at the right time and that's accomplished by lots of scouting."
For a late season snow goose hunt, contact Cox at: 936-291-9602 or visit: www.palmettoguideservice.com.
Good Eating
Snow geese breast are excellent eating when marinated in a 50-50 solution of Coke and Soy Sauce, with a little garlic powder, then wrapped with bacon and grilled over hot hardwood coals.
I like to butterfly the breast halves, stuff them with sausage, wrap with bacon and slow smoke for a couple of hours. Goose breast fajitas are also excellent eating when marinated in your favorite fajita seasoning and then cooked quickly in olive oil with fresh garlic.
Listen to Outdoors with Luke Clayton at: www.catfishradio.com.
Hunters need not hang up their shotguns just yet, there's still plenty of wing shooting to enjoy with the Conservation Light Goose season, which runs through March. The Conservation Season began several years ago in an effort to keep the snow goose population in check. The gregarious birds have been decimating their nesting ground on the Tundra in Alaska and Canada. Geese pull grasses up to get to the roots and hundreds of acres of their nesting grounds have become void of native grasses.
Conservation Season hunts can provide some exciting shooting. Granted, late season snow geese can be challenging to call and decoy within shotgun range, but with regulations such as the use of electronic callers, unplugged shotguns, no limit on birds harvested and extended shooting hours, hunters have a much better chance of success.
I remember my first hunt during this conservation season several years ago with waterfowl guide David Cox of Palmetto Guide Service. Cox had been guiding goose hunts on ranches on the Katy and Garwood Prairies along the Texas coast for years. We set out several hundred silhouettes and full body decoys, and when the local population of snow geese heard the recording of thousands of what they thought was their kind being blasted through speakers from Cox's boom box, they were quick to set their wings and glide within shotgun ranch.
We enjoyed several hours of shooting with wave after wave of birds coming to our decoy spread and electronic calls. But not all late hunts go so well. Cox is quick to point out that after being hunted from Canada to the Texas Coast, snow geese can be extremely difficult to decoy; but if everything is done correctly and Mother Nature provides a little wind to keep the decoy spread moving, shooting is often excellent.
"We hunt flocks of birds on several big ranches and I've found that being flexible is the key to good hunts during the conservation season," Cox said. "Most of our shooting is over green fields of rye grass this time of year, and sometimes the birds move from field to field with little notice. We have to remain mobile and ready to pull up and move with the birds.
"This time of year, when shooting gets slow, my guides and I will scout and find a concentration of birds, plan a way to get our hunters in without spooking them and enjoy some pass shooting. It's all about being in the right place at the right time and that's accomplished by lots of scouting."
For a late season snow goose hunt, contact Cox at: 936-291-9602 or visit: www.palmettoguideservice.com.
Good Eating
Snow geese breast are excellent eating when marinated in a 50-50 solution of Coke and Soy Sauce, with a little garlic powder, then wrapped with bacon and grilled over hot hardwood coals.
I like to butterfly the breast halves, stuff them with sausage, wrap with bacon and slow smoke for a couple of hours. Goose breast fajitas are also excellent eating when marinated in your favorite fajita seasoning and then cooked quickly in olive oil with fresh garlic.
Listen to Outdoors with Luke Clayton at: www.catfishradio.com.