Matt Tyson
Member
Hunted geese today in a wheat field, and birds seemed hesitant to decoy...could it be the height of the field?
Hunting in wheat...
- Thread starter Matt Tyson
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Got a bunch of questions that could have resulted in that type of behavior. Have they been using field before today? Have they been hunted in that field before today? Have they been shot from that spot before today? How many decoys compared to flock size? Method of concealment? Decoys left out in field for days on end?
In addition to the above issues possibly causing some hesitation over calling can be an issue this time of the year in MA. I cannot tell you how often in January we have geese come in totally quiet and no calling-all of a sudden we have geese coming from our backside to land out in front. Get their attention and call just enough to keep their interest but no more. I have watched waterfowl in and out of season and I have never heard a racket of calls coming from live content wild waterfowl in New England.
I am sure others will disagree with me on this but what ever works for you. Use to call a lot of coyotes when I took a leave of absence from waterfowl hunting and less was more except when I had nothing to loose-in other words if what you are doing keeps resulting in the same reaction from the birds don't be afraid to change your tactics mid hunt or next day. Move decoys into different pattern than your usual set, or usual two groups with opening in the middle so many hunters set up with around here. One field I hunted twenty years ago had so much pressure the geese would fly a half mile circle around the field and then keep on the same track. I put the decoys in the middle of the field 200 yards out from me and that was enough to pull the birds in for a look and as the circled the decoys just staying far enough from the outside edge of the decoys we got geese.
Good luck.
In addition to the above issues possibly causing some hesitation over calling can be an issue this time of the year in MA. I cannot tell you how often in January we have geese come in totally quiet and no calling-all of a sudden we have geese coming from our backside to land out in front. Get their attention and call just enough to keep their interest but no more. I have watched waterfowl in and out of season and I have never heard a racket of calls coming from live content wild waterfowl in New England.
I am sure others will disagree with me on this but what ever works for you. Use to call a lot of coyotes when I took a leave of absence from waterfowl hunting and less was more except when I had nothing to loose-in other words if what you are doing keeps resulting in the same reaction from the birds don't be afraid to change your tactics mid hunt or next day. Move decoys into different pattern than your usual set, or usual two groups with opening in the middle so many hunters set up with around here. One field I hunted twenty years ago had so much pressure the geese would fly a half mile circle around the field and then keep on the same track. I put the decoys in the middle of the field 200 yards out from me and that was enough to pull the birds in for a look and as the circled the decoys just staying far enough from the outside edge of the decoys we got geese.
Good luck.
Matt Tyson
Member
May thanks for the detailed response. We were hunting a field that is adjacent to a small lake that routinely gets a fair amount of birds. I have not seen birds feeding in that field, nor have I seen others hunt it. We had many flocks in the area yesterday but only a small fraction seemed interested in our spread, which was commensurate with average flock size.
The flocks that worked the area just seemed like something was amiss. I don't think it was a camo, movement, or decoy problem. In my mind it came down to calling or the grass. Our calling isn't horrible, but I completely agree that we could have been over calling for this time of year. ...or it was the field. I've read/heard a mixed bag of thoughts about hunting high grass for waterfowl. Still not sure I know whether it's a problem.
The flocks that worked the area just seemed like something was amiss. I don't think it was a camo, movement, or decoy problem. In my mind it came down to calling or the grass. Our calling isn't horrible, but I completely agree that we could have been over calling for this time of year. ...or it was the field. I've read/heard a mixed bag of thoughts about hunting high grass for waterfowl. Still not sure I know whether it's a problem.
Well, if the birds are not feeding in the tall wheat than that could be part or most of it. I saw a flock today in a field with really tall winter rye that was half way up the body of the geese. Also, when birds, ducks or geese, have a predetermined flight path or destination everything can be perfect and you will be hard pressed to be rewarded for your hard work and persistance. If you get some weather that can change things a bit but it sounds like the birds are just a bit uncomfortable with the field and have a comfort zone some place else. Hopefully you get some nasty weather and that will change their minds.
How late in the morning did the birds start trading off the water to feed? My experience with late winter geese that have been hunted is that they pretty much know the difference between live birds and decoys when the sun is (relatively, since we are not far past the Winter Solstice) high. If the birds are sitting on the water well into the morning because of the cold weather, they are moving out to feed when they can see very well. If you have not seen birds actually feeding in that field, that has a major influence of how willingly they will work, particularly into a standing crop, since the decoys are partially obscured it. Do your field blinds match the wheat color well? Have you rubbed them down well with mud to kill glare on the blind fabric? Are you flagging? Are you allowed to use motion decoys? If yes, did you have one running when the birds turned away?