Late goose season closes

Cabbage in the flower bed near where this goose was harvested

Signs of spring are everywhere, even in early February

Tools of the trade include a fishing rod, stool,
gun and shells and of course a goose call

Spooked these deer away from the water hole where I hunted

Late goose season finishes up today, February 9, and waterfowl hunting in general is now postponed until September - i.e. for the early teal and goose seasons. The late goose season finished well for those who had not given up on seeking out some honkers. By and large, there were less geese in the Lowcountry due to unseasonably warm temps and a lack of rainfall. However, a few flocks of geese seemed to show up at the beginning of February, just in time for some late season honker action. One morning I set up on a friend's fish pond where we had seen 23 geese loafing late one morning. The morning hunt was not a barn burner as one lonely goose came by at 8:15 and responded to my call in kamikaze fashion - and one shot sealed the deal. An afternoon hunt was timed during heavy overcast conditions at a pasture pond and two flights of geese came together right at the roost pond. A three-shot salute thinned one Canada goose from the flock, which despite circling and listening to my calls, never offered another shot. The geese were cleaned and provided to the friend with the fish pond to enjoy with his family. Other wildlife viewed during these hunts include mallard ducks, great blue heron, white-tailed deer and wild turkey... and the woodlands appear to be on a non-stop march to Spring!

To view past blog entries about late goose season click here.