Goose Hunting questions

[bigalexe]

I've been invited to go goose hunting (yay!) and have some questions regarding guns and loads.

I would prefer to shoot 12-gauge and own a pump. However bird hunting requires fast action, I probably have 3-5 seconds between shots the first 10 or so and after that I start to fatigue quickly and pretty soon it starts to become 10, 15, 20 seconds for me to fire, rack, and get set again. So really a pump wouldn't necessarily be the best gun for me.

I have a semi-auto on call, its an 11-87 however it is 20-gauge. It has also been suggested because geese are thin skinned that I shoot the biggest shells possible (3 1/2" Magnum). However I've been told I can expect to fire a large number of shells in a day and shooting tons of 3 1/2" shells would not be good for me.

So questions:
-Would 2 3/4" #2 (or #4 if i can find it) shot work for Goose in Michigan?
-Will 20 gauge be that much of a difference?

I will be posting this in a few different forums I belong to so I can compare answers.

 

[Jubjub]

Uhh, no offense intended, but I went to the Michigan DNR site, and it looks like the daily limit for geese is 5. Just how much missing do you plan to do?

 

[juk]

Geese fly high and can withstand some serious firepower. Their down and feathers really act as a sort of armor. In this case you need a large pellet (#2 to T-shot) flying as fast as possible. You really don't need a 3.5" 12 ga for that. In fact, most 3" shells shoot the pellets as fast if not faster than the 3.5" shells. People say "go for the 3.5" because the 3.5s carry more pellets. When the Geese are high, the more the merrier.

So, I would go with the 12ga pump shooting good (fast) T-shot. You will have the same reach as the 3.5 guns, just less pellets in the air. On geese, you aim for the head and neck.

Don't worry about the time it takes to shuck the action and get back on target. Keep your eyes on the birds and your body will do the rest. focus on one bird and stick with him/her. All you'll do is make them fly faster if you pepper the whole flock. My guess will be that you will not be shooting very much anyway. You will have time to rest between shooting.

As a further note, Geese are very wary birds. Wait for them to get close. then blast them right before they touch water ( or ground). The first time is always nerve wracking. You don't want to screw up in front of everyone and make yourself look inept or a sorry shot. Take your time, stick with a single bird, and make sure to follow through with the swing. You'll do fine and have a good time. Good Hunting!

 

[Virginian]

I would use the 12 gauge 2-3/4" pump, wait until they are well within range, and use good shells. I believe you might be very well served to spend the money getting some Remington Wingmaster HD, Hevi-Shot, or Kent Impact tungsten matrix shells in #1 or 'B' as well. I believe you need BB or 'T' shot in steel, and you don't get too many of those in a standard 12 shell. But, I also quit using steel several years ago, so someone who does use it currently may be able to give you more good info.
If 20 geese come in, don't worry about getting 3 shots off, or getting a double, or any of that. Just worry about killing one goose. Take your time. If you miss it is not a crime. I get more excited about geese than anything else there is, and when I think of missed gimme shots thru all the years, probably the top 20 that I can remember, at least, are all at geese.

 

[DiTzMaN]

Agreed that 3.5" are not necessary. Last year while duck hunting, I called in geese on a couple of different occasions. Folded them with Federal Black Cloud 3" shells with #4. Granted, they were close and cupped. Given the choice for geese, I would use larger shot. I usually carry #2 or BB if I am targeting geese. The Black Clouds are amazing shells. The one thing about them though, is that they pattern really tight. I was shooting IC out to 35 yards with them.

 

[Fastcast]

For starters 3.5" is not necessary....The 20ga. will work, if that's what you really prefer to use. Limit your shots to 35-40 yards max with the 20ga. I prefer #2 for geese if they're coming close and BB if they're not and it's just more pass shooting....Good luck!

 

[bigalexe]

Thanks for the information. Appears to be on par with the response at Michigan-Sportsman

Uhh, no offense intended, but I went to the Michigan DNR site, and it looks like the daily limit for geese is 5. Just how much missing do you plan to do?

I've been told when your a new bird hunter to expect to miss A LOT. So you could easily shoot 25-50 shells trying to get 5 birds.

 

[fletchbutt152]

OH, so much fun.

I personally use a Benelli Nova 12ga (3 1/2") with a 28" tube as does my Dad and 3 of my cousins. Another cousin uses a 26" barrel. 3" shells are enough, but two years in a row my Dad shot a Canadian at over 100yrds with 3 1/2" T shot. Those with money in our family shoot Benelli Autos (boy I would like a Vinci) that only chamber 3" shells. All seem to be successful.

Oh yeah, Jubjub, the first time I went hunting I was shooting 3 boxes of T shot a day for the two birds allowed. By the end of the 3rd day I was hitting them much more regularly...buy lots of AMMO!

 

[rcmodel]

I probably have 3-5 seconds between shots the first 10 or so and after that I start to fatigue quickly and pretty soon it starts to become 10, 15, 20 seconds for me to fire, rack, and get set again.

This seems to indicate a physical handicap of some sort?

You might be better served by looking for a gas operated 12ga and just get rid of the pump you can't operate at normal speed.
Since you are limited by law to three shots when hunting geese, so all you would need to concentrate on is lift the gun and aiming for three shots at most.

After three shots, you have to stop and reload anyway.

rc

 

[MCgunner]

I hunt Texas snows and blues and specs. I graduated, finally, to a 10 gauge. 12 gauge 3" works fine with hevi shot and if all I were doing was one hunt, I'd just buy some hevi shot loads at 25 bucks for a box of 10 and shoot a 3" 12 gauge and be happy. BB hevi shot will reach out there. However, I tend to hunt geese more than once a season. I don't have a lease right now, though, and spend 150 bucks a morning hunting 'em, so I've slowed down. There is some public hunting about, though, in the duck areas I might go for this season. 10 gauge steel T shot is a lot more affordable than is hevi shot and it reaches out there just fine, too.

Anyway, I'd shoot 3" hevi shot in your situation, BB shot size. Shots are not every 5 seconds, BTW, and if the limit is 5 birds, you MIGHT shoot a dozen shots if they're high and you aren't connecting. I get a little soreness the next day after 22 rounds of 10 gauge 3.5" (20 bird limit last season on light geese), but it's a good sore, reminds me of the fun, and I get over it by the following day. If you're a goose hunter, you're just used to the pounding or you better get used to it. 20 gauge is NOT the way to go with steel shot. If you can get 3" 20 in BB hevi shot (I've never looked), it would still be less effective than 3" 12 which will carry more shot to pattern. 3" 20 gauge is about like 2 3/4" 12 gauge. In BB hevi shot, it'd be okay it the birds are working good. It's those days when they won't come down below 50 yards that finally got me to buy a 10 gauge.