Late Season Goose Hunting in Texas

Innovativeness is the name of the game in late snow goose season, because by this time all juvenile geese have completed a full semester in goose hunters 101.  Typically for this reason rye grass and winter wheat fields are planted (or leased) by RiceLand Waterfowl Club and left untouched until early to mid-January.  To the snow geese these fields represent high nutritional value and an area where they have not been pressured during the regular season. More importantly however,  for our club lease members and their hunting guest, this translates into some of the highest success rates of the year.

Before duck hunting season has closed here in Texas, Snow, blue and ross geese are already being hunted in the rye grass and winter wheat as they slow down their feeding from the rice, and plowed fields.  As this happens snow goose hunters are getting ready for the up and coming Texas snow goose only or conservation season.  Duck hunters have now abandoned the duck blinds with the close of the Texas duck season and join in on the snow goose only season.  Lease members are testing out their electronic snow goose callers, pulling plugs, while some add extension tubes to their shotguns.  On opening morning  the snow goose decoys are all set, and rechecked well before first shooting light.  After settling in and loading your shotgun, from the distance you see some approching snow geese, they can hear the calls from the electronic snow goose caller playing loudly.  Now locked in on the goose decoys, and the elusive calling, they drop lower.  Some are now maple-leafing, quickly decreasing air spead and distance to your waiting goose hunting group.  Some seem close enough to touch, it's now or never.  Everyone takes quick aim with long shotgun volleys blasting into the air, as numerous snow and blue geese tumble out of the sky.  Several hunters are running out, helping the dog quickly retrieve all the numerous downed snow geese.  Those still in the decoy spread are pointing, giving direction to where the geese have fallen. Suddenly hunters are pointing to the sky hollering "hurry up!" as more and more flocks are seen off in the distance, all with a direct course heading your way.  Every snow goose hunter is running to get back in place, each swiftly reloading their shotgun,  eagerly watching as the snow geese approach, cupped -up!  It's going to be another thrilling repeat like the last volley - Take-Um!!!