Mar 5, 2016 4 min read

Most hunting seasons are on hold until the spring gobbler hunt begins in late April. Of course, coyote is legal game year around and there is no shortage of this slick animal.

But getting away from this predator and reflecting back on past seasons, I have often felt the most under-hunted game of all is the Canada goose.

The season on them ended a week ago, and those who did hunt them did very well. If I speak one word of truth, it is geese can be an unsanitary pest.

Golfers will find themselves tiptoeing through goose droppings and changing clothes when they find feces on their cleats.

Contrary to what many think, geese don’t feed in water but instead prefer grain and grass. It is this call to grass that gets them in conflict with humans.

Where is a more inviting place to dine on grass than a golf course or someone’s finely tended lawn? Yes, they are found on and around ponds, but in most instances, they rest there.

I know pheasants are gone – or at least where those of us who are grey of hair are concerned. Pheasants are still stocked at various game lands, but the wild birds that were so numerous are a thing of the past.

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen a grouse in Washington or Greene counties in quite a few years. There is good grouse hunting to be found in the northern mountains of Pennsylvania but not here at home.

Instead of crying about the lack of birds, smarter hunters need to switch to hunting waterfowl. This style of hunting is different but all you need to hunt geese is a tight-bored shotgun, steel or some other nontoxic shot and sometimes a call.

Instead of blaze orange, it is a good idea to wear camouflage. Goose hunting resembles turkey hunting in the spring more than it does grouse hunting.

Like other hunts, it pays to pre-scout, and if hunting on private ground, get permission. Most landowners don’t care to have them as visitors and will permit the courteous hunter to go after them.

Locate a morning feeding place and set out a dozen or so decoys. Always remember you need at least one sentry and sit in cover and wait.

If they appear to be landing a distance away, give a few honks on the call and hope they answer and come in to the decoy. Then, let the fun begin.

Remember when hunting geese you need a federal duck stamp and another from Pennsylvania Game Commission. And for heaven’s sake, don’t have any lead shot loads from another hunt in your pocket.

Of course, I am writing about a hunt that ended but might as well get ready for next year. There is still good bird hunting to be found locally and wait until next fall, you’ll have a blast.

• As most readers know by now, I am an official scorer for Boone & Crocket and Pope & Young Club.

Over the last 10 years or so, I witnessed a drop in the number of deer scored and a drop in the average scores.

There can be many reasons for this and sometimes a combination of reasons.

On the other side of the coin, I just saw one monster buck brought to me that rivals the La Brosse and Kerns bucks, which both scored above the 170 which placed them in the book.

Last week, a set of antlers from southern Fayette County was brought to me for scoring. It exceeded the score of both of those two bucks, measuring 176 1/8. The huge antlers, taken by James McFadden of Gans, places in the top 10 of the millions of bucks taken in Pennsylvania.

The brow tines on this monster rack are tremendously long and this feature is what helped push it over the Boone & Crockett minimum of 170 inches net score after subtractions.

The sad part of the story is James is only 18 years old and will probably spend many years trying to top this big buck.

The odds are heavily stacked against that happening. Before we put a tape on the antlers we, as usual, tried guessing what the final score would be.

I guessed somewhere in the 160’s but my friend, Mike Webber, held the rack in his hands looked at the young hunter and said, “This is a super rack and I think it will go over 170.”

Mike was right.

George H. Block writes a Sunday Outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.