Canada geese any tips

[charlieboy-shooter]

Hi guys,

Sorry I know this is not stalking question so admin please move if need be.

I have been asked to remove some Canada geese @ a golf course. Any suggestions on best approach with rifle would be much appreciated. Are they likely to lift after the 1st shot. I Can use a 22lr, HMR or overkill a 222. What would be best approach, close with quiet 22lr, further off with HMR? best shot placement to drop one without over duly disturbing the others, I.e head shot, do they flap like mad(headless chicken scenario) body shot, drop ?????
obviously not shooting due to crop protection so is it ok to do ? however they are very messy and troublesome. Needless to say will not shoot on water.

Advice welcome.

Thanks

 

[shakey jake]

No experience with a rifle but you can shoot for public health reasons since they got added to the open general licence you can also shoot them with lead bullets but not using lead shot hope this helps

 

[charlieboy-shooter]

yes, great it does. As it means I'm good to go. Just after some pointers rather than trying one way and thinking, hmmm didn't want to do it like that.

Thanks

 

[Druid]

The best possible tip for Canada geese is not to assume that they are edible.

 

[paul o']

hmr as you can stand off better than .22 & .22 has more or a chance to ping away rick O' away , a head shot would be best or base of neck bit bigger target from behind even if you drop a low shot practice on golf balls .308 works well but prob not the way you need to go , Canada's are on the pest list fill yah boots bloody **** machines and they damage the greens

 

[garyw]

i have cleared a fair few over the years with the .17 rem.
as for cooking wrap them in grease proof paper after seasoning etc cook for 3 hrs on low -un wrap the bird throw it in the bin and eat the grease proof paper.

 

[Redleicester]

With .22lr and HMR, only a headshot will do.

 

[bewsher500]

Sorry, they can be tough buggers
.222 is not overkill
centre mass unless close enought to hit a 10p piece with confidence ..imo

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

good fox bait get a pigeon blind up and a 22lr if clear if not a 17

 

[re'M'ington]

I cleared 57 off a lake on a Golf course with the .243 and all body shots,at one point a few left the lake but when they were shot none escaped and one very happy greens keeper.The only problem you may find is golfers themselves,they play the bloody game in all weathers and from first light to last so it is very much a timing thing.

 

[bruce w]

Sorry, they can be tough buggers
.222 is not overkill
centre mass unless close enought to hit a 10p piece with confidence ..imo

you are dead right geese are tough birds ,last thing you want is a getaway to crash land on the nearest main street on market day

 

[JTO]

A long time before Canada Geese became a problem, the 1954 Protection of Birds Act made in unlawful to shoot wildfowl with rifled barrel weapons, from what I remember. I presume it has been repealed/superseded.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

I wouldn't use a .22LR! I did once......once! It wasn't up to the job. If you can get close enough, line a couple of heads up and whack them with a 12 bore No.4 shot! (non toxic of course!).
Cook them slowly on top of two house bricks so that all the fat runs out into a pan. keep the fat for roast tatties! Throw the goose away and eat the bricks as they will be more tender and taste much better than the goose!
MS

 

[big ears]

In support of eating what you shoot. Forget the breast as big as it is its dog food. But the legs are ok. The boss confit them in duck fat and cook slowly in a water bath. Then roast them off. They make a passable substitute for crispy duck but my favourite is on top of a cassoulet of beans.

 

[charlieboy-shooter]

Thanks guys. Looks like the .22LR is staying @ home then, again. As it turns out, there is going to be 2 of us, so hmr and .222 it is then.
I was thinking about breasting them (mince for burgers/ sausage). Don't overly like the idea of just disposing of them. As big ears points out, i'll give the legs ago. I have only ever had 1 canada goose before. By chance, I cooked the legs 1st as to try out a dish and it was nice, cooked with fennel pesto. Thought great I'll do that with the breasts, yuck, even the dog wouldn't eat it. So based on that I considered the legs a fluke, but will give them another go. Anyone tried the burger / sausage idea ?

Thanks again

Steve

 

[geordieh]

All my Canada Geese I pluck the breasts cut the breast off and take them down to the local smoke house and have them hot smoked I have never had a bad one yet the are excellent

 

[Woodsmoke]

Canadas make an excellent salami

 

[Redleicester]

A long time before Canada Geese became a problem, the 1954 Protection of Birds Act made in unlawful to shoot wildfowl with rifled barrel weapons, from what I remember. I presume it has been repealed/superseded.

Oddly you still aren't supposed to use semi-auto, but that's about it.

 

[Essex stalker]

Thanks guys. Looks like the .22LR is staying @ home then, again. As it turns out, there is going to be 2 of us, so hmr and .222 it is then.
I was thinking about breasting them (mince for burgers/ sausage). Don't overly like the idea of just disposing of them. As big ears points out, i'll give the legs ago. I have only ever had 1 canada goose before. By chance, I cooked the legs 1st as to try out a dish and it was nice, cooked with fennel pesto. Thought great I'll do that with the breasts, yuck, even the dog wouldn't eat it. So based on that I considered the legs a fluke, but will give them another go. Anyone tried the burger / sausage idea ?

Thanks again

Steve

Perhaps i was just lucky and they were young ones but i quickly fried the breasts and then put in oven for a short while(certainly didnt over cook them) and they were fantastic, really tender and tasty

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

take your .222 ive shot a fair few geese with a .22 and its not easy geese keep there head very mobile especialy once they know danger is about just body shoot them with the .222 but what i would say is wait until the course is closed to do it there is obviously the danger issue but also the issue of having people not liking what your doing and you having to deal with that