Geese on Ice

Matt, Hunter and Randy and eleven geese

Many years late in January geese will pile up in Ohio in big numbers. If you can find the fields that they are using and get permission, you can have some great shooting. We have been able to do that many times. The only problem in Central Ohio is that the only public hunting is on one of many lakes. That is the tricky part as the lakes tend to freeze in the bitter cold of late January. There are some hunters who have boats who can cut through 4 inches of ice or more! I personally do not own such a boat. There are people who "thought" their boat could cut through the frozen layer of lake water, only to slice into their hull and take on gallons of frigid liquid. Somewhere in between, too thick for the duck boat and not safe to walk on, is all too common. Even though ice can be thick, the way it forms is important in determining its level of safety. Sometimes there will be a brief warm spell as ice is forming and it may even rain then refreeze. This can lead to dangerous "honeycomb" ice which is not safe.

When the conditions occur for safe ice in January we have marvelous shooting. The dock owners around the lake use "bubblers" to keep the docks from being damaged by the ice, and open water for ducks and geese alike. Keep in mind that by keeping the water moving, these "bubblers" also can create a current in the lake. Such a current can create a thin place in the ice, so BE CAREFUL!
Much like hunting in a snowy field, you can suck the birds into a large spread of goose and duck shells. Choosing a location a safe distance from the edge of the ice and laying in the spread wearing all white is the best camo there could be! White on white is the best, there is no way a hunter could ever hide in a typical field as well as you can hide white on white! The best way to get your gear out there is to use plastic sleds and pull them out. The first time I tried this ice hunt I laid down on my decoy bag. I never gave much thought to the fact that laying on ice would be a bit colder than a snowy field! After that I brought a foam sleeping bag pad to lay on. It works great!

Your dog can be a big help in retrieving downed birds as always, but your dog needs to be kept warm as well. It is imperative that he or she has an insulated place to sit or lay. In terms of safety,  don't send your dog somewhere that you wouldn't go. Bad things can happen to dogs and have.
This season we had multiple areas of open water to hold birds. Bubblers kept water open, and a few thousand geese swimming around in one spot kept a hole open on the middle of the lake.These openings can be a refuge for birds and a hazard for your dog. Just like shooting geese near a refuge, it is a good idea to get in line with their flight path. They will commonly decoy right in or swoop down for a closer look and WHAM!

Goose hunting is fun no matter where you choose to hunt, and if you dress for the conditions (cold or hot and I have done both) its tough not to enjoy. My dog, Gunner, gets really excited about goose hunting. He likes to hunt pheasants and he is good at it! (pointing Lab) He is also a good duck dog, but he comes "unglued" with excitement when the geese fall! Here is a toast to raining geese on ice!