Decoying geese?

Capercaille

There is a large wintering flock of barnacle geese that graze fields surrounding a lake 1.5km from the farm. They roost on the offshore Islands and feed on the fields surrounding the lake. In the morning they fly over the farm on their way.

I was thinking of setting up decoys to encourage them to feed on my fields. If I set up decoys would it encourage them to land? How many would I need? I frequently get wild Greylags feeding on the fields. The barnacles are more nervous and even though they sometimes land on the fields they rarely stay. Would they come to any geese decoys or would I need Barnacle decoys? Would the decoys have to be moved every day? I don't intend to hunt them.

hathcock

WHY WOULD YOU WANT THEM ON YOUR FIELDS IF NOT TO HUNT THEM?

Capercaille

hathcock wrote: »

WHY WOULD YOU WANT THEM ON YOUR FIELDS IF NOT TO HUNT THEM?

Aftergrazing.

hathcock

Capercaille wrote: »

Aftergrazing.

aftergrazing,whats that?

Capercaille

hathcock wrote: »

aftergrazing,whats that?

I cut meadows in mid September. If meadows are not grazed off in the autumn/winter (aftergrazing) the meadows will become rank and inhibit grass growth next year. In one of my meadows it would be quite wet at this time of year, even sheep would poach the ground. If the geese grazed it down they would also fertilize at the same time without the poaching.

hathcock

Capercaille wrote: »

I cut meadows in mid September. If meadows are not grazed off in the autumn/winter (aftergrazing) the meadows will become rank and inhibit grass growth next year. In one of my meadows it would be quite wet at this time of year, even sheep would poach the ground. If the geese grazed it down they would also fertilize at the same time without the poaching.

In scotland where I have hunted geese the landowners complain about the damage done by geese including acidification from all the sh1te,would this not be an issue for you?

Capercaille

hathcock wrote: »

In scotland where I have hunted geese the landowners complain about the damage done by geese including acidification from all the sh1te,would this not be an issue for you?

Acidification would easily be solved by lime application. I have to get stock borrowed in to aftergraze, so if the geese did it for me it would be less hassle. I only graze meadows for 2-3 months in the year anyways. With most landowners the geese are competing with livestock, which would not be the case for me.

hathcock

Capercaille wrote: »

Acidification would easily be solved by lime application. I have to get stock borrowed in to aftergraze, so if the geese did it for me it would be less hassle. I only graze meadows for 2-3 months in the year anyways. With most landowners the geese are competing with livestock, which would not be the case for me.

in that case try a few deeks,in my experience any goose decoy will decoy any breed of goose,good luck with your efforts.

Capercaille

hathcock wrote: »

in that case try a few deeks,in my experience any goose decoy will decoy any breed of goose,good luck with your efforts.

What are deeks?

hathcock

Capercaille wrote: »

What are deeks?

deeks=decoys its an abbreviation

deerhunter1

hathcock wrote: »

aftergrazing,whats that?

Ohh ye Townies:rolleyes: (one myself)
A bit of enjoyable education

Genghis Cant

Ducks aren't species specific when they are flighting to decoys. So I'd be happy any goose decoy will do. I never shot geese though.

Shur give it a go.

Capercaille

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Ducks aren't species specific when they are flighting to decoys. So I'd be happy any goose decoy will do. I never shot geese though.

Shur give it a go.

It will be much easier to get a Canada goose or greylag goose decoy, since Barnacle can't be hunted. Would goose decoys be readily available in a hunting/shooting store? Buying on-line would be expensive with packaging.

Kevhog1988

Has anyone ever eaten one? Are these canadian geese??

manjou

Put scarecrows in other fields so the only fields with none in are the ones you want eaten.

hathcock

manjou wrote: »

Put scarecrows in other fields so the only fields with none in are the ones you want eaten.

this sounds like a solution