Michigan Early Season Goose Hunt

I've never really been much of a waterfowl hunter. I don't have a duck boat, hundreds of decoys and a super secret spot to hunt. I like the idea of it, but I'm just not there yet. However, I discovered goose hunting last year after my friend (where I also deer hunt sometimes) told me the neighboring property owner had just had 4 large ponds put in on the vacant land next to him. He said, when they were putting up some tree stands that the geese were coming into the new ponds like crazy and were coming in really low across his field. That was it, I decided I was going to give goose hunting a try. Since the early goose season in Michigan is in September, I wouldn't be interrupting anyone deer hunting.

Our first try over the food plot with 11 decoys

Boomer and I went out 3 times last year with no results other than being eaten alive by mosquitoes. We set up in a small food plot that I had put in earlier in the summer. I only had 11 decoys, but we were on what should have been the approach for the ponds next door. Unfortunately, we were not successful. This year, while out for early antlerless season, I watched as the geese were coming into the cut corn field next to me. Lucky for me, the field was also owned by my friend. I asked if I could go hunt there the next day since the special deer season was closed. He gave the ok and I made plans to swap out my deer hunting gear for goose hunting.

Boomer and I showed up early the next morning and set up our 11 decoys in the field. We set the blind at the edge of the field and waited. The weather was much different than the previous day. It was rainy, foggy and windy. It wasn't cold, but it was just dreary. We sat and waited to hear the geese calling around sunrise, but there was nothing happening. We only saw a few groups of birds and they were a long way away. I never had any opportunity for a shot. The wind was blowing really hard at times and eventually blew down my makeshift blind. This hunt was a disaster. The wind and weather were against us, my simple panel blind was not able to withstand very much wind, so something had to change. We packed up and went home with plans to come back the following weekend.

At home, I redesigned the blind design using 1/2" PVC pipe. I made it so there were 3 sides and it was much more stable. It's still light and easy to transport. I also went to Facebook Marketplace and picked up 3 dozen goose sock decoys. I realized I needed to expand my decoy spread to get the attention of the passing flocks. With this all prepared, I was ready to try again.

Epic drone photo of my decoy spread

Early on Saturday morning, Boomer and I loaded up for the 2 hour drive to our hunting spot. We get there well before daylight and start setting up. 4 dozen decoys takes a lot longer to set up than 11. By the time I was done, it was nearly daylight. We hurried up and got the blind set up, then we were ready to start the hunt. The weather was much better. It was going to be partly cloudy, light wind and around 70 degrees during the day. At sunrise, there was no sign of geese flying around. It wasn't until after 8AM that we heard, then saw the first group in the area. They weren't nearby, but at least there were some around. Only a couple groups came anywhere near my setup. They were all way too high for a shot. It was almost noon and I had only had one chance at a shot, which I missed by a mile.

Boomer with his first Canada Goose

I was working a group that had been circling and was getting lower with each pass but seemed to have lost interest when I hear a single goose coming my way. I look to my right and he is coming to land in my decoy spread. It was like you see on the hunting shows, he was coming right into the hole I made with the spread, just as I had hoped. He locked his wings and just as he stalled, I shot. One shot, one kill. He went down like a stone. I sent the dog after him and that was our first successful goose hunt. We stayed for a while longer but it was getting warm and the geese had stopped flying. Happy with our success, we packed up and headed home.

With our success, you can say I am now hooked. I will be itching to get back after them when the season opens back up in the middle of October. I will refine the blind design as I found some issues in the setup when in the field. I really don't want to buy a portable blind, but in the end that may be the best answer. I can't wait to go out again.