Cape Barren Geese - 11/18/14 01:00 AM
Last January I took a trip to shoot Cape Barren Geese on Flinders Island, in Bass Strait, between mainland south eastern Australia and Tasmania; I'll be going again next January.
The whole setup is a bit unusual. They were at one time endangered, and are still restricted to a fairly small stretch of coastal hinterland and islands in the region, but conservation efforts have seen them prosper again enough so that they can locally be troublesome as they feed on cereal crops and feed on and and foul pastures, so limited culling is permitted to reduce and disperse them. There is one commercial operator on the island who'll arrange trips (and who our group went with). He either has us wait under flight lines at dusk or dawn, or during the day, he conceals a line of guns between gaps in trees (for the geese don't get much elevation, and will pick the gaps between trees) and drives them over us.
The usual caveats about reasonable concealment and camouflage, staying still until they're in range etc apply. It's some of the best shooting I've had - big, tough, handsome birds which move with deceptive speed. Cartridges are supplied on the island - 1 1/4oz #2 or BB, but others I know who've done it have taken vintage 10s and 8s loaded with cartridges they'd brought. Doubles (for this is a double gun forum!) are king in Australia (since that hateful little weasel John Howard took self-loaders off us), and I used the well-used, now-refurbished, but utterly reliable and practical 1954 Beretta 410E that came down to me from my grandfather.
Perhaps those of you who have more geese available to shoot than we do will understand, but we were all a bit sceptical about being told to headshoot them with shotguns until we understood that meant to place the pattern over the head and neck to best drop them, something we just don't need to over-think with our ducks.
I brought a goose skin home and had it mounted as a memento, and "Barry's" impassive, glassy gaze is an imposing sight in the loungeroom!
We were also able to enjoy some beach fishing along miles of beautiful, unspoilt beaches; there are wild turkeys and peacocks on the island, too; didn't get one last trip, but may try again next.
They're something a bit different for you all to enjoy anyway; I'll throw some photos up in a short while.
If anyone's really inspired, keen for a big trip south, and free in mid-January, I may have a spot, too...
The whole setup is a bit unusual. They were at one time endangered, and are still restricted to a fairly small stretch of coastal hinterland and islands in the region, but conservation efforts have seen them prosper again enough so that they can locally be troublesome as they feed on cereal crops and feed on and and foul pastures, so limited culling is permitted to reduce and disperse them. There is one commercial operator on the island who'll arrange trips (and who our group went with). He either has us wait under flight lines at dusk or dawn, or during the day, he conceals a line of guns between gaps in trees (for the geese don't get much elevation, and will pick the gaps between trees) and drives them over us.
The usual caveats about reasonable concealment and camouflage, staying still until they're in range etc apply. It's some of the best shooting I've had - big, tough, handsome birds which move with deceptive speed. Cartridges are supplied on the island - 1 1/4oz #2 or BB, but others I know who've done it have taken vintage 10s and 8s loaded with cartridges they'd brought. Doubles (for this is a double gun forum!) are king in Australia (since that hateful little weasel John Howard took self-loaders off us), and I used the well-used, now-refurbished, but utterly reliable and practical 1954 Beretta 410E that came down to me from my grandfather.
Perhaps those of you who have more geese available to shoot than we do will understand, but we were all a bit sceptical about being told to headshoot them with shotguns until we understood that meant to place the pattern over the head and neck to best drop them, something we just don't need to over-think with our ducks.
I brought a goose skin home and had it mounted as a memento, and "Barry's" impassive, glassy gaze is an imposing sight in the loungeroom!
We were also able to enjoy some beach fishing along miles of beautiful, unspoilt beaches; there are wild turkeys and peacocks on the island, too; didn't get one last trip, but may try again next.
They're something a bit different for you all to enjoy anyway; I'll throw some photos up in a short while.
If anyone's really inspired, keen for a big trip south, and free in mid-January, I may have a spot, too...