Geese

[huntntyme]

Something strange is happening, this weekend especially. We have noticed huge flocks of Canada geese still heading north. It seems really late for these huge flocks of geese still heading north. I live in upstate NY, a few hours from Canada. I have hunted geese for nearly 25 years and have never seen this before. These geese are flying all night long ! Does anyone have a theory as to why these geese haven't nested yet. It really looks like a fall migration only heading north.

Huntntyme

[ganderlander1]

Alot of geese will nest and then fly north for there molt migration. They will fly north and lose all of there feathers and when the cold weather hits up north they will then fly south again. I dont know if this is what you are seeing but I would almost bet that is what they are doing. I have never seen it personaly but I know that studies have been done in Michigan and alot of the local geese will fly north after they have nested and then will return when they have got all there feathers back. I hope this may explain what you are seeing but I am not positive.

[Nick McArthur]

It is a good possibility that you are seeing juvenile geese, these geese usually do not nest their first year.....and are not welcomed by the nesting pairs, they are pretty much driven away by those pairs that nest and have little ones. I guess I would say that at this stage in the game they are not molt migrators because there are little ones that aren't so little anymore in Northern MN, so if I had to guess, juveniles headed north.....but, thats just my $.02.

[migrator00]

What's up Nick....hey..u comin to peoria??? U better be brother!

[Nick McArthur]

Hey not too much, been f'in busy with wedding stuff, and another wedding next weekend, and honeymoons........boy you name it, I have been doing it.....got on the call a little before I went on the honeymoon in case I get to go to my state contest......what a deal.....right now I am scheduled to go to Peoria with the Grinder, but I have to wait and see if I can get that Friday off, and my boss doesn't return from vacation til the end of the month, I wouldn't think it will be a problem, but the way the summer is going, I am not holding my breath brother. I might be making a late run this summer at some Regionals off the beaten path.

[migrator00]

you better get on it and get your ticket! We were comin' to MN. this next weekend but it fell on the same weekend as our co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party. I think some things are more important ;) We're hittin' peoria..then probably makin' the run to KC in august. The grinder is hitting peoria huh...that is always a good time..lotta blue hairs down that way :)