geese

[glow worm]

Not at all sure where to post this but I would like to pick your collective minds about ... wild Geese. Not that many years ago, to see a Goose around was unheard of and I remember the excitement when we saw the first one on farm. The first flock we saw was just amazing. Wind on a few years, and they are now verging on pest status. Lovely as it is to see, their 'paddling' flattens a huge amount of silage and is causing dark mutterings from the OH about roasting some! How would you deal with the problem? I assume their only real predator is man as it would be a very brave and cunning fox to meddle with a big flock? Is it actually allowed to manage the flock to sensible numbers? Have you ever eaten one? I seem to remember reading somewhere that early winter is the best time if you are going to eat one when it has laid down some winter fat. I assume that a long slow cook would be the only way to deal with one but even so, the odd one in the Aga, will do little to contol flock size!! Ideas please!!

 

[Try to succeed]

What kind of geese are they? There’s getting more round this way the past few years. As I’m a shooting man our last lot turned up on 2nd Feb to cause a nuisance. Get your gun out in the season

 

[Nick.]

All depends on species.
canada’s are classed as vermin.

 

[Longlowdog]

Quarry species & shooting seasons - The British Association for Shooting and Conservation

Quarry Species & Shooting Seasons Advice Seasons Species There are a number of gamebirds, waterfowl (ducks, geese and waders) and other bird species, as well as mammals, which can be shot legally. For many there is a close season when it is illegal to shoot them, and this helps to […]

basc.org.uk

 

[yellowbelly]

. I assume that a long slow cook would be the only way to deal with one

DON'T shoot the front one out of the skein - get a young one from the back.

In Lincolnshire there are 2 recipes for wild geese -for both you need a house brick.

1. Stuff the goose with the brick. Roast slowly for 3 days. On day four, throw away the goose and eat the brick, 'cos it'll be the tenderest bit.

2. Place the brick in the oven next to the goose. Roast for a long time. When the brick becomes tender the goose will be ready.


We have a few Graylags here now, When more corn gets cleared we'll have, what seems like, millions.

 

[Blaithin]

Pampered country...

Goose season is big here. Lots of people love eating them, they can’t all be like bricks (and there’s lots of them!) I’m not a fan of wild bird but enjoy a good goose jerky.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Wild goose is lovely taste but needs very slow cooking . As above don't get the front ones

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

We have about 300 in the parish, between four or five landowners. They're not daft, and know exactly how close people can get before things get sketchy (80 yds and they're gone).

There's no such thing as vermin in the UK game laws, but for some birds we have General Licences, which cover Canada Geese for some specific situations. Have a look at the BASC link above and get some donkey-stopper cartridges.

I have a goose crown in the freezer, one day it will go in the slow cooker with lots of smoked streaky bacon and new potatoes.

Goose season is big here.

Game seasons in the US and Canada always amaze me. Our goose open season is from 1st Sept right through till the end of January (with no limits) and we are overrun with them.

Likewise our deer season is 7 whole months long for bucks (5 months for does) and we've never had so many. Again there are no limits, if someone wants to go shoot 10 every weekend there are no restrictions on numbers.

Wild game is a resource that very few people bother with in the UK, even in rural areas.

 

[tw15]

Used to go up to Scotland shooting pinkfoots and greylags a couple of times a year my favourite sport .

 

[Wilksy]

Not long till the 1st September, I've found mincing goose meat and making burgers the best way to eat it, mix it with pork mince or if you can find it, higher fat beef mince, you won't have to shoot many before the rest get the idea

 

[Surgery]

Anyone who takes goose shooting flights on their land please let us know , a couple of farming friends and myself would love to have a couple of morning and evening flights and would pay.

 

[Dry Rot]

There is no doubt that a dog could be trained to chase off geese and a lot of them would become obsessive about it. I'm told an artificial/model fox sat up in the field will keep them off. Up here, there were lads from the oil platform construction yards at Nigg that were shooting geese from the road out of car windows. (Highly illegal but I don't think anyone stopped them!). The solution then was to park an old car in the middle of the field -- that kept them off. But I'm not sure if that still works. Nobody bothers to pluck a goose, just take off the breast meat and treat as above. I don't think anyone has mentioned that it is also illegal to sell (or give away?) wild geese....or used to be. There is a limit to the amount of geese that one person can eat!

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

DON'T shoot the front one out of the skein

Geese are migratory, so its very cruel to shoot the one at the front (because he has the map...).

I don't think anyone has mentioned that it is also illegal to sell (or give away?) wild geese....or used to be.

Definitely still illegal to sell geese, but giving them away is fine.

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[Dry Rot]

Can't say I enjoyed my brief experience with goose shooting. Those small skeins are usually family groups and if you down one, the rest fly around honking mournefully, just out of range. Also, read Konrad Lorenz's articles on imprinting and watched the various TV documentaries on the same theme. But then if I had a few thousand sh!tting on my grass, I might think differently!

 

[TripleSix]

Father in law has a 12 bore goose gun, tightly choked, it kicks like a mule and can seemingly drop birds from about 1000ft altitude.
Quite impressive

 

[Blaithin]

The one at the front is usually a strong male who’s breaking the air. It’s hard work so they switch out often.

Aim for one not in front and you’re still liable to hit one that was just in front.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Not totally without predators. This one had its head taken off by a fox or badger.

 

[Gilly29]

I can offer help with controlling geese , fully insured and have permissions allready and can get my farmer to get in touch for reference. Please get in touch if you require assistance.

 

[Ramrod]

Not totally without predators. This one had its head taken off by a fox or badger.

All you need now is a brick

 

[robs1]

Great film but Saturday night fever is better