Duck hunters are down to their final weeks of waterfowl season in the Northeast, yet opportunity abounds. Weather is a key factor in planning hunts since extended cold weather will freeze lakes, ponds, even rivers and push birds farther south. One of the best places to hunt late season waterfowl is in areas where “resident goose” regulations apply. These inland areas west of the Chesapeake bay offer very liberal limits into January and feature the giant strain of Canada goose where birds weigh up to 15 pounds. It’s conceivable for a person to shoot more geese than he can physically carry. Picked corn fields are the most consistent places to hunt since birds must feed regardless of the temperature. As long as thy can roost on nearby water, they’ll return each day.
Follow the Freeze
I live five minutes below the Pennsylvania border where Maryland and Pennsylvania conditions are very similar. Just today, a friend invited me to float a local creek, depending on the weather. As local lakes and ponds freeze over, waterfowl must move to rivers and creeks (moving water) to roost and a float trip is a great way to hunt ducks and geese. Because this hunt will be in a resident goose zone, like most of Pennsylvania, the limit is five Canada geese and if each is a mature bird, that’s about 75 pounds. The great advantage of floating for ducks and geese is the lack of preparation. Although some hunters tie up to an island and put out a few decoys, many other just float close to flocks and shoot when they flush. Additionally, ducks and geese use the stream course as a fly way which creates incredible pass shooting. With a boat, you don’t need a dog as you can paddle to downed birds. Additionally, for this kind of shooting, you may want a modified barrel and less than max-size shot. In addition to these thoughts, check out the statistics from the Realtree website:
The Keystone State might not be as esteemed for waterfowling as it is for deer and turkey hunting, but variety alone sets it apart from others. The state features many lakes, streams, ponds and rivers, plus abundant ag fields. Pennsylvania hunters annually take good numbers of mallards, wood ducks and black ducks, and many also experience good action for buffleheads, bluebills, ringnecks and green-winged teal. Canada goose action remains solid in Pennsylvania, as hunters shot almost 107,000 honkers in 2014, plus almost 2,300 snows.
