Northern Montezuma geese key on cut corn
New York hunting map feature
AUBURN, N.Y. — The nice thing about late-season goose hunting," said Ron Martino as we trudged toward the center of a cut corn field, "is you don't have to be up at O-dark-thirty."
Indeed, during the second waterfowl season at New York's Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, birds will generally fly about 8 a.m. and sometimes not until afternoon in the winter. I have started out at noon on some days and had a great hunt.
The WMA, located in Wayne County, is a diverse mix of wetlands, farms, grasslands and small woodlots smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway. Hunting here could be as good as it gets through the second half of Canada goose season, Dec. 26. - Jan. 11.
Snow goose season remains open until Jan. 21 and then reopens Feb. 24-March 10.
'Work in progress'
Not all of this will be public lands however, much of the habitat development will be on private lands using conservation easements. This partnership program is New York's flagship focus area under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
More than 15 organizations, including the Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Audubon Society, local bird clubs and sportsmen's groups have joined the venture.
"We are adding new areas as they become available from willing sellers or locking in habitat with conservation easements," notes Odell.
The wildlife management area portions are open to hunting, hiking, fishing, birding, canoeing and other recreational activities. Sportsmen are asked to use the formal parking areas to gain access.
Get there
Northern Montezuma is accessible from the New York Thruway. From the east, use Exit 40 at Weedsport, go south on Route 38, then west on Route 31 to Savannah.
From the west use Exit 41 at Waterloo, go north on Route 414 to Clyde, then east on Route 31 to Savannah. To get to the South Butler Unit, continue north on Route 89.
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Fishing and Hunting News What: Late-season goose hunting at the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area near Auburn, N.Y. Where: The South Butler Unit, just minutes north of the NYS Thruway. Why: South Butler is in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway where the number of migrating birds number more than a million. The wintering populations on the Finger Lakes will number more than 100,000 and they actively feed in cut corn fields. Support services: Cayuga County Bass Pro Shops Guide: Jason "Big Jay" Barnes (315-889-7260). |
Decoying
Once you're there, you'll want to consider setups. Roy Evens has been my hunting partner for a number of years and he is a firm believer in mixing decoys. We combine shells with silhouettes, Canadas with snows and even magnum goose chair covers when we are not laying flat on the ground with an ammunition box as a pillow.
I used to hunt with the late Harold Sincebaugh, who was one of the best waterfowl hunters on the East Coast, and he often used a 4-foot high decoy called Super Goose. It caught the attention of flights more than a mile away and never flared them.
Guide Jason "Big Jay" Barnes (315-889-7260) will often combine full body Higdon Motion decoys with Outlaw Silhouettes with great success when field shooting. He also uses Stealth and Avery layout blinds.
Those are certainly more comfortable than using just a sleeping pad, but when you have to carry everything in, they may be more trouble than they are worth.
Dress warmly
Temperatures in the split season will require layered clothing for the worst conditions, even if the air temperature is near freezing. Lying on the ground can quickly lower your core body temperature, but you won't be there all day.
Limits, at least on Canada geese, are normally filled in just a couple of hours or you will go bust. There doesn't seem to be any compromise.
Snows are not as predictable and, while they fly with Canadas, they will land and feed off to the side as a family group. Place your decoys in such a manner.
Tips
Scouting can pay big dividends at Northern Montezuma. Not only do you want to know what fields are being used, but also the time flocks arrive. Birds are creatures of habit unless they are disturbed while feeding or resting.
Camouflage is important, especially a face mask. In snow cover, you can pull a dirty sheet over you as you lay in the corn.
A clean sheet is too white. Don't worry about a dark facemask or hat, there are plenty of mud clumps and even the decoys appear as dark blobs.
Setups are generally simple. The wind should be at your back and a large open "C" is ideal with the hunters positioned in a line for safety at the back of the big curve.
The wings, or ends of the "C," should extend out like an open arms welcome. The majority of birds will land in the open zone.
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