Geese...

[ShenandoahJoe]

Despite the fact that they no longer migrate, Canada Geese are protected by the Migratory Bird Act. People do get fined for killing them.

Personally, I think they've forfeited any right to protection unless they can prove they've been to Canada in the past year.

 

[wrath]

It's an old thread but I figured I'd comment as I've been battling this since March.

I gave up and put an electric fence up. Most of the fence is out in the water but some of it is on land (to go around trees, or else I'd need like 10' T-posts to stay in the water). The goslings and their parents have disappeared but the two older geese are still being obstinate. I don't mind the two older geese (they are interesting to watch) so much but they still generate too much poop. If geese could frown, I'm sure they're doing it. The first wire is about 6" off the water (when the pond floods it rarely gets any higher than about 1" from the bottom ring on the fence). The second wire is 10" above the first.

When they started coming up by the house and garden is when they finally pissed me off. My wife doesn't like me giving stuff lead poisoning but she said if they're still here when goose season opens up they're all to go away. They even pooped on our garage apron which is a solid 300' away from the pond.

We have an automatic water sprayer for a backup deterrent. Next year we're putting a couple swan decoys in the pond.

 

[studor]

I don't mind the two older geese (they are interesting to watch) so much but they still generate too much poop.

Apparently every seven minutes -- I wonder who did that study?

 

[kelloggguy]

Yes, tastes a lot like duck. Don't make the mistake of thinking the white geese (we call um snow geese in KS.) are as good. They are hard to clean and most times are skinny. A lot of people are making jerky out of them now and just fillet the breast. I have heard the snows described as "flying liver".

Yeah, we mostly get snows down here, and no matter how you cook them, they're nasty. I personally much prefer the taste of liver.

 

[Tig]

Next year we're putting a couple swan decoys in the pond.

Let know how that works out. At times we are over run with swans and/or geese. The swans can put the run on geese but the geese are always testing the mood of the swans. Sometimes the swans just won't let the geese get back in the water.
Thankfully the geese more or less moved on a couple weeks ago.

 

[Bill 55]

I have a 3/4 acre pond in my front yard, and have had sky carp problems for a couple of years. Last year I tried shooting near them to get them to leave but they always come back. I eventually had to kill one and they stayed away. This year I thought they had learned after shooting a couple of times I did not see they any more. Then there were two pairs with 12 goslings appeared. It seems they nested in the wood at the edge of the property and only came back after the goslings hatched. I have chased them on the four wheeler shot over them and nothing seems to deter them. I think it is time to use the SSS method. Shoot, Smoke, and Smile. 16 sky carp are making it impossible to walk in the yard or around the pond. I am talking about a little over 4 acres, and I am tired of it.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Apparently every seven minutes -- I wonder who did that study?

I thought it was every 7 seconds...

 

[studor]

I thought it was every 7 seconds...

Seems that way but if your cat did it every seven minutes imagine the litter box requirement
They do make a good jerky though:thumbsup:

 

[tcreeley]

Try a perimeter fence + a dog. That should keep them away.

 

[studor]

Our town house backs on a golf course. I have watched a "professional" pest control company try a variety of methods from coyote dummies to live dogs to radio controlled boats to flashing mylar fences. I cannot say that any have been successful. As a hunter I know that the dead ones don't come back but their mates and offspring do
I am a firm believer that if you want to get rid of the geese the three S method is the most reliable -- also known as sudden onset steel poisoning (used to be lead but they are waterfowl:thumbsup