Goose Hunting Info - Goose Hunting Tips

Goose (plural geese) is the general English name for a considerable number of birds, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than geese, and ducks, which are smaller. Goose, at its origins, is one of the earliest words of Indo-European languages (Crystal), the modern names derive from the proto-Indo-European roots, ghans, therefore Sanskrit hamsa (feminine hamsii), Latin anser, Greek khen and others. In the Germanic languages, the root word led to Old English gos with the plural ges, German Gans and Old Norse gas. Other contemporary derivatives are Russian gus and Old Irish geiss; the family name of the priest Jan Hus is derived from the Czech derivative husa.

The current article treats the subject of true geese in the sub-family Anserinae, tribe Anserini. A number of other water-birds, mostly related to the shelducks, have “goose” as a part of their names. True geese are average to large birds, in every case (except the Nene) associated more or less with water. Most of the species in Europe, North America and Asia are strappingly traveling as wild birds, breeding far north and spending winter much farther south. Nevertheless, escapes and voluntary introductions have led to resident untamed populations of numerous species. These wild birds have been tamed for centuries. In the West, domestic geese descend from the Greylag, however in Asia the Swan Geese have been farmed for at least the same period of time.

All geese eat a largely vegetarian diet and can become pests when flocks feed on arable crops or inhabit ponds or grassy areas in urban environments. They also take invertebrates if the opportunity presents itself; domestic geese will try out most novel food items for edibility.

Geese regularly mate for life, though there are a small number of divorces and rematings. They are inclined to lay fewer eggs than ducks; though, both parents defend the nest site and young, which typically results in higher rates of survival for young geese. The Anser species are in general the so-called “grey” geese. This name is not really accurate when the North American geese are considered. In fact the Ansers also include white and brown geese. A better way of establishing parameters for the group might be that they have a uniform plumage coloring of the three colors recognized above. In addition their bills and legs are pink, orange or yellow.

The most recognizable and prevalent goose in Northern America, the Canada Goose is found in all types of water all over the continent, beginning with the tundra and finishing with the Gulf Coast. A few populations have turned into residents of urban areas and are today facing conflict with people. As a minimum 11 sub-species of Canada Goose have been accepted, even though just a couple are distinguishing. Generally, geese tend to be smaller as you travel northward and darker in color as you travel westward. Some wandering populations of Canada Goose are not disappearing as far south in the wintertime as they once used to. This northward shift of range has been credited to changes in farming practices that make grain more obtainable in fall and winter, in addition to changes in hunting stress and modifications in weather.