I've been out a few times for our MI "early nuisance goose" season- weather and standing crops play a big effect on your shooting, and usually mornings when it is cooler are best- I have always carried a few Winchester 12 steel 1 oz. no 7 loads to finish off a close range cripple- and on several farms where I also shoot pigeons, I am taking NO chances on having a lead load, just in case I get checked by the Raccoon Rangers afoot- this past Tuesday- newer spot on a regular farm, lotsa barn pigeons and the farmer said the Geese usually came into the pasture with a seep creek after lunch-
So he sent me to another section about a mile away- he has a few head of beef cattle, some standing corn, meadow and two beaver ponds and a winding seep creek, lotsa brush and trees for cover- Dead oak tree was loaded with crows when I parked by the gate just past the standing green corn- they never moved when I walked past down to the pond area- saw enough prints and poop and feathers to tell me the geese were using- so I set up and waiting- good call- took two geese (all I want) and then loaded the M12 with those No. 7 1 ounce steel loads- got three crow singles, two dropped in the pond- I had camo and was in the shadows-- and I'll kill every crow I can while I'm out for waterfowl- they kill more nesting bird eggs than any other varmint- after the early goose season ends the 15th- from then to the 30th- I'll go back to more serious crow shooting- decoys- standing corn, ambushing- I just hope the steel shot rumor is just such!!
