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Massena
New York State
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Below are some articles written by previous visitors to the St Lawrence Experience
These articles were written by Zach Knepp who is an outdoor writer from Middleburg, PA and were published in his weekly column in the Snyder County Times.
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The St Lawrence Experience Geese (Part 1)
Last weekend I made my annual trek to northern New York to hunt lesser Canada geese with outfitter Joe Babbitt near the St Lawrence River. For the second straight year I invited my crew of waterfowl hunters along to film the hunts for an upcoming DVD.
The first hunt of the trip took place in a small cornfield between several bodies of water in the early afternoon. After setting up 50 Big Foot decoys and hiding our blinds we awaited the first flights of geese heading for their second feed of the day.
Having experienced hunts with Joe Babbitt in the past, we knew there was no need to try and fill out the 12-goose limit. Instead we set up one camera operator behind the other three hunters. Our goal was to capture all 12 geese shot on film by shooting at very small flocks.
To start the hunt Adam Stock was running the camera while my brother Ty, Kyle Rhoads and I were to each other in our Finisher blinds. Geese were constantly in the air and we prepared to fire the first shots of the weekend.
The hunt kick of perfectly as a group of four gees broke off a large flock and committed to our spread. After turning into the wind, the birds locked and glided towards the hole in our decoys. Once I gave the okay to shoot, we sprung from the blinds and quickly dropped all four geese.
The next goose we saw was a single approaching from the west. I yelled over to Kyle to take out the bird if it came within range. As it slowly flew into the spread, it gave the awaiting hunter the perfect shot. After firing a single shell from his Mossberg we had our fifth goose of the hunt.
Minutes later a pair appeared over the trees in front of us heading for the decoys. We decided Ty and I would shoot at the geese. Once they started to get within shooting range the one goose stayed high while the other committed to the spread.
I yelled for Ty to take the closest bird while I tried to shoot the far one. Seconds later the field was full of laughter as the far bird fell on my first shot while three other shots rang out at the closest goose while it escaped back over the trees.
With six more geese needed to fill our limit Ty switched positions with Adam and took over camera duty. It would not be long until the filming was over.
After we watched a few flocks fly to our left heading for the Grass River, we were able to call six away from a large flock. As the geese got closer we prepared to try and end our hunt.
The birds decided to pitch in the back side of the decoy spread. Once all six were in range we opened the doors to our blinds and started to shoot. Seconds later all six fell to the ground to fill our limit.
Needless to say we were surprised and very happy with the result of the shooting. When we picked up our decoys Joe stopped in to tell us he watched the hunt from a distance and was impressed with the shooting.
It was a great way to start off a terrific weekend of goose hunting with Joe. That afternoon we sat on the porch of his cabin and watched goose after goose land on the river that is used as the border between Canada and United States while already looking forward to another action packed hunt the following day.
St Lawrence Experience Geese (Part 2)
After a successful opening day of Canada goose hunting with outfitter Joe Babbitt in New York, we headed into the field on day two of the trip with high expectations. The previous afternoon we had selected a cornfield hunt that was holding a large amount of hungry birds.
The field was long and narrow with woods on three sides. We placed 96 Greenhead Gear and Big Foot full body decoys on the upslope. We thought that it would be the ideal landing area for the geese. We hid three blinds in the decoys, while the fourth Finisher was hidden 20 yards behind the spread for the camera operator.
We started the hunt with Adam Stock working the camera while my brother Ty, Kyle Rhoads and I manned the shotguns.
Once the birds started flying the action was fast and furious. Geese appeared in every direction, and were surrounded by them trying to get into our field for an early breakfast.
While this is usual a waterfowler's dream, when you are filming a hunt it is important to capture every bird you harvest on video. This meant several birds had a lucky morning as they landed and were scared out of the field while we waited for small flocks to hit the hole in order to capture good footage.
Eventually small groups started to appear from the east. I was able to take the first goose of the morning as the single bird flew left to right into the hole in the decoy spread. I rose from the blind and fired a single shot before registering the first kill of the morning.
After several large flocks gave us shooting opportunities without a large majority in our camera hole, Kyle was able to harvest a single that locked up and glided into the decoy from the right after leaving a large group of birds.
Next another big flock responded to our calling and pitched in perfectly. As soon as we could see the flock over a mile away, they prepared to touch down. After getting the wind correct. They gave us the perfect shot opportunity.
Kyle and I were able to kill two birds each that pitched into the hole. Ty recorded his first tally of the morning as one of the birds slid in front of his blind.
Next Adam grabbed his Beneli and I jumped behind the camera. Within seconds he was able to harvest another single that decided to leave its flock for our decoys.
After some more flocks gave us some good video. Adam made an unbelievable shot on a pair of lesser. As the two geese glided within range he fired a single shot and both fell to the ground to fill his three-bird limit.
With only Ty left to shoot, we had several opportunities to tape geese in the air and landing in the decoys while waiting for the ideal moment to harvest the final geese of the trip.
The perfect ending occurred when three geese approached over the nearby farm already cupped and committed. I yelled to Ty to take two of the birds as I recorded them for over a minute heading our way.
Once they were within range, Ty made two terrific shots and ended our mornings hunt. As we collected the geese, we reflected upon the hunt and were already talking about making the return trip next November.
That afternoon we sat inside one of Joe's cabins along the banks of the St Lawrence River and watched the footage from two days of hunting. We were able to catch all 24 geese that were harvested on video. It was a perfect culmination for the best waterfowl hunting trip that I have ever experienced.
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