where are the geese

[steve bubas]

does anyone know whats going on  and is it the bird flu -Im often hiking on around Stewart state forest and this summer  for the first time ever geese are not around at all it seems- there was plenty around this spring  and nothing changes around there much except  that its getting so bad -so low on deer and turkey numbers and also property management is worse and worse 

Edited August 29 by steve bubas
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[G-man]

Haven't seen any flocks  locally at all yet  . Must be enjoying where theyvare and the weather so far.

[virgil]

I was at my place in Otsego county this past weekend and saw a lot of geese. I had a few small flocks coming and going into a pond at my neighbors place when I was in the woods Saturday morning. And a big flock of about 300 birds at about 10am. 

Edited August 29 by virgil

[mowin]

They are plentiful in Columbia county. 

[blackbeltbill]

4 hours ago, steve bubas said:

does anyone know whats going on  and is it the bird flu -Im often hiking on around Stewart state forest and this summer  for the first time ever geese are not around at all it seems- there was plenty around this spring  and nothing changes around there much except  that its gettig so bad so low on deer and turkey numbers and also property management is worse and worse 

  Welcome Steve!  Plenty of Geese-(too many) around the Monroe Ponds. A complete circuit around both ponds on the paved trail equals 1.52 miles. I sometimes walk around twice now getting ready for Pheasant  Season. Goose Droppings everywhere!

  You are completely  correct about all you wrote on Stewart State Forest. Definitely  not as much Gobbling there in the Spring and Turkey Hunter numbers have increased as well. 

   Good Friend Cynthia  here has told me that Decades back there was alot more Deer at Stewart. She grew up Hunting this area. She thinks it is over hunted as far as the number of Deer Hunters go.

   All 3 of us should take a Hike there this September.  You need at least 3 members,I understand  to have a Site GTG. 

  I do see plenty of Geese further South in Sterling Forest State Park.

[Rusty]

8 hours ago, steve bubas said:

does anyone know whats going on  and is it the bird flu -Im often hiking on around Stewart state forest and this summer  for the first time ever geese are not around at all it seems- there was plenty around this spring  and nothing changes around there much except  that its gettig so bad so low on deer and turkey numbers and also property management is worse and worse 

Welcome to the site Steve.

The only case of bird flu that I've heard of was in NYC in June.  But they did just spray for mosquitoes by us, just south of you, because birds were found with West Nile.  We're on the NY border just south of Warwick.  

[Rusty]

Now that you mention it, our lake had very few geese this summer.  And we are quite glad because they make a mess.

It could be unrelated to disease and be due to this year’s wacky weather.   Migration timing and distances might have been altered.  I did see my first high flying flock migrating north this week.    

[Robhuntandfish]

with the extreme heat maybe patterns have changed.  Seeing birds flocking up in the fields here now.  Hoping there will be plenty around cause i have been planning my first real try at a goose hunt in Sept.  Still scouting locations but trying to make it happen.  And it seems numbers must be doing pretty well as they still have the 15 limit for the Sept season and then have gone from 1 to 3 for the late season.  

Edited August 29 by Robhuntandfish