Geese in my clover

[Maddog66]

I have a 30 acre clover hay field that attracts hundreds of geese every day in the early fall. Twice a day actually.

They land in one spot in the morning and slowly work their way around the entire field over the course of a few hours (grazing) then they leave and come back before dark and repeat the process.

I think they are eating clover and the brome grass that’s mixed in??

***Don’t get me wrong, I’m not worried about it at all. They don’t bother me unless they get bold and into my yard.

BUT I do wonder what effect that many birds has on the field?? Is it a net negative because they eat so much tonnage? Or is it a net positive in free fertilizer? Any other effects?

 

[Telemark]

Bird poop is high in nitrogen, which clover doesn't need. I suppose they might contribute to the biology of the soil. They probably take more than they leave, but if it doesn't bother you, then I'd say it's a wash.

But geese are edible, so you could shoot a few, and then it ends up being a net positive.

 

[Brian662]

Get some decoys and start thinning them out.

 

[fishin coyote]

Start shooting them and they will find somewhere else to go

 

[roymunson]

Geese in My Clover was a dirty movie I think I watched once

 

[Maddog66]

The directors cut of Geese in my Clover on Beta is a cinematic masterpiece.

I sure wish goose tasted like chicken.

 

[Barndog56]

Goose jerky is pretty good. My wife cuts goose breast into small chunks and serves over mashed potatoes with gravy. Throws in onions and peppers, like sirloin tips. It's mighty tasty that way.

 

[bigboreblr]

I hunt AG in a flyby cooridor. The mohawk river a hour west of albany. I have seen some deer actiivity while thousands of geese are in the field. However, never had a good day of hunting yet. Never seen a nice buck or many does either. Think they're in no rush to leave, but get annoyed by the noise and probably smell too. Might be a predator magnet too.

When geeese try to make a home for the summer in my foodploy, I shoo them off.

 

[hunts_with_stick]

What’s your address again. I miss goose hunting. Used to mix it in when making venison sausage