GREYLAG GOOSE
In the past, there were not that many greylag geese, but the population has been growing strongly, and greylag geese can now be seen in droves all over Denmark. Humans tamed the wild greylag goose for its eggs, meat and down, but today the greylag goose does not have a major role in agriculture. On the other hand, it does so for hunters, who have been bagging increasing numbers in recent years.
Diet
Greylag geese are herbivores and feed chiefly on grasses. Short, actively growing grass and grain is more nutritious than old grass, so greylag geese can often be seen grazing in pastures with sheep, horses or cows. Newly cut grass is also part of their menu, and flocks of greylags can often also be seen in parks. Because there are few nutrients in grass, geese have to spend a lot of time foraging. The herbage passes rapidly through the gut, and they therefore produce large amounts of excrement, which is far from popular in parks and on playing fields. When a flock of hungry geese lands on the fields, they can wreak havoc on the crops, so in many places, permission is often sought to regulate the greylag in order to minimise crop damage.
More and more hunters have become aware of goose hunting and the excitement it offers hand in hand with the increasing number of birds. Likewise, the range of gear and equipment for goose hunting has also been growing. Greylag geese are extremely fine birds, but very vigilant, and it is therefore important to be well hidden and to have sufficient patience to wait until the geese are in range. Geese are large birds, and many people therefore try shooting them from too far away, believing mistakenly that the geese are closer than they actually are. Geese fly at high speed, and this, combined with their strong feathers and a thick layer of down, makes them very resilient to shot. Therefore, you should never try shooting a goose more than 25 metres away – and preferably with large shot and fast cartridges.
Which equipment?
When it comes to equipment, the most important thing is to obtain a good hide. There are boxes on the market where you can jump up like a jack-in-the-box when the geese are close enough. In other words, you lie down in the covered boxes and only open the lid once the geese are in range. A number of good-quality decoys will improve your chances considerably, while a goose call can persuade a flock of greylag geese to change direction and land right in front of your hide. A retriever which can handle large birds is a must, because a wounded greylag can glide long distances on stiff wings.
Goose on the table
Greylag geese taste delicious. If you have the patience and the prudence to pluck a whole goose or two so that the skin is intact, nothing beats a Christmas dinner of long-roasted wild geese served with red wine sauce, redcurrant jelly, a Waldorf salad and sugar-browned and boiled potatoes. You can also fillet the breasts and fry them as steaks, or serve smoked goose breast as a starter. It is important to remember that there is not as much meat on a wild goose as on a fattened tame goose, so you will need two instead of one bird.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HUNTING GAME
See all the posts from our Deerhunter blog
- The common goldeneye
- Eider
- Wild boar
- Pheasant
- Fallow deer in Denmark
- The woodcock
- The wigeon
- The mallard
- The Eurasian teal
- Roe deer
- The fox