Early Season Goose Hunting in the Fields: Michigan Style

There’s just something about that first crack of goose season here in Michigan. The mornings are still warm enough you don’t freeze your tail off, fields are loaded with grain and green shoots, and those honkers are fresh outta summer, fat and a little dumb—if you know how to play it right.

I’ve been at this long enough to know early season can be either lights-out or dead quiet. The difference? Scouting, wind, cover, and a spread that looks as natural as the real thing.

Scouting: Food & Water Are the Name of the Game

Geese are like us—they want easy food and a safe place to chill. Around here, I’m glassing cut corn, wheat stubble, and fresh alfalfa. If I can find a field within a quick wing-beat of a decent pond or river, that’s the jackpot. Early season birds don’t wander far from water in the heat.

Don’t be lazy on this part—drive, glass, take notes. Watch where they’re leaving at dawn and where they set down in the evening. Geese are creatures of habit, but they’ll shift fast once fields get picked.

Wind: Your Best Friend or Worst Enemy

Listen, you don’t just “set up wherever.” If the wind’s wrong, you’re basically sitting there for exercise. Geese are always gonna land into the wind, so your whole spread and hide should be built around that.

Here in Michigan, mornings can be calm, then the breeze kicks up mid-morning. If you don’t adjust for it, you’ll be watching birds flare just out of range.

Cover & Concealment

Michigan fields don’t always give you tall corn to tuck into. Sometimes it’s just flat dirt and stubble. That’s when you gotta get creative. Layout blinds brushed heavy with field grass, ghillie blankets, even just laying flat with stubble pulled over you—it all works if you break up your outline.

And for heaven’s sake, cover your face and hands. Nothing shines like a pale mug when the sun’s coming up over the field.

Decoy Spreads: Make It Believable

This isn’t the time to drag out every decoy you own. Early season birds are still grouped small, family-style. A few dozen full-bodies, mixed with some shells, can work wonders.

I like to run a loose “U” or “J” shape with a good landing pocket. If I know birds are feeding heavy, I’ll throw in more feeders up front. If they’re just loafing, I’ll mix in relaxed postures.

Motion is king. A flag or two, maybe a motion stake if it’s legal in your zone, adds that little twitch that sells the whole thing.

Tools of the Trade

Besides calls, good optics, and gear that won’t quit, let me tell you about a game-changer: the Swamp Stick.

It’s a lightweight telescoping pole with a spade base you jam in the ground. Sounds simple, but man does it save your bacon. I use it to hang my pack, shells, even a coat—keeps everything outta the mud and organized. It doubles as a decoy stand or a motion flag holder too. When you’re in soggy fields or on the edge of a marsh, that thing is worth its weight in gold. Trust me, once you hunt with one, you’ll wonder how you did without. My favorite part, you cna attach your action camera(s) and cell phone to capture the hunting action!

Strategy & Timing

Hunt the cool mornings, stay mobile, and don’t be afraid to adjust mid-hunt. If geese shift fields, so should you. Early season is about being flexible, reading the birds, and setting up where they want to be—not where you want them to be.

And remember: subtle usually beats over-the-top. Good hide, realistic spread, smart wind use. Do those three, and you’ll be stacking honkers while the guy across the road is scratching his head.

Final Thoughts

Early season goose hunting in Michigan isn’t just about luck—it’s about knowing the land, the birds, and how to use every edge you can get. Play the wind, scout hard, set a spread that makes sense, and keep your gear outta the mud with tools like the Swamp Stick.

Do it right, and there’s nothing better than hearing that first flock lock up and drop in, wings cupped, feet down, right into your lap. That’s goose hunting done the Michigan way.