Shaking eggs in Rochester

I have been hearing about this in the news and read about it in the Outdoor News paper last night. What is the deal with the city talking about shaking the goose eggs around Rochester to control the number of geese in the city limits??? I realize that over population can lead to disease, but the numbers are not out of control. (IMO). Special hunting seasons do not have a huge impact in the overall population, however they are very effective on a local level.

Why can’t they increase the daily bag limits as well as the possession limits for those guys that would like to consume those geese?? Longer late season??? Earlier early season??? Move the refuge lines???

I am extra crabby about it this time of year because I officially had to go and buy a beef roast in order to make jerky for ice fishing.

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Why can’t they increase the daily bag limits as well as the possession limits for those guys that would like to consume those geese?? Longer late season??? Earlier early season??? Move the refuge lines???

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I had this same conversation with a guy at work yesterday. Why should taxpayers pay to have people kill geese within the refuge, when hunters sould be more then happy to help with the population problem.

The 2 geese limit here is rediculous, and there is no reason they cannot open the refuge for special hunts at certain times on the year. Or better yet, open more DNR goose pits and get more people involved in the sport.

Seems like a waste of time and money to me

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Why can’t they increase the daily bag limits as well as the possession limits for those guys that would like to consume those geese?? Longer late season??? Earlier early season??? Move the refuge lines???

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I had this same conversation with a guy at work yesterday. Why should taxpayers pay to have people kill geese within the refuge, when hunters sould be more then happy to help with the population problem.

The 2 geese limit here is rediculous, and there is no reason they cannot open the refuge for special hunts at certain times on the year. Or better yet, open more DNR goose pits and get more people involved in the sport.

Seems like a waste of time and money to me

All we need is a special Wallmart Parking lot season. That would do wonders.

All we need is a special Wallmart Parking lot season. That would do wonders.

My son took a couple geese this past fall. I added some of the meat to a fantastic jambalaya that I make…..man, it was like having chunks of Goodyear tires in there!!

Does the jerky turn out better? I have one in the freezer and was thinking of giving that a try.

Also, on this egg shaking business….I agree, expand the limits or the season and that will take care of it. Also, let us shoot them from the golf course’s. Just last week my son and I were out following deer trails and saw over 75 geese on some open water. I am sure we could have hit a few of them.

My son took a couple geese this past fall. I added some of the meat to a fantastic jambalaya that I make…..man, it was like having chunks of Goodyear tires in there!!

Does the jerky turn out better? I have one in the freezer and was thinking of giving that a try.

Also, on this egg shaking business….I agree, expand the limits or the season and that will take care of it. Also, let us shoot them from the golf course’s. Just last week my son and I were out following deer trails and saw over 75 geese on some open water. I am sure we could have hit a few of them.

If you thin out your herd hopefully ours will move north. Dang yard rats.
No season could be long enough…

If you thin out your herd hopefully ours will move north. Dang yard rats.
No season could be long enough…

I wonder if the reason for not expanding the lines, limits or seasons might be because of the federal rules and regs concerning migratory birds.
I certainly agree with you guys though, shaking eggs is plain dumb. Why not just pick a few from each nest and destroy them and be done with it? Shaking will have the same result I suspect, except the egg will sit there and rot, possibly destroying the whole nest or the smell will attract predators.

I wonder if the reason for not expanding the lines, limits or seasons might be because of the federal rules and regs concerning migratory birds.
I certainly agree with you guys though, shaking eggs is plain dumb. Why not just pick a few from each nest and destroy them and be done with it? Shaking will have the same result I suspect, except the egg will sit there and rot, possibly destroying the whole nest or the smell will attract predators.

If the eggs are removed, the geese will relay them. Shaking them kills the embryo (sp) but the goose will still sit on them.

If the eggs are removed, the geese will relay them. Shaking them kills the embryo (sp) but the goose will still sit on them.

Removing eggs will result in the geese renesting. By shaking the eggs the geese would not relay – not realizing the eggs were dead. We are stuck by the federal oversight when it comes to increasing our limits. They are concerned about the impact on the tundra nesting mid-sized Canada Geese that come through each fall. Their populations aren’t doing well and need a boost rather than a hammering – this is why they are so conservative with limits. In Iowa last year they were able to convince the fed’s to extend the length of our season rather than change the bag limit. It helps – but the locals get very tough to fool after they have been shot at for an extended time. Very tough to balance the needs and wants of the public with the needs of the resource and the needs and wants of the hunters. Somebody always ends up on the short side of the triangle. Chuckles

Removing eggs will result in the geese renesting. By shaking the eggs the geese would not relay – not realizing the eggs were dead. We are stuck by the federal oversight when it comes to increasing our limits. They are concerned about the impact on the tundra nesting mid-sized Canada Geese that come through each fall. Their populations aren’t doing well and need a boost rather than a hammering – this is why they are so conservative with limits. In Iowa last year they were able to convince the fed’s to extend the length of our season rather than change the bag limit. It helps – but the locals get very tough to fool after they have been shot at for an extended time. Very tough to balance the needs and wants of the public with the needs of the resource and the needs and wants of the hunters. Somebody always ends up on the short side of the triangle. Chuckles

yep, never thought about them renesting. Good point. Sometimes I’d like to have seen a longer season here in southern Iowa. Still have tons of birds around even with all the cold. But things do even out.

yep, never thought about them renesting. Good point. Sometimes I’d like to have seen a longer season here in southern Iowa. Still have tons of birds around even with all the cold. But things do even out.

The key to cooking geese and making them turn out wel is low and slow heat. We actually slice the breast into strips, roll them up like a london broil and wrap in bacon and grill them – sear it on high for a minute on a side tne drop it to a medium low heat… when the bacon is done the goose is done to perfection… I don’t think you could tell the difference between it and steak when done right. They can alos be crockpotted the same way you would cook a roast in a crockpot – potatos, carrots, a bit of celery and some onion – cook all day and enjoy… the breast is also great smoked… alot like ham! Many ways to enjoy them – just need to understand the approach to make them turn out well. Oh and watch out for that steel shot – OUCH! Chuckles

The key to cooking geese and making them turn out wel is low and slow heat. We actually slice the breast into strips, roll them up like a london broil and wrap in bacon and grill them – sear it on high for a minute on a side tne drop it to a medium low heat… when the bacon is done the goose is done to perfection… I don’t think you could tell the difference between it and steak when done right. They can alos be crockpotted the same way you would cook a roast in a crockpot – potatos, carrots, a bit of celery and some onion – cook all day and enjoy… the breast is also great smoked… alot like ham! Many ways to enjoy them – just need to understand the approach to make them turn out well. Oh and watch out for that steel shot – OUCH! Chuckles

Concerning the bag limits in SE Minnesota, we are retricted to a two bird limit regardless of early, regular, or late season. The rest of the state is a five bird limit for extended seasons and two bird limit for regular season. I understand that we need to regulate the limits during the migration “regular season”, but the extended seasons are focused on controling local populations. That is what I have always thought anyway. I could be and am usually wrong.

Hunters will never limit every time they go into the field, however the days that we shoot the two bird limit, it would be possible to shoot a five bird limit. When they are coming, they’re gonna come. Other days not so much.

The jerky question. That is the only way that I fix up my geese. I am not a chef by any means and it seems that it is the easiest way for me not to screw up. Ducks are for the grill, geese are for the smoker. That’s how it works at my house anyway. Thin cuts of goose breast, season with a homemade concoction that starts with High Mountain Jerky cure and smoke. It takes a bit of trial and error and a few beers to nail down a recipe you like, but it pays off in the end.

Concerning the bag limits in SE Minnesota, we are retricted to a two bird limit regardless of early, regular, or late season. The rest of the state is a five bird limit for extended seasons and two bird limit for regular season. I understand that we need to regulate the limits during the migration “regular season”, but the extended seasons are focused on controling local populations. That is what I have always thought anyway. I could be and am usually wrong.

Hunters will never limit every time they go into the field, however the days that we shoot the two bird limit, it would be possible to shoot a five bird limit. When they are coming, they’re gonna come. Other days not so much.

The jerky question. That is the only way that I fix up my geese. I am not a chef by any means and it seems that it is the easiest way for me not to screw up. Ducks are for the grill, geese are for the smoker. That’s how it works at my house anyway. Thin cuts of goose breast, season with a homemade concoction that starts with High Mountain Jerky cure and smoke. It takes a bit of trial and error and a few beers to nail down a recipe you like, but it pays off in the end.

They talked about doing that in Madison a few years back but I am not sure how that ever ended up. I know Milwaukee has hired some service (basically a lady with a dog and a kayak) to shoe off the birds in the county parks. Although I admire the idea, I am quite positive that I could do a lot better job with a box of shells and a metro barrel! Not turn this into a political thing but these same people that complain about over population of geese, goose poop in the yard of there lake front multi-million dollar mansion, and poop covering the golf green, are the same people that are anti-hunters. These same people think it’s more humane to shake the goose eggs in their nests…sounds like goose abortion. Choose goose! Just doesn’t make sense to me!

They talked about doing that in Madison a few years back but I am not sure how that ever ended up. I know Milwaukee has hired some service (basically a lady with a dog and a kayak) to shoe off the birds in the county parks. Although I admire the idea, I am quite positive that I could do a lot better job with a box of shells and a metro barrel! Not turn this into a political thing but these same people that complain about over population of geese, goose poop in the yard of there lake front multi-million dollar mansion, and poop covering the golf green, are the same people that are anti-hunters. These same people think it’s more humane to shake the goose eggs in their nests…sounds like goose abortion. Choose goose! Just doesn’t make sense to me!

Goose infanticide! I wonder how those PETA loving pricks can justify that

Goose infanticide! I wonder how those PETA loving pricks can justify that

I would strongly agree with upping the limit. We also need a spring season if they really want to control the local population. Spring would be a great time to harvest locally nesting birds IMO.

I would strongly agree with upping the limit. We also need a spring season if they really want to control the local population. Spring would be a great time to harvest locally nesting birds IMO.

Breast it out.Marinate it in Zesty Italian Dressing overnight, Cut each breast in to 3 strips the long way.Wrap a stick of Bacon around each one and grill. When the Bacon is done.So is the goose! It will look rare and it is, But ohhhh soooo goood!

Why do they increase the limits during the early season to 5 and then drop them to 2 after the duck season starts. Is that the migratory rules also?

Breast it out.Marinate it in Zesty Italian Dressing overnight, Cut each breast in to 3 strips the long way.Wrap a stick of Bacon around each one and grill. When the Bacon is done.So is the goose! It will look rare and it is, But ohhhh soooo goood!

Why do they increase the limits during the early season to 5 and then drop them to 2 after the duck season starts. Is that the migratory rules also?

Thanks for the cooking tips guys!