Rochester Minnesota is commonly referred to as the home of the Giant Canada goose.  It was right here in the middle of town that a small flock of Giants were found and identified back in 1962 by Dr. Harold Hanson of the Illinois Natural History Survey.   This sub-species of geese was believed to be extinct until this Rochester flock was discovered.

 Although similar to normal Canadian "honkers," the giant Canadas carry a few distinct differences: they have longer necks, broader bills, and lighter plumage. Also, the average giant Canada weighs more (12 to 14 pounds, compared with 8 to 10) and has a larger wing span (69 to 71 inches compared within 66.)

Rochester offers some of the most consistent goose hunting in the state, with an average annual migration of nearly 75,000 geese at the peak in mid to late November.  Up to 35,000 of these geese will stage on Silver Lake on any given day.  Once or twice each day these geese will break out of the refuge for a meal in the surrounding corn and soy bean fields.  This daily spectacle lends itself to some of the most consistent hunting of Giant Canadas to be found in the state.

Rochester offers all the amenities necessary to support the habits and tastes of a wide variety of waterfowl hunters; you will easily be able to enjoy your stay in Rochester as well as the excellent hunting. Rochester has many times been voted as the Best Place in America to live.

Up for auction is a one (1) day hunt for four (4) people.  The winners of this auction will have the option of purchasing additional days for 50% off the normal rate.  Your guides will be Avery Pro-Staffers Greg Owens, Ryan Barthel, Ryan Kleinschmidt, and Avery Youth Field Staffer Malory Owens.  We will be hunting out of one of the most productive fields around Rochester.  Dean Tlougan at Premier Flight has donated the field for this very worthy cause.  All of your guides have hunted these fields many times and know them well.  Dean runs a first class operation!

We will be field hunting over a spread of up to 45 dozen GHG FFD elite full body goose decoys.  The hunt is planned to be out of heated pits, however, if you would like the experience of hunting out of Avery ground blinds we can also do that.  The optimal time for this hunt would be the month of November, (please note that if you decide to book a hunt the first weekend of deer season we may need to substitute one or two of the guides with other Avery or Zink Pro-Staffers…) You will be responsible for your own transportation to and from Rochester, MN as well as your lodging and meals.

For more information on this hunt please look at the websites below 

 http://www.goosegrinders.com/

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/index.html

 The local Conservation Officers are fair, yet rules are rules. Be sure to double check you gear the night before your hunt. The most frequent tickets are issued for possession of lead shot, unplugged firearms, forgotten license, and stamps that are not signed across the face.  The Officers can come at any time and they frequently do. If all hunters in the field that day are clean the disruption will be brief and we can get back to hunting.

We recommend you bring the following along on your goose hunting trip: 

• License - You will need a signed MN Small Game License with a signed State and Federal Waterfowl Stamp. We are CHECKED ALL THE TIME. Make sure you are legal to hunt. (A special season stamp is also required for late December hunting.)
  
• Clothing - Bring a good mix of warm clothing! Goose hunting starts long before the sun comes up and it is often humid and cold in the hours before the sun warms the fields. Dress in layers so that you can take off gear as the morning warms up.
• Firearm - We suggest a plugged 12-guage that will handle 3 or 3.5 inch magnums.
• Ammo - We recommend 12 gauge 3" or 3.5" shells. We prefer steel BBs and BBBs to get the job done. Heavy shot is also a deadly load in 3" mag 2 shot. Above all, remember to bring plenty of ammunition!
• Food and Drink - Bring plenty of snacks and something to drink while out in the field. A 6-hour hunt can seem like a lifetime if you don't have something cool to whet your whistle. Better yet, bring a nice, big thermos of coffee for your guides. That being said, don't even think about alcohol. Safety is our top priority and there's no place for hunters under the influence.
• Camera - Drop your good camera into a gallon Ziploc bag and bring it along. There's no better way to preserve your memories than in a few photos at the end of a day. Not to mention we often see hawks, eagles and other wildlife.