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Geese are commonly hunted waterfowl that are prized for their delicious meat. When hunting geese, hunters must choose the right shotgun choke tube to ensure clean kills and avoid crippling birds. The most effective choke tube for geese is generally a full choke.
A full choke constricts the shot pattern the most, keeping the pellets close together at longer ranges. This allows hunters to make clean kills on geese flying overhead at typical ranges. Other choke tubes like improved cylinder and modified are better suited for closer range hunting situations.
For geese, a full choke tube is the best option for hunters who want to make ethical, humane kills from typical layout blinds, pits, or field edge hunting scenarios. The full choke’s tight pattern makes it ideal for pass shooting high flying geese.
What is a Shotgun Choke?
A shotgun choke is a constriction at the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel that controls the spread of the shot pellets after they leave the barrel. Shotguns are available with interchangeable choke tubes that screw into the threaded end of the barrel, allowing shooters to easily change the choke.
There are five common types of chokes:
- Full: Tightest constriction and narrowest shot pattern
- Improved Modified: More constriction than Modified
- Modified: Some constriction and narrowing of spread
- Improved Cylinder: Less constriction than Modified
- Cylinder: Little or no constriction, widest spread
In general, tighter chokes like Full are better for longer range shots, while open chokes like Cylinder allow for wider spread at short ranges. Using the optimal choke for your hunting situation allows for more consistent, ethical kills.
Why Use a Full Choke for Geese?
There are a few key reasons why a full choke excels for goose hunting:
- Geese are large, tough birds that require dense shot patterns
- Geese are often shot at longer distances like 30-40 yards
- Full chokes deliver tight, dense patterns at long ranges
- Reduces risk of wounded geese and helps ensure clean kills
- Full chokes extend your effective shooting range
Goose hunters want to avoid wounding birds and having them fly away injured. The full choke’s tight pattern gives you the density and range to make clean chest shots as geese fly overhead. This ensures quick, ethical harvests.
When to Use Other Chokes for Geese
While a full choke excels in most goose hunting scenarios, there are some situations where other chokes may be better choices:
- Improved Cylinder or Modified: Close range shooting, 7 yards or less
- Improved Cylinder: Hunting geese over decoys
- Modified: Medium range shots 15-25 yards
If you are hunting in wetlands or timber and geese may decoy in close, a more open choke like Improved Cylinder allows for a wider pattern at short range. This can help increase your odds of harvesting a goose at under 10 yards.
A Modified choke is also suitable for medium range shots at geese approaching or leaving the decoys. You still get density but with a bit more spread than a full choke.
Recommended Full Choke Tubes for Geese
There are many excellent full choke tubes on the market optimized for goose hunting. Here are some top recommended chokes:
Patternmaster Anaconda Long Range Full Choke Tube
The Patternmaster Anaconda has an extra-long parallel section that delivers dense, consistent full choke patterns from 40-60 yards. This makes it an ideal full choke tube for pass shooting geese at long distances.
Carlson’s Full Choke Tube
Carlson’s makes an affordably priced full choke tube with a ported wad stopper that reduces recoil. It delivers full choke performance for cleanly killing high flying geese.
Truglo Gobble-Stopper X-Full Turkey Choke Tube
This choke has an X-Full constriction optimized for tight patterns with large steel shot. It’s ideal for long shots at geese.
Patternmaster Code Black Duck Full Choke Tube
The Code Black Duck choke has a specialized constriction for dense full choke patterns with large waterfowl loads. It excels for pass shooting mallards and geese.
Indian Creek Full Choke Tube
Indian Creek’s full choke tube has a long parallel choke section for consistent geese-killing full choke patterns beyond 40 yards.
Any quality full choke tube from top brands like Carlson’s, Patternmaster, Truglo, Indian Creek, or others is a sound choice for goose hunting. Always pattern your shotgun on paper at various yardages to confirm density.
Choosing Shot Size and Shot Material
In addition to choke selection, the size and material of your shotgun shot plays a key role in effective goose loads. Here are some things to consider:
- Larger shot like BB and T shot provides more knockdown power
- Heavier shot maintains energy downrange, ideal for pass shooting
- Non-toxic shot materials like tungsten, bismuth, or steel shot are required
- Denser tungsten and bismuth pellets hit harder than steel
- Carefully pattern your gun with different loads to find what shoots best
Many seasoned goose hunters use heavy loads like Tungsten Super Shot in size BB or T for maximizing downrange energy and knockdown power. Non-toxic shot sizes of #2 or larger are recommended. Smaller shot has less impact and risks wounding.
Always test various combinations of shell, shot material, and choke in your firearm on paper to understand your effective patterning capabilities. This allows you to select the optimal ammo and choke for clean goose kills.
Leading Geese at Long Range
When pass shooting geese at longer ranges with a full choke, proper lead is critical. Geese fly at speeds averaging 45-50 mph when undisturbed. Here are some tips for proper lead:
- As a rule of thumb, lead a flying goose 3-4 feet
- Lead more for faster flying birds, less for slower moving birds
- Leading too little results in shots behind the goose
- Leading too much can mean clean misses in front
- Practice on clay targets to train your eye for proper leads
Keeping your shotgun out of sight when geese are approaching avoids spooking them and allows time for proper lead. Resist shooting too early. Swing through the goose and fire when your proper lead is established for clean kills.
Shotgun Recommendations for Geese
While any modern 12 or 20 gauge shotgun can be effective for geese when using proper chokes and loads, some shotguns are better suited for waterfowl hunting:
Semi-Automatic Shotguns
Gas or inertia operated semi-auto shotguns like those made by Benelli, Beretta, Browning, or others are excellent choices. The ability to fire quick follow up shots is key for geese that require multiple hits. Semi-autos also reduce recoil.
High Capacity Shotguns
Having extra rounds in the gun helps when geese are landing in your decoys. Shotguns that hold more than 3 shells like magazine-fed models are ideal.
Synthetic and Camo Stocks
Synthetic stocks withstand rugged hunting conditions better than wood. Advantage or Max-4 camo patterns help shotguns blend into field environments.
Lengthened Barrels
Barrels extended to 26, 28, or 30 inches improve pattern performance at longer ranges for waterfowl hunting.
Chambered for 3.5 Inch Shells
The ability to shoot 3.5 inch magnum goose loads improves performance. 3.5 inch shells deliver more shot and energy downrange compared to standard 2 3/4 and 3 inch loads.
Following these shotgun recommendations along with the proper choke, shot, and shooting techniques will enable you to effectively harvest geese this season.
Conclusion
A full choke is undoubtedly the best option for hunting geese in most situations. The tight pellet pattern it produces allows for clean kills on high flying geese at extended ranges.
Full chokes excel for pass shooting geese in fields and wetlands. They deliver the knockdown power required for geese while reducing crippling.
For decoying birds, an improved cylinder or modified choke may be better choices. But for most layout blind and pass shooting scenarios, experienced goose hunters almost universally turn to high quality full choke tubes.
Combined with the proper large shot size, heavy shot material, and smooth swing through flying geese, a full choke tube gives you the pattern density and power downrange to humanely harvest your limit of honkers this season.
