Cackling Goose
For years, the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) was considered one of several smaller Canada Goose subspecies. In 2004, The American Ornithological Union (AUO) reclassified them, and this species is now considered to be their own species entirely. Further confusing those of us that will forever lump Canadas as bigs, littles and middles, it’s been proposed that Canada and cackling geese be into 6 species and 200 subspecies! For now, there are 4 subspecies of cackling geese and generalized below. The Cackling Goose has a short neck comparable to body size and has similar features to the Canada Goose. All display the black head and neck with white cheek patches, the white “U” on the black rump, and overall gray-brown body. Differences lie with the body size, plumage shades, and vocalizations. Thee seems to be a coloration gradient that’s increasingly darker to the west, and, especially when lumping Canadas and cacklers as one species, increased size to the south. All cackling geese subspecies have a high-pitched call with short, bark-like or yelp-like notes.
Available Hunts
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Alberta Canada Duck and Goose Hunt
Ranchland Outfitters best-of-best Alberta Canada Duck and goose hunting packages feature excellent waterfowl hunts, world-class food, unrivaled hospitality.
...read more- Inclusive Ranchland Outfitters package includes lodging and meals, professional guide services, scouting, ammo, hunting transfers, and bird processing.
- Choose either 3- or 6-day packages
- September through early November, and even into mid-December!
- Specializes in exclusive groups of 6-8, but smaller groups welcomed, too
- Millions acres stretching from boreal forest to US border
- Mallards, pintails, Canada geese, cackler geese, snow geese, white-fronted geese.
Rate: $3,750 hunter packages -
Kansas Duck and Goose Hunting
Big Kansas Outdoors delivers high-energy, action packed Kansas duck and goose hunting in Central Kansas. It's the kind of waterfowl hunting for which Kansas has become famous.
...read more- Dry-field and wetland hunts for ducks and geese
- Waterfowl-only and waterfowl-upland combos
- Value-priced packages include lodging and meals
- Full-time scouts find the active feeds, full-time guides make it happen
- Within a day’s drive for most of the US
- As featured on The Grind and Heartland Waterfowl
Rate: $1,800+ (3-day waterfowl-only) -
Manitoba Canada Duck and Goose Hunting
Birdtail Waterfowl has perfected the Manitoba Canada waterfowl hunting experience for ducks and geese. Highly organized, everything runs like clockwork.
...read more- Best total-package waterfowl hunt in Manitoba Canada. Period.
- Extremely large and productive hunting area, diverse habitats
- Mallards, pintails, Canada geese, cackling geese, snow geese, white-fronted geese, sandhill cranes–and unbelievably great diver hunts for those that choose
- Chef-prepared meals, private cottages, excellent attention to details
- Youth hunter discounts, non-hunting spouses welcomed
- September through early-November
Rate: $2,900-3900 -
Nebraska Duck Hunt
World-class Nebraska duck hunting targeting mallards and Canada geese in the fabled North Platte River Valley. Long-time professional outfitter has a proven track-record for success in Nebraska and Wyoming.
...read more- High-quality duck hunting experiences for mallards and migrator Canada geese along legendary North Platte River
- Impressive 95% repeat-client bookings for past decade, completely sold out last 10 years
- Duck hunting eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska
- Professionally guided duck hunts, experienced guides, heated blinds, premier private properties
- Choose hotel and private lodging-style accommodations. Local meals available nearby
- Private air services within minutes, commercial air services in Denver (3 hours)
Rate: $500 (see details) -
Nebraska Waterfowl Hunts
Great Nebraska waterfowl hunting. SIXTEEN MILES of fabled North Platte River duck hunting area on nearly 400,000 acres associated properties under exclusive wraps. Expect some of North America's very best mallard and big Canada goose hunting.
...read more- Mallards and big Canada geese. LOTS of them. Central Flyway limits of 6 ducks (5 mallards) and 5 honkers daily
- North Platte River, adjacent agriculture, miles of hot-springs sloughs that never freeze
- Comfortable lodging, excellent meals, professional guide services, heated pits
- Accommodates 3-6 waterfowl hunting guests
- Located 3.5 hours from Denver airport; only 45 minutes from Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Rate: $2,500-$3,500 packages -
North Dakota Pheasant Hunting Combo
Guided North Dakota Pheasant Hunting package offers options for pheasant hunting only, or a true pheasant hunting plus waterfowl hunting combo. Ringneck Resort represents a long-standing reputable outfitter program and highly experienced guide-staff..
...read more- North Dakota pheasant hunting combo to include waterfowl hunting
- Pheasant hunting-only packages available (wild, preserve or both)
- Inclusive packages includes signature meals, well-stocked bar
- Spacious, well-appointed lodge sleeps 48 guests. Ensuite rooms.
- Solo hunters welcome. No party-size too big or too small
- Bring your own dogs or hunt over Ringneck Resort’s excellent dog power
Rate: $2,750 (3-day Combo) -
North Dakota Waterfowl Hunt
Dirty Bird Outfitters delivers the best guided North Dakota waterfowl hunting experiences. North Dakota duck hunts, North Dakota goose hunts and North Dakota swan hunts are their specialties.
...read more- Guided North Dakota duck hunting combo packages
- High-success North Dakota Swan Hunts (must draw tag)
- Early- and late-season North Dakota Canada Goose Hunting
- Packages include meals and lodging
- NEW Home-away-from-home lodge (constructed 2021)
- Small, highly experienced and professional staff
- Mallards, wigeons, pintails, cackler geese, Canada geese, white-fronted geese, light geese, tundra swans
- Waterfowl hunting opportunities August through mid-December
Rate: $400-650 daily -
Oklahoma Duck Hunt
Oklahoma duck hunting a little over an hour drive from Dallas - as good as it gets. We've promoted this hunt for a very long time, always happy client feedback.
...read moreExcellently guided Oklahoma duck hunts are located a little over an hour north from Dallas. Perfect opportunity for a morning hunt before work or an easy weekend hunt with friends, family or business associates.
- Located 1 to 1.5 hours from downtown Dallas
- Expertly-guided Oklahoma duck hunts, afternoon hog hunting available
- Oklahoma and Texas depending on bird activity
- Mostly dry blinds, waders not always needed
- Cabin accommodations for up to 8 can be provided
- Meals not included
Rate: $400 per morning -
Saskatchewan Canada Goose and Duck Hunting
Northern Skies Outfitters - energetic staff is detailed oriented, proven experience delivering the classic prairie Canada waterfowl hunting adventures.
...read moreClassic, action-packed Saskatchewan Canada field hunting for geese and ducks in the Land of Living Skies!
- ALL-INCLUSIVE Choose from 3- to 6-days (or more)
- Excellent decoys and gear, professional guides and spotters
- Famous “Tiki Hut” Blind super comfortable
- Perfectly quaint lodge accommodations, home-cooked meals
- Canadas, cacklers, light geese, specks, mallards, pintails
- Solo hunters accepted; 11-hunters minimum exclusive group
- Thousands square-miles of hunting area well off beaten path
Rate: $2,975 (3-day) -
Saskatchewan Canada Waterfowl Hunts
Prairie Limits Outfitters delivers superior Saskatchewan Canada waterfowl hunts in "The land of Living Skies."
...read moreDelivering consistently great Saskatchewan Canada waterfowl hunts is what Prairie Limits Outfitters does. Young energetic staff of go-getters are highly experienced.
- Mostly dry-field hunts for Canadas, cacklers, white-fronts, snows, mallards and pintails, sandhill cranes
- Choose between 3- or 5-day waterfowl hunting packages
- INCLUSIVE packages, choose either Fully Guided or Premier hunting experiences
- New lodge conveniently located to community amenities
- Fly into either Saskatoon SK or Edmonton AB
Rate: $2,800 and up
Along with the Canada Goose, the Cackling Goose breeds throughout Canada and parts of Alaska. Both species have been introduced around the world and may now be found in Greenland, Europe, Russia, and New Zealand. While most of the subspecies will breed around marshes and tundra wetlands, the Aleutian Canada Goose will breed on steep cliffs lined with rocky shorelines.
The Cackling Goose is highly gregarious, usually foraging in sizable flocks together. While preferring to browse on the ground, they will also take advantage of foraging in the water for any type of vegetation, tipping like dabbling ducks. Main staples of their strictly herbivorous diet include grasses, berries, and grains.
Cackling Goose Subspecies:
The Cackling Goose (B. h. minima) is is the the darkest and smallest form, comparably sized to mallards. Some have described the breast plumage as sometimes expressing a purple iridescence. A small white neck ring might be present. Bill length less than 32mm, fast wingbeat compared to other subspecies. Breeds coasts western Alaska, primarily wintering in the Pacific Northwest US, previously overwintering in California. Cacklers tend to fly in flocks numbering 4-plus dose birds, preferring relatively wide-open habitats. Interestingly, due to subsistence harvest, this subspecies numbered only 20,000 birds in the mid-1980s but has since made a huge comeback.
Aleutian Goose
Adult Aleutian Geese (B. h. leucopareia) are characterized by broad white neck ring separating the black head and brown breast plumage. The white cheek patches are separated by black under the chin. Head appears blacker than other subspecies, and bill length 32-38mm. As their name implies, they breed in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, migrating along the Pacific coast, overwintering primarily in California. Considered an endangered species in the mid-1960s, Aleutians have since made a tremendous comeback with harvest strategies extending in early-March in Oregon and California.
Taverner’s Goose
The Taverner’s Goose (B. h. taverneri) is lighter than cackler and dusky geese and check patches are connected. Bill length 32-40mm. They breed throughout western Alaska, preferring tundra habitat (as compared to the Lesser Canada Goose that prefers woodlands within this breeding range). Taverner’s usually fly in family-sized groups bit will form large flocks and mix with other subspecies. Feeding in open-field habitats, it’s been reported that they’re harder to decoy than other cackling subspecies.
Richardson’s Goose
The Richardson’s Goose (B. h. hutchinsii) displays the lightest plumage within cackling subspecies and is the smallest of all eastern Canada Goose-like forms. Bill 31-39 mm. Breeds in Arctic Canada, overwintering Gulf Coastal Texas and northern Mexico.
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