Before duck season gets any glory, Washington wingshooters get two quiet openers: early goose and band-tailed pigeon. Both are worth planning around, and both punish people who just show up.
Field briefing
Washington's early September goose season opens in late summer in many western zones, targeting resident Canada geese. Band-tailed pigeon runs a short early season in western Washington's coastal forests, typically in September, with a separate harvest authorization required. Confirm dates, zones, and requirements in the current WDFW migratory bird regulations.
Best for: hunters who want field time before the main waterfowl push. Key takeaway: these are pattern-the-birds hunts — one good evening of scouting beats three blind mornings.
Migratory bird rules change yearly, and band-tail hunting requires a harvest authorization card. Check current WDFW regulations before hunting.
Early geese: the resident bird game
Early season geese are locals. They fly the same commute every day.
- Scout cut grass silage fields, pastures, and mowed parks at dusk
- Watch flight lines between roost water and feeding fields
- Get landowner permission early — fields that held birds last year are on everyone's list
Setup is simple: a dozen decoys in family groups, low profile, call sparingly. Resident birds have heard it all by their second autumn.
Band-tails: the forest dove
Band-tailed pigeons are America's most overlooked game bird. In Washington they live in coastal conifer country and key on two things:
- Berry crops — elderberry, salal, madrona berries
- Mineral sites — natural mineral springs they visit reliably
Find a mineral site or a fruiting madrona near timber and you'll see flights at mid-morning. Pass shooting over travel corridors is the classic play. Limits are small (a few birds), so it's more like grouse hunting than dove shooting in pace.
Gear overlap
Both hunts use the same basic kit:
- Improved cylinder choke, #6–7.5 shot for pigeons, lighter loads fine for geese over decoys
- Stool or cushion for field sits
- Cool bag — September heat applies to birds too
Wrap-up
Scout one evening, hunt one morning. Early geese reward field access; band-tails reward knowing a berry ridge. Either way you're sharp for October.
Sources Checked
- WDFW Migratory Bird Regulations — early goose zones, band-tailed pigeon season and authorization requirement