Al Hansen
Well-known member
My oh my was it bitter cold this morning. Since it was 18F at our home it is always colder in the valley especially along the rio. To compliment that there was a 15mph wind right out of the north. I decided that it would be worth it because this marked the very first time I was going to be hunting in a decent wind and I was thinking about the geese.
As time crawled along and coffee no longer seemed to do the trick, I unfortunately began thinking about Acosta's Family Restaurant. I just could not get that breakfast burrito smothered in green chili out of my mind. That did warm me up just thinking about that.
I had to bust out ice to get the decoys going however with that stiff wind out of the north they quickly froze up solid again. I guess it was shortly after 7AM when I saw the first flock of geese flying towards me. As they hit the expanse of the Rio they dove down to escape the winds that had now escalated some. I thought for a second that they might come my direction but then saw that opening in the cottonwoods that they often opt to fly through which was about 200 yard south of where I had my blind set up.
As soon as they flew on, I grabbed my chair and started walking for that spot. I wanted to intercept the next flock that was going to be coming. Well, that didn't happen. The rest of the flocks decided that they wanted to fly up the middle of the Rio Grande valley which was west of me a good 3/4 of a mile. I then made the decision to go back to my blind. I would much rather shoot a duck than a goose, anyway.
It was a long dry spell. I had time to reminisce and that I did do. I flashed back to the 80's when I was making a business call in Ashland, Wisconsin. There was a nice restaurant next to the Super 8 where I was staying so I went over there for supper. When I walked in, I noticed that it was prom night because there were a few couples of high school kids having dinner. One of the couples was sitting next to me and I overheard the young man look at his beautiful date and say, "Katelynn, order anything you would like. This is our special night." They were looking at the menus when the waitress came to take their order. She looked at the girl and asked, "What would you like?" The young lady smiled at her date and said, "I would like the steak and lobster." Since I was looking at the young man, you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to read his facial expression. The waitress then asked him what he would like and he said, "I think I'll go with your cheeseburger." I felt so sorry for him, because he was tapped out and knew it. I kind of had a hunch that he was thinking of having a steak but that was out of the question after she ordered.
All of a sudden I saw a flash of white and just like 2 days ago, I watched a pair of widgeons flying up the main channel. I got on my call and they swung straight for me. As the drake came in I dumped him first with a 7 shot Dove load. The hen scrambled out but my second shot, which was a 2 3/4 inch 4 shot brought her down. I was prepared with that third shot because I had the cannon power all ready to go if I needed it, but I didn't. Oh, I use a 3" 6 shot for just in case.
Habi looked at the drake which was still flapping its wings. It looked to be head shot but she ignored it and ran out beyond the ice and to where the hen had dropped. By the time I grabbed my camera she was on her way back. I noticed that when she hits the cockleburs she really slows down and picks her way.
I noticed that Habi was more comfortable around ice today than the last time we went out. Maybe it was because it was thicker, I don't know.
She brought that hen widgeon to me with no problems whatsoever.
I then said, "Dead bird." I pointed out to where the drake was on the ice and she took off like a rocket.
When she got to the ice, I started to laugh because Tiny Tim's version of "Tip Toe Through the Tulips" came to mind. Habi started to tiptoe.
Even I could see this bright red breast on the baldpate.
Once on terra firma, she took off for the blind with the drake in her mouth. No cockleburs in this area.
With both ducks in the blind, I checked my cell phone and noticed that it was 8:52AM. 2 hours and 13 minutes without seeing a duck but then I had realized that I was no longer cold. Funny how a guy can forget about that when there is some action. I sat there looking at that handsome pair and decided to pour another cup of coffee.
They came without warning. Snows and Ross' almost always let you know with their yelping that they are around but not this flock of about 40. I just happened to glance to my south, towards the sun, and saw them. In a flash, I shucked my first two shells (saw my coffee cup flying through the air) and had the 3" 6 shot in the chamber as they flew over. I found a dandy and squeezed the trigger. It fell from the sky like a rock. I couldn't believe how low they were. What luck. I set my shotgun down and grabbed my camera. This was Habi's first goose. It had landed less than 50 feet from the blind. She handled it flawlessly. "Good girl, Habi!" It was a long wait for some action, extremely cold, but well worth it as far as I was concerned.
Al
As time crawled along and coffee no longer seemed to do the trick, I unfortunately began thinking about Acosta's Family Restaurant. I just could not get that breakfast burrito smothered in green chili out of my mind. That did warm me up just thinking about that.
I had to bust out ice to get the decoys going however with that stiff wind out of the north they quickly froze up solid again. I guess it was shortly after 7AM when I saw the first flock of geese flying towards me. As they hit the expanse of the Rio they dove down to escape the winds that had now escalated some. I thought for a second that they might come my direction but then saw that opening in the cottonwoods that they often opt to fly through which was about 200 yard south of where I had my blind set up.
As soon as they flew on, I grabbed my chair and started walking for that spot. I wanted to intercept the next flock that was going to be coming. Well, that didn't happen. The rest of the flocks decided that they wanted to fly up the middle of the Rio Grande valley which was west of me a good 3/4 of a mile. I then made the decision to go back to my blind. I would much rather shoot a duck than a goose, anyway.
It was a long dry spell. I had time to reminisce and that I did do. I flashed back to the 80's when I was making a business call in Ashland, Wisconsin. There was a nice restaurant next to the Super 8 where I was staying so I went over there for supper. When I walked in, I noticed that it was prom night because there were a few couples of high school kids having dinner. One of the couples was sitting next to me and I overheard the young man look at his beautiful date and say, "Katelynn, order anything you would like. This is our special night." They were looking at the menus when the waitress came to take their order. She looked at the girl and asked, "What would you like?" The young lady smiled at her date and said, "I would like the steak and lobster." Since I was looking at the young man, you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to read his facial expression. The waitress then asked him what he would like and he said, "I think I'll go with your cheeseburger." I felt so sorry for him, because he was tapped out and knew it. I kind of had a hunch that he was thinking of having a steak but that was out of the question after she ordered.
All of a sudden I saw a flash of white and just like 2 days ago, I watched a pair of widgeons flying up the main channel. I got on my call and they swung straight for me. As the drake came in I dumped him first with a 7 shot Dove load. The hen scrambled out but my second shot, which was a 2 3/4 inch 4 shot brought her down. I was prepared with that third shot because I had the cannon power all ready to go if I needed it, but I didn't. Oh, I use a 3" 6 shot for just in case.
Habi looked at the drake which was still flapping its wings. It looked to be head shot but she ignored it and ran out beyond the ice and to where the hen had dropped. By the time I grabbed my camera she was on her way back. I noticed that when she hits the cockleburs she really slows down and picks her way.
I noticed that Habi was more comfortable around ice today than the last time we went out. Maybe it was because it was thicker, I don't know.
She brought that hen widgeon to me with no problems whatsoever.
I then said, "Dead bird." I pointed out to where the drake was on the ice and she took off like a rocket.
When she got to the ice, I started to laugh because Tiny Tim's version of "Tip Toe Through the Tulips" came to mind. Habi started to tiptoe.
Even I could see this bright red breast on the baldpate.
Once on terra firma, she took off for the blind with the drake in her mouth. No cockleburs in this area.
With both ducks in the blind, I checked my cell phone and noticed that it was 8:52AM. 2 hours and 13 minutes without seeing a duck but then I had realized that I was no longer cold. Funny how a guy can forget about that when there is some action. I sat there looking at that handsome pair and decided to pour another cup of coffee.
They came without warning. Snows and Ross' almost always let you know with their yelping that they are around but not this flock of about 40. I just happened to glance to my south, towards the sun, and saw them. In a flash, I shucked my first two shells (saw my coffee cup flying through the air) and had the 3" 6 shot in the chamber as they flew over. I found a dandy and squeezed the trigger. It fell from the sky like a rock. I couldn't believe how low they were. What luck. I set my shotgun down and grabbed my camera. This was Habi's first goose. It had landed less than 50 feet from the blind. She handled it flawlessly. "Good girl, Habi!" It was a long wait for some action, extremely cold, but well worth it as far as I was concerned.
Al
