Front Row Seat---Part II

Al Hansen

Al Hansen

Well-known member
Upon arriving at the farm, Chili and I dashed across the railroad tracks and I set up my folding chair next to the barbed wire fence. It was here that I was treated to a touch of euphoria. Heck, I don't know, maybe it is my age, but I sure thought I was in the right spot at the right time.

Chili in her front row seat.

IMG_6070.jpg


I had guessed correctly because the huge flock of around a thousand birds started to come into the field.

IMG_5602.jpg


IMG_5622.jpg


This is where my luck got better------see the band?

IMG_5621.jpg


"Sir, our mother ship is protected fore and aft!"

IMG_5702.jpg


There is nothing quite as exhilarating as a flock of ducks or geese that make a swing and then come in with their landing gear down.

IMG_5746.jpg


IMG_5750.jpg


IMG_5805.jpg


IMG_5804.jpg


I got lucky once again when I happened to shoot this snow coming in for a landing. It looks like it might have lost its right foot to a snapping turtle. I'll bet that was a struggle to witness. From the looks of the goose, this is not handicapping it one bit.

IMG_5945.jpg


IMG_5949.jpg


It didn't take long and I had them within 35 feet of me. Chili never moved and we didn't seem to be bothering them at all.

IMG_6069.jpg


These next four shots might help some of you distinguish the difference between a Ross' and a snow goose.

A good looking snow goose.

IMG_6059.jpg


Now for its head shot.

IMG_6056.jpg


Here is a Ross' goose. They are much smaller and a sure give away if you are close enough are the warts that are found on its upper mandible.

IMG_6053.jpg


IMG_6054.jpg


All was quiet for a time.

IMG_5970.jpg


IMG_5991.jpg


IMG_5992.jpg


IMG_6008.jpg


IMG_6086.jpg


AND THEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE------
 
Maybe that fat one ate it's own leg.

I think I saw two different birds with bands Al. Way cool. One had a neck band and one had a leg band.

Mark W
 
Wow! That's yet another neck collar, and band. Too cool! I don't think I could hold back, I'd have to shoot at the collars ! LOL
 
Al - What a great bunch of images. I saw a gull this year missing a leg and it seemed to be able to stand on one really well but landed a little more carefully than other gulls in the area. I can't remember seeing Chili looks so clean in any of your shots ! Great practice to sit still with all of the racket a bunch of snows make !

sarge
 
You're killing me Al. I think the yellow collar is a nice accessory for a Ross'.

Some years I will see several Wood Ducks missing a foot. I've wondered if it was turtles or whatever. I could see a goose being able to pull away from a turtle but I'd think a woodie would be down for the count if it was a snapper.

Thanks for showing us those.

Tim
 
Al, thanks for those wonderful shots. You and Chili sure know how to enjoy a day.

The ones of the goose with the missing foot remind me of the first Canada Goose I ever shot.

It was the day of my 17th birthday and I was hunting with a friend whose 17th birthday had been two days prior. We were drifting a river in my canoe checking out the island channels and the many oxbows and sneaking up on ducks in the light fog. I was paddling the canoe and my friend was shooting from the bow. Greg had just dropped a pair of ducks, one on shore and one in the water, so I let him out to pick up the dry bird while I chased the other down a small rapids. As I rounded a bend in the river I spooked a goose that was sitting in an eddy near a small island. In those days we didn't see many geese and this was an exciting development. Keeping low I tucked away my paddle and slipped a shell into my 20 ga. As I sat up and cycled the gun the bird took off. It didn't get far and was cleanly dispatched.

I picked up the goose and the duck and made my way back upriver to pick up Greg who had lost sight of me around the bend. He too was excited to see the "rare" Canada Goose. We continued down the river to our take out point, retrieved our vehicles and headed home proud of the results of our morning hunt. When we arrived home our parents had to inspect the birds. At that point someone observed that the goose only had one foot. Otherwise healthy it was apparent the bird was not suffering or struggling to get by. It had no difficulties getting off the water when I spooked it in the early morning. Regardless, I took a lot of ribbing about shooting a crippled bird.

Last week Greg and I were out skeet and trap shooting together and we stopped for a BBQ burger at lunch. Sitting with a small group of guys Greg once again told the story of our hunt. I thought about it and realized that this coming October it will be 35 years since that day.
 
Mark, I have to agree with you because that goose was sure a fat looking one. You were right about the bands.
Al
 
Hey, Tom----Chili has always been this way AFTER the first time she got spanked for trying to dash out and catch a drake pintail that was swimming only 10/12 feet from the blind. She has never done that again in her 7 years of retrieving ducks. Before my eye operations, I used to watch her for incoming ducks and then be ready to shoot when I could finally see them. She sits tight but when a duck is down get the heck out of the way because she will be on a mission. Now remember that when the ducks are back in Minnesota you will have to post some pics for me.
Al
 
Well, Gary, I'll bet you are a young man. I can guarantee you that if I was your age, I would have been carrying my Benelli Nova instead of my camera-----How about my cannon instead of my Canon?
Al
 
Hey, Sarge. Glad you liked the shots. I have to agree that it is good practice for Chili to be able to sit there with all of that commotion going on. She does a good job of it. Not only does she look cleaner, Sarge, but she smells better also!
Al
 
Tim, it won't be that much longer and these birds will be up in your neck of the woods. Glad you liked the shots.
Al
 
When you mentioned "RARE" Canada, I had to chuckle because they were! My how times have changed. As I read your story, Paul, I sure did envy you and Greg paddling your canoes and hunting. Sounded like fun.
Your story reminded me of one when I was hunting with my duck hunting buddy during my high school years. Bob Swigerd and I saw a flock of snows out in a wheat stubble field one day and decided to crawl up on them. We took soem brush and held it in front of us as we crawled across that big field. The birds finally spooked and Bob was able to scratch one down. Just then we noticed that on the opposite side of us was another hunter walking towards that same goose that Bob shot. They both claimed it so I said, "How about if I flip a coin----would that make it fair?" They both agreed. After the coin toss my partner picked up the goose. Now, just last fall in 09, after talking with Bob, he told me that he had met that same hunter, 52 years later at a DU dinner. Guess what? He was the farmer and we were on HIS land. Boy, were we lucky.
Al
 
John----your wish will be granted! How many days left until January? Geez, I thought Paul was just a young lad.
Al
 
Al please don't take my comment the wrong way. I too enjoy watching and listening to waterfowl, and I'm sure you did plenty of listening with those birds in front of you ;) . But I don't see many snows/blues/ross' here where I'm at, and bands/collars are also very rare. Add to that, I LOVE hunting and interacting with the birds (calling/decoying). Although you can have those moments captured for the rest of your life in your photos. I hope you don't think of me as some game hungy person that shoots as many animals as possible. Because that wouldn't be me. Again, great photos, thanks for sharing!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top