Chris Hagenlocher
Active member
I had an experience today while hunting that helped me to see through other people's eyes. I know we're always complaining about that idiot across the marsh... well, today I may have been that guy...
A buddy and I hiked onto some public land at a local conservation area today to scout for ducks/geese. Almost nobody was out, due to working after the long holiday weekend. The first small lake we passed along the trail had about 20 geese on it. So, I crouched down and took a look through the binoculars... sure enough, they were decoys. I gave a little salute to the hunter who was nearly invisible and we kept going. Further down the trail we checked several more ponds, to find no waterfowl whatsoever. Then, I noticed a flock of geese pretty far away. Using my voice I gave a few honks just for fun, and they didn't seem to change their course at all, so my friend and I headed back.
Well, just as we were about to walk past the first lake we had passed earlier, I saw that flock of geese again. They were a little lower, and I signaled to the hunter that they were flying behind him. He seemed preoccupied with something in his makeshift blind (a dog, perhaps) and so I gave a few high honks. He turned and looked at me, and the geese wheeled right around and began to beeline for his setup. They made a few passes, and meanwhile I had done the best I could to crouch down and hide myself so this guy could get a shot at working the birds. However, these geese were 500 yards out and closing, and he's sitting silent as a dead duck. So, I yelped a little more and once they caught sight of his decoys they were hooked. As they approached and cupped he suddenly started to call, but they shyed away and flared and flew off. The flock was small with canadas and two Ross' or Snow Geese, that had a higher call and responded to me a few times.
Anyways, I'm blaming myself for being the reason these geese didn't get a little closer. I felt silly crouched in the middle of a road trying not to be noticed, and I realized this was probably the only set of birds this guy was seeing today, and here I was, on public land, coinciding my passing with a magnificent opportunity for him to get some geese. I don't know what he was thinking, probably cursing under his breath that these two guys had to be passing at the same moment birds were beginning to work his layout.
After the birds were out of sight we got up from our lame hiding spot and the guy gave us a wave (all five fingers were up) which was friendly and I apologized and told him I tried to let him know there were birds, and was surprised they reacted to my voice-calling. Anywho, God bless duck hunters with lots of patience, I know it does pay off!
I fall asleep tonight humbled, and maybe I'll wear camo next time I'm out hiking around...
A buddy and I hiked onto some public land at a local conservation area today to scout for ducks/geese. Almost nobody was out, due to working after the long holiday weekend. The first small lake we passed along the trail had about 20 geese on it. So, I crouched down and took a look through the binoculars... sure enough, they were decoys. I gave a little salute to the hunter who was nearly invisible and we kept going. Further down the trail we checked several more ponds, to find no waterfowl whatsoever. Then, I noticed a flock of geese pretty far away. Using my voice I gave a few honks just for fun, and they didn't seem to change their course at all, so my friend and I headed back.
Well, just as we were about to walk past the first lake we had passed earlier, I saw that flock of geese again. They were a little lower, and I signaled to the hunter that they were flying behind him. He seemed preoccupied with something in his makeshift blind (a dog, perhaps) and so I gave a few high honks. He turned and looked at me, and the geese wheeled right around and began to beeline for his setup. They made a few passes, and meanwhile I had done the best I could to crouch down and hide myself so this guy could get a shot at working the birds. However, these geese were 500 yards out and closing, and he's sitting silent as a dead duck. So, I yelped a little more and once they caught sight of his decoys they were hooked. As they approached and cupped he suddenly started to call, but they shyed away and flared and flew off. The flock was small with canadas and two Ross' or Snow Geese, that had a higher call and responded to me a few times.
Anyways, I'm blaming myself for being the reason these geese didn't get a little closer. I felt silly crouched in the middle of a road trying not to be noticed, and I realized this was probably the only set of birds this guy was seeing today, and here I was, on public land, coinciding my passing with a magnificent opportunity for him to get some geese. I don't know what he was thinking, probably cursing under his breath that these two guys had to be passing at the same moment birds were beginning to work his layout.
After the birds were out of sight we got up from our lame hiding spot and the guy gave us a wave (all five fingers were up) which was friendly and I apologized and told him I tried to let him know there were birds, and was surprised they reacted to my voice-calling. Anywho, God bless duck hunters with lots of patience, I know it does pay off!
I fall asleep tonight humbled, and maybe I'll wear camo next time I'm out hiking around...
