Mouthful

MLBob Furia

MLBob Furia

Well-known member
Went out to the goose blind late yesterday afternoon to do some maintenance and see what might be happening as we come out of last week's hard freeze. I did throw a gun and some shells in the truck in case.
Also took Scooter along.

Groups of geese were moving when we arrived and started our trek across the field.

While clearing out a hefty block of ice that had pooled in the tarp covering the rooftop of our blind, I was buzzed by some mallards that would've been an easy shot. Of course my SxS was still in the case.
Then, while adjusting goose decoys and re-setting silhouettes that had blown over, Scooter's intent gaze alerted me to the fact that there were at least 50 mallards behind me intent on seeing what all those "geese" were doing. A scramble to get into the blind, uncase my gun, jam shells into it, find my duck calls, etc, ensued.

3 passes later I watched the mallards swing behind me and decided that the next pass was when I'd come up shooting............and......they never re-appeared.

Geese didn't seem to want to work until I started using the T- flag that we keep in the blind. After that we started to get looks. Had a nice group of eight working, but again let them go one pass too many while hoping for a closer shot. At 5 p.m., a half hour before sunset, I flagged four coming from behind me, and they turned to the call, and cupped up on their first pass. Took the lead goose, making sure it would be dead when I sent the pup.

What followed was pretty comical, as I don't think she knew what to make of a bird that big when she charged out to where it had fallen. She came at it from every angle trying to get a hold on it and finally settled on a grip that allowed her to kind of do a sidewise drag to get it back to me. Not the most stylish retrieve, but one I'll take for a 55 lb., 9 month-old pup ;-).

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Was kind of hoping that the first Canada she'd get to retrieve would be over water so she could push it back like an Ohio River towboat.

At any rate, nice to see that the birds are finally starting to work the corn stubble with a full month still left in our goose season. Nice to see ducks show up there as well, as Ohio & KY both have a few weeks to run for duck. Indiana duck goes out this weekend. If the weather cooperates, we will hopefully get some more opportunities.
 
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Don,t it make you proud! Other than doves my female at 8 months first shot birds retreived were resident geese. Shes been crazy about geese ever since. At 11 years old she still hauls them in and loves every minute of it.
 
Looking good. She'll be flipping them over and grabbing then across the narrows of the back in no time.
 
Great job Scooter!
It's so much fun to watch them grow up and figure things out.

Tim
 
Bob,
That reminds me of a chessie bitch we had. Briar had done a lot of field work and duck hunting but had never retrieved a goose. A friend had been drawn to hunt Mosquito Creek but couldn't take the time off. My son and I went. On Briar's first goose retrieve she just kept rolling the bird with her paw to find a place to grab it. She finally grabbed a wing and dragged the bird back to the blind. On the second goose she grabbed it just below the neck and looked like an old pro bringing it in. She was so proud she had figured it out!
Thanks,
Tom
 
Tom,
My sister-in-law who lives in Mt. Vernon told us that there's some sort of draw going on to hunt geese at Arial Foundation Park up there. Think it's through mid-February.

You going to try and get in on that?
Bob
 
Bob,
Yes, there is going to be a four day hunt. Applications need to be in by the 18th I think. I am not going to participate because I don't want to hunt without my dog who is now 13 years old.
At this point the three ponds are ice bound. This warm weather may of may not sufficiently open the ponds. So, I am not sure if the geese will even be using the park. It borders the Kokosing River which is always open. The first day will be the best day, January 30 maybe?
I am pleasantly surprised the city council and mayor had the fortitude to pursue the hunt. It has been needed for years. But, last year was election year. I am surprised at what little uproar there has been over this hunt. I think the park users know how bad it has gotten.
Most of my dogs water training was done at the park when it was much less developed and widely used. Most the time I had the park to myself. The parks department crew that mowed the grass would often watch.
Tom
 
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