Chris Finch
Well-known member
sorry for the late post but i have been crazy busy since our geese season opened up.
so last tuesday our early goose opened up and we had scouted the previous days. we knew where the birds were and our plan was to test out my sculling skills. for our first spot we got out early and got into a bay and held onto a channel marker to watch the sun come up and watch the geese pour in. we then saw about 20 geese land up river 600 yards away the tide was going out and was going to start to change in a half hour. so we planned to wait for the tide.
but then 60 geese landed down river 200 yards away, the tide was starting to change but i decided to go after them any way so we began the scull. it is a completly different kind of hunting and i feel like the worlds slowest cheeta stalking its prey. we ended up getting 60 yards away and ran out of water there was a lone goose 35 yards away so i said lets get one to start the day. we popped up and and it was pure pandemonium. it was such a rush and we ended up getting the closer bird and it was banded. it was actually one of the birds i banded last summer when i volunteered with wildlife.
so we rowed back to the launch and put the boat back on the trailer for another scull and went to the next spot.
as we pulled up to the second spot we saw geese on the other side of the river and we said lets go for it(well that what i said my buddy was just along for a ride haha). as we got dead center in the river the skys opened up and there was lightning and thunder all around. we nervously laughed as a put my second hand on my oar for some extra speed to get to the other side. the storm had pushed the geese down river so i had more sculling to do. before getting to the geese there were about 30 mallards drying off in a tree. we ended up getting 7 feet away from the ducks and almost bounced the bow off of a hen that was sleeping in the water.
after the ducks flew off the geese had begun to move into the river so i had to go back out and corral them back towards the bank. i was able to get around them and pushed them perfectly shoreward. we got 25 yards away and my heart couldn't take it any more. it was time, we popped up and the birds erupted. after the rush of take off we ended up knocking down three and said that it was already a great day and put the oars in the locks to get out prizes and head home.
i learned a few things about sculling:
i going against current all day is not the most fun thing
binoculars make everything look closer, i sculled for a long distance
i wish i had a kicker motor (this is my next project and i already have ideas....)
i love sculling and never want to hunt geese over decoys again
so last tuesday our early goose opened up and we had scouted the previous days. we knew where the birds were and our plan was to test out my sculling skills. for our first spot we got out early and got into a bay and held onto a channel marker to watch the sun come up and watch the geese pour in. we then saw about 20 geese land up river 600 yards away the tide was going out and was going to start to change in a half hour. so we planned to wait for the tide.
but then 60 geese landed down river 200 yards away, the tide was starting to change but i decided to go after them any way so we began the scull. it is a completly different kind of hunting and i feel like the worlds slowest cheeta stalking its prey. we ended up getting 60 yards away and ran out of water there was a lone goose 35 yards away so i said lets get one to start the day. we popped up and and it was pure pandemonium. it was such a rush and we ended up getting the closer bird and it was banded. it was actually one of the birds i banded last summer when i volunteered with wildlife.
so we rowed back to the launch and put the boat back on the trailer for another scull and went to the next spot.
as we pulled up to the second spot we saw geese on the other side of the river and we said lets go for it(well that what i said my buddy was just along for a ride haha). as we got dead center in the river the skys opened up and there was lightning and thunder all around. we nervously laughed as a put my second hand on my oar for some extra speed to get to the other side. the storm had pushed the geese down river so i had more sculling to do. before getting to the geese there were about 30 mallards drying off in a tree. we ended up getting 7 feet away from the ducks and almost bounced the bow off of a hen that was sleeping in the water.
after the ducks flew off the geese had begun to move into the river so i had to go back out and corral them back towards the bank. i was able to get around them and pushed them perfectly shoreward. we got 25 yards away and my heart couldn't take it any more. it was time, we popped up and the birds erupted. after the rush of take off we ended up knocking down three and said that it was already a great day and put the oars in the locks to get out prizes and head home.
i learned a few things about sculling:
i going against current all day is not the most fun thing
binoculars make everything look closer, i sculled for a long distance
i wish i had a kicker motor (this is my next project and i already have ideas....)
i love sculling and never want to hunt geese over decoys again
Just kidding, havent even been out yet. 
