craig shire
Member
My son (15) has been duck hunting with me for the past 2 or 3 years, but we rarely get into any geese during the regular season.
This year with a late Labor Day and start to the school year, we were able to get out early on the Friday before the holiday weekend. We got the boat, decoys and all the gear ready the night before and left the house at 4:30 am to get to the ramp by 5:30. Legal shooting time was 6:28 and we were getting to our spot just about that time. We got the decoys set from the boat. I took the boat a ways down the shore to hide it in the marsh grass while my son was getting the guns ready and everything set up in our hiding spot.
As I was pushing the boat in to hide it I noticed a lone goose circling to land in the decoys. I was hoping my son would notice him and get a good shot. The goose landed and began swimming with his new fake friends. I kept watching for what seemed like a long time but was probably only a minute or so. I decided to take a chance and called to my son. He quickly shushed me with a "sshhh there's a goose."
I said "I know....shoot him!" I waited again for what seemed like a long time and was beginning to think the goose would just swim on down the creek like any other day. Finally a shot rung out followed by another and the goose was slowly flopping in a circle. I called to my son not to shoot agian. He always gets excited and wants to shoot as long as the critter is moving because he is afraid they will get away. I got the boat and fetched up the goose. A quick twist of the neck made sure he was done and i punted over to show my son. We gave him a look over and bingo - a leg band! First goose and first band all in one day.
Didn't see another goose all morning long, but I was ok with that. He may not have got the goose with the most sporting shot, but he got the goose.
Standing just in front of our hiding spot with the marsh and bay in the background.
The successful hunter.
Grilled the breast that night and smoked the legs. He save the other breast in the freezer to share with his sister later in the week when she got a day off.
This year with a late Labor Day and start to the school year, we were able to get out early on the Friday before the holiday weekend. We got the boat, decoys and all the gear ready the night before and left the house at 4:30 am to get to the ramp by 5:30. Legal shooting time was 6:28 and we were getting to our spot just about that time. We got the decoys set from the boat. I took the boat a ways down the shore to hide it in the marsh grass while my son was getting the guns ready and everything set up in our hiding spot.
As I was pushing the boat in to hide it I noticed a lone goose circling to land in the decoys. I was hoping my son would notice him and get a good shot. The goose landed and began swimming with his new fake friends. I kept watching for what seemed like a long time but was probably only a minute or so. I decided to take a chance and called to my son. He quickly shushed me with a "sshhh there's a goose."
I said "I know....shoot him!" I waited again for what seemed like a long time and was beginning to think the goose would just swim on down the creek like any other day. Finally a shot rung out followed by another and the goose was slowly flopping in a circle. I called to my son not to shoot agian. He always gets excited and wants to shoot as long as the critter is moving because he is afraid they will get away. I got the boat and fetched up the goose. A quick twist of the neck made sure he was done and i punted over to show my son. We gave him a look over and bingo - a leg band! First goose and first band all in one day.
Didn't see another goose all morning long, but I was ok with that. He may not have got the goose with the most sporting shot, but he got the goose.
Standing just in front of our hiding spot with the marsh and bay in the background.
The successful hunter.
Grilled the breast that night and smoked the legs. He save the other breast in the freezer to share with his sister later in the week when she got a day off.
