The white goose

[ed gagne]

So I wish I could have gotten a photo that you could see but last week I watched a white Canada goose up here on Lake Champlain for a few days. I finally got up early enough to go down to the public beach where this bird was. I waited almost an hour for this bird to swim within range while with 30 other normal Canadas. He has a regular Canada head and neck but is white from the neck back. When the moment of truth came and something spooked these birds, I settled my bead on him in the flock. I managed to drop the bird behind him and the bird in front of him and with both barrels empty I watched the white goose continue on his migration.
One of the birds I managed to kill had some jewelry. The female was banded in Camden NJ in 2012 and was at least 4 years old. At some point she decided to raise a brood on Champlain.
So you girls and boys on the Atlantic flyway keep an eye out for this one. Such a cool bird.


Eddie

 

[Chris Finch]

I saw onelike that last season in chester on the ct river. Wonder if it was the same bird?

 

[chris k]

I shot a goose from that area down here in jersey last year. It was a normal goose but I love being able to get a band and have an idea where the waterfowl came from.

 

[Bill Embacher]

Thats cool Ed...too bad it didnt pan out. I did the same thing on an old school neck collar a few years back...had to be one of the last remaining "bib" style collars. Killed the bird right behind it clean and watched it fly off.

 

[Carl]

You must have been shooting a side by side. One barrel shoots to one side, the other shoots to the other side.
As opposed to an over under, which one barrel shoots under the bird, the other over the bird.

 

[tod osier]

Shoulda gave him the first barrel on the water.

 

[ed gagne]

I wanted to give him one on the water but until he got up he was out of range. This morning however he was in range. I was working and have not got permission from the homeowner to hunt off of his dock yet but that's where the white goose was. I had my gun and waders and shells in my car but just took a pic with my cell phone. You can't see it well in the pic but I'll try to upload it soon.


Eddie

 

[Ian McCarthy]

Saw one like it last year in Darien Ct a couple times. Interesting looking bird.

 

[Paul F Boundy]

"You must have been shooting a side by side. One barrel shoots to one side, the other shoots to the other side.
As opposed to an over under, which one barrel shoots under the bird, the other over the bird. "

Carl, you made me smile. Thanks.