This just made up for the season!

Dave Church

Well-known member
This morning, my 11 year old son pulled the trigger for the first time this year. His prize was a nice Canada goose. It flew away but I could tell it was hit. I watched as it tried to gain altitude and get around the point. It appeared like it went down so I got KC and we headed down the bank. Sure enough, about 80 yards down, KC found a completely dead goose laying in the weeds. I had a very happy young man when I returned with his prize. My other hunting partner thought that the bird didn't go down and thought I was crazy for going to look for it. Now what kind of dad would even think about not giving 120% to find his son's first bird? Great day, lots to write about in my hunting journal.


dc

View attachment Brian's First Goose 004.JPG
 
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Dave you get dad of the year for not quitting. But Brian is the MAN! Tell him John and I said way to go.

Bob
 
Congrats to you and your son, I can not wait for one of my kids to put down their first bird, it will be a day to remember.
 
Growing up I had some incredible hunting opportunities for doves. My dad was a stickler about how my brothers and I shot and was never pleased if we lost birds. He always said that if the first bird that you shoot does not fall "clean" then you DO NOT focus on any other bird. You "mark" that bird and get out after it as soon as possible. It is pretty tough stomping around in weeds, corn, or bean fields looking for a missing bird when everyone else is blazing away. I guess he was preparing me for today. I was sure that goose hit the bank and figured he was on his feet and heading off somewhere. When KC found him motionless, I was very surprised. We brought him home and cleaned him a little while ago. Not one pellet in the body.......anywhere! Looked like 2 pellets in the head did the trick, it just took a minute or two.


my son has been the talk of the town, on the phone all morning telling the story over and over to the grandparents, friends, and relatives....he is on cloud 9.5
dc
 
I know exactly what you mean! Years ago before I really got into duck hunting and had all the "stuff" that goes with this hobby....uh....way of life, my 9 yr old son shot his first duck with his .410. It was a beautiful drake woodie that went down into some flooded bushes. Determined not to loose it, I took off my socks and shoes and waded into the water and spent the better part of 1/2 an hour searching every inch of those bushes till I found that duck. Talking about one proud happy boy! Wouldn't trade that experience for anything.
 
Very well done. Commitment to the bird, whether wounded or sailing away unhurt, is first and foremost a trait we hope our youngsters understand.
 
Congrats on his first goose, many more to come!

On the pellet to the head, that is the reason I hate steel.
I do a lot of goose hunting and we see geese get hit and go sideways in the air but not drop. Frustrating...
 
Good Job dad. It has been 20 years since our oldest shot his first duck, 18 since the middle son put a mottled duck face down in the mud and seven years since our youngest used a .410 to pick a ringneck out of a flock. In my mind's eye I can still see those events very clearly.
 
Congrats Dave. I know that I am already going to be an animal when Kyle gets his first bird. I'll probably act like my son hit a grand slam and won the world series.
 
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