Who Remembers their first duck or goose

A

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
As we sit home I am looking for stuff to do. So I thought I would write a post about our first duck and goose. For me it was a long time ago. I was lucky enough to have friends that were swamp hunters. It was my first time that I was old enough to duck hunt. I was hunting with my dads side by side Springfield I think 16 ga. It was a foggy day. All you could hear were wood ducks whistling and teal flying by your head. As day light broke three wood ducks broke out of the fog. I pulled up that double barrel and let both shots go. I didn't knew what I was doing. I fell flat on my butt in the swamp. Hip boots back then people!!!!!! But to my surprise my friend was fired up and laughing like heck. I thought it was because I got a wet butt. But know ! I pulled a double. Two fell but we only found one. Not even sure if it was the ones I pulled up on. My hunting partner didn't even pull up on the birds. So it must be true. I got that wood duck mounted an still have it today. Still have the double barrel, and always will have the story . It was the day I really fell in love with duck hunting.
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I was out on the Hudson with an experienced waterfowler. We had a large spread set out and were in layout blinds. I knew very, very little but did know we didn't want to shoot mergansers. All of a sudden a small flock of ducks comes into the decoys. I was so excited! I took with aim my Mossberg turkey gun and dropped one. Right after I pulled the trigger my mentor started saying "Mergansers, don't shoot!" Of course it was too late and I had my first duck. It was to be the only duck of the day. You can bet I ate it.
 
I shot my first duck on a pothole off the Cedar river near Palo, Iowa when I was 14. I was hunting with Dad's best friend George, Dad and my brother were hunting on another pothole nearby. We had a pair of blue wing Teal come past the decoys. I shouldered the 20 ga Wingmaster that I had just gotten for my 14th birthday, swung through the bird and pulled the trigger. The duck folded and hit the water dead. I couldn't wait to go show it to Dad.

I remember it like it was yesterday.
 
I was 9 years old shooting a Sears Youth Model 20 Ga. in a shallow draft, sculling type duck boat on Big Wall Lake North of Blairsburg, Iowa. My Father had push poled us into the cattails out on this shallow lake to pass shoot ducks. After several misses, I was able to drop a mallard hen with a load of #6 lead; 7/8 oz., I believe. My Father hunted with an Ithaca NID SXS 12 Ga. with a beautiful figured, straight gripped walnut stock. The calls of approaching geese caused him to re-case it and uncase his Ithaca 10 Ga. Mag. SXS. The memory of him chambering those "Roman Candle - like" shells sticks in my memory to this day. Yes, a long time ago, I turned 67 a few months ago.
 
My first goose was a long time ago also. Around these parts back then.You rarely even saw any geese. One morning my father's friend ask me to take a ride looking for deer. He said bring your shot gun just in case we see any small game. After riding around for about a hour I looked out in this field. There was one giant bird out in the field. He stopped the car and we glassed the field. It was a goose! he said a goose. Now mind you this man kill tons of deer and ducks in his life. I didn't understand why he was so fired up. I just killed my first duck a few weeks ago. So I was pretty new to the whole waterfowl game. So I jump out of the car and walk the corn rows down the side of the field. As I got within ten yards or so the bird jump. I pulled my side by side up. Then I let one round fly then the second. I wasn't sure if I killed the bird. Because the corn stalks were up in spots. But when I got over to where I thought he was he was DOA. Don't tell anyone but I was a little scared. That dang bird was big as anything I've ever seen with wings. I kicked the bird first and then poked it with my gun. Then I heard my dads friend coming so I picked it up. That bird was dragging in the field all the way back. My dads friend was so proud of me. We drove around town like that sucker was a giant buck. All my friends were so happy and I was the talk of the town. Who would known that today there are so many geese around. I have killed tons of geese since that day. But never was I more proud of that one.View attachment ContactPhoto-IMG_20180623_105131.jpg
 
Mr. J

I know that bird could not of tasted any good. But I 'm proud of you for eating it. I have enjoyed the nasty taste of that bird before. But I had know choice!!! I was out in a floating blind on the Hudson at low tide in the middle of the Bay It was close to zero and the wind was blowing like hell. All that was on the boat was Raumen Noodles and orange soda. And I cook that nasty bird right in with it. I like to say it was yummy, But It wasn't. Forty years later my friend still bust my chops over it. Thanks for the story. Be safe my friend.
 
Jim

Great story my friend, Getting a gift like now day would be very rare. Sad to say!!!!!!!!!!!! But I bet your dad was so proud of you. Nice shot by the way. Hope you and your family are safe.
 
Tom

Nine years old you were a pro before I even started hunting. Great story thank you for sharing. I am a man that has more then a few 10 gauges. I would of loved to see your pops gun. Getting old isn't a big deal. As long as you can remember days gone by. Stay safe and write some of your hunting stories. These guys and gal will love them.
 
Well Anthony and all, here's my "first goose story".

Although I did shoot that first duck (and BTW my first pheasant at age 9) in Central Iowa with that single shot youth model Sears 20 Ga.; my first goose came much later. I was a senior in H.S.;17 at the time. My lovable, but irresponsible Father told my Mother to call me in sick at school; loaded up the old Ford with guns, gear and dog and with me driving, off we went that 1970, late October afternoon from suburban Chicago to the Rugby area of North Dakota. Staying in cheap motels in Rugby and my Father's friend's ranch bunkhouse, we experienced great puddle duck, snow/blue goose, Hun and pheasant hunting. The first goose was a pass shot on a flock flying over the mallard pasture. I still remember the bird's slow, locked wings, gliding decent to land stone dead by a large, round hay bale on a beautiful, clear October morning. A 2 3/4" load of 1 1/4 oz. lead #4's from my Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 Ga. caused that first bird's demise.
 
Tom

Great story my friend. Road trips with dad is better then school anytime. You learn more about life I bet. Good old lead shot. Thanks for sharing a piece of your life with us.
 
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