I missed opening day, and didn't get a chance to do any scouting, but I had a field with some birds using it. Nothing to get too excited about, but enough to give it a go.
I was up well before my 4:00 am alarm, as I had not sat in a field for two years. The field is a mere 6:00 minutes from home so a short drive and we were in the field setting decoys.
Legal shooting time came and it was coffee time and catching up with a buddy I hadn't seen in while. The first flock circled a few times but would not commit. Shortly after we had a good group committed and 6 shots were fired. My buddy Steve laid down a hat trick and my shooting was horrible. The first shot I fired, was at the same bird as Steve. He had squeezed the trigger a split second before me and I knew it as soon as I squeezed. Anyway, Steve had our first three birds on the ground. We had a handfull of other family sized flocks fly by, but they weren't having our setup for whatever reason. The only other shots we fired were at a pair that committed without hesitation and we both took one.
My girls were going to be passing the field on their way out for breakfast with Mommy so I told them I would wave from the field. They both talked about Daddy's hunting throughout breakfast and my oldest wanted to come back to see me in the field after breaky. By that time, Steve and I were ready to call it a day so I told them they could come help pickup decoys. I had them in the back of the truck and it was a rough ride so I kept my eyes on the field. I hear my wife say from the back "two of your decoys are moving. Sure enough, a pair dropped into the spread when Steve and I had went for the trucks. I pulled up about 20 yards from where my blind was and the birds stayed there. I told the girls to be quiet and I walked the 20 yards to my blind and the geese stayed there. I then lean down, pick up my gun, throw two shells in, and the geese stayed there. I threw the third shell in just in case, and the geese stayed there. I pulled the gun up, squeezed the trigger twice, and the geese stayed there.
Never in my life would I believe someone if they told me that happened, but I had 4 witnesses. lol. My girls and wife got to see it. I brought them out to help retrieve the two birds they just witnessed me harvest. "Dad are they dead".. "Yes girls they are". (And thankfully they were dead and the girls didn't have to witness the "helicopter" to finish them off). My youngest said "Dad this is a bit sad. You killed these birds dad". I then explained them to them what hunting was, and we didn't "kill" them, we "harvested" then to eat. "That's disgusting" was the reply. Although they are only 3 and 5, they totally understood the difference between hunting and killing after our discussion. I am happy everything happened the way it did and quite excited as all they have talked about since Saturday morning was "coming hunting with daddy when we are a bit older". I just might make a hunter out these princesses after all.
My oldest didn't hesitate to go and retrieve one of the geese for us, but the youngest was a little timid.
The youngest was OK to join for a group photo though.
And of course, Steve and I need a photo.
Before heading back to show the girls how we clean the geese, Steve and I took a stroll to my new duck pond. Well what's left of it that is. There is a lot of duck sign there, but it's not the same swamp it was last summer. It's missing about 4 feet of water.
Looks like we may be looking into plan B or C for opening weekend of ducks.
Steve and I went back out this morning, but did not expect much. It was a beautiful morning and not as hot as it has been. Long story short we had plenty of time to shoot the breeze and sip on some coffee.
We'll see what next weekend brings.
