Been a long time coming!!
Been a long time coming!!
After moving back home (Quinte Area) from Ottawa 2 years ago, my waterfowling adventures have been nonexistent. Various large landscaping projects, moving in, this, that and the other thing have prevented me from getting out. I got a significant amount of work accomplished around the property this summer and decided I was going to get back to hunting, regardless of how many things I still had outstanding on my project list.
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.
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.
MEAT - Grind it, stuff it, smoke it.
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Re: Been a long time coming!!
Good shootin!!!
When hell freezes over, I'll be there icefishing!!!
If you can't stand behind our troops,
Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!
Experience is that marvellous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again
If you can't stand behind our troops,
Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!
Experience is that marvellous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again
- ShawnD
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- Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 10:05 am
- Location: Gatineau (Hull) Qc Canada
Re: Been a long time coming!!
Awesome!
Thanks for the play by play.
As if those geese just stayed there
Thanks for the play by play.
As if those geese just stayed there
President of the Ottawa Valley South Bassmasters
http://www.ottawabassmasters.com/
http://www.ottawabassmasters.com/
Re: Been a long time coming!!
It will never happen again in my life time. lolShawnD wrote:As if those geese just stayed there
Truck was running, girls were a little noisy, and I didn't try to sneak or anything. Not to mention I had no shirt on. lol. Probably did the geese population a favour by removing those two dummies from it.
MEAT - Grind it, stuff it, smoke it.
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Re: Been a long time coming!!
Probably the Papa Goose that said to the young ones " Okay teenage geese stay there and see what happens"
When hell freezes over, I'll be there icefishing!!!
If you can't stand behind our troops,
Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!
Experience is that marvellous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again
If you can't stand behind our troops,
Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!
Experience is that marvellous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again
Re: Been a long time coming!!
Congrats on the good goose shoot and great pics. Geese are something that makes you shake your head at times wondering why they do what they do.They love coming in when the dog is picking up birds and I always figured it was the movement that made them come.
- TheMaverick
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Re: Been a long time coming!!
Good stuff Luke, your girls are adorable, they must definitely get their looks from Mom!
If fishin ain't your mission, then you can kiss my Bass!
- ShawnD
- Gold Participant
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- Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 10:05 am
- Location: Gatineau (Hull) Qc Canada
Re: Been a long time coming!!
TheMaverick wrote:, they must definitely get their looks from Mom!
President of the Ottawa Valley South Bassmasters
http://www.ottawabassmasters.com/
http://www.ottawabassmasters.com/
Re: Been a long time coming!!
Thanks Mav, and yep... Momma is a looker.TheMaverick wrote:Good stuff Luke, your girls are adorable, they must definitely get their looks from Mom!
The girls have been running around the house blowing their duck calls since Saturday... Adorable at first, and now its just down right annoying. LOL
MEAT - Grind it, stuff it, smoke it.
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Re: Been a long time coming!!
Could be worse, it could be turkey calls!!!
When hell freezes over, I'll be there icefishing!!!
If you can't stand behind our troops,
Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!
Experience is that marvellous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again
If you can't stand behind our troops,
Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!
Experience is that marvellous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again
Re: Been a long time coming!!
Fantastic.
I seem to only manage a few geese a year. I mainly hunt over water and they seem to come down just after dark
I seem to only manage a few geese a year. I mainly hunt over water and they seem to come down just after dark
Re: Been a long time coming!!
Awesome report!
One of the best moves you could make was open the hunting forum up to the public! I would have never seen this if it weren't for that.
Although I am not a hunter, I absolutely love posts like these!
Thank you for sharing
One of the best moves you could make was open the hunting forum up to the public! I would have never seen this if it weren't for that.
Although I am not a hunter, I absolutely love posts like these!
Thank you for sharing
Re: Been a long time coming!!
Enjoyed that report Luke!! Glad you are back in the field - bagging the birds.
Involving and teaching your girls truths about hunting is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Involving and teaching your girls truths about hunting is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
- Markus
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- Location: Nova Scotia/St Catharines
Re: Been a long time coming!!
Great to see ya back in the game Luke. I'll be loking for more reports from ya....i love the honker hunting reports! Good stuff.