Date: September 12 (Taunted by the teal)
Hunters: Myself
Time: Morning
Location: B&G Blind 22
Weather Conditions: Cool, cloudy, calm at first light but quickly had the ideal NW wind for the blind.
Waterfowl Activity: Geese making noise in all directions before shooting time, especially to the north. Saw a decent number of wood ducks and two teal (we'll get to the teal)
Curses: It seemed like it was just going to be one of those days where a lot of little things go wrong. I got set up later than planned so I didn't have as much time to fish. Lost the skirt on my buzzbait. Geese were making so much noise I went to the blind right at shooting time. Didn't like how I set the decoys, so I hustled out to move them. Just as I'm finishing, a single goose is bearing down on me. Damn it. But everything righted itself after that. Well except for the teal, but I don't put that under a curse.
I did a lot of calling to the geese on the water around me. I've had good luck with that and today was no exception. As noted, right after shooting time a single seemed on a suicide run, but I was standing in the decoys. Got back in the blind and it wasn't too long before I heard some heading my way. A pair heading down from the geese up north making quite a bit of noise, come behind me and circled around gliding in just as picture perfect of decoying geese as you will get. Took 3 shots to put them both down for good, but it was the first birds of the season.
The first one I shot headed from the land into the lake. I watched to see if I needed to shoot him again and yes it was a him because he was banded. He wasn't swimming well and turned around heading to shore. So I ducked out to go pick them up so I lost sight for a second. "Where's he at?" Must be in the clump of weeds on the shoreline. So I walk towards it. Nope, he's hiding with my nearest pair of decoys. I realized this when I got too close and he ran to hide with the next pair
Little while later had a single repeats almost exactly. Got up from up north, around behind, and circled in without hesitation. Dropped that one about 10 yards from the water's edge. That goose was determined to get to the water. That was clear, but it had lost nearly all motor skills. It would try to run, fall, flop, roll, go again, ... It eventually reached the water. It couldn't swim any better. It gave up on that and then tried to dive. When I got to it, it was straight up and down with it's butt above water trying its hardest to dive, but never got a tail feather under the water.
Now the teal. This is my 20th season hunting at this club. Most early seasons I have a close encounter with BWT, but I have yet to even get a shot off. Each is a unique encounter, but the end is the same. Teal pass in range and no shots fired. I always put a few of my hen mallard decoys out and my floating spinner. I also bring a second gun with teal loads. I'm determined to get one.
Today was by far the funniest. I'm watching a wood duck fly over up about 30 yards. A pair of teal pass right over my goose spread about 20' off the ground and maybe 25 yards from me, but I was looking at the woody. They hook over my small spread of duck decoys and look like they landed off to my right where I can't see the water. I ease out of the blind and see ripples on the water, but no ducks. So I decide to circle around the brush and see if they are further down the channel. Nope no ducks. Then I look behind me. They pass over the goose decoys again
If I would have just stayed put
They head to the next channel over and I assume they are gone, but nope. They turn back and land about 80 yards away. I'm now standing just outside the blind door behind the brush. Well hidden. I flip the spinner on a few brief times just to get their attention. I hear some geese. "What to do?" My goose gun is at the far end of the blind. I keep watching the teal for a little while longer. I hear more geese. "OK, get the goose gun." So I duck in grab it quick and back to my spot. I don't see the teal, but I don't think they left. Just not easy to see where they are. About 30 seconds later, I hear splashing in my duck decoys nearest me that I can't see from the high brush along the bank. Son of a bitch. While I ducked in to grab the goose gun. The teal hopped up and flew right into my decoys. The splashing was them jumping off the water about 10 yards from me. The way they went out, I didn't see them until too late
These two little guys really taunted me good today
My wife texted me asking how I'm doing and if I can pick her up some breakfast on the way home. I told her I have 3 geese and maybe on breakfast. She says, well after you get the 4th and 5th, I can do it. Time to pick up. So I pull the decoys on the water first. Standing at the boat packing them when I hear some geese to the south. Duck behind the brush and start calling. A pair comes straight in from the south on a suicide run. I text my wife back "4th and 5th on the ground." And I did pick up breakfast for her.
When I got home, it was clear she wished she had come along this morning. I wish she would have too. These would have been perfect geese for her.
Birds By Species: 5 Canada geese (1 local band)
Fishing: One decent bass.
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I know I used to get a higher percentage. Not sure what I'm doing differently.
