Deltaman wrote:Nice way to start your season Ed, Congrats!!!!!!
I am normally pessimistic at the start of the early goose season, but still get out because I just enjoy being out. However, this year was just looking like it was going to be very different. And so far it has been all I could have hoped for.
Although, they add up quick when you take 4 out of a flock.
Monday, about a dozen came in fully committed. I dropped 2. I just can't close the deal on 3 for 3. Reloaded, got on the call, brought them back around. Dropped 2 for 2. Brought them around again, but couldn't get shooting. It was just when I was ready to go. So I went and got the truck. They came back and circled a few more times with me and the truck in the field.
This morning, I had about 10 come in like they were going to land, but they drifted over the blind. No reason to wait and see if they were going to come back around. Three quick shots. Each shot I saw the bird look like it was coming down. After the third shot. Why are there only 2 birds falling?
Where'd the third one go? Did he recover? Did he already hit the ground? I step out of the blind to see if I can see the third bird. Oh wait, the others are not leaving in haste. Reload, get on the call. Bring 2 back by and drop both of them. While hunting for the missing bird, I had several opportunities to get my 5th bird, but I still wasn't sure and didn't want to go over the limit. After I was sure the missing bird was really missing, I called it a day so I'd have time to clean the geese before work. Otherwise, I'd have to leave them in coolers until tomorrow.
I'm getting spoiled. I average about 1 bird per day. A 4 bird per day average is beyond great.
I think all the massive rain we had early in the year did two things. I think it probably took out a lot of nests, but when they renested, there was so much water scattered everywhere that they were very successful. This later nesting kept the geese around (they usually leave the area after they fledge) or maybe it is just all the water we still have, and the numbers seem way up. I think these flocks are just really big family groups. That's why they don't bug out even after I've shot them twice.
Whatever it is, there are a lot of geese around and so far they are quite cooperative