Because of work, mostly, and lots of family issues, been real tough to get out. Finally broke out a little time last Sat morn to take my gun for a walk. I hadn’t seen my favorite stock pond located on a local cattle ranch since the opener of dove on Sept. 1. At shootin’ time, prepared for ducks with a mag full of #4’s, I jumped on the well covered dam end of the pond expecting (hopeing) to find a heard of green heads ready for the taking. The two Buff Heads I startled was a real disappointment, that’s all that was there. I don’t eat divers so there was no sence takin’ em, plus that would just take away from the limit of the birds I’m really after. And then I started to hear shot after shot ring out on the neighboring property pond, intermixed with excited cries of joy that could only follow a very sucsessful and confirmed falling of birds. I strained the skys looking for ones that might have gotten away, or at least a glimpse of what they were shooting at, but saw nothing. I headed around the south side of my pond toward the tall weeds where I always park my butt for a normal day of good shootin’. Continuing to here shot after shot and screems of joy on the neighbors property was gettin’ a little too much for me when I finally noticed a lone and silent honker almost directly overhead. It was a little high, but I had to take a shot, even though I wasn’t loaded with my best goose droppers. The shot was a little behind and I could hear the # 4’s splash up the belly. It did a little wiggle and kept flying. Now really disappointed on my miss, while hearing more shots and chears from the distance, I started to settle in to my cover when I saw the loner return. Still loaded with 4’s, I took about a three foot lead and let loose a round. Down it came, backwards dead. My time for a hoot and holler. I hooted even more when I picked it up to find the jewlery. I have 18 duck bands, but this is only my 2nd goose band and both are from this property. I gave thanks for the kill and then said to myself, “if this is my only kill of the day, I don’t care. I’m out doin what I love to do and this bird was a true gift”. Well…. that was my only shot of the day and it left me with something really special to remember the day by. I think I’ll be able to get out again this weekend, rain and wind in the forcast. If the pond is full of birds that will just be the plus. If not, I’ll still be out takin’ my gun for a walk, somthin’ I just love to do.

“taking my gun for a walk”....................i love it. songs like a song!!

great story and thanks for posting it up!!

Nice bird…

Thats a nice big goose!! Good shooting and congrats on the band!

  Ben

Thanks, there are bigger ones around, but I don’t always get a choice. Took my gun for another walk this morn. Not much flyin’ where I was. Lot of Buffleheads and Goldeneyes raftin’ and divin’ all around when a pair of Woodys hit the far side of the pond. After watchin’ ‘em for about 3 hours, I was close to try’n a sneak and jump with bad cover. I figured I’d spook the pond clear. They just didn’t seem interested in the part of the pond where I was sittin’. ‘Bout that time I could hear the tractor comin’ to hay feed the cattle a few hundred yards from the pond. While I was glassin’ my quarry, try’n to make a decision, they both took to flight spooked by the noise. I threw the bino’s down and picked up my shotgun just in time to knock the drake down while passing thirty yards or so from my end of the pond. Another gift! As far as the Quail goes, there is always a big covey at the edge of the pond in the berries. I hardly ever shoot at them ‘cause I don’t want to spook the pond and a heavy load of fours or the BB’s I throw at geese don’t usually leave much left to eat. On a little walk around to look at the other pond, I managed to catch one going away just right.

We don’t see too many december wood ducks up here! Nice job,those are one of my favorite birds! Nice going on the quail too!

  Goose smasher

Great job, great post!

im not much of a bird hunter so one question what do the bands mean?

Bands are just one method the “Game Gods” use to keep tabs on migratory birds. When you report the number, you recieve a nice cirtificate with info like the approx age of the bird and location where it was banded. When you report where the band was found, the date, make and model of the bird and location of the find goes into a large data base. You don’t even have to be the one to kill the bird. Critter kills and old age amount to a certain percentage of the end of the birds life. I always check chewed up carcases for bands. The “jewlery” is highly sought after by most waterfowlers. It’s kinda like a trophy rack. Some birds will have two bands, one of which is worth a reward in dollars. Never shot a double banded bird, but I keep hoping.