Almost last of goose season Bonus hunt with John P.

[BilletHead]

    Well another waterfowl season is about over. After two years of trying to get a hunt with OA member John P. we finally made a plan and got it done. He made the long drive to BilletHeadville and brought the Yellow Dog. I had been sweating this hunt because if the ice on and ice off pond conditions. Can I get this guy a shot at geese? Nothing is a sure thing right now. It had got to eighteen yesterday morning and froze over again. I about was in a panic but did a scout trip in the afternoon looking. With yesterdays wind and warmth some places had broken up some. In my mind I had two choices and when John and yellow dog showed up we loaded up. Went to choice one and found it half frozen. Wind in South West to change to North West it would work even though we could not set up where I wanted to. Set up and made a place between the two lay outs for yellow dog. Soon we started seeing a few birds. Three came in and it was kind of a cluster for a moment and one bird hit the water dead. Yellow dog did his thing! I got to witness her first goose retrieve. As she was doing this one of the little geese worked back we finally coaxed it back and number two down!  Both birds were cacklers and another first as this was John's first canada of this variety. John said this was worth the trip. More visiting and more geese flying in the distance. A lull in the action and then three more birds gave us the stink eye. We worked them for a spell and as they began to leave more birds coming. I was watching the birds getting together when I caught out of the corner of my eye in front of John a dark figure go by. I said what was that? He said another came in and was within five foot of our faces. I did not see it and he said I was waiting for you to call the shot. I said you should of took it but glad you did not because the birds getting together are coming to look. look they did and when the shots were taken four more birds down and just like that we were done! BUT two birds ended up on the ice. Too thick for yellow dog to break through and too thin for her to walk on. So we picked up and went back to house, unloaded trailer and truck, loaded the kayak and returned. One goose still in big ice and other in the middle of a iceberg floating around. Retrieves made by kayak and yellow dog. Photos from this morning,

Kayak retrieve hoping not to have a titanic incident,

  Yellow dog watching the ordeal,

    Now to yellow dog doing the real work. caught him in mid flight too!

 The second trip ice bound geese hero photo,

 And finally the mornings take back at the house,

  Good day with a new friend and his yellow dog!

BilletHead

[JohnP]

Them are some big ol' birds

 

First off Marty, thanks again for having the yella dawg and I up there for a late season goose hunt .  It was a honor finally getting to meet you and the Mrs. in person and getting a hunt in while we were at it and swapping stories.  Sadie and the hunt plum wore ShellB out as she was out and snored the whole trip back ;).   The birds were definately the icing on the cake as the hunt was more about, at least for me, getting to hunt with the legendary Billethead and introducing the pup to something new.  You were almost right that the jerky wouldn't make it home,  managed to restrain myself from eating the last 2 pieces so I could share it with the wife ;).   It is mighty tasty.  You pretty much summed up the hunt so here's a few pics.

Last sunrise for the season. 

 

Mouthful of goose.

 

Tell her to smile and she closes her eyes ;).

[BilletHead]

     We will not let two years go by before it happens again! Legend my arse!

BilletHead

[JohnP]

Oh yea, glad you could show the dawg how to retrieve, think she learned something ;).

[BilletHead]

    She most likely was thinking who the heck shoots birds over a frozen pond? She thinks I am not risking my life for no stupid goose or goose hunters.

BilletHead

[Mitch f]

That is great, I remember days like that very well!

[ness]

Great write up, beautiful photos!

[Flysmallie]

13 hours ago, JohnP said:

 

 

That is an awesome photo.

[Mitch f]

Hey Marty,

Are you a clucker, or a double clucker?

[marcus]

i miss my old dog bubba r.i.p ole friend. it sure was nice to have a well trained dog....i need a new dog poor bubba he was my best friend  would be nice to have a dog fetching my birds....sure do love those labs too they got alotta personalty