Micah's first hunt

[BilletHead]

         Got a call from my friend a couple of weeks back asking if maybe I could take his Grandson Micah for a hunt over the young mans Christmas Break. You all might remember my Post about Micah and the Leviathan.

        Well you bet ya that can be done so we got to do that this morning. Could not of come at a better time after the thaw. Scouted hard yesterday and picked a spot. Cut a big amount of fescue for the blinds same afternoon. Five thirty this morning loaded up the truck and at six on the nose my friend Richard deleveraged the young hunter. Micah was wide eyed and ready to go. Mrs. BilletHead let hm use her shotgun and told him it didn't miss. Well at least most of the time. We arrived at the pond to find by headlights two large groups of geese had spent the night and they flew out with much honking and the rush of wing beats. Unloaded our junk and built blinds. Asked Micah to cover the blinds with the grass and put out some land decoys as I put out goose and duck floaters. Got the truck hidden across the pasture next to a shed. We than went through talking about our shooting lanes and how high across the bases of each blind we could shoot. Other safety talk and other dos and do not things. Micah was like yes sir and no sir. I felt like a drill Sargent but hey this is how it is on a hunt with a new starter. 

    Started off with a nice breeze and decoys moving good, then no wind with the pond being like glass and decoy spread looking fake with no movement.  Thinking to myself this is going to be tough. A lone mallard drake came in and we got him fine. Then a mallard drake and hen in and landed wide, soon another pair of the same in and out wide. The two pairs came together out of range and began to chase and fight. Likely mated pairs I told Micah as this time of the year I began to see this happen as they don't want competition. Well they began to swim our way and they got to what I though was close enough range I told him lets take the drakes and take them we did. We each had a couple of mallards and the best part Micah got his first duck ever. Pond still like glass geese flying all over, some looking at us even setting and dropping but not liking the non moving decoys they would bug out. Then we started seeing singles and pairs. Took out a pair and then a bit later another single. Big wads not working but hey I told Micah it isn't all ways about what you get but what you get out of the hunt an the process. He agreed as we watched thousands of snow geese flying up high. We talked about his school, his sports and music we liked, TV shows. I am telling you I think it is a rarity to have this good as a conversation with a fifteen year old. Wind finally picked up and the decoys were moving well but the skies were empty of birds. Ten thirty or so I ask well what do you think? He says I am happy and we can call it a hunt. I then told him every time this happens and we pick up birds will find us.  We laughed and opened the blind doors, began to empty the guns when five with their wings set and quiet began to drop. I said doors shut and get ready. They turned and began to leave and I called hard as they headed to another pond Three broke out and turned back again set. Pulled out one more time and I called hard again. Back this time and dropped in committed and all three went down! We rock and high fives and fish bumps we did. Picked up a couple of very satisfied hunters. A old one and a new one. I am so blessed to have Micah and his family as friends,

  Micah and his first goose,

  The days take,

   BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

Marty

That was an awesome report. Micah is blessed to have a mentor like yourself on this hunt. Great job! I'm sure he enjoyed the hunt and the time he got ti spend with you.

[Nitro 750]

Great report, sounds like a really good hunt.  Good job!!!!!

[JohnP]

That's awsome Marty and what a way to introduce a new hunter to the mad world of waterfowling;).

[Chief Grey Bear]

That is how it's done! Memories never to be forgotten were created and will be shared for many, many years. 

I would also venture to say an outdoorsman seed was planted and will grow prosperly. Congrats Marty. 

[ness]

Nice. 

[Terrierman]

Micah has Don King hair!  What a cool way to get a young guy like him started, few things better than a successful pond hunting expedition.  Brings back a lot of my Vernon County memories. Good Great JOB!

[BilletHead]

   Thanks guys for the kind words. Yes Chief Micah is hooked. Says he is going to try to make it one more time this season! Fun young man and good help too. 

Our friends from Arnold Mo. Are up and hunting. Got two hunts in so far. Reports coming .

BilletHead