The super blood blue moon eclipse goose hunt

[BilletHead]

        Quite a name for a hunt,

    I have been watching this pond for a few days. Lots of Canada geese using it. Just loafing around but a dozen or so have actually been roosting there. Was really not sure where the masses using the pond were roosting but that did not matter. Just sit up and wait and see what happens. I could of done this solo the last three days. Sure enough we got there at dark thirty and scared off the little flock that roost there. We had some light cloud cover but were able to see the super blood blue moon eclipse as we set up for the hunt. Glad to have the gray headed retriever with me. I am hunting less and less by myself. Getting too hard to fight it alone and the hurt is getting worse. We have a good  system going and Pat knows the drill. Did not even have to put collar on as she is conditioned now .  We sat there in the dark waiting for daybreak like we have so many times together reflecting on everything in our lives. I tried to get a decent picture of the set up,

  

          We could hear geese in the distance on other waters. Big South west wind made the sound from that direction sound like it was just yards away. Most of the birds we seen came from the direct North of us. I usually have a good handle of where birds would be coming from in this area but I have no idea where the birds were from or roosting. Most of the birds that flew over were going over high and going to a field a mile from us to feed before loafing on area ponds like this one. Literally hundreds were going to the field swarming and landing.  I called at one of the closer groups that flew by and three broke out wings set and dropping fast. The Mrs. was to my left and birds came from right setting into the stiff wind. We were talking quietly  making a plan. I told her to take the lead bird and I would work on the other two several feet behind the first. The planned LZ would be close, real close and we were shooting #2s. Shoot them in the face is our motto on hunts like this. I let her bird hit the water and called the shot. And shoot we did with three on the water one of my birds needed a finish shot as it swam to the opposite bank trying to hide. I did the retrieving today and walked to the other side for bird one. As I lifted it up and turned it around I spied jewelry. Hollered across the pond it was banded, in response i heard "are you kidding me?" . Nope as I gave her a big grin! Walking back I told her there is a chance the others could be banded. Sure she said. I walked back and picked up my second bird that had floated to the bank. Guess what? Another band . I say hey this one has a band too. Her response was not a nice word .  Not really a real bad word but one out of form from the Mrs. Should of had the shock collar on and lit her up! HA ha. So by now her bird had hit the bank. A real big bird,  no band of course. My two were smaller and I told her lesser and most likely part of the EPP Eastern prairie population like the one I shot ten days ago. We were ten miles from where I shot the one ten days before. 

   

   We hunkered down again and had a few more groups fly by some setting wings but picking back up to head to field with other birds. Soon a group off field heading our way passing over without even a serous look. I called some as they passed but not much but after the pass I let them have it with all I could muster. I figure what the heck if they are not coming in and going on it doesn't matter and then they turned, the whole wad. I guestumated over thirty birds. They were pretty high with wings set they dropped fast. I said I am going to shoot one and you two. That is just what happened and just like that we were done. I am blessed and the feel like the most fortunate man in the world.

   Even got Pat to hole up the banded birds               

    Got home and went to plucking and cleaning then singed the bare skin. Some of you guys may knot know we save the skin and what fat from inside the bird that is clean. Render the fat for cooking. This bunch of birds were the nicest we have got this season. Head shots and broken wings. One pellet into one breast half.

   Took off the skin and breast halves then went inside to remove fat from inside around the gizzard.  I hauled off the carcasses behind the house as the Mrs. started the final clean and when I got back there was a pile of stuff to render in the next day or two,

      Finally everything cleaned and in fridge. Got on the computer and to report band. Both birds were from near Churchill Manitoba. Both banded on same day 8-5-2015 hatched in 2014 or earlier. Male and female . 

   BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

Awesome story about a great hunt buddy! Congrats on the banded birds!☺ Tell Pat that some folks are better lucky than good especially guys that refer to their Mrs as his retriever. Lucky that she puts up with you buddy.

[Boobie]

Yes Billet you are blessed. Love reading about your hunts while I am at work.Enjoy the feast...

[BilletHead]

        Thanks Boobie,

  I hope you get to go out and it snows on you. Shoot some for me. We are getting tired here and will not go after the snows,

BilletHead