Specklebellies AKA The white front goose

[BilletHead]

      I have been watching a small lake for the last few days. Lots and lots of geese using it. The bulk of those geese were specks. I have only shot three before today and they are still Pat's holy grail. She has only got one shot and missed. She cried that time. These birds are pretty much only around in our area the first part of the season and then they are zooming through and again the last couple weeks of season heading north lingering a bit longer.  The specks and canada geese were flying out from the pond headed West into a close winter wheat field. They have it trampled to bare dirt in places. Well last three days the flock was getting smaller and smaller. I was hoping for Pat to get one, but it was time this morning to try. She said you better go. Yesterday the lake was 80 percent frozen over. I had a plan. Nowhere to hide in bare field, no way to water hunt.  I was going to ambush and pass shoot as they flew to the field. All I have to say it was cold this morning. Truck said 10 degrees driving over. Burrrr. I did dress warm even trying my heated vest. That thing is the bomb! My chest gets really cold. My feet actually do pretty good. Have pockets for hands. Got to where I park, and first mistake was not taking Pat's shotgun. Mine has not been cleaned after dove season and I had left it in the truck all night. It was cold and when I loaded it the bolt shut really slow. Uh oh I knew I might be dealing with a single shot. :(. So, I made the long walk in the dark back to the west part of the lake. There is a little burm and a depression with grass and briars mixed with brush. I had to stay low to not bee seen and even crawl in places. I guessed the middle point and stretched out to wait. I could hear them and as it got lighter peeked over the burm to see the place had frozen over all the way and geese on the ice. Then I decided I should go a bit farther. Made another ten yards and laid back down for the wait. Got to worrying about the gun so I decided to open the zippers on leg from the top and slip the gun through the insulated bibs and put the action across my body to warm up. That was cold and all I did was make my junk between my legs cold!     The birds began to get noisy and I got excited. A group of twenty got up and passed plenty low but too far away. They circled the field, turned around and lit back on the ice. then another bunch did exactly the same. Crap I needed to go a bit farther so again I slithered like a snake my cover was getting thinner. then found a place to wait again. Soon a bigger bunch got up in range. I picked one and pulled the trigger and it dropped. Picked another and nothing. DANG I jacked the shells out and put one in and slammed the bolt shut as birds really started boiling off the ice over me. Then in a mass here came the canada bunch I let them go and more specks I picked one and let gave it a load of tripple Bs. It crashed close to me but in the frozen field with a thump. I had my two and was very happy. 

  Best eating geese out there boys. Grabbed my birds and walked back to the truck and home to clean. they both plucked well but one had so many baby feathers just emerging from a blood quill. Impossible to get perfect I skinned it. Even kept the legs and thighs. I will try to sous vide those and hope the break down into submission.     I seasoned some flour and seared the outside of the tenders just browning a bit. They melted in my mouth tender except for the leader that runs through the middle of it. So, the term tenders is not really true but worth the effort. 

                   These two birds are the best marked bellies I have ever shot! Happy day. Got a few days left of goose and we may get out once more. Thanks for letting me share this hunt.

[netboy]

Very cool. The specs were always a bonus on the Texas coast. We shot lots of ducks, snow geese and lesser Canadians but the specks were a welcome bonus.  They were as good eating as a big fat pintail.

[BilletHead]

5 minutes ago, netboy said:

They were as good eating as a big fat pintail.

  Exactually 

[netboy]

4 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

  Exactually 

Agree, we didn't get any mallards down there, but the best eating were pintails, teal, redheads and widgeon. The specs were always a welcome bonus pass shooting them over the decoy spread.  

[Gavin]

Very nice! Thanks for the report. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

Specks are as fine an eating bird as any I've ever had. They might be my favorite, honestly. Glad you got into em.

[fshndoug]

Nice job Marty.

[Gavin]

Need a Speck Call? I do not use this one. Redbone Poly. I also have 2 doz DB speck silos and 2.5 doz DB Canada Silos I want to move.  Brand new decoys. Will do $50 on the call shipped TYD. Decoys have a DB carry bag, will do $200 on the decoys and bag. Pickup in STL or take me goose hunting if you want delivery.

[Johnsfolly]

Congrats again Marty! Great story and you reap the rewards for your efforts. Cool birds and apparently great eats!

[Foghorn]

Can imagine the table talk at the local diner..."I was driving in here this morning and I saw some guy in camo laying on the ground in 10 degree weather. Must be that guy named Marty goose hunting"😀