Back to goose hunting

[CanadaGoose]

After 2 weeks af Deer hunting, it's time to get back to the real hunting.

Took a short afternoon hunt on Wednesday, the day before the storm went through, and ended up with 1 Goose and 5 ducks. I have no shots from this hunt, it was pouring rain and cold.

Friday afternoon my bud's young lad called and asked to go hunting with me. I really didn't mind the company, but the Lad needs to learn to shoot better. We set up in a spot I use for short hunts. This spot is where the birds rest between feedings. The roost is a mile across the river, and a mile down. The feeding feilds are 1/4 mile from this spot.

After a quick setup, (2 dz shells and 5 floater geese with 1.5 dz mallards off to the side), we had the first birds working. I'm holding off shooting to back the young lad, so as not to lose any birds. First folck in and he's up and shooting before I call the shot. He hits a bird and it glides into the middle of the river. Damn kid, wait for the call or unload the gun. I have a100 yrds I can walk out to get birds. I don't bring a boat as it is never needed until today. After a long chat, and a bird that I count towards his limit we now ready to call some more.

The next flock we have come in is a flock of 10. they were working beautifully. Wings cupped and gliding in, at 20 yrds I call the shot and roll the first bird, young lads finally rolls a bird. I pull on the second bird and put 2 into it to kill it. Young lad opens up on a bird and wounds another, Off he goes to finish it off. 5 shots later and a tad wet, he returns in time for another round. This flock came in on my side, I waited until the first bidrd hit the water. Picker the biggest bird and just as I squeezed the trigger another bird flares into the shot path, A double on 1 shot. The young lad dumps his gun on one of the remaining birds, another wounded bird 1/2 mile out in the water, another lecture. I made him unload his gun and wait for me to finish my last bird. I had a big flock come in, I decide not to take the shot at this Large floc, as more birds were coming. After 5 min we had about 1500 birds sitting on the water. I made him watch them for about 10 min before I stood up to scare them off.10 min later I had filled my limit and started to pack up.

I really need to find a couple hunting buddies that can shoot.

Here's the quick setup.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/FishingFreak/DSC02440.jpg

And the glory shot.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/FishingFreak/DSC02443.jpg

I now have a rule because of this hunt. If you shoot a bird and don't retreive it, it will count towards your bag, do it twice and you'll unload your gun and watch.

[fabsroman]

You are a tough man. I'd give people a little more slack than your new rule. New hunters won't be able to shoot as well as you. Trust me, I have brought plenty of city folks out that want to try hunting and it was a nightmare with their shooting skill. However, if I can get people interested in hunting it just makes it better for our sport.

With young kids, you have to remember that they are just way too excited just to even be out hunting. I remember my first goose hunt. My heart was pounding and I was breathing really hard as the geese were circling. I didn't miss the shot, but that might have been because I was 26 back then and had been shooting clays and hunting for quite a while by that time. Now, the heart doesn't beat that quick anymore, even though it does beat quicker, and I definitely have no problem breathing normally.

Just remember that people are trying their damndest to hit the birds. Nobody wants to wound them or be known as a bad shot. However, new hunters/shooters just don't have the experience. The best thing you can do is back them up while hunting and offer to take them out to the field afterward to shoot clays. For me, hunting is more about making friends and spending time with friends than killing animals, except I do feel bad when my dog doesn't get to retrieve anything. Obviously, we all have a better time when everybody limits out. Me, I would just be happy to be able to get out and hunt waterfowl this year.

Now, taking a shot before the shot is called is a different matter. I hate hunting with people that cannot listen and want to do whatever they want to do, to the detriment of everybody else.

[CanadaGoose]

Fabs, it may have sounded harsh, but I wasn't.

I had went over the shot zones and even have 30 and 40 yrd sticks. rule is to never take a shot beyond 40 unless the bird is wounded. It's not necessary, and it betters the chance for a cleaner kill. This is the reason for being a little testy with him.
I talked to his father after the hunt, we had a chat with him about jumping the gun, and taking iffy shots.

I will be taking him again, just so he can redeem himself.

I've been doing alot of backup shooting this year, with the folks I take hunting it is deffinently needed.

It's not about the numbers, it's about teaching the new guys self control.

[fabsroman]

I didn't know that he was taking long shots. In that case, I would ream him too. When I have the bad shooters out with me, I try to get the birds within 20 yards before calling the shot. I also know they are fast on the trigger, so all three shells will be gone before the birds get too far away.

I have no patience for sky busting. Had a friend of mine shoot into a group of about 500 birds 80 yards straight up in the air because he had to leave at that time and couldn't wait for them to come down. He didn't get to come hunting with me for two years after that. I was pissed.

I just don't tolerate sky busting and taking long shots outside of one's ability.

I just thought the kid was missing them close in and just couldn't shoot period. Didn't understand that he was taking long shots that he couldn't make and/or that were outside of the lethal range of steel.