Today's goose hunt

[fabsroman]

Well, I went goose hunting for the first time this year and had a blast. Ended up learning a couple of things too.

My dad and I just bought some Final Approach Eliminator layout blinds. I have had mine in the garage for about 2 weeks now, but ended up putting it together last night. I also got a Mutt Hutt from Final Approach for Nitro. Over the last week, I had been working with him to make sure that he would get into the thing (i.e., using the Kennel command and sending him into the blind). I brought the blind and the dog over my parents' place last night to do some prepping for the hunt today, and my dad didn't think that Nitro would get into the Mutt Hutt. A single kennel and he was in the hutt. My dad was surprised and went to get a handful of treats.

Onto today. We set up in a cut soybean field that was covered in a little less than an inch of snow. Didn't expect the snow, so we set the blinds up right next to some high standing stubble. Of course, my dad and I were out of our blinds talking and looking for the geese when a group came really low over the tree tops. I was able to get into the blind, the dog made it to his blind, but my dad tripped trying to get into his blind and ended up laying to the side of it with the blind completely open. I was fumbling for the call when all of a sudden I hear my dad yelling "Take Em". I grabbed the gun and came up to shoot the bird that was about 15 yards right in front of my blind and about 5 yards off the ground. Imagine my surprise when I ended up pointing the buttstock toward the bird. Seems as thought I forgot the turn the gun around in the blind after I finished moving the decoys to face into the wind. By the time I turned the gun around, the bird was a little ways out there and the dog had decided to chase after it. My dad and I both got a shot off, but I think we were a little too worried about hitting Nitro and we both missed. On the next group that came looking, I thought we were going to clobber a bunch. Seems as though Nitro isn't quite used to hunting out of the Mutt Hutt. As I am calling these birds, they ended up flaring at about 100 yards. Seems as though Nitro felt he needed a better look at them, so he sat up and moved his blind. Got another group to come on over and give us a look, but as I was calling, the Mutt Hutt rolled on top of my blind even though I had fastened it to the ground with the metal stakes it comes with. Nitro was having a really tough time with his blind. I think he knew I was getting irritated.

Finally, Nitro figured out that he has to lay down the entire time I am calling. I got a group to cup and commit, but they landed about 70 yards away from our blinds right over the small hill. I got out of the blind and cut the distance to about 50 yards before one of them saw me. Next thing I knew, heads were popping up all over. I could have killed 3 or 4 when they had all their heads up, but decided to take them on the wing. I ended up getting one and couldn't figure out how I missed the other bird twice. Oh well, sometimes you have to be happy with one. Nitro made a great retrieve and that was the end of the morning hunt for us. Not a bad way to start off.

[rubicon]

Fabs, sounds like you and your dad had a really good hunt. And I would bet Nitro was ready to get out of the townhouse and get back to work. The boys and I hunted snows in Del. yeasterday. it was a bluebird day and we couldnt get the snows to decoy into about 600 shells. We did get canadas coming in but they are not in season right now in Del. Even though we came home skunked I have never seen such a sight. There were literally thousands of birds overhead all morning constantly flying in different directions at different elevations changing patterns. It was like looking into a kalideoscope. deffinitely an experience I will never forget.

[fabsroman]

Yeah, hunting snows can be really fun, even if you don't get any. You should have seen all the canadas we saw on Thursday. They were all going to a single field, but I did at least get 4 groups to look at us and one group to land. What I would pay to get permission to hunt the field they were going to. In that area, they have been going to that grass field for years on end and they usually only stop at my field if there is something good to eat like corn.

[kt]

and such is layout blind hunting. something that you may toy with in those things until you have some off season to work with thought,,,, a few guys i know can fit the pooch inside their eliminator, they can peak out the hole at the bottom where you barrel sticks out. something to think about. caught out of the blind?!?!?! i know it happens all the time. lucky for you you have the full lenght doors, my finisher i have to sit down quick and the squirm my way down inside, in winter clothes its hard to do quick.
glad you had fun.
kt

[fabsroman]

Took my dog to the vet over the weekend and he weighs 101 lbs. There is no way he is going to fit into that blind with me and I wouldn't feel comfortable with him in there with my gun right next to him. If he moves when I get up to shoot or he tries to jump out of the blind, he could knock me over and/or I could end up shooting him. I think I will stick with the Mutt Hutt and let him get used to it this season. I'll also work with him on it during the off season; however, I think he is starting to understand that if he doesn't stay still in there he won't get to retrieve anything.

[buckhunter]

Hey Fabs. Do those blinds come in extra fat. I usually use sheets when it snows and I'm up to a king size. Its a blast.

[kt]

extra fat, hey buck huntr. i havent looked recently but i am pretty sure that one manufacturer or another was making them in extra fat. although like the waders they may call them big and tall.
kt

[TreeDoc]

If it has to do with Duck Hunting than there's definitely a BIG FAT size made!!! On another site for Duck Hunting, the classified page is full of good equipment. Almost everytime something along the lines of clothing comes up that I might be interested in, it's in a size XXL or XXXL!!! Maybe someday I'll be included in the group of Fat Slobs but not yet!

I just bought a new set of Hodgman Zipper front waders off that site in a size 10. The foot fits great but I could stand to add about 20 pounds! LOL!!

[rubicon]

TreeDoc, How do you like those waders?