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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ And... that's the ball game. |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 18, 2019 8:33 pm
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2127
Location: Hudson,Wy
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Well folks, yesterday I pulled the trigger for the last time of the 2018-19 bird season. Canada goose ran through Feb 17th this year and it was nice to have all those great goose hunts after chukar/ hun closed on Jan. 31st. I am that point in life where it is actually pretty hard to touch off that last round. It's one of those joyous yet somber moments that I want to be just right.
With four honkers on the ground I passed on three good flocks, all in range and over the decoys but off to one side. I wanted that last bird to be hanging overhead and close. Finally a small group of geese turned and worked to the call just as they should. When they angled toward the east end of the seven decoy spread (went small this time instead of 6 doz.+) I engaged in a little sweet talk on my homemade short reed call. I designed my own call and "guts" from scratch since I'm not satisfied with what's on the market. The chatter worked and the flock slid cross wind into perfect alignment. Rising to my knees I made the swing...and that was the ball game, season's bittersweet end.
I took my time picking up. I didn't want to leave, you know how it is. The afternoon flight really began in earnest at this time and it was good to see so many geese, several hundred, coming to this field even though I was done. After a little photo shoot I hit the road to see how my friends were fairing four miles to the south. Geese already occupied the stubble I had just vacated when I drove by parallel to the field once I hit the gravel. Soon I saw Tex, also on the road with a limit of geese. The other group was still giving geese "the business". I chose the long way home, driving slowly and watching geese in other fields. It's going to be a long wait...
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_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 18, 2019 9:35 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9472
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Yep! Amen! Yep!
Thankfully, fishing (walleye) will soon be upon us !!
Mike |
_________________
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USAF RET 1971-95 |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 18, 2019 10:29 pm
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Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2007
Posts: 1376
Location: Northern Illinois
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Thanks for sharing all the memories. Have a good Spring and Summer.
Good Hunting,
Mike |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 18, 2019 10:43 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2812
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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WyoChukar,
Real nice story of your closing day, unfortunately for me April 15th, opening of Trout, is a long way off.
Time to put the feet up, sip a few, and read by the fire!
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 19, 2019 4:53 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2354
Location: West MI
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I feel your pain, sad indeed, MI late closed 2/9, laying in the snow with a 40yrd white out blizzard for the last 2 hours watching the deke's get buried and not wanting to leave. Greatly looking forward to next season!! On to Hare's...Shhh, be vewry vewry quite..... |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:07 am
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Joined: 26 Apr 2016
Posts: 369
Location: Vermont
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I know what you are talking about. Gorgeous wood on your shotgun BTW. |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 19, 2019 11:01 am
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Joined: 07 Sep 2011
Posts: 570
Location: wheeling, wv
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"How kind it is that most of us will never know when we have fired
our last shot"--- Nash Buckingham. |
_________________ we salute you bird of thunder |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 19, 2019 5:58 pm
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Member
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 749
Location: Kelso, Tennessee
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3birddogs wrote: |
"How kind it is that most of us will never know when we have fired
our last shot"--- Nash Buckingham.
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“Long, as long goes to tired hunters, we sat by the fire.” “ The Harp That Once” Nash Buckingham
Good job Garhart |
_________________ i reckon so. I guess we all died a little in that damn war. |
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Posted:
Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:53 am
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Joined: 17 Jul 2008
Posts: 765
Location: Great State of Kansas
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My son and I took my Dad goose hunting at a lease we had, just North of Windsor Colorado. He was 91. It was a cold blustery day, Dad was shooting his favorite L.C Smith fowler. He couldn't see well, and missed shots on the first few groups that worked in, and was getting frustrated. My son and I agreed to both shoot at the last two birds in the next string at the same time, if possible , that Dad did. I told Dad to "go on the last two". They came in, and we did. Two Big birds fell! We whooped and hollerd and congratulated him! He didn't say much, casing his gun, except " I got my two, lets go home".....He passed a few months later... |
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Posted:
Wed Feb 20, 2019 7:01 am
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Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Posts: 401
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Pine Creek/Dave wrote: |
WyoChukar,
Time to put the feet up, sip a few, and read by the fire!
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
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I like the way you think. With this winter weather, I wish I could do just that on a snowy evening. Dang how work can mess things up. |
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Posted:
Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:16 pm
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Member
Joined: 18 Aug 2010
Posts: 399
Location: Ballymoney Northern Ireland
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Thanks for the update , it's been great following your adventures this season , I'm looking forward to the next season already ,All the best my friend . WJ |
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Posted:
Thu Feb 21, 2019 7:09 am
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Joined: 24 Jun 2013
Posts: 2068
Location: canandaigua - western n.y. (formerly deerhunter)
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I almost always get out on the last day of muzzleloader season deer . It's always a really funny , creepy feeling as the time runs out !! Really !!... What's a little funny about NY , is that hunting kinda drags along . Squirrels close fri , but white geese and crows continue till April . May 1st , Turkeys start for a month and then things stop till Sept . May 1st starts the kids trap league and the Registered shoots , so that fills the voids fairly well . Can't hit crap , but can't stop shooting either - need the smell of gunpowder !! |
_________________ Molly sez AArrrooooooah ! |
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