pretty darn good week

 Monday I did my shopping and headed out to do some scouting. Well, it ended up where Jake and I got to hunt one of my properties, scratch that, we shot at some stuff. At least I did, I think we started out 12 shots for 2 geese, not even close to a good start. The first goose to hit the ground was a bonus- specklebelly this is the only property that I've seen them on, I shot one 2 years ago. The next pair of geese was probably the  funniest. I had a pair coming in from my right to my left and Jake was to my left. When they were in gun range I sat up turned and gave 'em 3. Only to watch in astonishment while the goose just kinda hovered in mid air, I was thinkin' why isn't Jake shooting, right about then I heard kinda in a whisper, "hey, duck". Well that's when I realized why Jake wasn't shooting, I was sitting up between him and the geese. As soon as I laid down he sat up and smacked the one I hit and it went down. We both had a pretty good laugh at the way the morning was transpiring. So now we had 2 geese down one Canada and one speck. We got busted a couple times hanging out of our blinds talkin' cause the geese were coming in from behind us. Well, I sat up and turned around to watch our backs, while Jake kept an eye in front of us. That's when they started to fly off roost and start looking for food. We had one flock fly in the kill hole and we dropped a couple, not sure how many we need Jake asked me how many left and I did a quick scan in front and said one apiece. Just then another flock was upon us and as I called the shot we both sat up and picked out a bird and squeezed the trigger. Two birds fell, we went out to take a count of the bodies in the decoys and sure enough we were done, limits reached.

This is Jake's first Speck and this is the pic he takes:

Even the one we took of the limits: 

Buddy that's a happy, happy man...

 Here's the one I like better...

Kinda almost a smile... we'll work on that.

Wednesday I took the day off. 

  This morning: 6 decoys, 4 hours, and 2 geese.

Today I went to a property I've hunted before but just got back on this year. It was just a scouting mission but I did get 2 geese and only shot 4 times, one then 3. The first one was a sniper special- one shot one kill on a passing flock. The three almost couldn't be avoided, the wind had switched and they were pretty far out there. Even though they were locked up and coming in as I wanted them to. The 2 three inch shells didn't touch 'em but the last 3 1/2" did the trick and another goose fell.

Well, I packed up at noon got home at 1, cooked the geese from Tues., cleaned today's geese, ate, showered and finally had time to sit down an write this, which by the way has put me waaayyy past my bedtime. 

It's alright though my reader's are worth it.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep this momentum going next week.

I didn't buy any fishing lures this week. 😁

Seasons closing, Hunting choices are getting limited

 For me two more seasons have now ended, duck season is done as well as deer season. 

Monday, I went out deer hunting and as has become the norm I saw nothing but squirrels and trees. Tuesday I was going to go duck hunting but ended up getting up late so I headed over to sit in my tree stand for one of the last times this year until this happened.

She weighed in at 127#'s and only went 10 yards from where I shot her. She came in with at least 8 or 9 other does and I took the first one big one that gave me a shot. 

Good way to end deer season.

Wednesday Cliff and I hunted a spot I've got in town. We got there with plenty of time to put out the 2 dozen decoys and set up a makeshift blind. Once we had that ready Cliff realized the cornstalk we put in the tube last year as a plug was still there. The bad news is with the rain and his buddy trying to jam more shells in the magazine the "plug" was no longer plugging. So we had to take the forearm cap of and pull the compression spacer out to get to the "plug" which was dissolved. We had to preform this with a knife, no light, in the rain, while watching for ducks and geese. It was as always when I take Cliff, take a kid hunting/fishing day, depending on the season. This sideshow finally ended up with a branch stuck in for the plug, and a whole cleaning session scheduled for today, after we install my stove. 

Back to the hunt...

The ducks and geese flew a little late but they finally did fly. We ended up way short of limit for a couple reasons, mainly spinner issues, gun jams, and generally just bad shooting. Now you can look at that list and figure out which way the finger points even though I would never point fingers. 👉

Yes we should've done better, but for a cold, wet, nasty day we had a pretty good time. We even left with some geese and the last duck of the year.

All I have left now is goose until the second week of Feb then yotes for a couple weeks. Then with the onset of March begins the garage and hunting gear clean up along with getting ready for fishing season.

Christmas Miracle

 The only Christmas Miracle this year was the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

I hunted most of this week with nothing to show for my effort. I just got back from a goose hunt practice goose hunt. You know the kinda practice that entails me driving an hour, setting out all my decoys and laying in the snow hoping for a shot. Then when all the 300 geese get out and put down in 2 locations one to my right and one to my left at least 1000 yards away, pick everything up and head the hour back home and write this. 

That kinda practice.

Yeah they can't all be winners. But I wish I could win once a week, I don't think that's asking too much.

Anyway, I gotta work the next 2 days then duck and a late doe season starts for me on Monday. Hopefully my luck will change. 

 

I have realized the less that hits my cleaning table the more I spend on fishing lures. 😏 

Hope everyone had a Safe, Healthy and Merry Christmas.

 

Another week of saving ammo

 Well the day's I spent afield this week were kinda backwards, but they were hunted the only way I could. Let me explain the better days for deer were Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week. Sean got Wednesday off and we planned our annual Swamp Stomp muzzle loader deer hunt at Mongo. Unfortunately it snowed all day, now I'm not saying that's a bad day for deer, however it is much better suited day for geese. So kinda crapped out on that one and then there was Tuesday which is the day I took Jake goose watching. It was suppose to be cloudy all day but soon after sunrise the sun came out and the geese sat. That would've been a good deer day, and speaking of deer days muzzle loader is over for me. I might try with my crossbow if I'm not goose hunting but as it looks right now goose and coyote are the only seasons left for me to hunt. 

Hunting seasons winding down.

Boy did I choose wrong

 This is going to be short and sweet sad.

Monday- Deer hunting in the morning, saw shooter doe 50 yards over on neighbors' property. Evening deer hunt- saw squirrels.

Tuesday- Deer hunting in the morning- saw squirrels, evening-pheasant hunt saw one 0 bagged.

Wednesday-Deer hunting in the morning- saw squirrels, Evening deer hunt- saw more squirrels.

Thursday-Deer hunting in the morning- super foggy, but only saw squirrels.

Should've gone duck hunting.