Last Chance Geese

I spent basically the entire last week trying to hunt geese on Ogden Bay.  I have been talking with the guy out there and he was keeping me posted on numbers.  There was finally a huntable amount of birds on Monday.  I took off work early and headed out.  The walk out there with two dozen full bodies, two layout blinds, a dog blind, and other gear was horrible.  My sled stuck to the mud and my legs were burning.  I got set up and Todd met me out there.  We never even saw a goose.  We heard some, but because it was snowing the visibility was terrible.  I went back out Wednesday afternoon to give it another shot.  Mike Ballard came with me so that made getting stuff out there easier.  It was only like 5 minutes after we got set up that the birds started flying.  It seemed like they were flying everywhere except over our decoys.  It was fun seeing all those geese but frustrating to not be able to shoot any.  We decided to leave all of our stuff out there and come back in the morning.  I slept horrible thinking about all that gear just sitting out there even though I knew there was no chance of anyone going out there.  Thursday morning I headed out early with Ryan Stratford.  We saw lots of geese moving but nothing would give us a good look.  He headed back in not too long after Mike and Jeff Hill came out.  Todd came out a little after that.  We watched geese fly most of the day...the problem is that all we did was watch them.  They were very educated, late season birds.  It was still fun being out there with friends and I can't wait for next season.

1/19/12

Went after the geese today with Steven McFarland and my dad.  The geese didn't move until about 4:00.  We ended up with 2.  One of them sailed off into the pasture and me and Chase went to go get it.  I saw it under a tree so I gave the dog a line and sent him.  He ran past it and that goose started running and flapping as fast as it could go.  I thought it was going to take off, then Chase turned on the turbo and tackled that goose to the ground and brought it to me.  It was awesome.  I feel bad though, it was his first goose hunt and I forgot to put him in the picture.

Bunny Huntin

Went out after some jack rabbits with Dave, his nephew Travis, and Chad Widdison today.  It was a blast as usual.  Shot around 400 rounds myself. 

How much are you supposed to tip a guide?

I have been seeing a few geese flying in the afternoon around work.  I told Todd we should set up in the afternoon and try and run some traffic.  Todd got all the stuff together and went and set up.  I ran out right after work to meet him in the field.  I was like 60 yards from the spread when I see a line of 10 setting up a couple hundred yards out.  I hurry and jump down and watch.  I'm thinking, "They are headed right over me.  They're going to bust me, I better take em."  I jump up, miss my first shot, then hit two.  Todd stands up and looks at me with this look like, "Are you flippin kidding me?"  I felt bad, but a guys gotta do what a guys gotta do. Sorry Todd, but thanks for setting up.

Chase

I took the dog out for some practice and snapped a few photos in the process. He is turning into a pretty good dog.