XI. Snow Goose Hunting MD,DE,NY,&NC

 

Beep. Beep. Beep. Goes the unforgiving alarm at 3:30 in the morning. I think to myself, Man I have got to get one of those alarms that plays music or honks like a goose. That thing has got to go. OK, sit up on the edge of the bed. As I rise to my feet I hear a creaking noise. What was that, the floor boards. No, stupid, that was your ankles cracking. Alright now, you got to get the hunters going this morning. Man, that fresh brewed coffee smells great. You gotta love those timers on the coffee pots, especially at 3:30am.

Let's see now, where did I leave those long johns? Oh here they are. Thank God, my wife washed them. That is probably a good thing. This is the sixth day in a row of Snow goose hunting and Lord knows those babies have to be ripe by now.

As I hobble out to the bunkhouse, breaking the kinks loose in my ankles, I remind myself of a saying that I have posted in my office that simple says, "Never Regret Growing Old Because Many Are Denied the Privilege". Words to live by for sure. OK now, get the guys up. Right, they are so full of jitters they could hardly sleep last night. Unlike myself who has learned to get your sleep or you get sick. You can bet my head hit the pillow at 8pm.

Mornin' fellas. Ready to whack'em and stack'em. "We have been ready ever since we got here" Bubba Hollers. We got about two hours of sleep. Between nerves, Buddyweiser, and some good scotch, we kind of lost track of time.

Not a problem guys as long as everyone is sober. We'll fill up thermos at WaWa (Indian for Goose. Pay attention to the sign next time you go by. How appropriate.) That'll snap those eyes lids open. If not I guess I'll have to kill your geese for you. Let's get moving. Bubba, will you ride with me. I'll give you the low down on this Delmarva Snow Goose hunt. OK Big Joe.

As we get on the road to the field, I tell Bill that there was about 50 acres of Snow's on the field the day before. At about 750 birds per acre, that works out to about 37,500 birds using the field the day before. We just might kill a few. As we get to the field the temperature is warm, about 55 degrees. The guys are bummed out. Not to worry fellows, warm weather causes fog. And I can already see it forming in the headlights.

OK fellas, I'll drive around in the field and the young bucks Charley and Steve, you get in the back of the trailer and pitch out decoys. Let me know if I’m going too fast. Ha!! Ha!! Ha!!

Bubba sits in the truck with me and while we are riding around he asks, Did you hear something? Yeah Bubba, sure did. It's the young bucks in the back of the trailer getting bounced around when we crest the corn rows. They'll be alright. That's why I wanted the young fellows to do the pitchin'. Their bones are more flexible than us old Farts.

OK fellas, as we pitch out the decoys, spread them in the field about 6 feet apart.

Paul asks if that isn't a little far apart. Give me a break Paul. When is the last time you ever saw a Snow Goose with a tape measure. Besides, our 800 decoys looks like a thousand or better when we spread them out some.

Hey Bubba, did you see something in the headlights then. I thought so but it was fast. Hard to see what it was in the dark. Look out George. That thing is flying straight at you. George instinctively throws a Snow Goose shell at the object just barely missing the Juvi Snow Goose. Man, no one is going to believe this. I am sure glad you didn't hit it before sun up. I don't know if that would be hunting before legal shooting hours or just pure self defense.

After we get all 800 decoys out and placed we switch to the blinds.Ok remember how I showed y'all how to pop up the layouts. Let's get those up and put a little brush on them. OK, as I go down the mental checklist,dekes out, layout blinds in place, coffee poured, and shotguns ready to roll. Looks like we are ready for some Snow Goose Swattin'. The fog is thick. It looks like it is going to be a good morning.

As the red sky starts to form over our shoulders, mixed in with the fog, Bubba says "Hey guys did you hear something." Steve says I think so. It is way off. What is it? It sounds like truck traffic in the distance. No, Steve, That's sound like about 5000 snows coming this way and they are making one hell of a racket. OK, get buttoned up in the blinds. Game on. I'll do the calling. They won't be able to hear us anyway. It will be more sight than calling that will get their attention anyway.

All those geese know is that they have flown about 30 miles to be in this field this morning. How in the heck can they find this field 30 miles from their lift off point in the Atlantic in a fog is beyond me. But here they come.

Get ready guys. You won't be able to hear me Holler take 'em, just look for my gun barrel to go up in the air. All of a sudden they bust through the fog and hit the ground out of nowhere lighting all around us. Oh Crap , that one just landed five feet away and almost took off my head. Man, the goose shit is about ready to fly. I holler Kill 'em, Kill 'em, Kill 'em as we pop up and the mayhem begins. Darn, how do I pick one? OK, deep breath, focus, follow through, squeeze. Bamn!! That's one, Swing, follow through, and shoot again. Bamn!! Miss. How could I have missed? That was a wall of snow goose white.

One more shot. Follow through, squeeze, Bamn!! and thump goes the goose body as it hits the deck. YEAH!!! Two out of three ain’t bad. I'll take that. Man these Snows can gain altitude fast. How can a 10 lb. bird move so fast?

OK guys stay put and reload. They are coming back. 2000 or so birds that were on the far end of the flock never heard us shoot. They don't have a clue what's in store for them. Take a deep breath, relax and focus when you shoot. 100 yards and closing. Get ready; their wings are set and landing gear down. OK, Kill'em Kill'em Kill'em. Thump, thump, thump the white birds go as they whack the ground. Man did you see that one hit the deck. He must have bounced three feet in the air.

Good shooting guys. Stay put and Summer (my Yellow Labrador) will get the birds. Watch her. Her instinct will take over now. She has already seen the sailer, as she gets on the birds butt, and runs a good three hundred yards to get the cripple.

As she brings the bird back she mentally takes note where the other birds are laying. The instinct of her knowing which bird is crippled and which one she should go after first is amazing. She hands me the bird and tears off for the next one. Rick says I got three that hit the ground behind us and Steve got two on the far left. After Summer finishes retrieving all the birds we do a quick count. Man what a great start. 8 guys shooting and 15 birds so far.

OK guys button up. A small bunch of about 500 "Only" coming at us. Here comes a single ahead of the flock. Don't shoot he should bring in the others as the bird settles down in the wheat field and immediately starts to feed.

Here come 10 more following up the single. Let them come in too. Almost enough birds to shoot now as they start to touch down they sense something is wrong and they begin to back pedal. We had better shoot now as I scream Kill 'em Kill 'em Kill 'em.

The guns roar and eight of 11 birds tumble. Guys that is some great shooting. We've got 23 for the grease now.

As the sky clears of birds and fog and the madness of the morning becomes a memory for life we are standing around the rig talking about the sight of 8000 birds coming straight at us in the early morning light. (Take note that when the birds came in earlier it was 5000 birds. Oh yeah the fish tale starts to grow already). Man did you see those birds in the decoys. There must have been a 1000 on the ground when we sat up to shoot. (Right...., more like 100 at the most. But the story sounds good anyway.) Thinking to myself, Let'em have their fun Joe.

They're building a hunting memory that they will tell their Grand kids years from now and Lord knows how many birds they will say came in at daybreak and how many thumped the ground. One thing for sure, the number of birds we saw that morning won't get any smaller as the years go by.

Oops, reality check. Here comes a single. Get in the blinds. But Joe he'll see us move. Don't worry about that. That bird is at least 500 yards out and he can't make us out. All he sees is movement and that will just bring him in faster. Everyone dives in to their blinds and buttons up as the bird starts sailing to land with wings cupped. That bird is at least 250 yards out and with the wind blowing now at about 25 knots, it seems like it takes hours for him to get in range. I whisper to the hunters next to me, Wait, hold, hold, hold,........( Meanwill Beeds of Sweat Break out on Their Foreheads). OK I think to myself, you let 'em suffer long enough, TAKE 'EM as all 8 shoot at the bird and he crumples. Oh boy that one is going to be a good eating bird. As I sarcastically say "Shouldn't have much shot in IT."

As the time approaches noon the birds start flying about a mile high, heading back to the ocean for the rest of the day and night. Well guys it looks like our hunt is over. The birds are heading to roost. Let's pack up and head back to the barn. We have a few birds to clean.

We get back to the lodge and get the birds cleaned, wash our birds, take a good hot shower and throw another log into the wood stove stoking the fire. Did someone say nap time?

Even the young bucks feel the warmth and nod off for a snooze. About five my wife comes in to a sleeping crowd and announces supper time. Another delicious home cooked meal. My wife grew up on one of the islands in the Chesapeake and one thing those women can do is cook. After the meal, with bellies full and a couple of shots of good bourbon in our bellies it is becoming obvious that we won't be long for the sack, and dreams of a day of ducking tomorrow. Man this is living. Another great hunt with DOA Outfitters. Nite y'all.

BIO BOX: Joe Austin and Jay Barnes are owners of DOA Outfitters and Frontenac Fowlers a waterfowling guide and Big Game

outfitting service for the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Rhode Island and North Carolina areas. For

information on the various hunts provided visit www.frontenacfowlers.com or www.doaoutfitters.com or www.ultimategoosehunts.com for all the details.