Post by zippyduck on Mar 14, 2010 17:18:26 GMT -4
Weather, trucks, and snows
So many things can go wrong on a hunting trip. Weather can spoil things, vehicles have problems, equipment brakes, and life can get in the way. My recent snow goose expedition proves that attitude and persistance pays off. It all started with an e-mail exchange between myself and a guy that lives near Middle Creek Pa. We made plans to get together once the numbers built up. Finally two weeks later we had the numbers and the time to hunt, I would get there Friday morning and we would hunt the afternoon. I get a call Thursday and Danny said he was stuck at work in chicago and Friday was a no go since he would be in too late. Well I traveled out Friday morning to enjoy some of the other things around Middle Creek. Travel was slow as rain poured down and fog on every mountain was thick and I arrived safe and sound. I located Danny's house and checked into a hotel and got directions from the clerk for Middle Creek. I Got my gear settled in and headed for the lake with a camera in one hand and Binoculars in the other. First stop was the museum, which was well worth it. I talked to a few other waterfowlers and birders which consumed two very interesting hours. Grabbed the camera and set off to the roadside viewing areas to shoot some ringies, blacks, mallards, canadas, and snows. I got a few good pics with my limited ability and my cameras limits.
I got back to the hotel just in time for Danny to show up and share what was going on the next day. Well to say I was excited is redundant, I slept two hours woke up watched some tv tried to sleep again got two more hours and started to get dressed three hours before I had to meet him. I drove to his place and waited half an hour till he got outside and off to get his clients. We showed up at their hotel and they were still asleep. Danny asked if I would mind taking one of them in my vehicle, no problem, so we moved some gear around to make room and shut the doors with my keys locked in the truck. We called AAA and they said it would be an hour, I told danny to go and I would meet him near the field. I stood outside the hotel in my blue jeans and two sweatshirts waiting for a whole hour til the truck was opened. Finally I was on my way to my first goose hunt, I got close to Middle Creek and called to have him meet me. A little while later I get a call from Danny asking where I was and I said at the sign like he said, well there are more than one sign it turns out so we met at the museum. Luckily we made it to the field and nothing was flying yet.
The geese started to fly and most headed to our left but a few came our way and the guys in the pit missed some good opportunities. Danny and I moved our blinds forward and the next flock came in to the left of the pit, my side, and Danny got off one shot, gun jammed, and I shot three times and two geese fell. My first snow, another check off the list. We had a lot of geese flair on us just before the shot would be called due to our blind being at the top of the hill and 40 mph winds. We did get a fair amount of shooting even in these conditions. We had ringies, pintails, and candas fly through the deeks which added to an already good hunt. A single came in and one of the pit guys got it and this rookie got his first band. Something I don't think he even knows how rare it is to get. Halfway through the hunt the E-caller quit and we found a frayed wire. I grabbed a knife and started to repair it only to cut my finger but got it fixed.
The afternoon hunt bagged us a couple more birds but then the heavy rains came only to shut down the birds. Our grand total was seven snows I had lots of fun with several new friends and added new memories that will last a life time.
So many things can go wrong on a hunting trip. Weather can spoil things, vehicles have problems, equipment brakes, and life can get in the way. My recent snow goose expedition proves that attitude and persistance pays off. It all started with an e-mail exchange between myself and a guy that lives near Middle Creek Pa. We made plans to get together once the numbers built up. Finally two weeks later we had the numbers and the time to hunt, I would get there Friday morning and we would hunt the afternoon. I get a call Thursday and Danny said he was stuck at work in chicago and Friday was a no go since he would be in too late. Well I traveled out Friday morning to enjoy some of the other things around Middle Creek. Travel was slow as rain poured down and fog on every mountain was thick and I arrived safe and sound. I located Danny's house and checked into a hotel and got directions from the clerk for Middle Creek. I Got my gear settled in and headed for the lake with a camera in one hand and Binoculars in the other. First stop was the museum, which was well worth it. I talked to a few other waterfowlers and birders which consumed two very interesting hours. Grabbed the camera and set off to the roadside viewing areas to shoot some ringies, blacks, mallards, canadas, and snows. I got a few good pics with my limited ability and my cameras limits.
I got back to the hotel just in time for Danny to show up and share what was going on the next day. Well to say I was excited is redundant, I slept two hours woke up watched some tv tried to sleep again got two more hours and started to get dressed three hours before I had to meet him. I drove to his place and waited half an hour till he got outside and off to get his clients. We showed up at their hotel and they were still asleep. Danny asked if I would mind taking one of them in my vehicle, no problem, so we moved some gear around to make room and shut the doors with my keys locked in the truck. We called AAA and they said it would be an hour, I told danny to go and I would meet him near the field. I stood outside the hotel in my blue jeans and two sweatshirts waiting for a whole hour til the truck was opened. Finally I was on my way to my first goose hunt, I got close to Middle Creek and called to have him meet me. A little while later I get a call from Danny asking where I was and I said at the sign like he said, well there are more than one sign it turns out so we met at the museum. Luckily we made it to the field and nothing was flying yet.
The geese started to fly and most headed to our left but a few came our way and the guys in the pit missed some good opportunities. Danny and I moved our blinds forward and the next flock came in to the left of the pit, my side, and Danny got off one shot, gun jammed, and I shot three times and two geese fell. My first snow, another check off the list. We had a lot of geese flair on us just before the shot would be called due to our blind being at the top of the hill and 40 mph winds. We did get a fair amount of shooting even in these conditions. We had ringies, pintails, and candas fly through the deeks which added to an already good hunt. A single came in and one of the pit guys got it and this rookie got his first band. Something I don't think he even knows how rare it is to get. Halfway through the hunt the E-caller quit and we found a frayed wire. I grabbed a knife and started to repair it only to cut my finger but got it fixed.
The afternoon hunt bagged us a couple more birds but then the heavy rains came only to shut down the birds. Our grand total was seven snows I had lots of fun with several new friends and added new memories that will last a life time.