As the cabin fever had set in after a crazy cold winter with record cold spells for most of us. I was truly in need of a way to get out and hunt. Needless to say I was up for anything that would let me get outside and HUNT!!!
I was at the Iowa Deer Classic working the Watson Airlock booth when I got the call! It was my cousin Jeremy he was ready to plan some snow goose hunts! My prayers had been answered it was finally time to start planning a week of hunting. Now all we needed was Mother Nature to let loose of her frigid grasp she had on the Midwest. As you know she did not let go very willingly!
Finally the weather was breaking and the geese were starting to move north. Jeremy went and hunted central Missouri and killed a few geese the last week of February. We started making plans for the hunts up here. Jeremy called me on Friday night and said they were setting out a decoy spread and wondered if I could come help the next morning. I said of course and my son Garrett and I met him and several of his hunting buddies at the pond on Saturday morning. We put out a ton of Decoys mostly windsocks but had a great mix of hard bodies as well. The pond was still frozen so there was no hope of open water. But Sunday morning was the first day we would try. Garrett came along with his 20 ga and had high hopes of killing his first Snow Goose. As we laid out in the spread we watched several groups fly overhead finally a lone bird broke loose and cup his wings, he was coming in! After what seemed a eternity the bird was flying above us looking for a spot to land. Jeremy called SHOOT HIM!!! Garrett sat up and made a great shot and folded the goose instantly! He was super excited to say the least! But I think the rest of us were maybe a little more pumped for him. We hunted the rest of the morning with no shots.
I returned to the spread a couple times through-out the week but never fired a shot. I was great just to be outside taking in the sun. About mid-week we made a move to another field. Although I saw more snow geese than I believe I ever had I still did not fire a shot. Mostly the adults were flying over and they were not interested in our spread at all. But work and life started to call my name so I got to hunt on Thursday one last time it was a great day and the geese were flying but I had to leave before a flock decided to check out the decoys.
I don’t measure my hunts by the amount of shooting or the number of animals I harvest. I try to be thankful for the time in the field with great friends and especially when I get to hunt with one of my kids! Even though I did not fire a shot this spring I got to see my 11 year old son harvest his first snow goose and I assure you it won’t be his last! Special Thanks to Jeremy Tompkins for allowing me to hunt and for helping Garrett this spring!!!! I also look forward to hunting with all the guys again as soon as we can.
