Dave at kelton Posted November 3, 2022 Report Share Posted November 3, 2022 Canada Day 3 The expected cold front had arrived and brought more snow overnight albeit only about 5mm. The guides thought the geese would flight out and stay out rather than back for a break midday. So it was 4.30 alarm and leave at 5.00 for an hour drive to the hunt. Roads were white and icy so it was a slow trip but we eventually arrived in a large stubble field to set up. Guides wanted a very large layout this time so we had about 1500 decoys to put out taking a good hour and a half. In our winter clothing it was warm work but coats were left off to avoid sweating up and then chilling when we sat out. As before shooting light was 8.00 and as soon as we settled onto our camp chairs the first snow geese were moving and we took eight out of a group that came in whilst the guide was away with the vehicle. As it came fully light big groups of snows began to move and at points we had a thousand or more circling above the decoys but too nervous to commit. Every now and then ten or twenty would break ranks and whiffle down before setting to give us a shot. About an hour of this and with birds in the bag it was getting cold but became worse as the snow set in. This is not the big wet flakes we experience in the UK. It was tiny ice particles the size of course sand. Whipped in by the wind it stung and bit into any exposed flesh. Powdery in nature it gets into everything, down sleeves and necks and importantly into the Benelli actions were it inevitably freezes causing numerous misfires and lock ups. On more than one occasion I was unable to shoot as snow geese tumbled in. The snow was not quite a white out but reduced visibility for both us and the geese. Wavy lines of snows,blending with the grey sky would just appear over your horizon as they battled the wind into the decoys. My hands were numb and fingers hurting despite gloves to the point were I couldn’t easily depress the button to return the bolt or clear a jam. About 11.00 am after three hours in the chairs we got up to walk about, warm up and collect outlying geese before the snow buried them. One of our party returned to the truck to warm up. This weather improved the shooting as geese simply could not see us, snow covered, lying on our beds. It was smaller parties but lower and committed. Ducks also came in with the geese wheeling and swirling as they flared over us; testing snap shooting in the main. Despite the cold we were intent on making the most of such a fantastic flight deciding to pack up at around 14.00. Collecting in the decoys and equipment was tortuous as there was no hiding from the biting wind and snow. An hour and a half to pack up and get it all into the trailer before we collected the birds. Even then we spent twenty minutes or so zigzagging across the field in truck making sure no birds were missed. The bag, well I won’t be too specific but it was three figures of geese but lees than our limit and fifteen duck. All processed that night and put into the food chain. One of the main products is goose jerky that is home produced and distributed around the community and farmers, as well as being eaten by the hunters, although not to my taste. That was it for the trip as our last hunt was cancelled due to the weather. Another amazing experience shooting in a wholly different way to my Wildfowling. I just hope you enjoyed the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWildfowler Posted November 3, 2022 Report Share Posted November 3, 2022 Sounds amazing. Really enjoyed reading this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weihrauch17 Posted November 3, 2022 Report Share Posted November 3, 2022 19 minutes ago, MWildfowler said: Sounds amazing. Really enjoyed reading this! This, thank you for sharing your amazing trip with great write ups and pictures irrespective of what section it ended up in!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted November 3, 2022 Report Share Posted November 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Weihrauch17 said: This, thank you for sharing your amazing trip with great write ups and pictures irrespective of what section it ended up in!! This 👍🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 4, 2022 Report Share Posted November 4, 2022 Great report and sometimes adverse conditions make it all the more challenging and exciting. Have a safe trip home. First frost here in Leicestershire this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted November 4, 2022 Report Share Posted November 4, 2022 Excellent report and photos to match , nice to see and know how others go about wild fowling in far distant places, putting those numbers of decoys out is mind blowing and those guides don't cut many corners , when it come to wild fowl decoying I think the decoyer's on the other side of the pond would take some beating . I often think how they would go about Wood Pigeon decoying if they had the same species as us and in good numbers , would they end up like the now extinct Passenger Pigeon ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 4, 2022 Report Share Posted November 4, 2022 Excellent! Were you filmed and who were your guides? I'd like a day with Mel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted November 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2022 52 minutes ago, Penelope said: Excellent! Were you filmed and who were your guides? I'd like a day with Mel. We weren’t filmed and I haven’t looked at the GoPro yet. Anything decent I might post. We had two flights with Mel and he guided yesterday. Amazing guide and character. We also did hunts with Brad and Jason, the former giving us another big hunt last year. You might see a post of us by Claudio on Facebook, I haven’t looked as still sitting in airports trying to get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted November 4, 2022 Report Share Posted November 4, 2022 Nice write-up of your adventure, thanks ...... mind you reading it and looking at those pictures made me feel cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenshank1 Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Looks fantastic 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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