First Duck and Goose

[Specklebelly]

I was thinking about my first duck hunts when I was a kid with my dad.  Lots of good memories.

The first duck I ever shot was a wood duck hen at a public hunting flooded "duck stamp unit" in eastern Oklahoma.  This was probably around 1982 or 83.  Man was I excited.

First goose was a lessor Canada in the late 80's.  Shot it on public land as well, this time in Western Oklahoma.  Probably around 1986.

What about yours?

[gooser]

  LOL, I really can't remember the first duck.....but it was probably out along the Saginaw bay somewhere.Maybe at tobico marsh,a public area.
 But my first goose I remember.I was hunting with my brother Tom and we decided to sneak up on some geese in a field.We were lucky to have a ditch in the field to use for cover,we got close to the geese and jumped up and started shooting as the geese were taking off.It was a great time and I'll always remember that hunt.
 I was 12 or 13 years old at that time.

[lewdogg21]

Don't remember the first duck I got. I do remember the first I shot at.

Wood duck with a single shot .410.  It came racing out of some timber slough.

My first honker was in the early 90's.  We setup for geese in this field and I was on the end and benefited greatly for the fact the geese swung low on that side.  I'm pretty sure I tripled too.  They were like 15 yards so it wasn't that hard.

[Wayne from Maine]

Both this year.  First duck was ducks - a double.  Got a goose that week.  Age 58

[lewdogg21]

First duck - Don't remember

First Canada Goose - We were field hunting in the foothills of N. California and a flock was real low and swung over my side.  When somebody called the shot they were like 15-20 yards from me and I trippled.  I've had a number of easier shots since then and have not trippled. 

[gooser]

Both this year.  First duck was ducks - a double.  Got a goose that week.  Age 58

Nice shooting Wayne from Maine, and welcome to GBO.

[ShottieMan]

I know I am a little late but i'll add to the mix!

First duck was 3 years ago. Last day of the season here in PA. 30 minutes before the season ended. He now resides on my wall!

First Canada was my first season. Was with 3 other guys that were calling like a bunch of madmen. Told them to pipe down and hit my call and back he came! One pellet brought the brute down. Hit him in the let wing right at the joint! Had to put on one heck of a chase considering he was about 20 yards from the water's edge.

BTW: One pellet brought my mallard down too.

[gooser]

its never too late.......good to hear from you, I've seen the one pellet shot myself before.

[ShottieMan]

its never too late.......good to hear from you, I've seen the one pellet shot myself before.

Thanx!

I am getting itchy for the season to get here. Resident starts up Sept. 1st. WOO HOO!!!!!

See if I can get any "1-pellets" this season!

[gooser]

myself I like the center pattern shot,......keep em in range,and do your   best.......But,like I say , I've taken long shots and brought them down. I shoot 12ga 3 1/2 mags and 10 gauge. Where I have taken em at 70+yds and killed them,but, prefer the definate kill range myself.
 Price of ammo going up,........don't want to take to many risky shots.
 1 shot , 1 kill,........my motto. 

Let us know how your early season turns out. We can make a post on our early season reports.
It should be interesting......
gooser

[ShottieMan]

myself I like the center pattern shot,......keep em in range,and do your   best.......But,like I say , I've taken long shots and brought them down. I shoot 12ga 3 1/2 mags and 10 gauge. Where I have taken em at 70+yds and killed them,but, prefer the definate kill range myself.
 Price of ammo going up,........don't want to take to many risky shots.
 1 shot , 1 kill,........my motto. 

Let us know how your early season turns out. We can make a post on our early season reports.
It should be interesting......
gooser

Trust me, I don't "intend" to get the 1-pellet shots! I like to keep them centered myself.

Will keep ya posted. Hopefully I have a good opener! Best of luck to all of you also!

[H666]

The season for greylag and pinkfoot started yesterday in Iceland.

I think I'll wait a week and a half, maybe two.  The young ones grow considerably fatter in two weeks.

I was going to sport my trusty 1187 but when I was cleaning and lubricating it the other day something snapped, and it's with a gunsmith now.  I'll have to use a Zbrojovka Brno 301 over/under for the job.  It's a good gun though, has served me well.

[ShottieMan]

The season for greylag and pinkfoot started yesterday in Iceland.

I think I'll wait a week and a half, maybe two.  The young ones grow considerably fatter in two weeks.

I was going to sport my trusty 1187 but when I was cleaning and lubricating it the other day something snapped, and it's with a gunsmith now.  I'll have to use a Zbrojovka Brno 301 over/under for the job.  It's a good gun though, has served me well.

Good Luck! 

[338JDJ]

Remember like it was yesterday. I was 10. Went hunting with my dad to a place no to far from the house called the loosie hatchie bottoms. Standing in the woods my dad called in a group of maybe 15 or 20 mallards and he told me to pick out a greenhead and stay on him and shoot. I don't even remember seeing any greenheads ...just ducks. So I picked one out and let the shells fly out of that rem 1100 and dropped a Suzie. I remember him asking why I didn't shoot a greenhead and I told him I just picked out a duck and did like he said and stay with it.
First goose was at Sardis lake in Mississippi I was 15. I fell in love and have hunted those big birds every since.

[Freezer]

    I'm 51 and have been hunting ducks for three years.  I lost my first two ducks in the toolies but the first I dropped and recovered was a teal.  He tasted great and the best duck I ever ate. I had taught Mark how to deer hunt and in turn he's been teaching me to duck hunt.  When this opportunity came I bought a used Beretta 390.  I had an old Mossberg 5500mk II but only had a non Mag barrel for it.  The stock on the Beretta was too short and I just couldn't get it to fit well.  In addition I needed shoulder surgery again and the Beretta is heavy.  This year I had recovered from my shoulder surgeries and found a Mag barrel for the old Mossy.  I made one evening hunt and dropped a hen Mallard with one shot.  This inspired me!  Two weeks later I got to hunt the entire day.  I just couldn't miss.  I got my first limit that day and called in eight sprig with a song, "Oh Come All Yea Faithfull".  Late in the afternoon a lone Greater Candian came in out of range.  Mark started calling so sweet it sounded like "I'm so lonesome I could cry". That goose did a U-turn.  We didn't have goose decoys out so he wasn't interested in landing and did another U-turn in front of the blind.  Mark got two shots off and missed before I took one shot and dropped him.  My first goose   That was the Christmas goose and and the carcass made great soup!