2006 - 2007 2nd year of hunting

Page 3

Washita National Wildlife Refuge Goose Hunt

Day 4, November 12, 2006

Met Jim Christy at the gate into the Goose hunting area of Washita NWR. Only about half the hunters that had drawn and paid for blinds showed, so maybe only 5 of the 11 pit blinds were hunted. Carted in Jim's Goose Shells on a long hard walk across a wet wheat field to the blind. We had blind #9 backed up to the woods and overlooking a large green wheat field. Foss Lake was beyond the trees. Geese so loud it stood the hair on my back. Jim is 65 years old and had goose hunted the area for over 17 years. I found him to be an expert caller. He tried to teach me to use a goose call, but I need a lot more practice. I learned a lot from him about how to set up spreads, calling, goose habits, etc. My first goose hunt. He let me have the first shot. I missed a goose maybe 35 yards out. Looked like it was floating to me, but Jim said it was probably flying 50 miles and hour. We both dropped a goose from the next group he called over the decoys. Was a great morning. Jim then headed back to Tulsa and I worked on plans for the next days hunt. 

Jim and I had been checked by a couple Federal Fish and Wildlife Wardens and a Biologist on the way out of the hunting area. I asked them about recommendations of where I could hunt the next day "for any kind of game" explaining that I was prepared for any type of hunting. A very pretty young Fish and Wildlife girl tipped me about an area she had been doing some waterfowl counts. All three were very helpful. Even though the office was closed for the weekend, the guys let me follow them to unlock the office to give me maps of some public hunting areas. I hit the road to go scout the area I was tipped off about from the nice Fish and Wildlife girl. I felt good about what I found so went on to Foss State Park to set up my one man tent for the night. I was the only camper in the park. For supper I ate Teriyaki Goose cooked over an unknown wood fire. My Tent was right on the water with the door facing the Lake. Sometime during the night the wind changed out of the North coming off the lake. It was very cold. The dog somehow ended up IN the sleeping bag with me by morning. 

Day 5. November 13, 2006 

Mother of all Duck Hunts and the Great Goose vs Vizsla Fight

Up at 4:00 am to drive, then unload the kayak. Took about three dozen mixed decoys and 5 goose shells. Some of the used Goose shells bought from Texas Hunting Forum member honkhntr a month ago. Not knowing what to expect I shot a teal early because it was easy to identify. Then I stayed in my layout blind and watched group after group of Ducks come and go for maybe two hours. I did not fire a shot during this time. Just had fun watching. I had ducks walking around my feet much of the time. Started picking out mostly Greenheads when I did start. Then the big Greater Canada Geese came. Dropped one and then a second went sailing into the hillside behind me. 

Took-off after it with Blaze, but found head high weeds and bushes so started zig zagging up the hill fighting the brush. Blaze caught a scent and went crashing up the hill. I could hear all kinds of honking going on. I found the Goose in a clearing under a tree with the dog working back and forth trying to make a charge. The goose looking bigger than Blaze was doing the famous Karate Kid move with it's head up, standing tall, and wings all the way out. I saw Blaze charge and the goose get hold of Blaze on her flank just at the back edge of her vest. After a tussle they did mutually let go of each other. I called Blaze back and when she finally, reluctantly, did so, I finished the goose. Blaze ran back to the goose for a bite and a growl to get the last punch in. As of this post, Blaze still has a small welt from the Goose.

Calling it a day, I went back to pick up decoys. I had pulled the kayak out of the woods, put the gun up, and was just picking up decoys and looking for a duck I had left in the water. Then more geese came. They landed in my decoys with me. I sat/stayed Blaze, dropped to my knees, pulled my elbows in to look like a stump, then got my camera out. Actually glad I did not have my gun or I might not have got the pictures. While this was going on, a hawk that had been harassing ducks on the point earlier, flew down the bank and picked up my duck in the water behind me. What a neat day.

Picture of Kayak with the lucky hood ornaments! BTW, Snipe did fly to, land, and walk around the two Snipe decoys during the morning. Unfortunately not listed as legal game on the public area I was hunting. 

After loading up again, I headed on to Sylvan Grove Kansas where I had rented a house to stay for the next four nights. I had located the house through one of the hunting forums. Not bad at $20 a night!

Day 6, November 14, 2006 

Hello Kansas

Settled into the hunting cabin at Sylvan Grove Kansas and learned how to use the wood burning furnace. Did a lot of driving, walking, and scouting public WIHA areas in Lincoln County Kansas. My first Kansas Pheasant experience. Actually my first visit to KS. The areas I started in did not look to good for hunting. Most CRP areas there had been allowed to be cut and bailed or allowed to be grazed due to the drought. Some Pheasant hens flushed for me, but only one Rooster over day 5 and 6. My dog Blaze was milling around my feet like she was trying to point them and I thought she was giving up. As I was trying to get her to go back out and "hunt em up". A big Rooster flushes at my feet, rises straight up to eye level flapping and cackling, then the afterburners kick in and off it sails. I just stood there in awe. Like the classic paintings we all have seen with the Hunter, the dog, and the Pheasant, for the moment I was frozen within that picture. I then thought to myself, "I was supposed to shoot that bird". I did not care. Mostly on day 5 I just enjoyed the scenery and took a lot of pictures. Wide open, but hilly. I thought the rock fence posts were neat. Decided I needed to move on to a different area to look for better Pheasant hunting. And it did get better later in the week. 

 

Blaze is an all game dog and so allowed to hunt off target game. At times I would find her hunting fur instead of feather. I found Kansas has no shortage of rabbits and one could easily get their limit of 10 each day with a dog. I did shoot one or two each day out from in front of my dog to keep her happy.

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2005 - 2006 Hunting Season

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