YARD HOPPER GOOSE, hunt two
Contributors to this thread:Small Game
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
Thousand snow geese in the area over lake that is in Eastern Colorado 130 mile away from home.
Thousand snow geese in the area over lake that is in Eastern Colorado 130 mile away from home.
I line up Teal on a green head Mallard
I line up Teal on a green head Mallard
Planning on a Friday morning archery goose hunt. Just returned from duck hunting for two days. The first day was good with two drakes down. This morning, very slow and no ducks in the bag. Teal did his job. Do not know what the goose population is like in the area, so will have to wait until morning. Tune in tomorrow for the update. Any way, having fun. Paul and Teal
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
Time for a treat.
Time for a treat.
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
Well this duck hunt was just a warm up for the goose hunt this morning. As I passed by the big lake I did not see any geese on this side so I expect that it might be a slow day. At 7:15 just at the sun was coming up, I had the decoys out in two small flocks to simulate two family groups. This worked during the first hunt where we killed one goose on the very first day. I remember a few years back I hunted 5 times and did not have an opportunity to even draw and kill a goose. So one never knows what might happen, especially hunting geese, aka, Yard Hoppers.
We were in the blind and Teal was ready for any action. Wait, we hear geese coming!!!!
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
Yep, geese in the air coming from the other side of the lake. 8 am. no wind, reasonable temps in the low 30s. If anything, we are out hunting with the bow and man's best friend.
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
I start my goose calling off and on. Like before, I am looking for low flying local geese and not the high flyers that are heading to places unknown.
WAIT! over the pond to the right. Six geese coming in and low. "Teal, sit and stay". I am scrambling for the camera, range finder and bow while keeping Teal quite and still. He know what is happening. A Chinese fire drill for sure!
From: Vonfoust
22-Dec-23
Refreshing.....
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
The geese are committed to land and they settle down within 30 yards.
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
I range find the closest goose at 21 yards and launch the mechanical BH tipped arrow. WHACK! It flutters away and dies. The other geese move off slightly but stay just thinking their buddy is taking a nap.
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
The range finder shows 30 yards on the second goose, I adjust my single pin sight. Draw, steady, release, WHACK! PS, I killed my Colorado elk at 29 yards this season.
From: Lewis
22-Dec-23
Dadgum is this cool or what keep em coming Good luck Lewis
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
I think I can. No, too many feathers.
I think I can. No, too many feathers.
Ok that is better but still hard for him.
Ok that is better but still hard for him.
Teal looked at me and stated " hey, this is hard work, I need a break. Maybe I will just lick off some blood."
Teal looked at me and stated " hey, this is hard work, I need a break. Maybe I will just lick off some blood."
8:15 am and I am done for the day. Two geese in the pot and I am only 5 minutes to home and breakfast. Now it is Teal's turn, ie, to learn how to pick up or drag back a large 10 pound goose. I know he will have trouble do so, but this is all about training
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
A good day and two geese killed. What is not to like about this?????????? Until the next time. Thanks for following along for the past 13 years, the Yard Hopper Series.
Our best, Paul and Teal and of course, Chase the wonder dog
From: Rgiesey
22-Dec-23
Great day Paul!
From: Dale06
22-Dec-23
Awesome! Congrats and thanks for sharing.
From: BigOk
22-Dec-23
Awesome!
From: tobywon
22-Dec-23
Awesome Paul and Teal, strong start!! Turning out to be lucky season number 13!!
From: JTreeman
22-Dec-23
All the slow play in the preseason thread, then it has started off pretty dang good with 3 down in 2 sits! Keep having fun!
—Jim
From: swp
22-Dec-23
Love it!!
From: hawkeye in PA
22-Dec-23
Paul, thanks for taking us along!! Always enjoy the yard hopper series, and congratulations to the both of you. Teal is doing great, your a good teacher!
From: njbuck
22-Dec-23
Off to a great start! Hopefully its your best season yet.
From: 12yards
22-Dec-23
Well done! Love your beautiful black dog! Best dogs on the planet!
From: deerhunter72
22-Dec-23
I think Paul just might be the deadliest man alive with a bow;) Seems like this year couldn’t have started off any better! Congratulations to you both on getting it done. Bowsite doesn’t get any better than this.
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
22-Dec-23
Excellent as always Paul, congrats to you and Teal!
From: midwest
22-Dec-23
Atta buddies!
From: TMac
22-Dec-23
Well done Paul and Teal!
From: spike78
22-Dec-23
Great so far Paul!
From: Vonfoust
22-Dec-23
A great day Paul! Congrats to you and Teal!
From: Frenchman
22-Dec-23
Paul - you helped me with bow shooting turkeys last year - or was it 2 years ago - now I also joined the elite goose bowhunting club - but it took me probably 10 shots at 30-40 yards before I got one at 32 yards with flu-flu ... Ps. my 12-gauge hunting buddies were kind enough to leave the last one in the limit for me to try with the bow... glad I was able to do it!
From: Chief 419
22-Dec-23
I look forward to this thread every year Paul. Teal is going to learn a lot this season. Keep giving him hoppers to retrieve.
From: fastflight
22-Dec-23
So awesome!! Love seeing these hunts every year. Teal looks great!
From: SlipShot
22-Dec-23
Love seeing these posts!
From: arlone
22-Dec-23
Way to go Paul and Teal! Thank you for sharing with the rest of us. Looking forward to more "Yard Hopping"!
From: JB
22-Dec-23
Great job Paul and Teal! Always enjoy you hunts!!
From: Paul@thefort
22-Dec-23
Serge, is that a Canada Goose or a Quebec goose? Either way, nicely done. Paul
From: Jaquomo
22-Dec-23
Good job, Paul! I wondered when I drove by and saw your truck,but no geese on our side of the lake. Presume this was the little bunch on the pond with the aerators? Hopefully the new owners will let you continue to hunt (our mutual friend wanted to buy it back but the inspection didn't do so well, so he backed out of the contract...)
From: Supernaut
22-Dec-23
Outstanding as usual Paul and Teal!
A 2 geese outing and 3 on the season, very impressive. Treats all around I'd say.
From: patience2spare
23-Dec-23
Yes!!! Great job Paul & Teal! One of these hunts Teal is going to grab one by the neck or the thigh and carry it back proud as can be! He will figure those big birds out.
From: buckfevered
23-Dec-23
Love reading about your adventures, especially those with Teal. Never disappoint. Keep it up, best of luck, and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours! Thank you Paul!
From: Percy
23-Dec-23
Awesome, very well done. Thanks for sharing the details and pictures.
From: bowhunter24
23-Dec-23
Well done to both of you! Teal will get the hang of it, maybe you could grab one and show him haha!
From: Insheart
23-Dec-23
Well done Paul and Teal. Late to the "Yard Hopper" threads. Christmas with my kids and brand new GREAT GRANDSON down south.
From: Paul@thefort
23-Dec-23
Well congrats Grandpa. Tune in when you can. Merry Christmas, Paul
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
23-Dec-23
Love this thread every year! Keep at it Paul and Teal!
From: Paul@thefort
23-Dec-23
Thanks Nick. Gee, a bow hunting story on Bowsite. Refreshing for sure. Merry Christmas. Paul
From: stringgunner
24-Dec-23
Awesome. Thanks for posting.
From: Paul@thefort
24-Dec-23
That is more like retrieving a goose, good I can attach a goose wing to make it better.
That is more like retrieving a goose, good I can attach a goose wing to make it better.
No doubt Teal has a problem to pickup or drag these heavy geese back to me so I tied three training dummies together to add more weight and also to simulate picking up and or dragging a heavy goose.
From: drycreek
24-Dec-23
Late to the party Paul, but I’ve been visiting my daughter in Abilene, TX. Whackin’ and stackin’ as usual ! Teal will get this down sooner rather than later I’m sure. Keep it coming, we love it !
From: Lewis
24-Dec-23
Great thread as always Paul what head are you using I perfectly know it’s always the Indian not the arrow but I was thinking about trying a mechanical instead of my coc for turkeys this spring.Good Luck on smoking those birds and I’m sure Teal will be toting them in no time btw those breasts make some very good jerky Lewis
From: Paul@thefort
24-Dec-23
Lewis, still using the NAP Shockforce mechanical on geese and turkeys. Yea, jerky and burger if you mix in 10 percent hickory smoked thick cut bacon.
From: Jim McNamara
25-Dec-23
My ole hunting buddy is long gone. She was a small yellow lab. It took her two seasons to get the handle on fetching a goose on land. Water was , of course , very different. I still remember an early Sunday morning hunt before church. Shot a double off the reservoir bank. Libby had her big lead on yet and she broke and made a dash to the water. She swam about half a mile chasing the cripple. Finally they both hit an ice shelf and the goose started diving. My lab went right after that bird and I was stunned to see her come up with the gooses neck in her mouth. Thought for sure she would drown on the way back but she pulled that goose all the way across and right to my feet. An amazing accomplishment . She gained a lot of confidence that year and finally started picking up geese , not always pretty, but she got them back to the blind for us. Teal is well on her way and will make a fine retriever and even better companion for you. Actually she is already both!
From: Paul@thefort
25-Dec-23
Great story Jim. I have been very impress with all of the male Labradors I have had, Teal being the 7th. Yea, lots of stories about retrieves, some good, some bad, some near death but the outcomes have mostly been good if not marvelous. Chase the wonder dog, the star of the Yard Hopper series for 12 years, would haul them back by the neck, the wind, the butt, ect. but his was 3 years old when the series started. Again, thanks for the note. Paul
From: Paul@thefort
26-Dec-23
Was going to hunt again this Tuesday morning but winds and gusts 25-35 mph and up to 50-60 gusts cancelled that here in Ft Collins CO. In a few days, so keep tuned in for the next goose hunt. Paul and Teal.
From: Djl
26-Dec-23
Way to go.
