We were determined, whatever our fate, we were going to have a good time! The first challenge to our resolve came slightly more than three hours into our trip. Upon return from our first bathroom break, I got the news from Randy. "I forgot my gun. Did you bring an extra gun? We could turn around!" I looked at him in disbelief, then I turned and looked at Matt in the back seat, "So much for your theory that we can at least count on Randy to bring his gun and his ammo!" We all laughed. I informed my forgetful fellow hunter that I brought my SBE-2, and he was welcome to use it, but there was no way in hell we were turning around! I was debating on whether to shoot the 3 1/2 12 gauge with the magazine extender or my SP-10. I guess my decision was made. Five hours later, we pulled into the parking lot in Anna, Illinois following a pick uptruck with Michigan plates. We didn't know it at the time, but these folks would be our companions for the next two days.
We parked behind the barn like we did last week, and hurried in to find a bed. The group from Michigan was straggling behind as they attempted to stretch their legs and gain their bearings. I couldn't help but notice that they had a woman with them. Good luck, I thought. As the lodge door opened I noticed that the odor reminded me of a college dorm room! I wasn't sure why, but it was very different from last week. Upon entering the living room, I could see the game of beer pong being played by three guys who looked to be in their early twenties. They were "well oiled", as it were, as in, "feeling no pain".
The last thing I wanted to deal with at 10:00 PM was three drunks. We found Jay and he pointed us to our sleeping quarters. As we walked back down the hallway, I met the fatherly figure of the Michigan crew. "Hi, are you guys from Michigan?" I inquired. "Sure are!" "Well you might as well turn around, 'cause you can't stay here!" I could not say that without laughing! I believe his name was Mike, replied, "Let me guess, you're from Ohio!" "You guessed, it!" The rivalry never takes a holiday! It was all in good fun! I was wondering how a lady (Mike's daughter, Sarah) was going to throw a Monkey wrench into the shower and restroom facilities. However, I was impressed. Sarah was quite a trooper. She showered and did her thing, never asked for special consideration or accommodations. I say that, but we were all respectful of her presence. It worked out well.
As for the drunks, they were quiet drunks! We settled in, and they settled down. What started out looking like a disastrous situation, became a peaceful and harmonious evening. Gunner crawled up on the bed next to me and it was lights out.
The next morning we checked in with Rex, met our guide, Rocky, and headed 25 miles southeast to our pit blind. After unloading, Rocky took us and our gear in a side by side four wheeler to the pit. Gunner ran along behind. This time I was mindful of where the dog was with respect to the pit blind so as not to have any "tiger traps" for Gunner to fall into. The pit was similar to the one we were in last week, but much shallower! I don't believe any of our party, except Gunner, could stand up under the ceiling! Being above average in height, at 6'5", I am used to things not being made for me. My friends were a bit miffed by the low ceiling. After some initial grumbling, we all adjusted just fine. The vertical challenge was not a deterrent to the bacon and pancake breakfast that we salivated for! It wasn't long until the pit was filled with the smell of bacon cooking on my propane camping stove. Rocky watched for birds as we poured syrup on the welcomed breakfast.
Rocky told us not to expect any birds until the rain quit. Late that morning, the rain slowed to an intermittent drizzle. Just as our guide predicted about 3,000 snow geese appeared on the horizon. Rocky turned on the calls, but we watched in disappointment as they landed across the road. "Well it looks we are going to have to compete with locals", Rocky stated what we were all thinking. The pit had a concrete divider that separated our two groups, but if you could fit through the opening you could walk its length. I preferred to yell questions to Rocky, because fitting through that gap did not look possible for me. Out of boredom, I slid under the bench and took a nap. I had not been there long when I was awakened by the sound of Rocky firing up the electronic calls. James leaned through the gap and said, "cover up". I got up as Matt was moving the cornstalks to conceal our position. Sure enough, we had geese working our spread! Suddenly, it was a tornado of snows circling then breaking formation. It was like being in a snow globe! They were everywhere! I was so excited, I had to be grinning from ear to ear. The guide was talking to us fairly loudly but with the calls going and the sound of the flock, it was difficult to hear. We had a pair fly by at 20 yards and four cross from the opposite direction at 30 yards. Awesome! Matt and I watched a flock of eight cruise in over our left shoulder at 30 yards. I looked at Rocky, but he was talking about a group in the opposite direction. He did not see our eight. As I watched the eight coast out of our spread I heard Rocky say, "take these!" I quickly popped up out of the hole and opened fired. i was a bit surprised that Rocky called the shot on these twenty five geese at 60 yards, but here we are! I was thrilled when my 10 gauge erupted and the goose I was shooting at folded and fell from the flock, "I hit one!" I yelled. Much to my disappointment the next shot did not fire. My gun jammed. The next shell came out early and fouled the trusty semi-auto! Matt let Gunner out of the pit. He raced passed Sarah who must have rocketed out like Hussein Bolt himself. Gunner tackled my snow at 100 yards. He returned with him and pranced back and forth in front of the pit. Apparently Sarah dropped the other bird on the last shot of the volley with her 20 gauge! Wow, what a shot, right in the head!
We barely had time to recount the tale of the awesome sight when Rocky turned on the calls again. "These are going to fly right over our heads and we are going to take passing shots. They are in range!" We waited maybe 10 seconds and we stood up blazing! The SP-10 let out a thunderous eruption and my second snow goose died in flight and landed 20 feet from the pit. I was so excited I almost forgot to shoot again. Five geese in all were hit by our group and Gunner was off and running!
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| The happy hunters:Randy, Me, Matt and Gunner |
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| My first snow goose. |
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