Ian F.
11-30-2008, 08:37 PM
So today the tides where perfect to chase pintails and widgeon, so the plan was for a trophy shoot trying for a 2 x4. That is 4 drake pins, and same for widgeon. Got out in good time, and set with no one to be seen. I was hunting the flats in the short grass with the pod and took extra care to get it all covered up in drifted eel grass and smartweed. All and all things looks good!
The day started out slow with not many birds flying, but the hanging mist can do funny things with the birds and well today, as you find out was funny indeed! I missed a corker drake pintail early, but it was early still over an hour till high tide and usually high tide is the flight. Next a group of widgeon came in and I dropped a nice drake from the bunch. Ahh maybe the worst shooting slump of my life is coming to an end?
A few more groups, nothing close enough to confirm status, remember this is a trophy shoot, going for a 2 x 4
So I’m in that semi-comatose state hunkered in the pod in the grass scanning for birds when all of a sudden for behind to the right a series of shots ring out. Holy frijoles batman! Not 50.yards away two guys think it’s o.k to sky bust at a flock of widgeon. I sit up and make my presence known.
YOU’RE TOO CLOSE! They point at the birds in the air
YOU’RE TOO CLOSE! They point at the birds in the air again
YOU’RE TOO (fill in the blank) CLOSE! They hunker down in the grass looking just like two guys hunkered down in the grass!
We’ll I hope they don’t stay there because I’ll never get another chance with a couple of high shooters, and well I don’t want to be shot either!
About 10 mins later they decide to move on and go shoot at airplanes somewhere else.
I think to myself there’s still a good chance at a 2 x4… well next thing you know I catch some movement out of the corner of my eye. I sit up, turn and my lord I just about fall over. No tweedle and is brother did not return, it’s a guy on a bike holding a cup of coffee! He’s wearing a black hoodie and black pants and looks as out of place in the marsh as you can be! Now to qualify about 400 meters away is a public path, but he’s out in the marsh, with his bike at the waters edge!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/bikeguy.jpg
So I make sure the guy knows I’m there and he walks over and stands watching things on a log not 30 yards away! Is he all there? He walks back towards his bike so I purposely let a round into the water go just so he’s 100% certain I’m hunting, now out sitting in the marsh enjoying a cup of coffee. So he move over about 100 yards or so away and just seems to be looking for something, I mean for over an hour this guys is petering around the marsh like he’s looking for his car keys!
Well this hunt has gone to hell! I figure I’ll sit it out for a bit, till the tide turns and pull the pin early. I mean can it get any worse?
Short answer, YES!
Over comes the 3 musketeers and once again I sit up and they keep coming, so once again I let a round go into the water and they finally pay attention. So instead of giving me a wide berth they set up on the next point not 200 meters from me! Well my day is all but done, but I decide to sit for a little just in case. Hell I have a show to watch, the bike guy is still looking for his car keys and the 3 musketeers are setting up a see through blind, 2 robo’s and maybe 4 decoys on the water in a spot that in 40 mins will be a mud flat. Well very early they get to pat each others back as they knock down a pintail before the blind is even up. The bird sails out 300-400 meters and drops with a splash. Not one of them made an effort to retrieve it! I’m 200 yards away and I saw it go down! Boy do I wish there was a warden around! They finish setting up their blind and scratch a widgeon with 9 shells.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/3idiots.jpg
Every flock that goes buy gets WWIII and between the 3 musketeers and don’t forget the bike guy is still looking for his keys my hunt is done. Anything working my spread gets anti-aircraft fire at the outer markers and the words of my buddy Rick ring true, when it aint fun go home because it’s supposed to be fun!
So my trophy hunt for a 2 x 4 didn’t really materialize but I do have one hell of a story!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/widgwruger.jpg
Oh, and I almost forgot….
On the way to the truck, a guy stops on the road and I walk over and low and behold it’s a friend of mine I haven’t seen since September and after the requisite telling of the tell and BS, he helps me load my gear and I head off to Krispy Kreme to surprise Sherrill with her favorite doughnuts.
Hopefully Wednesday the snows co-operate!
Ian
The day started out slow with not many birds flying, but the hanging mist can do funny things with the birds and well today, as you find out was funny indeed! I missed a corker drake pintail early, but it was early still over an hour till high tide and usually high tide is the flight. Next a group of widgeon came in and I dropped a nice drake from the bunch. Ahh maybe the worst shooting slump of my life is coming to an end?
A few more groups, nothing close enough to confirm status, remember this is a trophy shoot, going for a 2 x 4
So I’m in that semi-comatose state hunkered in the pod in the grass scanning for birds when all of a sudden for behind to the right a series of shots ring out. Holy frijoles batman! Not 50.yards away two guys think it’s o.k to sky bust at a flock of widgeon. I sit up and make my presence known.
YOU’RE TOO CLOSE! They point at the birds in the air
YOU’RE TOO CLOSE! They point at the birds in the air again
YOU’RE TOO (fill in the blank) CLOSE! They hunker down in the grass looking just like two guys hunkered down in the grass!
We’ll I hope they don’t stay there because I’ll never get another chance with a couple of high shooters, and well I don’t want to be shot either!
About 10 mins later they decide to move on and go shoot at airplanes somewhere else.
I think to myself there’s still a good chance at a 2 x4… well next thing you know I catch some movement out of the corner of my eye. I sit up, turn and my lord I just about fall over. No tweedle and is brother did not return, it’s a guy on a bike holding a cup of coffee! He’s wearing a black hoodie and black pants and looks as out of place in the marsh as you can be! Now to qualify about 400 meters away is a public path, but he’s out in the marsh, with his bike at the waters edge!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/bikeguy.jpg
So I make sure the guy knows I’m there and he walks over and stands watching things on a log not 30 yards away! Is he all there? He walks back towards his bike so I purposely let a round into the water go just so he’s 100% certain I’m hunting, now out sitting in the marsh enjoying a cup of coffee. So he move over about 100 yards or so away and just seems to be looking for something, I mean for over an hour this guys is petering around the marsh like he’s looking for his car keys!
Well this hunt has gone to hell! I figure I’ll sit it out for a bit, till the tide turns and pull the pin early. I mean can it get any worse?
Short answer, YES!
Over comes the 3 musketeers and once again I sit up and they keep coming, so once again I let a round go into the water and they finally pay attention. So instead of giving me a wide berth they set up on the next point not 200 meters from me! Well my day is all but done, but I decide to sit for a little just in case. Hell I have a show to watch, the bike guy is still looking for his car keys and the 3 musketeers are setting up a see through blind, 2 robo’s and maybe 4 decoys on the water in a spot that in 40 mins will be a mud flat. Well very early they get to pat each others back as they knock down a pintail before the blind is even up. The bird sails out 300-400 meters and drops with a splash. Not one of them made an effort to retrieve it! I’m 200 yards away and I saw it go down! Boy do I wish there was a warden around! They finish setting up their blind and scratch a widgeon with 9 shells.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/3idiots.jpg
Every flock that goes buy gets WWIII and between the 3 musketeers and don’t forget the bike guy is still looking for his keys my hunt is done. Anything working my spread gets anti-aircraft fire at the outer markers and the words of my buddy Rick ring true, when it aint fun go home because it’s supposed to be fun!
So my trophy hunt for a 2 x 4 didn’t really materialize but I do have one hell of a story!
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/widgwruger.jpg
Oh, and I almost forgot….
On the way to the truck, a guy stops on the road and I walk over and low and behold it’s a friend of mine I haven’t seen since September and after the requisite telling of the tell and BS, he helps me load my gear and I head off to Krispy Kreme to surprise Sherrill with her favorite doughnuts.
Hopefully Wednesday the snows co-operate!
Ian