Gone Goose, 20ft from Blind

SO I finally managed to shoot my first Ontario goose. I watched him spiral in the water hard, 20 ft from blind in full view. It was last light and as I was empty I packed up to go get him. Could not have been less than 3 minutes until I got to the spot where he fell. I searched for 40 minutes and could not find him. The next morning after morning hunt, went to same area (after hunt) and looked for another 1hr in the bulrushes, weeds and all over. Could it be I broke a wing, he spiraled in, not like a dead drop like duck in the air. It is the only thing I could think of was very disappointed and did not want to give up.

That can happen. Its amazing sometimes how tough they are.

Geese are the best escapees there are.....well, except for maybe a wounded diver in rough water. For a big bird, geese can disappear quick! I like to make sure they are anchored before I take my eyes off them! Sometimes I will shoot them a second time as they are dropping if I fear the first shot didn't quite do the job!

S.

I had a teal crumble and smash into the reeds not 5ft from me, it came down right at me and entered the grass beside me, I still could not find it, I know now why people have dogs.

Things happen, it could have been winged and swam for safety, if could have sunk (it does happen at times), things happen out there.

Geese don't sink. Ever. No birds sink.

S.

A couple weekends ago we (3 shooters) folded/pillow cased 2 mallards. Both were upside down floating on the water maybe 10 yards out. Heads were in the water to the side. Just when I am about to walk out, the hen turns over and flies away. She caught a gust of wind and flew well over the tree line about a kilometre away - seemingly as healthy as can be.

She done played possum on us.

Couple weekends ago I had a mallard land just to the outside of my decoys, hunting in a narrow piece of open water in a marsh. I jumped it and shot it 3 feet off the water, it folded and fell off to the right just past a clump of bulrushes. I went to the exact spot it fell within two minutes expecting to just pick it up and it was gone. Feathers were everywhere, I knew where I saw it go down, but I searched for an hour then had buddies look for another half hour with me. Never found it, I figure it must have had enough left in it to paddle far into the maze of alders and bulrushes. I hate losing birds but it happens. I also shot a wood duck last year that didn't even slow down, there was a puff of feathers hanging in the air as it just kept motoring by.

The water is ankle deep in the spot it fell. Confounded me the whole night.... What makes it worse, it was my first Ontario goose and I had the red wine, garlic, onions and cream ready to make breakfast out of him.... Had to have steak instead....

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Originally Posted by line052

The water is ankle deep in the spot it fell. Confounded me the whole night.... What makes it worse, it was my first Ontario goose and I had the red wine, garlic, onions and cream ready to make breakfast out of him.... Had to have steak instead....

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The worst thing is that you have to have steak for breakfast? Really?

Yup..No one eats steak in my house but me. So unless I bring to cook camping..I don't eat at home. It's a treat for me...

Shot a goose, dropped dead and was floating head under water in plain sight for 20min. I didn't have a dog back then, and there were quite a few ducks in the air. It started to drift slowly away, so I decided to paddle out and get it before someone else will (ah, the pleasure of hunting public marshes).
Good thing I don't bet: 2m from the goose, the head came up and it started to swim away!
Back then I won the race against the goose, but now I have a dog.

Had the same thing happen to me last night. My first duck of the season. I dropped it from a group of three, it crumpled up and went down, heard it splash in the water behind me. Turned around and I could see a big circle of ripples emanating from where it hit. Yet no dead bird laying in the epicenter. The water was shallow and I tromped around for 30 min and saw no sign of it. By then it was pitch black so I had to call it.

wine for breakfast?? never tried that.

yep it happens. I have some stories of birds getting away and its often big Canada geese!! at least geese are easier to see once you come across them though, some ducks blend right in.

my first kill was two ducks opening day at hullett a bunch of years ago. shot them with one shot turned around to celebrate with my buddy, and turn back and they were both gone. we went out and searched for about an hour and found nothing. that was a hard lesson to learn!!

it is frustrating, but it happens. you can only do things to prevent it. such as choosing your shots, making sure your gun is using the best ammo you can, and make sure you are shooting within your equipment and your own limitations.
and finally if you can, get a dog. I wish I had waited to get a dog, until after I started hunting so I could make my priority for a hunting dog. instead I have a lazy and crazy lab, and the best thing he does is maybe chase a rabbit or grouse out of a thicket for me. my next dog will have money and time invested to make a good retriever out of him.

good luck on your (next) first Ontario Canada goose!!

After losing a few birds, you learn to make sure they are anchored before taking your eyes off them. They are good at getting away! We've lost one duck so far this season, and it was a diver, in rough water. It came down, and hit the water diving, never to be seen again. We got the other 3 that were with it though.....

S.

must have been a magical goose.

It may be right there under your nose. I've had one work itself under a bulrush root and all you'll barely see is a tail. Had a dog back then and without it would never have noticed the tail either.

Smoked a Woodie on Saturday, dead on the water. Went out to grab the bird, and it took off! Happens, especially like Sinker said with divers on big water.

-Nick

Wine...red wine reduction sauce. When out west I learned this the best way to pan fry goose is to overpower the flavor and create a new flavor.
Hi Heat (frypan high sides) nonstick or cast iron
Butter X 3 tbps (more if you like)
1 medium onion, diced
Red wine X yum..2 cups added slowly to reduce
3 gloves crushed garlic (one for the pan, burnt bits) two crushed, grated garlic pressed
Brown sugar (or white) to taste
Dice Chives or green onion tops (only the top green part)
1 package of fresh basil (do not use powder or flake) chopped
½ teaspoon of allspice (powder)
Two goose breasts
Salt and pepper to taste.

Dice onion and mash one clove garlic. Place garlic, butter, dash of salt and onions in pan on high heat to sauté.
Slice goose breasts in 2” strips about ¼’ thick and 2” long (you can soak strips in milk for 1 hour before, it does reduce goose flavor)
½ can carnation sweetened condensed milk (or heavy cream) I use cans, it is just easier in the camper and lasts forever on the shelf.
Once onions are cooked (brown bits and all…flavor) add goose breast strips.
Cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes and brown.
next -Add red wine slowly to not boil but to cause steam and faster reduction and add allspice.
Once reduction is consistent slowly add cream and reduce again
Add about 3 tbps brown sugar (sugar will cause sauce to thicken, keep adding little bit of wine/milk to ensure the sugars do not burn.) Burnt sugar is bad for flavor and kills the whole taste
Take off heat when reduction is right and sugars are syrupy.
Let stand until sauce stops bubbling.
Add fresh Green Onions, chives, two other minces cloves of garlic and basil.
Fold over and let rest another minute and serve on own or over a bed of rice.

Consistency of finished produce should have a maple syrup texture, not too runny or clumpy. You can keep using wine or cream to keep the base syrupy. The key to the flavor is the fresh ingredients at the "end of cooking", they have to remain fresh and not cook during the last finishing. First bite and you will taste the basil, garlic, chives followed up by the sugars and wine. It changes the flavors of meat, but tastes oh so good.

they are tough birds. had the same situation a few weeks ago the goose dropped like a rock also about 20 yards from the blind. went to hop in the kayak to go get it as soon as i hop in the goose sprung to life and took off flying blew my mind. felt bad but what can you do sometimes. you made a good effort trying to find it so that's what count's

Damn guys, all this complaining about loosing a goose in water... ever have to chase a winged goose down a muddy 100 acre field only to him beat you to the bush, or watch a 'dead' duck soar 2 fields over then drop. Worse yet was my buddy, who has a bad back, and screw-up hip, chase a winged Snow for a mile in Manitoba this fall... it could see him coming.

Recipe looks good, cut and paste done.

If their just wing shot / crippled those big flipper feet can still get them swimming / running outta there in a hurry!

As for Doug's statement, those are the best times to let the retriever have at em, great to watch the dog go sailing across a field and tackle the cripple.

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Originally Posted by TurkeyRookie

As for Doug's statement, those are the best times to let the retriever have at em, great to watch the dog go sailing across a field and tackle the cripple.

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A buddy is working on his young dog; not there yet, until then I am one of the retrievers.

yep as sinker and others have mentioned (and I forgot to add to my post) make sure they aren't moving when you take your eyes off them to go retrieve.

also, if its safe to do so, always bring your gun and lots of ammo on the retrieve whether on foot or canoe or boat. how many times do you get out there and your gun could have put a quick end to the chase but you left it in the blind. or you take 3 long range shots to finish them (and it doesn't hit hard enough cause of range), and you have no more ammo to actually finish it when you get a bit closer.
not to mention how many times have you guys been out on a retrieve only to have birds come in and try to land, but you don't have your gun. same goes for messing with the decoys. that's when they always come.

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Originally Posted by bowj

yep as sinker and others have mentioned (and I forgot to add to my post) make sure they aren't moving when you take your eyes off them to go retrieve.

also, if its safe to do so, always bring your gun and lots of ammo on the retrieve whether on foot or canoe or boat. how many times do you get out there and your gun could have put a quick end to the chase but you left it in the blind. or you take 3 long range shots to finish them (and it doesn't hit hard enough cause of range), and you have no more ammo to actually finish it when you get a bit closer.
not to mention how many times have you guys been out on a retrieve only to have birds come in and try to land, but you don't have your gun. same goes for messing with the decoys. that's when they always come.

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Always, always, always bring your gun on a retrieve. Always.

S.

I lost a greater this morning in a wheat field, flat and open mile by a mile. Got out of my lay down, went and picked up one and couldn't find the other. Go figure

We knocked a duck out of the sky on Saturday and it spiralled down apparently dead as stone to within a few feet of the water and then regained flight control. The bird flew at least another kilometer and we never found him.

my brother shot a duck up north in a smaller pond. we thought it was dead and it disappeared. we waited around for over an hour and it never came back up.

It has happened to me a few years ago. Two geese came barreling towards me and I shot both of them. One landed on the shore stonedead. The other splased in the water with broken wing. I reloaded and rushed for it, the water level was below knee, and all of sudden it dove and disappeared. I stood and shouldered the gun and waited for it to come up. A few mins had passed I scanned the whole water area and it didn't come up even though the water was almost smooth as glass. I turned and retrieved the dead one and got on the boat and motored around incremental circle. I never recovered it. Lesson learned: shoot it after you reloaded the gun or else it will be gone for good.