Bankfish
Junior Member
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Curran’s 25-26 Season
- Thread starter Curran
- Start date
Congratulations Sean! Great shot on a beautiful doe buddy! Great eats fo sho
Weekend + work recap....
Saturday: As soon as I stepped out of the truck I knew I had to change plans. While getting dressed, I could feel the real-world wind direction wasn't matching up with what the weather app was showing. I headed out to a tree I'd hung a stand in before and settled in well before sunrise. While I was waiting on light, the breeze continued to swirl hitting me from multiple directions or going completely dead. Not ideal at all, but I wasn't going to hunt this spot again for a few weeks so I might as well give it a go.
The deer activity in the mornings is slower than the evenings here and I was seeing that play out, but there was a decent buck pestering a doe which kept my attention. About an hour after first seeing him, he popped out of the woods and decided to walk my direction. I stood and despite my best telepathic efforts he didn't walk through my best shooting lane, instead he opted to walk on behind me. At the time, the wind was completely dead. I was already drawn back and turning on my platform as he made his way underneath the sagging pinoak branches. Just as I was about to give him the ole "maaaaap" to cause a pause and send one, his nose hit my scent, he turned inside out, digging into the hardened dirt and darting 40 yards away.
Like a statue, he stared back at the tree trying to figure out where the danger was sitting. After a few minutes, he swished his tail and walked away, back to searching for does. I dropped a few tufts of milkweed to verify what I already knew. Without any wind activity, the milkweed sucked right down to the dirt. Later that morning, two smaller bucks showed me the same thing, that the swirling winds just weren't going to work. I packed up and headed home.
Sunday: With a work trip planned for Monday, I took Blitz out to pheasant hunt with a friend and his dog (leaving a tired dog behind is always a smart move). Over the 6 miles we covered, we moved 4 deer, 2 woodcock, and 2 hen pheasant. In the very last field we walked, I took a stalk of switchgrass to the eye, which resulted in a trip to urgent care in the afternoon to verify my thoughts. A corneal abrasion in my left eye. It hurt bad enough that I was considering cancelling the trip, but I decided to see how it felt in the morning.
M-W: I decided to tough it out and head to the airport, after all, giving my eyes a break from staring at computer screens would help with the recovery. The next two days were spent with customers discussing business, setting hooks, and building relationships in some downright beautiful country. I was thinking about you Louisiana TOOzers quite a bit over the last few days!
With my eye feeing 100% better, it's back to the grind. I had quite a few reflective moments over the past five days. Being thankful for big buck encounters, super-friendly urgent care professionals, time well-spent outdoors in God's creation, airport conversations with fellow hunters, and safe travels back home. Life is good.
Saturday: As soon as I stepped out of the truck I knew I had to change plans. While getting dressed, I could feel the real-world wind direction wasn't matching up with what the weather app was showing. I headed out to a tree I'd hung a stand in before and settled in well before sunrise. While I was waiting on light, the breeze continued to swirl hitting me from multiple directions or going completely dead. Not ideal at all, but I wasn't going to hunt this spot again for a few weeks so I might as well give it a go.
The deer activity in the mornings is slower than the evenings here and I was seeing that play out, but there was a decent buck pestering a doe which kept my attention. About an hour after first seeing him, he popped out of the woods and decided to walk my direction. I stood and despite my best telepathic efforts he didn't walk through my best shooting lane, instead he opted to walk on behind me. At the time, the wind was completely dead. I was already drawn back and turning on my platform as he made his way underneath the sagging pinoak branches. Just as I was about to give him the ole "maaaaap" to cause a pause and send one, his nose hit my scent, he turned inside out, digging into the hardened dirt and darting 40 yards away.
Like a statue, he stared back at the tree trying to figure out where the danger was sitting. After a few minutes, he swished his tail and walked away, back to searching for does. I dropped a few tufts of milkweed to verify what I already knew. Without any wind activity, the milkweed sucked right down to the dirt. Later that morning, two smaller bucks showed me the same thing, that the swirling winds just weren't going to work. I packed up and headed home.
Sunday: With a work trip planned for Monday, I took Blitz out to pheasant hunt with a friend and his dog (leaving a tired dog behind is always a smart move). Over the 6 miles we covered, we moved 4 deer, 2 woodcock, and 2 hen pheasant. In the very last field we walked, I took a stalk of switchgrass to the eye, which resulted in a trip to urgent care in the afternoon to verify my thoughts. A corneal abrasion in my left eye. It hurt bad enough that I was considering cancelling the trip, but I decided to see how it felt in the morning.
M-W: I decided to tough it out and head to the airport, after all, giving my eyes a break from staring at computer screens would help with the recovery. The next two days were spent with customers discussing business, setting hooks, and building relationships in some downright beautiful country. I was thinking about you Louisiana TOOzers quite a bit over the last few days!
With my eye feeing 100% better, it's back to the grind. I had quite a few reflective moments over the past five days. Being thankful for big buck encounters, super-friendly urgent care professionals, time well-spent outdoors in God's creation, airport conversations with fellow hunters, and safe travels back home. Life is good.
Weekend recap:
Close but no cigar. I went into the weekend trying to tag a deer with a revolver. The Colt Trooper was my uncle’s, and before that it belonged to my grandpa. I’m proud to have it now and hope to add to its legacy. There were deer in the woods, just not within an effective range. We’ll get ‘em next time.
Pro Tip: To avoid breaking a tooth in cold conditions, always keep your snacks in a pocket close to your body.
Close but no cigar. I went into the weekend trying to tag a deer with a revolver. The Colt Trooper was my uncle’s, and before that it belonged to my grandpa. I’m proud to have it now and hope to add to its legacy. There were deer in the woods, just not within an effective range. We’ll get ‘em next time.
Pro Tip: To avoid breaking a tooth in cold conditions, always keep your snacks in a pocket close to your body.
Weekend recap:
At least one of the geese from Saturday was a true Canadian Canada goose. If you’re not a waterfowl hunter you’re probably thinking, “Aren’t they all Canadian geese?”
No, the correct name is Canada geese, and you can have Canada geese from Ohio. That makes them Ohioan not Canadian. Only a Canada goose from Canada can be Canadian. So, how do we know it’s a Canadian Canada goose?
The banded bird from today was captured in 2021 as a yearling. An identification band was placed on her leg, and when the band number was reported online through USGS, after the hunt, we learned this bird was born in Attawapiskat, Nunavut Canada. Roughly 1,200 miles, one-way from where we were hunting. How awesome is that!?
To dive deeper, based on where this bird was banded makes it part of the Southern Hudson Bay population of Canada geese which has been carefully monitored due to its declining population. The specific causes of the decline are unclear, but could be related to poor growth conditions for goslings resulting from habitat degradation by staging Lesser Snow Geese.
Sunday, was a good day to stay inside and cook. I saved a recipe I saw on IG for Canada Goose Jerk Tacos and I am sooo glad I did. We made nachos instead of tacos but the goose was absolutely phenomenal! Some of the best I’ve ever had. I need to write down the recipe and shoot more geese now.
At least one of the geese from Saturday was a true Canadian Canada goose. If you’re not a waterfowl hunter you’re probably thinking, “Aren’t they all Canadian geese?”
No, the correct name is Canada geese, and you can have Canada geese from Ohio. That makes them Ohioan not Canadian. Only a Canada goose from Canada can be Canadian. So, how do we know it’s a Canadian Canada goose?
The banded bird from today was captured in 2021 as a yearling. An identification band was placed on her leg, and when the band number was reported online through USGS, after the hunt, we learned this bird was born in Attawapiskat, Nunavut Canada. Roughly 1,200 miles, one-way from where we were hunting. How awesome is that!?
To dive deeper, based on where this bird was banded makes it part of the Southern Hudson Bay population of Canada geese which has been carefully monitored due to its declining population. The specific causes of the decline are unclear, but could be related to poor growth conditions for goslings resulting from habitat degradation by staging Lesser Snow Geese.
Sunday, was a good day to stay inside and cook. I saved a recipe I saw on IG for Canada Goose Jerk Tacos and I am sooo glad I did. We made nachos instead of tacos but the goose was absolutely phenomenal! Some of the best I’ve ever had. I need to write down the recipe and shoot more geese now.
Weekend recap: It’s wild, last Monday the field gave me a corneal abrasion (second this season) and this weekend I returned (with eye protection) to be provided an opportunity at a rooster.
Blitz was on his track when the bird flushed wild on us. I swung on the telltale sound of wingbeats erupting and watched him fold just as quickly. Blitz looked at me for direction, my arm casting him to our left, “dead bird, fetch ‘em up!” Moments later the movement of the switchgrass indicated he was on his way back to me with our bird.
All together, we moved one hen and two roosters over the course of 5.5 miles I tracked my steps. Blitz probably covered 2-3X what I did. All birds flushed wild, anywhere between 30 to 50 yards of the dog, which is understandable for birds that have been under steady pressure since early November.
Hopefully we can get back on some waterfowl with the cold weather coming back in this week. Then fill the freezer a bit more with muzzleloader season next weekend.
Blitz was on his track when the bird flushed wild on us. I swung on the telltale sound of wingbeats erupting and watched him fold just as quickly. Blitz looked at me for direction, my arm casting him to our left, “dead bird, fetch ‘em up!” Moments later the movement of the switchgrass indicated he was on his way back to me with our bird.
All together, we moved one hen and two roosters over the course of 5.5 miles I tracked my steps. Blitz probably covered 2-3X what I did. All birds flushed wild, anywhere between 30 to 50 yards of the dog, which is understandable for birds that have been under steady pressure since early November.
Hopefully we can get back on some waterfowl with the cold weather coming back in this week. Then fill the freezer a bit more with muzzleloader season next weekend.
Killing a pheasant and grouse are on my wish list!! Never shot at a pheasant but shot many times at grouse, just never connected.
OO2
Well-Known Member
It’s hard to beat the chess match that unfolds between a wily rooster and a good gun dog. Poetry in motion.
Congrats on a wild rooster this late in the season!
It sure is fun to be a part of!!
About 20 minutes before the rooster, Blitz came to one of those slam-on-the-brake points. My pace double-timed to cut the distance when three flippin' meadowlarks broke cover. I laughed and thought one of these times it's gonna be a rooster.
Sharing this one so I can make it again. 
Goose Barbacoa
Ingredients:
4 goose breasts
2 cups salsa
Seasoning Mixture…
4 tsps salt
3 tsps chili powder
3 tsps paprika
2 tsps cumin
2 tsps black pepper
Clean up the goose breasts removing silver skin and excess fat. Place in a pressure cooker.
Coat the breasts with the seasoning mixture.
Cover with two cups of salsa (next time I’ll try two cans of Rotel).
Cook for 75 minutes in the pressure cooker, remove the breasts, shred and remove any shot to save your teeth.
Make tacos, burritos, bowls, nachos or whatever you like. I guarantee you can serve this up to anybody and they’ll think they’re eating beef!
Goose Barbacoa
Ingredients:
4 goose breasts
2 cups salsa
Seasoning Mixture…
4 tsps salt
3 tsps chili powder
3 tsps paprika
2 tsps cumin
2 tsps black pepper
Clean up the goose breasts removing silver skin and excess fat. Place in a pressure cooker.
Coat the breasts with the seasoning mixture.
Cover with two cups of salsa (next time I’ll try two cans of Rotel).
Cook for 75 minutes in the pressure cooker, remove the breasts, shred and remove any shot to save your teeth.
Make tacos, burritos, bowls, nachos or whatever you like. I guarantee you can serve this up to anybody and they’ll think they’re eating beef!
That looks great, Sean. I’ll have to try it.Sharing this one so I can make it again.
Goose Barbacoa
Ingredients:
4 goose breasts
2 cups salsa
Seasoning Mixture…
4 tsps salt
3 tsps chili powder
3 tsps paprika
2 tsps cumin
2 tsps black pepper
Clean up the goose breasts removing silver skin and excess fat. Place in a pressure cooker.
View attachment 216562
Coat the breasts with the seasoning mixture.
View attachment 216563
Cover with two cups of salsa (next time I’ll try two cans of Rotel).
View attachment 216564
Cook for 75 minutes in the pressure cooker, remove the breasts, shred and remove any shot to save your teeth.
View attachment 216565
Make tacos, burritos, bowls, nachos or whatever you like. I guarantee you can serve this up to anybody and they’ll think they’re eating beef!
View attachment 216566
I made a killer vegetable soup with goose meat a couple of nights ago. No one could believe it was goose and not beef. If cooked properly, goose can be VERY good table fare.
We were talking about how underrated goose meat is on the way home from Salt Fork yesterday. From jerky to tacos, to everything in between, the only time I haven't liked it was when I fixed it like steak. Other than that, the juice is worth the squeeze food wise.
Absolutely! When you match up the right recipe and cooking method with goose it is amazing. When you miss the mark on one of those things it will ruin the experience and make you never want to eat it again. It's just like when somebody says venison is too gamey becasue they tried it once and it wasn't properly prepared.
at1010
*Supporting Member*
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My buddy's mom in HS would cut it up and deep-fry it into dark meat nuggets. A bunch of teenage boys couldn't get enough of it. I have had guys tell me I am crazy when I said it was GREAT (at least the way Mrs. D made it!).