We started seeing rock pigeons of various types everywhere (basically a dove but they have a few different types over there). I started out with the shotgun and it was more of a spot and stalk type deal as far as the pigeons were concerned. Kinda remind me of being a kid and wreaking havoc on the local bird population. The thing was it was pretty difficult to get within shotgun range of them before they flew off. I managed to ambush a few a whack them as they took off but they were doing a pretty good job of besting me.
Finally I decide to pick them off with the 22 and that worked like a champ! The Franklin’s were a hoot and they don’t really covey but will brush up like a quail or more accurately a pheasant. We’d see them running around and I’d jump out and flush them. This was a blast but the #3’s were more suited to the geese than the Franklin as it had a tendency to turn them to a mushy pillow. Eventually I switch over to the little 22 for that as well and took some fine birds for the pot as well as to bring home and mount.
now for the geese. Well they weren’t exactly hard to find but they were in the middle of a large pond. Hmmmm..... well I went and brushed up at the dam whilst Hendrick looped around in the bakkie and hauled ass up to the bank honking his horn to bust them. A few would fly off but most just swam out farther away. I tried sky busting a few that flew over. They had their oxygen masks on and were way to high.
What to do?????
Well I figured what the hell, there is now law in Namibia preventing one from using a rifle so out came the 22. Seemed like the solution except they were way the hell out in the middle. Quite a bit out of range for the little 22. A big rifle is t the solution which would just vaporize on rendering them inedible and or not fit for taxidermy. Hmmmm.
They didn’t seem to spooky so I figured I could get in a good sitting position and dry to figure out the bullet drop and windage of the little 22.
it took about 3 shots and I had them pegged. Once I knew what my hold over and windage was I let’er fly and whack one. Score! The bird try’s to fly but is hit to hard to get off the water. I send another round and kill it.
the rest seem a bit confused on what’s going on and just kind of swim in a circle. Next target in the sights and whack. Another one it hit. Now the geese are getting wise to my plan and they start to fly off. I got one more shot of and score another hit on another bird. The second bird is flopping around still so I send another one it’s way and kill it.
Hendrick sees all this and I thing was stuck between laughing and in shock that I was managing to hit them that far out. They were waaaaay the hell out there.
I got two dead and one crippled. The crippled bird swims farther out and I try to hit it again and even with the bird barely visible in the very bottom of the reticle the round falls about 8 feet short just causing it to swim farther out. This is probably a 20 acre or better pond.
It didn’t matter anyway because I had no more 22 shells with me, the remainder were in the bakkie on the other side.
Hendrick found a canoe, why there was a random canoe out there in the middle of nowhere I don’t know but it even had a paddle. I can see him checking to see if it was sea worthy and he seemed satisfied and set off. He recovered the first two birds which were dead and began chasing the other one all over the place. I’m the one giggling at this point. I finally get his attention and he paddles over.
Now I can swim but I’m a much better drowner than swimmer so I figure the front of a tiny canoe is probably not the best place for me to be. I gave Hendrick The shotgun which still had a few shells in it. I told him to waterswat it and collect it. I would walk around the whole pond and meet him back at the bakkie. We both set off. I got about half way around the pond when I looked over, Hendrick had caught up to the goose and just as it manages to get off the water he hammers it finishing the job. It was a great shot.
We eventually met back at the bakkie and I had 3 stunningly beautiful Egyptian Geese. I was elated.
Once we got everything back together we set off for Guinea fowl.
While hunting big game we could go 10 feet without seeing some and now we couldn’t find one if our lives depended on it. They were the last bird on the list to get and we were running out of time. We checked all the usual spots. Eventually we had to admit defeat and start heading back. I had just accepted that I was going to go Guinealess when we pulled up to the gate to head up to the lodge. Low and behold there in the road was a Guinea. I grab the trusty 22 and whack him. I couldn’t believe it. I got all the game birds in 1 afternoon including 3 geese. Not too bad eh?
We got all the birds back and I sorted through them. The ones that I felt would be mountable I kept and the rest went for Hendrick’s dinner.
All the geese are coming back to the states. Birds are a PITA to deal with for shipping them skinned. I hope they make it in one piece and are mountable when I get them. Fingers crossed
It was a great afternoon, though a bit unconventional, I haven’t had that much fun chasing around birds since I was a little kid! It also ended up being the most hard earned geese I think I’ve ever hunted. Lol
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