- Details
- Category: Waterfowl
- Published: Tuesday, 27 November 2012 21:36
- Written by Greg
Swan
This year I was lucky enough to draw another swan permit. But it took a lot of work to finally bag a swan. I lugged around decoys and walked several dikes, but mostly wasn't at the right place at the right time.
The time that I packed decoys out to the Great Salt Lake was the one time I thought my calling was going to bring the giant white birds to within shooting range. As the scene played out in what seemed like slow motion, I prepared myself for the impending shot opportunity. While the flock of 10 huge tundra swans seemed to waft across the sky out across the open waters of the Great Salt Lake, I found myself actually talking to myself, "this is going to work, I'm going to get a shot!"
I never thought twice about the 15 seagulls and the 6 or so ducks that were now resting 100 yards away from my decoy spread, but those pesky birds would be the undoing of my success.
In a matter of seconds the 10 swans, that now floated over the spot where the resting birds sat, would be within range. I held my breath. Then at 70 yards the entire flock tipped their wings and slowly swung away from me. No, this can't be happening...only a few more yards and a shot would be possible...the swans drifted toward the flock of gulls and ducks and glided to a stop outside of shotgun range.
However, the day before Thanksgiving would find us at the right place at the right time. Carson and I tried decoying early in the morning with no luck. But just after lunch we decide to walk the dike and wouldn't you know it, we jumped a swan and the hunt was over.
Carson was proud of our hunting prowess, but one day he'll realize that for this hunt it was more about being lucky, we happened to be at the right place at the right time. Which I wouldn't trade for anything.
