If I'm reading you right, football, you're saying we're somewhere in lines with PETA... quote]
I'm saying your in league with Field Hunters. You know, those guys who obey all the "not shooting before light" rules, the ones who never shoot more than thier limit, the guys who never use lead shot. The perfect ones! the ones who walk on water.... (As if there was water in thier field)
me, I like a duck that tastes like fish (merganzer), or a good lake bottom shoveler once in a while. I slam my bufflehead right on the sewage pond and send my dog out to retreive it. He rides in my rusty old 67 chevy beside Bubba, my jump shooting buddy, and we soak those nasty tasting geese in the ditch bottom for a week or two. then we can suck that meat right off the bones. Chew up the cartlige with the gizards and top it all off by eating the hearts of evey bird we kill. We're not a breast only group.
You're right about the diferent stages of a waterfowler. Every one of them is growing and learning. They might discover that they brake a rule or two over time, but thier still growing. They are finding ways to enjoy thier sport even more. Thats what it's all about.
The point is, if there is one, each spot has it's achilles heel. Trying to jump shoot geese in an open field is not finding that achilles heel. Setting out life like decoys with motion and electonic calls is finding that sweet spot. Not every place is suited for 12 dozen decoys, layout blinds and a flag. The places I've hunted along the rivers near a pit tend to be ideal for jump shooting. That's thier achillies heel.
The only sad part to this is that the elite Field hunters think that geese only feed in the fields, never roost. And they only roost on the water, never feed. And they are special because they know this and don't dump thier geese in the ditch ever.
Let's keep our perspective on goose hunting.
We all love it and are addicted to it!!
And NONE of us should think we can hunt any situation. Always be learning. Always be trying something new. Never settle for just one way to hunt. Your passing up on too many other great times.
D