Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019 - 50

Susquehanna Triple Trophy

I

GOT a Triple Trophy hunting on the Susquehanna River some years back, but not
the kind you're probably thinking of - a bear, buck and turkey in the same license
year. And my "Triple Trophy" occurred all in one day - Sept. 1.
Scouting and bass fishing with a friend in late August had revealed some resident
Canada geese frequenting a back eddy off a small river island north of Harrisburg.
Then while fishing near the island a few evenings later, we noticed mourning
doves coming in to a sandbar to pick up gravel.
The stage was set. We'd goose hunt in the morning, bass fish in the afternoon and
dove hunt in the evening as soon as all three were in season. Birds and bass; what
could be better?
We paddled out to the island just before daylight on Sept. 1, set out a dozen or so
goose decoys and hunkered down behind our makeshift blind. At dawn, I chambered
a 3½-inch load of steel BBs in my 12-gauge Browning semiauto, stuffed two more
shells in the magazine and settled in.
It was a beautiful morning. And we heard honking from a lone goose about a
half-hour after the sun rose over a distant mountain. Spotting the decoys, the Canada
swung from right to left on my side of the blind, and when it was out front, about 20
yards away, I swung the barrel through the bird and pulled the trigger when daylight
shone between beak and bead. The goose folded, sending a spray of water into the
air when it splashed into the river.
Getting the canoe out of the small inlet where it was hidden, we retrieved the
goose and returned to the blind.
After four hours with no more goose action, we got out the rods and started casting
for bass. My buddy caught a few small ones, but I wasn't having any luck. Then I
cast my spinnerbait in an eddy behind a mostly submerged rock. As soon as I started
the slow retrieve, I felt the solid hit and my rod tip bowed under the weight.
After a spirited fight, I landed the 17-inch smallmouth.
We continued fishing, and about an hour later, heard honking from a flock of
Canadas upriver. Without time to retrieve the hunting gear from the beached canoe,
we watched as eight or nine geese passed directly overhead. It's no exaggeration
when I say I nearly could have touched a bird with my 9-foot fishing rod. They were
flying that low.
We fished until early in the evening, then settled back in the blind, anticipating some
dove action. I loaded the Browning with some No. 7 steel shot loads that patterned
well with the shotgun's improved cylinder choke tube, and waited.
We weren't disappointed. Around 6 o'clock, doves came pouring in to the sandbar,
and after picking my shots to avoid dropping birds in the river, I killed seven with
eight shots. Then, like turning off a light switch, the action ended.
I don't always shoot that well on doves, but that Susquehanna River "Triple Trophy"
outing remains one of my most treasured memories.

Bob D'Angelo
50
Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019

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