The Man Who Changed a Tire in My Decoy Spread

by
posted on February 19, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (3)

It was an oddly warm January day on the Eastern Shore—in fact there were gnats in the air—but after a long, mid-day lull, the geese were back on the move. My buddy Tyler Shoberg of Delta Waterfowl and I each killed a bird, and prospects were looking really strong as the final, golden 30 minutes of shooting time approached.

Then something odd caught Tyler's eye.

"What the heck is that guy doing?" he asked.

A blue van with several occupants had pulled up and parked on the country road off the northern edge of our spread. My first thought was that a group of anti-hunters planned to run interference. But this was the Eastern Shore—there's a goose pit in every field. I imagine an anti-hunting extremist would either spend much of the day offended or move somewhere else.

Then the driver got out. This guy's actually going to confront us, I thought.

However, he did something much worse: He spent the entire remainder of our hunt changing a flat tire.

Ducks flared. Geese flared. Hunters laughed—what else could we do? As the sun set we picked up the few birds we'd shot earlier and headed home. Hey, at least we got a memory out of it. Some days you shoot a limit of birds. Some days you watch a guy change a tire in his tennis shoes.

Latest

LEDE Strike Eagle 1 10X24 FFP
LEDE Strike Eagle 1 10X24 FFP

Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-10x24mm FFP

The latest Strike Eagle 1–10x24mm FFP from Vortex Optics plants a stake in the middle ground between close-range speed and long range performance, delivering more reach and a compact footprint that saves space for rail-mounted accessories. Deerwoods hunters and predator hunters, take serious note.

Review: Leupold BX-3 Alpine HD 12x50mm

Contributor Phil Massaro reviews the Leupold BX-3 Alpine HD 12x50 binocular, which offers a stellar image at an attractive price.

New for 2026: Browning Trail Cameras' Defender Vision Pro LSF

The Defender Vision Pro LSF is Browning Trail Cameras' 2026 livestream cellular trail camera, built for users seeking immediate visibility and real-time awareness from the field. It is designed for both property and game monitoring.

Texas, Hogs and Thermals

Follow along as Brian McCombie indulges in his favorite trio: Texas, hogs and thermals.

New for 2026: Real Avid AR-15/AR-10 Master Collections

Real Avid has taken its AR-15 and AR-10 tooling and maintenance products and bundled them into anew Master Collections series, providing AR-platform fans with one-stop solutions to meet their specific AR needs.

Turkey Decoys All Season Long

Opening day of turkey season was rainy and cold. However, thanks to scouting and trail cameras, Scott Haugen had a plan. Matter of fact, from the first day to the last, Scott has a way to set the decoys to bring the birds in. Curious? Read on for some great strategies.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.