I had to run whale watching boat today, so only had time to go up behind the house to hooter hunt. Last year, I climbed up the knob, and right when I got to the tree with the hooter, the hooter flushed and I never saw him. Today, a lone hooter was on the same knob, and from what I’ve read, likely the same one as they keep their territory year to year. The bird was in a tree practically hanging off a cliff, so I had to go alongside the cliff, up the hill, and side-hilled it the trees. It took quite awhile to see the bird. I ended up catching some movement in the tree next to the tree I thought the bird was in, and there he was. I had a .22 over 20 gauge that I have not shot before, so I loaded a shell and when I was comfortable, I saw the bird had switched positions from head to tail, so I just thought as the bird was in plain view, I’d just wait till he turned around again.
Then I see a big raptor cruising. And then realize what’s going on – he’s coming to this hooter too, and that was all it took. The hooter flushed, and I tried watching where he went but lost him in the trees. I just had to laugh, as he got me again. I walked up on the knob and couldn’t hear any other hooters, what with the creeks rushing and car noise below. I waited awhile, and descended around the cliffs again in the direction the bird had landed, but I didn’t see it. Of course, when I got all the way down, he starts hooting again. I started up for him, but checked my time and realized I’d probably have to turn around after I got up there to not be late for work. So I headed down the hill with another story of the one that got away, with that hooter calling to me nearly all the way home.
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Mark Stopha
Alaska Wild Salmon Company
4455 N. Douglas Hwy
Juneau, AK 99801
www.GoodSalmon.com