¶“If you fly high enough, you won’t get shot!” That is what I would tell any goose that doesn’t want to have a platter as its final resting place. Waiting below on the ground are seductive, deceitful, and vicious hunters ready use every conceivable trick to bring that goose down to within range of his trusty gun.
¶I am a novice goose hunter, but addicted. There is a tremendous feeling of awe when you find yourself in a pit, hidden in a pile of thistles or behind a stack of bales at sun-up watching the skies for geese on a cold, wintry, morning. Every nerve is poised for action. Your ears strain to pick up the honk of approaching geese. Once heard, your eyes rake the skies in the direction from which the honking came. In the pit you peak through a small hole in the cover. Sometimes the hole is camouflaged with grass, corn stalks, reeds, or whatever vegetation is near the pit. In one pit that I was in there was a goose decoy sitting on the lid. You could poke your head up inside the decoy to check the horizon. There is the adrenalin rush as you watch the geese approach and wait for them to come close enough for a good shot. Then you throw back the lid and start shooting.
¶Although I heartily enjoy hunting geese, I often find myself identifying with the high-flying goose which the hunter wants to bring down. If I were the goose, I would try to fly above all his devious trickery which would bring me down. But, it is impossible to avoid the storms and the enticements from below. At times I am aware of flying low within range of disaster. Somehow I escape. At other times I soar high above the hunter’s gun with no fear and no attention to his decoys and calls. I have learned a few things about hunting geese. I have also learned a few lessons when I identify with the goose.
¶There are many variations in the way geese are hunted. A pit can be stocked with many conveniences such as a stove for cooking, heaters, communication links with nearby pits, and comfortable seats for the hunter. Outside the pit a host of decoys are placed to coax the geese into shotgun range. Sometimes flags are used to attract their attention. Goose calls can be blown to divert the geese towards the pit.
¶Decoys resembling geese feeding, resting, being on the watch and even flying seduce the quarry into killing range. Sometimes the decoy is a giant replica of a goose and sometimes just a silhouette. Since there are many kinds of geese, decoys depicting the particular kind that is being hunted can be mixed with other kinds and even duck decoys to present a more realistic setting to the high flying geese. Even the arrangement of the decoys into groupings to look like families of geese and the direction the decoys face according to the wind are tricks the hunter uses to bring down the goose. Be assured that however realistic it may look to geese, it is a false presentation designed for their destruction.
¶Some hunters use a flag to resemble a goose flying near the decoys. It has developed from a rag to sophisticated impressions of a body with wings flopping in the air. It is extended from a stick or a fly rod depending upon the intent of the hunter. The longer fly rod can be used when the geese are far away and the action needs to be more exaggerated to get their attention. The shorter stick can be used as the geese near the hidden hunters. The shorter stick can even be held in front of the hunter to veil his presence to the incoming flock.
¶Decoys and a goose call are not necessary to bring down a goose. Sometimes geese just fly low enough to be within range of the hunter’s gun. The hunter simply waits in hiding along a fence line, behind a hay bale pile, in some brush or weeds, wherever there is enough cover to camouflage his presence. This method is called pass shooting. It is best used near the feeding and resting areas of geese. The closer the better. As the geese rise to fly they begin ascending higher and higher the farther they fly until they are out of reach for the hunter and his gun. When a hunter positions himself near the take-off or landing area of the geese, he can take advantage of their low altitude. It is then up to him to be “on-target.”
¶An ancient writer said about the wicked man who hunts the weak, “He lies in wait near the villages (resting and feeding areas); from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.” 1 “He” is my enemy, the hunter who wishes to destroy me and, I am the hunted. So I can identify with the high flying goose.
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¶“I know what is out there. I know that many desire to bring me down, to destroy me. I don’t want to fly alone but it is time that we go. Will you go with me?”
¶We begin leaving for the feeding area in small bunches. These are usually family groupings. Normally small groups fly first followed by a large flock and then a trickling of more small groups. There is a distinct honking that foretells our departure. The male goose tosses his head up and down and makes a long, deep honking sound. The male typically stays until the female leads the way. The male follows behind and guards the rear.
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¶The hunter patiently waits. The distinct sound of honking geese about to take flight reaches his ears. Every nerve in his body is now on the alert. He listens intently for the direction and the nearness of the honking. He focuses his eyes in the direction of the sound. His hands are anxious to grip his gun. His arms are ready to raise the gun to his shoulder. It is a tense moment which sometimes lasts more than a few minutes. If he is using a call, his lips respond to the touch of the call. He searches for the right sound to lure the geese within range.
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¶I am the hunted. I lift-off from my sanctuary and reach for the sky with the others while we are still safe. On a good day we ascend high above the ground and watch for our adversary who would bring us down. We gain altitude as quickly as possible. Then we hustle towards our destination. As we approach we circle once, maybe twice or more, to search for predators and hunters who would destroy us. When we feel safe, we set our wings for the landing.
¶Other geese are in the area resting and feeding. The sound of friendly chatter reaches our ears. We feel safe and begin our descent. Some geese are hopping from one spot to another. We can relax and land.
¶Suddenly, there is a stir on the ground. But, the geese sitting there do not even notice. It is a trap. “Flee for your lives!” Each of us switch from a landing position to one of ascent and fly. The blast of the shotguns give a new urgency to “flee.” I watch as one, two, three of our group tumble to the ground. I must get out of here before it is me down there on the ground. I am the hunted. I cannot risk such a foolish mistake again.
¶Another day. The clouds hang low and the wind, cold and hard, blows into our faces. It is time to fly again. We dread the trip but we must make it. Lifting-off and gaining altitude is very difficult today. As we fly towards our destination it is a real effort just to stay in the air. Today it is difficult to fly high. But, we must fly. So we do at a very risky height. We must fight the wind to reach our sanctuary.
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¶I, the hunter, watch the geese struggling against the wind. I have days like that, as do others that I know. We feel overwhelmed with circumstances in life and struggle to survive. We are the boys without fathers, the girls trapped in the social justice system, the jobless and low skilled adults, the homeless and the orphan. We are the children from broken families, from alcoholic parents, from abusive situations, unloved and afraid. We are adults driven from our homes by war, poverty, and injustice. We are at risk. It is too difficult to fly high.
¶The hunter loves these kinds of days. The geese will be flying low and many will be within range. They will still be wary, but the oppressive weather will keep them low. They will be vulnerable. He waits in hiding to ambush the low flying geese. He may kill a few or many, maybe none at all. Today it depends more on his ability to be on target than to lure and deceive. If the geese must fly into the wind, they will be slower. If they fly with the wind at their tail, he must grant more distance leading his target. Mental calculations must become second nature or there will not be time to shoot.
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¶We labor into the wind. Our strong wings beat frantically to maintain altitude. We know we are at risk but are helpless to fly higher. Across the meadow we struggle. A power line marks the fence row below. We must have enough altitude to be above the wires. We push on. As we rise slightly above the wires, shotguns blast. This time none fall. Discouraged by the weather and frightened by the guns we circle back for safety of the refuge. We are moving much faster now but the wind still makes it difficult to rise higher. Again shotguns wage war against us. This time the noise seems to be coming from the willow brush. My mate loses altitude and glides to the ground, tumbling as she hits. We have been together for three years but there is no time for sentiment now. Our lives are at too much risk. We return to the safety of the refuge, hoping against the odds for better luck next time.
¶It is not unusual to see one of us die now. It happens nearly every day. We are tricked into landing among decoys. We are deceived by the sound of a lone goose begging us to land. We are suddenly surprised by gunshots while flying over what was friendly territory yesterday. Every day a few of our flock fail to return to safety. We don’t go down to encourage them. That is certain death for ourselves. We just keep struggling every day to fly high enough so as not to get shot, be smart enough not to be deceived, and lucky enough to be missed when we get too low. We have learned to be the hunted. It almost feels natural.
¶Tomorrow I will search for my mate. We would have been together for three years this Spring. When we first came together we knew it would be for a lifetime until death would part us. I fear that is what has happened. My lifetime mate went down yesterday. I will search for her and listen for her call but I fear she is no more.
¶Today the clouds have disappeared and the sun is bright on the new layer of snow. I must begin my search as soon as I have fed in the cornfield over there. The flock rises gently into the skies, makes a large circle and flies directly to the feeding area. I am with them now until I have satisfied my hunger. It is more difficult to find kernels of corn beneath the snow. If the cold weather and snow persists we will fly farther south in a few days. But today I must seek my mate.
¶The sun is at its zenith in the sky. It’s warm rays make me want to rest. My craw is full of corn. I am ready to begin my search. Flying high above the treetops I can see a vast area of snow-covered ground below. I will watch and call for my mate. My call is a long, low pitched cry which tails up towards the end. If my mate is down there, she will return my call. Then I will go down to be with her and encourage her to find the shelter of the refuge and the river. We may walk the whole distance if she is unable to fly.
¶My call is answered. However, it doesn’t quite sound like my mate. I will circle above the sound of the call and try to see if she is there. If I stay high, I will be able to search a large area in one swoop. I here the call again and swing in that direction. Below me is a flock of geese frozen, as it were, on the snow. This doesn’t look good. I call again. Again I hear a response. I am now directly over the flock on the ground and very suspicious. I call one more time. This time I’m answered by the noisy blast of shotguns. A few pellets of shot bounce off my feathers. I am too high to be hurt by their guns. I turn tail and flee for the refuge.
¶The weather continues to worsen. More snow covers the feeding areas and temperatures below zero are freezing river waters. Anxiety and hunger plague the flock. If we don’t leave soon they won’t have enough strength to make the trek south to warmer waters. One gander begins honking for departure. Soon all of them are begging to leave. Slowly the flock lifts from the ice and turns to the south.
¶As we gain altitude we maneuver into formation. Like a wedge we race through the skies. The leader breaks the way and each of us helps the other with the uplift of air from our wings. Elders cheer on youngsters. Youngsters encourage their seniors. The flock flies higher to find the altitude with least resistance. We will be able to fly 70% further if we conserve our energy by maintaining formation. I am flying near the lead goose. Soon it will be my turn to take the lead while he retreats to the rear to rest enjoying the uplifting currents from the rest of the flock. We are now well out of reach of the hunters gun. For now we are safe.
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¶Hunters love to watch the geese flying high to the south in the winter and return flying high back north to their nesting grounds. The long migratory route seems to be learned from the other geese in the flock. There’s something mystical in this annual event. Something that just lifts the soul and gives admiration to high flying geese.
¶I am glad that I am not a goose. I am a human being, a man. There is a great biological difference between geese and human beings. Their reason for existence and survival are not the same. Mankind is at the top. Geese are somewhere below. Mankind dominates the geese to use or abuse. Yet, there is another relationship similar to mankind and geese. That is the relationship of Satan and his cohorts to the man who would fly high.
¶“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary: Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.” 2
¶Just as the hunter would try to bring down the high flying goose, so does Satan want to bring down “high flying” people who desire to please the God of all creation. The tactics of the goose become a lesson to the man who is also the hunted. “Flee like a bird to the mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrow against the strings to shoot from the shadow at the upright in heart..” 3
¶There is the hunter and the hunted. The hunter will use seductive, devious, and vicious ways to bring the hunted into his possession. The hunted can identify with the goose. We can ignore the hunter and his gun and fly according to our hearts’ desires. Or, we can realize that we are the hunted , that we have adversaries, that we must fly beyond the reach of their guns.
¶Perhaps, I’m giving too much credit to a high-flying goose. I don’t know what goes through the avian brain, nor if they rationalize at all. If the response patterns of a goose results from God-given instinct, we can still learn that when you fly high enough, you may get shot at but never shot down!
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1. Psalm 10:8-10
2. Psalm 15:1-5
3. Psalm 11:2
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