What started off as an ordinary goose hunt turned into a legendary memory. (Photo courtesy of Hunter Grams)
September 22, 2021
By Bob Humphrey
As an animal science major at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the shift to online classes gave Hunter Grams more time for hunting, which proved fortuitous one day last December. It all started rather uneventfully on a mild, sunny day when Hunter and friends Nikki Stratton, Alex McClelland and Tanner Chidley set up in layout blinds in a combined cornfield. Their plan was to sit all day but when the birds failed to fly in the morning, they were having second thoughts.
A routine goose hunt ended with a unique set of bands and a piece of goose hunting history. (Photo courtesy of Hunter Grams)
Banded Together Fortunately, the birds finally started moving with just a couple hours of shooting light left and the hunters dropped a single from the first group and three from the next. When they picked up the birds, Hunter didn’t notice his was banded until his buddy pointed out it sported not just one, but two bands. The first was a standard federal band but the other really caught the group’s attention.
The other band was from goose call maker, 3x World Champion and Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame member Tim Grounds , who died tragically in 2018. The band read: "World Championship Calls Tim Grounds” and included a phone number, address in Illinois, and the band number. From consulting other hunters, Grams discovered that a caller had banded some geese on a local hunting club near his home in Illinois with Grounds’ commemorative bands. Gram then called Tim’s son, Hunter Grounds , who said, "I've not heard of one being harvested in several years so I'm going to say this goose has made the trip and has seen a few goose spreads." He also added, "They are very rare; you're not going to see them on many geese at all so you did get a trophy there, buddy."
While leg bands are highly regarded by goose hunters, this Tim Grounds commemorative band is a very special trophy. (Photo courtesy of Hunter Grams)
The Bands His first band after 11 years of waterfowl hunting was indeed a trophy but Grams said the real reward came from talking with Tim’s mother. “She was in tears, and truly touched over how awesome it was,” said Grams.
BAND #: 391 (Tim Grounds)
SPECIES: Canada Goose
BANDED: unknown
LOCATION: Johnston City, IL
RECOVERED: 12/05/2020
LOCATION: Near Platteville, WI, United States
BAND #: 1188-07409
SPECIES: Canada Goose
BANDED: 07/22/2016
LOCATION: Near Thunder Bay, ON
RECOVERED: 12/05/2020
LOCATION: Near Platteville, WI
