Her paintings, at once stark and lush, are as much Amarillo as Abiquiu. The Staked Plains can make that kind of impression on a person. And if you're a waterfowl hunter, the impression gets even more intense. Guides Terry, Terrell and Paul Cooke hustled back and forth, ferrying gear on a four-wheeler and directing placement of the spread and the sites of hunting positions. The wisps moved closer, defining themselves as strings of geese.
Few sounds are more distinct or more wild.
The three Cookes set up a cacophony of calling, mixing hoots, honks, chuckles, yelps and cackles while they whipped black flags from short staffs. A flock bought the invitation, swung downwind, locked wings and came sailing toward us. When the shot was called, perhaps 20 Canadas hung within range. It was the start of an incredible morning of goose hunting. And all morning, as the dawn's clouds evaporated and a bluebird day took hold, hordes of Canada geese moved through the air.