The flyway for the Snow Goose comes south through Colorado just east of Denver. It extends east to the Kansas border, and through this flyway from southern Colorado north through the panhandle of Nebraska to South Dakota lays the land of the Pawnee.

When conceived, this piece was of a Pawnee seated on his calves with tow killed geese against his right leg. He’s positioned on a slightly raised spot of land with knocked down cattails as a carpet.

As a flight of geese pass over head, he draws his bow and follows this across the sky, until his torso is twisted and leaned backwards. He then releases the arrow.

The concept was shelved in the late sixties for numerous reasons. Mainly because it did not successfully show the cane break atmosphere and for a lack of movement.

In the summer of 1985, it occurred to me that if raised to a standing position, with the geese tied to the Pawnee’s belt, the piece would produce more excitement. To create an illusion of swampy cane break, I surrounded his lower legs with lilly pads, giving the effect of water.

The piece, when finished, won a Gold Medal and was part of the collection that was awarded the prestigious “Colt Award” at the Cowboy Artists of America Show.