Warmer weather and south winds have put the Snow goose migration into high gear. Reports of huge flights of light geese up and on the move poured in this week from the mid-tier states of both the Mississippi and Central Flyways.
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And now, on to the Snow Goose Migration Report.
The shift in the weather over the past week to more spring like conditions has the geese on the move. Reports are of a major shift in light goose numbers for portions of South Dakota and Northern Nebraska. But the concentration of birds could pull father north on a moment’s notice as the next front moves down out of the Rocky Mountains and across the Plains.
Hunters pursuing light geese last weekend witnessed a mass migration as the birds picked up and headed north with the aid of steady south winds. Most of the birds covered great distances before settling back down to rest and feed along the eastern side of South Dakota and into western Iowa.
The birds do not, however, seem to be content to stay south much longer. All reports from hunters and observers tell of the light geese stopping only briefly before making another push north.
This weekend, hunters would be best served to look farther north than expected for major concentration of geese. The main body of the migration is likely to move in to North Dakota and Minnesota before the week is out, and may be in Canada before you know it. There is a chance that the approaching front may slow the retreat somewhat, but a full tank of gas and willingness to travel will be the keys to success for light geese next week.
The breeding grounds in the Dakotas are slotted for some much-needed precipitation over the next week. Current conditions in the “duck factory” are well on the dry side, so the forecast comes as good news. With the breeding season near at hand, the weather over the next few weeks will play a large role in the health of this year’s hatch. Perhaps a nationwide, wader-clad, duck-call accompanied rain dance is in order.
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