More winter weather across the upper mid-west is making planning difficult for white goose hunters who are trying to intercept the return migration of light geese. As the snow line fluctuates and winter makes another stand, hunters have to widen their range to stay on top of the main body of the migration.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Ducks and geese moving back into the breeding grounds of the northern plains will find improved conditions, over last year, in many areas. The heart of the duck factory, the Missouri Coteau, is ahead of the curve, precipitation wise so far this year. Long range, 30 – 90 day, precipitation models currently predict above average precipitation for key breeding areas in both the US and Canada.
Even with conditions on the breeding grounds looking positive, it is vital that waterfowlers do all they can to support conservation efforts. Key legislation before the US Congress will have a vast and far reaching impact on the health and stability of North America’s waterfowl populations. Please be sure to write your elected officials in support of funding for CRP, NAWCA and other conservation measures.
With the help of conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl, we will do our best to keep you up to date on the latest news concerning key legislation and conservation efforts. Keep an eye on the News section of the Waterofwler.com home page for up to date information.
And now on to the Light Goose Migration Report.
With snow falling across the upper mid-west and temperatures moving back below freezing for a large portion of the Central Plaines, it looks as though the snow goose migration may make another U-turn and push back out of South Dakota for a while.
Just as Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska snow goose hunters began to think the end was in sight, everything changed. Winds turned from south to north and the mercury and snow started to fall again.
The lead edge of the migration had reached as far north as the southern border of North Dakota, but in the last two days it seems every trace of snow geese has vanished from that area. There have even been reports of southward migration of birds out of central and southern portions of South Dakota.
As the snow and cold continue, look for the bulk of the birds to build along the north western border of Missouri along the Nebraska/Iowa border and into the far southern counties of South Dakota.
With warm weather in the far southern-tier states and cold weather blocking the migration in the north, there is a strong chance of an overlap of the older and younger geese as the migration goes on hold yet again.
