While the bulk of snow geese remain at their southern most destinations, warmer temperatures have ignited the first signs of a northern migration this past week and snow goose numbers are on the rise in Kansas, southern Illinois and the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Warmer temperatures and southerly winds provided fuel to the northern migration this week, as a significant amount of snow melted across the lower two-thirds of the nation. A quick review of the snow-depth map (link at right) highlights the dramatic change from the previous week. While snow goose numbers are still very high as far south as Louisiana, the clock is ticking at a fevered pace and these birds could decide to charge north at any moment.
As hunters in the Atlantic flyway begin preparations for the first spring seasons under the Conservation Order, Waterfowler.com has received a flood of emails from hunters looking for snow-goose hunting guides in the Atlantic flyway, and information on electronic calls, decoys and hunting tactics. Waterfowler.com encourages our eastern hunters to take advantage of our forum archives, classified ads and the WFC communication tools to contact fellow snow goose hunters in the Central and Mississippi Flyways to help answer all their questions about spring hunting. The learning curve that leads to successful spring snow goose hunting can be drastically reduced by tapping into Waterfowler.com’s knowledge-base. We look forward to sharing the excitement of the spring season with you, and look forward to your hunting reports to aid in tracking the snow geese in the Atlantic Flyway over the next few months.
Hunters participating in the spring snow goose season are reminded to check their state and local regulations for season dates, and gear restrictions. State wildlife officials are reminding hunters that take extra precautions to identify your targets, as swans, Canada geese and white-fronted geese are also migrating north at this time.
And now, on with our migration update:
CENTRAL & MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS:
Mid-Continental Light Geese have begun to arrive at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri. Light geese are on the move from Kansas to southern Illinois. Numbers are expected to increase significantly over the next week in the south-central portions of both flyways.
In Arkansas, light goose numbers remain above average, with hunter success determined by good scouting and access to active feeding fields. In northern Louisiana, light goose numbers are good to excellent, with hunter success best in limited wheat fields, and poor in rice.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
As we await the first reports from the Atlantic flyway, Waterfowler.com has collected various season dates encourage participation this spring. PLEASE NOTE: season dates are subject to various zone restrictions and other discrepancies. Refer to your state’s hunting regulations before heading to the field this spring!
New York’s special snow goose season is open from March 11 until April 15, and New Jersey’s special light goose season runs from March 11 until April 18. In Maryland, the regular snow goose season is open until March 10, with the special season beginning March 11 and continuing through April 18.
In Delaware, spring snow goose season runs from Feb. 2 through March 9, with special restrictions on gear, shooting hours and eCallers that vary form DAY-to-DAY. Please read the Delaware regulations carefully!
Snow goose conservation season has been set in Pennsylvania for March 11 through April 1, and the snow goose season reopened in New York State’s Western Waterfowl Zone Feb. 2 and runs through March 10.
Again, these dates should be verified with your state regulatory office before heading to the field.
Until our next report, be sure to check out the YouTube video features on the homepage, and make a plan to hunt light geese this spring.
