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With the days growing longer and the temperatures rising, waterfowlers across the country brace for the longest mile in their return to fall. And though the calendar might tell a different tale, the gulf between now and then can seem to grow wider with each extra hour of daylight, each mark the mercury climbs past. Ah, if only the science of cryogenics were further along.

Hope for breeding success in the Dakotas got a little brighter this past week. Recent rains across the prairie brought far eastern sections of North Dakota back to near normal conditions and moved central portions of the state from the moderate drought rating to abnormaly dry Continue reading

Spring planting is in full tilt across much of Canada, the only area left for a last chance at snow geese. And with tractors rolling across most of the fields in the path of returning light geese, hunters are hard pressed to find birds concentrated in any one area. As the spring thaw moves back toward the far reaches of Canada so have the snow geese, and hunter reports have become scarce. No doubt some of the “tundra plague” are still below their arctic breeding ground, but with only ten days remaining in the conservation order special season it looks as though the birds that have managed to elude waterfowler hunters ’til now have a good chance at making another run through the gauntlet next season.

With spring looking as thought it is ready to stick around for southern portions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, farmers have begun to plow and plant in earnest. Hunters in these areas report fair numbers of snow geese remaining but huntable ground becoming more scarce. Untilled fields and shallow open water are the best bet for hunters seeking to finish out the conservation season. Quebec hunters report surprisingly large numbers of light geese remaining in the southern end of the province, and high success. With the season on snow geese running until the 31st of May in some areas it looks as though waterfowlers who are willing to put in the drive time to travel and scout may be able to stretch this years season out to the very end.

Yes, spring looks to be standing its ground at last, and with goslings popping up and ducks getting on their nests, we see the promise of renewal in the wildlands where we will greet the coming of fall. Now, as waterfowlers, we wish them well and hold our breath as nature decides what will greet us when Autumn returns again.

Hunters across the breeding ground of North Dakota and southern Canada this past week were granted a crystalline view of nature. Green shoots of spring stretched skyward through a late blanket of snow. And while hunters took to the field to harvest the final returnees from last falls migrations, next year\’s travelers began to appear – fuzzy, yellow and flightless – in the breeding grounds of the north.

As reported in the Times-Picayne, transition and tension could be found in the human aspect of waterfowling as well this week, with the debate over the use of public lands by private enterprise cropping up in Louisiana as one example. Continue reading

Last week’s cold snap looks to have left the tail end of the snow goose migration hanging around parts of North Dakota. Reports from north of the Devil’s Lake still hold some promise. Hunters willing to put some road under them are still finding huntable groups of birds scattered from Devil\’s Lake north. But by and large, any action to be had will require US hunters to cross over into Canada. Continue reading

For the lower forty-eight it looks as though “it\’s all over but the shoutin\'”. Although temperatures moderated last week, even dropping back below normal in some areas of the northern plains, the largest part of the snow goose migration has moved beyond the U.S. border. Canadian hunters in the lower regions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan report large flights of birds returning to the area and being slowed in their northward exodus by the recent weather. Continue reading

Light Goose numbers decreased again over the past week throughout most of Nebraska as snow and blue geese pushed north into the Dakotas. Hunter success in Nebraska remains good in areas still holding concentrations of Ross\’ geese though harvests are fair to poor in other areas. Hunting in Iowa remains consistent for hunters willing to scout very mobile targets. Light goose numbers appear to be steady with as many geese arriving in the state as those leaving and pushing further north. The rapid turnover of geese has resulted in good harvest ratios and should continue over the next few days. Continue reading

The first huntable numbers of light geese arrived in areas along the Missouri River corridor, south of Bismarck, North Dakota this the past weekend. Hunter success is good for those willing to scout. In South Dakota, snow, blue and Ross goose numbers continue to build as geese filter in from Nebraska and Missouri. Hunter success in South Dakota is good to excellent in areas away from the caravans of nomadic hunters, with jump shooting and decoying producing equally.

Hunting pressure in Nebraska has taken its toll on both goose and hunter and harvest rates have dropped dramatically from previous weeks. Light goose hunting in Iowa is fair in the western part of the state and poor in the east. Hunter success is limited to areas holding concentrations of birds and harvest is low overall. Light goose hunting is poor in Missouri and Illinois.