Category: Migration Updates

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.

The northern push of snow, blue and Ross geese into South Dakota last week has reversed into a southern retreat from recent snow fall. The approaching Arctic Clipper weather system will likely push concentrations of geese back into Nebraska and Missouri over the next few days. Expect geese to move as far south as the lowest southerly dip in the jet stream.

Light Goose hunting remains good to excellent along north-central portions of the Missouri and Platte River Corridors — in Nebraska, northern Missouri and southern South Dakota.

Goose numbers are on the rise in southwestern Iowa and hunter success is fair to good in most areas. Light goose hunting along the Mississippi River Valley is poor from northeastern Arkansas up to west central Illinois. Very few snow geese remain in Oklahoma and Kansas and hunter success is poor overall in both states.

Hunting has slowed considerably in Nebraska due to recent snowfall. Geese remain in concentrated flocks in areas with the least snow cover and open water. Hunter success in Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas has improved dramatically over previous weeks with hunting good to fair in traditional snow goose hot spots. Snow goose hunting is good to excellent in Missouri and Arkansas with northeast Arkansas reaping the benefits of the recent storm with goose numbers incredible in some areas. Snow goose numbers are up again in central and southern Illinois — again, with most opportunity for harvest on private inaccessible lands. Pockets of snow geese slipped north of the storm and found refuge in areas of South Dakota and Iowa. Numbers are low, but hunters willing to scout are having success.

Light Goose hunting is good to excellent in Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. Hunter success in Texas and New Mexico is poor with relatively few birds hanging south. Goose hunting in Oklahoma and western Arkansas is poor with goose hunting fair to good in Northeast Arkansas. Snow goose numbers have dropped significantly in southern and central Illinois over the past week with limited numbers of geese in Iowa. Missouri snow goose numbers are good to fair with harvest success good in areas holding birds.