2005 Spring Snow Goose Migration Reports

Chris Hustad · Last edited by Chris Hustad on Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:57 am; edited 1 time in total

Well the reports are just getting started down south. I'm starting the reports thread over 3 weeks earlier than last year. Almost 45K views last spring, this spring should get interesting. If you're curious about last springs migration you can get acquainted below:

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4566

Currently, the snow pack in the flyways is probably the most depressing I've seen since the spring season started. Of course, mother nature could bring snow at any time but the way things are shaping up this winter a guy's got to wonder. Check out the current snow map below:

http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/interactive/html/map.html

MISSOURI

The first signs of snows are being reporting by hunters and by the state. Not much for numbers but there has been scout flocks reported into central and even some spotty areas to the NW. Nothing holding as the area is still frozen.

KANSAS

The Kansas Wildlife and Parks is listing decent pockets of snows all along the S, SE, E and NE parts of the state. The lastest reports are almost a week behind so I'm assuming those numbers have more than likely increased.

NEBRASKA

There have been some very spotty reports of a couple scout flocks in the SE, but nothing reliable at this point. The Nebraska Game and Parks is reporting deteriorating ice conditions in the SE so with next to no snow pack things will shape up in the next couple weeks. There are snow geese holding in the S. Central and SW part of the state. Numbers are in the lower thousands, but they are starting to build.

ILLINOIS

Best numbers in the central states right now. There has been some reports of a couple spotty flocks in SE Iowa, but nothing to get excited about yet.

COLORADO

Numbers are starting. One area in particular is recently showing around 50K snows. I was just in E. Central Colorado last week and there was no snow and open water all over.

SOUTH DAKOTA

The first sign of a very small pocket of snows was reported today in Rapid City. With warm temps in the forcast, SD could be unusually early this year but still too early to predict.

It's February 1st, so by no means are things shaping up yet. But with no snow and warm temps forcasted up and down the flyway I see no reason why the migration won't get into swing in the next 2 weeks.

Eye's to the sky...

tombuddy_90 · guest Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 206 Location: iowa

what about IOWA??

Chris Hustad · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:51 pm Post subject:

I've talked to 2 different people who have heard of birds being spotted in the SE that were scout flocks out of Illinois, but I can't get any concrete word on Iowa so I didn't want to post mere speculation.

tombuddy_90 · guest Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 206 Location: iowa

thanks for the speady reply. i didn't mean to sound mean in it but thanks.

when u guys think birds will start showing up in westen part of the state?

Traxion · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:22 pm Post subject:

Just curious, where did the snows show up around Rapid City?? Usually very few to no snows in W. SD, but we are very warm with no snow right now (70 degrees as I type this).

Gooseman678 · guest Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 388 Location: GF

Lets hear some predictions on when the snows will arrive in ND? If anyone knows when lastyear snows were being seening in southern Nd? lets hear some replys.....

mallardhunter · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 11:57 pm Post subject:

I am guessing it was around the 1st of April because the geese where here a week earlier.

GooseBuster3 · Supporting Member Joined: 28 Feb 2002 Posts: 3674

The first scout flock where seen the second week of march in ND, then a cold front pushed through and moved the birds back into SD. Who knows there might not even be a sprinh hunt in ND it might be a spring watch. They could blow through in 2 days if they had nothing stopping from migrating north, and with the snow we have right now it looks pretty grim.

buckseye · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:46 am Post subject:

Right now it looks like the eastern side of the state will have some water standing around. Anything west of Devil Lake needs alot of snow or early rains to make sure we have standing water for migration. Over here by Minot it is brown with very little snow in the ditches even.

quackattack · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:31 pm Post subject: Snows

It looks like were suppose to get a little bit of snow and some cold whether throughout the midwest in the next few days. Hopefully we get a few inches in western north dakota so that we get somewhat of a snowline.

Thats about all we can pray for

Squeeker · Supporting Member Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 244

Can't say for the rest of Sask. but Saskatoon has gotten almost a foot of snow in the last 36 hours. It has been snowing almost non-stop since Friday morning!

Chris Hustad · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 6:57 pm Post subject:

You guys will probably get another 4-5 week period of holding birds. Just curious, do you have any stayovers in N. Sask. that don't go up to the tundra?

mallard · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:37 pm Post subject:

They also have the tree line that allways holds the birds.I think that ND will have plenty of birds stopping.With all of the rolled corn fields It is very easy pickings for them.What stinks is,we cant hunt them.

870 XPRS · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:

Gooseman678 · guest Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 388 Location: GF

nickle ditch · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject:

Squeeker, we didn't gat any of that snow that you guys got. We need some more before spring.

mallard · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject:

Gooseman,This has been discussed before.Unless there is a change in the law ,only for the conservation season,the rolled corn will be considered baited this spring.

quackattack · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 9:32 pm Post subject:

Hey guys....I feel dumb asking this but what exactly is "rolled corn"?
Just wanna know so I don't hunt in the wrong field....
I don't got $5,000 to just give away

Tony Vandemore · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:40 am Post subject:

Birds poured into northern Missouri starting Saturday afternoon...

wheatleyNEB · guest Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Ogallala, NE

Ihave been reading that there are a few people seeing birds in Central Nebraska and east. Some reports of limited success of decoying birds on the eastern side of the state.

Just got a nice snow yesterday though so they probably went back south.

mallard · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject:

The rolled cornfields are flat.Everything is smashed down.There is also a ton of feed in those fields.

birddog131 · guest Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 124 Location: Minnesota

Hey guys, I need some input/advice:
My g/f is from Sask. and I agreed to head up with her over easter (end of March) I planned to hook up with some guys to do some "shed" hunting in hopes of finding the sheds of some of those big Sask. Whitetails and Muleys: HOWEVER, I see a few guys talking about Sask for snows. I will be there the end of March for 5 days...is anyone planning a trip up that way, or will birds be around. I appologize for my ignorance but I have never thought of hunting up there. I know she is just happy about me going with so, I may as well use it for some hunting. Any help would be appreciated. I check here daily or can be reached at northstaroutdoors@gmail.com
Thanks guys! I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier......make the lil' lady happy and get to hunt?????

help!

jb · guest Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 235 Location: missouri

I went out on sunday in central mo and found a I would guess10-15k at Grand Pass Co I did not hunt just went to scout for this week we are forcasted for some light snow here. I did shoot a few last week a few had the rust on thier face from the rice feilds down the Texas web site claims thier is a ton of birds down south I hope they dont just blow by central mo again this year. swan lake updated today and they have 75k with 20k off the area

I hope this help get some of your blood pumping
I will let you all know the next push of birds we get

Squeeker · Supporting Member Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 244

northstaroutdoors,

Hunting for Snows does not take place until April 1st. You will need a federal migratory game bird stamp (available at post offices) to hunt Snow geese in Sask.

Check all of the regulations on the Saskatchewan Environment's website:
http://www.se.gov.sk.ca

SPORTSMAN 700 · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject:

Have'nt seen any in IOWA as of yet.

birddog131 · guest Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 124 Location: Minnesota

Thanks Squeeker- That was what I wanted to know: We are heading to Moose Jaw and I believe we are hooking up with some guys from Saskatoon for our shed hunt. You do any of that?

Squeeker · Supporting Member Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 244

Nope, I am kind of a "If it flies it dies" kind of hunter...Don't like looking for stuff that is already on the ground and not moving.

You may also need to go through a bunch of ugly red tape to be able to export back to the States. I think you will need a CITES permit if I am not mistaken to bring sheds back to the US...Could be wrong on this one though; I have never exported any animal parts.

Squeeker · Supporting Member Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 244

So where is the snowline sitting in Sask? Nickle ditch, is there any snow left? Where abouts are you exactly?

brobones · Supporting Member Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 361

Update on using dark decoys or blue phase decoys Saskatchewan

This is for the province of Saskatchwan..

You can not use dark decoys this spring ..No blue phase decoys for this spring If you are running a E-CALLER I just got off of the phone with one of the Feds here in Saskatoon and it will not change till the spring of 2006

charles · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:26 am Post subject: What you talkin about????

huh?????

870 XPRS · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:33 am Post subject:

Check the location charles--->Canada

brobones · Supporting Member Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 361

Sorry for the confusion Charles I edited the post and added Saskatchewan to it..

GooseBuster3 · Supporting Member Joined: 28 Feb 2002 Posts: 3674

How about we leave this page to migration reports

sucks-2-bu · guest Joined: 21 Aug 2003 Posts: 11 Location: illinois

I HUNTED GAND PASS CO OVER THE WEEKEND WE KILLED 32 bird and seen about 75 THOUSAND

NEHONKERZ · guest Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 33 Location: NEBRASKA

Lots of SNOW in SE Nebraska right now

. In Lincoln we recieved anywhere from 5-8" of snow and it was -2 on wed morning. Weather does look good for next week.

Chris Hustad · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

I hear there's snows still holding around Clay Center up to Grand Island on the Platte.

The forcast doesn't look too bad until late next week down there. Things should melt good over the weekend and I wonder if you won't get some small pushes through west of Beatrice.

Storm · guest Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Midwest

I talked to the game warden that patrols the area north of Lincoln, Nebraska (Saunders County). I asked him if he has seen any snows yet. He said that he has seen some Canada geese flying north, with maybe 10 snows mixed in with them and that was it. Currently we have 4" of snow on the ground here, but it is melting today. They are calling for another artic blast this weekend. I don't see any snow geese moving anytime soon.

Kooshnitz · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject: Hey

Thats good news, they keep comming and comming more north, a few more weeks and hopefully they will be up in the dakotas! Kepp us updated from down south ya'll!

word

tombuddy_90 · guest Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 206 Location: iowa

hey guys i was wondering

i live here along missouri river about 45 mins. south of Sioux city. i was wondering if any birds could show up this weekend with it going to be in lower 50s for a few days and then drop down in the low 30s. or when might there be a few birds show up around here?

thanks
thomas

Chris Hustad · Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:25 am Post subject:

You may see some scout flocks, but I doubt anything up towards Sioux City until after the cold snap next week..if not another week after that or more.

My .02