2006 Spring Snow Goose Migration Reports

Chris Hustad · Last edited by Chris Hustad on Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:23 pm; edited 1 time in total

Well, it's early...but it's been another mild winter overall. There are snows scattered all over from the coast and even some are reported as far north as SD (don't worry, it's still far away from time up there). There's bunches of snow geese as far north as Nebraska currently.

So with that being said I'm starting the reports a bit earlier this year.

PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD FOR REPORTS ONLY. If you want to talk about something other than a report, please start a new one. Any posts taking the reports off course will be removed, I hope everyone understands that it's needed to keep this for what it's intended.

Good luck this spring! Eye's to the sky...

Click here for the 2005 spring snow goose report archive.

Chris Schulz · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:12 am Post subject:

This is so early, it makes me sick. come on blizzards!

Top Flight Waterfowling · guest Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 327 Location: Central WI

We need a snow storm!!! I hope I can get off work if they come early, buddy that lives Yankton SD saw a small flock fly over his house last weekend.....

Adam Toboyek
Central Wisconsin
Top Flight Waterfowling

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

good amount of birds in Mo right now CO starts on the 30th in the north zone should be a good opener unless they move north before then

prince · guest Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 11

shot snows in junction city Kansas last weekend, dates 01/21/06 and 01/22/06, seen many big flocks down there

huntngear · guest Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Lakewood, CO

There are some birds in NE and we will be chasing them on the Feb1 opener! More birds will come in the next week with the south winds.

jkern · guest Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 237

I was in the rainwater basins in Nebraska from 11 til 3:30 yesterday getting the blind ready and saw 1 flock of about 300. Did some driving around and didnt see squat, ducks or geese. Really suprised me we didnt see abunch of ducks, everything was open.

Im lookin to go down and hunt in about 2 weeks. Unless we get some crappy weather.

Ridge Nelson · guest Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: Squaw

i just checked the sqauw creek national wildlife refuge website, reports are there that around 52,000 birds are on the refuge

Ridge Nelson · guest Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: Squaw

the website is http://www.squawcreek.org/cgi-bin/sightings.cgi

deafishunt · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:34 am Post subject:

You can check this website about where are they now. Waterfowler.com

djleye · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:05 am Post subject:

It has been a fe wyears since I looked at the waterfowler.com tracker but back then it was way too unreliable. There were reports of snows in ND in January!!!!

I'll stick to Nodak!!

Chris Hustad · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:15 am Post subject:

lynxx69 · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:18 am Post subject: snows

I don't know for sure if my information is accurate or not but I have got word that there are about 50,000 in NE right now, but you never know what they will do with 40 mph south winds... It has been said everything is open as far as water so they may be getting ready to move into NE within the next 10 days.... Anyone have any more info?

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

Just got of the phone with a contact from SD. Said there are acouple hundred sitting on a lake in SD, nothing major.
Once I hear 50K then my blood will get a flowing.

deafishunt · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject:

The concept is there, but like djleye stated, the map is always full of bogus reports. I guess you take it with a grain of salt like any report.[/quote]

yeah, I like to hold my pant up and look forward from people's rumors.
I was superised snow geese fly to North this early Season. I suspect that odd weather changed than past. I hope cold air push down make snow geese stay in North Dakota for few months. [/quote]

ToPe · guest Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Nebraska

Seen about 500 snows on a pond by seward, ne today. That's all that I've seen around here so far.

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

seen 1 flock of 50 or so snows here in central iowa along the missouri river.

lets get some more replys going here so we know where the birds are.

tom

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

still a bunch in Mo have not see many moving in the last few days I will have a better report on the 1st plan to stop a few from going up north

billr64 · guest Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 9

jkern · guest Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 237

Here is a link to NEXRAD in NE Kansas. There are a pile of geese in this area with birds comming from Squaw to join em.

Ridge Nelson · guest Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: Squaw

still a big number of snows around squaw creek. around 50k

ToPe · guest Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Nebraska

billr64, I would say that's a safe bet around middle of feb. I don't think you will have to wait till march this year. I'll keep giving posts if i see some.

gasburner70 · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:52 pm Post subject:

hey guys freshly back from the rain water basin in the suton and clay center area went out there this weekend to get the hunting trailer setup and ready for the big push which i am sure isnt going to be for atleast 10-15 days but hey there are a good # of birds there as we speak i saw lots of flocks on the ground and alot moving in, if i had to say how many were around at this time i would have to say around the 50-60 thousand range and i think that is a understatment we saw alot of birds, and they are pumping the refuges and there were alot more birds there today than on sat. the weather looks good so i am thinking around the 10th in that area if the weather keeps up. here are a few photos of some groups i took today... spring pics

fishunt · guest Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 674 Location: Minot

at Kanansa snow geese open on Feb 13 but I will be there on Feb 16 , so do you think I will have a change to get them or they left already when I arrives? My friends asked me to come down and get together to get them down!! I was alike not too sure if I would go because I think by the time I arrive and all gone? thanks

lynxx69 · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry I don't understand about half of that to be honest with you... ^ Anyways I have been hearing reports of snow in Western ND is this true? Also the rain water basin is going to be in the upper 40's and 50's I am heading out there about the 12th... I am ready for another great year hopefully...

Hunting is not only a passion or a love its a neccessity!!!!

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

Its doesnt matter if there is snow in Western ND or not, that is completely out of the migration path. As for a snowline there isnt much, but thre hasnt been a decent snowline for the past 4 years. Its the same thing every year.

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

Just got off the phone with a farmer around where I hunt in Mo and he tells me they still have a bunch I will find out first hand tomorrow and give full report on Thurs

looks to be a good day have not seen many moving from the south in the last few days however

snowsforlife · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:52 pm Post subject:

with all this talk what are people thinking the main migration date will be for ND? My hockey is done March 17 so i am hoping it is after right around there. What are you opinions?

Chris Hustad · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject:

Too far out to tell, nobody knows what mother nature has in store. But TYPICALLY late March is a safe bet for a push.

jdas53 · guest Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Metro MN

My little bro just got back from duck hunting in Ark this part week 25th to 29th. He said there were still lots of snows there-tons. Am curious though-always lots of questions this time of year-Where will the birds be on these dates??? I could give you an estimate-3rd week of march southern SD to Northern ND. Go to the birds

maple lake duck slayer · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 10:00 pm Post subject:

SD put their first report onto the Sand Lake Hotline today. Not a whole lot to report, but several small flocks have been seen around Sioux Falls. Just enough to make it harder to sleep at night and get through my classes.

MnDiver · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:09 am Post subject:

Gary Bottger · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:19 am Post subject:

I saw two groups heading north last night in north east nebraska. We just might actually shoot some geese this weekend.

billr64 · guest Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 9

Greg_4242 · guest Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 73

In ND if its not posted you can hunt it and there is also a lot of land that is just not posted.

How does it work in SD? Is it hard to find land to hunt. I'm more a of fall duck hunter and I figure more people will view this forum this time of year that the duck on. Next fall if I get the draw and go to SD is it hard to find bodies of wetlands and other bodies of water to hunt around Souix Falls and alittle farther north and west?

Travery

Ridge Nelson · guest Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: Squaw

i dont know how accurate the squaw creek NWR website is but the reports are on it are around 80,000 snows on the refuge.

kaiserduckhelm · guest Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 324 Location: Nebraska

They showed up in force today in the basins. Non-stop flights all morning.

sstripsky · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject:

I am going to hunt in South dakota, the march 23 thru the 28. I am wondering if you guys think I will be late?

damon · guest Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Minnesota

where exactly is the rain water basin