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Hunting snows in the spring is a gamble, scouting is more important than ever
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As the season implies, hunting snow geese in spring is about 180 degrees different than traditional fall hunts.
Much of spring snow goose hunting is time and weather dependent. The same is generally true in the fall, except then it’s cold weather systems that drive birds south. In spring, warm weather systems melt snow and ice and allow birds to advance north.
In the fall, however, birds seem content to hang around their North Dakota and southern Canada staging grounds as long as weather will allow. In spring, snow geese are anxious to get through North Dakota as quickly as possible. They don’t usually hang in one place too long. If there is open water and open fields to the north, they’ll be moving.
Let me explain at little more thoroughly. First, a spring light goose season, more properly called a “conservation order,” has been ongoing since 1999 as a way to reduce the midcontinent light goose population. Biologists have documented considerable deterioration of arctic nesting grounds, and they believe that a significant population reduction is needed before this fragile habitat can start to recover.
Since the spring migration into North Dakota can start anywhere from late February to early April, wildlife managers want to ensure that the season is open when birds start to arrive. In North Dakota, the opening date is in mid-February, but in most years there’s no sense of urgency among hunters. Just because the season is open doesn’t mean birds will be present.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. The amount of snow cover, and not necessarily the month or week, is a great indicator of spring snow goose migration trends. Check out http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/SNOW/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif and locate the snow line as a great starting point as to the northernmost advancement of birds.
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If you're hunting snows over decoys, always keep an open mind and imitate spring patterns
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The snow line is important because birds will not move much, if at all, into areas that have heavy snow cover and frozen water and ground. Snow geese need open water and open fields before they’ll migrate north.
Combine what you’ve learned from the snow line, along with available public reports from state snow goose hotline at 701-328-3697, or at the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov, shift the odds in your favor for a successful hunt.
If you’ve never hunted the spring season, put your fall tactics on the back burner. Spring requires a somewhat different approach. Unlike most fall hunting, the roads and fields may be muddy. In fact, with all the snow the eastern half of the state received in late February and early March, I’d say it’s a certainty that things will be very sloppy when the first snow geese start moving into the state.
As with any hunt, scouting is imperative for a successful outing. Keep in mind winter is never completely over and a spring snow storm could stall the migration or even shift it into reverse for a few days as birds scurry back south to evade dire conditions.
Typically, snow geese first arrive in the southeastern corner of the state, with flocks moving north from Dickey, LaMoure and Sargent counties, toward the Devils Lake and Minot areas.
It’s important to realize these birds are survivors that have hunted literally since last September throughout their entire migration. They are educated birds that have been around a decoy set or two.
With huge concentrations of birds during spring migration, finding them tends to be the easy part. But wary birds, muddy fields and overnight pull-outs prove frustrating to even the most veteran spring season hunters.
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Be careful for whitefronts while hunting snows, when in doubt aim for white!
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At a minimum, prepare yourself to meet the expectations of the hunt. If you’re planning on spotting birds and working to intercept a migrating flock, you’ll want to arm yourself with 12 or 10 gauges with BB or BBB loads the standard.
Other hunters may prefer decoys. While this method can mean shorter shots, it can also mean few or no shots at all as suspicious flocks may avoid decoy sets all together. Muddy field conditions can hamper the use of expansive spreads.
Regardless of method, hunters should be aware that Canada geese, white-fronted geese and ducks are often mixed in with flocks of snow geese in spring. Identify your target and refrain from shooting into groups of birds.
One last word. While the main migration is a spectacle of hundreds of thousands of birds moving through, there are stragglers. If you keep your eyes and ears open, a late flock can put the finishing touches on a successful spring.
And don’t forget to bring the family. The spring snow goose migration is a spectacle at which even nonhunters will marvel. Like every outdoor activity, the key is to get out and enjoy.
Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by email:
dleier@nd.gov
Photo credits to the ND Game & Fish Department and Chris Hustad of Nodak Outdoors
Hunting Snows by Doug Leier
