The Excitement of Spring Snow Goose Hunting

While there is no doubt that fall is typically thought of as the prime hunting season for geese, there is also a spring snow goose hunting season that offers its own unique set of challenges for hunters. Spring snow goose hunting season does not occur in every state, but in most states, especially more northern states, it is considered one of the first hunting seasons of the year, ideal for hunters wishing to get a jump start on fine tuning for fall hunting. In some states such as North Dakota it is possible to go snow goose hunting almost half of the year, with various seasons lasting approximately six months.

Snow goose hunting season in more northerly states generally starts in mid-February, and the seasons get slightly earlier as you move further south. Unlike the fall migration, snow geese tend to be less likely to spend long periods of time in one area on the spring migration, and they tend to closely follow the melting snow line fairly consistently.

It is therefore important to time your hunting with the melting of the snow. Snow goose hunting is ideal when there are still patches of snow on the ground but increasing areas of dry or bare ground, ideal for camouflage and working with blinds. Snow geese and Canada geese may hold up in one area, waiting for warm fronts to melt snow accumulations before moving farther north, but again this delay is usually relatively short in duration.

To time a snow goose hunting session it is critical to keep an ear and eye out for reports of cold weather, spring storms or other weather conditions that may affect the northern movement. Just because the conditions are ideal for snow goose hunting in your area doesnt mean the flocks may not have been stalled in bad weather further south along the route.

Since ground conditions are likely to be fairly wet and sloppy, advanced scouting of fields, roadways and comfortable areas to set up blinds is critical, especially for those early morning in the dark decoy positioning outings. Know the roads and the terrain to avoid getting stuck or hopelessly mired in the middle of a field, especially if you are using vehicles instead of ATVs.

Another key point is to keep in mind that geese in the snow goose hunting season have been hunted in the southern states during the fall and winter, so they may be very leery of decors or blinds, ones that they normally wouldn't be worried about in the fall hunt. It may be more practical to avoid decoys and work on setting up well disguised blinds rather than trying for decoys and calling to get the flocks to land.

Saskatchewan Goose Hunting Advice

Saskatchewan, one of the Prairie Provinces in Canada, is known for its goose and duck hunting opportunities. Saskatchewan goose hunting is popular with sportsmen from many areas including Europe, Canada and the United States. Saskatchewan goose hunting does have its own techniques and strategies that hunters should be aware of to make the most of the hunting season.

Saskatchewan goose hunting season is combined with many other seasonal hunting options. This allows hunters to make the most of a full day of hunting, rather than just being limited to geese. Typically geese are the early morning hunt, ducks or sand hill cranes are in the afternoon hunt. There are also opportunities for hunting Upland game birds such as partridge and grouse in the afternoon hours. This mixture of hunting styles makes for an interesting day out on the fields.

Saskatchewan goose hunting styles reflect the flat, barren terrain of the province. The blinds that are used are very low profile or laydown style blinds, but pits and pit blinds may also be used. Blinds are typically used for Canada geese and Snows, but they may also be used for some of the ducks as well. The wheat, oat and barley fields around the major waterways are ideal for setting up blinds and scouting the area.

Typically Saskatchewan goose hunting will include all three varieties of geese including Speckle Belly, Canada Geese and Snow Geese. The advantage in spring goose hunting in the province is that the geese are basically as far north as they are going, so they are more likely to stay in the area even when they are being actively hunted. Many of the geese are wise to the use of decoys and spreads by this time, but placing large numbers of decoys can often offset the natural anxiety of large flocks, bringing them into the fields especially if they are not hunted in the same field every day.

One of the tactics used in Saskatchewan goose hunting is to use windsocks that are painted to bring in larger flocks, especially of Snow Geese and Canada Geese. These windsocks are ideal in that they have a natural movement plus they are easy to move, store and reposition whenever needed. Solid bodied decoys are also used as are decoys with electronic wing movement, goose calls, and spring mounted decoys. Flags are not as commonly used in the ultra-flat fields in Saskatchewan simply because they tend to draw attention to the blinds, which are slightly raised from the fields. Most hunters agree that keeping the blinds as "out of sight and out of mind" is the best advice for successful Saskatchewan goose hunting.

New Ideas For Goose Hunting Gear

It seems like every year marketing specialists come up with a whole selection of new and improved goose hunting gear. While some of the new ideas are great, a lot of the traditional goose hunting gear is just as good if not better and quite a bit cheaper as well.

The basics in goose hunting gear include a good blind, a reliable and properly calibrated shotgun, good ammunition, lifelike decoys and warm, water resistant clothing for those long, damp morning waits. A goose call may also be included, but many hunters consider this an extra. Usually this is because unless you know how to use the call you are likely to scare off as many geese as you attract.

Once you have the basics, it is time to advance to the newer, innovative goose hunting gear. One of the newest applications is moving decoys. Traditional decoys are simple, plastic goose replicas that, by the end of a couple of days are no longer fooling the smarter flocks. Goose decoys are now mounted on weighted stands that have a spring and swivel attachment that give the appearance of the decoy bobbing and moving in the wind. This addition to your goose hunting gear will help to bring in even late season geese that are very decoy wary.

Another added bonus to goose hunting gear is a decoy that offers wing movement just like a goose stretching its wings, something that they commonly do while feeding. They are far more effective than the traditional use of flags to simulate a goose's wing movement on the ground. Flags are all right when the flock is far away, but the movement can also be a deterrent to landing when they get closer.

Electronic goose callers are an ideal addition to your standard goose hunting gear and take the pressure off having to use a manual caller. If you are using an electronic goose caller be sure to check in the hunting regulations to make sure they are legal in the area you are hunting. Some states and hunting areas do ban the use of these devices.

Laydown blinds are also an idea to keep in mind. These low to the ground, minimal profile blinds are terrific for hunting on very flat terrain that is too difficult to dig a pit in. In addition to being very easy to put up and take down, they are also some of the lightest blinds to carry with you. Laydown blinds are a great idea as a "go to" blind in situations where other blinds are not practical.

Choosing a few additions to your goose hunting gear every year will allow you to have gear for every occasion and hunting venue. Remember that many hunting clubs offer swap meets or hunting equipment sales or online auctions that are idea for picking up new gear or unique items at a fraction of the cost of retail or hunting specialty shops. Be sure to buy from reputable websites and to understand if you are buying new or used goose hunting gear.

Minnesota Goose Outfitters – Hunting With The Pros

One of the many benefits to Minnesota goose outfitters, hunting either spring geese or fall geese, is that you have the experience and expertise of seasoned, veteran hunters that are familiar with the area, weather conditions and habits of the geese. There are even more advantages to using Minnesota goose outfitters. Hunting has a limited season, so have advanced permission to be on private lands as well as consent from leases and neighboring farmers make a day hunting far less restrictive than trying to do it on your own, especially if you don't live in the area.

In the northern states, including Minnesota, goose outfitters, hunting guides and hunting professional are often difficult to find close to the hunting season, so booking well ahead, even one season in advance, is a good idea. The more popular the goose outfitter is the more likely it is that they will be booked at least one season in advance. Professional Minnesota goose outfitters, hunting guides and lodges are scattered throughout the typical flight path of the geese, so there are limited opportunities for last minute bookings in the key areas of the state.

A good Minnesota goose outfitter, hunting guide or hunting expert will take various information into account when determining the best hunting options on a daily bases. They will follow the migratory patterns of the birds via the various Departments of Wildlife and Conservation, as well as closely monitor weather patterns in advance of the flocks to attempt to as accurately as possible predict the arrival of the geese to the area. Many goose outfitters are able to predict within a day or two of when the flock will arrive by taking these factors into consideration.

In addition the hunting outfitter will also be able to recommend gear, check for the right type of shot and guns, help with calibrating sights on the guns if necessary and scout out areas to set up blinds, spread the decoys, or provide camouflage and natural cover if available. Many of the Minnesota goose outfitters, hunting guides and professionals will not be associated with specific lodges, but can arrange reduced rates at some hotels or motels in the area if you book hunting trips with them.

In addition, some of the guides may also offer hunts only for a specific minimum number of hunters, so be sure to check this with them when booking to avoid disappointment. If you have a group you wish to hunt with, consider having one person call in all the registrations to avoid confusion and possible misunderstandings.

Family Holidays And Klamath Falls Goose Hunting

If you enjoy hunting and want to take the family with you for either the spring or fall hunt, consider Klamath Falls goose hunting opportunities this year. Klamath Falls is located in Oregon on the northern border of California and in the beautiful Cascade Mountains. The town itself is on the shores of Upper Klamath Lake, and offers ideal hunting, fishing and hiking opportunities.

Klamath Falls goose hunting is ideal for family holidays and vacations simply because there is so much to do. The town itself boasts museums, art galleries, shopping, theatres and a number of five star accommodations and restaurants. One of the largest populations of Bald Eagles in North American is found in the Klamath Falls area and bird watching is a popular pastime both for locals and visitors alike. There are many walking and hiking trails, day trips and horseback riding outings in the warmer months and golfing, fishing and even canoeing to keep the family occupied.

Klamath Falls goose hunting has gained in popularity in the last twenty years and is now a major goose hunting area for those that like to hunt in remote areas. Canada geese and white-fronted geese are very plentiful in the Upper Klamath Lake, but it is necessary to boat into the area as there is no way to get to the best hunting locations by vehicle. It is permissible to use decoys, blinds and dogs for Klamath Falls goose hunting on the lake, but all equipment must be removed at the end of each day. Occasionally very low lake levels can make getting into some of the more secluded areas somewhat challenging, so a guide is strongly recommended.

About 50 miles north of the town of Klamath Falls, goose hunting is prime in the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The road is not well maintained so there is little traffic to the area except serious hunters and professional guides. There are many restrictions in the area including the restriction to only boats without motors and specific areas where loaded guns are not permitted.

For those that are not local to the area the access points to the marsh can be challenging to locate and map, so having someone that is familiar with the area is good idea. The marsh cannot be accessed more than two hours before sun rise and all equipment including decoys and blinds must be removed at the end of the hunt each day. Since the area is a wildlife refuge there is no use of any type of motorized off road vehicle within the area.

Klamath Falls goose hunting offers a unique aspect to hunting in remote areas while still enjoying all the comforts of a large, entertaining city within easy driving distance.

Kansas Goose Hunting In The Fall

While it is not always the first area that leaps to mind when hunters gather, Kansas goose hunting offers some excellent opportunities for spring and fall hunting that have their own benefits and advantages. Since Kansas goose hunting is not as heavily advertised as some of the other places including Texas, Oregon and western Canada, there are more opportunities for hunters to find geese that are quiet and not spooked by constant hunting. The state also has abundant grain crops, large, clear waterways and relatively good hunting conditions during the season to make this an excellent opportunity to get in some good hunting without all the competition and expense and of the most popular goose hunting areas.

Many of the largest and most populated Kansas goose hunting territory is under lease to large outfitters and guides, but there are still plenty of individual fields that can be leased by the day or the week directly from the land owner. There are also several Kansas goose hunting, duck hunting or general hunting associations that hold these prime leases. Obtaining a membership in these associations will grant you access to the leased land, a great option if you want to hunt by don't want to have a guide with you. It also allows you the option of having access to far more land than a private individual would reasonably be able to lease for a season.

Some of the Kansas goose hunting associations will offer a full package deal including the use of seasonal or semi-permanent or permanent blinds, a nice change from having to carry your own blind out in the early morning hours and put it together in the dark. These blinds typically have a space for a portable heater should you choose to bring one. They may also have chairs already in the blind or you may have to bring your own.

The Kansas goose hunting fall season typically extends from October through to November and then picks up again in January and February for the spring hunt. There are nine different varieties of geese that move through Kansas on the Central Flyway, so it is critical for hunters to be able to identify species as hunting seasons do vary for each species. Kansas also offers several zones for hunting which will also affect the bag limit, possession limit as well as the hours for hunting. Contacting the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will allow hunters to request a full written copy of the hunting regulations for the state.