2010 Spring Snow Goose Migration Reports

2010 Spring Snow Goose
Migration Report

At HuntTheNorth.com we are striving to offer you, the avid snow goose hunter, the most current and accurate information regarding the 2010 Spring Snow Goose Migration as it unfolds. We will be utilizing numerous information sources to compile our weekly reports. These information sources include; Weekly snow goose refuge counts, Current regional weather forecasts and Current field reports from our Elite Spring Snow Goose Hunting Outfitters. In fact, feel free to contact our Top Outfitters directly from our migration reports. All of this information will be available to you every Thursday evening from Missouri to North Dakota. Each hunter will have the ability to piece together themselves exactly where the majority of the birds are across the Midwest each week and what is happening concerning the spring migration as it occurs. Thank you very much for utilizing our services at HuntTheNorth.com.

LAST UPDATED ON THURSDAY MARCH 11, 2010

Note: We will be updating our 2010 spring migration report every Thursday evening. Thank you very much for utilizing our service. Good Hunting!

March 4, 2010 Snow Line Satelite Image

Missouri

Nebraska

Iowa

South Dakota

North Dakota

Missouri Spring Snow Goose Report

Weekend Weather Conditions:

Highs: In northwest Missouri expect high temps this weekend to range from the low to mid 40’s.

Lows: Low temps will be in the low to mid 30’s through the weekend.

Precipitation: Skies will be overcast through the weekend with a 60% chance of precipitation on Friday and a 40% chance of precipitation expected on Saturday.

Across the State:

Grand Pass Conservation Area: Reported that as of March 11, 2010 there were only holding around 20,000 light geese down from 1,100,000 light geese on the refuge last week.

Squaw Creek NWR: Reported that as of March 8, 2010 they were holding around 175,000 light geese on the refuge. This was up from no geese on the refuge last week at this time.

Swan Lake NWR: Reported that as of March 3, 2010 they were holding 25,000 light geese on the refuge at this point. They did note that Silver Lake is still completely frozen over but the birds are now roosting on some of the sheet water in the fields in the area.

Four Rivers Conservation Area: Reported that as of March 1, 2010 they were holding 30,000 light geese in the refuge. They noted that they are not seeing many more light geese in the area at this point.

Reports From The Field:

Adam Johnson of First Flight Finishers (651-442-7259) has been hunting around Grand Pass through last weekend and they had excellent success. Adam moved the operation over near Mound City, Missouri early this week and stated that although they have only hunted 1 day at this point, there are about 200,000 – 300,000 light geese in the area now and the hunting should be getting better each day now for the next few weeks. Adam also noted although they have had some wet rainy conditions there is not much for snow or ice left in the area.

Scott Robinson the Snow Goose Specialist (269-760-6219) guides around the Squaw Creek NWR. He stated that the hunting has been really tough this week. Scott noted that with the wet conditions the fields are a mess and the birds have not been decoying well but they are still shooting geese each day- mostly all adults. Scott noted that they are seeing good numbers of light geese in the area but the big masses are in the rainwater basin in Nebraska right now. Scott also staed that they have been shooting leg banded snows almost every day this week which is making his hunters happy.

Matt Kostka of Top Gun Guide Service (507-696-0208) is currently set up in Mound City as well. Matt just moved his operation up from southern Missouri last week. Matt stated that the hunting has been below average and he is already seeing birds moving north now. Matt noted that the squaw Creek NWR is still frozen but the sheet water in the area is holding geese all the way up to the Iowa border. Matt is planning on hunting the area for another 7 – 10 days before they pack up and move with the geese into South Dakota.

Nebraska Spring Snow Goose Report

Weekend Weather Conditions:

Highs: In south eastern Nebraska expect high temps jumping from 36 degrees on Friday, all the way up to 50 degrees by Sunday.

Lows: Low temps will be in the low to mid 30’s through the weekend.

Precipitation: Skies will be overcast through the weekend with a 60% chance of precipitation on Friday and a 30% chance of precipitation expected on Saturday.

Across the State:

Lincoln GFP: Reported that as of March 8, 2010 there were solid numbers of light geese congregated in Clay County. There were lesser numbers of snow geese also found in Filmore, York and Stewart Counties as well. They also noted that the largest amount of light geese reported so far were near Harvard, Nebraska in the Rainwater Basin.

Norfork GFP: Reported that as on March 11, 2010 they have had no reports of any light geese along the northern region of Nebraska yet. They feel at this time most all of the light geese are found from the Platte River, south.

Reports From The Field:

Kalend McCurdy of Midwest Migrators (402-615-2210) is located in south eastern Nebraska near the rainwater basin. Kalend states-They are here!! So is a lot of Mud! Huge numbers of snow geese can now be found throughout the basin ranging in numbers over 3.5 million. The weather hasn’t been cooperating very well, but with next weeks temps we should see a good amount of migrators heading north and the shooting should start to pick up. His fields have been doing well with the circumstances they have been dealing with. Almost all of the lakes and ponds are still frozen but are thawing fast!! The birds are roosting on the sheet water and low laying valleys.

JJ Randolph of Wyo-Braska Waterfowl, (435-901-3825) guides out of SE Nebraska in the rainwater basin. JJ stated that there are plenty of geese now in the area however due to the constant rain they have received this week, the birds are sitting tight and have not been moving around much. JJ stated that the hunting this week has been tough with the wet conditions and there has not been much of a recent migration but he feels the hunting should be good this weekend as things start drying out. He also noted that all of the snow in the are is now gone and the lakes and ponds are thawing quick.

Larry Frimann of Black Goose Outfitters (402-660-1220) is stationed in SC Nebraska and stated that they hunting has been very good this week. He said his hunters are now averaging around 20 geese per day and there are geese everywhere now. Larry also noted that although they did get over 2 inches of rain this week, there is minimal snow and ice left in the area.

Iowa Spring Snow Goose Report

Weekend Weather Conditions:

Highs: In central Iowa expect high temps ranging from 45 – 47 degrees through the weekend.

Lows: Low temps will range from 36 – 38 degrees each night.

Precipitation: Skies will be overcast through the weekend with a 20% chance of precipitation on Friday and a 60% chance of precipitation expected on Saturday.

Across the State:

Riverton Management Area: Reported that as of March 8, 2010 the Riverton Management Area as well as Forney Lake are still completely frozen over. There have been decent sized flocks of light geese roosting on the sheet water in the area at this time though and flocks of 2,000+ light geese have been reported as far north as Council Bluffs.

Reports From The Field: