What Conditions Make a Good Snow Season

[Chad]

If memory serves, we had a good spring snow goose season two years ago. Geese were here fairly early and stuck around for a good length of time.

Last year, I don't think things worked out quite so nicely.

So, what conditions make a good snow season?

Is it as simple as snow gone and some open water by the middle of February?

If we don't have spring-like conditions soon enough, are the geese more likely to stay south longer and then pass right on through?

Finally, does Nebraska need North and South Dakota to stay frozen up for awhile to keep geese around here?

Thanks for the input!

[Chen rossii]

Fog, fog and more fog. And maybe some heavy fog thrown in for good measure.

[Luv2Decoy]

About 12" of snow and frozen water in SD & ND until March 25th. Along with the fog I like 15 mph of breeze on hunting days and 50 mph from the north on non-hunting days. The best thing for hunting is to keep the roost busters away from the honey holes.

[south of 41]

wind and more wind

[Alex T.]

"What conditions make a good snow goose season?" Snow and ice North of us. Storms that make the birds go back and forth. It's a time of year thing.The later they get migrating,the shorter time they'll be here. If the weather holds as it says for the next week(if we wouldn't of got this storm,I woulda been out today or tomorrow),the birds will be moving soon. The only real key factor that I've noticed to snow goose hunting is wind. Without it....it's tough. With it...it puts the advantage to the hunter. You guys can have the crappy,foggy days...I'll take bluebirds days with 15-20mph winds in any direction from Feb.20-March 20. Foggy days are great for birds that are staged but suck for hunting migrators.My best advice,get out as much as possible while they are here. Trying to analyze when they'll be here,when they'll be gone,if it'll be a good day or not will lead to 2 things...1)ya miss alot of hunting and 2)ya go crazy trying to figure them out.

Alex

[Ty Stromquist]

The fog does murder the geese and make them stupid. My group shot about 65 and Josh shot almost 90 one day. It was nuts.

Basically, the birds will try to migrate any way. They dont care too much on weather. Our first hunt last year was in the snow.

[gooseh8r]

A GREAT HATCH!!!

This year the hatch wasnt all that great, but not a total bust. Better have your "A" game or you wont have the same success that you had the past 2 years.

[Ty Stromquist]

Originally Posted by gooseh8r

A GREAT HATCH!!!

This year the hatch wasnt all that great, but not a total bust. Better have your "A" game or you wont have the same success that you had the past 2 years.

good thinking Josh. That makes it or breaks it there.

[Patrick Olson]

Originally Posted by gooseh8r

A GREAT HATCH!!!

This year the hatch wasnt all that great, but not a total bust. Better have your "A" game or you wont have the same success that you had the past 2 years.

Amen. There are too many weather factors to be put together to make or break a snow goose season. The one consistent thing that will make a great season is juvy number. Last year's season was spectacular, the best I have had in 5ish years, because of the number of juvies. Year before was really good, too. 2 years of great hatches in a row spelled it out.

Snow storms, fog, wind, whatever. You can shoot geese in NE consistently until March 31st, no matter what is going on the the Dakotas. Weather might matter more for those that only get out a couple of days and can get out on those windy or foggy days. But in the long scheme of things, the weather in NE is just too variable to control a season. You will have windy days, foggy days, snowy days, and still days every single year. They may make or break a day, but they don't control a season. Only thing that could have some impact are snow storms.

You would be surprised how many people quit on the first day after they don't see bunches of geese. "What a crappy season!" and write it off. There is always a week or so lull between when the main mass leaves around March 10ish to the hoards of Juvies from 20th till April 1.

Why wait? You guys should see the amounts of geese that have built behind the snow line in the past few days. I am headed back down south tomorrow afternoon. The birds are a lot closer than you guys think, even with the snow.

Good Hunting,
PATRICK OLSON

[south of 41]

Why wait? You guys should see the amounts of geese that have built behind the snow line in the past few days. I am headed back down south tomorrow afternoon

Hope James aint your source of info again.

As for a poor hatch. lets do a little math 3 million birds or more. As most know I am a conservative thinker.


So lets say only 10% had nest success So 300,000 bred and i would think 3 chicks would be a small brood. Anyone with me here???????? that 900,0000 more juvies....

Also how many juvies from last year will be back this year and how much more educated is a 2 year old bird then a one year old bird

Bottom line i wont be trading in my flag for some bowling shoes

Patrick I think your season last year was more of a exception then the norm if your were to ask other seasoned hunters to define last years results to prior seasons.

I have had way better years then last year.... Hit a few sweet days but far from spectacular for us.

[akareddog]

"Last year's season was spectacular, the best I have had in 5ish years, because of the number of juvies."

Patrick you must have had some really *****y hunts in past years, if you think last year was spectacular? I don't of anyone who would call last year a banner year.

[James Watson]

Originally Posted by south of 41

Hope James aint your source of info again.

PLENTY of birds to shoot at but unfortunately we didnt get a chance....something about rain, snow, sleet, thunder, and hail kept the birds from moving.

As far as last year being a fluke for pat's success, why does it seem like every time someone has consistent success for a period of time others always gotta put it off as a fluke, or because you get lucky, or the spot you hunt. What ever happened to giving people credit for doing a good job and working hard. Reddogg and south, so what you guys had a ****** season, doesnt mean last year sucked for north american snow goose hunters.

Im done *****ing, I gotta pack.

[Patrick Olson]

Coincidence that you guys both hunt the same general area and have a bad season? Same year that the basins are full of water?

All the outfitters down at squaw had banner years. Toye shot 2 times the number of birds he averages. Tracy and, even though I hate to use them as an example, T&T shot snows through the roof. I would take all their opinions on how a snow goose season was compared to anyone else's.

I don't think it is logical to compare someones season who hunts a pit day in and day out to someone who hunted through Missouri and Nebraska. Sure, you didn't shoot crap at your pit. Doesn't mean the entire rest of the state had the same as you. Ideal conditions for E of the basins are dry marshes and steady migration N. Neither of those happened last year

Good Hunting,
PATRICK OLSON

[south of 41]

I would switch places with you last year in a heart beat Patrick. Might be interesting to take a little poll in another thread and see if you were the exception or the norm.

I do agree that when the basins are full we dont do as well in my area. But i had very little juvie action in my area last year for what the hatch was. and it was not do to lack of field time on my part.


Bird had pushed north before we had open water.

James I think you read somthing into my post that was not intended . I know what kind of work goes into a snow hunt and am glad you guys whacked and stacked.

You guys proved that alot of folks like me hung it up to early and or failed to go to the birds.

It all good brothers

[James Watson]

South, no harm done, sorry if i snapped.....its these times of anticipation that get a man all worked up for no reason. I should be a little nicer after the weekend, HOPEFULLY.

[akareddog]

Pat, I thought we was talking about Nebraska Hunting? I hunted six different areas last year and talk to numberous guides daily. I personal don't know of anyone who would call last year a good year.

I'm glad you had a good season, I wasn't trying to jump on your back...my only point was it wasn't a banner year for most Nebraska snow goose hunters.

Maybe, South's poll will show me wrong?

[Hillbilly]

We may or may not be pleasantly surprised with the number of juveniles coming through this Spring. There was a lot of gloom and doom about no hatch last Spring. I spent 2 weeks chasing around Saskatchewan last Fall and we found some pockets of geese that had up to 30 % young. It didn't seem like quite as many as the year before, which was unreal, but it certainly was not a bust.
I have come to the uneducated conclusion that they have some young even in the bad years just because of the sheer numbers of them. They have also expanded their nesting range and are more adaptable than many of the experts give them credit for.
Hopefully, you will all be in the right place at the right time with the wind blowing.