Adult Rated Snows

Patrick Olson · 02-11-2008, 01:46 AM

Just got back from a pretty good weekend to start off snows in MO. James and I decided Fri. that we didn't want to deal with anything around here or have anybody bogging us down so we took off. Far and away the most frustrating conditions I have hunted in, and none of the frustration was because of the geese themselves. Never thought I could be standing knee deep in the stickiest, soupiest mud I have hunted in and then whipping out the drills to set the spread in rock solid ground the next day. Temp change of over over 40 degrees in 9 hours. Weekend also involved being called into the county sheriff for setting up dekes in the middle of the night, a skunk chase through the decoys, losing my shoes in a waist deep drainage ditch, and setting up and taking down 1000 decoys between 2 people four times.

Little over 1000 socks, just James and I, a couple tanks of gas, one crazy weekend. Saw maybe 10 total Juvies in all the flocks. Only popped 3 the whole weekend. More snow white birds than I could imagine, and could not have worked any better. Rusty shooting on Saturday, but we straightened up soon after. Turned what should have easily been 30-40 birds into just over half that. Finished multiple big flocks, including a couple of tornadoes. Highlight was watching 7 drop from one big one that got way too close. Didn't see another snow goose hunter the whole time we were down there.

Here are a couple I clicked after the mud finally calmed down. James snapped a bunch of good ones along with some vids, too.

Started.

Almost.

Get Ready (Find a juvy).

Good Hunting,
PATRICK OLSON

James Watson · 02-11-2008, 02:09 AM

Pics turned out pretty good. I got a decent video of one of the better tornadoes, ha had to flip it off a little earlier than i would have like, they were dropping a little faster than I thought.

Here are a few more pics.

Pat With a few.

Owned.

Shouldnt carry so much gear when on thin ice.

Tone2129 · 02-11-2008, 02:28 AM

That looks like a blast (no pun intended) pat! I am going snow goose hunting for the first time this year...cant wait to kill stuff!

**Chad** · 02-11-2008, 08:14 AM

Very nice, guys!

Alex T. · 02-11-2008, 08:48 AM

looks like fun.

Now,everyone will be running out and buying orange boxers to get the edge on the snow geese.

Alex

south of 41 · 02-11-2008, 09:03 AM

great job boys!

But your killin me

bring on whitey!!!!

burrodebo · 02-11-2008, 10:26 AM

Great post.

**Catfishsteve** · 02-11-2008, 11:01 AM

Outstanding Patrick!! Thank you for the great post!

Luv2Decoy · 02-11-2008, 12:49 PM

Patrick I am hoping that the reason you didn't see more juvies is because those early flocks are almost entirely mature birds. I'm not certain where you were hunting in MO to determine if you were on that "leading edge" or not. But I am certainly praying that come Mid-March the flocks are split 50/50 for the adult/juvy ratio

. While I am praying, can't forget about the WIND and some FOG. Great hunt.

goose abuser · 02-11-2008, 01:01 PM

Very nice.

Only 3 more days...

Patrick Olson · 02-11-2008, 01:02 PM

Almost all MO is still the leading edge. Birds are not stacked there yet, but still plenty around.

For a simple comparison, first hunts last year we were killing 50% Juvies with consistency and that lasted the entire year. Never did see any days like this where everything was grey-free last year. But no worries, they will show up eventually. Even if not one snow hatched this year, we still have a ton of 2-3 year olds from last few hatches that will commit occasional suicide.

Good Hunting,
PATRICK OLSON

south of 41 · 02-11-2008, 01:15 PM

dont forget the dive bombing rossies

kaiserduckhelm · 02-11-2008, 03:01 PM

Very nice. Looks cold.

Should be plenty of juvies this year, not as many as last year but still should see quite a few. As my memory serves we only shot 25 some percent juvies last spring. Had only one hunt were the juvie birds out numbered the adults. We didn't hunt the back end of the migration so I guess thats why. Saw way more dirty birds in one week in Canada this fall than all last spring around here. Maybe you guys were hunting a colony that didn't have a good hatch.

**Ty Stromquist** · 02-11-2008, 03:06 PM

Glad to see you guys got out. Nice job. Im pretty pumped up. I cant wait till they get here.

brademan76 · 02-11-2008, 05:50 PM

Nice job guys. Thats pretty tight.

02-11-2008, 01:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
Patrick Olson Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Omaha/Lincoln Posts: 337 Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	Adult Rated Snows Just got back from a pretty good weekend to start off snows in MO. James and I decided Fri. that we didn't want to deal with anything around here or have anybody bogging us down so we took off. Far and away the most frustrating conditions I have hunted in, and none of the frustration was because of the geese themselves. Never thought I could be standing knee deep in the stickiest, soupiest mud I have hunted in and then whipping out the drills to set the spread in rock solid ground the next day. Temp change of over over 40 degrees in 9 hours. Weekend also involved being called into the county sheriff for setting up dekes in the middle of the night, a skunk chase through the decoys, losing my shoes in a waist deep drainage ditch, and setting up and taking down 1000 decoys between 2 people four times. Little over 1000 socks, just James and I, a couple tanks of gas, one crazy weekend. Saw maybe 10 total Juvies in all the flocks. Only popped 3 the whole weekend. More snow white birds than I could imagine, and could not have worked any better. Rusty shooting on Saturday, but we straightened up soon after. Turned what should have easily been 30-40 birds into just over half that. Finished multiple big flocks, including a couple of tornadoes. Highlight was watching 7 drop from one big one that got way too close. Didn't see another snow goose hunter the whole time we were down there. Here are a couple I clicked after the mud finally calmed down. James snapped a bunch of good ones along with some vids, too. Started. Almost. Get Ready (Find a juvy). Good Hunting, PATRICK OLSON

02-11-2008, 02:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tone2129 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Millard/Lincoln Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	That looks like a blast (no pun intended) pat! I am going snow goose hunting for the first time this year...cant wait to kill stuff! __________________ Husker Bass Angler - Events Coordinator Sponsors: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. face="Arial Black"> Triton Boats Sportsmans Haircut Wolf Tackle Supplies Venom Lures THANK YOU!

02-11-2008, 08:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
Chad Director Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gone Fishin' Posts: 6,457 Thanks: 58 Thanked 66 Times in 41 Posts	Very nice, guys! __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

02-11-2008, 08:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Alex T. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: under the lids of a laydown blind Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 3,412 Thanks: 0 Thanked 62 Times in 35 Posts	looks like fun. Now,everyone will be running out and buying orange boxers to get the edge on the snow geese. Alex __________________ Listening to an e-caller daily to help pass the time until they come back

02-11-2008, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
south of 41 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sea monster Posts: 2,237 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 8 Posts	great job boys! But your killin me bring on whitey!!!! __________________ The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth that it prevents you from achieving. Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

02-11-2008, 02:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
James Watson Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NE Posts: 320 Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Pics turned out pretty good. I got a decent video of one of the better tornadoes, ha had to flip it off a little earlier than i would have like, they were dropping a little faster than I thought. Here are a few more pics. Pat With a few. Owned. Shouldnt carry so much gear when on thin ice.

02-11-2008, 10:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
burrodebo Emeritus Directors Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: On the Water Posts: 3,093 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Great post. __________________ "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." "Sometimes you'll see a strange spot in the sky, a human being that was given to fly."

02-11-2008, 11:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
Catfishsteve Director Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Plattsmouth, NE Posts: 6,841 Thanks: 21 Thanked 113 Times in 35 Posts	Outstanding Patrick!! Thank you for the great post!

02-11-2008, 12:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Luv2Decoy Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in the blind Posts: 70 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Patrick I am hoping that the reason you didn't see more juvies is because those early flocks are almost entirely mature birds. I'm not certain where you were hunting in MO to determine if you were on that "leading edge" or not. But I am certainly praying that come Mid-March the flocks are split 50/50 for the adult/juvy ratio. While I am praying, can't forget about the WIND and some FOG. Great hunt.

02-11-2008, 01:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
goose abuser Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 509 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Very nice. Only 3 more days... __________________ My frilled dragon eats more than your frilled dragon...

02-11-2008, 01:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
Patrick Olson Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Omaha/Lincoln Posts: 337 Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	Almost all MO is still the leading edge. Birds are not stacked there yet, but still plenty around. For a simple comparison, first hunts last year we were killing 50% Juvies with consistency and that lasted the entire year. Never did see any days like this where everything was grey-free last year. But no worries, they will show up eventually. Even if not one snow hatched this year, we still have a ton of 2-3 year olds from last few hatches that will commit occasional suicide. Good Hunting, PATRICK OLSON

02-11-2008, 01:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
south of 41 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sea monster Posts: 2,237 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 8 Posts	dont forget the dive bombing rossies __________________ The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth that it prevents you from achieving. Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

02-11-2008, 03:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
kaiserduckhelm Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 267 Thanks: 1 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Very nice. Looks cold. Should be plenty of juvies this year, not as many as last year but still should see quite a few. As my memory serves we only shot 25 some percent juvies last spring. Had only one hunt were the juvie birds out numbered the adults. We didn't hunt the back end of the migration so I guess thats why. Saw way more dirty birds in one week in Canada this fall than all last spring around here. Maybe you guys were hunting a colony that didn't have a good hatch. __________________ Out-the-Window Outfitters. "Our drinking team has a hunting problem."

02-11-2008, 03:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Ty Stromquist Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: in a treestand Posts: 4,009 Thanks: 52 Thanked 24 Times in 19 Posts	Glad to see you guys got out. Nice job. Im pretty pumped up. I cant wait till they get here. __________________ "Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt and for the forest and fields you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person." - Fred Bear

02-11-2008, 05:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
brademan76 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 445 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Nice job guys. Thats pretty tight.

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