Where Are The Snow Geese

[dsmith]

My friends and I are going to be hunting snow geese this season in west central Illinois close to the Mississippi River. Does anyone know of a web site that tracks the snow geese migration coming north? We would like some idea of where they are and when they might be coming through.

[Brent]

Don't remember any websites off hand, maybe waterfowler.com but that is other members posting where the birds are so it is not always reliable. I'll be chasing the snows come April in March in the Conservation Season here in NE.

[Jheadid]

its kinda like where arent the snow geese in nebraska

[Jason C.]

I can't wait to chase the snow geese here in Nebraska. It always rocks to see thousands upon thousands of birds in the air! And so much fun when they start working you! YEE HAW>>> I can't wait!

[Ty Stromquist]

www.huntingsnows.com seems to be a good one. Otherwise most all forums you will have guys giving you updates and such.

[Rock Horn 1]

Just another Nebraskan chompin' at the bit for the white tornados.

Good Hunting,

Larry

[dsmith]

Sounds like you guys in Nebraska are gearing up for a good season. Thanks for the information about the huntingsnow.com web site. The word we are getting over here in west central Illinois is that there are lots of birds in southern Illinois, Carlyle and Crab Orchard around Carbondale. We plan to put our spread out this weekend.

There is always a lot of talk about decoy arrangements. We have tried several, the X, the tear drop, and some we just tried on our own. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to lay out your spread? Do you prefer one over another. Or are you always rearranging. That is what we seem to do.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

dsmith

[Brent]

This winter has been sooo warm, that i heard this is the earliest migration on record, the birds are already heading back up. I have heard of some guys starting to see some snows, but I haven't personally seen any yet. We will wait and see, should be that much longer

[BigQuackAttack]

I have drove between Norfolk and Lincoln the past two days and out to Kearney and back last week. I saw one small group of snows last week. Nothing in the way of snows around yet. I did see lots of small Canadas on my recent journeys.

[Brent]

During the hunt yesturday morning, we saw just a few around. We saw about 50-100 in between 5 groups on the way back into town sitting in the corn field. We had 2 Specks decoying our set-up with some mixed snows and canadas, unfortunately its been a few weeks since we were able to kill specks, so we just listened to them.

[Flatcoat1]

Snow geese? What are they? Here in eastcentral Indiana we see one every few years or so. Last time I saw any numbers was way back in 1982. Someone flooded soybeans and corn for a new reservoir and did not harvest the grain. DUCKS and GEESE of all kinds had the 411 on that lake. As a schoolteacher, would it be worth taking some SPring Break time - last week of March - to go west to Nebraska for some snows?

[the_tone_zone]

If you have the time, we ususally have the geese to shoot. But I warn you, if you're thinking of eating "sky carp" you should research some REALLY good recipes ahead of time. They're not the tastiest birds in the air. Oh, and bring plenty of shells and decoys. You'll need both.

[Yooper]

Zone: Do you hunt snow geese?

[the_tone_zone]

Sure have. A buddy of mine has a HUGE spread in west-central Nebraska. He's set up with electronic callers and speakers, floods his own pond and has plenty of decoys. He uses a combination of rags, full bodies and silhouettes throughout and even has learned a small group of Canadas off to the side makes great confidence decoys. And I know they don't taste all that good, too, because his "snow goose gumbo" is about the only way its edible.

[Yooper]

But do you respect snow geese?

[the_tone_zone]

Absolutely. I pay homage to each bird I shoot. Much like all other game, I actually go through a Native American ritual at the end of each hunt. Watch the beginning of "The Last of the Mohicans" and you'll understand.

[Brent]

Come March there are usually a bunch of birds in the area. Farmers are usually really nice on letting you jump the birds if they are in their corn field. Try to stay around the Rainwater basins in South Central NE or South East, NE this is where the majority sit. Its a blast if you can sneak up on 10,000 of them. Although it is getting harder to sneak them, the ole cow silo doesnt work anymore.

[extremawaterfowler]

We have seen a few snow geese up here around sioux falls area all the way to mitchell the last week or so. Not hardly enought to shart hunting yet though. Hope they get here soon. You guys in Nebraska should push'em our way soon.

[tommy]

Brent:

What is this conservation hunt you refer to in NE? Is it a depridation hunt?

How do you guys cook them if they taste as bad as some say? I know of only one way a buddy of mine told me!

Take one snow goose, maranated over night in red wine, get 5 carrots, 3 whole potatos, 1 onion, salt and pepper.

Put goose on a slab of good oak wood, put in broiling pot, add vege's, bake at 450 deg. for 60 min. to 90min., take out of oven, remove goose and take the wood out and EAT THE WOOD! LOL! LOL!LOL! HA!HA!

He says thats the only way he knows to cook a snow goose!

I dont hunt snow geese, cause they dont taste good to me! YUK!

[Rock Horn 1]

Tommy and Zone'

Come on guys, Snow Geese can be quite delicious. Well at least pretty darn good. The best part is actually the hind quarters imo. See my recepie in the goose thread of the outdoor cooking forum. The ground up breasts can be made into an excellent jerky with one of the High Mountain mixes, I prefer mesquite blend with 1 tsp per pound of Tobasco Chipolte sauce added. The breast is also decent if it is from a younger bird sliced about 1/4 inch thick, pounded out to help tenderize. dip in egg wash then cracker crumbs, fry in oil until golden brown on each side and finish on a baking sheet in a 350 oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes and white gravy , Louisiana hot sauce on the side and of course that cold beer.
Better than wood, lol.

Good eating,
Larry

[Black Mamba]

I have seen small flocks already in NE with the mild weather.

[BigQuackAttack]

As far as eating snows, I shot four once on a duck hunt down south and they were great eating...seriously. They were the only snows I have ever eaten, let alone shot. Maybe this spring I'll get a few since I have now moved to Nebraska and have a spread worthy enough to pursue the white bird.

Getting back to eating them. I breasted out the birds, marinated them in Italian dressing and cooked them on the grill. There were really good. I put them just below a mallard in taste. A lot better than eating maple leaves IMO.

[Brent]

Tommy,

The conservation season is a way to help kill some of the snows, blues and ross geese. Since they are so overpopulated up north in their breeding grounds. The birds love to hang around our main river in NE and the rainwater basins in the southern part of the state. You will see some flocks of up to 50,000 birds at a time. its a great sight if you have never seen it before. They have certain rules on where you can hunt so they make sure you dont disturb other birds, also they have no limit on how many you can kill. This is just a way to help eliminate some of the birds on the way back north. Since the birds are so overpopulated up north that they have to stomp on their eggs sometimes to help reduce the population. The season goes from Feb. 1 - April 16.

[DinkKiller]

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to hunt those white birds real soon. Colorado isn't known for being a snow goose magnet. I may have the chance to go to Nebraska and hook up with some friends.

As far as eating them, I'd give it a shot. Sure is alot easier to explain that you didn't like the taste than having a mouth full of splinters......and I'm sure someone has heard the splinters in the mouth joke before.

[Brent]

Personally I just make goose jerky out of them that way you have something to eat when your sitting out in the decoys.

[tommy]

Hey Dink:

It was just a joke, and a pretty good one , I had 5 guys laughing at work, the night befor last! Its a classic!

If anyone likes yhe taste of Snow goose thats OK, not everyone likes the same taste! Be COOL and enjoy your snow goose season!

Been busy working, talk to all of you another day!

[Brent]

Seen a bunch of birds around South Central NE yesturday. It's funny how easily those Canadas come into the decoys when you can't shoot them! :) They sure make for some good pictures though. Saw a bunch of flocks with mixed numbers of snows, but there are definately enough birds in the are to make the hunters happy.

[S-UNIT]

Here in Missouri a buddy and My self have been having good luck in the conservation season taking geese evey night. They are still thick here, we now see about 5000-10000 a night or more depending on the temprature when its colder the numbers greatly improve. We arent much on using decoy spreads though. Do a lot more stalking, we can use the hills we have to our advantage. Also I have heard rumors of the mad cow. I tried it once but it didnt seem to work however I feel my cow was too small looked more like a deer would it being larger make a difference from anyones experiance.

[Brent]

OMG there are a lot of birds in the area now. You can't go 3 minutes without seeing a flock in the sky next to the Platte River. Its kinda hard to bring down 4000 birds when they are 2 miles high and you dont have 1000 decoys :)