How to Set Up a Snow Goose Gun

Because of its unique nature and liberal regulations, spring snow goose season lets hunters customize or create extremely specialized shotguns. Photo by TFL Productions.

The first Spring Light Goose Conservation Order of 1999 caught the imagination of many hunters, but few folks realized then the waterfowling subculture that act would create.

There were new categories of equipment created to satisfy the demands of modern spring snow goose hunters, most notably specialized shotguns modified specifically for the grinding, high-volume light-goose game.

Of course, opinions vary among hunters about what makes some snow goose guns better than others. But guides who ply the country’s pits and fields during spring — some for a month or longer — have strong views about the qualities separating the best shotguns from the pack. Their advice can help you design or purchase your dream spring gun.

A flock of snow geese can swoop into a hole quickly and escape even faster. To take advantage, many hunters stack their shells, using a smaller shot size for the first few shots and larger pellets for the remainder of the magazine. Photo by LevitatingCircle.

RELIABILITY AND FAMILARITY

Spring snow goose seasons have very high daily bag limits or no limits at all. Population control is the goal, so hunters want to rip off as many shots as possible when a big flock slides into range. For that reason, most use 12-gauge semi-automatic shotguns. Of course, auto-loaders can jam, especially when dragged through demanding spring hunting conditions — mud, rain, dust or even snow — and after firing hundreds of rounds. That’s why guides stress reliability.

“I shoot a Benelli myself, and I like the Super Black Eagle II the best out of all the Benelli series,” said Matt Albers, owner of Willow Creek Waterfowl near Carlyle Lake, Illinois, which guides snow goose hunters during February. “A lot of guys shoot Berettas, too. I’m not saying you have to buy all top-of-the-line stuff, but if you’re skimping on money, it shouldn’t be on your gun. You spend all that money to get the geese in front of you, so why would you shoot the cheapest gun and ammo on the market?”

Graham Greseth, owner of MaXXed Out Guides, which runs snow goose hunts in Kansas and South Dakota, favors a Benelli Vinci for similar reasons. “I’ve always felt the Vinci was one of the smoothest guns to shoulder and swing, and you can rip out eight shots very quickly,” he said. “When you have 500 snows centered and finishing in the decoys, you can make some serious hay.”

Don’t Miss: Tips for Calling Specklebelly Geese

Many hunters favor inertia-operated guns because they typically require less cleaning than gas-operated guns, but others prefer gas guns for the reduced recoil they provide. No matter your preference, some simple pre-hunt maintenance can help ensure that your snow goose gun goes bang.

“You want to make sure your gun is ready to chop when it’s go time,” Greseth said. “Giving your gun a cleaning with a light oiling could be the difference between you cutting into a giant ball of decoying snow geese or watching your buddies do it because your gun is jammed up.”

Familiarity is also critical. That’s why many hunters — folks who probably only chase snows a few days each spring — don’t purchase a dedicated spring gun but instead modify their everyday duck gun.

“I like to shoot what I shoot all year,” Albers said. “If I shoot an SBEII for ducks, I shoot that for snow geese. That’s what I’m comfortable shooting. It’s like putting on a different pair of shoes. A new gun just fits a little different.”

MAGAZINE EXTENSIONS

Whether hunters modify a gun or purchase a dedicated model, a magazine extension is the No. 1 feature that separates snow goose guns from standard waterfowl shotguns plugged to hold just three shells.

“If you’re hunting snow geese, the mag extension is a must,” Greseth said. “Snow geese are the ultimate boom-or-bust hunt. A mag extension won’t do much when you the adult snows are pushing hard, but when you are in a pocket of hungry juvies, the extra shells are a must.”

Magazine extensions vary, from smaller versions that allow five more shells to ultra-long 10-shell-plus models. Deciding which one to use isn’t as simple as just opting for the highest round count.

“I usually recommend people use about a plus-seven, which is enough for any kind of intermediate hunter,” Albers said. “They’re still going to be able to move those guns. When you put all those shells on end of barrel, it gets heavy fast. So just get a plus-five, plus-six or plus-seven extension tube, and don’t go right away with the plus-10 or the bigger ones that go 4, 5 or 6 inches past your gun barrel. With all that weight on the end, you just can’t move it like a sporting gun.”

And no matter your choice, guides stress that it’s critical to become familiar with the heft and swing of a shotgun with a loaded magazine tube extension. “I’d say one of the most common issues we see is guys not practicing shooting with an extension on,” said Cooper Olmstead of Habitat Flats guide service. “When you throw eight or nine shells into a gun, it adds a lot of weight and shoots differently. If you’re not used to it, it can throw you off quite a bit.”

Magazine extensions are a must for the high-volume snow goose game. However, experts advise starting out with a smaller extension instead of a much heavier longer version. Photo by TFL Productions.

CHOKES AND LOADS

Choosing the right ammo and choke might be more critical for geese than for other waterfowl. Birds can hang up at relatively long range or bomb in — and quickly out — of the kill hole. And because hunters are trying to shoot as many birds as possible when the opportunity arises, they might have one or two close chances and then several longer subsequent shots at escaping geese. As such, most guides tell clients to hedge their bets when choosing the right chokes and shells. Greseth uses a Carlson Cremator mid-range choke and loads up with Migra Ammunition’s mixed loads of 2s and 3s or 2s and 4s. Olmstead runs a Rob Roberts extended-range choke and shoots 3-inch loads of steel No. 2 shot for his first few shots and then 3-inch steel BB loads for the last half of the magazine.

Don’t Miss: 10 Old-School Duck Hunting Tips That Still Really Work

“I tell people to shoot a full choke,” Albers said. “A modified is fine, too. I’m not saying you’re not going to do some group shooting when you’re hunting snows, but you still want to target one bird out of the group, shoot that bird, and then move onto the next one. You can’t just pull up and dump your whole tube up there and expect geese to fall. Some people show up with an improved cylinder thinking they’re just going to be able to unload their gun and birds will fall out of the sky. You have to get some good key steel shot BBs into them to kill them.”

Spring snow goose hunting might be the ultimate boom-or-bust form of waterfowling. That’s why your shotgun must be up to the task. Photo by TFL Productions.

BELLS AND WHISTLES

Many dedicated snow goose guns feature an oversized bolt handle, designed to make it easier to work when a hunter is wearing gloves or needs to reload in a hurry. Albers acknowledged that such handles help but believes they aren’t critical.

“It makes it easier to throw another shell in there, but with the extension tubes, it’s not totally necessary,” he said. “Most of the time, you have enough shells in your gun with the extension tube that you can do what you need to.”

Some snow shotguns also come equipped with red-dot-style sights, which is somewhat controversial, as many wing-shooting coaches advise shooters to focus on the moving target, not the front sight.

“I’m not a fan of them,” Albers said. “It’s personal preference, but I just use the regular sights.”

CONCLUSION

So, the guides’ consensus for a killer snow goose gun is an ultra-reliable, semi-auto 12-gauge featuring a magazine extension, a specialized choke, the right ammo, and perhaps a few bells and whistles. They stressed, however, that even a really cool snow goose shotgun is still just a tool, and its performance afield rests with the hunter shooting it.