Image: snow_flock

Many hunters encountered good numbers of snow geese during Fall 2024, which could equate to a productive spring season. Photo by Delmas Lehman.

Despite mixed reports from the breeding grounds, spring snow goose hunters might be in for good action this spring — if weather conditions cooperate.

Many goose guides reported seeing lots of juvenile light geese this past fall and winter, which indicates that Spring 2024 production was solid. Hunting success during the spring conservation season (for snow, blue, and Ross’s geese) typically depends on goose production the previous spring, because juvenile birds are easier to decoy than experienced adult geese.

“We have had a great hatch the past two years and lots of juvies,” said Graham Greseth, owner of MaXXed Out Guides, which runs spring light-goose hunts in Kansas and South Dakota. “There are a lot of juvies mixed in with adults right now where we’re at in Kansas. When they are with the adults, they’re a little tougher to kill. In December, we had large concentrations of young birds without many adults, and we averaged 40 to 50 birds a day, with no electronic calls at all. If people can stay on the right birds, they can put themselves in position for some really special hunts this spring.”

Don’t Miss: How to Set Up a Snow Goose Gun

Tony Vandemore, owner of Habitat Flats, near Sumner, Missouri, agreed.

“From what I saw this past fall in Saskatchewan, the hatch appeared to be pretty darned good,” he said. “There were a lot of juvenile birds.”

However, Vandemore expressed concern about February weather conditions. As of Feb. 3, there was no snow cover in the Midwest and northern Plains, even north into southern North Dakota. Light geese typically follow the snow line northward during spring. During cold years with a protracted thaw, geese might stage at various stops for relatively long periods. During warmer years with rapid melting, they can shoot north quickly.

“If we get a warmup, they are going to flat roll [north],” he said. “Granted, there will be some stragglers, but it’s going to be a drawn-out migration with a lot of distance between the leaders and the tail end. I’d rather have a snow line that keeps them pinned. Snow goose hunting is about numbers. The more over you every day, generally the better the day. Strung-out migrations usually lead to less traffic over you most days. That said, it is early, and there’s still plenty of time for some big storms to shake things up.”

Fall hunting reports from guides seem to contradict what waterfowl biologists observed this past spring. In a recent article for Delta Waterfowl, editor Kyle Wintersteen wrote that critical populations of snow geese have continued to decline because of poor production, which might potentially push states or provinces to consider joining Texas in eliminating spring conservation order seasons.

“The thaw was more timely this year, which should’ve helped production,” Wintersteen wrote. “However, recruitment of goslings has suffered for consecutive springs due to lingering winters.”

Don’t Miss: Snow Goose Shooting Strategies

The article said Ross’s geese were estimated at 1.1 million, which was 13% lower than the 10-year average, and midcontinent-population lesser snow geese were at 4.74 million, 15% lower than average. The Atlantic Flyway’s greater snow geese increased 7% to 628,000 birds, which was 4% lower than the 10-year average. Pacific Flyway light geese, however, were estimated in 2023 at 1.27 million, greatly exceeding population objectives.

The breeding population of lesser snow geese has increased by more than 300% since the 1970s, leading to concerns in the 1990s that the birds would destroy tundra habitat at their Canadian nesting areas. The first spring season, made possible by a special conservation order, was held in 1999, featuring increased or unlimited bag limits, and allowing the use of new methods, including electronic callers and unplugged shotguns.