[Rich Martin]

Wanted to know if anyone here on the RTF has hunted for snow geese in SD? I have been to Mound city MO twice, Kansas once. The guide I have used does follow the migration north and I am not sure how well the hunting is in the spring and I know it is weather dependent. Looking at going somewhere different and other feed back other than the guides. thanks for any info.

 

[Lee Jones]

don't know about outfitters or guides up there but the folks where we hunt pheasants and ducks with in Oct say they are covered up in Snows. Mitchell area and North.

 

[blakduk]

Don't know about guides but have you considered trying freelance?

 

[Mike Boufford]

I've been pheasant and deer hunting along the Missouri and saw tons of the critters. Mitchell looks like a white blanket at times there are so many coming through.

And Rich, that dog of yours takes up a goodly amount of space in that boat based on your avatar. Then again, he never was what one would call tiny.

 

[Ray Kirkpatrick]

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge Spring 2012 Waterfowl Migration Updated 03/08/2012
Waterfowl estimates for Sand Lake NWR as of 03/08/2012
The Snow Goose migration in eastern South Dakota has pushed as far north as the Aberdeen area. Several hundred thousand Snow Geese have been reported south of Aberdeen this afternoon. Clark County is also reporting large numbers of Snow Geese.
As of this afternoon, there are no Snow Geese in the Sand Lake area, but there are tremendous numbers of ducks – Mallards, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Shovelers. More Canada Geese and White-fronts are also moving in.
Temperatures throughout eastern South Dakota are expected to reach the 40’s and low 50’s this week and into the weekend.

Watching the flock and loading the truck. Going out there soon........
We've been doing the spring hunt for approx 8 years in SD

 

[Rich Martin]

I've been pheasant and deer hunting along the Missouri and saw tons of the critters. Mitchell looks like a white blanket at times there are so many coming through.

And Rich, that dog of yours takes up a goodly amount of space in that boat based on your avatar. Then again, he never was what one would call tiny.

Yah he takes up some room, it was because of him I was able to/had too buy the 18ft. boat (so I told the wife);-). and I have had a few people comment on his size. last weight 98lbs. he would have definitely flipped the 12ft flat bottom over

 

[Rich Martin]

Thanks for the info, It looks like their flight path cuts thru SD which should allow some good shooting. as far as a DYI hunt it would be fun but I don't have any snow socks or full bodys, doing once every few years I don't think I want to wrap up a bunch of money in to the decoys but you never know. Last year at Squaw Creek NWR we hit the time with 1.4 million and what a sight that was. Thanks again

 

[Don Lietzau]

Hunted Mound City with a guide: 13 birds in 3 days for 7 guys
Hunted Clark South Dakota with a guide, 7 birds, 3 days for 8 guys
Guess my luck with Snows ain't been stunning. Duckdon

 

[Bill Schuna]

You may want to consider ND instead. I live 30+ miles east of SD and have seen large flocks moving north the last two days. The snow line may be non-existent in a few days to the north.

 

[JustinS]

they are swarming the Lake Preston - Arlington SD area right now but they are all the adults - wait two weeks and the juvies will be up here and you can nail them

 

[K.S.]

I'm not sure if the juvies will go through like they normally do. I hunted NE the last 8 days, been everywhere from the basins to the NE/SD border and there just aren't the masses like years past. Friday we saw birds most of the day, Saturday was maybe 15 flocks and today, nothing. I've heard the birds are stretched from AR to ND.

 

[Trapper]

I have hunted SoDak for spring snows a bunch of times. With no snow line to speak of right now, the leading edge of the migration appears to be ahead of where it typically is at this time of the year. It somewhat depends on whether you like the big show of leading edge adults or better decoying success with juvies, but you may be looking at North Dakota depending on when you can leave.

 

[JustinS]

Just talked to my buddy who was out all weekend and yesterday they didnt get squat only 6 birds 5 guys but last night they got permission for a different field and they limited out by 4pm with 7 guys

 

[Ray Kirkpatrick]

Just talked to my buddy who was out all weekend and yesterday they didnt get squat only 6 birds 5 guys but last night they got permission for a different field and they limited out by 4pm with 7 guys

They quit too soon. There is no limit on them in SD this year.

 

[JustinS]

The book I have says 20 per day with no possession limit

 

[Ray Kirkpatrick]

The book I have says 20 per day with no possession limit

See this site. This is new this spring season.

http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/waterfowl/spring-light-goose.aspx

 

[youngblood]

Im living in Maryville Mo and this season was interesting.. there were so many snow geese that for a special $5 tag you could shoot as many as you could. there were out-of-staters renting land all over.

 

[SeniorCoot]

It's a crazy year- we keep having to move our motel res north- never have seen it so warm or birds so far north in March- buddies leave this weekend and their reports will determine what we do- sd- ND or MB?

 

[Jerry S.]

I just got back from SD on Sunday. The Huron area was loaded when we got there on Thur. but already thinned out some due to the warm weather. Lake Byron was holding close to a million geese.
Very tough to decoy. Six hundred full bodies and 300 socks and still struggled.
Neighbor near Carrington, ND saw migrators Sunday afternoon. Buddies fishing on Devil's Lake saw birds Sunday but turned around with no open water available.
Good luck.

 

[PhilBernardi]

Know of about 7 hunting buddies out there now. Not sure how they are doing....