Here they come guys!!!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Fellas, they're here. Well, not right on top of me but farther north. I'm talkin snow geese and lots of them.

Last year they were huge around the Slayton area. So far this isn't the case, go figure. Now they are thick around the Hadley/Lake Sarah area. This is north of where I am but some friends of mine were out there this past weekend and got a lot of shooting in.

Mrs. boilerguy informed me I have plans the next 2 weekends so I don't know if I'll be able to get much shooting in.

If I were a travelling man coming to SW MN for snow hunting I'd be targeting the area around Hadley, and maybe even a little west of there towards Pipestone.

If I see or hear of more action I'll definately keep yous guys posted.

[superfish2]

Boilerguy,

Any idea what this cold snap will do to them, hold them or move them back south?

[Sartell Angler]

thanks for the info boilerguy...we were thinking about giving it a try this thursday, but with this weather change I don't know how productive it would be...we'll have to see. good luck if you get out there.

sa/wdw

[superfish2]

Sartell, tealitup,

If you guys want to meet up any day this week let me know.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm no goose expert. However, I'm thinking that a cold snap would keep them right smack dab where they are. Good news if they're right on top of ya. Bad news if you're hoping for them to move farther north.

[jblabsnduck]

I have a friend that came through SW MN yesterday and he said they are there. This cold snap may push them back south a little but not to much. Once the snap lifts it will be on again. My friend said they are mostly adult birds(a lot harder to decoy) They ended up with 9 for the day.

We are going to hold out till the 18th-20th to go after them. A friend and I are going out on friday to get some fields lined up and then bang them friday after noon and on saturday and sunday.

This is what we have been waiting for.

Boilerguy, so you wont be able to join us?

[lawdog]

Boy are they! They came through here yesterday wave after wave man. I didn't see anything that looked like it had ANY interest in hanging around this area though, they were way up there and moving out when I saw them! I wonder what the sloughs/fields around the Current area are like? That may be the area if they are west of Sarah/Shetek... I'm sure they went a ways North of here yet, maybe even all the way up to Benton or Thompson areas... I don't know, but there are DEFINITELY birds moving in BIG numbers!!

[Sartell Angler]

aight superfish...I'll let you know later in the week. Don't know what you have for dekes but we're just planning to sneak / pass shoot.

SA/wdw

[Eric Wettschreck]

JBlabs, I still don't know about that weekend. I just found out that I have to move my daughter to Waconia that Saturday. However, Friday and Sunday I really really reallly really want to get out. I'll let ya know what's up when I find out.

[superfish2]

Sartell,

Sounds like a plan I have plenty of days off during the week. I don't have any snow decoys so I'm cool with the sneak/jump/ pass shoot.

I do have canadian decoys (not alot 3 doz or so) that we could rig up turn them into blues. Or do the white trash bag tyvek thing if the opportunity presents itself. I just want to finally get a chance to hunt snows.

[Sartell Angler]

yeah we have canada dekes too, but without at least half of a spread being snows I don't think that it would be worth it...from what I hear, the best way to kill numbers of birds is to employ the sneak attack...this is especially true when there aren't a ton of birds in an area. I'll drop you a line later this week...depending on the weather I think we're gonna give thursday a shot. also depends upon how my sister does on wednesday in the first round of the state girls basketball tournament...

SA/wdw

[Nova]

Lawdog, I have a friend of a friend in Laverne who says they are held up in the water treatment plant north of town. Might be worth a look.

[Swamp Scooter]

I am heading out to S. Dakota on the 18-20 to slay them all so you better get in your shooting now. I have high hopes of bringing a bunch home. Never shot them in the Spring before but this should be fun as there is no possession limit where we are at and NO plugs in your guns either. That will be a very different experience too.

The dog is ready now just to get the gear packed

[Browning83]

Never been snow goose hunting in the spring in MN. Just wondering what licenses you need and what are the laws with water? Any info would be appreciated.....thanks

[Sartell Angler]

hey

water doesn't matter...no regulations concerning it. The only license you need is a spring light-goose permit, which is free except it costs a whopping $3.50 to issue. Get out there and kill some birds! We might give 'er a shot for the first time ever too...looking at thursday.

SA/wdw

[superfish2]

Hey Sartell,

when do you think you wouuld know if you are going or not? The only reason why I ask is if you are planning on going I might try and zip down there weds morning and see if I can get some scouting/hunting in.

[WalleyeWeasel]

hey fellas, I can be available after wed. to go if you's have room i have a dozen show decoys(shells)and six floaters. I can drive......?? Let me know. I'm in

Coon Rapids.

[Sartell Angler]

hey superfish:

we're waiting until wednesday afternoon to decide exactly when we're going in order to factor in the weather, when my sister's state tourney games will be, and if our buddy from fargo will be joining us. would definitely leave early in the morning on thursday to make sure we made it out there around sunrise or maybe a little after. from the reports that I have been seeing, as of sunday (march 6th) there have been huntable numbers of snows congregating in the area we plan on hunting. hopefully this weather will keep them in one place long enough for us to drive out there and get a shot at a few. I printed off some detailed maps of the slayton/worthington/pipestone/lake benton/lake shetek areas.

superfish- post up your email and I will let you know on wednesday what is going on...if you decide to go down there and scout/hunt earlier than thursday, shoot me an email at indy500as at hotmail dot com and I'll get you my cell number so maybe we can meet up and combine forces. same goes for anyone else who will be down there on thursday.

sa/wdw

[jblabsnduck]

I'm not going to say jump shooting or pass shooting is the wrong thing to do but you guys should try decoying the birds. They don't get much pressure here in MN so they decoys pretty good. Pass shooting and jump shooting does nothing but make them wise to the game.

If you only have canadians then put a white sock over there heads and then you have blues. Spend $40 to get 100 snow rags and stacks.

A jump shoot is a good way to get huge numbers but be sure you will be able to retrieve them all after the smoke clears.

Good luck

[lawdog]

Nova, I assume he's talking the gravel pit ponds, there is no treatment plant out there that I know of. I went out after work last night and there were two guys walking out to the road with calling boxes but no geese. Saw quite a few ducks, a lot of honkers and one bunch of specks with the honks.

[superfish2]

Sartell you got mail,

I'm heading down tommorow morning. Any new reports on where the birds are staging or moving?

[Bushwacker]

Superfish2,

I talked to David last week and still no signs of heat in Magic. I keep watching the Jake DVD and that gets me more and more excited for the pup. Shoot me an email at mtrierwe at yahoo. com when you get a chance.

[superfish2]

Well I drove out that way yesterday and just got back now. COuld have stayed a little longer today but I had enough of the wind.

All I can say is a saw a impressive amount of birds. Most were Candians and specks though. Probalby saw 10 Candians for every snow. It took me about half the day on weds to locate the birds. I found a flock of about 100 snows on a open piece of water. Lake Sarah was holding another flock of 200 or so. The fields to the west of Sarah had birds feeding. But every snow goose had a billizzon canada or spec around it. The one field I saw snows feeding in I couldn't locate the landowner. Probably one more day I could have had them figured out.

I also saw a good number of mallards and lots of pheasants. Good trip but I think the cold weather has slowed the migration.

[superfish2]

Bushwacker you got mail.

I think I'm may make another trip down there in two maybe three weeks depending on weather if any one would like to hook up.

If anyone is going out this weekend find open water and go from there. I covered ground from Lake Shetak to the SD border and any body of water that was open probably had snows on it. Shetak, Sara, Lake Wilson.

[Eric Wettschreck]

The west side of Lime Lake in Avoca is full of them. There is open water there due to the airator and gale force winds the last couple times.

They are flying from the lake to local fields to feed. There are about a gabillion honkers mixed in with them.

I still don't know what my schedule is so I don't know if I'll be able to go get em. If you fellas are out there, good luck to all of ya!!!!