Spring Light Goose Season

[Tyler Holm]

LIGHT GEESE -- Includes snows, blues and Ross’ geese.

DATES -- February 1 through May 8, statewide.

DAILY LIMIT -- 20

POSSESSION LIMIT -- Unlimited

SHOOTING HOURS -- One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Light geese generally begin arriving into the eastern 1/3 of South Dakota in late February to early March.

South Dakota residents will need an annual small game, 1-day small game, youth small game, combination, or junior combination license and Migratory Bird Certification stamp to hunt light geese. Residents who are at least 12 years old may buy licenses and hunt light geese. Hunters ages 12 through 15 will need a Hunter Safety Card.

Nonresident light goose licenses can be purchased online with a credit card or over the counter at License Agents throughout South Dakota. The adult license costs $45 and is valid for the entire conservation order. Youth licenses (ages 12-15) cost $25. No other license or stamp is required.

Shotgun Shell Capacity Shotguns with a shell capacity of more than 3 shells are allowed.

Electronic calls Use of tapes of migratory bird calls or sounds, or electrically-amplified imitations of bird calls is allowed.

Federal Refuges Some federal refuges may allow light goose hunting in a portion of the refuge. Check with the specific refuge.

**The federal waterfowl stamp is not required for this event!

http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/waterfowl/Springgoose.htm

[SLP]

Thanks for the info. Are there any birds in the area yet. I was thinking of trying it for the first time around the 14th of March. I hope there are birds around.

[Take 'Em]

As of right now their are no snow geese in the east central part of SD. I would be willing to bet that the little snows that were here, a week ago have been pushed south with cold weather. There is also snow for I-90 to southern nebraska so the geese will not be here until that melts. Im sure it will at least another two weeks before their are huntable numbers in east-central sd. Just hope for warmer weather. I cant wait to decoy the elusive sky carp!!!!

[poutpro]

Can you hunt them without 1000 decoys? If not, is anyone willing to bring a college student along for a try at it?

[Take 'Em]

We usually use anywhere from 400 to 1400 northwinds. Done well with high a low numbers of decoys. I go to school at SDSU in brookings and are spring break March 4-12. Can allways use another gun in the field.

[poutpro]

I'm from Fergus Falls MN not too far from there, maybe a 3 hr drive or so.

[goodfellow56]

I go to school at sdsu too. If you ever need another gun and help setting out your decoys let me know id love to get in a good hunt over decoys. killed a lot of snows but not many in the decoys cuz i cant afford them. i should be around for the last half of spring break as well