South Dakota snow geese

[NPG]

A group of us are planning to take a trip out to South Dakota for a snow goose hunt. We have not been out there for 2yrs, but are planning on coming out in march (weekend of 8th or weekend of 22nd) and staying for a few days. Are there still good numbers of birds in the Arlington/Brookings area? I know it depends on weather and it varies year to year, but if there are South Dakato residents or groups that go out about that same time frame that would have input would be great. Its tough for all of us to get together to go out to SD so our dates are limited----Thanks

[ironman]

Weather IMO is the biggest factor and unless it gets really warm really fast I would pick your later date. If you are tied down to specific dates that is. Otherwise, gather reports and head out when you can. Either way I wouldn't get too fixed on a particular location...be ready to move and put on some miles. Dont be afraid to ask permission to access feilds, you'll be suprised how willing they are, just be respectful and clean up after yourself. After that it's all up to the birds and your shooting. Good Luck.

[IceHawk]

As stated weather and snow cover dictates how early and how far W or E they travel up. I follow and use every asset I can to judge the right time to go and we usally hit it good. I will admit we have left on a moments notice to get good shooting. We are going to be going again this yr (we have been hunting every yr since the conservation seasons started) I am guessing we will probably be going the last weekend in march give or take a few days.

[Take 'Em]

march 10-20 geese will be present somewhere in the state after that you might get the tail end in the north part of the state sand lake refuge is your best bet if you come after march 20 is north of aberdeen and holds huge amounts of birds

[carpshooterdeluxe]

unless it gets warm and stays warm for a while there not going to be around here anytime soon. theres a lot of snow on the ground between sioux falls and yankton. but theres hardly any if any at all west river. couple that with up to 33" of ice on some of the lakes west of brookings...and well its going to be interesting this spring.

[dolsmi]

The geese follow the snowline on their migration north.

Here is a link to the current snowline.

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nh_snowcover/

[Take 'Em]

ice on the lakes has little or no effet on the snow geese as they will roost on shallow ponds and sheet water in the feilds. their is quite a bit of snow but not nearly as much as last. although that could change. also it only takes a couple of days in the 40's with a south wind and they will be there. at leasts in the southern part of the state.

[Fish'n guy]

Ya Take Em brings up a good point! The main push of birds was already gone when there were still 4 wheelers out on Thompson last year. They tend to key more on sheet water in the fields. The problem this year is the frost layer is so deep that if we get any decent amount of snow there will be sheet water everywhere in the fields for a good portion of the spring. that could make it hard to get into the fields and make more roosts for the birds. so it could be tough decoying em but we will see I guess!

[zrmo440]

 Originally Posted By: Take 'Em

..... sand lake refuge is your best bet if you come after march 20 is north of aberdeen and holds huge amounts of birds

Take 'Em, I am thinking of heading out that way with a few buddies sometime after the middle of March. I thought I read that Sand Lake refuge roads don't open up til April 1? Can you hunt the refuge? How is the hunting pressure in that area? Is it hard to get permission from the local farmers to hunt in their fields? This will be our first snow goose adventure, so I'm a bit wet behind the ears!

[carpshooterdeluxe]

hunting around the refuge can be tough; its well known by all the outfitters that the refuge area can be the place in late march. most farmers ive met up around there are nice; many fields are already spoken for, but the birds will fly off the refuge 2o miles in a few days after cleaning off the close fields.

[stretch]

no you can't hunt the refuge. and their is a boundry that you need to pay attention to. as for getting permission it is fairly easy the only hard part is tracking down the owner of the property. as for hunting pressure in that area it can get tough but it depends on when you go. last year when we went we see one other group of hunters but we were hunting the lead flock that had alot of mature birds. oh and the roads they just mean that they aren't plowed at all. you may be able to get down the roads.

[dolsmi]

Any Snow Geese hitting South Dakota Yet?

[IceHawk]

Heard a few scout flocks around the Yankton area.

[adam stegeman]

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[dolsmi]

Picked up a black lab female last thursday...

Thanks anyway