For those of you that enjoy “regular” duck hunting season, spring snow goose hunting may put you a bit out of your comfort zone. The weather and conditions can be significantly different and the birds themselves require some special tactics. In relative terms, if ducks are smart, snow geese are geniuses. They are extremely observant and travel in very large flocks. In other words, this is not your average bird.
If you want to have a successful snow goose hunting season, there are some basic tactics you need to use that you may not employ during the regular hunting season:
- Take the time to scout the feeding areas – certain areas may seem ripe for feeding but if the birds are already under fire in these areas, they may not return the next day. Take a drive the day before your hunt begins to find out where the birds feel safe while feeding. If the field is privately owned, remember, you will need permission to hunt these grounds.
- Get ready for a long day ready for a long day – as we stated, these birds will not go where they feel they are in danger, so you are going to have to make the most of good hunting grounds. At most, you will have three or four sessions with these birds on newly found fields, so be prepared to get their early and hunt through the morning, mid-day, and evening feed run. If the birds are under pressure all day, it is unlikely they will be back regardless of how bountiful the grounds appear.
- Create unique spreads – this once again plays into the intelligence factor of the snow geese. Common sense says that if you see the same thing over and over again and come under pressure, you need to avoid this. Unfortunately, many hunters use the same spread techniques and tactics, giving the birds a familiar look and warning them off unknowingly. Create a unique looking decoy spread that offers the birds something different and you may just decoy more of them in to your shooting zone.
- Combine your efforts – unless you have been hunting for years, it is unlikely you have accumulated enough decoys to put out a spread that can mimic the massive flocks of snow geese migrating during the spring. However, if you have a few friends and combine your equipment, you can put together a spectacular decoy spread. Yes, you will now be sharing your field but if it works, you will all have more than enough birds during the days hunt.
- Concealment is key – if you can see your blinds, you know the birds can too. You have to be very careful in brushing your layout blinds so it perfectly blends into the field. This, of course, also includes the clothing that you will be wearing. This may seem like something basic, but you would be surprised how many hunters show up for a hunt on snow covered ground in full camouflage gear with a brightly colored hat. If the ground is covered, it is time to invest in some snow covers for your blinds, use spray snow or wear all white and not use any blinds on your snow goose hunting trip.