Snow Goose Hunts

We offer spring snow goose hunts in Nebraska and South Dakota in the Central Flyway. Over the years we have been very successful in these areas. In any hunt with JNA Outfitters be prepared for the possibility of movement. We will move where ever necessary to provide you with the best chance of a successful hunt.

In the spring we hunt exclusively out of layout blinds because this offers us the best accessibility and opportunity for keeping us in the right place at the right time. We will primarily be hunting in fields but will hunt the water if we feel it is a better opportunity. We hunt over a mix of full body decoys and windsocks. We feel that with large numbers and movement of windsocks and realistic appeal of full bodies we have the best chance of success. We have been hunting these birds for many years and realize that new tactics are often most successful. Because of this, we will constantly change spread sizes, locations, and setups throughout the season. We ask clients wear camouflage even though we are hunting out of layout blinds; face cover, head cover, jacket and pants. You should also be prepared to hunt all weather conditions from rain and even snow to 80 degree blue bird days. In the areas we hunt there are many bodies of water which can hold large numbers of snow geese. We hunt around these marshes and ponds to be visual to large numbers of snow geese. Over the years, snow geese have continually become much more intelligent. Therefore we have to adapt constant change of snow geese.

Nebraska
In Nebraska we primarily hunt the famed Rainwater Basin and Southern Nebraska. These areas hold large numbers of snow geese in the spring with many bodies of water and a great quantity of food sources. We have been hunting these areas for many years and know that we can provide you with the best opportunity for a successful hunt. In these areas we have developed quality relationships with landowners and have the highest quality of leased ground available. Every year as many as six million snow geese travel through southeastern Nebraska and the Rainwater basin in search of food, rest and pair bonding.

Nebraska Map
source

The Light Goose Conservation act has allowed us to use electronic callers, unplugged shotguns and liberal bag limits. Because of these liberal game laws snow goose hunting has become very popular!  With this it can be very exciting with nonstop action at times. We primarily are based out of Beatrice and Sutton, Nebraska.  We feel these areas provide the best combination of lodging and convenience for our hunters. This hunt does not include lodging but we will assist you in any lodging needs.

Goose Photo
Season Dates: February 7th to April 13th
Booking Dates: February 22nd to March 16th or as migration allows
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset
Method of taking: Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller NO PLUG REQUIRED
Limit: NO LIMIT




Links for more information on Spring Snow goose season in Nebraska


Goose PhotoSouth Dakota
In South Dakota we primarily hunt the eastern 1/3 of the state. This area, like the rainwater basin, is known for its prairie pothole region and great quantity of food sources. We have been hunting this area for many years now allowing us to know the ground well and develop good relationships with many landowners. The majority of the season we will be based out of Mitchell, SD and will follow the migration north as required. This hunt does not include lodging but we will assist you in any lodging needs.

Season Dates: February 10th to May 8th
Booking Dates: March 20th to March 31st or as migration allows
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
Method of taking: Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller NO PLUG REQUIRED
Limit: 20 light geese per day, unlimited bag

Links for more information on Spring Snow Goose Season in South Dakota


SPRING LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER FACTS (source)

  1. The Light Goose (snows, blues, Ross') Conservation Order is a cooperative effort by the U.S. and Canada to address serious arctic ecosystem degradation to primarily coastal areas in arctic Canada caused by an over abundance of mid-continent light geese. Simply put, the size of the population has increased in the central and eastern arctic so much that the geese are damaging their breeding grounds by overgrazing.
  2. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was amended to authorize the establishment of the Light Goose Conservation Order which allows the taking of this population of light geese after March 10. The Conservation Order also allows the use of electronic calls, unplugged shotguns, and provided for extended shooting hours (half hour after sunset). The first Conservation Order was in spring of 1999.
  3. Mid-continent light goose population objective set by a Flyway Management Plan is 1.0 - 1.5 million birds, as measured on the winter waterfowl survey in early January.
  4. Recent 3-year averages for the winter waterfowl survey are: 1995-97 - 2.65 million; 1996-98 - 2.74 million; 1997-99 - 2.80 million; 1998-00 - 2.65 million; 1999-01 - 2.43 million; 2000-02 - 2.47 million; 2001-03 - 2.49 million; 2002 - 04 - 2.43 million; 2003 - 05 2.31 million; 2004-06 - 2.24 million. The number of light geese is still way above population objective but declining somewhat.
  5. Conservation Order harvest in South Dakota: Average Conservation Order harvest in South Dakota for the past 8 years (1999-2006) is 89,617. The spring conservation order harvest is much larger than the harvest during the regular fall season. Estimated light goose harvest during the regular fall season for the six-year period of 1999 - 2004 was only 18,355. States that harvest the most light geese during the Conservation Order in the Central Flyway are Texas, South Dakota, and Nebraska, and in the Mississippi Flyway it's Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.
  6. Harvest for the United States and Canada combined, for both the Conservation Order and regular fall season are: 1998 - 1999 - 1.27 million; 1999 - 2000 - 1.46 million; 2000 - 2001 - 1.15 million; 2001 - 2002 - 1.48 million; 2002 - 2003 - 1.13 million; 2003 - 2004 - 1.22 million; and 2004-2005 - 1.17 million. Progress is being made to reduce the population but more harvest is needed. Hunters are encouraged to harvest, in an ethical, respectful manner, as many light geese as the law allows.