chasing spring snows

Hey everyone, who out there is getting the itch to chase some spring snows. Arkansas opens up Jan 29 and the upper states to follow. I'll be heading down to mound city MO. the end of Feb. for 3 days. Last year my group of guys shot 159 birds in 3 days. I hope its as good this year as last. Everyone should go on a hunt like this once in there lifetime. Its the only time there is no bag limits and unlimited shells in the gun. Good Luck to all that will be out there

Stump- sorry you had a bad trip. We were in Madison SD on the 16-21 and we were on the snow line. Lots of adults birds but we did get some to decoy in the evening hunts when they break up a bit (we were after adults for some good mounts) . When your hunting adult snows. 15-30 birds in decoy set is not a bad day. Without juvies You need the juvies to break off the group and decoy to get the large number of field killed birds As for paying first. We require a deposit then the rest of the fee due on day of hunt. Many buddies of mine who also guide do the same. However the personal relations that you encountered were very poor and that is NOT how most of us guides work. I've had days where a guy kills 1 bird but has a great time still. I'm a bit of a funny guy I'm told.... I would look for another guide for next year if I was you.

All, Thanks for the input - Jump shooting - I get it (hmm just frustrated). I also agree with the fact that we had the option to MOVE fields - sure that may mean work but if it were easy then everyone would do it. I'm also a believer that creating a great hunting experience isn't all about a bag limit. The simple fact that the outfitter did not take the time to introduce himself when he was in the same motel and has not touched base since the hunt is bad form. Also paying prior to services render seems weird (again I have not used a guide so this may be normal). Anyway thanks for the input and keep getting outdoors.

Stumpjumpin- I don't know of many guides that take clients to jump shoot snows. I am sure they are out there, I just have never heard of one. There is a lot of liability involved and I don't think they want to take the risk. Hunting 3 days and having 0 birds to show for it is hard to swallow. I have hunted spring snows for 7-8 years with 2-3 different guides. Out of all of the trips my lowest day was 1 bird. When we had the 1 bird day, the guide put us in another field. In fact, we normally moved fields every day. It is not typical for a guide to put you back in a field that had a 0. In fact most guides will move the party to another field. I think I would have had a big problem with a guide that put me back in a field that I had sat in previously and never fired my gun. Jump shooting is looked down on my most snow goose hunters. It is a useful way of getting birds but as others have mentioned, it spooks birds, it drives them out of areas and there is a chance that you hit a bird with a closed season- Ducks, specks or Canada's.

Well if everyone is jump shooting that would explain why nothing is decoying. I see no fun in jump shooting especially with the chance of killing something out of season. I know the locals in ND hate jump shooters because it pushes the birds. Not sure about south dakota.

stump That sucks when that happens. Everyone that I know right now is having the same trouble out in sd. Birds are not decoying. The big reason is they are all adult birds and have had alot of pressure all the way up there. Some guides dont even enter sd. till the juvies get there. Most guides don't like to jump shoot just for the fack of you don't know if there are ducks or specks or canada mixed in with them. Also if you keep jump shooting the same spot they get educated and don't return. Thats why I hunt down south. If the guide only has 1000 decoys out to me thats a problem to. My guide throws out 2000 to 2500 and when we were down there he had 4000 out. If you need a hook up on a great guide down in Mound city let me know.

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pics from my hunt in Mound City MO.

Just back from S.D. (Parkston area). Looking for some input. I have never used a guide so I'm not certain if my expectations are off base. Here is the deal... I contacted Dean late Feb and told him there would be 4 of us that have never field hunted let alone spring goose hunt. Keep in mind we have hunted waterrfowl for 20+ year but all in the water. We set a weekend (last weekend) I paid the half down via mail. Dean stated the week prior to the hunt he would contact me with location of hunt and were we will stay. Like clock work he did - the Monday prior to our Friday departure he called. Told us what hotel and location (Parkston S.D.) Stated the birds were moving up - should have a great time. Well Friday hit we packed up and departed MKE area around noon. About half way there Dean called to verify we were on the way. He mentioned that they were having a tough go at it but the birds were in the area. He also stated that we need to pay the guide when we meet him prior to going out to the fields (seemed weird). Well 620am we met Wally and Pat. Proceeded to the field (pre-set with 1000 socks and some kites) ground blinds .... Started the electronic calls and the hunt was on. The time passed and passed - saw high flyers - nothing would decoy by us (across the next field - tornados) lookers would go around. and the day progressed. - the guides got the updates from other field hunters - mostly the same story. Come to find out the two other guys we shared this hunt with had been there for the prior 2 day had the same thing. The evening hunt ----more of the same. Back at the motel others had success jump shooting - don't know about other areas. Sunday - back to the same field and even more of the same - these geese just would not decoy - we zeroed all three hunts. Our outfitter I'm told spent the night at the motel - never heard from him (evening or morning and even to this day). I'm not so concerned about the 100 day shoot but when I host guest i do what ever it takes to get them into action - move locations, change methods (jump shoot).... Nothing was offered or discussed. I just got the feeling the $$ were exchanged - thank you very much!! When fueling up to leave a truck load of guys pull up next to us with a load of snows- they lead the conversation saying you guys must have been decoy hunting - you know they aint decoying - you got to jump shoot or hunt the open water. Is this what you guys expect from guides - At this stage i will go back to doing it myself - thoughts

Just got back from Mound City MO. What a hunt we shot 285 birds in 4 days. After 3 years of chasing them we finaly hit the over 100 bird day. Our best day was 117. I will post some pics tomorrow. We still shot alot of adult birds. The birds moved out of there last thursday night. They are in NE. up to SD. Most of the birds in SD. are adults and the guys out there are having a hard time decoying them.

Lots of field jumpers in South Dakota. All the guides talk too so carefull what you claim to be doing. Lol Unless your shooting a good amount of juvs or jump birds you don't shoot 100 adults in a day

We used that hitch cleaner thing. It works really good. We would go through 30 birds in about 15 - 20 minutes. We are having all of ours made into sausage etc. Team, that was probably our field that you shot 95 out of and we shot 25...... Thats how it goes though...

Just an honest question here. What do you guys do with all the meat? I guess not even that, how do you clean that many? I hate cleaning 6 ducks - but I do it if I shot them. Saving my vacation for next spring so I need to plan how to store that many birds, etc.

Goose caller - you are right some fields were really hot and some were not it was weird the last day we shot 95 birds on that field and the day before he said they only got 25 off that field I think luck was on our side vs being based off good shooting even though we did shoot well. Had a lot of problems with browning maxus. Jam jam jam had a buddies a400 along and used that flawless whew Pic from 1st days hunt we had 94