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2014 Spring Migration Reports

75K views 456 replies 96 participants last post by  Rivertonmallards 
#1 ·
Alright fellow snow or white geese chasers (I'm not using nicknames for the bird to keep this thread approval rating approved by Killer Miller :lol:), this thread can be were we post migration reports for this coming season.

It's alittle early but thought I'd get it started and throw out some info:

Latest snow cover map:

A report from a decoy company's migration updates:

2-16-14 - Spreads Hittin' the Ground
What was once a snow line is becoming a distant memory in the Western part of the central flyway. Kansas and Nebraska are mostly snow free at this point. And what snow is left in Northern Missouri will be gone mid-week with temps forecasted well into the 50's. As of Friday scout flocks had already been reported around the Mound City, MO area. With the predicted warm up this week, Squaw Creek should see a large influx of birds by next weekend. Louisiana hunters have noted movement out of their deepest wintering grounds, and a guide contact in Southern Illinois reports simply "****** is here".

Most of "the guides" that inhabit the traditional staging areas in Northern Missouri are starting to "saddle up", with everyone we have talked to planing to be hunting by late this week if not sooner.

Hope everyone is doing their final prep work on their gear, loading up the shell box and filling up the truck/atv's with gas. Good luck to all this spring and let's put some serious #'s down in Iowa this year!
 
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#427 ·
YES or maybe. Some days I only work birds and have no need to kill any. Or just take pictures. Mostly, I hunt alone, with 100 snow goose decoys and a regular mouth call. That alone takes skill to harvest mature birds and that's what I do. I've hunted north to south from border to border of the US and killed hundreds. I don't need to kill birds. I purposely make it difficult to see what works and doesn't. Same with turkeys and deer. I haven't shot a snow goose this year and that doesn't bother me. I've been out on the mass migration days this spring and loved to watch even though I've seen millions before. I had days when I hunted with outfitters that I alone killed 23 snows in one day. Did that because many of the people there in the blind couldn't the broad side of a barn with a stick. Also, I was on the end of the blind and got the young ones that came back after the flock was shot. Waterfowl magazine was there and photo'd the whole thing. Including me eating wild goose soup. I hate hunting with big groups. I want to know that I hit what I aimed at and not competing with 10 others like I see in the videos. I 've hunted with outfitters to LEARN. I can't compete with them because they have the big bucks to buy 3000 plus expensive decoys. I enjoyed hunting with Tony T's groups and have recommended him to dozens of people. However, outfitters make hunters happy by letting them SHOOT. I'm happy by getting the birds in close. Very close. Sometimes close enough to try to catch one. Never achieved that but touched several at Coopers creek as they landed on top of the pit blind. I don't consider myself an expert because you never know it all because things change year to year. I consider myself EXPERIENCED because I've been doing this for 64 years. And I m still learning. I use as much technology and information as I can get. Tomorrow I will try a different setup than I've used this year so far and see if I can get a few in. May not work but I will learn from it. And that is the fun. ANYWAY, I'm not even sure what an expert it. Is that a personal opinion or someone else.?
Time to end all this and go hunt as you legally please. However, if you see a large group of snows pile into a spread and no one shoots, you know it probably is me. One thing I can't figure out is why people will sit in their vehicles on the road for hours and watch me hunt a field. What fun could that be. One time I missed the lead bird that had a big red/white band around its neck. Missed it 3 times. That situation was already laughingly being discussed on a website before I even got home.
Take care and I consider everyone on this site an expert. At something.
 
#429 ·
Good flights north of snows and specs from daylight on to 11:00. Still large flocks of 200-300. I hunt near a roost but the snows still are very wary. I worked many but most wouldn't come down to the 30 yard range of my 20 with 3 shot. Most flocks were a mix of juvy snows and juvy specs. I have devil of a time telling the difference. One flock had a mature snow as leader and that one came home with me. Nice morning to be out even though it is Sunday and influenced by other people. Finally about 12:30 6 vehicles drove out on the area and I had to pick up. But I was about ready anyway. About 11:00 I started getting large flocks of specs back from the north. Very large. but fun to watch in the V's that kept going south. We will have to see what happens with this storm. One shot and one nice big mature snow. Can't get any better than that.
 
#431 ·
Hunted down by the skunk today. I did drive by Hendrickson's on the way home. Where did all the water come from. Must have put in the boards. I couldn't tell if they did anything to the dove wheat field on the north end from the blacktop on the south. I still think that would have been decent if they had left it alone. I hate seeing them take down all the trees too. I'm not sure if I will hunt again this year. Need to do turkey scouting.
By the way, are the outfitters picking up and running before the blizzard hits. Or are you not in SD anymore. It sounds bad. We have relatives at White Lake.
 
#432 ·
The entire se sd region Is suppose to get a little rain and maybe and inch of snow nothing that will push the very few birds in the region to go south and the birds up north in the storm will either stick it out or push a little south certainly will be no reason for them to push into central iowa. The boards are in at Hendrickson so I was told so thats where the waters from. The dove/ wheat field was burned and turned over it looks even worse then it did before.
 
#434 ·
Hendrickson is at crest and it may be pouring over the boards. We were on there today it is 4' deep other than very close to shore. Too deep to wade most of it. My guess is they want to kill off the willows, and protect what water is in there should it be a carbon copy of last year, and the almanac is calling for that.... Saw 5 or 6 migrating flocks that had their bags packed for north. Had a pair that worked us while setting up, guess we shoulda been a bit earlier. Oh well, I'm done for the year with just a handful killed. Blind flipped up and arched across the solenoid while trailering home. Smoked all the cables, battery, and solenoid. Bout burned the whole damn thing up. First time I've ever had to use a fire extinguisher on a boat. Gas can was way to close!

Howard you have obviously seen the watershed on that place, right? Its huge. The boards have been in since last fall when they fixed the wing dams that were done poorly, like normal when the IDNR takes the lowest bid, no matter what.
 
#435 ·
We had a helluva hide, though and a good wind just not enough birds that were thirsty. The duck show the last 2 days on the water was pretty fun to watch though! Love to see all the ducks in breeding plumage. And they were eatin the snow floaters up. Or maybe the flappers, either way was cool to see working birds. Lots of T-bone waved in the face of this dog the last 2 days:cool:
 
#436 ·
DF
Glad that the fire didn't get to the gas! That wouldn't of been good in the strong wind today. Had quite the weekend with your trouble today and than a trailer yesterday.




I was out yesterday morning and this afternoon and loaded 5 shells in the gun and unloaded 5 shells in the gun. Yesterday morning had hopes of a nice shoot with feeds in the area but the birds got off the roost and went loafing on another piece of water. Scouts out last night had 95% of the birds gone that I had seen in the morning. Got off work today and went out to the spread and didn't see a single flock of migrating waterfowl from 3-5:30 this afternoon so the end is about here I'd say.

Been at it hard the last 3 weeks so catching up on sleep won't be a bad thing, had some nice bunches over the decoys and got some good photo's as well so the season was a success. Minus my 3rd magazine cap on the A400 breaking :mad: Done with that fancy half-twist and going to a threaded cap!
 
#437 ·
DF
Glad that the fire didn't get to the gas! That wouldn't of been good in the strong wind today. Had quite the weekend with your trouble today and than a trailer yesterday.

I was out yesterday morning and this afternoon and loaded 5 shells in the gun and unloaded 5 shells in the gun. Yesterday morning had hopes of a nice shoot with feeds in the area but the birds got off the roost and went loafing on another piece of water. Scouts out last night had 95% of the birds gone that I had seen in the morning. Got off work today and went out to the spread and didn't see a single flock of migrating waterfowl from 3-5:30 this afternoon so the end is about here I'd say.

Been at it hard the last 3 weeks so catching up on sleep won't be a bad thing, had some nice bunches over the decoys and got some good photo's as well so the season was a success. Minus my 3rd magazine cap on the A400 breaking :mad: Done with that fancy half-twist and going to a threaded cap!
Are you ready for an Xtrema3?
 
#438 ·
Hey, that was me that played mechanic in the parking lot for three hours yesterday while DF got to guard the marsh. Oh well, either situation could have been a lot worse so we are thankful for that. But DF did show me a marsh today that I had never been on before. Nice place. may have to go play there this fall.
 
#440 ·
Talk about a dead day. Out 4.5 hours and didn't even see one duck. Canadas all around me plus a couple of sandhills to keep me company but no snows, specs or ducks. It was so windy I could hardly stand up in the mud. Vacated the area when the storm clouds brewed. Will hit it hard tomorrow early with lots of snacks and that will be it(really). Need to find me some turkeys. BIG turkeys.
 
#442 ·
Hope you sent the snows northwest TH. I, too, have seen many swans. For a while I had a group of 7 that seemed to like my decoys. These are the really big ones that make funny noises. I didn't see them today but I saw very little of anything today. Big wind shift and we will see what tomorrow brings. Too much wind today. Somehow I sprained my right big toe and that will make walking out lots of fun tomorrow. Especially going back pulling the heavy decoy cart and walking directly into the west wind. No one ever said goose hunting was easy.
 
#443 ·
In Perth, ND there is about a 20MPH wind coming straight from the South. Decided I would go catch some pigeons for training and as soon as I open the door there is 80 honkers tree height above the house. With it being 50ish here yesterday and today and up to 60 by Wed I would expect the snows to be arriving soon. Lots of honkers by DL and Cando right now as well.
 
#444 ·
Well, just got back from my first trip to south dakota and had a great time with weaver, kruger and some of seans good college buddies. Things kicked off the way every good snow goose trip should with the atv breaking down the minute we arrived and pulled it off the trailer. Good start huh. Luckily there was a truck in the group and the field was frozed enough to get the gear into the field. After a three hour set up we decided to sleep in the van at about 3am. The morning started out right with two flocks of juvies about 3-5 hundred strong giving us a small cyclone to help forget the trials of the previous night. Ended with 35 the first day and my spread saw its first band as well. Haven't heard yet but when we tried to call it in while in the field the message on the website was the bird was too old and we would have to call an 800 number to find out the age but I'm guessing old cause he was a good looking adult snow. The forcast was 2-4 inches of snow overnight and based on the 15 feeds we saw in the area while driving the atv into town to get fixed(which didn't end up happening) we decided to stay in that field another day and see how dumb the snow actually would make them. Just like the rest of this year the weatherman was wrong and we didn't see a flake. Killed seven birds the following morning and still had a good day watching every kind of duck and goose under the sun work the field and migrate north. Since the field didn't look too promising a couple guys went scouting in the afternoon while we got the spread out of a now muddy field. No worries cause it turns out college kids are machines (thanks again weaver) and we got the entire spread out of one field and into an other by hand and still made it to bed by 4am. With high hopes for the next morining we made it out and hopped into our blinds again and we were rewarded with one of the finest duck shows I have been witness to in the field. All morning thousands upon thousands of ducks filled this pond next to us and worked our spread. Had every type of duck buzzing the blinds at five yards and do they ever look good. Managed to scratch out nine birds that morning which for this year and the stories we had been hearing was fine with me. Opted to pull the spread that afternoon with the help of the atv that was stuck in reverse. Must have looked mighty funny making ten trips back and forth in the field pulling everything backwards but I think anyone that was there would agree it was a life saver. All in all it was a fantastic trip with 51 snows over the three days. Made some new friends and can't wait to go next year. Thanks weav, krug, mitch, jace, lucas, and brady for making it a fun and memorable adventure.

Tim
 
G
#445 ·
Well, just got back from my first trip to south dakota and had a great time with weaver, kruger and some of seans good college buddies. Things kicked off the way every good snow goose trip should with the atv breaking down the minute we arrived and pulled it off the trailer. Good start huh. Luckily there was a truck in the group and the field was frozed enough to get the gear into the field. After a three hour set up we decided to sleep in the van at about 3am. The morning started out right with two flocks of juvies about 3-5 hundred strong giving us a small cyclone to help forget the trials of the previous night. Ended with 35 the first day and my spread saw its first band as well. Haven't heard yet but when we tried to call it in while in the field the message on the website was the bird was too old and we would have to call an 800 number to find out the age but I'm guessing old cause he was a good looking adult snow. The forcast was 2-4 inches of snow overnight and based on the 15 feeds we saw in the area while driving the atv into town to get fixed(which didn't end up happening) we decided to stay in that field another day and see how dumb the snow actually would make them. Just like the rest of this year the weatherman was wrong and we didn't see a flake. Killed seven birds the following morning and still had a good day watching every kind of duck and goose under the sun work the field and migrate north. Since the field didn't look too promising a couple guys went scouting in the afternoon while we got the spread out of a now muddy field. No worries cause it turns out college kids are machines (thanks again weaver) and we got the entire spread out of one field and into an other by hand and still made it to bed by 4am. With high hopes for the next morining we made it out and hopped into our blinds again and we were rewarded with one of the finest duck shows I have been witness to in the field. All morning thousands upon thousands of ducks filled this pond next to us and worked our spread. Had every type of duck buzzing the blinds at five yards and do they ever look good. Managed to scratch out nine birds that morning which for this year and the stories we had been hearing was fine with me. Opted to pull the spread that afternoon with the help of the atv that was stuck in reverse. Must have looked mighty funny making ten trips back and forth in the field pulling everything backwards but I think anyone that was there would agree it was a life saver. All in all it was a fantastic trip with 51 snows over the three days. Made some new friends and can't wait to go next year. Thanks weav, krug, mitch, jace, lucas, and brady for making it a fun and memorable adventure.

Tim
no problem tim thanks for coming up! the sleep sure did feel good saturday night and my body is a little sore, but I had told you guys I would help get you on birds so a little bump in the road with the ATV was just a reason to get a good work out!
 
#447 ·
yep just got back into town this morning. boy has it been a long time chasing the snows. what a great season was had all the way from south MO up to SD.

the numbers of snows was very impressive. I did not see very many hunters in the Riverton area the 3 weeks we hunted around home but boy was the bird activity heavy. Riverton refuge had hundreds of thousands of birds on it for several weeks. The area had 4-5 spreads each day and I believe they all did well from what I had heard and spoke with some of them.

I did not bother to post much activity but if you were in that area you did well. For my own reasons being.

SD well you don't have to say much we saw even more birds up there. It got to the piont we were all just worn out and ready to come home.
Hope you all had a great season cause the snow geese were plenty to be had, time to get the jerky made.:cheers:
 
#448 ·
the numbers of snows was very impressive. I did not see very many hunters in the Riverton area the 3 weeks we hunted around home but boy was the bird activity heavy. Riverton refuge had hundreds of thousands of birds on it for several weeks. The area had 4-5 spreads each day and I believe they all did well from what I had heard and spoke with some of them.

I did not bother to post much activity but if you were in that area you did well. For my own reasons being.

:cheers:
Know of hunters that were just west of Riverton that struggled for a week or more. Another friend was in the area just south of Rivy in a hot area as far as bird activity and shot less than 5 birds on the day he was out with a impressive spread. I guess they weren't the lucky ones in the area.

But I'll agree with you that the numbers there this spring was very large.
 
G
#454 ·
I wanted to know because I have hunted all of east river this spring and no where ever has there been mass amounts of juvies for extended amounts of time. a day or two? maybe. No where for 2 weeks or whatever BS you are trying to feed. Scouted 500 miles yesterday alone. you're the most chronic liar on this site and possibly I have ever met.
 
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