Welcome to Spring Snow Goose Hunting in South Dakota!
Every waterfowler owes it to themselves to see the spring migration of waterfowl through eastern South Dakota. The bulk of this migration is made up of Lesser Snow geese and Ross geese. At times more than a million of these geese will roost on a single lake. When these geese leave the roost they can literally blacken the skies of South Dakota. That is when you want to be in a layout blind in a corn field surrounded by a thousand snow goose decoys waiting for the white “tornado” to start! Spring Snow goose hunting is very challenging and rewarding. The “Good old days” are now and we want to show them to you. Let our ten consecutive years of Snow goose hunting in South Dakota help you have the hunt of a lifetime. South Dakota receives less hunting pressure over a much larger area than other states. Many days we don’t even hear any shots from other groups; much less see other groups set up near us. We encourage hunters to bring their children and other relatives. Hunting has always been at the core of our families and we hope that you can share this experience with yours. This is why we have reduced rates for those 18 or younger.
What to Bring/Expect
The weather in South Dakota is highly variable during our spring hunts and you should bring a variety of outerwear to match. A Gore-Tex, or similar outer camouflage jacket is a good start along with fleece or wool layers to add or remove as needed. Waders are not usually needed, but rubber knee high boots typically work well. Insulated bibs help keep your lower body warm and comfortable, making it easier to stay in the field longer. We will start hunting an hour before sunrise and go over any last minute questions or concerns. Safety is a top priority and we will have a brief discussion before the hunt. We typically take a break for lunch and rest between 11:00 and 2:00 if we are hunting fields. Most snow geese go back to their roost at this time before feeding again in the afternoon. If we have a water setup, we will hunt morning though 3:00 p.m. or later if it appears to be a good migration day. Since shotguns do not need to be plugged for the Spring Conservation season, most hunters prefer autoloader or pump shotguns with 3-3.5 inch shells loaded with steel #2 through BBB. The high density loads work very well also, especially number 2. We recommend that you bring 3 boxes per day. You might not need them all, but better safe than sorry. Our average hunts harvest in the high teens through the twenties. However, hunts in the single digits happen, as well as 50+ days. These snow geese are hunted hard from September – May and are highly “educated”. We will scout daily to find the best locations for successful hunts. Hunters should also bring plenty of snacks and beverages (no alcohol in the field).
Lodging and Meals
Your lodging and meals Are Not Included in the hunt package, however, reservations will be made for your entire group prior to your hunt in the local South Dakota hotels. We will give you exact directions as to where you will be staying. Most of the hotels we use welcome hunters and their dogs and are usually quite affordable.Hunting License
License information can be found at: South Dakota Fish & Game Licenses are also available at local venders. License Cost $45 (you also need a 2010 Federal Stamp, which you probably already have from the fall).
Hunting Dates
I will start hunting in South Dakota as soon as the geese arrive; this is typically during the first week of March. We will keep hunting as long as we can find huntable flocks; this will usually take us into the first week of April depending on weather and migration.Hunt Packages and Rates
We are currently offering two South Dakota packages, a weekday and a weekend. By hunting at least three days your chance at having a highly successful hunt greatly improves. We will limit fields to 6 hunters and groups of 4-6 will have their own field. Contact us for info on smaller groups or if these packages do not meet your needs and we will work something out. Feel free to bring along non-hunting companions and family to share your hunt. For each group we will need a contact person with e-mail and phone #’s. This person will be responsible for payment and coordinating the hunt with us. A 50% deposit is due up front and the remainder is due 2 weeks prior to the first day of your hunt (cash or cashier’s check preferred, but we do take credit cards). If we have to cancel your hunt for any reason (no birds, extreme weather) we will refund your deposit.3 days, $450 per hunter, Youth weekend package: $400 per hunter (full days Fri/Sat, until noon Sun)
Adult Weekday package:
4 days, $550 per hunter, Youth weekday package: $500 per hunter (full days Mon-Wed, until noon Thurs)
