Snow Goose Conservation Order Hunting Reports

Note:

Bob Brown CA
Date reported: 3/20/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population See Squaw Creek and Nodaway Valley reports
Hunting Pressure low
Hunter Success low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire area is open to snow goose hunting
Area Hunt Procedures Hunters must follow area regulations posted on the information boards and contained in the area brochure. There are no other, area specific, special regulations for snow goose hunting. Hunters do not need to fill out "Daily Hunter Record Cards".
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Most of the geese have migrated north of Holt County. A few scattered small flocks of geese remain but not in any significant numbers. This will will be the last report for the spring of 2013.
Nodaway Valley CA
Date reported: 3/20/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population See Squaw Creek and Bob Brown reports
Hunting Pressure low
Hunter Success low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire area is open except the Sanctuary Pool
Area Hunt Procedures Hunters must follow area regulations posted on the information boards and contained in the area brochure. There are no other, area specific, special regulations for snow goose hunting. Hunters do not need to fill out "Daily Hunter Record Cards".
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Most of the geese have migrated north of Holt County. A few scattered small flocks of geese remain but not in any significant numbers. This will will be the last report for the spring of 2013.
Fountain Grove CA
Date reported: 3/27/2013
Area Light Goose Population Have had 1 flock (approx. 10,000) roosting/resting on Pool 2 and flying out NW of the area to feed.
Off-Area Light Goose Population A few flocks still field feeding and passing over our area. Almost all light geese have migrated on north of this location.
Hunting Pressure very light
Hunter Success poor
Pools/Units Open for Hunting The East Side Refuge, West Side Refuge and the entrance fields are closed for Conservation Order Season. The remainder of the area is open for light goose hunting
Area Hunt Procedures All hunters must check in prior to hunting and check out at the conclusion of their hunt through the hunter check-in room on the west end of the shop building.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 A Conservation Order Permit is all thats required unless exempt.
Grand Pass CA
Date reported: 4/8/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Poor
Pools/Units Open for Hunting 3, 4, 5, 5 West and TIII
Area Hunt Procedures Pools 1,2,6,7,8 and 9 are refuge. Hunters are required to obtain a Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag prior to hunting and return harvest cards at the completion of their hunt. Daily tags are located in the foyer on the north side of the headquarters building.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 The migration is now over and this will be the last report for the 2013 snow goose conservation order.
Squaw Creek NWR
Date reported: 3/11/2013
Area Light Goose Population See comments below.
Off-Area Light Goose Population See Bob Brown and Nodaway Valley reports
Hunting Pressure N/A
Hunter Success N/A
Pools/Units Open for Hunting All Closed to hunting.
Area Hunt Procedures Closed to Hunting.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Go to the refuge web site for up to date waterfowl counts. http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Squaw_Creek/wildlife_and_habitat/waterfowl_count.html
Swan Lake NWR
Date reported: 2/11/2013
Area Light Goose Population 160,000
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure little
Hunter Success NA
Pools/Units Open for Hunting R1, R4, A3, B4, G2, H2,N4,N2, A7, J2
Area Hunt Procedures Self check in. Units can be checked out for 3 consecutive days.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 For more detailed numbers visit our website at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/swanlake/
Otter Slough
Date reported: 3/13/2013
Area Light Goose Population Variable
Off-Area Light Goose Population Variable
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting 35 Positions - See Map at Check In
Area Hunt Procedures Self check-in starts at 4AM daily at area headquarters front porch. Fill out green card and put top half in a slot indicating which unit you are hunting. Hunting allowed 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. All hunters must check out at the end of each day's hunt by filling out the green card and depositing in the slot.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Geese are migrating through the area, but use of Otter Slough is still sporadic.
Ten Mile Pond
Date reported: 3/13/2013
Area Light Goose Population 500
Off-Area Light Goose Population Unknown
Hunting Pressure low
Hunter Success low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting All units except refuge. See map at headquarters kiosk.
Area Hunt Procedures All hunters must check in at area headquarters kiosk. Follow check in procedures posted. If hunters change units they must check out and check back in by filling out new green cards.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 The majority of the snow geese have migrated north of Ten Mile Pond. This will be the last snow goose update for the year.
Duck Creek
Date reported: 3/12/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population varies
Hunting Pressure none
Hunter Success N/A
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Unit A, Unit B, Pool 2, Greenbrier Unit, Dark Cypress Swamp Unit
Area Hunt Procedures Self check no earlier than 4AM at HQ or Dark Cypress parking area. Fill out green card and put top half in a slot indicating which unit you are hunting. Hunting allowed 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. All hunters must check out at the end of each day's hunt by filling out the green card and depositing in the slot.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Small flocks of 1000 birds or less have been seen moving through the area this past week.
Four Rivers CA
Date reported: 4/5/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure light
Hunter Success low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Four Rivers is open to snow goose hunting during the conservation order, but pools 1 and 12 and the 142 acre reservoir in Unit 1 are Wildlife Refuge and closed to hunting.
Area Hunt Procedures Hunters must complete the self-registration process at the area headquarters or in Unit 3 or 4 at the self-registration boards.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 The area had a few geese just prior to the snow in late March, but none since. The migration is now over and this will be the last report for the 2013 snow goose conservation order.
Montrose CA
Date reported: 3/25/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success None
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire area is open to hunting except the waterfowl management zone located on the east side of the lake is also closed to hunting at all times.
Area Hunt Procedures All waterfowl hunters must self-register at the headquarters prior to hunting and check out immediately after the hunt.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Most light geese have already migrated North. Report will only be updated if conditions change. For area questions please contact the Montrose office at (660) 693-4666.
Schell-Osage CA
Date reported: 3/19/2013
Area Light Goose Population <25
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure none
Hunter Success none
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Atkinson Lake and surrounding Wildlife Refuge are closed to hunting. Remainder of area is open for 2013 Conservation Order.
Area Hunt Procedures Hunters must self-register at the area headquarters before going afield by completing the green Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag found in the Self-Registration box. Complete top portion, deposit in drop slot, and keep bottom portion on person while hunting. Bottom portion must be completed and returned immediately after hunt, even if not hunting or nothing was harvested.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Migration seems to be over. No flocks have been heard or seen in the last ten days on or off the area.
Ted Shanks
Date reported: 3/12/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population Unknown
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success poor
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire ares is open
Area Hunt Procedures Hunters must self check in and out at the area HQ. There are still a fair number of dark geese and lots of ducks on the area, so hunters need to id their targets.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 On Tuesday March 12, there were lots of large groups of light geese flying over the area.
Settles Ford
Date reported: 3/25/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire area is open to hunting.
Area Hunt Procedures All waterfowl hunters must self-register prior to hunting and check out immediately after the hunt at designated parking lots.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Most light geese have already migrated North. Survey will only be updated if conditions change. For area questions contact the Settle's Ford headquarters at (816) 862-6488.
BK Leach
Date reported: 3/25/2013
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure N/A
Hunter Success N/A
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire Area
Area Hunt Procedures All hunters must self register at parking lots. Daily hunter cards must be completed and returned to the drop box.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 No birds have been seen in the area for around 2 weeks.
Eagle Bluffs
Date reported: 2/19/2013
Area Light Goose Population 5000
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure 0
Hunter Success 0
Pools/Units Open for Hunting None
Area Hunt Procedures Eagle Bluffs is under baited conditions and is not open for snow goose hunting during the conservation order.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 None