Snow Goose Conservation Order Hunting Reports

Note:

Bob Brown CA
Date reported: 1/27/2012
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 The 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.)		 Due to levee damage from Missouri River flooding the area is dry this spring. Due to the flooding this past summer there are no crops on the area either. Since there are no crops or water on the area we will not be reporting this year. Call 660-446-3371 for details.
Nodaway Valley CA
Date reported: 3/12/2012
Area Light Goose Population varies each day
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 moved north. This will be the last report of the spring.
Fountain Grove CA
Date reported: 3/9/2012
Area Light Goose Population Most light geese have migrated on north of this location
Off-Area Light Goose Population "
Hunting Pressure Very little
Hunter Success 0
Pools/Units Open for Hunting The East Side Refuge, West Side Refuge and the two fields on either side of the entrance road (north of the abandoned railroad bed), are closed to light goose hunting. The remainder of the area is open to 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 located on the west end of the shop building.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 A Conservation Order Permit is the only permit required, unless exempt.
Grand Pass CA
Date reported: 3/13/2012
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.)		 Most snow geese have moved through the area. This will be the last report for the 2012 Light Goose Conservation Order.
Squaw Creek NWR
Date reported: 3/21/2012
Area Light Goose Population < 300
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 http://www.fws.gov/midwest/SquawCreek/waterfowl_surveys.html for details
Swan Lake NWR
Date reported: 3/5/2012
Area Light Goose Population 2,100
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure Moderate
Hunter Success Low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting R1,R4,A3,B4,G2,H2,N4,N2,A7,J2
Area Hunt Procedures Self Check in at Hunters Headquarters. Visit here for more information http://www.fws.gov/midwest/swanlake
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 For more detailed numbers visit our website at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/swanlake/
Otter Slough
Date reported: 2/15/2012
Area Light Goose Population Variable (See Comments)
Off-Area Light Goose Population Variable (See Comments)
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Poor
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.)		 Most snow geese have moved through the area and goose use of Otter Slough is very sporadic.
Ten Mile Pond
Date reported: 2/15/2012
Area Light Goose Population <5,000
Off-Area Light Goose Population 5,000
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Poor
Pools/Units Open for Hunting All open hunt units
Area Hunt Procedures All hunters must self-check in at the area headquarters before going in the field. All area regulations are posted there. Refuge areas remain closed to all activities through the end of the Conservation Order.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 A majority of the light geese migrated north, out of the area during the last week of January. As the migration continues area populations will change almost daily. Hutners should use caution because there are currently more white fronted geese on the area than snow geese.
Duck Creek
Date reported: 2/14/2012
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure none
Hunter Success n/a
Pools/Units Open for Hunting UNITS A & B, Dark Cypress Unit
Area Hunt Procedures Self-check at area HQ or Dark Cypress. Units A & B are currently under renovation. Hunting is allowed while construction activity is suspended due to wet conditions, but may be halted when work resumes. Vehicle access is limited to the east portion of Unit A and McGee parking area in Unit B.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Very few snow geese in the area. Small flocks have been roosting on Pool 1 and utilizing adjacent private lands.
Four Rivers CA
Date reported: 2/14/2012
Area Light Goose Population 500
Off-Area Light Goose Population unknown
Hunting Pressure light
Hunter Success poor
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Pool 1, Pool 12, and the Unit 1 Reservoir are closed to hunting through April 30. The remainder of the area is open to snow goose hunting.
Area Hunt Procedures Self-registration and check out is required at the Area Headquarters or at the information boards in Unit 3 or 4.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 As of Feb. 14, a few small groups have been seen migrating around the area. No large concentrations of snows have been seen. Updates will occur when numbers change significantly.
Montrose CA
Date reported: 2/28/2012
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population Unknown
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Lake area. The waterfowl refuge will be closed to all use until after February 15. The posted waterfowl management zone located on the East side of Montrose lake is closed to all hunting/no firearms for any reason. The waterfowl refuge portion is closed to all public use until after February 15.
Area Hunt Procedures All waterfowl hunters must self register at the area headquarters daily.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Very few snow geese have been observed. For questions about Montrose please call the office at 660-693-4666.
Schell-Osage CA
Date reported: 3/5/2012
Area Light Goose Population 300
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure very light
Hunter Success poor
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Enitre area is open for hunting except Wildlife Refuge on Atkinson Lake and surrounding areas. See area brochure and map.
Area Hunt Procedures All Conservation Order hunters must fill out the green Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag before going afield and return the bottom portion at the end of the day to report their harvest. Self-registration box is found across from the area headquarters near the privy.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Geese have migrated through the area and most cropfields are worked for spring planting. Office is closed for renovations.
Ted Shanks
Date reported: 2/21/2012
Area Light Goose Population Varies daily
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Poor
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire Area
Area Hunt Procedures All hunters must self check in and out at the area HQ.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 There have been a lot of birds moving around the area but over the past few days not many birds staying on the area.
Settles Ford
Date reported: 2/28/2012
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population Unknown
Hunting Pressure Light
Hunter Success Low
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire area is open to hunting.
Area Hunt Procedures All hunters must self register at designated parking lots prior to and immediately after hunting by filling out a green hunter card.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Very few geese have been observed migrating North. For questions about Settle's Ford please contact the area headquarters at 816-862-6488.
BK Leach
Date reported: 3/19/2012
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure Low
Hunter Success N/A
Pools/Units Open for Hunting Entire area is open to light goose hunting.
Area Hunt Procedures All waterfowl hunters must self register at designated parking lots prior to and immediately after completing their hunt.
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Have not seen any significant numbers or migrations over the past two weeks. This will be the last report for the season. For up to date information please call 573-898-5905.
Eagle Bluffs
Date reported: 2/7/2012
Area Light Goose Population 0
Off-Area Light Goose Population 0
Hunting Pressure 0
Hunter Success 0
Pools/Units Open for Hunting 0
Area Hunt Procedures
Comments
(Migrations, etc.)		 Corn has been mowed and area is considered baited, not open for conservation order.