Snows..

[H380]

No one shooting spring snows this year ??

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[bearb8er]

I'm booked with an outfitter for a morning in a couple weeks. So I'm sure hoping to. Can do a lot of outfitted hunts for the price of gas and equipment.

[Talleyrandophile]

We were out on Saturday, but a bit of a bust. Plenty of mature birds but didn't spot many juveniles.

[Pixel Shooter]

Still early. Funny every year everyone gets excited and first sign but if I go back every year peak is usually same time every year regardless of where we’re at with the weather. Like clock work. Looking forward to it!

[32-40win]

They are around, just scattered, nothing much in the way of big bunches. Friend went scouting, saw one marginal flock in a cornfield, fella had his cows in there, no go. I didn't see any today, put about 140km on to check a place out east. Almost got a honker that was on side of road, cleared hood by about a foot, roof by maybe 6". Water is starting to open around here, lots of open spring ponds, one reservoir open around edges, some half open large ponds.

[MDR]

Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter

Still early. Funny every year everyone gets excited and first sign but if I go back every year peak is usually same time every year regardless of where we’re at with the weather. Like clock work. Looking forward to it!

Snow goose has been high on my list for a while, we don't have the greatest waterfowl hunting up here. What dates do you find the numbers peak??? I'd like to do an outfitted hunt next year and it would help narrow down dates.

[roper1]

Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter

Still early. Funny every year everyone gets excited and first sign but if I go back every year peak is usually same time every year regardless of where we’re at with the weather. Like clock work. Looking forward to it!

Yessir! Foothills elk rut same time every year. Dry, wet, snow, drought it's the length of daylight time triggers the love However, us dummies tell ourselves it will be early or late this year depending on work holidays to hunt. lol

[elkhunter11]

Some large numbers of snows showed up here this morning.

[Dale S]

The big flocks have moved on from the Taber area.

[Stuntcarpenter]

I’m heading out Sunday with an outfitter. Hopefully they aren’t to far south.

[pikeslayer22]

Tons of them east of Edmonton

[Grizzly Adams1]

I was out East of Red Deer yesterday, unbelievable how dry it is compared to here abouts, Son's dug out is basically dry. That can't bode well for water fowl.

[elkhunter11]

Tens of thousands at the colony North of Camrose.

[bearb8er]

Originally Posted by Stuntcarpenter

I’m heading out Sunday with an outfitter. Hopefully they aren’t to far south.

How did your hunt go?

[Stuntcarpenter]

Originally Posted by bearb8er

How did your hunt go?

Not bad. We were down by Milo. Got two chances at sunrise and then they were gone.
Outfitter said that they haven’t seen any young birds yet and the older birds tend to get out of dodge when the guns start going off

[Pixel Shooter]

If I was to pick a time be last week of April first choice or first week of may 2nd choice.

Originally Posted by MDR

Snow goose has been high on my list for a while, we don't have the greatest waterfowl hunting up here. What dates do you find the numbers peak??? I'd like to do an outfitted hunt next year and it would help narrow down dates.

[bearb8er]

Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter

If I was to pick a time be last week of April first choice or first week of may 2nd choice.

It would depend on where you are going to hunt them? Also seems like the further north you go would get more difficult as they have been hunted quite a bit all the way up. That's more of a guess, I'm a complete nube, as I will be hunting them for the first time next week. Just seems to make sense to me.

[Pixel Shooter]

Central to north alberta. They have been hunted hard for past 9 mths. Only real break is breeding time til they work their way south in the fall. Hence why we like juvies and Ross. Adults are much harder to hunt in big numbers for good reason lol.

Originally Posted by bearb8er

It would depend on where you are going to hunt them? Also seems like the further north you go would get more difficult as they have been hunted quite a bit all the way up. That's more of a guess, I'm a complete nube, as I will be hunting them for the first time next week. Just seems to make sense to me.

[bearb8er]

Thanks Pixel. Makes sense to me. I was told that about the juvies. Didn't realize the Ross were a little easier to fool.

[Fritzy]

Anyone been guided by these gents recently? 2024 spring season?

[MDR]

Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter

If I was to pick a time be last week of April first choice or first week of may 2nd choice.

Thanks! Anyone have outfitter recommendations? Not looking for fancy, just morning hunts. I'd have my own accomodations/meals.

[waldedw]

FrankNK28 and I are heading out in the morning to chase the white devils again, got 11 the other morning, got to give them another go
Snows.jpg
Geese in the morning, gophers in the afternoon, a perfect day

[waldedw]

Frank and I played wack'em and stack'em this morning, we were on the Sask side so 20 bird per day limit, what a sweet morning, we had 38 on the ground and finished the limit with a nice pair of blue's, 1 each.

The easiest set up we have ever had, the farmer had been feeding green feed in the pasture all winter, lot's of grain on the ground, a couple small puddles for water, stood Franks solo blind up in front of a bale, threw the chairs and guns in it, put out 9 decoys by 1 puddle and 3 more behind us at a second small puddle, I think the total set up time was like 10 minutes, sitting sipping a coffee at 05:30 this morning, about 05:45 the first ones showed up and the fun began.

Snows..jpg

[Frank_NK28]

Originally Posted by waldedw

Frank and I played wack'em and stack'em this morning, we were on the Sask side so 20 bird per day limit, what a sweet morning, we had 38 on the ground and finished the limit with a nice pair of blue's, 1 each.

The easiest set up we have ever had, the farmer had been feeding green feed in the pasture all winter, lot's of grain on the ground, a couple small puddles for water, stood Franks solo blind up in front of a bale, threw the chairs and guns in it, put out 9 decoys by 1 puddle and 3 more behind us at a second small puddle, I think the total set up time was like 10 minutes, sitting sipping a coffee at 05:30 this morning, about 05:45 the first ones showed up and the fun began.

Attachment 190046

What an amazing morning for a pair of old grey haired trap and skeet shooters.

We were one bird shy of our limit being 25% Blues!

There is nothing like being where they want to be in a small pasture with loafing water!

We closed out our morning and possibly our season with 30 Snows, 9 Blues and 1 Ross as I received the call while hunting to watch my email for my flight itinerary for turnaround at Horizon so this just may be the last kick at the can this spring. If so what a great way to finish the 2024 Spring Snow Season!

[-JR-]

Good job and the snows ! Must be nice to be able to operate a shotgun in spring and not having to wait till fall .

[Frank_NK28]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Good job and the snows ! Must be nice to be able to operate a shotgun in spring and not having to wait till fall .

We operate our shotguns pretty much year round. When we aren't hunting waterfowl in fall we are shooting pigeons year round and clays from spring to fall.

[Sooner]

Just came back from Vegreville. Couple nice flocks of snows at the Mundare turn off. Seen a few more flying in that area.

[bearb8er]

Originally Posted by Fritzy

Anyone been guided by these gents recently? 2024 spring season?

Yes. I hunted with them Friday (26) morning. I thot it was a good hunt. I could have shot better but they put the geese in front of us...can't shoot them for us. Nice spread of decoys both full bodies and silsocks. I'd hunt with them again. Problem is, now I have a new way to waste money. Just what I need!

[NINJABABY]

Originally Posted by Frank_NK28

We closed out our morning and possibly our season with 30 Snows, 9 Blues and 1 Ross as I received the call while hunting to watch my email for my flight itinerary for turnaround at Horizon so this just may be the last kick at the can this spring. If so what a great way to finish the 2024 Spring Snow Season!

I am not a big bird hunter so please ignore my ignorance.

Are the Blues and Ross open with the White Snow geese?

[Lefty-Canuck]

Went out yesterday and got some was a bit slow but there was birds in the air.

LC