Snow Goose Conservation Order Hunting Reports
Note:
- These reports are completed during the Conservation Order and are updated only when bird numbers or other conditions change significantly.
- During the Conservation Order, residents and nonresidents age 16 years and older need only a migratory bird permit.
| Area Light Goose Population | 0 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | See Squaw Creek and Nodaway Valley Report |
| Hunting Pressure | low |
| Hunter Success | low |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | Entire Area |
| 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 of the local area. This will be the last update for this spring. |
| Area Light Goose Population | less than 100 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | See Squaw Creek and Nodaway Valley |
| Hunting Pressure | low |
| Hunter Success | low |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | Entire area except for 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.) |
All of the geese have migrated north of Holt County. There will not be any more updates this spring. |
| Area Light Goose Population | None on area. |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | None observed. |
| Hunting Pressure | None present. |
| Hunter Success | Unknown |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | Area Wide; no refuge. |
| Area Hunt Procedures | State Wide Regulations. Waterfowl hunting is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Water 100% open. No snow geese numbers observed since first of March. |
| Area Light Goose Population | Have seen no snow geese on the area. May be some roosting here at night. |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | Still seeing a very few passing over the area and around the meadville area. Have not seen any field feeding around F.G. for over a week. |
| Hunting Pressure | Saw 1 decoy spread still out east of Sumner on Sat the 14th. |
| Hunter Success | unknown |
| 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 old railroad bed, are closed to light goose hunting. Also, a portion of Pool 3 associated with ongoing wetland renovation project is closed to public use. 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 Checkin Room located on the west end of the area shop building. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Have some road closures due to recent flood damage. Still have temp. flood water in the west side pools. Most flood water has drained from the south side pools. Most snow geese have migrated north past this location. This will be the last snow goose update of the season. |
| Area Light Goose Population | 100 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | 0 |
| Hunting Pressure | Light |
| Hunter Success | Poor |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | 3, 4, 5, 5 West, TIII |
| Area Hunt Procedures | Hunters must self check in at the foyer located on the north side of the headquarters building before and at the completion of their hunt. Pools 1,2,6,7,8 and 9 are waterfowl refuge. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Most light geese have moved out of the area. This will be the last Snow Goose Report for the 2009 Conservation Order. |
| Area Light Goose Population | Go to http://www.fws.gov/midwest/SquawCreek/waterfowl_surveys.html for details |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | See Bob Brown and Nodaway Valley |
| Hunting Pressure | |
| Hunter Success | |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | Guided Hunting Only |
| Area Hunt Procedures | Contact area manager at 660-442-5754 for information regarding hunting on the refuge |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Go to http://www.fws.gov/midwest/SquawCreek/waterfowl_surveys.html for details |
| Area Light Goose Population | 500 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | - |
| Hunting Pressure | Low |
| Hunter Success | Low |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | N4 |
| Area Hunt Procedures | Hunters must self check-in at the Hunting Headquarters. N4 is the only blind available. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
All water is open. Snow geese are roosting on Silver Lake and feeding in fields bordering the refuge. For more information call 660-856-3323 (M-F 8-4:30). |
| Area Light Goose Population | none |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | -- |
| Hunting Pressure | light |
| Hunter Success | poor |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | all |
| Area Hunt Procedures | Public hunting lands are open. All statewide regulations apply, no check in required. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
The ice is mostly off the lake except for protected coves. |
| Area Light Goose Population | <1,000 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | same |
| Hunting Pressure | light |
| Hunter Success | poor |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | All hunting pools are open. Refuge areas are closed through April 30 |
| Area Hunt Procedures | All hunters must self check in at the area headquarters, no one may check in before 4:00am. Hunting is allowed from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 our after sunset. All other area regulations and maps are posted at the headquarters. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Goose populations on the area change frequently |
| Area Light Goose Population | 300 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | 0 |
| Hunting Pressure | Light |
| Hunter Success | Low |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | Regular Hunting Pools |
| Area Hunt Procedures | All hunters must check out prior to hunting and immediately check out after the hunt is complete. Hunters may not check into a pool until 4 am, 4 people per party, one party per unit. No activities allowed within the refuge. Special Regulations for the Conservation Order is posted at the bulletin board, located at the headquarters building. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
The snow geese have moved through Southeast Missouri. |
| Area Light Goose Population | 5,000 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | 5,000 |
| Hunting Pressure | Very Light |
| Hunter Success | 0 |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | Unit A and Unit B; Dark Cypress Unit |
| Area Hunt Procedures | self check at Area Headquarters or Dark Cypress entrance, begining at 4 a.m. and close at 1/2 hour after sunset Dark Cypress Unit closes at 1:00 p.m Area HQ can be reached by phone 573-222-3337 |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
5,000 snow geese have been loafing on Pool 1 during the day and leaving to feed in surrounding private fields in the evenings. No geese have been hunted or harvested at Duck Creek and a few hunters harvested 9 snow geese at Dark Cypress last week |
| Area Light Goose Population | 500 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | 1000 |
| Hunting Pressure | low |
| Hunter Success | low |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | All units are open. |
| Area Hunt Procedures | All goose hunters must register before hunting by filling out the Daily Waterfowl Hunting Tag and check out after their hunt by returning the bottom portion. Once the top portion of the tag is deposited the bottom portion must be returned, even if not hunting or if nothing is harvested. Tags can be found at the Area Headquarters in Unit 1 and in the Unit 3 & 4 parking areas. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Snow goose numbers have been generally low and sporadic. The amount of winter wheat in the area is less than normal, fall tillage is 50% complete. Only two winter wheat fields on Four Rivers and no other crops due to flooding. For more information you may call the area headquarters at 417-395-2341 or the 24 hr hotline will be updated soon at 417-395-4495. This will be the last snow goose report for the 2009 Conservation Order. |
| Area Light Goose Population | 25 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | unknown but much smaller |
| Hunting Pressure | light |
| Hunter Success | none |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | entire area except closed hunting zone and refuge areas |
| Area Hunt Procedures | Hunters are required to self register at the area headquarters prior to hunting and check out upon completion of their hunt. The entire area is open for hunting except the east portion of the main lake which is closed to all hunting and the waterfowl refuge which is closed to all access until February 15. See area brochure for location of closed areas. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Birds generally stay in the closed area and feed off the area on private land. Following birds to a field and then obtaining permission is the most common method of hunting in this vicinity. Birds regularly trade between Montrose, LaCygne Ks. and other large wetlands areas in West-Central MO. |
| Area Light Goose Population | 100-500 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | 1000 |
| Hunting Pressure | none |
| Hunter Success | 0 |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | A,B,C,F,G & H pools |
| Area Hunt Procedures | Light goose hunters are required to check in/out at the area headquarters by filling out a daily WATERFOWL HUNTING CARD and report their kill by returning the bottom portion after their hunt, even if they harvested no geese. Maps with the hunting areas outlined are posted on the bulletin board at the headquarters. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Call 417-432-3414 with any questions or for more information. |
| Area Light Goose Population | 0 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | 0 |
| Hunting Pressure | na |
| Hunter Success | na |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | entire area |
| Area Hunt Procedures | All hunters must self check, both in and out at the area HQ. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Numerous light geese migrated through the area last week but very few birds stopped on the area. |
| Area Light Goose Population | 0 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | unknown |
| Hunting Pressure | light |
| Hunter Success | poor |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | Entire area is open to hunting. |
| Area Hunt Procedures | All waterfowl hunters must self-register immediately before and after hunting in designated parking lots. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Will update as conditions change. For questions about Settles' Ford call (816) 862-6488. |
| Area Light Goose Population | 1000 |
|---|---|
| Off-Area Light Goose Population | 0 |
| Hunting Pressure | Light |
| Hunter Success | Poor |
| Pools/Units Open for Hunting | All pools open |
| Area Hunt Procedures | Green cards are located at the parking lots. Hunters need to fill out the hunter record card and return to the drop boxes at the parking lots. |
| Comments (Migrations, etc.) |
Snow Goose Report was updated on 3/3/2008. Report will not be updated until conditions change. |
