2011 spring light goose hunting begins March 1

[Mayfly]

2011 spring light goose hunting begins March 1

Interested participants are reminded that harvest of snow geese, including blue-phased snow geese and the smaller Ross’ geese, will be allowed from Tuesday, March 1, to Sunday, April 30.

The harvest will occur under a federal conservation order that permits 24 states, including Minnesota, to allow harvest of light geese after the close of hunting seasons.

A spring light goose permit is required and may be obtained through any DNR license agent, online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense and by telephone at 888-665-4236. Customers using the telephone will receive a temporary authorization number in lieu of the permit until it can be mailed to the applicant. Customers using the Internet will be able to print their own permit when completing the transaction, and will not receive a permit by mail.

Although the permits are free, there is a $3.50 application fee to cover the cost of issuing the permit. No other license, stamp or permit is required to participate. Permits will be available after Friday, Feb. 18.

Most regulations that apply to fall goose hunting seasons also will apply during the spring light goose season, including nontoxic shot requirements and federal baiting regulations. In addition, all refuges closed to either duck or goose hunting during fall seasons are also closed during the spring conservation action. Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day. No daily or possession limits apply. Use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns is allowed.

The conservation order is part of an international effort to reduce by 50 percent the populations of lesser snow geese and Ross’ geese that breed in Arctic coastal areas and the Hudson Bay area. The goal is to reduce habitat damage on the breeding grounds caused by high populations of the birds. Minnesota has participated in the conservation order since 2000. Minnesota’s harvest of light geese during this effort has varied dramatically from a few hundred to 6,000, depending on weather conditions.

“Minnesota is at the extreme eastern edge of the spring migration through the Midwest,” said Ray Norrgard, DNR wetland wildlife program leader. “March weather, particularly snow and ice conditions, can have a tremendous effect on the migration routes of light geese.”

A summary of regulations will be available from license vendors, online at www.mndnr.gov/waterfowl, at DNR wildlife offices, or by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367.

[guythathunts]

I've seen flocks of 10,000 in MN on our way home from South Dakota. I know some guys who live by the border and they do well in MN every year.

[mncowboy]

can anyone give me some tips or head me in the right direction as in an area to hunt snows in mn. i have never hunted snow and only hunted geese in general the last two falls. i would like to take my twelve year old son. thanks in advance!
monty

[guythathunts]

You will want to be close to the border of the Dakotas. The migrations moves through as the snow melts so there is no exact time to hit it, but I have seen them arround Pipestone. I have heard of guys hunting them and doing well arround the MN SD and ND border. depending on how far North or south you want to be could change the hunting time being that the birds are migrating. Where are you from/where do you want to be when you hunt? If you are willing to go to ND or SD you can get into better #'s and the out of state licens is only $40.

[mncowboy]

i live in princeton, and know the weaton area pretty good, also have family in watertown and sissteon sd. i sent them an email to see if they see any good numbers on snows in the spring. they most likly let me hunt there but i do wanna see something at least