Late Season Goose page 3

Our assortment of irrigation and watershed lakes surrounded with crop stubble and pasture fields are attractive to the goose hunter that likes to set up their decoys on land, water or a combination of both at the same time. MAHA has a variety of private land irrigation and watershed lakes in all three states and a large percentage of these lakes and geese never see a hunter the entire season. The majority of members join MAHA to hunt other species of game, which leaves late season goose hunting only to only a handful of members that enjoy goose hunting.

A sample combination of a land and water decoy spread on a watershed lake next to a pasture field.

One of those seemingly inconsequential small ponds the geese have a tendency to occupy and are well suited for small spreads.

If the ground is frozen, vehicles are allowed on certain leases to haul decoys and gear to and from the fields. Vehicles are not allowed to cross winter wheat fields or any other standing crops. ATV’s are also allowed, but must be approved at the time each reservation is made. Dogs are encouraged to retrieve geese on large bodies of water to avoid loosing crippled birds.

Hauling gear and decoys requires a lot of work, but it pays off if you put in enough time, like all types of hunting....the second bird on the left was banded, which made this day a hunt to remember by Bruce's
group.

A novice or experienced goose hunter with a large or small decoy spread will have more crop stubble and pasture fields to set up for geese than he or she would have time to hunt.

Many of our maps do not include goose as a principal game species, but 99 % do allow goose hunting. We do not include goose as a principal game species on a map unless it consistently produces. Many of our farms with crop fields do not produce until late in
the season and the patterns of the geese are unpredictable, so we leave it up to the goose hunter to pick and choose the farms on their own.

White-Fronted Geese are few and far between on MAHA leased land but a few are harvested each season.

Late season hunting for White Geese is more under-utilized than Canada Geese, because it is a difficult hunt. Ideal conditions for White Geese are typically miserable days when the average hunter would rather be at home watching TV.

Most avid snow goose hunters are aware of the Conservation Orders to automatically open the season for White Geese after the regular season through April 30. During this season, unplugged guns and electronic calls are allowed and there is no daily or possession limit in Missouri or Kansas.

Late season snows and blues working a pasture field.

Many of our landowners encourage late season goose hunting for white geese to prevent crop damage, especially to winter wheat.

White geese frequent the same bodies or water and fields as Canadas, but they are a different species and require different tactics to hunt.

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