Late Season White-Fronted Goose Hunting

The Specklebelly Goose

The White-fronted goose, also known as the specklebelly, gets its reference from the black bars found on its breast, particularly the mature ones. They’re typically called “Specks” or “bar bellies” on our Missouri late season goose hunts, thanks to the black bars immediately behind the lighter tan chests found on the adult geese.

They are typically medium-sized geese, weigh in between four and six pounds and have slender and agile wings. A good way to identify them from a distance is the way they fly and the distinctive white rear bottom below the tail and back half of their stomach. They often fly lower than many geese and in smaller flocks than snow geese.

White-fronts have a distinctive high-pitched vocalization it sounds rather like someone laughing very loudly.   Hunting adult specklebellies is no Sunday picnic while goose hunting Missouri, and there are many, very mature birds out there.  They feed on much of the same marsh grasses, aquatic plants, tundra plants and fresh-plant growths in fields as do the lesser snow goose.

Goose-hunting in Missouri

 Missouri guided goose hunts have gotten very popular, particularly in Southeast Missouri; in the boot heel running along the Missouri/Arkansas border, where rice is found in abundance. Here, you’ll find large wintering populations of White-fronts and Snow Geese. These hunts typically take place during late December and January in Missouri’s south zone.

Some hunting essentials

Hunting in farm fields requires permission from the farmers and even the individual(s) who own that particular piece of land. It’s good to get permission as many farmers already lease these fields out to local hunting guides and outfitters. Missouri conservation officers will often ticket trespassers some of these lands may even have painted barrels on field roads to notify potential trespassers.

After Missouri goose hunting season opens, you need to figure out where the geese are. Even if they were found in a particular area yesterday, there are no guarantees you’ll come across them again. Study movement patterns throughout the season; identify likely feeding places and roosting ponds. Specklebelly geese choose fields randomly, but as mentioned, once they do they’ll keep coming back until the primary food is no longer being found, or they have been harassed.

White-front flocks are commonly found with or near Snow Geese.  Decoys used for hunting white fronted geese are made up of wind socks, shells, silhouettes and full-bodied decoys who closely resemble White-fronts. Keep the decoys spaced a few feet apart in small family groups this gives the appearance of a relaxed feeding flock so an approaching flock will find it an inviting area to land in.         

Hunting Missouri's Large Populations Of Snow Geese

Attention hunters! If you are looking for a perfect place to enjoy spring snow goose hunting with liberal bag limits and endless opportunities to bag many birds, then Missouri is the place for you. Over the years Missouri's snow goose hunts have gained massive popularity making it a hot spot and a favorite for this activity.

There are many reasons behind the ongoing popularity snow geese hunting in Missouri. Here are some of the many reasons:

1. Overpopulation of Snow Geese
Since the mid-1970s the, population of snow geese has increased significantly due to excessive breeding of these birds. The population of snow geese has reached historic levels in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic habitats. And as these birds are outgrowing their current breeding grounds, they are now expanding into new habitats which wildlife managers never envisioned they could use such as forested areas.

According to the biologist, the population of the snow geese needs to be reduced by 50%. Therefore, wildlife services are encouraging hunters to participate in Missouri goose hunting to help control the population of these birds.

From a hunter’s perspective, this presents outstanding hunting opportunities to shoot more geese as you can find abundant snow geese wintering in Missouri.

2. Posing Serious Danger to the Ecosystem
The abundant snow geese population is posing a great threat of ecological damage as they turn the nesting areas into wastelands by foraging for roots and tubers aggressively and over grazing making vegetation scarce. If this continues this will not only have a negative effect on the geese themselves but will badly affect the wildlife communities that share that habitat with them. Therefore, to minimize habitat and ecological damage, Missouri's spring snow goose hunting is being promoted.

3. Massive Agricultural Productivity
Due to the massive agricultural productivity in North America, including large-scale rice farming in south east Missouri, the migratory birds seek refuge in the fields; the waste grain, weed seeds, invertebrates and insects are a great source of proteins for these birds much to the woe of farmers.

All of these factors have contributed to the popularity of Missouri snow goose hunting. However, to enjoy snow goose hunting to the maximum, it is advisable to register with a professional snow goose hunting guide.

Spring Snow Goose Hunting – A Matter of Passion

Spring snow goose hunting is a pastime that is full of fun,is thrilling, action, and full of adventure. For people in love with action-filled activities, goose hunting simply means a battle between flying and their own skills as an outdoorsman. Wonder why anyone would spend countless hours arranging decoys, waiting for geese, observing and chasing these birds? Well, try being  part of a hunting trip, and you’ll know the reason. It’s all about passion and witnessing one of the most astonishing sights in nature.  After all, nothing in the world can match the beauty of thousands of birds flying together as they make their way back to the breeding grounds. Want to feel the exhilaration  for yourself? Read through this snow goose hunting guide to enjoy everything snow goose hunting Missouri can offer you.

Disguise Yourself

You can’t enjoy any waterfowl hunt unless you know how to get camouflaged. After all, you wouldn’t want to be spotted by a flock. Stay hidden in your field and don’t make any quick movements. This is the most effective strategy for concealment in spring snow goose hunting.

Set up Decoys

If you are a seasoned waterfowl hunter, you would definitely know the value of decoy placement. Haven’t been a part of any hunt trips? Accompany your hunt buddies or join in on a guided hunt. Hunting guides and outfitters have the right knowledge about the tactics, tools, and methods involved in goose hunts. With their help, you can bag many more geese.

Greed Doesn’t Help

If you’ve just started hunting spring snow geese, large flocks will definitely mesmerize you. Learn to make use of every opportunity. However, don’t try to flock shoot at too many birds at the same time. Be patient and shoot at a single goose and when it is hit move to the next bird. While following this method, you are less likely to miss the birds that are in your shooting range and will cleanly take more birds per hunt.

Go on a Guided Hunt

Eager to witness the beauty of innumerable birds flying over rice and corn fields? Join a hunting guide to learn about the right equipment to use ideal shot size, legal shooting hours.  Guides  will have the electronic calls that will help provide you with an ultimate hunting experience. Spring snow goose hunting expeditions are certainly full of astonishing sights that you will not be able to forget soon.

Don’t let your excitement disturb your focus. Looking for that memorable hunt or want to enjoy every aspect of spring snow goose hunting Missouri? Brace yourself and kick off the hunting season with a guided snow goose hunt!
Related link-Status of the Snow Goose Population