Springtime Snows in Saskatchewan
As winter melts into spring, snow geese dot the Saskatchewan skies, signaling the arrival of the white goose ‘conservation’ hunting season. Saskatchewan is a paradise for hunters, and the spring season offers a truly unique and captivating experience for waterfowlers who are ready for an adventure. For a few weeks each spring, the central flyway becomes a staging area—a prairie pit stop—for countless geese resting and feeding before continuing their journey to their Arctic nesting grounds.
Saskatchewan’s current daily limit of 20 snow geese and no possession limit make it an ideal ‘fill the freezer’ hunting destination – and the meat quality at this time of year is outstanding. Many snow goose populations winter along the Gulf Coast, packing on fat for migration and breeding. I think there is no finer table goose than these spring snows.
This is the perfect opportunity if you’re up for a skills test. These geese are no rookies at detecting danger. Snow goose hunters from Texas to Saskatchewan have ‘educated’ these birds, making them incredibly cautious and challenging to hunt. While I’ve had my fair share of small-scale successes, the real thrill comes from outsmarting the big flocks of gregarious geese. That’s where the pros come in. Seasoned Saskatchewan outfitters know these geese and their habits like the back of their hand.
I was treated to a spring hunt with Prairie Sky Outfitters. It was epic! Let me tell you about my adventure.
A Full Experience
One reason for booking with an outfitter is the food and accommodations. Prairie Sky knows how to do it right. The lodge features an inviting common space with a bar, dining area and fully equipped kitchen. Photos and waterfowl taxidermy decorate the lodge and tell the tales of past hunts.
I knew I had come to the right place as I walked in the door. The rich smells of lasagna and the smiles of the friendly cooking staff welcomed me. The food alone was worth the trip.
Early Mornings
Waterfowl hunting guarantees pre-dawn wakeups. With more daylight hours in the spring, driving to the fields, setting out hundreds of decoys, and extra time camouflaging, preparation for a spring goose hunt starts hours before first light.
Shortly after 9 pm, the scouts rolled into camp, happy to share the news of tomorrow’s hunt. Good news and bad news. “We found a great shoot for the morning, but it’s about an hour’s drive.” Dry springtime conditions forced the scouts to log thousands of kilometers a week in search of prime locations. It’s another reason to hire the pros to do the heavy lifting. We made plans for a 3 am departure. It was going to be a short night, but that’s okay. Rarely do I sleep soundly in anticipation of the hunt.
The Decoy Spread
The following day, we arrived on the ‘X’ –where the birds should come to feed. Judging by the feathers and droppings littering the field, the outfitter got it right. Hunters and guides hurried to place the hundreds of windsock decoys – a mix of whites and blues – around the layout blinds. I shared this experience with a few hunters from Alberta who love coming to Saskatchewan because of the blue snow geese. It is rare to see blue colour morph in Alberta, but they make up a significant proportion of the flock here.
We set most of the decoys downwind. The remainder were put behind the blind, creating a pocket for the kill zone. Electronic calls are allowed in spring and provide extra encouragement for the wary geese. Speakers were strategically placed to give the audio illusion of a large flock of geese. Layout blinds provide a low-profile hide with minimal shadows. It fools most geese, but from experience, our outfitter knew the blinds needed to be perfect. We brushed in the blinds with grass and straw from the surrounding field until the blinds melded perfectly into the landscape.
The trap was set! Fifteen minutes before legal hunting time, a few snow geese flew in to inspect the setup. Little did they know how lucky they were for coming early. Hearing the command “load up” was music to my ears. The fun was about to begin.
Snow goose hunting can be mesmerizing as waves of geese circle the decoys. This morning, it looked like layers of netting were stretched across the sky. “Take these four low ones,” instructed our guide, “get ready for the three on the left”! The action was non-stop for the first hour and a half, only interrupted by the need to retrieve the dead geese.
The wind cooperated, and the steady breeze on our back positioned the new birds between 10 and 2. I focused on my lane and shot the birds to my front. There were plenty for all! The shooting slowed after the main flights were feeding in the field. I know we could have taken a few more birds if we waited. But the promise of a hot breakfast and the fact that we were close enough to our limits ended the hunt with success and a hunger for more.
Food!
“Second breakfast” is always a highlight of goose camp. The early morning hunt started with coffee and a cinnamon bun. Now, it was time for a hot breakfast. The Prairie Sky chef pulled out all the stops to feed the hungry crew. Pancakes, whipped cream, fresh fruit, eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon were on the menu! It was exactly what I needed. An afternoon nap was not far behind.
More Hunting
Our guides found a new spot closer to camp for an evening hunt. Instead of deploying a massive decoy spread like we used in the morning, they chose a small concentration of decoys around a small slough. Kochia weed from a nearby rockpile provided the perfect cover for brushing in our blinds. We were ready by mid-afternoon and waited for the evening flight of geese. The singles and pairs that checked the decoys did it right. However, hunting is never a sure thing, especially in the spring. The big flocks stayed on the sheet water rather than flying. Nevertheless, we managed to shoot a respectable number of birds.
On the final morning, we used a tactic similar to the first day – setting up a fence line on a field where the birds were feeding. We finished the setup and nestled into the layout blinds. Minutes after the start of the hunt, a flock winged silently over the blinds, so low we could almost touch them. I was tempted to shoot but wisely listened to the guide’s words, “Wait for them to come around.” Sure enough, they banked a hard right at about 50 yards and flew directly toward us — into the kill zone. “Take ‘em, boys”! It was music to our ears. The shotguns barked, and birds fell. It was a most extraordinary experience.
Final Thoughts
For anyone who loves hunting, the spring snow goose season offers the opportunity to kick off the hunting year in style. Saskatchewan Outfitters offer world-class hunting adventures in a goose-rich environment.
On my hunt with Prairie Sky Outfitters, we never saw or heard another hunter! Talk about having the place to yourself. Perhaps it’s Saskatchewan’s best-kept secret, but I’m willing to share. You’re missing out if you haven’t tried spring snow goose hunting.
Since my first spring snow goose hunt, I look forward to doing it again. Long before the sounds of the first snow geese in March, I am giddy with the excitement of the next goose camp.