Arkansas Snow Goose Hunts
Update - We are now offering lodging at a local duck club to add to your spring snow goose hunting experience in NE Arkansas! Link - Snow Goose Lodge
The snow goose season starts in NE Arkansas for the crew at Midwest Waterfowl Outfitters. We offer guided snow goose hunts in NE Arkansas which is the first stop on the snow goose’s migration to the breeding grounds in Canada. Our snow goose hunts in Arkansas are some of our most consistent since it is a low pressure area unlike points north once the birds get into Missouri. With minimal pressure from snow goose hunters in this area it offers more relaxed flocks of snow geese, which in turn results in more consistent hunts with feet hanging in your face. Our hunts are based out of the Newport area which is a farm community surrounded by rice and winter wheat fields which lure the migrating snow geese on their migration north. The geese stage on the White and Cache rivers which results in an opportunity to hunt the area between these two roost areas and get consistent hunting daily. The birds also roost in the flooded rice fields surrounding our farms which means the geese are literally surrounding us!
Arkansas Snow Goose Hunt - What to expect?
What should you expect on your guided snow goose hunt with MWO in Arkansas: Your snow goose guides will being meeting you in the morning at the pre-defined meeting spot and take you to the first that we have already set-up to hunt that morning. After arriving at the field and getting your gear into the snow goose spread we will do all the final preparations to get the spread ready, the blinds stubbled up, and the ecallers ready to crank out some snow goose sounds to lure the geese to our spread. We might need a little help from the hunters making all these final prepartations to get everything perfect before the geese arrive. The first morning we usually get started a little earlier due to the fact this might be your first time in a laydown blind or goose hunting period and will allow us the time to get you situated and brought up to speed on what to expect to ensure a safe and successful hunt. Once the geese start flying we are usually in the blinds until we break for lunch around 10am – noon depending on the birds/weather that day. After lunch we will return to the field for the evening flight of snow geese. When the day is over we might as for some help packing up the decoys and blinds if we are going to be relocating the spread for the next day, hunting over 1,000-1,500 decoys takes a lot of hard work and we appreciate the help. We also will make sure to help you get all the geese cleaned which our guides are more then willing to show you the correct techniques to prepare a bird for transport.
Guided Snow Goose Hunt Results: No two days are alike, but an “average day will have our daily take per field around 15-30 snow geese per day. There is always a chance for that amazing once in a lifetime hunt when 50+ geese are taken, but mother nature can also be mean and throw us a curveball with bad weather and tough geese and 0-5 bird days are also in the mix. But when it all comes together and you have 1,000 dangling feet hanging above your face you are officially hooked on snow goose hunting in the spring, it is truly amazing!
The Midwest Waterfowl Difference: Out spring snow goose hunting guides know this area well because they are from this area. They have a great relationship built with the landowners we conduct our hunts upon and know the area well so we can adjust easily when the conditions call for it. This is key for success in this area since it is hard to build these relationships with landowners and having this network in place ensures us consistent success on our spring snow goose hunts.
Area we Hunt: You will most likely be staying in Newport, Arkansas for your hunt. Our hunts will take place usually within 30 minutes of your hotel each day.
Weather: Weather can change in a hurry in the spring, to stay up to date on what to expect check out the weather before and during your hunt here….Newport Weather
Lodging: There are several lodging options in the area. Link to Lodging
- Fortune Inn & Suites Newport - (870) 523-5851
- Days Inn Newport - (870) 523-6411
- Additonal options if you click on above link.
Distance to your snow goose hunt:
From Memphis – 92 Miles
From Saint Louis – 260 Miles
From Shreveport – 300 Miles
From Dallas – 400 Miles
From Minneapolis – 780 Miles
Arkansas Snow Goose License: These are free you just need to call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission {800-364-GAME} .They’re open Mon - Fri during normal business hours. When you call they will give you a snow goose registration number just write it on your license from the state your from and bring that with you on the hunt.
Arkansas Snow Goose Hunts
Dates: February 6 - February 30, 2012
Monday - Thursday
- $150/day per hunter
- $125/half day
- $425/3-day hunt
Friday - Sunday
- $175/day per hunter
- $125/half day
- $500/3-day hunt
Deposit - Please make all checks payable to Dean Tlougan or Premeir Flight Guide Service(my MN based service)
Snow geese move around the grounds a lot, we like to try to stay one step ahead of them so we are constantly scouting to ensure that next step is ready to take. Because the conditions play a huge role in the success of the hunt we recommend you book 2-3 days of hunting to ensure the success of your spring snow goose hunt. We usually run 5-7 hunters per field, to ensure your own private field you hunt book a minimum of 6 hunters.
Spring Snow Goose Hunting - What to bring?
What to Bring to your spring snow goose hunt: Spring snow goose hunting is a season of extremes. One day it can be 70 and sunny and the next 15 and snowing out, because of this it good to be prepared for your hunt. Here is a list of things you may want to consider bringing for your hunt.
Guns – For spring snow goose hunting we recommend a 12ga shotgun, 10ga are fine but if you are on a hot hunt pulling the trigger on 200 rounds might get a little hard on your shoulder. If you have one I would bring a back-up gun just in case you have issues with your gun, with the changing conditions and the mud in the fields guns tend to have issues. I would also not recommend bringing a gun that needs to be babied since we are hunting out of layout blinds and the gun must be inside of the blind with you and things tend to be a little dirty in the spring.
Ammo – We recommend BB’s, this is a great all around shot. If the birds are working in tight 2’s are great, if the snow geese are not playing nice and we need to shoot a little higher BB or BBB is a better option. I always recommend 2-3 boxes per day hunted; most guys bring a full case for a 3 day hunt. Best Deal I have found and this is all I personally shoot in the spring is 3" BB from Roger's Sporting Goods
Clothing – Well you need to prepare for anything while chasing snow geese in the spring. Most snow goose guides will have an entire back seat full of clothes because they know Mother Nature will throw anything at them from day to day. I would recommend some warm waterproof clothing because it can snow and dip down into the teens and twenties in the spring. Because there is often snow melt and rain in the spring the fields tend to be a little bit muddy, because of this many spring snow goose hunters tend to give up and wear waders which is a great option since you can strip down and jump into your truck and be clean underneath. Otherwise I would plan on temps from 10-70, sun to snow/rain. You just never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at you.
Camera – always nice to be able to capture that pile of snow geese at the end of the day.
Headlamp – This is very handy early in the AM getting into the field and getting settled into your blind. Also it is a must for moving spreads after a PM hunt if you are asked to help out.
License – Both MO an SD have a paid license that is available in local stores or online. AR also requires a license but is free.
Face Mask – A great idea to keep your shinny face hidden from the circling snow geese, a forehead on a sunny day is like a mirror telling the snow geese exactly where you are.
Snacks – There are days when the birds are migrating that we will not leave the field, it is a great idea to bring plenty of snacks/drinks with you each day.
Foam Pad – Now the blinds are plenty comfortable, but personally I won’t go into a field in the spring without one of these. When the fields are muddy so is the inside of your blind, when it is cold these will make it feel like it is 20 degrees warmer. These pads are worth every penny you spend on them if you are hunting in the cold or mud, usually Wal-Mart will have them for $5-8, they are just foam pads and can be cut in ½ and shared between two hunters. Wal-Mart – Foam Pad.
Back Warmer – For me these are my savior in the during snow goose season. Picking up thousands of decoys takes a toll on the old back and I will rely on these when my back is getting tight. They last 8-10 hours and keep by backside nice and toasty in the spring. If you have a bad back you might want to consider. Wal-Mart – Back Warmer
Toe Warmer – Again you are laying for hours on end in a cold muddy field, even with the best boots your toes might get cold. Almost every morning if it is cooler out I will toss in a pair of these and I don’t have to worry about cold toes all morning. Wal-Mart – Toe Warmers
Cleaning Supplies – Remember at the end of the day the birds must be cleaned. Since a wing must be left for transport I recommend 1 gallon zip lock bags, only one bird per bag. A knife, latex gloves, and some water/towels for cleanup are nice too. Also some large strong trash bags for the rest of the bird, if your guide can’t find a home for the waste most hotels will let you toss them(make sure to ask first).
A sense of humor – There is plenty of down time in the field, days turn LONG if you can’t have a little fun and tell some stories/jokes in the field to kill some time.
Midwest Waterfowl Outfitters is booking snow goose hunts. Contact Us today!