FIR ISLAND SNOW GOOSE HUNT FIRST YEAR DRAWING IT

[Ray]

Yeah I'm in. When is it?

[The Weazle]

I can see that reading this post, and another board that is 90% fishing based that some people dont understand the snow goose cards/quality hunt...The green snow goose cards you will get is to record any snow geese killed.  You can still hunt snow geese even if you werent drawn for the quality hunt.  You just have to find a place to hunt them. 

[Shadow Cat]

Yes weasel, you are correct. The green card is just your harvest record allowing you to hunt in those counties listed on the card.

[Jekemi]

Weazle and Shadow Cat: thanks for the clarification. Obviously this is my first season for show geese. So, the white card gives me authorization to hunt snow geese in specific areas on specific days. Are certain private lands pre-approved for hunting Snow Geese or do we need to negotiate with private landowners to hunt Snow Geese on their property? I'm just not clear as to how the whole process works. Why did I get the white card - what advantage does it give me over other hunters?

[Ray]

The white card must be your permission to hunt on fir island Quality hunt for the specified times I would guess. I never won so I don't know what it looks like or says. It's like a special hunt permit in a way..

I do know there are plots of private land in that region (counties listed) which are not included on the Quality hunt. You can find those places and then ask their permission to hunt their land for the birds if you have the other card which permits you to hunt the birds. The card which details when and where you shot the birds is the one I am talking about.. Some people go to Lerivicks for example... which is farther south.

[GOcougsHunter]

Here is a copy of my permit.   The instructions are pretty explicit on the permit, the letter and the webpage http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/snow_goose/index.htm
They are private fields that have been negotiated with by the WDFW for hunters to trespass to hunt.  Maps are supposedly forthcoming.

[Jekemi]

Haven't gotten any maps yet. I'll keep my eyes peeled on the US Mail.

[Coho]

For those guys that asked..They taste good. Filet the breast..brine and grill like a med rare steak. DO NOT COOK PAST THAT.  Chow down.. Its not like chicken that has to be cooked to death. 

[Buzzardking]

Have the Snow Geese arrived yet? I live on Whidbey, but am just out of site of the rafts. Are there enough numbers to start hunting yet? Gas is a bit pricey to drive over and see what has arrived.