Anyone heading up to Saskatchewan for Spring Snow Geese?

[Spuddieselwwu]

Heading up to the Quil Lakes region next month to slay some snows.  Anyone else going up from Hunt-wa?

Anyone ever go up in Spring before - it'll be our first time.

[lokidog]

Is that a guided hunt?  If it is, what's the cost on that?  We might be interested next year, gotta chase a bear this Spring.

[Goldeneye]

Not going up in the spring, but will be spending about 10 days in country up near Outlook in late September.  That reminds me, I need to order up a couple cases of 10 & 12 gauge shells for the trip.  Last time I was up there we got some truly outstanding shooting.

[Spuddieselwwu]

Is that a guided hunt?  If it is, what's the cost on that?  We might be interested next year, gotta chase a bear this Spring.

We are going with Duck Creek Outfitters out of Quill Lakes, Sykes Mitchel.  We bid on it at the Snoqualmie Valley DU auction, so we got a bit of a deal on it.  We were originally going up in September for the general hunt, but my wife and I just found out we're expecting our first baby in September, so Sykes was pretty cool to move up the hunt for us for the Spring hunt.  If anyone has gone on the Spring hunt before, PM me, would love to hear some stories/tips & tricks.  Thanks all.

[hdshot]

Good luck. I went to SD 3 years in a row a few years ago.  Had one really good year, a bad, and an ok.  Lots of fun but the hunts are 12+ hours of shooting time and gets exhausting because any time of the day can get hot since birds are on the move.  Seemed to me the birds are in more of a panic to get north instead of south in the fall.  Last time I knew Canada does not allow Ross geese to be hunted in the spring which would make it harder. If illegal pick out the blue geese but Ross have a blue phase as well but I believe its 1 in every million.  Also don't expect the snows to finish or even work the deks and the hunting gets better when the wind is howling.  Be ready to take them on the first pass if 60 yards above or maybe even higher.

[Spuddieselwwu]

Thanks HD for the info - yeah looks like we'll be taking some pretty long shots.   

[NWTFhunter]

Good luck up there !  I read the topic and thought why the hell go to canada when you can go to SD, ND and follow the movement for a lot less dough.  But you won the hunt there, so you might as well hit it.  I am on the west side of ND, and we dont get a lot of snows on the return, they do pop up here and there though.  I have been seeing A LOT of Canada Geese lately though.  Talked to a local warden today while out scouting turks and he said there is a large flock of honkers hanging on the river right now. The best snow return here is east of Minot. No bag limit, no shell limit either.   

[Tealer]

Sykes is a great guy you will have fun on that hunt. I haven't done the guided Canada stuff, yet. Always wanted to though.

[liljozie495]

Good luck up there !  I read the topic and thought why the hell go to canada when you can go to SD, ND and follow the movement for a lot less dough.  But you won the hunt there, so you might as well hit it.  I am on the west side of ND, and we dont get a lot of snows on the return, they do pop up here and there though.  I have been seeing A LOT of Canada Geese lately though.  Talked to a local warden today while out scouting turks and he said there is a large flock of honkers hanging on the river right now. The best snow return here is east of Minot. No bag limit, no shell limit either.   

is it tough accessing public or private land in ND for fowl hunting? half of my family lives there but they dont hunt really but are pretty known to the minot area in real estate and congress type stuff

[NWTFhunter]

Land access is not very hard here IMO.  I have asked 10 landowners to hunt pheasant, and mule deer and have only been told no by 2, and that was for pheasant.  There is a real cool thing here through GFND, it is called PLOTS and there is so much land open to hunters.  Take a look at the link, anything in yellow is PLOTS, and there is a lot around Minot. All 4 corners of the property are marked with yellow triangles that are very easy to see. Devils lake is supposed to be a good spot to nail snows, but I have not been over there.  I have a friend who lives there and he has invited me to come anytime, just dont have time right now with turkey opening.

[NWTFhunter]

OPPPS.........  http://gf.nd.gov/hunting/private-land-open-sportsmen   Might need that. 

[Spuddieselwwu]

Bummer news - Sykes just called said they have 4ft of snow and we need to push the trip into mid May. 

Don't know if I can wait that long - feeling the itch now!

[hdshot]

Bummer news - Sykes just called said they have 4ft of snow and we need to push the trip into mid May. 

Don't know if I can wait that long - feeling the itch now!

You are on goose time, but at least they are not past your hunting spot causing you to wait until next year.

Sounds like very good news for the hatch on ducks since the fields will be flooded!

[Spuddieselwwu]

Just got home.  This trip was straight EPIC.

Sykes did a great job putting us on birds, and the lodge up there was deluxe.  Awesome food, awesome group of guys... I'm putting together a few videos and stuff. So I'll add that.