Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: nwwanderer on July 27, 2020, 10:45:34 AM

Title: Snows are coming
Post by: nwwanderer on July 27, 2020, 10:45:34 AM

Late last winter, south of Moses Lake

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: Sandberm on July 27, 2020, 11:10:16 AM

Is it just me or has the snow goose population in the Basin really grown?

Maybe I just never noticed but I do not remember seeing very many snow geese growing up. Only time i remember seeing them, is flying high overhead when i would be Steelheading above McNary Dam in the fall.

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: Mfowl on July 27, 2020, 01:13:50 PM

Quote from: Sandberm on July 27, 2020, 11:10:16 AM

Is it just me or has the snow goose population in the Basin really grown?

Maybe I just never noticed but I do not remember seeing very many snow geese growing up. Only time i remember seeing them, is flying high overhead when i would be Steelheading above McNary Dam in the fall.

I wouldn't say its grown as much as shifted. They are still from the population that winters in Central California they have just discovered a new food rich region on their migration path and told all their friends about it. It is quite the spectacle though. As a 30 year waterfowler of the Basin I don't get to shoot them much but I do enjoy seeing them en masse on and off through out the season.

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: nwwanderer on July 27, 2020, 02:20:12 PM

Watching and listening to them spiral in from a mile+ up is special

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: Guzman on July 30, 2020, 08:18:26 AM

Way more in the Basin. So far I am not a huge fan of them. Friday there will be 3,000 in a field and the next day you might never see one.

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: Mfowl on July 30, 2020, 08:26:32 AM

Quote from: Guzman on July 30, 2020, 08:18:26 AM

Way more in the Basin. So far I am not a huge fan of them. Friday there will be 3,000 in a field and the next day you might never see one.

I have heard that some people believe they are effecting the migrations of other waterfowl like the lesser canadas and they don't stay in the Basin like they used to. They will move on to less competitive areas to avoid the snows. As a guide do you think this is happening?

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: Stein on July 30, 2020, 08:48:24 AM

It might just be more birds.  If they adjusted their migration, there would be less on the west side and that doesn't seem to be the case from my casual observation.  Maybe others will disagree, but there seem to be as many as ever in the Skagit vallley.

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: Mfowl on July 30, 2020, 10:21:22 AM

The westside snows come from Russia, the eastside birds divert from inland. Lots of ducks and geese actually migrate in to the Basin through Idaho/Montana.

Title: Re: Snows are coming
Post by: h2ofowlr on July 30, 2020, 11:29:39 AM

We see the snows like clockwork every year the first week of Oct.