Written by M.D. Johnson
If you’d asked me, a Buckeye Boy, to name the best goose hunting state back in the early 1970s, I’m not sure how I would have answered that. What I do know is I wouldn’t have suggested Ohio! But that was then and this, as is said, is now. And, fortunately for goose hunters, excellent goose hunting can be found pretty much anywhere you’d throw a dart on a map of the U.S. Okay, so maybe the far southeastern part of the country lacks a bit in the way of goose hunting; however, the remainder of the nation more than makes up for what the Southeast might be shy. And after all, Florida does have black-bellied tree ducks, so there’s that! So where is the so-called “best” goose hunting in the U.S.? Again, throw a dart, but these are undeniably some of the finest.
Washington
Let’s start with my home state of Washington, where goose hunting enthusiasts won’t just find one or two species, but seven subspecies of Canada goose, along with impressive numbers of snow geese and an ever-growing population of transient white-fronted geese (specklebellies).
My wife and I live in the southwest corner of the Evergreen State, where the season begins with an early opportunity in September and wraps up, on and off, by early March. Before Halloween, I usually spot a few white-fronts, and occasionally a couple of late snow geese during the season. However, I enjoy plenty of great hunts for large Western Canadas, along with more than my fair share of Cacklers, Aleutians, Lessers, and Taverners.
East of the Cascades, the Columbia Basin hosts thousands of migrating dark geese, along with an estimated 50,000 white geese—a figure provided by a fowl-minded friend who targets them in February using an impressive spread of taxidermy ‘stuffer’ decoys. If you’re after variety, Washington has it in spades when it comes to geese.
North Dakota
North Dakota has blossomed into a goose hunting mecca, thanks in large part to the influence of YouTube. The truth is, North Dakota’s goose hunting has been excellent for years—it’s just now that more hunters are discovering how good it can be.
Surprising to some, North Dakota’s early goose season opens in mid-August and runs through mid- to late September, depending on the zone (Eastern, Western, or Missouri River). The regular goose season begins again in late September and continues through the end of the year. Non-residents should be aware of the “week after” rule, which means their hunting season starts one week after opening day in all three zones.
North Dakota offers several types of access, including traditional state- and federally-owned land, as well as the state’s Private Lands Open to Sportsmen (PLOTS) program, which provides walk-in access to private lands. And yes, North Dakota allows hunters legal access to unposted private land. However, as emphasized by the state’s game and fish agency, it’s always best to locate the landowner, shake their hand, and ask for permission before stepping onto private property.
Colorado
I had the opportunity to hunt late-season honkers against the snow-covered backdrop of Colorado’s Front Range, and let me tell you, it was spectacular. Crystal-clear skies. Frigid temperatures. Large decoy spreads. And more big Canada geese than you could shake a stick at. It was, without a doubt, a memorable experience.
It’s true—you can freelance for geese in the Centennial State, thanks to the abundance of public land options. Ducks Unlimited (DU), for example, owns several smaller wetlands in the state, while the South Platte River in the northeast offers around 32,000 acres of scattered hunting opportunities. The Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area alone covers nearly 11,000 acres and can be a great spot for geese, especially when freezing temperatures push birds to the moving water.
Colorado is also home to plenty of guide services and outfitters, most of which cater to those looking to fill deer or elk tags. However, a quick Google search for “Colorado Goose Guides” reveals page after page of options. If you’re considering hiring an outfitter, I recommend contacting several, doing thorough research, and asking for references from past clients before making a decision.
Texas
Haskell County, Texas, is home to Justin Hill and his Ranger Creek Goose operation, whose website proudly states that his county, along with neighboring Knox County, winters roughly half a million specklebellies and lesser Canadas. No argument there—that’s a lot of white-fronts. “We really started getting specks in the 1990s,” Hill told me. “Our area of operations is small, about 30 square miles, and we winter the vast majority of the specks migrating down from Alaska. At times, we’ll have as many as 125,000 specks right here.”
According to Hill, in the past, the geese in his area used to be all lesser Canadas, with over a million dark geese wintering within an hour of his home in Haskell. However, Mother Nature changed everything around 2011-12, when a four-year drought hit north Texas. “During that time,” Hill explained, “our lesser Canadas shifted elsewhere, but the specklebellies stayed.”
So, why are the white-fronts now flocking to the area in such numbers? “These specks feed on peanuts, milo, and wheat, but it’s the peanuts that really draw them here,” Hill said. “They’ll eat those peanuts whole.”
Missouri
Ask Tony Vandemore, co-owner of Habitat Flats, and he’ll tell you that Missouri boasts an above-average population of big Canada geese. However, since the Spring Conservation Order (SCO) began in 1999, it’s the snow goose—the all-white bird—that draws hunters from across the nation to the Show-Me State.
Is there public hunting for spring snow geese in Missouri? Absolutely, though options are somewhat limited—but not without rewards. At the top of the public hunting list is Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, an 11,000-acre federally owned parcel that can hold tens of thousands of snow geese during peak migration. Other public lands open to snow goose hunters include the Fountain Grove Conservation Area near Meadville and the Grand Pass Conservation Area near Marshall. The Missouri River also offers good public access for spring snow geese, but hunting on a major river like this requires a big boat, strong skills, and a focus on safety.
DIY snow goose hunts on private land in Missouri are possible, but many out-of-state hunters opt to use the services of an outfitter like Vandemore’s Habitat Flats.
