Atlantic Flyway Spring Snows

[Mike Bard]

DATE: March 22, 2009

LOCATION: New York

SUNRISE/SUNSET: ~7 am

WEATHER: Snowy early, then clearing to mostly sunny

TEMPERATURE: Low 30’s increasing to mid 40’s

WIND: 5-15 NW

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blinds, Avery® Power Hunter Blind, Avery® Ground Force Blind, Avery® Finisher Blind Bags, Avery® Pit Blind Bags, Avery® Calling Gloves, Avery® Fleece Skull Cap, Avery® Fleece Neck Gaiter, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Greenhead Gear® Snow and Blue Goose Full Body Decoys, and Greenhead Gear® TNT 5/8 Snow Goose Shells

HUNTERS: Arliss Reed, Rick Murphy, Frank Clifton, John Laflaur and Avery® Pro-Staffers Ron Zega and Mike Bard

JOURNAL NOTES:

After a good opening weekend to the conservation season, we entered weekend two. Some of the guys had taken a time off during the week and had been staying on the birds as they moved around. Late in the week, I had done a good deal of scouting as well, as I had a commitment to hunt with some other guys on Saturday who had never shot a snow goose.

Saturday’s hunt was a success, the guys were able to get their first snow geese, but needed to get on the road early for a long drive home, so we only hunted half of the day. I had got text messages throughout the day from the regular crew I hunt with about the success they were having and they did very well. Once they were done and I had done come scouting in another area, we decided on a plan for Sunday.

Sunday started out crazy and not a good crazy. It had snowed a little overnight, but the weather man predicted it would clear up and warm up around day break. Well he was wrong! Shortly after getting things set up, the snow started coming down again and the temps dropped some. We spent the first couple hours buried in our blinds, waiting it out, hoping the weather would break. Mid morning came and we were all at that point where if someone would have said, “let’s pack it up”, I don’t think anyone would have argued. Nothing was really flying.

We hung in there, sent a couple guys out to pick up some breakfast and bring it back and by late morning the snow stopped and immediately a very warming sun came out. It was like turning a light switch, geese, ducks, sea gulls…you name it, it started flying. Large groups of snows poured off the roosting areas and we were right in their path. It only took a few minutes and we had a few smaller groups break off and decoy nicely. A loner came in and tried landing at our feet, when Ron dispatched it and then moments later discovered it was banded.

As the flight slowed down some and there was more space between the larger groups getting off the water, we were able to decoy two very large groups of snows and had several land in the decoys before calling the shots… an amazing, yet deafening experience. Out of the second big group, I scored my first ever snow goose band. Yeah…I got a little excited about my first snow goose band…and no I’m not licking the leg, just razzing my buddy Dave Rearick who could not make the hunt.



Things slowed down for the afternoon and we basically just sat back in our blinds and enjoyed reliving the fast paced hour we had experienced earlier in the day. We also hoped that the evening flight would bring similar action to our spread.

Late afternoon things picked up again, although not the real big flight we had seen earlier in the day, more mid-sized groups, which we had success pulling a few here and there. Another hunt was planned for Monday and I had some family responsibilities for the evening, so we decided to quickly get a few pictures, pull a few decoys from the spread and send a couple guys out to scout…all while still trying to hunt. The last couple hours were interesting and we still were able to add a few more birds to the harvest.

One of the best snow goose hunts I’ve been a part of in NY for sure… a 50+ bird day, great times with the guys and the birds just put on an amazing show.

Ron and I with our bands from the day




Hero Shot – tried something different


Another shot of just the bands

[Rusty Hallock]

Very nice JE Mike. You and your crew had a great spring snow goose season.

[Stephen Pitt]

Congrats on a great hunt and the bands Mike.

[David Rearick]

Next time, when I miss CCR's birthday party to avoid the razzing, I will make sure to tell him you told me to do it....LOL

Good stuff guys, it was good while it lasted and can only get better from here on the snows.

[Angelo Casbarro]

Looks like one heck of a hunt! Congratulations boys!

[Arliss Reed "Cuz"]

I dont think CCR will be upset for at least another year or two, I think its Mrs. Rearick who we will be apologizing to....LOL

[Travis Lyle]

Wow! Great hunt ya'll!

[Erik Nilsson]

Congrats guys on a good snow season!

[Ron Zega]

Man that was a great day!! Good work on the JE Mike!

[Dave Weidner]

Great hero shot and congrats on the bands! Lucky! Lucky lucky.

I dont know of too many birds that were harvested here in NJ during the conservation season - seems many of our birds bugged out in 1-2 days!