For many, hunting geese on secured lands is the only way to go. Be it a guided snow goose hunting trip or on actual owned lands, hunters prefer the security of knowing no other hunters will be using their grounds while they are out hunting. There is no competition, no fighting, just a day with your pup doing your favorite thing. For others, hunting on public lands is the only way to go. Securing a good spot is all part of the fun! Or, perhaps, they simply do not have the budget for a guided hunt. Either way, we have put together a list of tips and some of the best public land snow goose hunts in Missouri.

Shallow marsh and or dry field hunting is available in the following areas:

•  11 - B. K. Leach 573-898-5905*
•  12 - Bob Brown 660-446-2694*
•  13 - Columbia Bottom 314-877-6014*
•  14 - Duck Creek 573-222-3337*
•  15 - Eagle Bluffs 573-445-3882*
•  16 - Fountain Grove 660-938-4124*
•  17 - Four Rivers 417-395-2341*
• 18 - Grand Pass 660-595-2444*
•  19 - Marais Temps Clair 314-877-6014*
•  21 - Montrose 660-693-4666 *
•  22 - Nodaway Valley 660-446-3371*
•  23 - Otter Slough 573-624-5821*
•  24 - Schell-Osage 417-432-3414*
•  26 - Ted Shanks 573-248-2530*
•  27 - Ten Mile Pond 573-649-2770 *

*At least one ADA blind is available. Please call number listed for more information.

Your "How To" Guide for Public Land Snow Goose Hunts

If you are going to hunt public lands, you need to know the best ways to "survive and thrive" under these conditions. Realize you and dozens, if not hundreds, of other hunters will all be fighting for the same grounds on a daily basis, so use these tips to develop your strategy for the upcoming hunting season.

1.  Early or Late - What is the best time to go? While earlier in the season you will see hordes of spring snow geese your hunting success may not be as good as one may think. Mainly due to the fact that these last to migrate down and first to head north tend to be the hardcore adult birds.  These birds have seen it all and done more than most and tend to be hard to decoy.     The best strategy may be to let theses leading edge birds go on by and let the younger birds start to filter in.  The younger birds have seen far fewer decoy spreads and have not been hunted nearly as much and will decoy much easier allowing you to harvest more spring snow geese.
2.  Best Days to Hunt - Unless hunters are on a trip, weekday hunting is a rare treat with less competition. This means that you need to burn some sick days and devote them to hunting during the middle of the week. If the public land actually closes for a day or two, go the first day the grounds open back up as the birds will start to feel safe again with a few days of no shooting.
3.  Best Weather for Hunting -You should monitor the local weather for fronts and snow storms because as the geese head back north strong fronts and snow storms can stall the migration and sometimes even cause the geese to head back south almost like a mini reset.   Also good migration days tend to be on blue bird days with a nice 10 to 15 mile per hours wind.
4. Flexibility - You need to go where the birds are, so do not be stubborn and insist on hunting only one type of field or using a size specific spread. Do a little scouting before your actual hunting days to see where they are and what is working to help decoy in the birds.
5.  Don't Rush - The season is long, so there is no need to get out there on the first day. Let everyone else fight for the birds early in the season and then head out when they are all going home. With proper scouting, you will still be able to find some hot spots later in the season and probably have less competition for the ground and the birds.