February is the month we have circled on the calendar! It’s the month when the skies of southern Illinois fill with northward migrating snow geese. Snow geese have spent the winter months in the south and are primed to begin their journey back to the tundra. Southern Illinois offers perfect habitat for these migrating snow geese. Large lakes as well as the numerous strip pits offer prime roosts for hundreds of thousands of snow geese staging on their migration. Ag fields supply the food these geese need to fuel up on their journey and amongst all of this prime Illinois snow goose hunting habitat sits Willow Creek Waterfowl.

At an estimated population well into the millions, the snow goose migration is a sight to see. Their abundance lead to the creation of the Conservation Order snow goose season. During this season, which we focus on, electronic callers and extension tubes are allowed. All this to give hunters as good of an opportunity as possible to help keep snow goose numbers in check. Their over abundance is leading to breeding ground destruction for not only themselves, but many other waterfowl species as well.

Their average age, lengthy seasons, and sheer numbers make them one of the most difficult waterfowl species to hunt. Many of the snow geese that you’ll have fly over may have seen hundreds of decoy spreads in their lifetime, but we always have a few tricks up our sleeve to try and fool them to come take a look. Hunters can expect an average day in the teens or twenties. Exceptions do occur and in snow goose hunting some of the most successful days can occur when you least expect it!