Big Island Waterfowl, LLC

Q:  What will I need for permits and what's the cost?

A:If you are coming from outside of the State, you will need the following to hunt all waterfowl in Nebraska:

   Annual Nonresident small game permit $68.00

   Habitat Stamp $13.00

   Nebraska Waterfowl stamp $5.00

   Federal Waterfowl stamp $15.00

   H.I.P. Registration is free

You can purchase the needed permits at the following link:

http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/admin/newpermits.asp

Register for your H.I.P. number at the following link: http://www.nehip.com/

Q:  What should I bring?

    Clothing:  Camo prefered.  Nebraska can go from 70 degrees one day to a blizzard the next.  Best bet is to call before coming for the current weather forecast.

    Shells:  For spring hunts allow a minimum of 2 boxes per day.  I prefer High Velocity loads of #1 or #2 steel for all hunts.

    Other stuff you might want to consider:  Camera, cooler, extra clothes, extra gun, flash light, binocs, the list could go on for miles.

Q:  When is usually the best time to hunt in the fall?

Time of year and weather play key roles in how successful the hunt will be. 

    Timing:  If you want to target more ducks, our better duckhunting comes in the period between the last week in October until mid-November.  Most of our ducks migrate in during this time and once they find the refuge, they can be quite tough.  We do have a good-sized resident goose flock but they learn to avoid us quick.  Canada goose migrations really kick up in the area around November 10th and continue until freeze-up, which normally occurs just after Thanksgiving.  Catching these new migrating flocks is the best time to be in the blind.  After freeze-up, the geese really concentrate and things can be tough until the weather warms.

    Weather:  Northerly winds, the stronger the better, and clear skies are main keys to outstanding hunts; add in some Snow in the Dakotas, early enough in the migration, and you could have a hunt of a lifetime.  What we don't want is rain and heavy fog.  Heavy Snow usually keeps the birds down, but as soon as it stops, it can be pretty intense.  Extended bitter cold will concentrate the birds and make conditions very tough because the birds won't move much, if at all.  After we freeze, extended warm weather trends will spread the geese out along the river and we will enjoy some fantastic goose hunting.  Also, after the Mallards find the river refuge, the only thing that will break them from their everyday routine is massive 35mph+ North winds and the action can be incredible.

Q:  When is the best time to book a hunt for Spring Snow geese?

You must take into consideration the typical spring migration and what you want on your hunt.  Again, current migration status and weather are very important.

    Timing: Snow geese are very calender-minded in the spring; in a hurry to get back to the Tundra to breed, it really takes a lot to make them late.  Typically, the migration really heats up about Feb 20th, with peak bird numbers arriving just after March 1st.  This period is usually a very productive time to be in the decoys because the geese are unfamiliar with the area and hunting pressure is at a minimum.  First week in March is the traditional peak for both bird numbers and hunting pressure, though hunting can be tough simply because of the sheer numbers of geese around.  This is also the best time to have a real barrel-burner hunt, if the weather cooperates and brings us heavy fog.  By March 10th, the main mass of the Snow goose migration is pulling out of the basins, but more are still moving in from the south.  Again, it is a good time to be in the decoys; hunting pressure is down, goose numbers are fewer, and many of the geese bringing up the rear are young birds and easily decoyed.

In short...if you want better decoying birds, hunt the start and end of the migration.  If you want to witness the masses and be in place for one of those barrel-burner fog days, hunt the peak.

     Weather: The Snow goose hunter's best friend is wind, the stronger, the wind the better; and the wind always blows in Nebraska.  Again, rain and heavy Snow seems to keep the geese down for the day; but heavy fog during the peak of the migration will leave you searching for more shells. 

Q:  Can I bring my dog?

Just as long as it's only your party hunting that day, then yes.  But you must let me know you plan on bringing a dog ahead of time.

Here are several questions I get asked a lot and figured it would be a good idea to put them on here.