OUTDOORS

Snow goose hunting in Arkansas

Paul A. Smith
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A flock of snow geese and Ross's geese, collectively called light geese, fly over an agricultural field in northeastern Arkansas. The birds winter in the southern U.S. and breed in the Arctic region of Canada.
A flock of snow geese and Ross's geese, collectively called light geese, fly over an agricultural field in northeastern Arkansas. The birds winter in the southern U.S. and breed in the Arctic region of Canada.
Paul A. Smith
Pat Gerbensky of Genesee, Wisconsin (front) and Jake Lechner of East Troy, Wisconsin connect battery cables to a vortex decoy in a harvested rice field in northeastern Arkansas. The mechanical device spins white cloth decoys on long arms around a central pivot.
Pat Gerbensky of Genesee, Wisconsin (front) and Jake Lechner of East Troy, Wisconsin connect battery cables to a vortex decoy in a harvested rice field in northeastern Arkansas. The mechanical device spins white cloth decoys on long arms around a central pivot.
Paul A. Smith
A sign in Otter Slough Wildlife Area near Dexter, Missouri bears the name of a popular Remington shotgun model. Since 1937, an excise tax on firearms and ammunition has helped purchase wildlife habitat and fund wildlife management in the U.S.
A sign in Otter Slough Wildlife Area near Dexter, Missouri bears the name of a popular Remington shotgun model. Since 1937, an excise tax on firearms and ammunition has helped purchase wildlife habitat and fund wildlife management in the U.S.
Paul A. Smith
Pat Gerbensky of Genesee, Wisconsin (foreground) and Adam Wisniewski of Dousman, Wisconsin scan the skies for geese just after sunrise in a harvested rice field in northeastern Arkansas. Wisniewski works as a hunting guide for Neu Outdoors for about two months of the year.
Pat Gerbensky of Genesee, Wisconsin (foreground) and Adam Wisniewski of Dousman, Wisconsin scan the skies for geese just after sunrise in a harvested rice field in northeastern Arkansas. Wisniewski works as a hunting guide for Neu Outdoors for about two months of the year.
Paul A. Smith
Snow geese circle over a spread of decoys. The population of the birds has increased dramatically over the last four decades and has resulted in ecological damage to their Arctic breeding grounds. As a result, many states hold special hunts as part of a "conservation order" in an effort to reduce the number of the birds and help the Arctic ecosystem heal.
Snow geese circle over a spread of decoys. The population of the birds has increased dramatically over the last four decades and has resulted in ecological damage to their Arctic breeding grounds. As a result, many states hold special hunts as part of a "conservation order" in an effort to reduce the number of the birds and help the Arctic ecosystem heal.
Paul A. Smith
The group of Wisconsinites hunted in layout blinds set in a field of 2,200 decoys.
The group of Wisconsinites hunted in layout blinds set in a field of 2,200 decoys.
Paul A. Smith
The geese are drawn to the rice fields by waste grain left after harvest.
The geese are drawn to the rice fields by waste grain left after harvest.
Paul A. Smith
Jake Lechner looks out from a layout blind shortly after sunrise.
Jake Lechner looks out from a layout blind shortly after sunrise.
Paul A. Smith
Adam Wisniewski retrieves geese taken on the hunt. Under terms of the conservation order, there is no daily bag limit and hunters are allowed to use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls.
Adam Wisniewski retrieves geese taken on the hunt. Under terms of the conservation order, there is no daily bag limit and hunters are allowed to use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls.
Paul A. Smith
A snow goose (top) and Ross's goose are placed next to each other for comparison. The average snow goose weighs 5 pounds and has a 54 inch wingspan while the average Ross's goose weighs 3 pounds and has a 45 inch wingspan. Both species provide very good table fare.
A snow goose (top) and Ross's goose are placed next to each other for comparison. The average snow goose weighs 5 pounds and has a 54 inch wingspan while the average Ross's goose weighs 3 pounds and has a 45 inch wingspan. Both species provide very good table fare.
Paul A. Smith
Snow geese come in white and blue color phases. This is a blue morph snow goose taken on the hunt in northeastern Arkansas.
Snow geese come in white and blue color phases. This is a blue morph snow goose taken on the hunt in northeastern Arkansas.
Paul A. Smith
The spread of decoys and photographer are reflected in sunglasses worn by Conner Shepardson of Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
The spread of decoys and photographer are reflected in sunglasses worn by Conner Shepardson of Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Paul A. Smith
Hunters watch as a flock of several thousand snow and Ross's geese shifts in an adjacent field. The birds gather in huge "feeds" each day in the agricultural fields on northeastern Arkansas. At frequent intervals the wary birds get alarmed and take flight, then often land again in the same field.
Hunters watch as a flock of several thousand snow and Ross's geese shifts in an adjacent field. The birds gather in huge "feeds" each day in the agricultural fields on northeastern Arkansas. At frequent intervals the wary birds get alarmed and take flight, then often land again in the same field.
Paul A. Smith