PIERRE, S.D. – People traveling in southeastern and south central South Dakota are seeing a familiar spring event – the annual migration of snow geese.

Geese have been arriving in growing numbers in areas along the southern South Dakota border and northward to Interstate 90.

The snow goose population has ballooned in the past several years. To help control them and prevent further habitat degradation that those nesting birds have caused to the Arctic tundra, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a Conservation Order to states that allow hunting of snow geese in the spring.

In South Dakota, the Conservation Order runs from Feb. 16 through May 5. Hunting is allowed statewide with no limit on the number of snow geese that may be taken. Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license, but the federal waterfowl stamp is not required.  Nontoxic shot is mandatory.

The Conservation Order is specific to snow and blue geese, and Ross’ geese. Other waterfowl may not be shot.

For more information on the Spring Conservation Order, visit the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department website at http://www.gfp.sd.gov/hunting/waterfowl/spring-light-goose.aspx

GFP has information on snow goose migration movement and hunting opportunity at http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/waterfowl/migration/

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