Normally I wait until the conservation season opens to hunt with my guide buddy Tim Reaves, but since I had been at the DSC convention, I decided to stop over on my way home for some regular season waterfowl hunting. I arrived at Tim's camp on Monday afternoon after buying my AR license and duck stamp (now $90 for a 5 day non resident license and duck stamp) in hopes we might get to hunt Speck's (White Front geese called Speckle belly's) as they are closed during the post waterfowl seasons Conservation hunt. Tim had been producing some good shooting in recent weeks on the geese so Tuesday morning we headed out, silo-socks and my new 6 pack of GHG full body Speck's that I had bought 3 years ago at Mack's in Stuttgart (Mack's Prairie Wings, the waterfowlers dream store) but never had the chance to use them. It didn't take us long to set up and by first light, the 3 of us were ready to rock. It wasn't long before the geese were in the air and the first bunch of Speck's locked up on their fake brothers like a family reunion. 40 minutes later and we were done: six fat Speck's in the bag, and the light geese were falling for our tricks as well. My new Quack Head Speck call was doing a number and by 9am we had 29 geese in the bag. Now that alone would have been a good morning for 3 shooters, but the big event was Tim and I both taking banded Snow geese! Tim already received an email saying his bird was at least 4 years old and was banded in Manitoba. I just called mine in yesterday, so I await the news. Probably should have bought a lottery ticket too. I'll be going back the first part of February...I can still hear them calling me. Our bag consisted of Snow's, Blue's and Ross geese along with the Speck's. Just needed some Canada's to complete the grand slam but they were absent that morning.
Here's some of the birds I took that morning:

Laying out our birds

double bling!

Hell of a day! Congrats on the metal.

Update on the band: SPECIES: LESSER SNOW GOOSE
Age of Bird: HATCHED IN 2008 OR EARLIER
Location: AKIMISKI ISLAND, JAMES BAY, NUNAVUT, CANADA
SEX: MALE
DATE BANDED: 07/20/09

David,
Nice bag! Didn't know you could hunt geese in the desert!

Fantastic! Sorry we couldn't make it happen last year. I am definitely interested in conservation season in Arkansas this year. Please send info if you are booking hunts again.

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
David,
Nice bag! Didn't know you could hunt geese in the desert!

The sand dune pictures threw me too! Alittle help with the beach explaination if you don't mind? I dunno anything about Arkansas if that explains anything.

Andy, you can call Tim direct at this number: 870-308-0496. He's hunting currently but will answer your message if you leave one. He is south of Stuttgart. The conservation season will run Jan 28-Feb 1st and reopen Feb 4th-April. Best time in south Arkansas is February unless it gets cold and then it may last into March. Cost is $200 per day (pay when you arrive) no deposit required. Food and lodging is included. You are expected to help put out and pick up decoys but that doesn't take long because they will work to smaller spreads if your in the right place. I recommend 12 ga w/3" 1s or BBs but your welcome to bring your favorite scattergun. A visit to Mack's Prairie Wings store in Stuttgart is a must; it's a duck hunters candy store. RNT calls are next door. No license needed but you must have an Arkansas Conservation number. It's free, just call the AR G&F and ask for it. Keep it in your billfold while hunting. No limit; no plug in your shotgun; hunt till 30 mins after sunset and electronic calling is allowed. Again, Tim can be reached at:870-308-0496 I book for him but during the conservation season you can give him a call because he doesn't want a deposit as things can change with weather. If it's no good, he'll call you a day before hand and tell you to stay home. If you plan a flight, advise him. He can usually make something happen.

Sand: we took the geese there to set up a photo.