Spring Snow Goose Hunts In Arkansas
Best Spring Hunt - 274 Snow Geese - 2022
Location & Dates:
Spring Snow Goose Hunts with Up North Outdoors, Inc.
Since 2001, Up North Outdoors, Inc. has run guided spring snow goose hunts. We started in Missouri and later expanded into South Dakota, then Arkansas, following the migration north as the birds pushed toward the tundra. In 2014 we left Missouri, replacing it with Nebraska and eventually Iowa as we continued to refine where we hunted.
Decades of chasing the migration made one thing clear: Arkansas is where the hunting stays the most consistent. Yes, it has plenty of birds—but so do all the places we’ve hunted. What truly puts Arkansas at the top is that it sits far enough south to avoid most—though not all—of the snowstorms that make spring snow goose hunting difficult.
About the Spring Snow Goose Season
Hunting takes place during the Conservation Order—often called the Spring Snow Goose Season—which was established in 1999 to help manage snow goose overpopulation. This special season allows the use of electronic callers and unplugged guns, with no bag limits, all intended to increase harvest success.
Our Spring Snow Goose Hunts in Arkansas begin on February 1, with peak hunting running from the opener through the first week of March.
2027 Snow Goose Hunt Rates & Discounts:
Full Payment Discount
Save $50 - Pay in FULL when booking a 3 & 4‑Day Hunt Only
Our spring snow goose hunts run on a straightforward schedule. Most hunters choose our three‑day or four‑day hunts. It’s a setup that keeps everything organized and gives hunters the best shot at success.
4-Day Hunt: $800 (Monday-Thursday)
3-Day Hunt: $700 (Friday-Sunday)
1‑ or 2‑Day Hunts: $250/day (full‑day)
Payment Information:
We offer a full‑payment discount for groups who pay in full at the time of booking. It’s the best way to save on your hunt.
If you prefer to pay in two installments, no discount is available. A 50% deposit is due when you receive your invoice, and the remaining balance is due by December 1. For bookings made after December 1, full payment is required at the time of booking. If you need to split your payment after December 1, a 50% deposit is due when you receive your invoice, and you can coordinate the second payment date with Denise. Your hunt must be paid in full before you arrive.
We accept checks by mail and credit/debit cards online or by phone. Card payments include a 4% fee. To avoid this fee, you may send a check by mail.
Prices are per person and do not include guide tips, lodging, meals, or hunting licenses. Guide tips are a significant part of a guide’s income. The industry standard is 15–20% of the hunt price. If you’re not willing to tip, please don’t hunt with us.
Party Size:
Groups of eight hunters receive a private field, with no age limit for youth hunters. Trained dogs are allowed with full group approval.
If a smaller party wants a private field, they can secure one by paying for eight hunters. They may bring any number of hunters up to eight. Otherwise, smaller groups are combined and share a field with other small groups. For these mixed‑group hunts, we generally look for hunters to be around 14 or older, and dogs aren’t permitted.
Payment Information:
We offer a full‑payment discount for groups who pay in full at the time of booking. It’s the best way to save on your hunt.
If you prefer to pay in two installments, no discount is available. A 50% deposit is due when you receive your invoice, and the remaining balance is due by December 1. For bookings made after December 1, full payment is required at the time of booking. If you need to split your payment after December 1, a 50% deposit is due when you receive your invoice, and you can coordinate the second payment date with Denise. Your hunt must be paid in full before you arrive.
We accept checks by mail and credit/debit cards online or by phone. Card payments include a 4% fee. To avoid this fee, you may send a check by mail.
Prices are per person and do not include guide tips, lodging, meals, or hunting licenses. Guide tips are a significant part of a guide’s income. The industry standard is 15–20% of the hunt price. If you’re not willing to tip, please don’t hunt with us.
How to buy trip insurance:
Trip Insurance - No Refund Policy:
We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance. We’ve encouraged this for several years, and numerous hunters have filed successful claims. It’s a smart way to protect your hunt.
Unexpected issues—weather, illness, injury, or family emergencies—can prevent hunters from making their trip. Trip insurance is built for exactly these situations.
If you choose not to purchase insurance and can’t attend your hunt, you may sell your spot to a replacement hunter or move to another open date within the current season, if any remain. These are the only two options available. We do not offer refunds or carry payments into future seasons.
There are three coverage levels available—click the link below to learn more or purchase trip insurance. We recommend the Deluxe+ Plan, which includes “Cancel for Any Reason” when purchased within 21 days of your initial payment.
Buy Trip Insurance
Bird Cleaning Made Easy!
Bird Cleaning:
Bird cleaning is included in the price of the hunt. At the end of the day’s hunt, your guide—along with help from the hunting party—will clean all harvested snow geese for you to take home.
For legal transportation, one wing must remain attached to the meat. We use the Wing Slinger™ bird cleaner to remove the breast, clipping one wing while leaving the other attached. Hunters should bring large 160‑quart coolers so the birds can be iced down for the trip home. When the hunting is exceptional, you’ll need plenty of cooler space—plan accordingly.
What we cannot do is take birds for hunters. We do not keep, store, or take of birds for anyone. Your birds go home with you—always!
Are Snow Geese Good To Eat?
Snow geese are excellent table fare, and during the season we often grill them at night for meals. They’re flavorful and far more versatile than most hunters expect. Guys are always surprised by just how good snow geese are on the table. Grilled, they’re best cooked to a medium with a little pink in the middle — tender, juicy, and packed with rich wild flavor.
Once home, we take them to a locker where they add pork or beef fat, and from there you can turn snow geese into just about anything you’d make from deer. We’ve made brats, cheddarwurst, hot dogs, goose bacon, sticks, summer sausage, and jerky. We also have some ground into burger for casseroles and soups, and you’d never know it’s not hamburger.
If you like wild game, you’re going to love snow geese. They’re the most underrated waterfowl out there.
Lodging & Meals:
Arkansas snow goose hunts take place near a large town, with plenty of motels and short‑term rentals available at a range of price points. Hunters have no trouble finding comfortable, convenient lodging close to where we snow goose hunt.
We don’t provide meals, so hunters should bring snacks, lunch, and non‑alcoholic drinks for the day. You’re welcome to stay in the field all day or take a midday break—our guides typically remain in the field even if hunters leave for lunch.Most hunters eat in the field or cook at their trucks, while a few groups drive to a restaurant. Just keep in mind that at some fields, that’s a farther drive than at others. It’s completely up to you—it's your hunt.
Equipment & Gear You Need To Bring:
We provide all necessary blinds, decoys, electronic callers, and other field equipment. While we appreciate offers to bring your own gear, we prefer to use ours, as it is tested and familiar to us.
Hunters should bring personal equipment, including:
- Extra Padding for Laydown Blinds: Our blinds have padded seats, but some hunters prefer additional comfort. Popular options include layout boat seats, yoga mats, garden cushions, and foam pads.
- Non-Toxic Shotgun Shells: Most use 3-inch 12-gauge 1-1/8 oz shells, shot size 2, 1, or BB.
- White or Camouflage Waterproof Clothing: Dress in layers to stay comfortable in both warm and cold conditions. In recent years, we've come to prefer white, as it blends well with the spread even when hunters are out of the blinds. Camouflage is also a suitable option.
- Rubber Boots or Breathable Waders: Arkansas rice fields can be wet. Waterproof clothing or waders make the hunt more comfortable when its wet.
- Food & Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Bring the snacks you’ll need for the day.
- Cooler for Birds: Keep your cleaned birds packed with ice for transport.
Wear Whites or Camo Clothes
What To Expect On Spring Snow Goose Hunts:
The afternoon before your first hunt, you’ll receive a text with details about your hunt, including your guide’s name and phone number. Later that evening, before 8:30 p.m., your guide will call with your meeting time and location.
On the morning of your hunt, you’ll meet your guide at the designated location and follow them to the field in your vehicle. At the field, gear is loaded onto ATV trailers and transported to the decoy spread. If anyone in your group needs a ride to the spread, let your guide know — they’ll take care of it. Otherwise, hunters walk to the decoys. You’re welcome to bring your own 4‑wheeler or small UTV, but keep in mind that parking is limited at some fields, so we prefer not to bring the very large UTVs and trailers.
At the spread, blinds and flyers may need adjustment based on the wind. Hunters who pitch in help speed up the setup. Once everything is moved, your guide will review safety rules and then we wait for shooting time.
After the hunt, we load up all the gear and harvested snow geese and take everything back to the truck. There, we clean your birds and you pack them into your coolers. This process repeats each day of your hunt until the final day, which for the 3‑ and 4‑day groups is a half‑day hunt ending at noon.
You should come expecting average hunting, and for groups of eight, teens and twenties per day is typical. Over our 30‑day season we see peaks and valleys — some hunts are well above average, some are slower, and occasionally we get a zero. Weather, shooting ability, and how long hunters stay in the field all play a role in success.
Keeping You Informed
Our hunting reports keep our hunters informed. You can trust our reports to be honest, accurate, and daily. Because of this, not only do our snow goose hunters follow our reporting, but so do snow goose hunters across the Midwest. They also serve as a great research tool. Hunting reports dating back to 2008 can be viewed.
Follow our season:
- Hunting Reports: You can find them by clicking this link: Hunting Reports.
- Facebook: Our hunting reports end up on Facebook. Follow our page by clicking the following link: Up North Outdoors, Inc. Facebook Page
Spring Snow Goose Hunts Harvest:
Our first season guiding snow goose hunters was in 2001. Over the years, the length of our hunting season has varied, ranging from as few as 14 days to as many as 60. Since shifting our focus to Arkansas in 2022, our season now spans 20-30 days, depending on weather conditio
Hunting License Requirement:
Arkansas Hunting License:
Arkansas has changed its licensing requirements for the Light Goose Conservation Order beginning with the 2027 spring season. We know licensing will no longer be FREE, and while we have received preliminary information regarding the new requirements, we are holding off on updating this section until the official licensing requirements are published by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
-
- Call (800) 364-4263 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
- Click Here For Arkansas Game & Fish Licensing System Website
