The spring of 2023 produced one of the most prolific hatches of Mid-Continent snow geese in decades. The stars aligned. Spring came early and the vegetation the geese survive on greened up early. July was warm and dry, so gosling survival was outstanding. The contribution to the fall flight of YOY geese was substantial and larger than it had been in years.
The Mid-Continent population of snow geese represents the largest population with an estimated 6 million geese in the 2023 flock, which is down from 9 million just a decade ago and an all-time high of 15 to 20 million in 2010.
2023’s hatch caught researchers totally by surprise. “The 2023 hatch was a perfect storm,” claimed Wildlife Biologist Frank Baldwin. “It’s been years since the Central Arctic had that kind of hatch. It was the perfect combination of an early spring when the hatch occurred, and when the vegetation greens up. We didn’t have the torrential rains we sometimes have in July when young geese are vulnerable.” The percentage of juveniles in the fall flight in 2022 was estimated at 22%. That number was likely much higher in 2023.
Savvy hunters know that when there’s a good hatch, hunting success skyrockets. The newly hatched geese have only been around for a few months, and they are dumb. Seasoned adults who have made the migration trip numerous times know to stay away from a spread of windsocks. Naïve juveniles don’t.
Hunters from Saskatchewan to Missouri reported shooting hundreds of snow geese per day during the 2023-2024 season. Hunters were happy. The question now was “What do you do with them?” Many hunters make sausage out of them, which requires adding pork or beef. Jerky is another option.
You can breast the geese, but to legally transport them you need a wing attached. An easy way to clean and ready the geese for transport is with a Bird Hitch ( waterfowljunkie.com/product/bird-hitch-h-2/). The Bird Hitch attaches to your vehicle’s receiver. You position the bird so the opening near the breast of the bird’s cavity is at the V point of the Bird Hitch. You pull the carcass forward into the V and it separates the breast and wings from the rest of the body. You can go through a pile of birds in a hurry and legally transport them with the wings attached. Once you are home, you can easily fillet the meat off the breasts. You can then freeze the breast meat or start the jerky-making process.
Commercial jerky cures, like those made by High Mountain Seasonings (himtnjerky.com) are easy to use and come in a variety of flavors. I can vouch for the original and sweet & spicy flavors. If you want a little more zing or heat, there are other flavor options. High Mountain Seasonings also offers jerky kits that include a board and knife, screen, digital scale, thermometer, and a variety pack of seasonings.
 You can make your own jerky seasonings, too. There are dozens of jerky recipes available on the Internet.
- Combine the jerky cure and seasoning according to directions.
- Wash the breast meat and remove blood and feathers.
- Use a sharp fillet knife to remove any excess fat or sinew from the meat.
- Cut the breast meat diagonally across the breast in ½ inch strips. Watch for and remove any shot you find in the meat.
- Place the strips on aluminum foil on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the meat, flip it over, and season the opposite side.
- Place the seasoned meat in a Zip-Loc bag and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours. Once cured you can begin the smoking process.
How long you smoke the meat is a personal preference. Most opt for about 4 to 6 hours turning the jerky about halfway through the process. Ideally the jerky reaches 165 degrees. Pellet smokers are not as intense as conventional wood smokers. Don’t have the pieces touching. How dry you want the jerky is a matter of personal preference. Once finished, vacuum seal the meat in manageable-size packages to enjoy the rest of the year. A smile always comes to my face when I give friends some of the jerky and they exclaim, “This is good,” and then I ask them “What is it?” When I tell them it’s snow goose, they typically reply, “No Way!” Â
