Waterfowl season isn’t completely over in the Carolinas

Special late season provides fast action, expanded hunting methods

For hunters already experiencing withdrawal symptoms, fret not — waterfowl season isn’t completely over in the Carolinas. North Carolina’s “Light Geese Conservation Order” season opened yesterday, Feb. 15. The season runs through March 31.

And the best part is, during this late season, hunters can use expanded hunting methods. These include:

• Extended shooting hours to 1/2 hour past sunset
• Use of unplugged guns
• Use of electronic calls

Hunters are also not bound by any daily or possession limits during this six-week period. The season has no daily bag limit and no possession limit.

Sound too good to be true? It almost does, especially considering how much more stringent regulations have become for certain waterfowl species. Hunting light geese, which includes snow geese and Ross’s geese, during the late season is a bit like the Wild Wild West. It’s a waterfowler’s dream come true.

Eastern North Carolina has one of the biggest populations of overwintering snow geese in the world, thanks to the expansive agricultural fields located so close to large bodies of water. The population has gotten so big in recent years that the Conservation Order season has been implemented. The goal is to help control the population of these birds, which do plenty of damage to farm crops.

Capt. Froggy’s waterfowl hunts are inexpensive and well-run

This is a great way to get kids involved in hunting, because the number of birds is seemingly unlimited, providing lots of shooting and fast action. And grown-ups love it just as much.

The one thing that hunters really need to successfully hunt these geese is a gargantuan supply of decoys.

“If you set up a field with less than 500 decoys, these geese won’t even consider landing. You need a minimum of 1000 in an area to get a look from them on most days,” said Charlton Thornton of Capt. Froggy’s Guide Service.

The simplest way to hunt this season, and the most cost effective, is booking a trip with Capt. Froggy’s. A party of six hunters can have a field day for $150 per gun, a bargain by any account, and Capt. Froggy’s has all the decoys, sets the decoys up, and helps hunters get in place and ready to shoot.

Capt. Froggy’s guides have access to plenty of land, and constantly scout to find where these birds are going each day. This is waterfowl hunting like most Carolina hunters have never experienced — especially right here in the Carolinas.

Get a party of six together and book a trip with Capt. Froggy’s at 252-661-7222. And if you’re going solo or with a group of less than six hunters, they will combine parties and make sure all hunters are well taken care of. Don’t sit at home and wait on turkey season. Get in on this late goose season for some of the most exciting hunting you’ll ever experience.