Snow goose
Anser caerulescens · White geese with black wingtips, plus the dark "blue" form. Huge flocks over the rice country.
- Length
- 25–31 in
- Weight
- 4.5–7.5 lb
- Wingspan
- 53–60 in
- Group
- Goose
Typical adult size.
How to identify a snow goose
Adults
Adults of the white form are all white with black wingtips and a pink bill with a dark "grin patch". The blue form has a white head and a dark gray-brown body. Ganders and geese look alike.
Young birds and sexes
Same as the gander. Young birds are grayish with dark bills.
In flight
Huge, noisy, wavering flocks high overhead. Black wingtips on white birds; constant high-pitched barking.
Look-alikes
- Greater white-fronted goose: Specklebellies are brown with orange legs, a white face patch and black belly bars.
Snow goose gallery
Snow goose limits in six Mid-South states
Mississippi
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 13–29; Dec 4–6; Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 20 | No limit |
| Light Goose Conservation Order (free permit) | Oct 1–Nov 12; Nov 30–Dec 3, 2026; Feb 1–5; Feb 8–Mar 31, 2027 | No limit | No limit |
Not confirmed Conservation Order days Dec 7–8, 2026 (reported in the press, not on MDWFP pages) (check the official source)
MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Mississippi rules
Tennessee
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Sept 1–20; Oct 10–22; Nov 28–29; Dec 5, 2026–Feb 14, 2027 | 20 | No limit, except 1× daily on opening day and 2× on the second day |
| Light Goose Conservation Season (free permit) | Feb 15–Mar 31, 2027 | No limit | No limit |
TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Tennessee rules
Arkansas
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Oct 31–Nov 8; Nov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 20 | No limit |
| Light Goose Conservation Order (permit) | Feb 1–5; Feb 8–Apr 25, 2027 | No limit | No limit |
AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Arkansas rules
Louisiana
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 14–Dec 6; Dec 19, 2026–Feb 7, 2027 | 20 | No limit |
| Light Goose Conservation Order | Dec 7–18, 2026; Feb 8–Mar 7, 2027 | No limit | No limit |
LDWF Seasons and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Louisiana rules
Missouri
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 11, 2026–Feb 6, 2027 | 20 | No limit |
| Light Goose Conservation Order (Conservation Order Permit) | Feb 7–Apr 30, 2027 | No limit | No limit |
MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Missouri rules
Kentucky
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 26, 2026–Feb 15, 2027 | 20 | 60 |
| Light Goose Conservation Order (free permit) | Feb 16–Mar 31, 2027 | No limit | No limit |
KDFWR 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Kentucky rules
Regular-season limits from each state’s official 2026-27 regulations. Possession limits count birds at home too. Federal rules apply on top of state rules, and some WMAs and refuges set stricter limits. Louisiana and Missouri set duck seasons by zone; the dates shown are for every zone.
When and where on public land
Timing
Arrives in November; big flocks winter in the rice country of eastern Arkansas and the Delta, and the Conservation Order seasons run into spring.
Habitat
Rice and soybean fields, big refuge impoundments and open water roosts.
More gooses
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