It’s one of the most extraordinary spectacles around and I can’t recommend this experience more. Every spring between 100,000 and 300,000 snow geese flock to Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area near Choteau during their bi-annual migration along the Pacific Flyway.
The lake is 40 miles west of Great Falls along U.S. Highway 89 between Fairfield and Choteau. It’s a free, public site.
The massive movement of geese typically occurs at the end of March when the lake thaws, and several organizations host trips to witness the amazing event.
The Flathead Audubon group is leading a trip to Freezout on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and March 29. Trip leader Bob Lee will meet participants at 10 a.m., Saturday at the K-Mart parking lot on the corner of U.S. Highway 2 and Montana Highway 35 in Kalispell.
Participants will caravan/carpool to Choteau, arriving in time for the afternoon “fly-out” of the geese. After dinner and a night in Choteau, birders will head back out on Sunday before daybreak to watch the mass ascension of the geese from Freezout ponds. The group will head home in the early afternoon, arriving in Kalispell around 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Lee will provide a suggested schedule and route to witness the birds. Attendees are encouraged to make their own arrangements for lodging. Primitive camping is available at Freezout WMA. For more information, contact Bob Lee at 270-0371 or [email protected].