A formation of Snow Geese flying overhead.
Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area (and yes, that is the correct spelling) is a series of lakes managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It is located a few miles North of Fairfield, MT on the highway to Choteau, MT on the Rocky Mountain Front. It consists of the lakes that make up the main Freezout Lake complex along with the Priest Butte Lakes. It is managed primarily for waterfowl species that migrate through the area, but it supports many other species as well. The area is most popular in the early spring (mid to late March typically) when the Snow Geese and Tundra Swan migrations are happening, but there are things to see and do there all year long. You may find up to several hundred thousand Snow Geese in the area and possibly up to 10,000 swans at the peak of the migration. There are also thousands of ducks of various species and other waterfowl as well. The exact numbers and timing are always dependent on weather conditions in the area. For the best viewing opportunities you will want to be there first thing in the morning before the birds fly off. Late afternoon is also a good time when the birds are returning for the day. Along with the waterfowl species, there are also a broad spectrum of song birds, raptors and mammals that also call the area home. Grizzly bears have even been spotted in the area. There are several pit toilets and camping sites available at the WMA. The roads around the area are dirt, but are usually passable. If you are in the area for the migration, you may also want to drive some of the secondary roads in the farm land areas surrounding the lake, as all of the waterfowl fly off the lakes to the fields in the area to feed during the day. Please check with Montana FWP for more detailed information about the area. New in 2020 FWP also provided an interactive map to help provide up to the day bird counts and condition information.
The sky is completely filled with Snow Geese taking off from the lake. Besides the sight of it, the sound of the geese all taking off at the same time is truly awesome.
It is an awesome sight to see hundreds or even thousands of snow geese simultaneously take off. It almost becomes an abstract scene.
Tundra Swans flying in formation.
A pair of Canadian Geese on the grasslands surrounding the water at Freezeout.
A pair of Tundra Swans flying overhead.
Another pair of Tundra Swans just after take off.
A pair of Canadian Geese just after take off.
A flock of Snow Geese against a colorful morning sky.
A mix of ducks and swans on the water just after sunrise.
A pair of Tundra Swans coming in for a landing on Freezout.
It is worth checking out the fields around Freezout where the waterfowl feed.
A flock of Northern Pintail ducks.
A Short-eared Owl hunting on the grasslands around the lake.
A large flock of Snow Geese flying over a farm before sunrise.
A Northern Harrier prowling the marshes around the lake.
A Red-winged Black Bird, just one of many song birds you can find in the area.
Besides the wildlife photography opportunities, there are also great opportunities for some great landscapes of the lakes, marshes, grasslands and the Rocky Mountain Front from this area. As with most areas, sunrise and sunset usually make for the most dramatic landscapes.
A shot from the shore looking over some cattails and calm waters just after the sun came up.
Looking East over the marshes with some windmills in the background.