Now in its 12th year, the light goose (includes snow, blue and Ross’s geese) Conservation Order was implemented by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service to reduce the number of these three species which had dramatically increased over the last couple of decades. Light geese have pretty much become a problem to themselves as well as humans.
Consider the following. These birds have been extremely successful at adapting to agricultural practices in the Midwest and southern United States. When migrating birds began to find abundant food supplies in the form of waste grain, especially rice, they were returning to their northern breeding grounds in better physical shape. This meant they began to produce larger clutches. Additionally, light geese, as opposed to Canada geese which are considered “grazers,” are “grubbers.” This means they pull out a plant by the roots, destroying it rather than cropping off the top. As a result, large areas of tundra were stripped of vegetation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologists believed it would take decades for the habitat to recover. In other words these geese were eating themselves out of house and home. The population has peaked out at 5-6 million. Biologists estimate a safe population to be 1.5 million in order to prevent the destruction of their own nesting habitat and sending their numbers into a serious tailspin.
After careful consideration of a number of options to reduce the population, expanded hunting opportunities were chosen as the most practical. Thus, the annual Conservation Order was born. Under the CO hunters are allowed to use equipment and tactics that are not allowed during the regular season or for other species. Electronic callers are allowed. Shotguns can be used without plugs that normally restrict shooters to three shells before reloading. Shooting hours are extended to one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. Daily bag and possession limits are eliminated; hunters can shoot as many light geese as they have shells for. It was originally hoped that a 5 consecutive year program would bring the population down to the 1.5 million goal.
Has it been successful? Yes and no. The fact that 10 years later we are still hunting under this plan says no, it hasn’t. But proponents say without the Conservation Order the numbers would be worse. And worse would mean that Mother Nature would have to provide her own brand of assistance. Nesting habitat would have been decimated, then, starvation and disease would have set in. Recovery from a catastrophic habitat loss would take decades if not a century or more. Some biologists believe it would never recover while others believe portions of it are already so badly damaged they could be lost forever. None of this is good news for light geese.
Will liberal hunting regulations eventually bring the population under control? Personally I don’t think it can. I say that based on past CO history and because each year these geese get harder to kill. I’ve witnessed it first hand in just my hunting lifetime. They live 12 to 15 years and the older birds that guide the young across the continent become extremely wary and adapt to hunter tactics, even those relaxed rules under the CO. They shy away from calling, learn to recognize even the well-concealed blinds and refuse to come to decoys unless they number 1,000 to 1,500. Not many hunters are willing to purchase and put out that many full–bodied decoys. Ask any goose hunter and they’ll tell you the more we do to fool them the harder they get to hunt. From personal experience, stalking, sneaking or as sometimes called, “creeping” geese is much more effective than employing the electronic caller over decoys.
GOOSE CREEPING TIPS
· Be prepared to burn some gas locating flocks by covering 300 to 400 miles per day. County maps and GPS come in handy. When you do, assess the situation, make a plan of action then be certain to obtain landowner permission before entering anyone’s property. Arkansas farmers are much more open to allowing hunters access than in Louisiana.
· A line of single hunters low-crawling with firearms can be potentially dangerous. Until ready to fire, keep the shotgun chamber empty, safeties on and barrels always pointed in a safe direction.
· Have the proper equipment. Waders that withstand the rigors of crawling, crossing deep ditches or lying in cold, wet mud are a necessity. A vest capable of carrying multiple boxes of shells and carrying straps are mandatory. A mix of #4, 2, BBs and Ts are required for various shooting situations including shooting cripples.
· The most critical part of creeping is to stay hidden. Camouflage head to toe especially face masks and gloves. If a scout bird is flying above remain dead still until it passes. There will be several motionless “sentry” birds with raised head, avoid letting them see any movement. Be patient, move at a snail’s pace. Sometimes a creep will take an hour or longer to sneak into range. If just one bird detects danger it will alert the entire flock and they will be gone in seconds, wasting your entire effort. Let a feeding, moving flock come to you if possible.
· Study the “attitude” of the flock. Recognizing whether they are content and feeding or nervously silent with their heads raised up in unison will let you know if and when you can get any closer. Predetermine who will call the shot so everyone is on the same page. When it comes time to shoot, swing the barrel in a sweeping motion as you pull the trigger to cover as many birds as possible.
· Be careful not to shoot in the direction of specklebelly geese which sometimes will flock in with snows. Check for leg and neck bands and report them.
In case you’re interested in doing your part for conservation (and maybe for your freezer, too) don’t put that shotgun away until turkey season just yet. Here’s the rundown on this spring’s Louisiana Conservation Order. Only snow, blue and Ross’ geese may be taken under the terms of the conservation order, which again this season allows the use of electronic callers and unplugged shotguns. It also eliminates the daily bag and possession limits. Shooting hours begins one-half hour before sunrise and extends until one-half hour after sunset. Hunting is allowed in both the east and west waterfowl zones of the state through March 14. All other waterfowl hunting regulations including the use of non-toxic shot and baiting remain in effect.