KANSAS LIGHT GOOSE HUNTING CONTINUES THROUGH APRIL 30
Hunt designed to control expanding population
PRATT — For the fifth year in a row, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a special conservation order extending the hunting period for light geese. While the last day for the regular light goose season was Feb. 6, light geese (snow and Ross’ geese) may be taken from Feb. 7-April 30.
During this period, there will be no bag or possession limit on light geese. In addition, participants will be allowed to use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls and take light geese from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during the period of this conservation order.
A long-term increase in the number of mid-continent light geese has brought the bird's population to a level more than double the objective established in current USFWS management plans, as well as those of state wildlife agencies. These large numbers are resulting in severe habitat degradation on Arctic breeding grounds, which may take decades, if not centuries to recover, seriously harming the reproductive opportunities of many species dependent on the area.
Harvest regulations have been liberalized as much as possible within standard USFWS frameworks but have been unsuccessful in increasing harvest rates to the level necessary to halt the growth of this population.
Regulations that authorize the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns during the light goose conservation order, when all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed, went into effect when the goose seasons ended Feb. 6. (The crane season ended Jan. 2.)
Hunt designed to control expanding population
PRATT — For the fifth year in a row, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a special conservation order extending the hunting period for light geese. While the last day for the regular light goose season was Feb. 6, light geese (snow and Ross’ geese) may be taken from Feb. 7-April 30.
During this period, there will be no bag or possession limit on light geese. In addition, participants will be allowed to use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls and take light geese from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during the period of this conservation order.
A long-term increase in the number of mid-continent light geese has brought the bird's population to a level more than double the objective established in current USFWS management plans, as well as those of state wildlife agencies. These large numbers are resulting in severe habitat degradation on Arctic breeding grounds, which may take decades, if not centuries to recover, seriously harming the reproductive opportunities of many species dependent on the area.
Harvest regulations have been liberalized as much as possible within standard USFWS frameworks but have been unsuccessful in increasing harvest rates to the level necessary to halt the growth of this population.
Regulations that authorize the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns during the light goose conservation order, when all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed, went into effect when the goose seasons ended Feb. 6. (The crane season ended Jan. 2.)
