Geese offer opportunities for Arkansas waterfowlers

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11/29/2006

Geese offer opportunities for Arkansas waterfowlers

LITTLE ROCK – Let’s face it. Arkansas is a duck-hunting state. Geese are plentiful this time of the year, but for most waterfowl enthusiasts, they are definitely secondary to mallards, pintails and other ducks.

But geese offer choices out in the field. If you are seeking ducks and come across geese, there is a choice to be made – get in some shooting or take a chance at coming up empty for the day.

Three major varieties of geese are found in Arkansas this time of the year, and their numbers can be impressive, especially the over-abundant snow geese. The snows have white and blue color phases, but they are all the same species. The Ross’ goose is a separate species that has the appearance of a small white snow goose.

The rules are general for snow and Ross’ geese, too. Twenty is the daily limit, and there is no possession limit. Shooting hours are the same as for ducks.

White-fronted geese are often called specklebellies, and can be mistaken for the blue phase snow geese at a quick glance and from a distance. Keep in mind that the blue phase snow goose has a white head and neck. The white-fronted goose is gray on the head and neck. The daily limit on white-fronted geese is two, with the possession limit four.

Canada geese may be the most popular variety among Arkansans, although white-fronts have some loyal fans. There is a sizable population of resident, non-migrating Canada geese in Arkansas, especially in the Arkansas River Valley area, and others come in from the north in late fall and winter. They are different in appearance from snows and from white-fronts, even at a distance. Dark gray or black necks and heads with prominent white chin straps are features of Canada geese. The statewide season on Canada geese doesn’t open until Jan. 13, and the daily limit is two, with the possession limit four.

Hunting rules are the same for geese as for ducks in that both federal and state migratory waterfowl hunting stamps are required along with Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration. Guns may not hold more than three shotgun shells, and shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

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