Gunning for geese may be limited in fall

First, my apologies for the omission of the photograph in Tuesday’s column about Bill Lander of Green Lake catching a 45-pound king salmon on his recent trip to Alaska. For the record and my peace of mind – as well as yours, perhaps – the fish-story photo appears on page C7 of today’s sports section. Sorry for any annoyance or inconvenience caused by my false cast.

Although a banner year of duck production is predicted because of nearly ideal nesting conditions throughout North America this spring, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports the number of breeding pairs of migratory Canada geese is declining. From that, Atlantic Flyway gunners can expect restrictive goose-hunting seasons this fall.

An annual USFWS survey conducted with the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Atlantic Flyway Council revealed only 29,000 breeding pairs of Canada geese in the northern Quebec survey area, although habitat conditions were excellent. The survey count is down 27 percent from 1994 and 75 percent from 1988, when the decline was first detected.

If you spread decoys in cornfields and shoot 3-inch magnum shells, you’re aware that hunting regulations aimed at restricting the harvest of Canada geese were imposed on Atlantic Flyway states in 1992. But regardless of the reductions in seasons and bag limits, the decline has continued. Nationally, however, most populations of Canada geese are in good shape.

“We have serious concerns about this sharp downward trend in breeding populations of migratory Canada geese in the Atlantic Flyway,” said USFWS director Mollie Beattie. “We’ve had poor production since the mid-1980s, including the worst year on record in 1992. Since it takes about three years before goslings reach breeding age, the impact of poor production on breeding populations is now being seen and will be seen at least for several more years.”

I can attest to that. Last year I added another dozen goose decoys to my rig but didn’t set them once. Hereabouts, geese were as scarce as deer Down East.

Because of burgeoning populations of resident, locally breeding Canada geese – those seen on golf courses, for example – many Atlantic Flyway hunters were confused about the USFW’s restrictions regarding migratory geese.

However, the two populations and their respective increases and declines are unrelated. Therefore, special September hunting seasons implemented to control resident goose populations in several states would not be affected by the anticipated restrictions on migratory geese.

USFWS biologists believe that conservative hunting regulations, developed in partnership with the Atlantic Flyway Council, would ensure higher survival of adult breeders and young geese needed to restore the migratory population.

In the past, temporary hunting restrictions have resulted in the recovery of declining Canada goose breeding populations. Among them are the Mississippi Valley and Eastern Prairie populations.

Hunting is, of course, the most readily controllable factor in the conservation and management of game species. Here again, hunters will bite the bullet knowing that their acceptance of hunting restrictions will be rewarded by one of nature’s grandest displays, the sight and sound of migrating geese.

Speaking of waterfowl hunting, the USFWS has published a notice in the Federal Register proposing an extension of conditional approval of bismuth-tin shot for the 1995-96 hunting season. The proposal is the result of five months of chronic toxicity and reproductive studies undertaken by Bismuth Cartridge Co. and reported to USFWS. Results from the tests showed clearly that “bismuth shot” was non-toxic to waterfowl.

Final test reports on the shot, which approximates the ballistic performance of lead shot, will be submitted to the USFWS in the first quarter of 1996. A favorable decision on unconditional approval of bismuth shot is expected at that time.

The use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting was abolished because it was found to be toxic to birds that ingested it while feeding. Until now, only steel shot has been approved for waterfowl hunting. And if you know the difference between a black duck and a bufflehead, you probably know steel shot lacks punching power.