OUTDOOR CORNER: AREA GOOSE HUNTERS MIGHT SOON SEE PATIENCE REWARDED

We are going to take a test. Don't panic, it's multiple choice.

Here's the question: "Which of the following activities would you consider to be fun?"

A) Crawling out of a nice warm bed several hours before daylight.

B) Trudging through what seems like miles of semi-frozen mud int he pre-dawn darkness.

C) Climbing down into a cold, damp hole in the ground and spending the rest of the day trying to avoid frostbite.

D) All of the above.

If you chose `D' then you must be a goose hunter.

Goose hunters have to be optimists. After sitting all day and maybe not even firing a shot they tell themselves "tomorrow just might be the day." Hey, it could happen. While goose hunting in Southeast Missouri and adjoining states has been relatively slow this season there is at least the potential for change.

Recent cold weather to the north of us has caused Canada geese to migrate into this area. Surveys conducted this past week resulted in the following numbers for geese: Duck Creek Conservation Area and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, both located near Puxico, shared 3,850 Canada geese. Ballard County refuge in Kentucky reported 20,000 Canadas. Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee counted 5,500 geese.

The largest concentrations can be found in southern Illinois. Crab Orchard near Marion reported approximately 70,000 geese on the refuge. The largest local concentration of Canada geese can be found at Horseshoe Lake where they are holding an estimated 175,000 geese. That represents a huge jump from the 63,000 they had last week.

In Missouri, Canada goose hunters have til Jan. 30 to pursue their quarry. The same holds true for the hunting of white-front geese and brant. If you hunt blue geese, snow geese and ross geese, you can harvest them through March 7.

Limits in Missouri are as follows: The aggregate limit for geese of all species is 10 daily. The daily limit is two Canada geese, two white-front geese and two brant statewide. The possession limits for Canada geese, white-front geese and brant are four each with an aggregate possession limit of 20 for geese of all species.

Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset each day.

Waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over must carry on their person a valid federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp, commonly called a federal duck stamp, and a Missouri Waterfowl hunting stamp each signed in ink across the face by the user as well as a valid hunting permit. All hunters, regardless of age, are required to carry a Migratory Game Bird Harvest Information Program Card.

~Gene Myers is a Missouri Conservation Agent in Cape Girardeau County.