OUTDOOR CORNER: NOT MUCH TO GANDER AT IN THE WAY OF GEESE

For the majority of goose hunters in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois the 1997-98 hunting season has read like the words from a classic novel; "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times".

It was the "best of times" because waterfowl populations are at either record or near-record numbers for most species. However, it may have been the "worst of times" in terms of goose harvest numbers. This is due in great part to the unusually mild weather in most of the midwest region this winter.

When we talk about goose hunting in this area, we are talking about two distinctly different methods of hunting for two distinctly different groups of geese. First we have Canada geese (the large grey-black-white birds) then we have the smaller bodied snow and blue geese.

The warm temperatures this winter allowed the Canada geese to short-stop their annual migration further north than usual. Statewide, Missouri had only one-third the number of Canada geese than normal. The Canada goose season in Missouri ended on January 31, with little fanfare.

Southern Illinois goose hunters had similar results. They saw relatively few geese while the north and middle hunting zones filled their quotas earlier than usual. Again, the success that was enjoyed further north was because the geese stopped their migration in north and central parts of the state instead of moving further south to more traditional areas.

Snow and blue goose hunting has also been affected by the mild weather but in a different way from Canada goose hunting. Unlike Canada geese, "snows" don't winter in southern Missouri and Illinois. They migrate further south to the gulf coast region. In a "normal" year they would migrate north in stages. They migrate into Southeast Missouri in huge flocks (often numbering in the tens of thousands) and settle into wheat fields to feed and roost. The flocks gradually move northward but remain in the general area well into March.

This year, due primarily to above-normal temperatures, large numbers of geese are migrating several weeks ahead of normal departure dates.

For hunters, this means that they must be more mobile than usual to locate birds. Geese that would normally stay in one area for several days are literally "here today and gone tomorrow".

In Missouri, hunters have through March 9, to pursue snow and blue geese. The daily bag limit is ten (10) Ross', snow and blue geese in the aggregate with a possession limit of thirty (30). Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Shells possessed or used while hunting geese must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The only shot currently approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is steel shot, bismuth shot, tungsten-iron shot, copper-, zinc-, or nickel-plated steel shot for which the plating represents less than 1% of the shot's weight. Lead shot plated with copper, nickel, or other material does not qualify.

Hunters 16 years of age and over must carry on their person a valid federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (federal duck stamp) signed in ink across the face by the user, and a Missouri Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, and a valid Small Game Hunting Permit.

For additional information, consult the 1997-98 Migratory Bird Digest.

The Mid-Continent Snow Goose population continues to be well above objective levels.

Fragile tundra breeding habitats have been decimated near snow goose colonies, and increased numbers of depredation problems have occurred in migration and wintering areas. Expanded hunting season frameworks since 1995 provide the greatest opportunity to increase harvest through larger bag limits and seasons extending into March. Additional population reduction measures are being considered by an arctic habitat working group. No changes were recommended for 1997-98; however, some amended snow goose harvest methods may be implemented for 1998-1999.

Gene Myers is Missouri Department of Conservation agent in Cape Girardeau County.