GREAT GOOSE SEASON EXPECTED

Waterfowlers can expect the best season in years, say conservation officials.

The last time waterfowl habitat conditions were this good in the Canadian Northlands, Jimmy Carter was president, Billy Beer was in vogue and gasoline prices were nearing $2 a gallon.

Over the past few years, thanks to plenty of water and cover across the major waterfowl breeding grounds, duck and goose populations have increased.

"Habitat conditions in the northlands continue to improve," said Rich Whitten, waterfowl biologist for the Illinois Department of Conservation. "That means good news for Southern Illinois."

Based on spring population surveys in Canada, hunters throughout the Mississippi Flyway have one of the most liberal seasons in modern years.

"The adult population of Canada geese is about 900,000," Whitten said from his Union County Wildlife Refuge headquarters. "Add another 407,000 immature geese and that totals out to more than 1.4 million geese for migration into the Mississippi Flyway this winter."

That all translated into good news for the U.S. Wildlife Service, which establishes the waterfowl hunting season framework.

In the Southern Illinois Quota Zone -- Alexander, Union, Jackson and Williamson counties -- the season will open Saturday and run through Jan. 31, or until a harvest quota of 62,691 geese is reached.

"We have an 89-day season, a quota of 62,691 birds and a limit of three Canada Geese per day per hunter," said Whitten. "Those are some astronomical figures."

Geese are already arriving in Southern Illinois, and with weather forecasts calling for cooler temperatures ahead, more geese may be arriving daily.

As many as 12,000 to 14,000 geese have been in the Southern Illinois area the past couple of weeks.

"I saw one flight of about 500 birds come in last weekend," said Whitten. "

An aerial census conducted over the area Monday revealed about 15,000 Canada geese.

"We'll be conducting counts about every week now," said Whitten.

In Monday's count, more than half of the Canada geese observed -- over 7,500 -- were in the Horseshoe Lake Wildlife Refuge Area in Alexander County, said Whitten.

The only other notable concentrations were in the Crab Orchard Lake and Rend Lake areas, with more than 2,000 geese.

Although the season can start Saturday, some hunting clubs may wait a while.

"It's still fishing weather at Horseshoe," said one club owner. "We're debating opening this early."

"We expect the season to be slow in Union and Alexander counties early on," said Whitten. "But with a three-month season, and a quota of about 63,000, hunters will have an opportunity to kill geese throughout the season.

Last year's goose hunting season did not reach expectations in the quota zone, despite a pre-season forecast of plenty of geese.

The forecasts were half right. As many as a million geese did show up in Southern Illinois last year, but the weather never really cooperated for good conditions. Only 25,000 geese were harvested in the four-county area during the season.

Goose hunting is big business in Southern Illinois, and even more hunters are expected to visit the area this year. Due to poor goose production on the Eastern side of the nesting grounds, no hunting will be permitted in certain areas there.

"I think we'll be seeing a lot of out-of-state visitors this year, said Whitten.

Another big plus for attracting out-of-state hunters is the three-goose daily limit and 10-in-possession rule. In past goose-hunting years, limits have been as low as two Canada geese per day, with possession limits of four.

A day in the pit can cost from $50 to $100 and up, plus guide costs. Hunters, however, spend more than that. According to various surveys, the average goose hunter spends $150 to $160 a day while in Southern Illinois.

The big honkers are worth their weight in gold, said Larry Bowman, director of the Williamson County Tourism Bureau, which keeps tabs on the economics of goose hunting in the four-county area.

Every goose you see flying in the quota zone is worth $10 to the economy.

The surveys show that goose hunters bring more money into an area than any other type of hunter. The Williamson County Tourism Bureau survey utilizes a hunter-day system. During a recent year, the survey found that more than 80,800 hunters sought out the Canada geese.

Bowman said 75 percent of the hunters are "visitor" hunters. This tabulates into almost 9.4 million annually. Add in the expenses of the 25 percent of local hunters and the total exceeds $10 million in the four counties.