Eastern> Hunting News  February 08

Special Season Targets Canada Geese

Farmers will be hoping that hunters are out in force next weekend (23 – 24 February) when a special season for Canada geese is held in the Eastern Fish & Game region. Senior Fish and Game Officer Matthew McDougall said “while hunters regard Canada geese as a premier game bird, farmers are more likely to consider the birds a nuisance as they have an unfortunate habit of targeting new pasture, particularly around large water bodies such as the Rotorua Lakes and Tauranga Harbour.”

Mr McDougall indicated that Fish & Game used the special summer season to provide an extra hunting opportunity while at the same time managing goose numbers to minimise problems for landowners. “Our latest aerial trend count results suggest that this formula is working. Goose numbers are on par with previous seasons except for around the Wairoa Area and perhaps North of Tolaga Bay, where the population appears to have increased.” Complaints from land owners are probably a little up on other years as the effects of the drought exacerbate the situation.

He added that Canada geese were extremely challenging to hunt which added to their appeal to hunters but also made it potentially difficult for hunters to control their numbers. “The special summer season is very important for keeping goose numbers under control as hunting at this time of the year was more successful than during the normal winter waterfowl season. Geese quickly catch on with all of the activity during the normal season whereas the special season tends to take the younger naïve birds by surprise and a higher level of harvest results as a consequence”.

Fish & Game emphasis that the summer season provides an opportunity for farmers to hunt themselves or to invite other shooters to help them out. Mr McDougall suggested that landowners who have large numbers of geese visiting their property but who don’t hunt or know hunters can contact Fish & Game who will organise hunters to help them during the weekend. “We recognise that Canada geese can cause problems through competing for valuable grazing with stock and want to provide hunters with summer hunting opportunities while at the same time helping landowners.”

He pointed out that the key to a successful hunt was using well organised, experienced hunters. “Geese quickly catch on when the shooting starts and hunters who are not prepared will find the going tough”.

The special season for Canada geese will be held in the Eastern Region from Saturday 23 February until midnight Sunday 24 February 2008. Hunters require a 2007 game season licence to hunt during the weekend, while land owners can hunt without a licence on their own property provided they reside there.

If you would like to be kept in touch with Gamebird hunting news and other hunting information, please sign up for Both Barrels, our Gamebird hunting email newsletter.