Spring Dark Geese Hunting

[Scott M]

SD GFP News

Feb 22, 2013

GFP Taking Additional Steps to Reduce Goose Numbers

PIERRE, S.D.— Numbers of Canada geese in South Dakota continue to exceed management goals and Game, Fish and Parks is looking to hunters for help.

During the spring of 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated a spring population index of nearly 270,000 resident Canada geese in South Dakota.

“Our management plan sets the population objective at 80,000 to 90,000 resident Canada geese,” GFP Wildlife Division Director, Tony Leif said.

In the past year, GFP spent more than $700,000 to reduce crop damage caused by resident Canada geese and since 2000, GFP has spent over $4.3 million on Canada goose depredation. Leif said that the GFP Commission has also taken steps to curb goose numbers by allowing additional goose hunting opportunities in August and September.

New this year, GFP is seeking volunteers to harvest resident Canada geese during the spring on locations with chronic depredation problems. No hunting license will be required to participate. A limited number of volunteers will be randomly selected and provided the necessary instructions and authorization to harvest resident Canada geese. GFP will direct the volunteer hunters to areas on private land with the chronic problems. Pass shooting will be allowed but the use of decoys, calls, and blinds are prohibited under this US Fish and Wildlife Service permit.

“We are looking to take this additional proactive approach to reduce crop damage caused by resident Canada geese,” said Leif. “We hope to accomplish this by reducing localized goose numbers and by inducing geese to move away from these problem areas,” said Leif. “We will also be conducting a detailed evaluation of this approach to determine its effectiveness in Canada goose management.”Geese harvested during this spring management will be eligible to be donated to the Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH) Program to feed hungry families across South Dakota.

Interested volunteers can register for the opportunity to participate at the following HSOforum: http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=5639933&msgid=245329&act=EKBY&c=732876&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fgfp.sd.gov%2Fhunting%2Fvolunteer-hunter.aspx%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DGFP%20News%26utm_content%3D.

Volunteers will need to login and select “Canada Goose – Spring” and then choose the county where they would be willing to participate. Volunteers may register between February 22 and March 8, with the harvest beginning in late March.

For more information, volunteers may contact their local GFP Division of Wildlife office .

[rundrave]

Here is a little more info on this hunt:

PIERRE, SD -

Nearly 1,000 hunters have applied to be part of a limited special hunt next month that will target Canada geese in six eastern South Dakota counties, far exceeding the expectations of state officials.

There are only 140 slots available. The Game, Fish and Parks Department will randomly select hunters and notify them by the end of next week.

Canada geese cause problems for farmers by feasting on crops such as corn and soybeans, particularly when they are molting and unable to fly. Since 2000, the state has spent more than $4.3 million fighting the problem through efforts such as chemical deterrents and electric fences.

"Last spring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated the population to be at about 270,000 - so about three times the number of geese that we want in South Dakota are currently here," said Keith Fisk, administrator of the state's Wildlife Damage Management Program.

"Historically our agency has always spent more money on deer depredation. Last year was the first year we spent more on Canada geese than on deer," he said. "Last year our staff spent $717,000 in Canada goose depredation assistance. That's a record for our office, unfortunately."

An ongoing conversion of grassland to crops in eastern South Dakota prompted by high crop prices means the problem is likely to get worse, according to Fisk.

The special hunt in designated areas of Day, Kingsbury, Brookings, Lake, McCook and Minnehaha counties is April 1-30. The birds will be donated to the Sportsmen Against Hunger program, which helps feed the hungry.

Each of the 140 chosen hunters will be allowed to kill up to 50 Canada geese. They can designate up to three people to help them. Since it is technically a wildlife management action and not a hunt, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - which has oversight of migratory waterfowl - won't allow the use of decoys, calls or blinds. Officials expect hunters to bag only about half of the maximum 7,000 geese allowed, according to Fisk.

"This is brand new, it's never been done before, so we've got a lot to learn," he said.

[reddog]

- which has oversight of migratory waterfowl - won't allow the use of decoys, calls or blinds. Officials expect hunters to bag only about half of the maximum 7,000 geese allowed, according to Fisk.

So, how are you supposed to hunt them?

Pass shooting without a blind? Whats the definition of a blind?

Sniping with Rifles?

[rundrave]

pass shoot where the GFP tells you to, until the birds figure it out. You get the idea how successful this is going to be

I think they have good intentions, probably not the best way to execute this though.

I fully understand the damage these birds do but they are also smart birds they will figure this out and just move to another area.

[rundrave]

well at least they got to use the snow as the scapegoat for a bad idea:

PIERRE, SD -

South Dakota wildlife officials say a cold April with snow and ice storms put a damper on an experimental monthlong program to reduce Canada geese depredation in six problem counties.

Keith Fisk with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks says only 820 geese were killed. Officials were hoping that hunters might take at least 3,000.

The special hunt was held in the eastern counties of Day, Kingsbury, Brookings, Lake, McCook and Minnehaha. Fisk says participation was way down from what was expected because of the bad weather.

Canada geese cause problems for farmers by feasting on crops such as corn and soybeans. Since 2000, the state has spent more than $4.3 million fighting the problem through efforts such as chemical deterrents and electric fences.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

no big deal...on to the egg drilling!