Snow Geese Winning "Conservation" Battle

Snow geese winning 'conservation' battle
By Tony Dean
For the Argus Leader
Published: March 28, 2007


I might have been the first outdoor writer in the nation to question the wisdom of the spring snow geese season - something I did on the pages of Minnesota Outdoor News shortly after the season was announced by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for the spring of 1999.

I believed then, and now, that some of the provisions of the "conservation order," were at odds with the ethical underpinnings of waterfowling.

First, the term, "conservation order" is word spin, right up there with "Clear Skies," and "Healthy Forests."

I objected to the use of electronic calls, removing the plugs from shotguns and extremely liberal and sometimes, no limits on snow geese. My initial story suggested that once we allowed the use of long-banned electronic calls, we'd be opening floodgates from which there would be no retreat.

Sure enough, some states are now looking at their use on Canada goose seasons that would begin as early as August. How long until duck hunters will be trading their heirloom, artistically crafted Frankie Heidelbauer Mallard Toller calls for Jonny Stewart electronic calls?

How ironic that electronic calls worked well the first year, but most hunters now tell me snow geese ignore them. Based on my observations, most hunters today employ sneak tactics, jumping birds in fields and gunning them down as they fly away.

The use of unplugged shotguns may be the biggest ethical blunder. I've hunted snow geese for about 35 years, mostly over decoys, and I cannot remember when I could have fired a fourth, fifth or sixth shot with birds still within effective range. The inevitable result of extra shots is needlessly crippled geese. As hunters, we have an obligation to kill birds as humanely as possible.

I have also tired of some waterfowl biologists referring to snow geese as "sky carp" or "tundra maggots."

Truth is, this bird, more than any other waterfowl, defines trophy status. It's a goose that prospers in spite of everything waterfowl managers do to reduce flock size.

I am also beginning to hear evidence that many snow geese are leaving the denuded areas and pioneering into new breeding areas.

I admit I don't know the ultimate answer on how to deal with this species. But every biologist I've consulted tells me that you cannot reduce the flock size unless you figure out how to kill more breeding age adults.

That's where the snow geese are winning. The young, juvenile birds are gullible, always the first to go, while the average age of the survivors increases.

So, in spite of electronic calls, liberal or no limits and unplugged shotguns, the older but wiser birds continue to breed.

Sadly, progress has come at the expense of waterfowl hunting tradition.

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