Dan Jackson
08-14-2001, 12:31 AM
Early Canada goose season forecast
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Indiana waterfowl biologist Melody Miller predicts that early season Canada
goose hunters will see hordes of honkers, especially near residential areas.
Miller estimates Indiana's current resident Canada goose population at
121,000 birds, similar to last year's count but up from 46,000 just five
years ago. She anticipates that waterfowl hunters will take around 25,000
geese during the Sept. 1 - 15 early goose season. Last September, Indiana
hunters harvested 24,424 birds.
"Waterfowl habitat conditions have been good throughout the state. Most
areas have had sufficient rain and good gosling production weather," said
Miller.
Indiana's early Canada goose hunting season helps keep resident goose
populations (those geese that breed in the state) in check. Resident goose
numbers have grown significantly in the last decade leading to problems
where large numbers of birds congregate around ponds or feed in farm fields.
Indianapolis area goose hunter James Kershaw recommends scouting for
potential goose hunting areas and asking property owners for permission to
hunt shortly before the season begins.
"Find out where the birds are flying in to feed, then hook up with the
property owner to get permission to hunt. When geese are feeding regularly
in one area, it's very difficult to call and decoy them in somewhere else.
It's best to put yourself where you know the geese will come in," said
Kershaw.
But if you are unable to secure access to areas where geese are landing,
Kershaw suggests setting up decoys and trying to call geese in.
"Large decoy spreads, persuasive honking, and plenty of prayer may attract
geese to fly over your blind," said Kershaw.
A listing of Indiana early migratory gamebird hunting seasons is available
at: http://www.state.in.us/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/earlygbird.htm
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Indiana waterfowl biologist Melody Miller predicts that early season Canada
goose hunters will see hordes of honkers, especially near residential areas.
Miller estimates Indiana's current resident Canada goose population at
121,000 birds, similar to last year's count but up from 46,000 just five
years ago. She anticipates that waterfowl hunters will take around 25,000
geese during the Sept. 1 - 15 early goose season. Last September, Indiana
hunters harvested 24,424 birds.
"Waterfowl habitat conditions have been good throughout the state. Most
areas have had sufficient rain and good gosling production weather," said
Miller.
Indiana's early Canada goose hunting season helps keep resident goose
populations (those geese that breed in the state) in check. Resident goose
numbers have grown significantly in the last decade leading to problems
where large numbers of birds congregate around ponds or feed in farm fields.
Indianapolis area goose hunter James Kershaw recommends scouting for
potential goose hunting areas and asking property owners for permission to
hunt shortly before the season begins.
"Find out where the birds are flying in to feed, then hook up with the
property owner to get permission to hunt. When geese are feeding regularly
in one area, it's very difficult to call and decoy them in somewhere else.
It's best to put yourself where you know the geese will come in," said
Kershaw.
But if you are unable to secure access to areas where geese are landing,
Kershaw suggests setting up decoys and trying to call geese in.
"Large decoy spreads, persuasive honking, and plenty of prayer may attract
geese to fly over your blind," said Kershaw.
A listing of Indiana early migratory gamebird hunting seasons is available
at: http://www.state.in.us/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/earlygbird.htm