11-22-2004, 02:24 AM
North Dakota's 2004 spring light goose season wasn't one of the best, or one of the worst, according to Mike Johnson, migratory game bird management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
The estimated harvest of 12,924 for the 2004 spring season was up 5 percent from 2003 and 101 percent from 2002, but down 49 percent from 1999 and 64 percent from 2000. "The biggest factor attributed to the harvest seemed to be the timing and duration of the migration," Johnson said.
A post-season survey indicated 1,438 residents and 942 nonresidents actively hunted during the statewide spring season, held Feb. 21 - May 9. Hunters spent an average of 2.8 days each in the field with 69 percent of hunter-days occurring from March 13 - April 5.
The number of hunters in 2004 was up 2 percent from 2003, and 59 percent above 2002, but well below 1999 (down 62 percent) and 2000 (down 54 percent). "Lower numbers of hunters in the last few springs are more likely related to migration timing and the availability of huntable numbers of geese, or could reflect a loss of interest in spring hunting," Johnson said.
At least 38 counties had hunter activity, with 60 percent of hunter-days reported in Sargent, LaMoure, Dickey, McIntosh and Richland counties. The average seasonal bag was 5.4 light geese per hunter, with the highest seasonal bag reported at 141 birds.
The migration was more prolonged than in 2001 and 2002, Johnson mentioned, and not as early as in 1999 and 2000. "Cool temperatures in North Dakota kept snow and ice from melting, thus keeping geese in the southern part of the state longer than the past few years," he added. "However, light geese quickly moved into Canada as the snowline progressed northward."
Basic regulations for the spring season were the same as a regular waterfowl hunting season except hunting was allowed until one-half hour after sunset; electronic calls could be used; shotguns capable of holding more than three shells were permitted; there was no bag or possession limit; and a federal duck stamp was not required.
Unplugged shotguns were used by 53 percent of the hunters, and 31 percent reported using electronic calls. More than 69 percent of the hunters agreed that unplugged shotguns, jump shooting and pass shooting were effective techniques for harvest light geese in the spring.
The spring conservation season was established as part of United States and Canada's effort to reduce the Mid-Continent Light Goose population. "The number of geese in the population remains high," Johnson said, "and we hope that we can maintain the Conservation Order and the interest of hunters in the future."
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The estimated harvest of 12,924 for the 2004 spring season was up 5 percent from 2003 and 101 percent from 2002, but down 49 percent from 1999 and 64 percent from 2000. "The biggest factor attributed to the harvest seemed to be the timing and duration of the migration," Johnson said.
A post-season survey indicated 1,438 residents and 942 nonresidents actively hunted during the statewide spring season, held Feb. 21 - May 9. Hunters spent an average of 2.8 days each in the field with 69 percent of hunter-days occurring from March 13 - April 5.
The number of hunters in 2004 was up 2 percent from 2003, and 59 percent above 2002, but well below 1999 (down 62 percent) and 2000 (down 54 percent). "Lower numbers of hunters in the last few springs are more likely related to migration timing and the availability of huntable numbers of geese, or could reflect a loss of interest in spring hunting," Johnson said.
At least 38 counties had hunter activity, with 60 percent of hunter-days reported in Sargent, LaMoure, Dickey, McIntosh and Richland counties. The average seasonal bag was 5.4 light geese per hunter, with the highest seasonal bag reported at 141 birds.
The migration was more prolonged than in 2001 and 2002, Johnson mentioned, and not as early as in 1999 and 2000. "Cool temperatures in North Dakota kept snow and ice from melting, thus keeping geese in the southern part of the state longer than the past few years," he added. "However, light geese quickly moved into Canada as the snowline progressed northward."
Basic regulations for the spring season were the same as a regular waterfowl hunting season except hunting was allowed until one-half hour after sunset; electronic calls could be used; shotguns capable of holding more than three shells were permitted; there was no bag or possession limit; and a federal duck stamp was not required.
Unplugged shotguns were used by 53 percent of the hunters, and 31 percent reported using electronic calls. More than 69 percent of the hunters agreed that unplugged shotguns, jump shooting and pass shooting were effective techniques for harvest light geese in the spring.
The spring conservation season was established as part of United States and Canada's effort to reduce the Mid-Continent Light Goose population. "The number of geese in the population remains high," Johnson said, "and we hope that we can maintain the Conservation Order and the interest of hunters in the future."
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