North Dakota: ncreased Bag Considered for Early Canada Goose Season
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| (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The
State Game and Fish Department is considering an option to increase the
daily limit for the early Canada goose season from eight to 15,
following recent action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regulations Committee.
The
service regulations committee is allowing an increase in the bag limit
from last year in response to recommendations from North Dakota and
South Dakota to allow greater harvest on resident Canada geese. “A daily
limit of 15 would give hunters an opportunity to take more birds when
they are available,” said Randy Kreil, wildlife division chief for the
Game and Fish Department. “We are looking at every option we can to
increase hunter harvest of our resident Canada goose population.”
Game and Fish first held an early Canada goose season in 1999. Since then, the open area and season length have expanded.
In
2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized states to expand
their resident goose management seasons into August. While the season
could open as early as Aug. 1, most landowners and hunters are
comfortable with starting a couple of weeks after that, to allow for
small grain harvest to open up stubble fields for hunting. In addition,
weather conditions are generally more favorable for hunting as the month
progresses.
Until
last year, the daily limit in the early season was five, and last year
Game and Fish increased the limit to eight, which under federal
regulations was the maximum allowed during the September portion of the
early season.
“Our
resident goose population is at record levels,” Kreil said. “We
understand that nearly doubling the early season daily limit isn’t going
to double the harvest, but it certainly would help increase the
harvest.”
The
small game proclamation that will set season dates and limits for the
early goose season will not be finalized until late July. The season is
tentatively set to open Aug. 15.
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