DOW extends Colorado light goose hunting season

DOW extends Colorado light goose hunting season

January 15, 2002

BY THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

DENVER — The Colorado Wildlife Commission voted unanimously Jan. 11 to re-establish a federal conservation order allowing the take of light geese during spring migration.

The conservation order extends the light goose season along the Central Flyway beyond the normal March 10 cutoff. Under the order, hunters can also harvest light geese in Colorado east of Interstate 25 from March 11 – 31. A "light" goose is the hunting term given to the two game species in Colorado – the snow and Ross’ goose.

The conservation order was established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999 under the Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act to control the light goose population, which has soared over the past few decades.

Dramatic increases in light goose populations that migrate through Colorado in the fall and spring are resulting in severe damage to their summer habitats. Currently, there are an estimated 5 million light geese summering in and around Hudson Bay. Biologists estimate that healthy, sustainable populations would have 800,000 to 1.2 million birds. The overcrowding of nesting areas has lead to the spread of avian diseases and habitat destruction.

Historically, there were very few light geese in Colorado – perhaps only a few thousand, according to DOW biologists. But their numbers have exploded over the past few decades in conjunction with the rise in agriculture and wildlife refuge areas.

"Their numbers have just gone through the roof," said Jim Gammonley, avian researcher for the DOW. He estimates that between 15,000 and 50,000 light geese migrate through Colorado, and hunting has been the most effective way to control the population.

Colorado hunters have good success when it comes to light geese.

"We are shooting as many or more birds during the conservation order, which is just three weeks, than during the whole rest of the season, which is 107 days," Gammonley said.

Over the past three years, hunters have taken an average of 22,552 light geese during the conservation order.

There is no bag limit for light geese during the conservation order and hunters are allowed to use electronic and recorded calling devices. The federal duck stamp requirement is waived, but hunters must still purchase a state waterfowl stamp.

The daily bag limit for light geese is 20 during regular season in the Central Flyway, which runs from now through Feb.17, and also during late light goose season from Feb. 27 through March 10.