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In a continuing effort to reduce resident Canada goose populations in many areas of the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has changed the September Canada goose seasons for 2000.
The early hunt is intended to provide opportunities for hunters to harvest Minnesota-breeding Canada geese before the arrival of migrating geese from Canada. The season was extended for an additional week last year, and the Northwest Goose Zone was included in the early hunt for the first time. Both of these changes will continue this year. In addition, restrictions about hunting near or on open water have been further relaxed in the West Goose Zone, the boundary of the Southeast Goose Zone has been changed, and controlled hunting zones at the Talcot and Thief Lake state wildlife management areas have been opened for the first time during the September season.
The early September goose season will be Sept. 2-22 statewide except in the Northwest Goose Zone, where the season will be Sept. 2-15. Daily bag limits will be five Canada geese except in the Northwest Goose Zone and the Southeast Goose Zone (which now lies east of the deer hunting Zone 3 boundary), where the daily limit will be two Canada geese.
Hunters, except those under age 18 or over age 65, will be required to obtain a $3 permit, available from Electronic Licensing System locations and from the DNR License Bureau at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. This $3 permit is also valid for hunters participating in late December Canada goose seasons that will be announced at a later date. Hunters must also possess federal and state duck stamps and a valid small game license, and be Harvest Information Program certified.
Harvest Information Program certification is now required nationwide to hunt migratory birds. This cooperative program between the state and federal governments is designed to improve hunter surveys to provide better estimates of migratory bird harvest, thus helping ensure the future of migratory bird hunting. All licensed waterfowl hunters and other migratory bird hunters must be HIP certified by answering yes to the question of whether they intend to hunt migratory birds when they purchase their small game license.
Although hunters in the early goose hunt are generally restricted from hunting within at least 100 yards of any surface water, over-water hunting will be allowed in the West Goose Zone (south of I-94, West of U.S. Highway 71 and State Highway 60) for the entire Sept. 2-22 early season. (Last year, it was allowed beginning the second Saturday of the season.)
Jeff Lawrence, DNR waterfowl specialist, said that the intent of the expansion of the open water hunting in the West Goose Zone is to provide additional opportunity for hunters to take geese in that area of the state, where damage to agricultural crops from geese has been severe.
"Minnesota waterfowlers are harvesting more Canada geese than any other state, yet our resident populations continue to grow," Lawrence said. "We want to increase September harvest statewide, but especially in the West Goose Zone, where regular goose seasons are most restrictive to reduce harvest of migrant Canada geese. The September season is extremely important for harvest of these local geese before the migrants arrive–about 45 percent of our total Canada goose take occurs during the early season. We need the assistance of hunters to help us reduce these populations. This early season, and especially the open-water hunting in the West Zone, can provide some tremendous goose hunting opportunities."
The annual Youth Waterfowl Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16. Hunting will be allowed from one-half hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. Young hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. The daily duck bag limits and restrictions will be the same as during the regular waterfowl season. Although final waterfowl regulations will not be available from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service until early September, it is expected that duck bag limits for youth waterfowl hunters will be six ducks, and may not include more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be hens), three scaup, two wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail, one black duck and one canvasback.
Youth hunters can also take one Canada goose, except in the West Goose Zone where they can take five Canada geese. The September Canada goose season, with open-water Canada goose hunting in the West Zone, will be open at the time the Youth Waterfowl Hunt is scheduled.
Details on the September Canada goose seasons are available now in the 2000 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook. Details about the Youth Waterfowl Hunt will be in the 2000 Waterfowl Regulations Supplement, which will be available in early September.
Uploaded: 8/15/2000
Uploaded: 8/15/2000