Atlantic Flyway Report - 2009

Assessing the Conservation Order for Light Geese in the Atlantic
Flyway in 2009

Submitted in Fulfillment of the Reporting Requirements of the Conservation Order on Behalf of
the Participating States in the Atlantic Flyway
Snow Goose, Brant, and Swan Committee of the Atlantic Flyway Council

Assessing the Conservation Order for Light Geese in the Atlantic Flyway in 2009
In 2009, six states (Table 1) within the Atlantic Flyway participated in the conservation order
(CO) on light geese that was established through the promulgation of the final rule regarding
light geese (Federal Register Vol. 73, no 227). One state, Virginia, was unable to pass internal
regulations in time to participate in 2009. However, Virginia plans to participate in the CO in
2010. States differed in their administration of the conservation order. All of the states, except
for New York, required participants to obtain a permit to participate. Permits were obtained
either online or through the mail. Maryland also issued permits through their automated
licensing system. Maryland ($5) and New Jersey ($2) charged a fee for the permit.
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Vermont issued free permits. Participation in New York was
complimentary of existing waterfowl hunting privileges and was a question on the New York
Harvest Information Program (HIP) questionnaire.
The Atlantic Flyway developed a standard survey form template for use by states in assessing the
impact of this conservation order (Appendix A). Hunter activity was solicited through a paper
hunting diary and/or an online data entry screen. Reporting of activity, regardless of
participation, was required in all 5 states that issued specific permits. New York surveyed a
sample of people who registered in HIP to estimate participation and harvest. Follow up letters,
emails, or phone calls to non-respondents were conducted in four states (Delaware, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Vermont).
Use of special measures in the CO and the use of a bag limit were varied (Table 1). As
experience is gained on hunter activity and effectiveness during the CO, hopefully all
participating states will relax the constraints towards the maximization of harvest during the
small window of opportunity.
Table 1. Light goose harvest regulations in the key staging and wintering states within the
Atlantic Flyway, 2008-2009 migratory bird hunting season.
State Special
CO in CO Dates
Special
Bag/Posse Harvest
Measures
2009?
Measures in ssion
Survey
Outside of CO
CO?
Limit
No
Yes
March 11-April
No
15/None
Yes
VT
NY

No

Yes

NJ

No

Yes

DE

Unplugged, Ecalls
No

Yes

PA
MD
VA
NC

Unplugged, Ecalls
No
No

Yes
Yes
No
No

15
March 11-April
15
March 11-April
18
March 10-April
18
March 11-April
1
March 11-April
18

Unplugged, Ecalls

15/None

Yes

All

None/None

Yes

All

None/None

Yes

E-calls,
extended hours
All

15/None

Yes

None/None

Yes

The following summary of hunter activity and harvest associated with the conservation order is
broken down by individual state and for the entire flyway.
In the five states that utilized a permit system, a total of 4,728 permits were issued (Table 2). A
total of 3,466 permits were returned for a total response rate of 73%. Four states conducted
follow ups to permit holders to boost response rate. In the five states that issued permits for
participation, an estimated 46% of all permit holders participated in the CO (n = 2,157).
Estimated harvest in those states that required a permit for participation was 16,086.
Table 2. Hunter activity and estimated harvest in the Atlantic Flyway Light Goose Conservation
Order, 2009.

State
NJ
DE
VT
PA
MD
NY

Permits
Issued

Permits
Response Percent
Days
Returned Rate
Participate Hunted

Geese
Geese
Shot and Shot and
Retrieved Lost

Geese
shot with
Geese
shot after electronic
calls
Sunset

Geese
taken with
shot shell
>3

447
262
628
3276
115
40188*

153
166
213
2900
34
NA

0.34
0.63
0.34
0.89
0.29
0.32

0.73
0.60
0.52
0.59
0.47
0.04

1300
822
438
3840
290
5927

4917
2693
104
5903
2469
7683

316
176
3
317
139
133

503
357
NA
736
450
NA

1671
1515
NA
1522
450
1556

1873
445
NA
NA
856
762

5 State Tot

4728

3466

0.73

0.46

6690

16086

951

2046

5158

3174

AF Total

4728

3466

0.73

0.63

12617

23769

1084

2046

6714

3936

*NY surveyed a sample of 1,903 hunters registered in HIP to estimate participation and harvest.
Flyway wide an estimated total of 3,614 hunters participated in the CO. The estimated flyway
harvest of greater snow geese was 23,769, with 1,084 birds shot and lost. The most useful of the
special measures seemed to be the use of electronic calls, which accounted for approximately
29% of the total harvest. Two states didn’t allow shooting after sunset. An estimated 13% of the
harvest in those four states that did allow shooting after sunset occurred after normal shooting
hours. New Jersey stated that their harvest estimates attributable to the use of extra shells were
inflated due to confusion from respondents over the question. Flyway wide an estimated 17% of
the harvest was achieved with shells fired after the customary 3rd shot.
Timing of snow goose migration in 2009 was early. Although the satellite data for the spring
migration are not readily available at the time of this writing, geese seemed to move out of the
Chesapeake and mid-Atlantic region 2-3 weeks earlier than is typical. Similarly, many birds
were in southern Quebec in the middle of March, which is much earlier than normal. Estimated
harvest during the intervals on the harvest survey (Appendix A) bear further witness to the
northward movement of geese in spring 2009. An estimated 60% of harvest in Maryland
occurred in March. In Delaware, 93% of the harvest occurred in the month of March. Further
north, 88% of harvest in New Jersey occurred in March. In Vermont, 75% of all harvest
occurred in March, and in New York, 87% of all harvest occurred in March.
Despite a seemingly early migration, and lower than hoped for participation, the CO was
reasonably successful in its first year. Participating states plan on making some changes to their
regulations in 2010 and Virginia plans on entering into the CO in 2010. Most changes involve

starting the CO earlier so that special measures can be employed for longer periods of time. In
an effort to better promote the CO and successful tactics, the AF is developing a brochure that
outlines the do’s and don’ts of successful snow goose hunting, an overview of the problems
posed by overabundant snow geese, and some links to more information on snow goose recipes
and hunting. This brochure will be distributed on Agency websites and through other media
outlets.

Appendix A. Hunter survey form.
Snow Goose 2009 Spring Season Harvest Survey - State Name
The special spring season for snow geese is designed to increase harvest of these birds, which have increased to
more than one million birds in the Atlantic Flyway and now threaten the long-term health of the ecosystems they
inhabit. As a requirement for establishing a spring season in State Name, we must collect information on hunter
participation, use of special regulations, and snow goose harvest during the season. This information will help
managers assess effectiveness of the spring season for reducing snow goose populations. Please take a few minutes
to accurately and completely fill out this survey and return it in the pre-paid envelope by May 31, 2009. Failure to
return this survey may make you ineligible to participate in the 2010 spring season!
Snow Goose 2009 Spring Season regulations in State Name:
Season dates: March 11-April 30, 2009
Unplugged guns allowed: Yes

Daily bag limit: No limit
Electronic calls
allowed: Yes

Shooting hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour past sunset
Hunter Survey:
1.
Your State Name HIP (or other authorization) number for 2008-09: ___________________
2.
Your home (or cell) phone number: ______________ and birthdate: ____/____/____
3.
How many days did you hunt and how many snow geese did you personally shoot during each of the time
periods listed below:

March 11-15 March 16-31

April 1-15

April 16-30

Total

# days hunted
# geese shot and
retrieved
# geese downed and
not retrieved
4.

How many of the total number of birds you shot were taken with the aid of the following
special regulations:
Geese shot after
sunset

Geese shot with aid of
electronic call

Geese shot with 4th,
5th, or 6th shell in
magazine

Shot and retrieved
Downed and not retrieved
5.

Please list the counties where you hunted snow geese during the 2009 spring season in
State Name, and how many geese you shot and retrieved in each county:
County
# days hunted
# geese shot and retrieved

6.
7.

Will you hunt snow geese in 2010 if a spring season is offered again in State Name?
_________
Please add any comments you have on the 2009 spring season for snow geese in State
Name:
Please return this survey in the envelope provided. Thank you very much!