Light Geese in the Central and Mississippi Flyways

LIGHT GEESE
in the

CENTRAL and MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
June 2011

K.Kruse

compiled by:

Kammie L. Kruse and David Fronczak
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Migratory Bird Management
P.O. Box 25486, DFC
Denver, Colorado 80225
(303) 275-2385

SPECIAL LIGHT GOOSE HUNTING PROVISIONS
REGULAR SEASONS AND THE CONSERVATION ORDER
in the
CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS

30

LIGHT-GOOSE (SNOW, BLUE, AND ROSS'S)
CONSERVATION-ORDER ESTIMATES FOR THE
CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
2007-2008 ¹
SPECIAL HARVEST TOOLS
NO. OF
STATE

DATES

39

COLORADO
KANSAS
NEBRASKA
NEW MEXICO
NORTH DAKOTA 2
OKLAHOMA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TEXAS 2
WYOMING

Feb 23 - Apr 30
Feb 18 - Apr 30
Feb 07 - Apr 13
Feb 01 - Mar 10
Feb 16 - May 11
Feb 18 - Mar 30
Feb 10 - May 08
Jan 28 - Mar 30 3
Feb 25 - Apr 13

CENTRAL FLYWAY
ARKANSAS
ILLINOIS 2
INDIANA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI

2

MISSOURI 2

Feb 4 - Apr 27
Jan 13 - Mar 313
Feb 01 - Mar 31
Jan 14 - Apr 15
Feb 01 - Mar 313
Dec 03 - Dec 14 &
Jan 28 - Mar 09 3
Mar 01 - Apr 30
Oct 01 - Nov 11 &
Nov 26 - Nov 30 &
Jan 28 - Feb 01 &
Feb 04 - Mar 31
Jan 31 - Apr 30

DAYS

ELECTRONIC CALLS

UNPLUGGED GUNS

NO. OF
EST.
NO. OF
HUNTERS HARVESTED HUNTERS

EST.
HARVESTED
(4th, 5th or 6th shell)

n/a

2,555
354
5,270
498
1,785
122
6,601
2,473
186

11,886
1,193
28,266
3,729
6,390
451
31,331
8,032
675

511
167
3,834
35
785
55
3,024
1,331
107

7,212
7,379
47,775
18,625
789

40
3,216
820
3,834
311
4,017
1,048

19,844

91,953

9,849

81,780

2,636
6,409
160
2,116
210
4,500

21,263
50,471
333
10,706
849
22,700

1,226
4,127
11
1,261
165
2,000

775
343

3,415
1,543

7,525

34,829

AFTER SUNSET
NO. OF
EST.
HUNTERS HARVESTED

UNRETRIEVED
HARVEST

TOTAL EST.
HARVEST

8,870
13,337

256
11
1,805
55
500
35
1,285
336
57

1,381
4,999
6,917
3,303
498

1,025
-

13,745
4,260
65,947
2,145
11,387
842
107,137
22,831
1,019

13,287

22,207

4,339

17,098

1,025

229,313

34,762
47,055
11,614
14,200

1,634
4,749
6
1,224

29,290
60,749
5,930

1,400

2,200

833
3,326
19
793
14
1,000

12,618
37,314
2,192
14,000

11,913
11,050
867
9,900

122,881
97,021
155
15,198
2,547
58,900

147
146

567
2,452

361
144

339
4,939

326
88

512
979

288
-

2,412
8,965

5,104

91,891

5,104

101,420

2,640

21,797

-

141,779

n/a

n/a

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

24,674

146,109

14,187

202,541

14,622

204,867

9,039

89,412

34,018

449,858

TOTAL

44,518

238,062

24,036

284,321

27,909

227,074

13,378

106,510

35,043

679,171

¹ State harvest-survey estimates
2

HUNTERS

HUNTER-

Estimated harvest is for unplugged gun overall.
² Dates vary by zone - dates shown are inclusive for all zones

S:\\mbmo\CF_D\Projects\Regulations\NEPA\Light Goose EIS\Report\ConsOrder Activity - All New Requirements.xls

KLK

LIGHT-GOOSE (SNOW, BLUE, AND ROSS'S)
CONSERVATION-ORDER ESTIMATES FOR THE
CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
2008-2009 ¹
SPECIAL HARVEST TOOLS
NO. OF
STATE

DATES

40

COLORADO
KANSAS 4
NEBRASKA
NEW MEXICO 4
NORTH DAKOTA 2
OKLAHOMA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TEXAS 2
WYOMING

Feb 16 - Apr 30
Feb 16 - Apr 30
Feb 07 - Apr 12
Feb 01 - Mar 10
Feb 21 - May 10
Feb 16 - Mar 31
Feb 14 - May 03
Jan 26 - Mar 29 3
Feb 23 - Apr 12

CENTRAL FLYWAY
ARKANSAS
ILLINOIS 2
INDIANA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI

2

MISSOURI 2

Feb 2 - Apr 25
Jan 11 - Mar 313
Feb 16 - Mar 31
Jan 12 - Apr 15
Feb 01 - Mar 313
Dec 01 - Dec 12 &
Jan 26 - Mar 08 3
Mar 01 - Apr 30
Oct 01 - Nov 14 &
Jan 26 - Jan 30 &
Feb 02 - Mar 31
Jan 30 - Apr 30

DAYS

ELECTRONIC CALLS

UNPLUGGED GUNS

NO. OF
EST.
NO. OF
HUNTERS HARVESTED HUNTERS

1,951
931
5,609
675
1,319
92
6,516
2,281
177

8,744
3,613
33,566
5,742
4,128
331
30,236
6,333
609

390
237
3,943
91
580
49
3,361
1,122
107

15,190
5,410
64,377
8,952
682

426
3,644
420
2,353
242
4,167
797

19,551

93,302

9,880

94,611

2,850
4,663
134
1,975
82
3,450

17,183
33,947
564
14,348
121
27,300

1,316
3,287
8
1,213
33
2,000

1,103
363

4,647
1,444

8,398

42,694

EST.
HARVESTED
(4th, 5th or 6th shell)

NO. OF
EST.
HUNTERS HARVESTED

UNRETRIEVED
HARVEST

TOTAL EST.
HARVEST

5,130
5,008

429
132
2,139
136
330
28
1,496
211
50

6,485
2,902
9,482
1,052
437

1,022
-

23,072
11,924
135,247
2,480
6,813
561
116,949
14,217
845

12,049

10,138

4,951

20,358

1,022

312,108

39,705
71,927
16,810
23,300

1,810
3,180
28
1,306

28,347
70,612
5,969

1,100

4,600

821
2,756
31
964
11
500

10,603
51,309
4,178
1,700

14,140
5,547
2,269
5,900

137,127
85,635
78
23,652
652
49,600

260
168

1,171
5,332

516
190

822
5,685

475
100

713
783

640
-

4,366
10,924

5,978

134,641

5,352

159,251

2,937

56,281

-

224,313

n/a

n/a

n/a

23,018

142,248

14,263

292,886

13,482

275,286

8,595

125,567

28,496

536,347

TOTAL

42,569

235,550

24,143

387,497

25,531

285,424

13,546

145,925

29,518

848,455

S:\\mbmo\CF_D\Projects\Regulations\NEPA\Light Goose EIS\Report\ConsOrder Activity - All New Requirements.xls

Estimated harvest is for unplugged gun overall.

² Dates vary by zone - dates shown are inclusive for all zones
4

AFTER SUNSET

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
¹ State harvest-survey estimates
2

HUNTERS

HUNTER-

New Mexico and Kansas were unable to conduct a Light Conservation Order survey for 2008-09 season. Numbers were calculated based on the average over the last 3 years.

KLK

LIGHT-GOOSE (SNOW, BLUE, AND ROSS'S)
CONSERVATION-ORDER ESTIMATES FOR THE
CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
2009-2010 ¹
SPECIAL HARVEST TOOLS
NO. OF
STATE
COLORADO
KANSAS
NEBRASKA
4
NEW MEXICO
NORTH DAKOTA
OKLAHOMA
SOUTH DAKOTA
2
TEXAS
WYOMING

DATES

HUNTERS

Feb 15 - Apr 30
Feb 15 - Apr 30
Feb 06 - Apr 18
Feb 01 - Mar 10
Feb 20 - May 09
Feb 15 - Mar 30
Feb 13 - May 02
Jan 25 - Mar 28 3
Feb 22 - Apr 11

HUNTERDAYS

ELECTRONIC CALLS
NO. OF
HUNTERS

UNPLUGGED GUNS

EST.
NO. OF
HARVESTED HUNTERS

1,899
1,024
4,119
97
1,172
143
4,646
1,817
86

8,829
6,367
17,302
4,008
744
18,369
5,660
285

589
325
3,016
0
1,150
60
2,649
863
59

6,149
5,424
25,412
0
5,561
314
36,865
6,461
200

393
536
2,711
28
1,145
76
2,913
618

15,003

61,564

8,711

86,386

2,689
3,702
121
1,360
106
2,600

15,691
25,581
217
7,877
301
13,800

1,408
2,325
30
905
78
900

389
395

1,475
1,206

5,202

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
TOTAL

CENTRAL FLYWAY
ARKANSAS
2
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MINNESOTA
2
MISSISSIPPI

MISSOURI

2

Feb 1 - Apr 25
Jan 10 - Mar 313
Feb 01 - Mar 31
Jan 11 - Apr 15
3
Feb 01 - Mar 31
Dec 07 - Dec 18 &
3
Feb 01 - Mar 14
Mar 01 - Apr 30
Oct 01 - Nov 20 &
Feb 01 - Feb 05 &
Feb 08 - Mar 31
Feb 1 - Apr 30

¹ State harvest-survey estimates
2

Estimated harvest is for unplugged gun overall.

3

Dates vary by zone - dates shown are inclusive for all zones

4

In 2009 NM changed their survey methods from previous years

AFTER SUNSET

EST.
HARVESTED
(4th, 5th or 6th shell)

NO. OF
EST.
HUNTERS HARVESTED

UNRETRIEVED
HARVEST

TOTAL EST.
HARVEST

2,433
3,734
5,779
21
1,094
118
9,383
5,657

522
228
1,220
7
1,136
41
1,064
227
35

2,058
1,692
830
0
1,794
64
4,734
1,470
15

822
853
1,723
1,716
4,401
9

11,473
15,244
58,592
198
7,149
930
52,548
9,409
230

8,419

28,219

4,480

12,657

9,524

155,773

33,440
53,405
6,144
6,100

1,179
1,992
27
157

33,867
10,918
1,723

500

700

768
1,140
18
133
18
100

11,838
6,353
1,066
100

11,711
3,561
1,245
3,000

115,401
65,987
45
8,153
2,378
29,000

101
95

192
6,175

175
113

131
7,063

154
49

87
316

70
-

559
8,959

20,937

4,376

64,791

3,510

56,446

1,662

18,552

-

86,462

16,564

87,085

10,218

170,247

7,653

110,848

4,042

38,312

19,587

316,944

31,567

148,649

18,929

256,633

16,072

139,067

8,522

50,969

29,111

472,717

n/a

n/a

S:\\mbmo\CF_D\Projects\Regulations\NEPA\Light Goose EIS\Report\ConsOrder Activity - All New Requirements.xls

KLK

ESTIMATED LIGHT-GOOSE (SNOW, BLUE, AND ROSS'S) HARVESTS
DURING REGULAR-SEASON AND CONSERVATION-ORDER PERIODS
IN THE CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
2007-2008

STATE

REGULAR-SEASON HARVEST*
Without
With
Total RegularSpecial Prov.²
Special Prov.²
Season Harvest

CONSERVATIONORDER
HARVEST ¹ ²

TOTAL
HARVEST

COLORADO
KANSAS
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEW MEXICO
NORTH DAKOTA
OKLAHOMA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TEXAS
WYOMING

11,528
10,943
83
999
2,333
28,648
6,138
10,581
125,725
43

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

11,528
10,943
83
999
2,333
28,648
6,138
10,581
125,725
43

13,745
4,260
.
65,947
2,145
11,387
842
107,137
22,831
1,019

25,273
15,203
83
66,946
4,478
40,035
6,980
117,718
148,556
1,062

CENTRAL FLYWAY

197,021

0

197,021

229,313

426,334

447
44,353
6,919
0
266
821
65,679
0
331
19,123
3,197
307
8,195
0

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

447
44,353
6,919
0
266
821
65,679
0
331
19,123
3,197
307
8,195
0

n/a
122,881
97,021
155
15,198
2,547
58,900
n/a
2,412
8,965
141,779
n/a
n/a
n/a

447
167,234
103,940
155
15,464
3,368
124,579
0
2,743
28,088
144,976
307
8,195
0

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

149,638

0

149,638

449,858

599,496

CENTRAL + MISSISSIPPI
FLYWAYS
CANADA (ON, MB, SK, NU)*
TOTAL

346,659
254 **
346,913

346,659
103,743
450,402

679,171
6,460
685,631

ALABAMA
ARKANSAS
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
OHIO
TENNESSEE
WISCONSIN

0
103,489 ***
103,489

3

* U.S. (HIP) and Canada Federal harvest-survey estimates. U.S. estimates are preliminary
¹ State harvest-survey estimates
² In the U.S., special provisions during the regular season include the use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls; Conservation-Order provisions include
regular-season special provisions, shooting hours ending 1/2-hour after sunset, extension beyond March 10, and no bag limit.
³ Conservation seasons in MB, SK, and NU, but only SK sampled
** ON only
*** MB, SK, and NU

50

1,025,830
110,203
1,136,033

ESTIMATED LIGHT-GOOSE (SNOW, BLUE, AND ROSS'S) HARVESTS
DURING REGULAR-SEASON AND CONSERVATION-ORDER PERIODS
IN THE CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
2008-2009

STATE

REGULAR-SEASON HARVEST*
Without
With
Total RegularSpecial Prov.²
Special Prov.²
Season Harvest

CONSERVATIONORDER
HARVEST ¹ ²

TOTAL
HARVEST

COLORADO
KANSAS3
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEW MEXICO3
NORTH DAKOTA
OKLAHOMA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TEXAS
WYOMING

4,991
12,540
0
1,437
371
32,843
3,382
26,561
122,275
0

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

4,991
12,540
0
1,437
371
32,843
3,382
26,561
122,275
0

23,072
11,924
n/a
135,247
2,480
6,813
561
116,949
14,217
845

28,063
24,464
0
136,684
2,851
39,656
3,943
143,510
136,492
845

CENTRAL FLYWAY

204,400

0

204,400

312,108

516,508

361
73,117
5,136
0
555
4,737
57,142
953
1,543
7,632
5,732
356
946
135

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

361
73,117
5,136
0
555
4,737
57,142
953
1,543
7,632
5,732
356
946
135

n/a
137,127
85,635
78
23,652
652
49,600
n/a
4,366
10,924
224,313
n/a
n/a
n/a

361
210,244
90,771
78
24,207
5,389
106,742
953
5,909
18,556
230,045
356
946
135

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

158,345

0

158,345

536,347

694,692

CENTRAL + MISSISSIPPI
FLYWAYS
CANADA (ON, MB, SK, NU)*
TOTAL

362,745
262 **
363,007

362,745
195,782
558,527

848,455
12,397
860,852

ALABAMA
ARKANSAS
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
OHIO
TENNESSEE
WISCONSIN

0
195,520 ***
195,520

4

* U.S. (HIP) and Canada Federal harvest-survey estimates. U.S. estimates are preliminary
¹ State harvest-survey estimates
² In the U.S., special provisions during the regular season include the use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls; Conservation-Order provisions include
regular-season special provisions, shooting hours ending 1/2-hour after sunset, extension beyond March 10, and no bag limit.
3

New Mexico & Kansas was unable to conduct a Light Conservation Order survey for 2008-09 season. Numbers were calculated based on the average over the last 3 years.

4

Conservation seasons in MB, SK, and NU, but only SK sampled

** ON only
*** MB, SK, and NU

51

1,211,200
208,179
1,419,379

ESTIMATED LIGHT-GOOSE (SNOW, BLUE, AND ROSS'S) HARVESTS
DURING REGULAR-SEASON AND CONSERVATION-ORDER PERIODS
IN THE CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
2009-2010

STATE
COLORADO
KANSAS
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEW MEXICO
NORTH DAKOTA
OKLAHOMA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TEXAS
WYOMING

REGULAR-SEASON HARVEST*
Without
With
Total RegularSpecial Prov.²
Special Prov.² Season Harvest

CONSERVATIONORDER
HARVEST ¹ ²

TOTAL
HARVEST

3,406
4,267
494
5,174
734
33,168
2,297
18,341
53,804
66

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

3,406
4,267
494
5,174
734
33,168
2,297
18,341
53,804
66

11,473
15,244
n/a
58,592
198
7,149
930
52,548
9,409
230

14,879
19,511
494
63,766
932
40,317
3,227
70,889
63,213
296

121,751

0

121,751

155,773

277,524

ALABAMA
ARKANSAS
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
OHIO
TENNESSEE
WISCONSIN

0
26,189
1,625
0
0
405
29,600
0
0
0
9,177
0
578
0

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

0
26,189
1,625
0
0
405
29,600
0
0
0
9,177
0
578
0

n/a
115,401
65,987
45
8,153
2,378
29,000
n/a
559
8,959
86,462
n/a
n/a
n/a

141,590
67,612
45
8,153
2,783
58,600
0
559
8,959
95,639
0
578
0

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

67,574

0

67,574

316,944

384,518

189,325
113,875
303,200

472,717
3
7,011
479,728

662,042
120,886
782,928

CENTRAL FLYWAY

CENTRAL + MISSISSIPPI
FLYWAYS
CANADA (ON, MB, SK, NU)*
TOTAL

189,325
972 **
190,297

0
112,903 ***
112,903

* U.S. (HIP) and Canada Federal harvest-survey estimates. U.S. estimates are preliminary
¹ State harvest-survey estimates
² In the U.S., special provisions during the regular season include the use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls; Conservation-Order provisions include
regular-season special provisions, shooting hours ending 1/2-hour after sunset, extension beyond March 10, and no bag limit.
3

Conservation seasons in MB, SK, and NU, but only SK sampled

** ON only
*** MB, SK, and NU

52

1500

53

HARVEST OF LIGHT GEESE (THOUSANDS)

CON ORDER
REG w
REG w/o
1250

1000

750

500

250

0
62

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

00

02

04

06

08

YEAR

Number of Light (Snow, Blue, & Ross's) geese harvested during regular seasons without special provisions
(MQS 1962-1998; HIP 1999-2009), regular seasons with special provisions (MQS 1998; HIP 1999-2009),
and conservation-order periods (1998-2009) in the Central and Mississippi Flyways.

1750

Conservation Order

Regular Seasons

54

HARVEST OF LIGHT GEESE (THOUSANDS)

1500

1250

1000

750

500

250

0
68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

00

02

04

06

08

YEAR

Number of Mid-Continent and Western Central Flyway Light (Snow, Blue, & Ross's) geese harvested
during regular seasons (MQS 1968-1998; HIP 1999-2009) and conservation-order periods (1998-2009) in
the U.S. (Central and Mississippi Flyways) and Canada (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario).