MADISON - Preliminary estimates from the early goose hunting season in Wisconsin show that hunter success was up, with this year’s harvest significantly exceeding last year’s total. State wildlife officials say approximately 20,650 Canada geese were harvested this fall from Sept. 1 through 15.
“This number exceeds all earlier years’ totals for the early goose season,” says Kent Van Horn, migratory game bird ecologist for the state Department of Natural Resources. “We predicted it would be a very good year for Canada goose hunting in Wisconsin and we’re happy hunters had a good early season.”
In comparison, last year’s estimated harvest during the early season was 13,410 geese. 2001 was the second highest early season harvest at 16,000 geese.
The early goose season targets the resident population of Canada geese that breed in Wisconsin, since Canada geese that breed in Ontario do not migrate to Wisconsin until later in September or October. Canada geese that breed in Wisconsin are viewed differently by Wisconsin residents.
Some residents value these geese for their aesthetic value, some enjoy them as a recreational hunting resource while other residents view them as a nuisance, particularly in urban\suburban park-like settings. The harvest level this year continues to demonstrate that the early September Canada goose hunting season remains an effective tool for managing our resident Canada goose population.
The regular Canada goose hunting season in the Exterior, Horicon and Collins zones began on Sept. 16 following the early season and will continue until Dec. 16 for all zones except the Collins zone which runs through Nov. 17 and the Mississippi River subzone of the exterior zone where the season is scheduled to run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 and Oct. 14 through Dec. 15.