Missouri Department of Conservation

2011 Goose Status

Eastern Prairie Population Canada Geese: The Eastern Prairie Population (EPP) of Canada geese is the predominant “subarctic” migrant population represented in the Missouri goose harvest. Federal frameworks for Canada goose seasons in EPP Canada goose management states, including Missouri, are dictated by the status of EPP Canada geese and more specifically by the estimate of EPP geese represented by singles and pairs. The 2011 estimate of 133,000 ± 19,600 geese represented by singles and pairs is less than last year’s estimate of 172,600 ± 25,000 geese. We expect a slightly smaller fall flight than 2010 with similar numbers of young geese.

Giant Canada Geese in the Mississippi Flyway: Numbers of giant Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway doubled from 1993 to 2002, but appear to have leveled off since then. This year’s spring estimate of 1.63 million Canada geese was similar to the 2010 estimate of 1.6 million. Missouri goose hunters depend on migrant giant Canada geese from Manitoba, Minnesota, and Iowa. In fact, Missouri hunters shoot as many Minnesota giant Canada geese as Missouri giant Canada geese. This year’s fall population of giant Canada geese in Manitoba, Minnesota, and Iowa is expected to be over 900,000. In contrast, Missouri’s 2011 spring estimate of 53,300 will result in a fall population of less than 90,000 Canada geese. After reaching a peak population of 77,100 in 2000, Missouri’s population has been relatively stable and perhaps has declined slightly. Production during 2011 was likely below average due to widespread flooding during the nesting period.

White-fronted geese: The Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyway councils in cooperation with the USFWS and CWS update the Midcontinent Greater White-fronted Geese Management Plan every five years. The Plan was updated in 2011 with a few minor changes. First, the maximum season lengths for restrictive, moderate, and liberal seasons were each increased by 2 days. This change will enable states to simplify seasons and more easily run their white-fronted goose season concurrent with other waterfowl seasons. Second, the updated plan recommends transitioning to a breeding ground survey rather than a fall survey. Third, the updated plan recommends using band recovery rates as a tool to monitor management impacts. These changes will not affect Missouri white-fronted goose hunting regulations.

White-fronted goose regulations in the Mississippi Flyway and eastern tier Central Flyway states are based on a three-year average fall population estimate. When this population estimate is 800,000 or above, a liberal option (88 days/2-bird bag or 107 days/1-bird bag) is offered, when the estimate is between 500,000 and 800,000 a moderate option (74/2 or 88/1) is provided, and when it is below 500,000 a restrictive option (60/2 or 74/1) is required. The fall 2010 survey estimate of 709,800 geese when combined with the previous two years resulted in a new three-year (2008-2010) average of 663,333 geese, three percent lower than the previous mean of 681,500, but still within the range calling for a moderate season. This year’s production is expected to be near average.

Snow and Ross’s geese: Despite the implementation of the Conservation Order for Light Geese, snow geese and Ross’s geese populations continue to grow. Observers in the Midwinter Survey counted 3,175,200 light geese. Winter indices from 2002-2011 suggest the population is growing about 2% each year. Population estimates based on other methods suggest the light goose population may be closer to 13 million. Early indications in 2011 suggest near average production at Baffin Island and South Hampton Island, and lower production along some portions of the Hudson Bay Coast. Overall, we expect average production and similar numbers of snow geese as last year.