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WASHINGTON, D.C.--Missouri hunters again are being called upon to help preserve arctic waterfowl habitat. The state is one of 24 targeted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for participation in measures to reduce North America^s snow goose population.
Snow geese have grown so numerous in recent years that they are damaging their nesting habitat. Wildlife biologists say without a decrease in their population the birds could cause permanent ecological damage to themselves and other species.
Habitat improvements and changes in agricultural practices along the birds^ migratory route contributed to explosive growth in snow goose numbers. North American snow goose numbers have tripled since the 1960s to a population of about five million, too many for the fragile Canadian Arctic nesting grounds to support.
The birds, which pull up plant roots when above-ground vegetation is exhausted, literally are eating away arctic tundra habitat. A third of the area is so heavily overgrazed that biologists believe it is unlikely to recover in our lifetime. Wildlife biologists say a 50 percent reduction in the snow goose population is needed to prevent the birds from destroying all of the nesting area. They say the best way to accomplish this is through hunting.
To give states a better opportunity to increase snow goose harvests Congress recently approved legislation to enact a "conservation order" allowing hunters to take snow geese beyond the regular hunting season. State wildlife agencies in the Central and Mississippi flyways also are being allowed to use methods normally prohibited.
In support of the conservation order the Missouri Conservation Commission recently approved the following regulations for hunting snow geese, blue geese and Ross^ geese, collectively known as "light geese," from Feb. 1 through April 30, 2000:
--Use of electronic calling devices;
--Use of unplugged shotguns capable of holding more than three shells;
--Shooting hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset;
--Unlimited daily and possession limits.
A valid Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit will be the only license requirement. Other regulations will remain in effect during the period covered by the conservation order. Snow goose season dates, bag limits, shooting hours and other regulations published in the 1999-2000 Migratory Bird Hunting Digest still apply prior to Feb. 1.
This is the second year state and federal wildlife management agencies have enacted liberalized snow goose regulations. Relaxed rules allowed Missouri hunters to post a record snow goose harvest of 80,500 birds during the 1998-1999 snow goose hunting season. That is about twice the previous state record. Hunters in the Mississippi and Central flyways harvested an estimated 1.07 million snow geese during the 1998-1999 season.
Regulatory adjustments are just the first steps in efforts to reduce the snow goose numbers. The FWS also is changing the way it manages national wildlife refuges in the mid-continent region to make them less attractive to snow geese. An environmental impact statement that will determine long-term strategies for managing snow goose populations is expected to be completed by this spring.
A coalition of wildlife groups including the Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the Ornithological Council and the American Bird Conservancy has voiced support for measures that would help reduce snow goose numbers.
"These goose populations are out of control because of changes in agricultural practices on the birds^ wintering grounds and other human activity," says Bruce Batt, chief biologist for Ducks Unlimited and Chairman of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group. "The scientific community has recognized that this is a man-made problem that requires a man-made solution, like increased hunting. Without it, we might be witnesses to a catastrophic loss of habitat in the Arctic-habitat that is shared by a large variety of other wildlife species."
Support of Missouri landowners also is needed to help to prevent destruction of the waterfowl nesting area. Enormous numbers of snow geese often gather to feed on crop land. Allowing hunters access to your fields for several days at a time during the conservation order gives hunters the best chance at harvesting snow geese.
Landowners also can benefit by allowing snow goose hunting on their properties. Hunters can help prevent geese from moving into newly planted fields and gobbling up sprouting crops.
- Arleasha Mays -
Uploaded: 1/8/2000
Uploaded: 1/8/2000