justnorth posted on August 22, 2007 17:15 :: 1705 Views
Wisconsin hunters anxious for the fall hunting seasons will have their first opportunities when the 2007 Wisconsin early Canada goose and mourning dove hunting seasons open Sept. 1.
The early Canada goose season runs through Sept. 15, with a daily bag limit of five geese. It specifically targets local breeding giant Canada geese and is held before migratory geese begin to move into Wisconsin, according to Kent Van Horn, Department of Natural Resources waterfowl ecologist.
“This has become a popular early hunting season and an important part of our resident Canada goose population management,” Van Horn says. Hunters should note that this season requires a special permit and $3 fee.
The 2007 breeding population estimate for giant Canada geese nesting in Wisconsin was 125,195, which is down 7 percent from 2006 but 64 percent above the 21-year long-term mean, Van Horn says.
“While the long term trend for Wisconsin’s resident Canada geese is still increasing, recent survey years suggest that this increase may be slowing,” he says.
This is the eighth year Wisconsin has held an Early September Canada goose season, and more hunters are joining in on this hunt each year, Van Horn says. Hunters harvested an estimated 20,000 geese during the early season in 2006.
“During this early season, hunters need to think differently than they would during October goose hunting because the geese are using different areas,” Van Horn says. “They need to scout ahead on early season movements of birds among early crop harvests, water resting places and areas of mowed grass. I encourage people to look for new areas to seek permission to hunt during the early season than you might during later fall hunting.”
In addition to a Wisconsin hunting license, hunters must possess: an Early September Canada Goose Hunting Permit (available for $3 from DNR offices and license vendors through the season); a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp; a Wisconsin Waterfowl Stamp Privilege; and a valid hunter education certificate (if born on or after Jan. 1, 1973). Additionally, all migratory game bird hunters, including those participating in the early September season, must be registered with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) before they can hunt migratory game birds (ducks, geese, woodcock, coots, rails, snipe, and gallinule). Hunters can register for HIP free of charge at most license vendors. Hunters must also report each goose taken within 48 hours of the harvest by calling 1-800-99-GOOSE (1-800-994-6673).
2007 Early September Canada Goose regulations are available at license agents and on-line on the Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Regulations[ page of the DNR Web site.
Mourning dove season
Wisconsin’s fifth dove hunting season runs Sept. 1 through Oct. 30. Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 dove hunters are expected to take to the field at some point during the season. There is a daily bag limit of 15.
Hunters are again being asked to examine harvested doves closely for any leg bands. For the third consecutive year, Wisconsin is participating in a national plan to monitor mourning dove populations for harvest management. Biologists set a goal of capturing and banding 750 doves at several locations in south, central and eastern area of the state with a small aluminum US Fish and Wildlife Service leg band. Hunters who harvest a banded dove are asked to report them to the Bird Banding Lab online at http://www.reportband.gov or by phone at 1-800-327-Band (2263).
In recent years, the spring call count surveys, coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, estimated that the continental population of mourning doves was about 400 million, making it one of the most abundant birds in North America. The 10-year population trend for Wisconsin shows a 3 percent increase. Hunters should expect to see numbers of doves similar to the last couple of years.
Regulations and license requirements for dove hunting are contained in the 2007 Small Game Hunting Regulations pamphlet, which is available at any location that sells hunting licenses or online on the Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Regulations page of the DNR Web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Van Horn - (608) 266-8841
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