Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 10, 1995 TAG: 9507100041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Resident Canada geese are so plentiful in Virginia they're becoming a nuisance.
Bob Duncan, the game division chief of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has heard stories of Canada geese that:
Have kept horses from watering when they were supposed to on one farmer's land.
Drove down the milk production of a farmer's cattle herd by pestering the cattle.
Made messes on, of and all over many golf courses and urban areas.
``What's happening is the resident population has exploded,'' Duncan said. ``We're estimating 100,000 birds.
``If their numbers keep going up like they're going, Canada geese will be in the Hunters for the Hungry program.''
Because of the growing problem with overpopulation of resident Canada geese in Virginia, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is considering a proposal for a statewide, 10-day season from Sept.5-15. The proposal includes a daily bag limit of five geese with 10 in possession.
The Canada geese season is one of several proposals that will be reviewed at the department's meeting in Richmond on Thursday at 9 a.m.
Other webless migratory gamebird seasons and bag limit proposals being reviewed include doves, rails, woodcock and common snipe and falconry seasons for the aforementioned birds.
As for the geese, this would be the first statewide season if the proposal is approved. Last year, 46 counties were open to resident goose hunting.
``It's truly a situation where we have a supply, and the demand is coming along,'' Duncan said. ``I expect this will become a traditional hunt in Virginia.
``It's going to be an opportunity for many people who otherwise might not be able to hunt Canada geese.''
Duncan emphasized that only resident Canada geese will be hunted, not the migratory birds that will pass through the state's flyways in late September.
``These are birds that haven't had to migrate back anywhere, and I expect their survival rate has been better,'' he said. ``Conditions have been conducive for a rapid increase in Canada geese. They're living in areas that haven't been harvested in the past.
``This season is aimed at when the birds are at their greatest number in early September and at harvesting the resident birds before the migratory birds come in.''
The proposal for the statewide Canada geese season is the culmination of many years of work, Duncan said, mainly by Gary Costanzo, the waterfowl project leader.
``He's been the fellow who's spearheaded our efforts for preseason and postseason banding to help put together this program,'' Duncan said. ``That was one of the things when Gary came on board five or six years ago that we wanted to do. There's a lot more behind the scenes work going on behind this. Because these are federally-regulated birds, we have to provide documentation and keep records on the actual [hunter] participation rate and actual harvest.''
Last year, an estimated 3,500 Canada geese were harvested, and 3,300 permits were issued.
``We look for it to grow,'' Duncan said. ``There's a tremendous amount of potential there. We have 18,000 people who buy waterfowl stamps, so we could easily have five to 10 thousand participating before it's over, and maybe more.
``We have a very large number of birds, and it's a very conservative harvest. At this point, we're chasing a ball downhill. We're not ahead of [the geese] yet. It's a method of trying to create some control. The management of this resource is very much needed.''
In the proposal for doves, there is a 70-day season split up in three segments (Sept.2-30, Oct.2-31 and Dec.23-Jan.2). The bag limit of 12 is the same as last year.
``We are seeing a large number of doves,'' Duncan said. ``Last year was not as good a year as we've seen. Hopefully this year will be an improvement.''
The proposed dates for the 70-day rail season are Sept.11-Oct.14 and Oct.21-Nov.25. Bag limits are 15 on Clappers and Kings and 25 on Soras and Virginias.
For woodcocks, the proposed dates for the 45-day season are Oct.30-Nov.25 and Dec.20-Jan.6. The daily bag limit will be three.
The common snipe season proposal is for a 107-day season from Oct.11-14 and Oct.21-Jan.31. The daily bag limit will be eight.
by CNB