Michigan DNR solving their Geese Problem

[mt terry d]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1917013884072038571

 

[BigE]

Can confirm, there are a ton of Canada Geese here in MI. I don't believe I'd consider it crisis levels anywhere that I've seen, except maybe the golf courses and public parks with water (almost every park in MI).
There are a lot of hunting opportunity for them, but I'm not sure how many people are participating. Also the birds are in a lot of no hunting populated areas.
Open seasons:
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
North Zone
Sept. 1 – Dec. 16
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
Middle Zone
Sept. 1–30 and Oct. 4 – Dec. 19
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
South Zone
Sept. 1–30, Oct. 18 – Dec. 14, Dec. 27 – Jan. 4 and Jan. 31 – Feb. 9
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
Allegan County GMU
Sept. 1–30, Oct. 18 – Nov. 5 and Dec. 20 – Feb. 15
Dark goose (Canada, brant and white-fronted)
Muskegon County Wastewater System GMU
Oct. 21 – Dec. 20

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Let's all go to MI with our shotguns and several thousand rounds of ammo. That'll solve things.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

When populations are in un huntable areas what you gonna do?

Wonder what Aldo would do?

 

[KurtR]

Never to many geese. Maybe to many golf courses

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I understand the need to collect them in non-huntable areas but gas them? Seems like that's a lot of good food going to waste that people would enjoy and some people might really need. Gotta be a better way to put the resource to better use, since you have to catch them to gas them anyway it doesn't really change the requirements or success rates.

 

[go_deep]

Not sure why they don't open archery only hunting in town for geese. I'd bet they're would be a good amount of people that would take part and pursuing them in their "protected area" would help put some pressure on them along with thin some out

 

[BigDuckHunter]

I don’t think the issue is lack of season nor lack of people who hunt them. The issue is lack of access to hunt them where they live. Here in SE Michigan, there are piles of birds that hangout at almost every pond and lake. The problem is the vast majority of those ponds and lakes are unhuntable (either within city limits, on private property that owner won’t let you hunt, or on a lake that isn’t completely surrounded by public).

With all that said, I don’t agree with killing them like this. A lot of the push to get rid of them comes from the people who own land or live on the lakes that the geese frequent. If they’re that big of an issue, find someone to hunt to get rid of them, or at least pressure them enough to stay away from their land.

 

[spur60]

Just another tool for nuisance geese. Here in SD, they oil/drill eggs preventing them from hatching. Farmers get paid for goose crop damage, get fences and air horns. But go knock on that farmer's door in August or September asking to hunt those same birds and you'll get a "no" 49 out of 50 times.

 

[go_deep]

Just another tool for nuisance geese. Here in SD, they oil/drill eggs preventing them from hatching. Farmers get paid for goose crop damage, get fences and air horns. But go knock on that farmer's door in August or September asking to hunt those same birds and you'll get a "no" 49 out of 50 times.

Payments stop, farmers will welcome hunters with open arms. Coming from someone who farmed and got crop damage payment, more money in letting the critters eat the crop than harvesting and hauling it, pays the same per bushel.

 

[KurtR]

Just another tool for nuisance geese. Here in SD, they oil/drill eggs preventing them from hatching. Farmers get paid for goose crop damage, get fences and air horns. But go knock on that farmer's door in August or September asking to hunt those same birds and you'll get a "no" 49 out of 50 times.

I have never been told no yet for the early season out here. Get guys calling every year now asking if we are hunting and to come get the geese.

 

[spur60]

I have never been told no yet for the early season out here. Get guys calling every year now asking if we are hunting and to come get the geese.

Consider yourself extremely lucky. Find a good goose or mallard feed within 90 miles of Sioux Falls or Brookings and you're probably caller #20 or vehicle #5 in their yard when you ask permission. 75% of my field hunts these days are running traffic in fields I maintain standing permission on. I've wasted so much gas and time chasing feeds only to get beat for permission or told no; it's just not worth it anymore as a weekend warrior.

 

[WCB]

I used to do goose removal and egg oiling. We did euthanize the young, but the adult geese were brought to a small "local" processing plant and the meat was sent to shelters or food kitchens for those in need. The young were donated to a wildlife research center to feed wolves, bears, bobcats, fox, birds of prey , etc. either that lived there or were being rehabilitated. If you look into this story at all the MI DNR and those involved in the program are working with the USDA to try and utilize the meat...it may not happen this year.

Many of the places we trapped were urban park areas or city beaches were hundreds of geese would gather with their young. Streets, sidewalks, beaches, boat ramps, etc were completely shit covered. many beaches or even small lakes were shut down due to E. Coli. Most places it was 100% completely unfeasible to do any sort of hunt. like areas immediately surround MSP International Airport or literall the river running through downtown MSP and St. Paul. As our company did, the MI program requires a few different avenues before this program can be used...including the question of "is hunting feasible". Also, guys need to think about all local ordinances along with insurances of the city, counties, or local businesses that are paying for the removal. It may not make sense to let Joe Blow with a shotgun go around crippling geese let alone like someone stated above archery hunt. Yeah that would reflect real well on hunters...geese with arrows sticking out of them running around town. Most likely if "hunting were required" they would hire a company that specializes in nuisance removal like they do for deer. Trained and qualified individuals....an people would still bitch.
Hazing is super ineffective overall. We trapped and removed geese where the golf courses had hazing dogs come out...The geese swim to the middle of a pond and wait till the dog leaves. They walk over your cute ribbon you put out and I watch them lay in the shadow of the fake coyotes people would put in their yards.

You want to see the thoughts of someone who opposes this and how uneducated even people in the hunting world are on this...watch the numb skull from "The Green Way Outdoors" try to debate on it. This guy is supposedly a hunter and conservationist. (he is a wanna be Rinella). Some people don't understand there are unique situations that require a different tactic to achieve results.

 

[KurtR]

Consider yourself extremely lucky. Find a good goose or mallard feed within 90 miles of Sioux Falls or Brookings and you're probably caller #20 or vehicle #5 in their yard when you ask permission. 75% of my field hunts these days are running traffic in fields I maintain standing permission on. I've wasted so much gas and time chasing feeds only to get beat for permission or told no; it's just not worth it anymore as a weekend warrior.

Yep living in the middle of nowhere does have its benefits. I go back home around Watertown a couple times a year and hunt a lot more competition over there for sure.