The complexities of managing any species of wildlife can be extremely challenging for scientists, biologists and technologists working at the state level. At the federal level, where a multi-state approach must be taken, management policies often involve appointed boards from several jurisdictions, thus compounding some problems, especially those involving allocation of the species. Waterfowl management presents a host of demands. Since the species in question may migrate between at least two, and sometimes three countries, the complexities of management can become monumental.

Determining the population of ducks and geese in the Atlantic Flyway is a daunting assignment for waterfowl biologists at both the federal and state levels. In some instances, light aircraft are used to survey certain areas during spring and winter. These are times when waterfowl are either nesting, or are congregated in traditional wintering grounds.

Each survey has a specific goal, and each provides waterfowl managers with important information that is fed into computer modeling programs to determine the health of each species of ducks and geese. In the end, when all the data is digested, population estimates are produced, and other factors are taken into consideration. That's when the various states submit their requests for hunting seasons to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for approval.

In all instances, hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to guidelines established by the USFWS. While some jurisdictions may request increases in bag limits or hunting days, one will likely offset the other. Essentially, any extensions of season or increases in bag limits must ultimately be approved by the USFWS, even if it involves resident geese and ducks.

CANADA GEESE
(Resident & Migratory)
A classic example of the USFWS' involvement with local waterfowl populations can be seen with regulations set forth to hunt non-migratory Canada geese, a species that in many jurisdictions is considered a nuisance. Essentially, seasons and bag limits for this particular species have been limited to times when there is little or no possibility of hunters bagging migratory Canada geese. Consequently, the season for non-migratory Canada geese usually takes place at the end of summer, just a few short weeks before the migratory stocks begin leaving the nesting grounds at the Ungava Peninsula and Boreal Forest in the Hudson Bay area of Canada.

While there is still some debate how these 17-pound giants were introduced to the Atlantic Flyway area, there is no question in anyone's mind about the benefit these birds have provided to waterfowl hunters. During times when a hunting moratorium was in place for migratory Canada geese, non-migratory stock numbers were increasing at an alarming rate.

Local populations soared from just a few hundred birds in some states to more than 100,000 fowl that inhabited just about every body of water, regardless of its size. Currently, there are more than 1 million resident Canada geese in the Atlantic Flyway, and while the population figures show the number is somewhat stable, some jurisdictions are seeing dramatic increases in the number of local birds.

Keep in mind that most of the nesting areas utilized by non-migratory geese are off-limits to hunters. These include municipal park ponds, most farm ponds, city reservoirs, and more recently, federal- and state-mandated storm-water collection ponds. The storm-water collection ponds essentially collect run-off from impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, roads and driveways. These ponds help to control flooding from excessive runoff, and every new housing development, industrial park and shopping center has at least one of these ponds in place.