The success or failure of Michigan's goose season is dependent on two distinct populations of birds -- our resident giant Canada geese, and migratory birds comprising the Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) and the Mississippi Valley Population (MVP).

For decades, populations of resident Canada geese have been expanding exponentially. It was only recently that the number of resident geese has slipped below population goals. Populations of migratory geese, while somewhat steady for the last decade, tend to be boom or bust depending on the weather and nesting conditions in the spring in northern Ontario.

The good news is that the number of resident giant Canada geese has rebounded from a population estimate of 169,000 in 2005 to 187,000 birds in 2006, which is well within the population range of between 175,000 and 225,000 the Michigan Department of Natural Resources strives for. Even better news is that migratory populations of geese responded well to an early spring in northern Ontario and had excellent nesting conditions. Breeding population estimates for the SJBP were the highest estimates since the breeding ground survey was initiated, and population estimates for the MVP flock were the highest since 1999. Biologists are predicting with guarded optimism that 2006 will be a banner year for Michigan goose hunters.

The bread and butter for Michigan waterfowlers is the state's resident giant Canada goose population. During a typical year, 70 to 80 percent of the birds harvested are resident giant Canadas. The majority of these birds are killed during the special early-season hunt in September. The balance of Michigan's goose kill is consists of 15 to 20 percent MVP birds, 3 to 7 percent SJBP geese and the balance being lesser Canadas.

"On the surface it looks like a good production year as far as the Michigan giant Canadas go," stated wildlife biologist Dave Luukenon, who works out of the Rose Lake Research Station and is Michigan's goose guru. "The results we hoped for by reduction in bag limits and adjustment in season dates seem to have had the desired results."

Last year, the bag limits during the special seasons were reduced from five to three birds to help let the state's resident population of giant Canada geese rebound. "The population is age-structured," said Luukenon, which in layman's terms means that giant Canadas don't breed until they are 2 to 4 years old, so their overall contributions to the breeding population of geese won't be felt for a few years, but hunters should see more geese this season.

Even though the number of giant Canadas has been reduced in many areas, in other locations the goose numbers remain a problem.

"The number of giant Canadas across the state has been pretty much controlled or reduced where they are vulnerable to hunting," Luukenon said. "There are still population peaks where geese are off-limits to hunting." Luukenon said places like Oakland County, Alpena, Sault Ste. Marie, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo have urban refuges that are off-limits to hunting and provide havens for geese.