The DNR just completed a four-year study on molt migration. Researchers have found that giant Canada geese that are too young to breed or are unsuccessful nesters make a false or molt migration during the year. The birds leave during late May or early June for northern Ontario and return in late September. Luukenon said that in past years the hunting season has been set to focus on resident Canada geese. By structuring the regular goose season so it includes the molt migration period in late September, biologists have found that urban geese normally off-limits to hunting methods become vulnerable during the migration. The egg rolling and oiling that is often used to control goose numbers in urban areas that do not permit hunting has been a blessing in disguise for hunters.

As in past years, waterfowlers were offered an early September season in 2005 designed to target local geese. The season typically runs from Sept. 1 through Sept. 10 in the North Zone (Upper Peninsula), and from Sept. 1 through Sept. 15 in the Middle Zone and South Zone. The only change was the reduction in the bag limit from five to three geese. Even though resident populations of giant Canada geese have shown signs of rebounding, limits will not be changed for 2006. Early-season dates are likely to remain the same, too. That probably won't be the case with the regular goose season.

"Early indications are that we should have very good goose hunting this year," suggested Luukenon. "The spring population of giants is up. The numbers of migrants appears to be up, so it's likely that we'll have a more liberal season for the migratory birds."

Last year, waterfowlers enjoyed a regular goose season that ran from Sept. 24 through Oct. 21 in the North Zone. In the Lower Peninsula, the season ran from Oct. 1 to Oct. 16 and from Nov. 24 through Dec. 5 in areas outside the local goose management units.

"Even if we have the same length of season, we should see more geese harvested," observed Luukenon.

Hunters traditionally enjoy great sport during the late season held in January across the South Zone.

While hunting for the resident giant Canadas is a given, hunting for migratory birds can be feast or famine. Early indications are Michigan waterfowlers can look forward to great shooting this year. Typically, waterfowlers on the east side of the state rely on birds comprising the SJBP. Hunters on the west side kill mainly MVP birds. Preliminary spring surveys are very optimistic for both populations.

With regard to the 2006 spring population estimate for the SJBP of Canada geese, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources wrote, "Spring once again arrived very early in northern Ontario, perhaps as much as a week ahead of 2005 and likely the earliest since we started our annual nest monitoring of the SJBP (1993). Similar to last year, preliminary assessments from the nesting ecology study on Akimiski Island show high nest densities, large clutch sizes and good nest success. The 2006 spring population estimate for SJBP Canada geese was 160,430, up 59 percent from 110,037 in 2004, and the highest estimate since the breeding ground survey was initiated. The number of breeding pairs on the mainland was up 77 percent from 2004, and was the highest ever recorded. The number of non-breeders also increased, but not outside the normal range of variation that has been observed during the history of this survey. On Akiniski, it is the first year since 2001 that there has been an increase in the number of geese."