As Duck season comes closer to an end, waterfowl hunters are gearing up for the light goose conservation season.
In the late 1990s, Dr. Bruce Batt, then Ducks Unlimited Chief Biologist, came to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service with a recommendation to address a serious conservation issue. There was an overabundance of snow geese. The light goose population has increased 5% each year, causing massive damage to the arctic and sub-arctic nesting grounds, home to many waterfowl species and other wildlife species.
After a lot of pushback, the committee Dr. Batt served on made their way to Congress. The Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act, more commonly known as the Light Goose Conservation Order, was federally mandated in 1999. The main goal of the order being: decreasing the light goose population by half in 10 years, therefore, reducing the rate of ecosystem destruction.
Not only are these geese eating their way out of home and habitat, but they are also causing damage to the farmers all across the U.S. by damaging their crop fields.
Each state has unique regulations regarding the LGCO, but some of the everyday things you can see across the board are:
- Increased bag limits
- The use of E-callers
- Extended dates for hunting opportunities
- Ability to use unplugged shotguns
*Make sure you check with your state’s regulations before heading to the field.
So put on your camo, unplug your shotgun, and let’s do some good for conservation!
