PA BOARD PROPOSES NEW TOOL FOR SNOW GOOSE CONSERVATION HUNT
To give waterfowl hunters another tool to assist with efforts to address overabundant snow goose populations, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to allow the use of electronic decoys during the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt. If approved by the Board at its January meeting, this regulatory change could be in effect for hunters participating in the 2011 Snow Goose Conservation Hunt (Feb. 21-April 16).
For the 2010 Snow Goose Conservation Hunt, the Board approved the use of electronic calls and expanded hunting hours to one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
“Snow goose populations have reached levels that are causing extensive and possibly irreversible damage to the arctic and sub-arctic breeding grounds they and other nesting birds use,” pointed out Kevin Jacobs, Game Commission waterfowl biologist. “For some populations of snow geese, their nesting habitats can no longer support these large numbers. What’s more, these geese are beginning to impact habitat and crops in Mid-Atlantic States and Quebec.
“It’s likely that North America has never had as many snow geese as it does now. They have become a huge and unexpected problem for themselves and other wildlife that shares the wintering and breeding grounds these waterfowl occupy. More hunting hours and electronic decoys should provide hunters additional opportunity to harvest snow geese.
