Since 1999, Exterior Zone permit numbers hovered around 80,000. Last year, 81,993 permits were issued. Horicon Zone permits numbered 14,709 in 2006 -- down 4,527 or 23 percent from 2005 -- even though successful applicants received six tags last year, compared with four in 2005. Horicon permit numbers have gradually declined as geese have become more available statewide. Collins Zone permits also declined over the past two decades, numbering as low as 357 last season.

The statewide regular season Canada goose harvest in 2006 was 62,346 birds. The top 10 counties (and their harvest totals) statewide for overall harvest were: Dodge, 10,825; Fond du Lac, 4,364; Brown, 3,111; Manitowoc, 2,999; Washington, 2,139; Green Lake, 2,102; Sheboygan, 2,057; Outagamie, 2,004; Racine, 1,986 and Waukesha, 1,785. This distribution reflects the continued concentration of geese in and around the Horicon (Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Washington) and Collins (Manitowoc) zones. All the top 10 counties have been in the top 10 statewide at least once in the last three years.

Zone harvest totals were: Collins, 493; Horicon, 18,549 and Exterior, 43,304. The Exterior Zone harvest represented 69 percent of the statewide regular season harvest. Proportions were similar in 2005 (74 percent) and 2004 (63 percent). The actual harvest for the Exterior Zone was the highest since 1990.

The top 10 counties in the Exterior Zone harvest included: Brown, 3,111; Manitowoc, 2,505; Sheboygan, 2,057; Outagamie, 2,004; Racine, 1,986; Waukesha, 1,785; Dane, 1,769; Kenosha, 1,698; Ozaukee, 1,511 and Walworth, 1,333.

The total harvest for the Horicon Zone was 18,549 birds in 2006, which was 30 percent of the statewide harvest. This total was higher than in 2005 (12,025) and was a larger proportion of the statewide harvest compared with 2005 (26 percent). As in previous years, the highest harvest occurred in period 2, followed by period 3. Only about one-third of the Horicon zone hunters harvested more than two geese, and only about one-tenth of the hunters filled all six of their harvest tags. Increases in participation and success were likely a result of the increase in tags issued from four to six and the greater number of MVP geese that fly in the fall flight.

The Collins Zone is a relatively small harvest management zone in an area with high harvest potential because of the key goose concentrations in the area. Manitowoc County is the fourth highest in Canada goose harvest, when combining the harvest from all zones. The total harvest for the Collins Zone was 493 birds in 2006, which was 33 percent of the quota for that zone. While small, the Collins Zone represents an area of consistently high hunter success compared with other areas of the state.

Production of MVP geese in 2006 was very good after a good year, too, in 2005. Wisconsin’s harvest quota increased two-fold in 2006 due to good production in MVP geese and resident geese, and a shift in the harvest toward resident giant Canada geese. The overall harvest level in 2006 was 46 percent (131,100) of the quota, representing fewer birds killed than those taken in recent years -- 76 percent in 2005, 86 percent in 2003 and 82 percent in 2004.

Van Horn pointed out the "quota" is not a goal to be reached; rather, the quota is an absolute upper limit of birds that can be harvested without having negative effects on the population. Last year’s quota included 1,500 birds in the Collins Zone, 27,000 birds in the Horicon Zone and 102,600 birds in the Exterior Zone.

Most hunters shoot a few birds during the season, but the opportunity for a much larger harvest usually stands tall. In fact, some hunters routinely shoot more than 100 geese in Wisconsin each year.