Breeding Populations
In 2006, the breeding surveys for MVP geese in northern Ontario indicated a better production year than 2005, according to Van Horn. The breeding population was estimated at 384,353 birds, an 11 percent increase from 2005 numbers and 6 percent higher than the average of the previous 17 years. This allowed a higher harvest quota to be allocated to the quota states in the Mississippi Flyway, including Wisconsin. In addition, Wisconsin’s 2006 breeding population estimate for giant Canada geese showed a 9 percent increase from 2005. Moreover, the 2006 estimate of 135,000 birds is still well above the long-term average of 74,000 birds.

Breeding population estimates for 2007 were still being tabulated as of this writing, but Van Horn said preliminary reports suggested good conditions in Wisconsin and on Hudson Bay. He anticipates another good production year.

"Geese seemed to be nesting a little earlier in Wisconsin this year," Van Horn said. "What I’ve heard from Hudson Bay is that conditions seemed early and things looked good."

Hunting Prospects
The early September season is already history, and the regular season is well under way. Hunters who struck afield in September have a good idea of what conditions and success rates are, at least in the areas where they hunt. Once the regular season begins, however, goose hunting becomes a different game altogether.

"In October and November, you want to find harvested grain fields," Van Horn pointed out. "And you’ll be hunting a mix of migrants and residents."

Both subspecies look the same in the air. When you get them in hand, however, giant resident geese can weigh 12 pounds or more; MVP geese are considerably smaller. Resident geese are more abundant closer to major metropolitan areas, but MVP birds will roam far in search of food, so you’re likely to find both species most anywhere in the state.

The key to good goose hunting is advance scouting. Jerry Solsrud, founder of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and now retired, hunts nearly every day of the season. After each morning’s hunt, he scouts for the next day’s hunt, seeking permission on new farms if he needs to. In this way, Solsrud can hunt new geese and new fields every day.

Horicon and Collins zone permit applications were due Aug. 1. Hunters who don’t already hold permits won’t be hunting one of those zones this fall. However, Exterior Zone permits are available for the remainder of the season.

Hunters who concentrate their efforts on one of the counties in the Exterior Zone or from among the statewide top 10 counties should do well this season. Look for geese feeding or flying over harvested grain fields. Geese will move to new fields as they are harvested because food there is more abundant and easier to find. And don’t overlook standing corn, especially if there is snow on the ground. Solsrud pointed out that geese will eat corn off the stalks rather than leave the area.

"When there’s 6 or 8 inches of new snow on the ground, and geese can’t find corn in the picked fields where they’ve been feeding all fall, they just move into standing corn where they can land outside and walk into the rows," he explained.

There’s no excuse not to hunt geese in Wisconsin. Birds are abundant, farmers welcome hunters, and you can count on the new goose regulations to remain the same for five years, which makes planning a hunt much easier. Take advantage of Wisconsin’s fantastic goose hunting this fall and see if you don’t find yourself as addicted to it as is Jerry Solsrud.