Tips for the light goose hunt

Utah's goose hunters have a new opportunity this spring — a chance to hunt light geese.

A large flock of snow geese near Delta, Utah.

Division of Wildlife Resources Photo

But as Utah's first spring goose hunt gets closer, questions from hunters are increasing.

"Where can I hunt geese? Do the same rules for hunting geese in the fall apply in the spring?" are among the questions the Division of Wildlife Resources is receiving.

Here are some answers:

• Utah's spring light goose hunt begins Feb. 18 in the North Goose Zone. Across the rest of the state, the hunt begins March 2. Both hunts end on March 10.
  
  A description of the North Goose Zone is available on page 32 of the 2008–2009 Utah Waterfowl Guidebook. The guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.
• All of Utah's fall goose-hunting rules also apply in the spring. For example, you may not use unplugged shotguns or electronic calls in the spring.
• There is a daily bag limit and a possession limit. You may take 10 light geese a day. You may not have more than 20 light geese in your possession at home.
• All of Utah's trespass rules apply. That means you can't trespass on private land.
  
  "Most of the light geese are on private land in the spring. That's where they feed and rest," says Tom Aldrich, migratory game bird c oordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
  
  "Before you hunt on private land, you must have written permission from the landowner to hunt there."
  
  With the exception of the Salt Creek, Public Shooting Grounds and Clear Lake waterfowl management areas, all of Utah's waterfowl management areas are closed to spring light goose hunting.
  
  The three federal refuges in Utah are also closed to spring light goose hunting.

50,000 light geese

"We don't see many light geese in the fall, but in the spring, more than 50,000 light geese — most of them snow and Ross' geese — stop over in Utah," Aldrich says.

"In addition to providing hunters with a unique opportunity, hunting light geese in the spring will reduce agricultural damage," Aldrich says. "Most of that damage is happening in Box Elder and Millard counties. The geese start eating grain and alfalfa crops as soon as the plants start to grow."

Helping the geese

In addition to helping Utah's farmers, the light goose hunt will help the geese.

In the central part of North America, light goose populations have gotten so large that the geese are damaging areas in Canada where they nest and raise their young.

"The population in the western part of North America hasn't become overabundant yet, but it's growing," Aldrich says. "The population exceeded 1 million birds in December 2007.

"We want to help stabilize the population before it gets too large. Once geese become overabundant, it's hard to bring them back."