If you spot a collared goose in a flock, do you target it over the other geese?
A project is underway in Nanaimo to assess the abundance, distribution, and movement of Canada geese in the region. There is a movement among local governments on the island to form a regional goose management plan, in order to mitigate goose-related problems. During the last week of June, 2016, 200 geese were banded and collared during 4 roundups in the Nanaimo area. The objective of banding these geese is to obtain a better understanding of their population size and behavior - for which data does not exist.
Studies generally use the proportion of banded geese shot by hunters as an indicator for harvest levels. Being a hunter, I know that this isn't necessarily accurate, because if marker bands are used (ie. coloured leg bands or collars) many guys will target those birds specifically. This skews the data because it indicates that a higher proportion of geese are being harvested by hunters than what is actually being harvested overall. The purpose of this poll is to assess what portion of banded/collared geese are targeted by hunters, so that calculated harvest levels are more realistic.
If you want more information on the project specifically, and/or want to report band sightings, please visit viu.ca/gooseproject.
Thanks for your input... and remember, "mitigation of goose problems" potentially means better hunting opportunities Good shooting!