Photo by Tom Migdalski.

It's well known that Ohio's Wildlife District Three offers some of the finest Canada goose hunting in the Mississippi Flyway. And there's no reason that the hunting should be anything but great in 2007.

According to Mark Shieldcastle, a project leader with the Wetland Wildlife Research Unit, Ohio's population of "resident giants" -- Canada geese -- is looking very good this year.

"Our research indicates a population of over 100,000 birds," he noted.

"Breeding success and gosling production has been phenomenal this past year, too."

Biologists' studies have indicated that the migrant goose population, which typically comes from Canada's southern James Bay region, is down from last year. The Ohio Division of Wildlife has recently changed the methodology it uses to extrapolate population data, and that may be why the numbers look different.

However, the population still hovers around 100,000 geese. According to Shieldcastle, this is very good and on course with recent trends.

Early indications show that migrant Canada geese had good breeding success. Last year saw the highest population of migrant birds in state history. However, the preceding year's was the lowest.

This suggests that annual numbers gathered are merely estimates and don't necessarily indicate a trend, either up or down.

"With healthy goose populations and good spring breeding success, the hunting should be very good this year," said biologist Shieldcastle.

"But in the end, it all comes down to the weather."

The '06 season should have provided excellent hunting. The goose population was up, and the hatch was good. But one major variable was missing -- "good" weather. Last year's weather stayed warm well into goose season, which is not good. TA warm autumn results in a late migration and often doesn't push resident birds into wintering areas until after the season ends.

Shieldcastle characterizes resident geese as "lazy."

"These geese," he noted, "are a subspecies of Canada geese. They are bigger and lazier than Canadian migrants.

"When the weather stays warm, our urban giants stay roosted on condo ponds, leaving only when cold weather forces them out to feed."

In November, most geese harvested will be residents, since the migrants typically don't move through until December or even later. The differences between the two subspecies can be almost impossible to decipher with the naked eye, especially when they are on the wing. Wildlife biologists often use DNA testing to differentiate between the two.

The average resident geese weigh between 10 and 12 pounds. They typically fly lower to the ground and travel in family flocks of about five to eight birds. Residents are also more educated and aware of hunters. They can spot decoys and blinds quicker and easier, since they know the area.

Migrant birds are smaller, weighing 6 to 8 pounds. They form larger flocks, flying higher above the ground. And even though they may not be as familiar with their surroundings, the larger flocks mean more avian eyes on the lookout.

REGULATIONS UPDATE
Many new laws are going into effect this year. In fact, Ohio's entire infrastructure for goose hunting is about to change. State wildlife biologists and wetlands research units have proposed a new set of rules to govern Ohio's goose season. If their recommendations fall within parameters set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and pass through the Ohio Wildlife Council and the Flyway Council, they will probably become law.