Spring Goose Season Brings Concern About Swans in Southeast Idaho

Goose hunting in February? It's true. For a second year, Idaho hunters have an opportunity to hunt light geese this spring in two hunt areas encompassing parts of southwestern, southern and eastern Idaho. The season begins February 19, and ends March 10. The daily bag limit on light geese is 10, with a possession limit of 20. Light geese, so called because of their white coloring, include snow, blue and Ross's geese. Though uncommon in Idaho during the fall and winter, tens of thousands of light geese stop over in Idaho in the spring to feed and rest during their migration northward. In eastern Idaho, the light goose hunting area (Area 3) has expanded since last year. Area 3 is now designated as that portion of the Upper Snake Region within Bingham County in Unit 63 south of Highway 20 and west of the west bank of the Snake River, and that portion of the Southeast Region within Bingham and Power Counties in Units 68 and 68A west of the west bank of the Snake River and American Falls Reservoir bluff. Most hunting opportunity in Area 3 will be on private property, so plan ahead. Hunters should be sure to contact landowners for permission to hunt on their land, and always be respectful of private property. "The spring light goose hunt will present an increased challenge and responsibility to know your target, especially since both tundra and trumpeter swans can often be found feeding in the same fields with light geese," said Martha Wackenhut, nongame biologist for Fish and Game's southeast region. Though swans and light geese have easily discernible features, hunters do occasionally mistake their target. Please know your target before shooting. Hunters should know the difference. Swans are much larger than geese with a long neck, large black bill, and are completely white (adult) or grayish (immature). By contrast, light geese are smaller, short-necked, with a small pinkish bill and black wing tips. The southeast regional office of Fish and Game will be monitoring for any impacts of the light goose season on 400-800 wintering trumpeter swans in the Fort Hall and American Falls areas. Trumpeter swans are not endangered, but they are a species of special concern. With the expansion of the hunt area, Fish and Game is interested in whether or not the swans change their behavior in response to possible disturbance from spring goose hunting. Specifically, Fish and Game will try to determine if swans discontinue foraging in fields in the hunt area and whether or not they leave the greater Fort Hall/American Falls Reservoir wintering area during the hunt entirely. During late winter and early spring, trumpeter swans use wintering areas to try to improve their body conditions in preparation for nesting. Light goose hunters will need a 2011 hunting license, and if 16 and older, they must have a 2010 Federal Migratory Duck Stamp available at Fish and Game offices and local post offices. Make sure to check the 2010 Waterfowl Seasons and Rules for more information about the upcoming light goose season, including descriptions of the areas open to hunting. You can also find this information online at fishandgame.idaho.gov or by contacting the Fish and Game office in Pocatello at 208-232-4703.