Early Season for Canada Geese Opening in WV

The long awaited hunting seasons in West Virginia begin this week.   September 1 marks the opening of a number of seasons in the Mountain State, including the early Canada goose season.

"Having the season in September is specifically directed at resident birds," said Biologist Steve Wilson of the West Virginia DNR.

The number of Canada geese hatched and raised in the Mountain State is estimated at 20 to 30-thousand birds.   The numbers are actually too healthy for the state.    Since geese are creatures of opportunity, they’re finding no need to fly south because everything they need to get them through the winter can be found right here in West Virginia.

"They’ll pretty much populate anyplace that provides suitable goose habitat," said Wilson.  "Unfortunately, some of the best goose habitat is manicured lawns around a waterway.  That’s where some of the problems come in."

Typically city parks, golf courses, and high end housing developments are beset by flocks of resident geese that simply won’t leave.   While hunting is the best way to curb the goose population, in many situations it won’t work since hunting is disallowed in many of those places where geese are abundant.   

Controlled hunts on golf courses have been used in the pass with some limited success to limit the numbers.  However, a shooting spree in a city park is not within the boundaries of safety.   

The other problem that hurts the state’s ability to reduce goose numbers is that unlike states like Arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland, or Louisiana, West Virginia hunters weren’t brought up on waterfowl hunting.   Wilson says fewer than a thousand true waterfowl hunters take to the fields and waters of West Virginia.   He says that’s too bad because the state actually offers a lot of very good hunting opportunity.

"We’ve never had a lot of waterfowl hunters," said Wilson. "The folks that are avid waterfowl hunters have some great hunting success in West Virginia."

Goose hunting and waterfowl hunting in general requires a good amount of work.  Hauling decoys, establishing blinds, and wading in frigid water is a difficult task, but for those willing to brave the elements the opportunities are strong. 

Hunters need to make certain they have a federal waterfowl stamp, a HIP card available for free at all license agents, and use non-toxic shot while hunting.