For now, though, those who can’ t wait for goose hunting, late summer seasons are available, with liberal limits, abundant birds and plenty of space. If traditional waterfowl hunting historically been associated with blistering snow flakes horizontally pushed by howling wind through fog and temperatures at or below the freezing point, life has changed. Today, we can rest in a stubble field in the middle of August, fully dressed in accompanying heat only to discourage bugs. As a veteran goose hunter, did you ever imagine you’ d need mosquito lotion to hunt waterfowl? Whatever. It’ s fall. Hunting season. And we have more abundance of most species than we’ ve ever enjoyed in our lives. Youth today don’ t recognize that. They’ ve always enjoyed bountiful geese numbers, and many other species as well. We won’ t fault them for that, but less we fault ourselves for not taking them“ out there”, we will appreciate our golden opportunities of 2025. •
Goose hunting opportunities abound in Dakotas
Liberal limits and abundant bird numbers make for good hunting
bother?
There was also a time several decades ago when giant Canada geese were thought to be extinct. Can you imagby Bill Mitzel
TThere was a time, not too long ago actually, when Canada goose limits were so low it wasn’ t worth the time and expense to hunt them. Those few who did were passionate about it. Their hearts wouldn’ t give them rest until they were laying on their backs in a stubble field. And they had plenty of room. After all, with daily limits of 1 or 2 or 3 geese, who would
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www. eastbaycampground. com ine that, after viewing today’ s massive gatherings numbering in the thousands. Well, thanks to dedicated conservationists and wildlife biologists who“ believed”, we now have goose numbers we could have never imagined 50 years ago. While snow geese have blossomed beyond imagine as well and are considered a major challenge to hunt in some circles, Canada geese have remained on the wildlife list of some hunters as the least respected. That’ s a shame, of course. For those who cherish the sight of locked waterfowl coming into decoys, all species of geese, and ducks are a passion few people on earth can relate to.
From meager limits of only a few to liberal limits of double figures, we’ ve seen our goose numbers multiply for decades without interruption. In fact, as you know, we even have spring snow goose hunts with daily limits approaching two dozen birds. Some hunters, in fact, wonder when Canada geese will join that late winter party, as their abundance has
grown in conjunction with light geese.
For now, though, those who can’ t wait for goose hunting, late summer seasons are available, with liberal limits, abundant birds and plenty of space. If traditional waterfowl hunting historically been associated with blistering snow flakes horizontally pushed by howling wind through fog and temperatures at or below the freezing point, life has changed. Today, we can rest in a stubble field in the middle of August, fully dressed in accompanying heat only to discourage bugs. As a veteran goose hunter, did you ever imagine you’ d need mosquito lotion to hunt waterfowl? Whatever. It’ s fall. Hunting season. And we have more abundance of most species than we’ ve ever enjoyed in our lives. Youth today don’ t recognize that. They’ ve always enjoyed bountiful geese numbers, and many other species as well. We won’ t fault them for that, but less we fault ourselves for not taking them“ out there”, we will appreciate our golden opportunities of 2025. •
Page 70, Dakota Country, September 2025 www. dakotacountrymagazine. com