METROPOLITAN TWIN CITIES GOOSE HUNTING POLICY
It is the policy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to control and maintain wildlife populations whenever possible through a hunting harvest.
There are three time Canada geese can be hunted in Minnesota: a regular season from October to late November, and two special hunting seasons specifically designed to harvest local Canada goose populations. The first special season held in early September before the arrival of migrant geese. The second is held in mid-December after most migrants have left the Metropolitan Area. Bag limits are set at five per day in the September season and two per day in the December season. Metropolitan Area goose harvest surveys indicate that between 10,000 and 12,000 per year are taken in these seasons. Increasing the harvest will help control Metropolitan Area goose populations.
Based on the distribution open space, Metropolitan Area municipalities have been classified by the potential for safe hunting. These classes are:
Class 1. Open space is too limited for safe discharge of shotguns.
Class 2. Open space is patchy within the municipality but some areas
may be hunted safely with minimum of restrictions.
Class 3. Extensive open space where shotgun hunting can be done safely.
The following priorities have been established for the nuisance goose relocation program based on potential for hunting harvest:
Class 1. High priority
Class 2. High priority at public swimming beaches and airports; medium
priority at locations within extensive areas that cannot be hunted
safely; low priority at other locations.
Class 3. High priority at public swimming beaches and airports; low
priority elsewhere.
If your municipality is rated Class 2 or Class 3 and has prohibited the discharge of shotguns, it will be necessary for you to assess the potential for hunting prior to requesting approval of a relocation program. For assistance, please contact:
| Ms. Diana Regenscheid Area Wildlife Manager South Metro. Area 496-7686 |
Mr. Bob Welsh Area Wildlife Manager North Metro. Area 296-3450 |
August 1997