FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Officials Encourage Reduction of Snow Goose Numbers

State and federal wildlife management officials are encouraging hunters to kill more snow, blue and Ross' geese, also referred to as "light geese." The population of these birds has grown so numerous they are destroying habitat along Hudson's Bay on which they and other wildlife depend. Besides allowing hunters to use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls, conservation agencies have instituted a Conservation Action to allow the taking of these geese through April 30.

During the regular hunting season for geese, which extends through March 10 in parts of Missouri, hunters need a Missouri Small Game Hunting Permit, a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit and a federal duck stamp to hunt legally. Normal shooting hours, bag limits, and other regulations apply.

From March 11 through April 30 hunters will be allowed to take an unlimited number of light geese daily throughout the state, and, in addition, hunt 1/2 hour longer--until 1/2 hour after sunset. The only permit they need during this period is a 1999 Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit ($6).

But there's a catch. 1998 Migratory Bird Hunting Permits expire Feb. 28, and 1999 Migratory Bird Hunting Permits won't go on sale until March 1. This leaves hunters without a way of getting the required permit to hunt light geese the early morning of March 1.

To remedy this problem, the Missouri Department of Conservation will honor either the 1998 or 1999 Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit through March 10. After that, hunters will need the 1999 permit.

"It would be nice to not require permits at all from March 11 through April 30," says Ollie Torgerson, Wildlife Division Administrator for the Conservation Department. "But to track the success of efforts to reduce light goose numbers, we need to know how many hunters take part in this conservation action and learn how many light geese are taken during the 51-day period."