Following are two news releases from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. Releases can be found online at www.georgiawildlife.com/news<http://www.georgiawildlife.com/news>.

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For more information, contact

Melissa Cummings, Communications/Outreach Specialist – 706-557-3326; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

SUMMARY OF RELEASES

1.       SEASON PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR WATERFOWL HUNTERS: DATES AND SEASON REGULATIONS APPROVED

2.       CURRENTLY FLIGHTLESS GEESE CAN CAUSE FEATHER AND FECES FRUSTRATION FOR LAND OWNERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEASON PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR WATERFOWL HUNTERS: DATES AND SEASON REGULATIONS APPROVED

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (June 14, 2017) – Hunters can begin making waterfowl season plans now that the 2017-2018 migratory bird season hunting dates and regulations were approved by the Board of Natural Resources.

“The 2017-18 migratory bird hunting season will remain similar to previous years, including an early teal hunting season and special youth hunting days,” said Greg Balkcom, state waterfowl biologist for the Wildlife Resources Division. “There is one small change this year, and it affects the pintail bag limit. The daily bag limit for pintails has been reduced to one this year, down from two last year.”

Some need-to-know dates and details for waterfowl season are the September Canada goose season (Sept. 2-24) and the September teal season (Sept. 9-24).  Canada goose hunting has three additional seasons: Oct. 14-29, Nov. 18-26 and Dec. 9 – Jan. 28.  Hunting season for ducks is Nov. 18-26 and Dec. 9-Jan. 28.    A complete summary of migratory bird hunting season dates and bag limits is online at www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations<http://www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations> .

Youth Waterfowl Days are Nov. 11-12, 2017.  On these two days, youth age 15 or younger may hunt specific migratory birds, such as ducks, Canada geese and mergansers, as long as they are accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age (only the youth may hunt).

Hunters may purchase licenses online at www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com<http://www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com>, by phone at 1-800-366-2661 or at more than 800 license agent locations (list of agents available online).

State license fees help support wildlife conservation in Georgia.  The state receives federal funds from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program, based on a number of factors, including the number of paid sporting licenses.  In Georgia, these funds are approximately $14 million a year and have helped restore habitat and improve wildlife populations, among other conservation efforts.

For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations<http://www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations>.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CURRENTLY FLIGHTLESS GEESE CAN CAUSE FEATHER AND FECES FRUSTRATION FOR LAND OWNERS

SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA (June 14, 2017) – The Canada goose is an adaptable bird that can live in a variety of habitats, with many of those locations in close proximity to people, such as open farmland, rural reservoirs, suburban neighborhood ponds, office complexes, parks and other developed areas.  While this ability to thrive is good for the goose, it can sometimes lead to landowner frustration during the summer, when geese begin to molt. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) asks people to be patient with geese during this time of year.

“Each summer, in late June and early July, geese go through a molting process during which they lose their flight feathers and are in the process of growing new ones,” says WRD State Waterfowl Biologist Greg Balkcom.  “We find that it is typically this time of year that the most complaints about goose feces and feathers are reported.”

What can you do if you have goose problems?  During most times of the year, geese can be scared away with the use of harassment techniques.  But, because geese cannot fly during the molt, these techniques may not work.  During the molting season, WRD personnel encourage affected landowners and homeowners to be patient.  The new feathers will soon grow in, and the geese will regain their ability to fly and will likely move on.

However, if geese continue to cause problems, here are a few tips to try and reduce the trouble:

*         Harassment: Landowners who don’t want geese on their property can first try a variety of harassment techniques, including chemical repellents, mylar balloons, wire/string barriers, and noise makers.  These methods are proven to help reduce goose problems.  However, they require consistency from the property owner and are not always 100% effective.

*         Relocation or Lethal Methods: Homeowners who want to reduce or eliminate the goose population on their property can obtain a permit from their local WRD Game Management office (www.georgiawildlife.com/about/contact<http://www.georgiawildlife.com/about/contact>).  This permit allows them to have geese captured and relocated to a suitable area or allows them to legally and lethally remove the animals.  The removal can be done by the homeowner or by a licensed nuisance wildlife trapper (list found at www.georgiawildlife.com/nuisancewildlife<http://www.georgiawildlife.com/nuisancewildlife>).

It is important to remember that Canada geese are a protected species under state and federal law. It is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, purchase or possess Canada geese except according to Georgia’s migratory bird regulations.
For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com<http://www.georgiawildlife.com> (Select “Hunting”, “Game Management” and “Nuisance Canada Geese”).