Goose Permit

High Life · 07-18-2006, 02:34 PM

ok i heard a rumor about this last year and since the season is creeping up on us it would be nice to get it cleared up.will everyone have to take the permit test this coming season even if you hunt in the general zone?and if so will the same rules apply for both such as shooting time at 8,only hunt on these days,check your birds in etc...i sure hope this isnt the case :whazzup:

waterfowlin101 · 07-18-2006, 03:55 PM

From what I know....here is the deal!!

Every goose hunter in the State of Oregon will be required to obtain a permit via a FREE test administered by volunteers of the ODFW.

If you are hunting in the general zone...you abide by the seasons, bag limits, and shooting hours of that general zone.

If you are hunting in the permit zone...you abide by the seasons, bag limits, and shooting hours of that permit zone.

Hope this helps!! If it isn't clear let me know and I will help clear it up.

Jon

thehunt · 07-18-2006, 04:57 PM

I want to know the catch???? fines for duskys? more cackler restrictions? There has to be more to it, otherwise what is the point? Decrease the pressure on the general zone? Increase revenue on unsuspecting goose hunters? Actually believe that this test will encourage people in the general zone not to shoot dusky's? Close dusky's altogether? Check stations outside the permit zone???????????????? All thoughts I have been pondering for a long time. :whazzup:

Let's kick this topic around until we find out...

Get Bit · 07-18-2006, 05:29 PM

The thinking behind the "permit for everyone" requirement is that all hunters show competency in the basics of goose I.D.. With this increased competency, we should see a decrease in number of Duskies taken within the general zone.
Lets hope this is the case.

Get Bit

waterfowlin101 · 07-18-2006, 08:15 PM

..GB...agreed

Quote:

There has to be more to it, otherwise what is the point?

I think the point is education Evan. Education leads to good things.

Hogwild · 07-18-2006, 09:17 PM

Here is the reason behind all goose hunters needing to take the identification class and test as I understand it. Right now the USFW currently has more concern for the cackler population than the dusky population. The Duskys seem to be showing up more and more in the general zone areas, lake labish area for example. Well if the ODFW increased the permit boundry to incluse this area, like they purposed and solicited feed back last season the Dusky harvest would drop in this area BUT the cackler bag limit would increase from 1 to 2 which is allowed in the permit zone. They decided they did not want to increase the cackler bag limit by changing the boundry so they didn't.

As already stated the ODFW is hoping hunters will become better at identifing the dusky in the general zone and choose not to harvest them but it's still legal to do so in the general zone.

thehunt · 07-19-2006, 07:03 AM

Is there seriously enough goose harvest in that small portion of oregon to effect the cackler population? I don't buy that, but I have been wrong before.

Jon, I agree education can lead to greatness, but it won't matter. If it's a legal bird to shoot, people will kill it. The thrill of the general zone, big geese, no worries.

Hogwild · 07-19-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Is there seriously enough goose harvest in that small portion of oregon to effect the cackler population? I don't buy that, but I have been wrong before.

Jon, I agree education can lead to greatness, but it won't matter. If it's a legal bird to shoot, people will kill it. The thrill of the general zone, big geese, no worries.

Other than subsistance(sp) harvest in Alaska we kill more Cacklers than Washington or Cali. Back when we could shoot 4 cacklers 75%-80% of the geese taken to check stations were cacklers. I've seen the actual after the season data(can't remember the numbers) on how many geese are harvested here in the valley and it was pretty surprizing, way more than I thought as well. Of course they also pad the numbers with some formula for birds not being checked in of all types. The Cackler number seem high to us because most of the winter migration is right here in the valley.

thehunt · 07-19-2006, 04:43 PM

Hog, I totally agree with you. The first thing I said when I heard we could only shoot two was that alot of my limits in the zone were all cackler limits. I had more fun last year not shooting cacklers than I ever did shooting them. Hunting the big birds was way more rewarding than just trying to shoot 4 birds. I was upset with myself more than once for shooting a cackler, only to watch the lessers and tavs put on a show later.

I agree with protecting the dusky, I just don't think it will happen in most set ups in the general zone.

Hogwild · 07-19-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Hog, I totally agree with you. The first thing I said when I heard we could only shoot two was that alot of my limits in the zone were all cackler limits. I had more fun last year not shooting cacklers than I ever did shooting them. Hunting the big birds was way more rewarding than just trying to shoot 4 birds. I was upset with myself more than once for shooting a cackler, only to watch the lessers and tavs put on a show later.

I agree with protecting the dusky, I just don't think it will happen in most set ups in the general zone.

I'm quite sure your correct about Dusky still getting shot in the general zone even if hunters take the identification class. Why shouldn'y they, it's a legal bird to harvest in the general zone. I guess ODFW had to try and do something and having all hunters take the identification test is "something". Right now ODFW has 2 birds of concern, the dusky and the cackler where a few years ago it was only 1, the dusky.

IMO ODWF has it pretty tough when it come to the goose season around here. It would not be so bad IF ODFW could run the show around here but the feds own the regulations for migratory birds. The feds dictate to ODFW what they want to happen with what birds and it's up to ODFW to firgure out the best way. I do know the feds want to see the cackler pop up to 250,000. I don't think the feds no longer subsidize the farmer for loss due to the geese, if I'm wrong some one please correct me, they no longer provide money to ODFW to help keep this special situation goose season open in which the feds set the guide lines. ODFW has to please the feds, the farmers, and lastly us the goose hunters.