Jan. 29, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 25

For more information, contact Matt DiBona, Waterfowl Biologist, 302-735-3600, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds hunters to take advantage
of expanded Snow Goose Conservation Order in February 

Last year, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife implemented a Snow Goose Conservation Order as part of an Atlantic Flyway-wide effort to reduce the population of greater snow geese. For 2010, the Division has extended the length of the conservation order and most state wildlife areas in all three counties will be open to snow goose hunting during the order. Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges will be closed to hunting during the conservation order. 

Snow goose populations have reached levels that are now causing extensive damage to their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic as well as the wetlands and agricultural areas where they overwinter in the Mid-Atlantic, including Delaware. In 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized states to create conservation orders for the purposes of taking snow geese outside of the regular waterfowl hunting season. These actions were initiated with the intent of reducing and stabilizing the greater snow goose population by more than 50 percent between now and 2013.

Beginning Feb. 1, 2010 and continuing through April 17, 2010, hunters will be able to pursue snow geese every day except Sunday, using unplugged shotguns and electronic calls. During this time, legal shooting hours have been extended from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset and daily bag and possession limits have been removed. All other federal and state hunting regulations apply.

To avoid conflicts with the spring 2010 wild turkey season, snow goose hunting will be prohibited on state wildlife areas after April 3, 2010.

Individuals interested in participating in the conservation order must obtain a free Snow Goose Conservation Order permit number by registering at www.dehip.com. Participants are also required to have a valid Delaware hunting license (Maryland licenses are also acceptable), a 2009-2010 Delaware waterfowl stamp, and a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, also available at the website above. Once registered, hunters are required to keep this number in their possession while hunting snow geese and to report their hunting activity and success to the Division of Fish and Wildlife by May 31, 2010. A federal waterfowl stamp is not required. 

For more information, please call 302-739-9912 or visit www.fw.delaware.gov.