If improvements in hunting opportunity cannot achieve a higher harvest of birds, and a reduction in the size of the snow goose population to a level commensurate with habitat protection, recovery and maintenance, then direct population reduction will be necessary. Strategies IIA and IIB are aimed at “direct population control”, i.e., purposeful removal of birds from the population using techniques other than hunting. Strategy IIC is directed at reducing the population growth rate and size by reducing both survival and recruitment.
A. Commercial Harvest
Commercial harvest opportunities could be permitted and developed to allow private enterprise to take, process and market snow geese for food. Hunters could also be permitted to sell snow geese to specialized poultry markets. It is understood that the current Migratory Bird Treaty amendment, if approved, will allow the sale of migratory birds only between aboriginal communities in Canada. A basic need may be to reduce regulation restrictions which would make implementation of a commercial harvest difficult. Encouraging a commercial harvest could be a very cost effective way for agencies to increase snow goose harvest. Both hunters and the general public may find commercial harvest distasteful. Birds harvested commercially could be sold for food in the United States and Canada or shipped to native communities in the north for use as food. Birds could also be shipped to Europe where there is a thriving market for wild game, including waterfowl. A concern is that commercial operators may become dependent on snow geese as a source of income and that the snow goose population may not be able to support a commercial harvest in every year. If the population were reduced, demands for commercial harvest would compete with demands for hunting opportunity. Commercialization of a snow goose harvest would have to be initiated with a full understanding that commercial harvest would be reduced or eliminated when populations were at objective levels.
B. Trapping and Culling Birds on Migration and Wintering Areas
Wildlife agencies or their designees could capture geese using a variety of techniques such as rocket netting. Captured geese would be killed and used for human consumption. Donation to food shelters or other needy organizations is possible. Feathers and down could perhaps be sold to recover some program expenses if special permits were allowed.
C. Refuge Management
Management practices on state, provincial and federal refuges could be changed to reduce the availability of food subsidies, roosting areas and areas safe from hunting. The concept is to decrease survival of adult and young birds and to reduce their reproductive potential. Efforts such as eliminating or reducing agricultural crops which provide food, managing water, restricting roost sites and permitting activities which help to move birds off refuge situations would all help to reduce population growth. Conflicts may exist with management practices which benefit other migratory birds and wildlife.
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