SNOW GOOSE SPRING CONSERVATION HARVEST: CONTINUATION OF THE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN

SAINTE-FOY, March 30, 2006 - Environment Canada has confirmed that there will be a spring conservation harvest of the Greater Snow Goose in 2006. As in previous years, this will take place from April 1 to May 31, 2006, in southern Quebec and from May 1 to June 30, 2006, in the north. Harvesting is authorized only on farmland, excluding those areas where large numbers of people customarily congregate to watch the geese, such as around Lac St-Pierre and Montmagny.

The only change in the 2006 regulations from those in force in 2005 concerns the hunting facilities, which must now be set up only on farmland, not on ponds, streams, rivers, canals or mud flats.
In the spring of 2005, hunters took some 34,600 geese. This represents a five percent increase over the spring 2004 harvest. The most successful hunting was on the stretch of the St. Lawrence between Trois-Rivières upstream and Rivière-du-Loup downstream where approximately 70 percent of the total harvest took place. It is estimated that 814,600 geese migrated through southern Quebec in the spring of 2005.

Hunters who would like to take part in the 2006 spring conservation harvest must hold a migratory bird hunting permit for 2005-2006 and obtain a Quebec small game hunting permit for 2006-2007. Those who did not obtain a migratory bird permit in the fall can still apply for one at most Canada Post offices or from the offices of the Canadian Wildlife Service at 1141 Route de l’Église, Sainte-Foy.
Further information on the regulations in force in the spring of 2006 can be obtained by calling 1 800 463-4311.
A full explanation of the spring harvest, a special conservation measure, can also be found on the Web site of the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada at: www.qc.ec.gc.ca/faune/oiesn/oiesn.html