Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

When I got wind that Texas Parks and Wildlife was considering cancelling the long standing spring snow goose conservation season (you know, the one where you take the plug out of your shotgun and there’s no daily bag limit) I was immediately intrigued. WHY? The conservation order has been in place since the mid 1980s. Is it no longer an effective way to help control snow goose numbers?

Texas Parks and Wildlife Waterfowl Program Lead Kevin Kraai makes his return to the show this week. He answers the tough questions and reflects on the expected blow back from some hunters and outfitters that view this is nothing more than lost hunter opportunity. However, it’s important to note that the conservation season was never intended to be a permanent deal. We discuss it in great detail while hitting on some other interesting topics including:

  • Teal season across Texas
  • historical tension between representatives from different fly ways
  • one state’s defection from the Mississippi Flyway
  • coyotes displace the #1 nest predator of ducks
  • historical analysis of mid continent snow goose population over the past 50 years and why that lead to Texas becoming the 1st state to cancel the spring conservation season
  • why are snow goose numbers on the decline?
  • why did the duck season split move a week later in the season ( I know a lot of us were less than thrilled to get that news) ?
  • widescale changes in greenhead behavior AND patterns
  • other puddlers picking up the slack?
  • positive pintail news?