For the fifth year in a row, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a special conservation order extending the hunting period for light geese.

While the last day for the regular light goose season was Sunday, light geese (snow and Ross’ geese) may be taken through April 30.

During this period, there will be no bag or possession limit on light geese. In addition, participants will be allowed to use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls and take light geese from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

A long-term increase in the number of mid-continent light geese has brought the bird’s population to a level more than double the objective established in current management plans, as well as those of state wildlife agencies.

These large numbers are resulting in severe habitat degradation on Arctic breeding grounds.

Harvest regulations have been liberalized as much as possible within standard U.S. Fish and Wildlife frameworks, but have been unsuccessful in increasing harvest rates to the level necessary to halt the growth of this population.

Regulations that authorize the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns during the light goose conservation order, when all other waterfowl and crane seasons are closed, went into effect when the goose seasons ended.