By Nolan Sawatzky – Manitoba Wildlife Federation
In an exclusive interview with Frank Baldwin, a wildlife biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, we took a deep dive into the background, science, and intent behind Manitoba’s spring conservation season for giant Canada geese. With decades of research and population monitoring at play, this initiative is rooted in conservation, not tradition—and offers a new opportunity for hunters while addressing growing environmental concerns.
A Lifetime of Conservation Science
Born and raised near Delta Marsh, Frank Baldwin has dedicated his career to migratory bird research and management. After graduate work focused on Arctic-nesting geese, Frank served as Manitoba’s Game Bird Manager from 2008 to 2018 before rejoining the Canadian Wildlife Service. Today, he leads major monitoring programs, including Arctic banding and goose population research across the prairies.
Why a Spring Conservation Season?
Contrary to a typical hunting season, this March opportunity is officially designated as a conservation season—a distinction allowed only when a species is deemed “overabundant.” For giant Canada geese, the designation is based on several factors: sustained annual population growth (around 10–12% per year), threats to human safety (such as airport collisions), agricultural damage, and growing urban conflicts.
The regulation stems from the Migratory Birds Convention, which normally restricts hunting to a 107-day period between September 1 and March 10. However, populations labeled overabundant—like snow geese in the past—can be managed through extended seasons outside of that window.
Why Giant Canada Geese?
Using long-term banding and harvest data, researchers have isolated three main goose populations that migrate through Manitoba: cackling geese, subarctic-nesting Canada geese, and the large-bodied giants. Of these, only the giants have exhibited rapid and unsustainable growth, particularly in southern Manitoba. Despite extended fall seasons and increased bag limits, harvest rates haven’t kept pace.
According to Baldwin, “Right now, we’re harvesting about 10–11% of the adult giant Canada goose population. We need to get that closer to 15% to stabilize their growth.”
The challenge? In fall, these giants mix with other populations, making targeted harvest difficult. That’s where the timing of the March season comes in.
Tracking Migration to Fine-Tune Timing
Between 2015 and 2019, Baldwin’s team deployed light-sensitive geolocators on all three goose populations to determine their spring migration timelines. The data confirmed a key management hypothesis: giant Canadas arrive in southern Manitoba weeks before other populations.
Using this insight, the conservation season was set from March 1 to 31—aiming to exclusively target the overabundant population while avoiding overlap with other migrating geese. The season was initially limited to a few days (March 1–10), but has since expanded based on continued tracking and recovery data.
The Role of Hunters and Bands
Hunters play a pivotal role in the success of this conservation initiative. Band recoveries—whether from recaptures or birds harvested in the field—form the foundation of monitoring and adaptive management strategies.
“We can’t do this without hunters,” Baldwin emphasized. “About half of all geolocators we’ve recovered came from hunters. That data tells us how migration is shifting, how effective the season is, and whether any unintended impacts are occurring.”
The bands also allow biologists to evaluate survival rates, migration patterns, and harvest pressure. Ongoing research at the University of Manitoba is currently analyzing this growing dataset to assess whether future adjustments to the spring season may be necessary.
Nesting, Ethics, and Effectiveness
Some early concerns about the spring season focused on potential impacts to nesting geese. However, geolocator data shows that giant Canada geese typically don’t begin nesting until mid-to-late April. By ending the season March 31, biologists ensure the timing avoids that sensitive period.
From a management perspective, spring harvests are effective precisely because they target adult geese—a demographic that has the greatest influence on population growth. “Mortality from hunting is the largest source of adult mortality,” said Baldwin. “Other sources—like predation or disease—have a minimal effect.”
Getting Started: Advice for New Hunters
For new hunters, like myself, the spring season presents a unique and accessible opportunity. According to Baldwin, early spring hunting is more about adaptability than gear.
“You don’t need a huge decoy spread,” he explained. “Just a few decoys near open water or ice edges, a goose call, and some good scouting will go a long way.”
Open river edges, thawing wetlands, and warm southerly winds offer prime conditions for intercepting migrating geese. With limited hunting pressure and uneducated birds, the potential for success is high.
Looking Ahead
Will this conservation season stick around? For now, yes. Once in regulation, it remains in place until monitoring data shows a reversal of the population growth trend. Every year, federal and provincial agencies will review data to determine whether the management goals are being met—or if adjustments are needed.
Thanks to robust science, responsive policy, and committed hunter participation, Manitoba is taking bold steps to address waterfowl overabundance before it becomes unmanageable. And with the spring conservation season, hunters can be part of the solution—one goose at a time.
