Successful Canada goose competition comes to an end

A successful competition that has encouraged hunters to target Canada geese has just held its final prize giving. The competition was started by Fish & Game five years ago as a way to reduce the number of costly goose culls. Hunters supported the competition which has grown every year, culminating in a record number of 8193 Canada geese taken in 2010/2011. Fish & Game Officer Steve Terry said if Fish & Game were to carry out aerial culls to kill this number of birds it would cost around $123,000.

Mr Terry says that now Canada geese have been officially taken off the gamebird species list, Fish & Game are unlikely to hold the competition again. “It has been a great incentive for hunters to shoot as many birds as they can, with a $10,000 prize pool up for grabs. Unfortunately that incentive will now disappear.” Mr Terry says that the expert hunters that enter the competition have a good relationship with farmers who have found them an excellent way to control geese on their properties.

Hunters collected goose legs all year from the North and South Canterbury regions to enter in the competition. Prizes were handed out yesterday at the Waihora Clay Target Shooting Range at Motukarara where a clay target shoot was also held. The top shooter, Hayden Roberts from Rakaia, entered 1435 birds and won a shotgun valued at nearly $3000. This was donated by the Christchurch International Airport Ltd.

On 9 June 2011 Canada geese will be taken off the gamebird species list. This new status will mean anyone with a firearms licence will be able to shoot geese at anytime of the year and will no longer require a Game Bird Licence. Fish & Game will no longer be controlling the species through recreational hunters and organised culls.