| New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife | |
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For more information contact:
Paulette Nelson at 609-292-9173
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife reminds hunters that the application period for obtaining a 1998 Special September Canada Goose Season Permit is July 1-31, 1998. This year, the season begins on Tuesday, September 1 and continues through September 30 providing a total of 26 hunting days.
"Although resident Canada geese are a tremendously valuable wildlife resource, recent increases in their population have led to increased nuisance problems such as reduced water quality and lawn/crop damage in some areas of the state," said Division Director Bob McDowell. "The special September season helps curb these ever increasing resident populations without negatively impacting migrant geese whose numbers remain at low levels."
According to Division Director Bob McDowell, New Jersey hunters will experience one of the longest September Canada goose hunting seasons in the United States. "As a result of long term, intensive scientific research and population monitoring conducted and financed by the Division, we have the necessary information to support a longer hunting season than most other states.
Research indicates that few migrant Canada geese are present in New Jersey before October. As a result, the September season should have little impact on low migrating arctic populations while allowing the Division to offer increased recreational hunting opportunities for resident geese and provide greater relief to farmers and other landowners experiencing crop depredation and nuisance problems."
Hunters must possess a Special September Canada Goose Season Permit while hunting during this season. The permit allows hunters to record valuable harvest information that will later be used by the Division to enhance existing management strategies for resident geese.
The permit can be obtained by sending a 3"x5" index card with the applicant's name, full mailing address, EVENING telephone number and DATE OF BIRTH to:
ATTN: GOOSE PERMITSHunters not providing the required information may be denied a permit. A processing fee of $2 must also accompany this information. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife. Please do not send cash. Applicants are encouraged to mail their applications early, as all applications must be post marked by July 31, 1998. Hunters should receive their permits in the mail by late August.
NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife
P.O. Box 400
Trenton, NJ 08625-0400
The daily bag limit for this season will be five (5) Canada geese per person per day. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily. All other pertinent federal and state waterfowl hunting regulations apply.