Estimating Canada Goose Harvest in Southern Illinois Quota Zones

This paper examines the utility of 3 different methodologies for estimating Canada goose (Branta canadensis) harvest in 2 quota zones in southern Illinois from 1982 to 1992. For the Southern Illinois Quota Zone (4 counties), daily registration forms (x̄ = 24,855), the Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey (state survey; x̄ = 25,143), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Harvest Survey (federal survey; x̄ = 22,137) produced similar estimates of goose harvest. For the Rend Lake Quota Zone (2 counties), extrapolation from the public hunting area (daily registration forms; x̄ = 7,036) and the state survey (x̄ = 7,246) produced similar estimates of goose harvest, but the federal survey (x̄ = 8,771) produced higher estimates. When the extrapolation factor was fine tuned, the daily registration form estimates and the federal survey estimates agreed. The use of daily registration forms is an acceptable procedure for monitoring Canada goose harvest in these quota zones. Attempts to record all geese harvested appear unnecessary and a waste of agency time and public funds.