Spring vs Fall Waterfowl Hunting in Canada
What are the differences between spring and fall waterfowl hunting in Canada?
There is much debate about spring vs fall waterfowl hunting and which season is better. However, they are hard to compare because they are just different. The weather is different between the two seasons, which leads to vastly different experiences. Hunting strategy, bird behavior, and of course temperature are all heavily influenced by the time of year. However, the biggest difference between the two hunting seasons is the type of waterfowl hunters are allowed to shoot.
In the spring in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario as well as other Canadian Provinces, snow geese are the main priority for waterfowl hunters. The biggest reason for this is that it is actually illegal to hunt ducks and other migratory birds in the spring. In fact, the spring snow goose hunting season is not a season at all but a special conservation order to better control the population. The snow goose population is very large (15 to 20 million), very healthy, and shows no signs of slowing down in growth. therefore, has more relaxed regulations when it comes to bag limits, shooting hours, and electronic calls. Compare that to several species of duck whose populations have been steadily declining in the past few decades.
In the fall, the species hunters are allowed to shoot are much broader, with much stricter regulations on bag limits, shooting hours, and electronic calls. Fall waterfowl hunting is focused more on sustainable harvesting to maintain a healthy bird population. Because of the wider range of species of both ducks and geese allowed to be hunted, there are many different strategies and habitats hunters can use during this time. Of course, much of it is dependent on which species is being targeted and the specific strategy used. Whether you are hunting in Saskatchewan, Ontario or Manitoba, choosing fall vs spring waterfowl in hunting comes down to what kind of experience you want.
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