based only on my own observations, goose numbers are way down

[hammer4reel]

Working in Bridgewater at the public water facility. 
see tens of thousands there every day 

[deadonshot2]

37 minutes ago, fab said:

My land owner called me on Jan 10 saying he had 2000 birds out in the cut bean field n that I need to come tomorrow.   I laughed n said season is over today but I’ll come out n have a drink with u.  
 

he didnt see any snows yet this far.   

Saw these snows during cold snap also. Another field was also filling in with snows a couple miles away

[mazzgolf]

Yeah, snows are a different story altogether. Their numbers are actually on the other end of the spectrum -- can't kill enough of them  They are devastating everywhere they go.

[jumpthestring]

I saw a few huge flocks flying over in sussex cty . a few weeks ago

[nb6624]

Your spot sucks. Time to find another field.  There are thousands in every field in sussex. To restrict hunters to one goose is absurd!

[MGHunter66]

1 minute ago, nb6624 said:

Your spot sucks. Time to find another field.  There are thousands in every field in sussex. To restrict hunters to one goose is absurd!

LMFAO

[SPEARFISH]

Every day by me, and that’s just a fraction that can be seen in the pic

we shot our 1 each as much as we could 

 

[9CAS1]

I saw more than I’ve ever seen in central this year. Lots of snows as well, consistently. They are here and they are going where they don’t get shot at

[kamo_krimpets]

I was just having this conversation about seeing more Canadians than I can remember in some time. Huge flocks and can only shoot 1…  snows however have vacated the area, they were here and gone after the warm up post Xmas..

[tuny]

I hunt coastal for geese and have had decent success, 11 so far, but they only come in to the pond in the last half hour of legal shooting time.

[archer36]

What I have observed over the last 10 years or so is that the migratory geese are arriving later than before. See most of the birds in late January and February, after the season has closed. That's in my goose hunting area at least. This would indicate its climate related. Still nowhere the number of birds as before. 

Edited January 18, 2023 by archer36

[mazzgolf]

Just based on what I'm hearing here, the geese might not be coming down as far as they used to by this time of year. Guys that are saying they are seeing a lot seem to be up in north and central Jersey.

I have no idea how the coastal zone is for Canadas - I never hunt them in the coastal zone. All I know is, whenever I'm down there duck hunting, I never see a one. But that's probably because I'm in the marshes... I would love to hunt them in coastal, but I just never see them and I have no idea where the Canadas hang out in the coastal zone.

[npbow]

In my neck of the woods i would agree and thats a good thing.

[Bobcat19]

I'd say I have seen typical, if not a slight uptick, in goose numbers this year compared to last year. Delta waterfowl has a couple articles stating the AP goose population is up based on latest pop survey data.

https://deltawaterfowl.org/exciting-seasons-ahead-for-east-coast-and-west-coast-goose-hunters/

https://deltawaterfowl.org/atlantic-flyway-hunting-outlook-is-bright-2/

[mazzgolf]

20 minutes ago, Bobcat19 said:

I'd say I have seen typical, if not a slight uptick, in goose numbers this year compared to last year. Delta waterfowl has a couple articles stating the AP goose population is up based on latest pop survey data.

https://deltawaterfowl.org/exciting-seasons-ahead-for-east-coast-and-west-coast-goose-hunters/

https://deltawaterfowl.org/atlantic-flyway-hunting-outlook-is-bright-2/

Thanks for those links! Sounds like good news for change!

Quote

 

Frankly, it has been awhile since devoted AP goose hunters have had much to cheer about, but this year they do — finally!

Nicolai said, “AP Canada geese are showing their highest populations since 2015. They are actually up 37 percent since the last survey in 2019. Along with Eastern mallard numbers being up, those are some really bright spots for Delta’s Atlantic flyway hunters.”

While these numbers portend well for good hunting in the seasons immediately ahead, the increased breeding population of AP geese on the scene this spring as well as the likely strong production during the breeding season may give potential for liberalization of bag limits and season lengths in future years for Atlantic Flyway states.