GOOSE HUNTING 



Some of the best goose hunting on the continent is enjoyed on the James 

 Bay and Hudson Bay lowlands. Indian bands located in these areas depend 

 upon waterfowl to supply much of their yearly food supply. Each fall, many 

 white hunters enjoy top quality goose shooting "on the Bay". Indians who are 

 exceptionally skilled at calling geese to the waiting guns, are often employed 

 as guides, to the benefit of both parties. Statistics for 1964 and 1965 of the 

 harvest at licenced goose camps and from the Moose River checking station is 

 as follows: 



Table 1 1 



WATERFOWL HARVEST — JAMES BAY 



1964 1965 



Blue and Snow Geese 23,467 19,269 



Canada Geese 951 392 



Ducks 3,073 1,502 



TOTAL 27„491 21,163 



No. of Canadian Hunters 2,365 2,292 



No. of American Hunters 390 408 



No. of Treaty Indians 772 570 



TOTAL HUNTERS 3,527* 3,270 



' - -Plus 267 hunters with no kills. 



The kill was reduced in 1965 due to the prevalence of southerly winds 

 during the hunt. Birds flew high; the "bluebird" weather was not conducive to 

 good success. 



On Hudson Bay, the Fort Severn goose camp, operated by Indians under 

 the sponsorship of the Department, had a most successful season. Hunters 

 participating included eighty-two from the United States, sixteen from Ontario 

 and seventeen from Manitoba. Indians also took geese during the hunt so that 

 the total kill was as follows: 



Blue and Snow Geese 2,127 



Canada Geese 80 



Small Canada Geese 18 



Ducks 59 



Ptarmigan 48 



TOTAL 2,332 



Hunting success for waterfowl was excellent and more hunters showed 

 an interest in taking ptarmigan. 



The Fort Severn Indian band derived considerable economic benefit from 

 services such as guiding, boat and motor rentals, aircraft tending, duck and 

 goose plucking and assisting in camp operations. Total revenue to the band 

 was estimated at $9,074.70, an increase of $790.70 over 1964. In addition, the 

 Department paid out approximately $1,000.00 in wages for construction work 

 prior to the opening of the camp. 



WATERFOWL BANDING 



The leg banding of ducks and geese to ascertain hunting mortality rates and 

 location of kill is becoming a very valuable tool of waterfowl management. 



International in nature, waterfowl banding in 1965 was a cooperative 

 effort involving coordination by the Department of Lands and Forests, the 



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