loss was attributed to poor bond of the adhesive used, Recoveries of geese 

 banded in the study area, recovered between 1973 and 1976, are shown in 

 figure 15. These recoveries occurred within their migrational and wintering 

 distribution as described by Rutherford (1965). Canada geese taken in the 

 study area but banded in other areas were mostly banded within the distribution 

 limits of the Hi-Line population (figure 16) on their breeding grounds in 

 northeastern Montana or on major wintering grounds in north-central Colorado. 



Crops and Forage Utilized . Field-feeding geese were observed in greatest 

 numbers in small grain, corn, and hay fields. Fewer geese were observed in 

 fields cut for corn silage during this period than in the preceding one, 

 possibly because field-feeding patterns became more diverse later in the fall. 

 Observations of geese utilizing hayfields between Forsyth and Terry during this 

 period indicated a preference for fields providing green forage. Use of forage 

 crops continued through this period where barley stubble fields offered 

 volunteer barley sprouts, winter wheat fields provided sprouted drilled wheat, 

 and alfalfa and hay fields provided green growth under snow cover or before 

 heavy frosts. 



Movement . Movements of neck-banded geese during this period appeared to 

 be similar to those observed in the earlier periods. Most field-feeding obser- 

 vations of marked individuals were recorded near where those geese were 

 originally banded. Movements of adult and juvenile birds were similar in 

 extent (table 12) due to the tendency of family groups to remain together 

 (Raveling 1966). The mean longest axis of the home range of subadults was the 

 lowest of all age-sex classes, probably due to the small sample size. Geese 

 banded near the mouth of the Powder River were observed in fields east of 

 Miles City in late November. These observations represent the longest up- 

 and downstream movements of neck-banded individuals observed during the study. 



Field-feeding patterns during this period were less orderly than those 

 observed during the preceding period. Geese frequently changed loafing 

 and feeding areas, especially when hunting occurred. In 1974, those sections 

 were limited to the Yellowstone River downstream from the Custer-Prairie 

 county line near Zero and upstream from the mouth of the Bighorn River. The 

 river between Zero and the Custer-Rosebud county line near Hathaway was 

 closed to hunting after 12 noon. Between Hathaway and the mouth of the Bighorn, 

 the river was closed to waterfowl hunting. In 1975 no areas were open to 

 hunting for half-days only. Areas closed to waterfowl hunting included the 

 river reaches from Bighorn to Myers, Reservation Creek to Hathaway, 11.3 km 

 (7 mi) southwest of Miles City to Kinsey, and from Terry to Intake. All other 

 sections were open to hunting. Goose movements became more erratic in those 

 areas opened to hunting in 1975 which had been closed in previous years. Some 

 flocks moved from the river to loaf on stockponds when the waterfowl season 

 opened. In those areas closed to hunting in 1975 which had been open previously, 

 no discernible changes occurred in goose movements and distribution; such was 

 also the case in those areas where regulations in 1975 were unchanged from 

 previous years. 



44 



