Within the designated ranges of the major populations of large 
Canada geese, there is a rather well defined migration route of 
"small" Canada geese which breed in several known localities in the 
central and eastern Arctic. On the basis of an extensive banding 
program at the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota, 
during the past 10 years, and breeding ground investigations conducted 
by Canadian Wildlife Service personnel, the range of this group is 
becoming better defined as shown in figure 3 (MacInnes, 1960, and 
personal correspondence ). 
POPULATION TRENDS 
Population trends for the four major populations of Canada geese 
in the Central and Mississippi Flyways are show in tables 1 through 4. 
Much still remains to be learned about the "small" Canada geese asso- 
ciated with Sand Lake Refuge and the larger forms associated with the 
Missouri River in South Dakota. New management techniques are being 
developed for these populations. The first attempt to carry out a 
coordinated census of this group of "small" Canada geese throughout 
the Central Flyway was conducted October 23-24, 1961. ‘These data 
indicate the total population size during the fall of 1961 was in the 
neighborhood of 100,000 to 125,000 geese. Data pertaining to the 
Mississippi Valley population are the most complete and are used 
throughout the remainder of the discussion to illustrate specific 
points. 
MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES 
Control of distribution and harvest of Canada geese in the United 
States are achieved largely through a system of State and Federal 
management areas or refuges, privately owned sanctuaries such as 
Miner's in Ontario, and Federal and State regulations. As concen- 
trations of geese increased on the major refuges involved and increased 
hunting pressure developed, many specific management techniques and 
area regulations have been initiated to control the annual harvest, 
to achieve better distribution of kill, and to improve the quality 
of goose hunting. 
As in the case of other species of migratory waterfowl, Federal 
regulations establish the broad framework for season length, bag and 
possession limits, and shooting hours within the respective flyways. 
Some specific Federal regulations have been directed toward protec- 
tion of geese in the Mississippi Flyway on an are@ basis when the 
resource appeared to be in jeopardy. The majority of all other special 
area regulations have been initiated by the States concerned. Some 
of the measures employed during the past 15 years in the management 
of the Mississippi Valley population of Canada geese to control har- 
vest, improve distribution of hunting opportunity, and improve the 
