south, so it is felt that if hunting could be continued later, through 
the month of November, such pressure may force additional birds south. 
This was tried in 1961; however, the Missouri Conservation Commission, 
through mutual agreement with the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wild- 
life, closed the season in the 4-county area surrounding Swan Lake 
on November 25 after 25 days of hunting when the kill reached 15,000 
geese. A population of approximately 45,000 geese remained through 
the winter. 
It is likewise beneficial to have a later opening at Swan Lake 
to enable Bureau and State personnel to carry out preseason banding 
operations in connection with population studies under way there. 
Again, these approaches are complicated by the amount of food present 
within the Swan Lake Refuge, status of harvest of agricultural crops 
on adjacent private lands in relation to depredation problems, and 
the ability of wintering areas farther south to adequately provide 
for birds that do move there. 
Reduction in Daily Bag Limits: Even though Federal regulations 
have provided for a bag and possession limit of two Canada geese in 
the Mississippi Flyway during recent years, additional restrictions 
have been imposed by some States. In 1960 the Illinois Department of 
Conservation reduced the daily bag and possession limit to one Canada 
goose in the four counties concerned. It was hoped that this would , 
reduce the daily kill rate, thereby prolonging the season. There is 
good evidence that this result was achieved, but it was apparent that 
this regulation had a rather severe impact on local economy associated 
with goose hunting. Many hunters apparently were reluctant to travel 
any distance when permitted only one Canada goose in the daily bag 
and possession limit. The general opinion of club operators and busi- 
nessmen in southern Illinois was "give us a daily bag and possession 
limit of two geese and we will settle for a shorter season.” This 
approach was tried during 1961 to compare results. The daily bag 
limit was again increased to two birds in 1961, but owing to a slow 
build-up in numbers of geese, the daily kill rate remained much 
lower than previous years so no direct comparison could be made 
with the 1960 season. 
The Wisconsin Conservation Department established a daily bag 
and possession limit of one Canada goose in Dodge and Fond du Lac 
Counties during 1960 in an effort to reduce the daily kill rate and 
prolong the season. Again this feature resulted in greater dis- 
tribution of hunting opportunity, but the agreed upon quota for the 
counties concerned was still taken in 94 days of hunting. Wisconsin 
continued the one Canada goose bag and possession limit in 1961 and 
further modified area regulations for the managed shooting area 
within the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge to limit the daily kill 
to one goose of any species. 
