Local hunters can expect higher population numbers to accompany this year’s extended goose season, according to a survey from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

This year’s predicted fall flight for Canada geese is estimated at 1.32 million, compared to last year’s 1.19 million. Because of the population increase, the fall season has been extended to 89 days this year an increase of 39 days from last year.

John Mabery, wildlife biologist at the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, said if the population of geese continues to remain high, hunters can expect longer seasons.

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High population numbers typically mean higher quotas as well. This year’s daily limit has increased to three geese per day from last year’s limit of two geese per day.

Mabery, said the Southern Illinois quota zone, which is comprised of Jackson, Williamson, Union and Alexander counties, does not usually meet the yearly quotas.

Typically, we have not reached our quota in the last several years, he said. That’s due to a combination of weather conditions and the age rate of the birds.

Mabery said last year’s quota for the zone, was 39, 800 birds. A total of 24, 593 birds were harvested in the zone, with Williamson county alone taking a total of 15,849 geese.

The IDNR has set this year’s season quota for the Southern Illinois zone at 62,691.

Mabery said the ratio among the adult and young birds plays an important factor in determining the amount of birds harvested each season.

The older birds are a little smarter than the young ones, he said. The older birds are a lot more wary than the young ones are and will shy away from hunters, so more young birds often mean a better harvest.

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According to breeding ground surveys conducted in the spring, this year’s ratio of young birds in the flight estimate has increased and is estimated to be at 45 percent. Last year that ratio was estimated to be around 42 percent.

Mabery said the geese begin their trek to Southern Illinois from the Hudson Bay area in Northern Canada, then stop over at the Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin before making their way to the Southern Illinois area.

Mabery said if the weather in Wisconsin does not turn cold early enough, the geese will stay there (Horicon Marsh) instead of continuing on to the Southern regions of the Mississippi Flyway, which means hunting does not pick up until late in the season.

Mild conditions held Canada geese at the Horicon Marsh last year until late in the season. Despite the holdup, Mabery said there was a record 265,000 geese on the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge in January of 1995.

Provided estimates are correct and weather conditions are favorable, conservation officials expect this year’s total harvest to exceed last year’s.

Traditionally, the goose-hunting season brings a lot of revenue to the Southern Illinois region. Many local businesses depend on the hunters to increase revenue during goose season.

John Hinde, co-owner of the Wildlife Refuge in Carbondale, said most of the people who visit the region spend a lot of money.

There are a lot of people who come in from out of town who are simply on vacation, he said. These people on vacation spend a lot of money.

It makes a big difference and is an important thing for our business,

Hinde said people spend money on a variety of different items at the Wildlife Refuge, including hunting supplies, and arts and crafts.

Larry Bowman, director of tourism for Williamson County, said on the average, a hunter will spend approximately $180 per day when visiting the four-county quota zone. He said that money goes toward the hunt itself, lodging and food.

Following the 1991 season, the tourism board for Williamson County conducted an in-depth study to determine how much revenue was generated in the zone. Results of the study indicated that a total of $10 million were generated from the hunting season.

Recently, the East Coast Flyway zone shut down its goose season. Bowman said the board is targeting that area to bring hunters into this region.

We get a lot of hunters from the Northern part of the state, and recently they have started to come up from the Southern part of the U.S., he said. This year we are going to try to attract hunters on the East Coast near the Chesapeake Bay area.

Bowman said the board will be sending ads into the region describing a number of local hunting clubs in the four-county zone area.

Bowman said everyone in the region benefits from goose season.

Our economy is pretty tightly woven, Bowman said. We have guides in college working for money.

The goose hunters spend more money than any other hunter or fisherman and are an important part of our economy.

The Canada Goose hunting season for the Southern zone starts Nov. 4 and runs until Jan. 31, or until the quota is met..

As with any other season, meeting the quota will depend on Mother Nature.