Resident Goose Season Open in New York

Canada geese that don't have sense to fly south have a target on their heads in New York State for the next three weeks.

Canada Goose Hunting Season in New York opened September 1 and continues through September 25.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says the bag limit has been increased in an effort to curb the exploding population of "resident geese." Those are non-migrating Canada geese.

The D.E.C. says the number of birds that stick around all year has grown from 80,000 in 1995 to over 340,000.

The large birds weigh mainly between 7 and 14 pounds and pose a nuisance to air, vehicle and foot traffic. In addition to potential collisions with the big birds, according to various reports, an adult goose can produce an estimated 2 pounds of droppings per day, making walks in the park unpleasant.

In certain hunting zones, shooters can take eight to 15 birds per day.

Information on waterfowl and migratory bird hunting seasons can be found on the N.Y. D.E.C. website.