Every year, federal officials research last year’s waterfowl harvest, spring nesting surveys and other data to determine this year’s season lengths, bag limits and other regulations.  We should hear what 2013 will hold in a few weeks.

We’ll talk to Steve Cordts from the Minnesota DNR on this weekend’s MNSJ Radio show to get more information.

What we do know, is that the feds have approved an early Canada goose season starting August 10th.  Now it’s up to the individual states to decide if they want to open that early or not.

Opinions are split on whether or not an early Canada goose season will be successful in lowering the resident goose population and decrease the amount of crop depredation.  Some biologists worry whether or not this could also decrease opening day opportunities for the traditional waterfowler who doesn’t have time to get out during the early season.

I’ve seen the Dakotas get a lot of goose hunting traffic during the early season with mixed success.  They already were offering an August season, but sometimes it can be hard to find huntable numbers of geese that time of year  and with the gaining popularity, you also have competition for fields.

Right or wrong, you can bet many hardcore waterfowlers are excited about the chance to break out the calls earlier in the year.

What do you think?  Are you in favor of the early season?