29.03.2024

Hunting for grey goose

The problem of maintaining the population of grey goose, which is a national treasure of Russia, today is immense. In almost all regions of Central Russia grey goose included in the regional Red books.

In the most best position to date is the West Siberian population of the grey goose. The reason is that in Western Siberia in the areas where they nest gray goose, the spring hunting for waterfowl is actually closed.

Since the late 90-ies of the last century the hunt in the Baraba and Kulunda steppes began to open, but extremely limited – only 4 per day, and only on the drakes, and in some areas species-specific migratory goose. Such hunting can not cause any significant damage to populations of nesting Greylag geese. With regard to the southern Russian populations of grey goose, the situation is worse.

Five years ago I came across a video on spring hunting of geese in Kalmykia Republic and Tver region. I noticed at one scene. While hunting in Kalmykia, three hunters, to shoot in the desert white-fronted goose, travel to the marshes to hunt for the so-called “waterfowl geese”.

It turned out that this grey goose. Brave hunters go into the reeds and occasionally fire intermittently for irradiating them to the grey geese. And extract three pieces! Then-it sure surprised me. You know that hunters spend a lot of effort in finding and tracking birds, organize ambushes, use Manne geese to organize an effective hunt. And never touch the geese on the water! It is an axiom, because it is pointless and harmful.

But here everything is so simple: I went into the reeds, stood for an hour and voilà! – you can catch. And geese for some reason after the first shots were again descend on the hunters.

The mystery was solved in 2008. Until that time, I never had to shoot the grey geese in the spring. I knew that the spring you can only shoot in the nesting, since the flight of the grey goose is only found beyond the southern borders of our country. And since geese are pronounced monogamous, shooting in the breeding areas males who have reached puberty, is probably ruined brood.

After the outbreak of avian flu in 2005 Kulunda steppe I happened in the spring of 2008 to make an expedition to those places with the purpose of shooting waterfowl sampling. We had to shoot a limited number of individuals of grey goose, as this bird historically in contact with poultry.

Of course, that we first started shooting the grey geese, as it was considered this task the most difficult. And I chose almost the limit literally within two days! As a result of observing the behaviour of grey geese during this expedition I have made a clear conclusion: the shooting of grey geese in spring on the territory of our country is irrelevant to sport hunting has not. And here’s why.

Upon arrival in the breeding areas, adult birds break off into pairs and begin construction of nests in favored by them in steppe lakes. Each pair chooses to nest, trying to ensure future offspring have a safe and comfortable existence. Geese are very jealous of the presence on their land of other birds and very sharply react to the appearance of any foreign object, including the presence of people.

To this end, the geese periodically overfly his land in a radius of about a kilometer. If the hen sat on the eggs the gander from time to time rises into the air and doing test flights. And no shooting can not force him to leave the place where the nest sits his girlfriend.

One word geese on breeding largely lose their inherent caution, have become virtually defenceless against a modern hunter. And if the place of their nest organized an ambush with the use of profiles and Manne geese, sooner or later, all birds will fly up to it and can fall prey to the gunners. Can I call it hunting? It’s just shooting, which can be destructive.

My friend did an experiment. Riding up to the steppe lake, planted Manne gander at the small coastal ples themselves up near the reeds. Gander lightly bathed, dusted himself off and began to guffaw. Has not passed also ten minutes as we flew first a goose, and ten minutes later, the second. Both were shot down, the benefit limit is allowed. Another example.

Approaching the next lake. One of my friends, brilliantly able to beckon grey geese voice, begins to imitate the call of the grey goose. And then from the lake to us a single goose flies up and begins circling around the machine at a distance of forty meters. Of course, no one shoots…

Obviously, the so-called “spring hunting” at the grey goose in Russia categorically unacceptable. Moreover, in my opinion, where it nests grey goose, no spring hunting on geese should not be. Previously I believed that the South European part of Russia in those areas where open spring hunting of geese, grey geese shooting is prohibited. So no, in Kalmykia and in Stavropol territory it is officially open!

I think the first step for the conservation of populations of grey geese in our country, the closure of spring hunting of geese in those areas where it breeds in mass quantities and not included in the regional Red book. Well, then you need work on game breeding.

At the time Central research laboratory ìglavohotaî of the RSFSR there was a breeding programme for grey goose. Now this program does not, as there is no Central research laboratory. It is hoped that this program will be revived in the near future. And this is the path to saving and enhancement of gray goose – one of the best representatives of the hunting of the fauna of Russia.

The problem of preserving the gray goose population, which is the national treasure of Russia, is extremely acute today. Almost in all areas of Central Russia, the gray goose is included in regional Red Books.

In the best position for today is the West Siberian population of gray goose. The reason is that in Western Siberia, in those areas where the gray goose nests, spring hunting for waterfowl is virtually closed.

Since the late 90s of the last century hunting in the Barabinsky and Kulunda steppes began to be discovered, but extremely limited – only for 4 days, and only in drakes and in some areas – for specific species of migratory goose. Such hunting can not cause any significant damage to the population of the gray goose nesting here. As for the South Russian population of gray goose, the situation here is worse.

Five years ago I received a video about the spring hunting for geese in Kalmykia and Tver region. I drew attention to one story. During the hunt in Kalmykia, three hunters, shooting in the steppes of white-fronted geese, go to the floods to hunt for the so-called “waterfowl”.

It turned out that this is a gray goose. The brave hunters go into reeds and periodically shoot at the gray geese flying at them. And get three pieces! Then it surprised me terribly. I know that hunters spend huge efforts on the search and tracking of birds, organize ambushes, use manna geese to organize an effective hunt. And they never touch a geese on the water! This is an axiom, because it is meaningless and harmful.

And here everything is so simple: I went into the reeds, stood for an hour and – please! – You are with prey. And geese for some reason after the first shots on them again fly on the hunters.

The riddle was resolved in 2008. Until that time, I never had to shoot the gray geese in the spring. I knew perfectly well that in the spring they can only be fired at nesting grounds, since on a flight a gray goose meets only outside the southern borders of our country. And since geese is pronounced monogamy, shooting in the nesting places of a male reached puberty – this is probably a ruined brood.

After the outbreak of avian influenza in 2005 in the Kulunda steppes, I happened in the spring of 2008 to make an expedition to those places to shoot waterfowl for sampling. We needed to shoot some limited number of gray goose, since this bird is in contact with the poultry historically.

Naturally, we first of all set about shooting the gray geese, since they considered this task to be the most difficult. And … they chose almost the entire limit literally within two days! As a result of observations of the behavior of gray geese during this expedition, I made an unambiguous conclusion for myself: the shooting of gray geese in the spring on the territory of our country has nothing to do with sports hunting. And that’s why.

Arriving at nesting sites, adult birds are broken up into pairs and begin construction of nests in the areas of steppe lakes they have chosen. Each pair, choosing a place for a nest, tries to ensure a future and a comfortable and safe existence for future offspring. Geese are very jealous of the presence of other birds on their site and react very sharply to the appearance of any extraneous objects, including the presence of people.

For this purpose, periodically geese fly their site within a radius of about a kilometer. If the goose gets on the eggs the gander from time to time rises into the air and makes control overflights. And no shooting can make him leave the place where his girlfriend sits on the nest.

In a word, the geese to the nesting place lose their inherent caution, that is, they become practically defenseless against the modern hunter. And if an ambush is set up near the site of their nesting with the use of profiles and semolina geese, sooner or later all the birds in turn will fly up to it and be able to become the prey of shooters. Can this be called hunting? It’s just shooting, which can be exterminating.

My friend and I conducted such an experiment. Arriving at the steppe lake, they landed a gander manna on a small coastal ridge, they stood themselves side by side in the reeds. The gander swam a little, brushed himself off and giggled. In less than ten minutes, one goose flew to us first, and ten minutes later the second. Both were shot down, the benefit of this is allowed. Another example.

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