Pair that with the fact that geese simply don't have very many natural predators and it is easy to see why they are thriving. Geese are relatively large compared to most of our state's predators and they nest in pairs, making them a formidable opponent to a hungry fox, raccoon or coyote. The same cannot be said for ducks, which have been ravaged by these predators along with pheasants.

The DNR does its count in the spring from the air in helicopter surveys over 150 random quarter-section plots throughout the entire state.

"Some of the locations are in very good habitat and some are in less than ideal habitat, so we have a good cross-section of all that's available," Maxson said.

As far as the spring counts are concerned, the highest concentration of birds can be found in west-central Minnesota in locations near Appleton, Glenwood, Detroit Lakes and Fergus Falls. It is not a coincidence that this is also where the farmers are less than happy with the way the geese are treating their crops.

"The tough thing is that by the time the goose season comes around, most of those geese that were causing the damage have moved on, and the ones from farther north are in the area," said Don Schultz, area wildlife manager for the DNR in Fergus Falls.

The good news is that the crops that attract geese during the summer are still around attracting migrators throughout the season.

"The areas closest to the refuge seem to offer the best hunting, but there's a lot of public hunting opportunities in the area that provide great hunting locations," Schultz said.

Public land does dot the landscape in this region, but the vast majority is still privately owned, and Schultz said most landowners are willing to let people hunt on their land. But he also said there seems to be a lot of competition for the best locations.

"Just like anything else, the best hunting exists for the hunters who are able to do the most scouting and are willing to move," he added.

SEASONS AND HARVEST
The September season begins the first Saturday of the month, which this year fell on Sept. 3 and ran until Sept. 22. This is the season the DNR has the most information about since the only waterfowlers during this time period are going after geese, and a special permit is required to hunt.

Approximately 30,000 hunters participated in the 2004 September hunt, and the numbers for 2005 are expected to be very similar. Those hunters took between 80,000 and 100,000 geese last year, based on a survey conducted by the DNR. Compare that to the annual harvest at around 230,000 to 250,000 geese, and the September hunt shakes out to be a good time for numbers. Information on the exact harvest numbers from 2004 as well as the season dates and bag limits for 2005 can be found online at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Our state is divided into three regions during the September hunt -- the northwest, southeast and a broad region known as the "remainder of the state." Since it encompasses the majority of the state, this is the area where the most geese are harvested during this season. The western zone is second fiddle at this time, but given the fact that it is significantly smaller, it is a premium location throughout September and well into October.

Almost as quickly as the September hunt is over, the regular season hunt kicks into gear. During this hunt the state is divided into four zones -- the northwest, the west-central, the west and the remainder of the state. Pinning down accurate numbers of hunters and geese killed during this time period is difficult, Maxson said, because there are so many hunters afield. "There are not any large-scale counts conducted during the regular season, though several smaller scale surveys are conducted on a fairly regular basis," he added.