Alexander Artemyev, Doctor of Biological Sciences and Leading Researcher at the Zoology Laboratory of the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS, explained that spring is a critical time for birds, and the abundance of a species in the spring determines its reproductive success. In many countries, spring hunting is totally prohibited. In Russia, it is permitted but strictly regulated, allowed for only a short period of ten days. These ten-day periods fall on different dates in each specific region.
Karelia is subdivided into two zones. In the south, the permitted hunting time used to be between May 1 and May 10, and in the north it was from May 6 to May 15. This year, the Ministry shifted the hunting season by five days forward to allow the red-listed Taiga Bean Goose to pass through on its way to breeding areas.
Dr. Alexander Artemyev, Leading Researcher at Zoology Laboratory, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS
- There is a strict sequence of migrating goose species. The first to migrate through our area is the largest goose – the Taiga Bean Goose, a subspecies of the Bean Goose. They nests in the boreal zone, including Karelia, from Olonets to the northern limit of the zone, as well as on the Kola Peninsula, in the Arkhangelsk Region, and other regions. The subspecies’ population has declined dramatically in recent years. Once numbering over 100,000, it dropped to 50,000 ten years ago. It has now started to recover and is estimated at 60,000–80,000 individuals. This subspecies is listed in the federal and regional Red Data Books, as well as in European red lists. These geese migrate earlier than all others, leaving for their breeding grounds by early May. During the usual hunting season, they are still present in the goose aggregations and can get shot because they are very difficult to distinguish from Tundra Bean Geese. To protect this particular subspecies, we shifted the hunting season to a later time, – explained Alexander Artemyev.
According to the scientist, the shift in the hunting season will also reduce pressure on the Tundra Bean Goose, whose population is estimated at 600,000 birds and which also migrates early.
- On the other hand, the most abundant goose species fly over Karelia later. These include the Greater White-fronted Goose, with an estimated population of 1.2 million individuals, and the Barnacle Goose, whose numbers have grown exponentially over the past half-century from 250,000 to 1.4 million. The latter migrates the latest, with the main traffic via southern Karelia occurring around May 5–10. To use this species more intensively and prevent overpopulation within limited space in the wintering range, it needs to be regulated through hunting, – Alexander Artemyev noted. – In other words, we shift the hunting season to reduce pressure on less numerous species while increasing it for abundant ones.
Additionally, the ministry raised the spring bag limits for certain waterfowl: Anser geese – up to 2 birds per day and 20 per season; Branta geese – up to 5 birds per day and 50 per season; and drakes – up to 5 birds per day and 50 per season.
Barnacle Geese
- The Barnacle Goose is a species whose abundance has grown tangibly, so that it will soon become a problem for other goose species. All geese are herbivores; in their wintering grounds, they all graze on farmlands. Yet, where Bean Geese and White-fronted Geese nibble on longer shoots, Barnacle Geese leave nothing of the plants but the roots. After Barnacle Geese have foraged on a patch, there is no food left for other geese. So, unless the Barnacle Goose population is controlled, it will outcompete other species, and their numbers will begin to decline, – pointed out Alexander Artemyev, highlighting the reasons for raising the bag limits.
The scientist reminded that the proposal to shift the hunting season was put forward in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Karelia. Experts argued the ministry should shift the hunting season to protect the native Taiga Bean Goose. In 2026, both the ministry and hunting organizations in Petrozavodsk resolved to follow the advice, despite some argumentation against it – that shifting the hunting season in northern Karelia could place greater pressure on the entirety of goose species, as their concentrations peak at the new hunting dates. There are concerns of potential overhunting in the White Sea area.
Besides, Alexander Artemyev noted that it would be good to shift also the autumn hunting season. It starts for all game birds species in the second half of August, when only the native, red-listed Taiga Bean Goose is present in Karelia. The scientist argues that a better timing for opening goose hunting would be late September, when the migration of other, more numerous goose species begins.
- Three abundant species migrate via Karelia – two subspecies of the Bean Goose, the Greater White-fronted Goose, and the Barnacle Goose. Another species flying via our republic is the red-listed Brent Goose, which nests on Arctic coasts from Yamal to Taymyr. There are also several vagrant exotic species, which do not nest on a large scale in the Russian Arctic tundra: the Pink-footed Goose, the Light-bellied Brant, the Bar-headed Goose, and the Egyptian goose – species introduced in Europe, as well as the Canada Goose and the Red-breasted Goose. In total, nine goose species overwinter in Europe, and all of them have been sighted in our region. However, only five species occur in Karelia on a regular basis, – shared Alexander Artemyev.
It is worth noting that modification of hunting season dates is a lengthy process. After the decision is made in Karelia, approval must be obtained from the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, and then amendments must be made to the relevant Ordinance of the Head of the Republic. As of now, a formal notice has been submitted to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources.
- In theory, shifting the hunting season this year may not even be necessary – an early spring will likely entail an earlier migration for all goose species, – the scientist specified. – Ideally, the decision on hunting season dates should be made annually, based on current weather conditions, about a fortnight before launching the season. However, negotiating with the federal center takes a lot of time; the dates must be approved at least a month before they take effect. This certainly kills the flexibility in determining the hunting season.
Previously, Alexander Artemyev, together with other specialists from the KarRC RAS, explained the effects an early spring will have on nature in Karelia.