Federal Regulations Liberalize Goose Hunting Options Resident populations of Canada geese, growing to nuisance levels in many states, may be effectively reduced because of new regulations announced last week. "The birds eat people's lawn and leave mounds of droppings on grass and at public boat ramps," reported Columbia, S.C.'s, The State. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which formulated the new regulations, estimates that the Eastern U.S. has a total of 1.5 million resident geese, 25,000 of which are in South Carolina. The new rules enable states to allow unplugging shotguns in their early September season, using electronic calls, possibly establishing an August season in 2007 and extending hunting hours.