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Story: Game birds

Wetland game birds: Canada goose

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Wetland game birds: Canada goose

The Canada goose, until 2011 a game bird but now unprotected, is considered a challenging target. Known to hunters as Canada’s or honkers (their call is a honk), they are wary birds. Canada geese feed in the open, so hunters must use camouflage and decoys to bring birds within firing range.

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Otago Daily Times

by Stephen Jaquiery

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How to cite this page

Neil Deans, Game birds – Game birds in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16698/wetland-game-birds-canada-goose (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Neil Deans, published 30 October 2009, updated 20 April 2025.