Photo by Tom Migdalski.

New England's middle-season goose hunting season opens in November in all six states. Unlike the early and late bonus seasons, however, the bag limit is two birds per day.

Migrant Canada geese move through the Northeast during late fall, but their population is less stable than the surging numbers of resident geese, which our region has in great abundance.

According to waterfowl biologists, the goose outlook for 2007-08 is mixed. Canada and the northeastern U.S. had an unusually cool spring, and reproduction and egg hatches were almost non-existent. The bird numbers will be steady and huntable for the late fall season, but they won't be near peak density.

"Goose hunting opportunities during the regular migrant goose seasons in New England should be good, but not great, this year," said biologist Min Huang, Connecticut's Migratory Game bird Program leader. "An extremely late spring, maybe the latest in decades, in the breeding range of Atlantic Population (AP) geese will likely result in little or no successful breeding for this year.

"North Atlantic Population (NAP) geese continue to show a stable population trend, and breeding conditions in 2007 for NAP geese were not nearly as severe as for the AP birds. Resident geese are always stable, however, and continue to flourish."

This year's hunting regulations weren't available at press time; however, they should be similar to last year's dates, zones and bag limits. Before heading out, be sure to log onto your state's department of environmental protection Web site (listed below) to verify updated regulations.

Here's a look at some of the best places to go for November geese in an area near you:

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut, like most states, divides its waterfowling regulations by zones. The boundary line for the two zones -- North and South -- is Interstate Route 95, which conveniently separates inland areas from the salt marshes. The 2006 mid-season opened on Nov. 23 and ran until Jan. 12 with a bag limit of two birds. The NAP H-Unit area will be open and includes the entire eastern half of the state as well as the shoreline's south zone.

In the southeast corner of the Nutmeg State, Barn Island Wildlife Management Area is a prime 707-acre marsh between Stonington and the Rhode Island border. Located on Little Narragansett Bay and south of Route 1 at the head of Wequetequock Cove, this marsh provides a good chance for geese.

Hunters may find the launch by traveling east on Route 1 to the light at Greenhaven Road. Turn south on Palmer Neck Road for 1.5 miles.

In the southwest corner of Connecticut is the 812-acre Charles Wheeler WMA on the Housatonic River. Access is in Milford one-half mile upriver from the marsh. Take I-95 to Exit 34 in Devon. Turn west on Route 1, and then north on Naugatuck Avenue. The launch is on the left. Plenty of parking is available.

Check Delorme's Connecticut Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 59, for details.

To hunt in Connecticut you'll need a federal duck stamp, a state waterfowl stamp, a Connecticut small game license and a HIP permit. For a Connecticut Waterfowl Hunting Guide and individual 8 1/2 x 11-inch maps of these and other WMAs, contact the Connecticut DEP Wildlife Division at (860) 424-3011 or log onto www.ct.gov/dep.

RHODE ISLAND
The resident goose population is high in Rhode Island, and with or without migrants there should have enough action to fill a two-bird limit. Last year, the regular goose season lasted for 60 days and was divided into two parts: The first half ran from Nov. 18-26, and the second half ran from Dec. 2-Jan. 21.