All 48 states covered by the file have a county at the head of their estimated goose totals. County and statewide harvestVis estimates from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Harvest Information Program give both the leader's estimated kill and its portion of the statewide goose estimate. Maine's leading county accounts for half of its estimated goose kill. Other states have a leader among dozens of counties.
ICounty leaders
Colorado County in Texas leads nationwide with roughly a quarter of the state's estimate
With about 58,100 geese annually, Colorado County in Texas has the country's highest county estimate. The county contributes 26.7 percent of the estimated Texas total of 217,700. Its estimate is just 1.07 times the one for Wharton County. Maryland's Kent County ranks second nationwide with an estimate of 43,900 geese. It accounts for 26.7 percent of Maryland's total and has an estimate 1.72 times that for Queen Anne's County.
California's Colusa County has an estimate of 32,900 geese that represents 17.8 percent of the statewide total. The estimate for Arkansas County in Arkansas is 26,100 with a statewide share of 19.7 percent. Below is the complete ranking alongside each second-place county and the ratio of the leader's estimate to the runner-up's.
Swipe table to see every column
| State | Top county or parish | Est. geese (nearest 100) | Share of state | Counties in state | Second county | Top to second |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Colorado | 58,100 | 26.7% | 254 | Wharton | 1.07 |
| Maryland | Kent | 43,900 | 26.7% | 24 | Queen Anne's | 1.72 |
| California | Colusa | 32,900 | 17.8% | 58 | Glenn | 1.37 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas | 26,100 | 19.7% | 75 | Poinsett | 1.69 |
| Colorado | Weld | 24,600 | 25.8% | 64 | Morgan | 1.38 |
| Louisiana | Vermilion | 21,900 | 30.4% | 64 | Jefferson Davis | 1.42 |
| North Dakota | McLean | 20,400 | 12.6% | 53 | Stutsman | 2.9 |
| Nebraska | Morrill | 16,000 | 14.7% | 93 | Scotts Bluff | 1.2 |
| Georgia | White | 14,000 | 34.0% | 159 | Hall | 2.93 |
| Minnesota | Otter Tail | 13,600 | 7.1% | 87 | Hennepin | 1.65 |
| Pennsylvania | Lancaster | 13,300 | 10.6% | 67 | Chester | 1.14 |
| Delaware | Kent | 12,800 | 48.0% | 3 | Sussex | 1.37 |
| Illinois | Will | 12,600 | 9.9% | 102 | Fulton | 1.14 |
| New York | Suffolk | 12,200 | 8.5% | 62 | St. Lawrence | 1.49 |
| Idaho | Ada | 11,900 | 19.6% | 44 | Canyon | 1.29 |
| South Dakota | Hughes | 11,800 | 10.8% | 67 | Day | 1.14 |
| Wyoming | Big Horn | 9,900 | 40.1% | 23 | Washakie | 3.86 |
| Washington | Grant | 9,800 | 15.1% | 39 | Skagit | 1.62 |
| Kansas | Sedgwick | 9,500 | 7.8% | 105 | Reno | 1.03 |
| Michigan | Saginaw | 9,200 | 6.1% | 83 | Gladwin | 1.06 |
| Ohio | Stark | 9,200 | 11.2% | 88 | Trumbull | 1.34 |
| Missouri | Clay | 8,000 | 11.7% | 115 | Platte | 1.94 |
| Montana | Yellowstone | 6,600 | 12.4% | 56 | Valley | 1.46 |
| Utah | Box Elder | 6,400 | 26.7% | 29 | Sevier | 1.48 |
| Wisconsin | Dodge | 5,900 | 6.0% | 72 | Waupaca | 1.03 |
| Oregon | Columbia | 5,500 | 9.2% | 36 | Polk | 1.13 |
| Virginia | Culpeper | 4,900 | 7.8% | 134 | Accomack | 1.15 |
| Maine | Aroostook | 4,700 | 50.5% | 16 | Somerset | 4.44 |
| Indiana | Lake | 4,500 | 8.0% | 92 | Vigo | 1.32 |
| Mississippi | Sunflower | 4,300 | 18.4% | 82 | Humphreys | 1.48 |
| New Jersey | Hunterdon | 4,300 | 10.7% | 21 | Sussex | 1.17 |
| Oklahoma | Caddo | 4,300 | 8.6% | 77 | Grant | 1.19 |
| North Carolina | Pitt | 3,600 | 7.0% | 100 | Person | 1.26 |
| Iowa | Clarke | 3,200 | 5.5% | 99 | Winneshiek | 1.13 |
| Alabama | Perry | 2,900 | 15.9% | 67 | Cherokee | 1.47 |
| Tennessee | Lake | 2,900 | 10.8% | 95 | Shelby | 1.14 |
| New Mexico | San Juan | 2,800 | 42.4% | 33 | Socorro | 3.2 |
| Connecticut | Hartford | 2,600 | 23.8% | 8 | Tolland | 1.36 |
| Kentucky | Henderson | 2,600 | 9.0% | 120 | Ballard | 1 |
| Vermont | Addison | 2,600 | 24.5% | 14 | Grand Isle | 1.81 |
| South Carolina | Spartanburg | 2,500 | 10.6% | 46 | Greenville | 1.08 |
| Massachusetts | Plymouth | 2,100 | 17.8% | 14 | Essex | 1.02 |
| Rhode Island | Washington | 2,000 | 43.8% | 5 | Newport | 1.2 |
| Nevada | Douglas | 1,700 | 29.2% | 17 | Churchill | 1.68 |
| New Hampshire | Rockingham | 1,600 | 24.3% | 10 | Merrimack | 1.5 |
| Arizona | La Paz | 1,100 | 40.3% | 15 | Mohave | 2.35 |
| West Virginia | Jefferson | 600 | 12.8% | 55 | Preston | 1.02 |
| Florida | St. Johns | 300 | 41.3% | 67 | Hillsborough | 1.35 |
IIHarvest concentration
Three counties account for more than half of the goose total in 18 states
The leader accounts for over 30 percent of the statewide estimate in 9 states. Maine's Aroostook County has the highest share at 50.5 percent. That amounts to about 4,700 geese out of Maine's 9,200 with an estimate 4.44 times that of Somerset County. Delaware's Kent County accounts for 48.0 percent of the 26,500 geese estimated statewide. The share for Washington County in Rhode Island is 43.8 percent. In New Mexico the figure for San Juan County is 42.4 percent and its estimate is 3.2 times that of Socorro County.
The three leading counties together account for over half the estimated kill in 18 states. Texas makes that group with 58.7 percent even though each county individually remains below 30. Louisiana gets 68.4 percent from its leading three counties with Vermilion Parish leading at 30.4. Maryland's leading three account for 53.3 percent. For the full set of 48 states the median share held by the leading three is 34.0 percent.
The share for the leading three falls below 20 percent across 8 states. Minnesota's Otter Tail County accounts for 7.1 percent of an estimated 191,400 geese statewide. Its leading three together account for just 15.4. Iowa has the widest spread with Clarke County accounting for 5.5 percent and its leading three for 14.8. That group also includes Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Swipe table to see every column
| State | Top county or parish | Top county share | Top three counties share | Counties in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Kent | 48.0% | 100.0% | 3 |
| Florida | St. Johns | 41.3% | 89.7% | 67 |
| Rhode Island | Washington | 43.8% | 88.4% | 5 |
| Maine | Aroostook | 50.5% | 70.1% | 16 |
| Louisiana | Vermilion | 30.4% | 68.4% | 64 |
| Arizona | La Paz | 40.3% | 66.2% | 15 |
| New Mexico | San Juan | 42.4% | 64.9% | 33 |
| Nevada | Douglas | 29.2% | 63.7% | 17 |
| Wyoming | Big Horn | 40.1% | 59.9% | 23 |
| Texas | Colorado | 26.7% | 58.7% | 254 |
| Connecticut | Hartford | 23.8% | 54.8% | 8 |
| Utah | Box Elder | 26.7% | 54.6% | 29 |
| Colorado | Weld | 25.8% | 53.4% | 64 |
| Maryland | Kent | 26.7% | 53.3% | 24 |
| New Hampshire | Rockingham | 24.3% | 52.5% | 10 |
| Vermont | Addison | 24.5% | 51.2% | 14 |
| Georgia | White | 34.0% | 51.1% | 159 |
| Massachusetts | Plymouth | 17.8% | 50.3% | 14 |
| Mississippi | Sunflower | 18.4% | 42.9% | 82 |
| Idaho | Ada | 19.6% | 42.8% | 44 |
| California | Colusa | 17.8% | 40.0% | 58 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas | 19.7% | 37.9% | 75 |
| West Virginia | Jefferson | 12.8% | 35.3% | 55 |
| Alabama | Perry | 15.9% | 34.0% | 67 |
| Nebraska | Morrill | 14.7% | 34.0% | 93 |
| Washington | Grant | 15.1% | 33.6% | 39 |
| South Carolina | Spartanburg | 10.6% | 29.8% | 46 |
| Tennessee | Lake | 10.8% | 29.4% | 95 |
| New Jersey | Hunterdon | 10.7% | 28.8% | 21 |
| Montana | Yellowstone | 12.4% | 28.7% | 56 |
| Pennsylvania | Lancaster | 10.6% | 28.7% | 67 |
| Kentucky | Henderson | 9.0% | 26.8% | 120 |
| Illinois | Will | 9.9% | 26.6% | 102 |
| Oregon | Columbia | 9.2% | 25.4% | 36 |
| South Dakota | Hughes | 10.8% | 25.3% | 67 |
| Ohio | Stark | 11.2% | 24.7% | 88 |
| Missouri | Clay | 11.7% | 23.2% | 115 |
| Oklahoma | Caddo | 8.6% | 23.0% | 77 |
| Kansas | Sedgwick | 7.8% | 21.5% | 105 |
| North Dakota | McLean | 12.6% | 21.1% | 53 |
| Indiana | Lake | 8.0% | 19.2% | 92 |
| Virginia | Culpeper | 7.8% | 19.2% | 134 |
| New York | Suffolk | 8.5% | 18.5% | 62 |
| Michigan | Saginaw | 6.1% | 17.0% | 83 |
| Wisconsin | Dodge | 6.0% | 17.0% | 72 |
| North Carolina | Pitt | 7.0% | 16.5% | 100 |
| Minnesota | Otter Tail | 7.1% | 15.4% | 87 |
| Iowa | Clarke | 5.5% | 14.8% | 99 |
IIIShared leaders
The same county heads both the goose and duck rankings in 14 states
Hunters pursuing geese as well as ducks can sometimes cover both while scouting a single county. The same file puts one county first for both estimated kills in 14 out of 48 states. Arkansas has Arkansas County and Colorado has Weld County leading both birds. Delaware's Kent County and Minnesota's Otter Tail County also top each ranking. New York's Suffolk County and Pennsylvania's Lancaster County do the same. Washington's Grant County and Oregon's Columbia County also lead for both birds.
The other 34 states have different counties at the head of those two rankings. This includes Louisiana, California and Texas. The duck leaders appear in our top duck county in every state article. Our duck country and goose country article looks at the country's 10 leading goose counties.
IVNarrow margins
Some counties lead on tiny estimates or finish barely ahead of second place
Survey uncertainty comes with these county estimates and is greatest in states where few geese are killed. Florida's St. Johns County leads with about 300 geese annually against 800 for the entire state. In West Virginia the leader is Jefferson County with 600. Such a small total underlies Florida's leader share of 41.3 percent and its leading-three share of 89.7 percent.
A few counties hold only a sliver of a lead. Kentucky's Henderson County edges Ballard County with a ratio rounded to 1.0. Massachusetts has Plymouth ahead of Essex at a ratio of 1.02. West Virginia has Jefferson over Preston at 1.02. In Kansas the ratio for Sedgwick over Reno is 1.03. Wisconsin has Dodge over Waupaca at 1.03 while Michigan has Saginaw over Gladwin at 1.06. In all of these states the runner-up merits as much attention as the leader.
VData boundaries
These estimates describe reported goose kills and nothing beyond them
These figures are USFWS survey estimates of reported goose kills. They represent averages covering about 10 years with rounding to the closest 100. A share is calculated by dividing the estimate for one county or the combined estimates for three by the total of all county estimates within that state. Uncertainty from every contributing estimate carries into that share.
The figures identify the places where hunters reported shooting geese. They give no answer about goose roosts or how many hunters hunt in a county or which land allows public access. An average across ten years cannot reveal a county's upward or downward trend. These data also cannot explain a county's lead. There is no ranked county for geese in this file for Alaska, Hawaii or the District of Columbia.
VIScouting judgment
A big statewide share and a wide lead make the first county more convincing
We see a leading county as worth checking first when its two measures line up. It should account for a big portion of the statewide harvest estimate and sit well ahead of the runner-up. Our rough guide is a share greater than 30 percent paired with an estimate at least double the runner-up's. Maine's Aroostook clears both with a share of 50.5 percent and a ratio of 4.44 to second place. New Mexico's San Juan also clears them with 42.4 percent and a ratio of 3.2. Wisconsin's Dodge clears neither with a share of 6.0 percent and a ratio of 1.03.
In a state where the kill is more widely spread, our rule is to plan scouting around the leading three counties together. If the leader's estimate is below 1,000 geese annually we look over the runner-up before relying on that leading name. Access needs a separate look, so check ground and permission in each county.
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Harvest Information Program, harvestVis county and state files.
- Scope: 48 states with a ranked top goose county.
- Cleaning and exclusions: No ranked goose county in the file for: Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawaii
- Method: County goose harvest is a USFWS survey estimate averaged over about 10 years. Share = top county estimate / sum of the state's county estimates (DERIVED). Goose figures rounded to the nearest 100 because county estimates are noisy.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. Fully Drawn Research is an independent data and analysis desk. This paper reports FDR's analysis of public data. Harvest figures describe animals reported or estimated as harvested, not population size, and reflect hunter effort and regulations as well as animal numbers.
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