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The list of those who could stand in the way of effective snow goose management could include non-hunting urban residents in New York City, goose hunting guides in Texas, northern arctic residents, wildlife agency administrators and everyone in between. The only way to overcome potential controversy is through communication and education.

Only through communication can others learn that:

1. The snow goose problem is serious and requires a management solution.

2. It is the responsibility of the agencies involved to attempt to resolve the snow goose problem and that it is irresponsible to ignore it.

3. Managers have examined all potential solutions and the approaches to be implemented are reasonable, sensible and responsible.

4. Managers understand and are sensitive to the concerns of hunters, non-hunters, and all other resources involved.

The work group emphasized the need for a thorough communications effort to support a new snow goose management program. The major responsibility for this effort lies in the hands of the two federal agencies that manage migratory bird populations - the Canadian Wildlife Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, state and provincial wildlife agencies and private organizations must take on a fair share of this load.

The work group report is simply a first step in the long road to resolving the snow goose problem. It represents our best effort to identify the problem, courses of action, and ultimate solutions. Wildlife managers, administrators, legislative bodies. hunters and others across North America must now work together to effectively resolve the problem of too many snow geese.