Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Hazing at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge was pursued with vigor. At the peak of activity the week prior to the season's opening, this involved use of a helicopter, 2 fixed wing aircraft, 2 airboats, 2 marsh vehicles, 6 conventional boats, 15 floating platforms mounted with crop depredation exploders, 16 landbased exploders, and other frightening devices such as shot-shells and firecrackers. Thirty-nine individuals were directly involved in field work. Hazing was discontinued 24 hours before the season opened. Hazing efforts were successful in removing most of the Canada geese (Branta canadensis) from the refuge during daylight hours but they returned at dusk, there was no evidence that the hazing operations as conducted resulted directly in migration of Canada geese to areas farther south, and there was some evidence that hazing broke up family groups and made them more vulnerable to shooting.