Now, you know what would be tasty? When they have the fledglings in the Spring. Right before they get their feathers! Yum!
This^! For real!
These resident Canadians are legal to take as long as you are properly licensed, the season is open, and the method of take you use is legal. Believe me, I checked. And you don't have much time, the Womans' Hospital Zone is Dec. 14 - Jan 26.
So, I have several dozen that think I am running a breadline for wayward geese in the front yard of my business. The most I counted at one time was 199. It was a very cold November day in 2010.
Anyhoo, I bagged a few and of course proceeded to cook one. These guys are hearty. They are a little tougher than a true wild Canadian because they don't fly south for the Winter and they eat all day long. But there was no off taste. In fact it was actually quite mild. Now, since you don't want to overcook any wild bird, I intentionally used the same cooking method for them as wild geese. That does not work! They are not nearly as lean. If and when I bag some more I am going to try simmering or stewing; Roasting is probably not going to work because they may be too dry by the time they are tender. The drumsticks? Forget it! They were so tough I hurt my jaw chewing.
Now, the downside in my head is the possibility that when these flocks eat on golf courses or other managed grassy areas, they may be picking up some chemical traces. But until I get a chemical analysis, I wouldn't sweat it.
By the way, their numbers are increasing exponentially here in the Nether Region; and they are teaching their offspring to fly. So I asked my buddy at Wildlife and Fisheries what the game plan was going to be when there are so many of them they become a nuisance (there already in some places), and safety hazard? He speculated that they may have to contract hunters to start taking them on purpose.
I told him I am first on the list!
Happy hunting!
