Alaska’s Goose: The Emperor and the Work to Protect It

The Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus), named by early explorers for its stark white head and neck, looked as if it wore the fine ermine trim of an imperial cloak. Paired with its regal slate plumage, the bird seemed descended from waterfowl nobility. The Yupik name roughly translates to “the one having a parka hood.”

These birds are born and raised in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. The Bering Sea, made famous by Deadliest Catch, is their backyard. They eke out a living along the jagged rocks of the North Pacific among Harlequins, King Eiders, Gyrfalcons, and Arctic foxes. It’s not easy, only one out of ten goslings survives its first year. Those that do need to make it to at least three years old to reach sexual maturity. This is a slow-growing species, vulnerable to population fluctuations. Their diet shifts seasonally but is built almost entirely on marine vegetation and invertebrates, which makes these geese incredibly difficult to pin down.

For a brief period, the hunting of Emperor Geese in Alaska was reopened in 2017, and non-residents could apply for special draw tags. Recently, though, the world population took a concerning turn. Population thresholds triggered a harvest closure under the management plan, and as of April 2, 2025, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service removed the Emperor Goose from allowable harvest nationwide.

In 2019, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game established a program to track the survival of Emperor Geese in their wintering habitats. With trap locations identified, successful captures depended on a mix of tidal fluctuations, wind variability, and the birds’ awareness of trap sites. Early efforts with repurposed goose decoys painted as Emperor Geese didn’t quite achieve the desired success.

As tactics were reevaluated, the idea of producing custom hand-painted decoys came to DSD’s attention. After we had supplied ADF&G with our ACE Lessers in a previous study, we were excited to quickly get to work. Soon, two dozen DSD Emperor Goose decoys were on a plane to Anchorage.

During last winter’s trapping season, our decoys were put to the test. After several successful rocket net deployments, the team noticed a shift: the Emperors became more relaxed around the decoys, allowing the team to capitalize on the holding power of DSD’s design. Thanks to the team’s creativity and persistence, that year Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported having had the greatest capture rates since the inception of the program. For us at DSD, being part of this success is a reminder that sometimes the right decoy doesn’t just fool a bird, sometimes it helps protect a species.

We at DSD want to extend our sincere thanks to ADF&G for the incredible work they’re doing. Their dedication to protecting the Emperor Goose is truly inspiring, and we’re just thrilled to have played a small part in that effort. Hats off to the entire team for their tremendous boots-on-the-ground work and for allowing us to be part of something so meaningful.

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From Research to a Limited Series

Seeing firsthand how critical this research is, and how challenging it can be to carry out in Alaska’s coastal environments, inspired us to create a DSD Limited Series in honor of Alaska’s Goose.

This Limited Series was designed as a way to help support the ongoing efforts behind Emperor Goose research. Through this release, DSD is proud to gift toward conservation work conducted through Ducks Unlimited and the Alaska Born to Fly Initiative, helping ensure biologists have the tools and resources needed to continue studying this remarkable species.

While the Limited Series Emperor Goose decoys have already found their homes, there is still an opportunity to own a meaningful piece connected to this story. A single Emperor Shelf Piece Auction Decoy is available to bid on for a limited time, representing the craftsmanship, research, and conservation efforts that inspired this release.

All proceeds from the auction will be gifted toward Ducks Unlimited in support of the Alaska Born to Fly Initiative. The auction will run for 48 hours and conclude on Saturday at 6:00 PM.