I had no idea it was legal to hunt Snow Geese. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, I’ve driven to the nearby Skagit River Delta, where up to 55,000 of the beautiful birds winter from mid-October to early May. The only shooting I do is with my camera, as proves this semi-blurry photo that I took aboard Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.

But yes, it’s legal to shoot them with a gun, too. In fact, although their numbers were reduced in 1900 to between 2,000-3,000, over the years they’ve made a strong recovery. According to the Seattle Audubon Society, today there are an estimated 6-7 million of the waterfowl.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a program called the Snow Goose Quality Hunt, which takes place on Fir Island and northern Port Susan Bay in Skagit County. But the Inn at 202 Dover in Easton, Maryland has made goose hunting even easier.

The inn is offering one-three night Waterfowl Hunting packages where hunters can enjoy the great outdoors by day and sleep in a luxuriously appointed guest room or suite at night. The inn’s chef will even “cook your goose” for hunters who so desire

Three-Night Package – $1,250 Per Person

* Accommodations in a luxurious guest room or suite
* Full breakfast each morning
* Box lunch each day
* Dinner each night including your goose cooked one evening


Two-Night Package – $900 Per Person

* Accommodations in a luxurious guest room or suite
* Full breakfast each morning
* Box lunch each day
* Dinner each night including your goose cooked one evening

One-Night Package – $500 Per Person

* Accommodations in a luxurious guest room or suite
* Full breakfast in morning
* Box lunch
* Dinner one night including your goose cooked if you so choose

Note: Tax, beverage and gratuity are additional. If a hunter’s wife or significant other would like to stay, there is a $125 charge which includes an in-room massage.

The Canada Goose Migratory Atlantic Population season runs through January 24, 2010 as does the Duck season (except Black Ducks). Hunting may be arranged through Albrights Gun Shop at 410.822.8994. Charges for a Goose Hunt range from $350 for one to two hunters, up to $500 for four hunters. The Duck & Goose Combo is priced at $225 per gun with a $500 minimum. The Duck Hunt is priced at $175 per gun with a $400 minimum.

With Christmas over, the endless rounds of dish washing, clothes washing and floor washing will no doubt be getting on top of some individuals.

But if you're lucky enough to have a partner who shares the household chores, you are most definitely on to a good thing.

According to new research, those couples that divide the housework are happier than those trapped in the breadwinner or homemaker roles.

Apparently neither partner should be taking on more than 60 per cent of the housework or childcare if they are looking to stay together forever.

It seems the traditional family, in which the husband provides while the wife cares for the children and the home, is no longer the key to a long and happy marriage.

While the working husband feels under pressure to put food on the table, his missus is left feeling unfulfilled and vulnerable.

In fact, the Canadian researchers, having analysed national surveys of nearly 50,000 adults, discovered that the happiest couples are those who share the daily chores, both work and either have no children or older children who do not require constant care.

Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, told the Daily Mail: "This research shows that it is very important for both parties to have something in their lives from which they derive a sense of independence and accomplishment.

"But if in addition they do things in common – which could be the domestic chores or the childcare – it creates a bond that facilitates closeness, communication, emotional warmth and, most importantly, trust."

Bonding over the washing up... now there's something we'd never thought of.

Does sharing the chores work for you, or are you happy to take on the more traditional housewife role?