Someone shot and dumped 75 geese in Missouri. Game officials are searching for answers

Wes Johnson | Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Game officials are asking the public for help to identify the person who shot 75 geese and dumped them — without harvesting any meat — northwest Missouri.

Conservation agent Phil Needham photographed the scene, found Friday. The suspect shot 75 snow/blue/Ross geese and dumped them off a road in Cass County.

Needham said the suspect was in a white Toyota pickup. Needham notes that members of Ducks Unlimited helped clean the geese and get the meat processed so it would not go to waste.

"We don't know where they were killed, but they were dumped along the road around 11 o'clock at night," Needham said. "A neighbor in the area saw them and contacted us."

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Needham asked anyone with information about the wanton waste case to call him at 816-809-6259. It's possible the culprit could face charges of wanton waste and littering.

Because of overpopulation in their Arctic breeding areas, Missouri has a light goose season that runs from Feb. 7 to April 30 that's designed to thin the numbers of snow geese and light-colored geese.

Unlike most waterfowl with hunting bag limits, hunters are allowed to shoot as many light geese as they want during the light goose season, though the goose meat can't be wasted.

Hunters also are allowed to use unplugged shotguns, use electronic calls, and shoot the geese from 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunset.

Light goose hunters need a $5 Conservation Order Permit. Hunters with a Resident Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit or a Resident Lifetime Small Game Hunting Permit do not need to purchase a Conservation Order Permit.

According to MDC, it’s hoped that thinning these birds’ populations will keep them from destroying their Arctic habitat.

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