BEATRICE – Johnson County authorities say the discovery of several dead geese near sanitation ponds south of Sterling has led to a man being cited for hunting violations. 

Johnson County Attorney Benjamin Beethe says sheriff’s officers were notified by a group of hunters, who discovered numerous dead and injured snow geese on Feb. 26.

A deputy investigating noted that 51 snow geese and one white-fronted goose had been killed.   The birds had been shot.  The geese are currently out of season as of the date of the discovery.  The deputy also located five spent shotgun shells on Sterling village property.

An investigation led by Nebraska Game and Parks Conservation Officers and the Sheriff’s deputy resulted in Jason Harms, of Sterling being cited.  He’s suspected of hunting during a closed season, hunting without permission, game abandonment, hunting without a permit, hunting without a federal waterfowl stamp…along with other charges. 

The white-fronted goose season in Nebraska is October 1st to December 11th….and January 25th to February 9th.  For light geese, the season is October 1st to December 28th….and January 25th to February 9th.