Ross’s goose a present to local Norwood outdoorsman

Most holiday gifts come in a neatly wrapped box, complete with a ribbon. Maybe a surprise dinner or a kid may receive a new toy. But for Edgar Janes II, of Norwood, the ideal Christmas present is a freshly harvested Ross’s goose. Recently, he became the first person in the recorded history of Wright County to bag the species.
Janes, who works as a welder, is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys hunting deer and turkey, as well as fishing, but never took an interest in waterfowl hunting due to the lack of opportunity in southwest Missouri.
“However, six years ago, I was talked into going on a goose hunt with a friend, and I was so fascinated with those birds that it became a passion,” Janes said.
After this fateful trip, Janes pursued ducks, Canada geese, snow geese, and Ross’s geese. The latter are arctic birds that migrate to southern feeding grounds in the winter, making their way through Missouri in November, and return in March on their way back to the arctic tundra to nest.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation website, Ross’s geese are smaller cousins of snow geese. The key to differentiating between the two is body size and bill color: Ross’s goose is much smaller with a shorter bill. They migrate in narrow corridors within North America, making pit stops in marshes, rivers, and lakes on their journey, usually in large groups. The birds fly day and night in diagonal V-shaped formations, a miraculous sight on a clear, sunny day.
“In recent years,” Janes said, “we have started seeing more of them in Wright County.”
Ross’s goose populations have skyrocketed to record-breaking levels and, as a result, have become an enemy of those working in agriculture.
“These birds will arrive in fields in crop-rich areas and absolutely destroy them,” Janes said. Ross’s geese are specially adapted for foraging on the roots of various marsh and crop plants, digging them up even in the winter, and have been known to eat rice, wheat, corn, and other grains.
With plenty of hunting experience, Janes has made himself available to farmers affected by various sp3ecies of waterfowl.
“Lots of people don’t mind the geese, and I enjoy seeing them as well, but the fact of the matter is that it is a sustainable population,” he said.
The species’ inefficient digestive systems allow them to graze more heavily than bovines, leaving many cattle owners with an issue.
“(One recent Saturday), I received a call that some Canada geese were grazing a pasture east of Mountain Grove,” Janes said. He saw this as an opportunity to help a local farmer, so he made his way to the affected pasture with the necessary permits and equipment in tow.
Upon his arrival, approximately 20 Canada geese were grazing, but to his surprise, there was a luminous speck of white amongst them: an opportunity. “I was able to get a clean shot at the bird – and got it!” Janes said. “The rest of them flew off, likely to not return [sic].”
The bird will be mounted, and to ensure no meat goes to waste, Janes and his family will feast on the beautiful creature for Christmas dinner.
“To my knowledge, there is no official record of anyone ever taking a Ross’s goose in Wright County,” Janes said. “Most people around these parts don’t even know what they are.”
Snow geese are a popular target for waterfowl hunters, and Janes said there is an abundance of resources for those interested in pursuing the symbolic species.
“If anyone is interested in going after some birds or if any local farmers need their pasture protected, they can email me,” Janes said, providing his email address, edgarsanvil@gmail.com.
For more information on Ross’s geese, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/rosss-goose (Editor’s Note: There was a printing error in the Dec. 11 issue, which is why this story is being published in this week’s issue. We apologize for the error in the last issue.)