DNA tests shed light on cougar, wolf sightings

Image via Wikipedia

Results confirm ties to mountain lions from South

Dakota and timber wolves from the Great Lakes states.

JEFFERSON CITY–Analysis of DNA and other physical evidence is helping biologists learn more about unusual wildlife sightings that have occurred in Missouri in recent months.

COYOTE OR WOLF?

The string of sightings began Nov. 13 with the shooting of what appeared to be an unusually large coyote in Carroll County. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) sought DNA tests to clarify the animal’s identity. Scientists sometimes can determine where an animal came from by comparing its DNA with DNA samples from animals of the same species from different areas.

The first round of testing compared DNA from the 104-pound canine to that of western timber wolves. The tests showed a poor match with western wolves but did confirm the presence of coyote DNA.  However, further testing linked the animal to timber wolves.

“Coyotes seldom get bigger than 30 pounds in Missouri,” said MDC Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer. “A coyote weighing more than 100 pounds just didn’t seem credible. Wolves are known to interbreed with domestic dogs and coyotes, so we had further testing done to look for evidence of that, and we found it.”

The second round of DNA tests compared the Carroll County canine’s DNA with samples from timber wolves from the Great Lake states of Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan. This time, the tests found a close match. Wolves from that area are known to have coyote DNA in their genes. This accounts for the match with coyote DNA in the initial tests.

“Lots of people were skeptical when we announced results from the first round of testing,” said Beringer. “We were too. But when you are trying to unravel a biological puzzle like this one, you take things one step at a time and go where the science leads you. This animal appeared to be very different from the western wolf samples it was compared with, but when we compared it with wolf DNA from the Great Lake states we found a match.”

When asked how a Great Lakes wolf got to Missouri, Beringer noted that wolves from northern states have turned up in Missouri before. The most recent case occurred in 2001. It involved an 80-pound timber wolf killed by a landowner in Grundy County. The man mistook the wolf for a coyote, but discovered his mistake when he found the animal wore a radio collar and an ear tag linking it to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, more than 600 miles away. He notified MDC, which was able to confirm its origin with Michigan officials.

MOUNTAIN LION DNA

Missouri’s other recent news about large carnivores consists of six confirmed sightings of mountain lions (Puma concolor), also known as cougars, since November. MDC verified three of those sightings – in Platte, Linn and St. Louis counties – with photos. MDC obtained hair from the cat photographed in Platte County, but DNA tests on the hair were only able to confirm that the animal was a mountain lion.

“We already knew that,” said Beringer. “The gentleman who saw it got photos that conclusively proved it was a mountain lion. We hoped DNA from the hair would enable us to learn where the animal came from, but hair is a poor source of DNA, and there just wasn’t enough to tell us more.”

Two confirmed sightings involved mountain lions that were shot by hunters, one on Dec. 31 and one on Jan. 15. With ample tissue for testing on these two animals, the DNA results were more revealing. Both had DNA consistent with mountain lions from South Dakota or northwestern Nebraska. Beringer said mountain lions from northwestern Nebraska and the Black Hills region of South Dakota are so closely related, it is almost impossible to distinguish between them.

Beringer said MDC uses other physical evidence to learn about mountain lions when their bodies are available for examination. Based on the condition of teeth and residual dark barring on their legs, the two male cougars shot by hunters were identified as being young animals.

“That is consistent with the theory that the cats we are seeing in Missouri are subadult males dispersing from their original home areas,” said Beringer.

Examination of the bodies of the two hunter-killed cats showed no evidence of them having been held in captivity. The stomach of the 115-pound cougar from Ray County was empty. The 128-pound cat from Macon County had eaten a rabbit. Both were in good physical condition. Further information about these and other confirmed mountain lion sightings is available at www.mdc.mo.gov/node/34168.

The most recent confirmed sighting occurred in Oregon County March 9. That cat left a tuft of hair on a barbed-wire fence after crossing the road in front of a motorist. MDC retrieved the hair, and testing at the University of Missouri confirmed it as a mountain lion. Further testing is planned to learn more about the Oregon County cougar’s relationship to mountain lions from other areas.

One of the more intriguing but still unexplained twists to Missouri’s recent mountain lion sightings is the fact that a cougar photographed with a trail camera Dec. 29 in Linn County appears to have been wearing a radio-tracking collar. The shape of the collar’s antenna suggests that it is a VHF transmitter, rather than one of the newer GPS collars that enable wildlife researchers to track animals’ movements continuously via satellites.

“I have made a lot of calls to other states trying to identify that animal, but so far my only lead is a missing, collared, subadult male from Utah. That would be one heck of a move – but not impossible,” said Beringer.

He noted that collars of the type the Linn County mountain lion was wearing have a short range, and their batteries eventually wear out. The transmitter might have been out of service before the cat left the area where it was collared, leaving the researcher who was tracking it unaware of its departure.

MANAGING PREDATORS

The March 9 sighting brings the number of verified Missouri mountain lion reports to 16. The first of these modern-day sightings was in 1994. Prior to that, the last confirmed sighting dates back to when the species was extirpated, in the early 20^th century.

Confirmed cougar sightings have been infrequent in recent decades. The spate of six confirmed sightings in four months surprised even experts like Beringer. He said the uptick in sightings could be a hint of things to come.

“Nebraska went from where we are now – having occasional verified sightings of dispersing animals – to having a breeding population in the space of 10 years. Young male mountain lions are the ones that most often leave their home areas, but I think it is realistic to expect that females will arrive here eventually. We need to be thinking about what we will do if mountain lions establish a breeding population here at some point in the future.”

Beringer noted that what is happening with mountain lions today is similar to what has been happening with bears for several decades. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission restored black bears (Ursus americanus) to that state starting in 1958. As bears filled up suitable habitat in Arkansas, a few individuals began dispersing north into Missouri. Today, the Show-Me State has a breeding population of bears, and MDC is developing strategies for managing the species.

MDC’s current policy regarding mountain lions, approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission in 2006, is not to encourage the establishment of a breeding population of mountain lions. The state’s Wildlife Code protects mountain lions. However, it also allows people to kill any mountain lion that is attacking or killing livestock or domestic animals or threatening human safety. Anyone who kills a mountain lion must report it to MDC immediately and turn over the intact carcass, including the pelt, within 24 hours.

The same applies to wolves and bears.

“The return of these long-absent predators is exciting to many Missourians,” said Beringer, “but it is frightening to others. Much of the fear is simply due to unfamiliarity. These animals are naturally shy of people and seldom cause problems, even in states that have thriving breeding populations.”

Beringer said contrasting the frequency of mountain lion attacks with more familiar dangers helps put the risk in perspective. For example, more than 50,000 people die in automobile accidents in the United States annually, and 86 people are killed by lightning. In contrast, deaths from mountain lion attacks have averaged one every seven years since 1890.

“Having mountain lions around again seems scarier than it really is because it’s new,” said Beringer. “But it would be a terrible pity if people let that keep them from enjoying the outdoors. We don’t let fear of traffic accidents or lightning keep us indoors. We shouldn’t let fear of predators scare us unnecessarily either.”

The Conservation Department set up the Mountain Lion Response Team in 1996 to track cougar sightings and investigate those instances where physical evidence – such as photos, video, footprints, scat or hair – exists. To report a sighting, contact any MDC office or conservation agent, or send email to mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov.

Information about mountain lion and bear behavior and safety are available at www.mdc.mo.gov/node/3505 and www.mdc.mo.gov/node/35056.

-Jim Low-



 Ozark Fly Sales

MDC confirms mountain lion sighting in Oregon County

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DNA testing of hair left on a fence positively identifies a cougar.

WEST PLAINS – A tuft of hair left on a fence in Oregon County March 9 definitely belongs to a mountain lion, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).

MDC Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer today released results of a DNA test on hair taken from a fence along Highway M, near the community of Rover. Beringer said Conservation Agent Jerry Elliott retrieved the hair after receiving a report form an area resident who saw the cougar run across the road.

The man told Elliott that a full-grown mountain lion ran across the road in front of him and got its hind leg caught as it attempted to jump a fence on the opposite side of the road.  He said the animal struggled briefly before it escaped, leaving a tuft of hair the size of a cotton ball in the top strand of the barbwire fence.

When he arrived at the scene, Elliott placed the hair in an evidence bag. Subsequent testing at the University of Missouri positively identified the hair as coming from a mountain lion, Puma concolor.

Beringer said the University’s laboratory does not have adequate reference material to evaluate the cat’s possible relationship to mountain lions from different geographic areas.

“We want to find out as much as possible about where the animal might have come from,” said Beringer, “so we will send the remaining hair sample to a genetics lab in Montana to determine the cat’s likely origin.”

Beringer said that testing could take several weeks to months.

This is the sixth verified mountain lion sighting in Missouri since late November and the 16^th in modern times. In cases where carcasses have been available for examination, most have been young males. Young male mountain lions go in search of new territories when they mature. Beringer said MDC has no evidence to suggest that a breeding population of mountain lions exists in Missouri.

Mountain lions, also called cougars, panthers and pumas, were present in Missouri before pioneer settlement. The last documented Missouri mountain lion was killed in the Bootheel in 1927. The closest populations of mountain lions to Missouri are in South Dakota and a small population in northwest Nebraska.

Beringer said that MDC has never stocked or released mountain lions in Missouri and has no plans to do so.

To report a sighting, physical evidence or other mountain-lion incident, contact a local MDC office or conservation agent, or email the Mountain Lion Response Team at mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov.

There have been no confirmed cases in Missouri of mountain lions attacking people, pets or livestock in modern times. For more information on mountain lions in Missouri, visit www.MissouriConservation.org and search “mountain lion.”

Missouri Hunting Information

MDC Contributes $5 Million to Waterfowl Conservation

Image via WikipediaKANSAS CITY, Mo., March 18, 2011 –With this year's state grant program contribution of $250,000, the Missouri Department of Conservation reached the $5 million mark for donations to waterfowl breeding grounds in Canada. With the support of MDC during the past five years, Ducks Unlimited conserved, enhanced and restored 235,059 acres of prime breeding habitat and positively influenced an additional 1.2 million acres.

"The MDC partnership with Ducks Unlimited is one of the strongest and most effective in the nation," Mark Flaspohler, DU manager of conservation programs for Missouri, said. "Their commitment to the state grants program is just one manifestation of that partnership."

The state grants program represents a unique international funding partnership that preserves critical waterfowl habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region of Canada, while working toward achieving the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Contributions from the states are matched by DU Inc. and DU Canada, as well as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. 

"It is the committed support of partners like the Missouri Department of Conservation that makes waterfowl conservation and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan a success," DU CEO Dale Hall, said.

DU Canada uses a combination of strategically targeted direct programs, agricultural extension and public policy efforts to advance its conservation goals. Direct habitat programs such as land acquisition and conservation easements help secure the remaining habitat base and provide restoration opportunities. Agricultural extension programs focus on adding nesting cover and/or improving wetland conditions, while the promotion of waterfowl-friendly agricultural practices provides positive economic benefits to producers.

"MDC's investment in Canadian waterfowl habitat yields direct, tangible returns for Missourians," said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. "Leveraging our contribution and money from other states four-to-one lets us put $2 million into protecting critical nesting habitat that sends millions of ducks winging down the Mississippi Flyway to Missouri and beyond each fall."

Waterfowl band recovery data has established a clear link between waterfowl produced and banded in Canada's PPR and subsequently harvested in the Mississippi Flyway. Priority habitats in Manitoba stand out as a primary Canadian source of ducks harvested in Missouri.

"The conservation of this vital habitat will ensure Missouri hunters experience strong waterfowl flights from Manitoba for many years to come," Tom Shryock, DU Missouri state chairman, said.

Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.




Maintaining Duck Hunting Gear

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4-H National Headquarters and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Honor Louisiana Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach 4-H Program

The 4-H National Headquarters and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
presented the 2011 Connecting Youth with Nature through Natural Resources
Conservation Education Award to the Louisiana State University AgCenter’s
4-H Youth Wetlands Program at the 76th North American Wildlife and Natural
Resources Conference being held in Missouri.

The 4-H Youth Wetlands Program has approximately 85,000 students enrolled
in their educational and outreach program in Louisiana. By developing and
distributing wetland education curriculum and teaching materials at no
cost to participating educators, this program strives to implement
wetlands education in the classroom as well as in the field. Students
learn about water quality, invasive species, biodiversity, recreation,
adaptations, wetland lost, and many more pressing wetland topics. Youth
are empowered to contribute ideas and make decisions that will aid in the
recovery of Louisiana’s deteriorating coastline. Since January 2010, youth
participants have installed approximately 50,000 wetland plants across
Louisiana to combat wetland loss.

“The Service is proud to recognize the efforts of the 4-H Youth Wetlands
Education and Outreach Program with the 2011 Connecting Youth with Nature
Award. The program provides an opportunity for Louisiana’s youth to get
outdoors and contribute to projects benefiting fish and wildlife habitats
while gaining exposure to career choices in natural resources management,”
said Jay Slack, Director of the Service’s National Conservation Training
Center.

4-H National Headquarters recently recognized the 4-H Youth Wetlands
Program as a Program of Distinction, which is required for consideration
for this annual interagency conservation award. Programs of Distinction
reflect the highest quality 4-H youth development programs found in
communities across the United States.

The award program was initiated in 1980 to recognize 4-H volunteer leaders
from across the country who assist youth in learning about wildlife and
fisheries conservation and management. The Wildlife Management Institute,
the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Boone and Crockett
Club also support the award program.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader
and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our
scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources,
dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more
information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov.






Missouri Public Hunting Options

Service Announces 2011 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest Will Be Held in Shepherdstown, West Virginia

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the 2011 Federal
Duck Stamp Art Contest will be held at the agency’s National Conservation
Training Center in Shepherdstown, W. Va., on October 28 and 29. This is
the first time in the contest’s 61-year history that the event has been
held in West Virginia.

The winning design chosen during the contest will be made into the
2012-2013 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck
Stamp,” the cornerstone of one of the world’s most successful conservation
programs.

“Having this prestigious contest at the National Conservation Training
Center provides a unique opportunity to build on the long history of
wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation in our country,” said Jay
Slack, Director of the Service’s training center. “Never has it been more
important to conserve and restore wetland habitat, especially as we search
for methods to minimize the effects of climate change, for waterfowl and
the multitude of other species that depend on wetlands.”

The $15 Federal Duck Stamp is a vital tool for wetland conservation, with
98 cents of every dollar generated going to purchase or lease wetland
habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since the stamp’s
inception, sales have helped to acquire nearly six million acres of
wildlife habitat at hundreds of refuges in nearly every state.

The Federal Duck Stamp art contest is the only art competition of its kind
sponsored by the federal government. Since the first open contest was held
in 1949, thousands of wildlife artists from throughout the nation have
submitted art to the annual contest. While the winner receives no money
from the federal government, the winning artist may benefit from the
increased visibility and sale of prints and artwork.

The first Federal Duck Stamp was designed in 1934 by Iowa native and
editorial cartoonist J.N. “Ding” Darling, who was the director of the
Bureau of Biological Survey, forerunner to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
It sold for $1. The stamp currently sells for $15, and more than 1.5
million people buy Duck Stamps annually.

Every waterfowl hunter age 16 or older is required to buy a Federal Duck
Stamp. In addition, the stamps are highly sought after by collectors,
conservationists and wildlife art aficionados. A current Federal Duck
Stamp also provides free admission into any refuge open to the public.
There are 550 National Wildlife Refuges spread across all 50 states and
U.S. territories, offering unparalleled wildlife oriented recreational
opportunities, including hunting, fishing, bird watching and photography.

For information about the Federal Duck Stamp Program and about the 2011
Federal Duck Stamp Contest, go to: http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps. You can
also check out the Federal Duck Stamp on Facebook: by going to
http://www.facebook.com and searching “Federal Duck Stamp.”

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on
our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.

The National Conservation Training Center is the home of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and a leader in environmental sustainability. The center
provides quality training tailored to support Service employees and
conservation partners in the accomplishment of the agency’s mission. For
more information about NCTC or our green practices, visit
http://nctc.fws.gov.

Check out Ozark Fly Sales

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Launch Major National Survey On Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Watching

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will soon be conducting the 12th
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
Hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts across the nation will be
asked to participate in interviewing set to begin April 1. The survey,
which has been conducted every five years since 1955, will involve 53,000
households.

“We appreciate the anglers, hunters, birdwatchers and other citizens
throughout the United States who voluntarily participate in the survey
when contacted,” said Acting Director Rowan Gould, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. “The survey results help wildlife and natural resource managers
quantify how much Americans value wildlife resources in terms of both
participation and expenditures.”

The survey is funded by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program
authorized by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement
Act of 2000. The survey provides the only comprehensive statistical
database available on participation and expenditures for hunting, fishing
and wildlife-watching in all 50 states. The information is collected by
the U.S. Census Bureau, primarily through telephone interviews to be
conducted April to June and September to October in 2011, and January to
March in 2012. Those contacted will be asked about their participation
and expenditures in several categories of wildlife-associated recreation.
The results will be available in a national report and in 50 individual
state reports.

“The last survey published in 2006 revealed 87.5 million Americans enjoyed
some form of wildlife-related recreation and spent more than $122.3
billion pursuing their activities,” said Hannibal Bolton, assistant
director for the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program.
“The survey is a critical information resource for federal and state
wildlife agencies, outdoor and tourist industries, local governments,
planners, conservation groups, journalists and others interested in
wildlife and outdoor recreation.”

Participation is voluntary and all responses are strictly confidential.
Data collected is used for statistical purposes only and no participant
can be identified from information contained in the database and follow-up
reports. Representative samples will be based on the initial contacts and
include 19,000 anglers and hunters and 10,000 wildlife watchers (wildlife
photographers, feeders, and observers).

Preliminary survey findings will be available in the spring of 2012. Final
reports will be issued beginning in the fall of 2012. The reports, when
completed, will be posted at .

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader
and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our
scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources,
dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more
information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov.

If you are a fly fisherman, check Ozark Fly Sales for great deals on flies.

Turkey hunting clinic open to youths 9 through 15

Up to 40 youths can register for the free event April 2.

BLAIRSTOWN, Mo.– Hunters age 9 through 15 who want to learn about turkey hunting can register for a youth turkey hunting clinic April 2.

The clinic is co-sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation and Everhart’s Wilderness Lodge. It will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the lodge, which is northwest of Clinton.

The event gives young people a chance to learn from experienced turkey hunters. Participants learn about turkey hunting rules and regulations, firearms safety, shotgun patterning, choke and shot selection, calling, scouting, decoy use and equipment. The free clinic includes ammunition and lunch.

Registration is limited to 40 youths. Each youth must be accompanied by an adult sponsor. Each adult may sponsor up to two youths. Youths are encouraged to bring their shotguns. For more information or to register, call Johnny and Linda Everhart, 660-885-5049.

Other clinic sponsors include the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Kansas City Safari Club, Wal-Mart, and Flambeau Outdoors.

Ozark Fly Sales

Elk-Vehicle Collisions

This MDC video deals with some concerns Missouri residents, especially those in the region where elk will be placed, have raised.  Judge for yourself what the risks of vehicle-elk collisions might be.  I think after watching the video, you will come to the conclusion at least that the behavior of elk with regard to vehicles and roads is different than that for deer.


Missouri Smallmouth Fishing

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More than 850 students compete in state archery tournament

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The third annual Missouri National Archery in the Schools (MoNASP) state tournament was held on Feb. 25-26 at Linn State Technical College and drew 857 students in grades 4-12 from 49 schools across the state. Winning teams and individuals, along with other teams and individuals who had qualifying scores, will go on to compete in the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) national tournament in Louisville, Kentucky on May 13-14. 


MoNASP is coordinated through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) in partnership with schools and supporting organizations throughout the state. MoNASP is an affiliate ofNASP and promotes education, self-esteem and physical activity for students in grades 4-12 through participation in the sport of archery. More than 25,000 Missouri students from 165 schools participate in MoNASP. Since NASP's beginnings in 2002, more than seven million students have participated in the program through 7,350 schools in 47 states and five countries.

“The growth of the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program has been tremendous over the past four years,” said MDC Education Outreach Coordinator Amy Francka, who coordinates MoNASP. “This surge has led students outdoors with their families to participate in this lifetime sport. Many local conservation groups and civic organizations are also volunteering to help support MoNASP in their communities. Students are connecting with family members, coaches and teachers through archery. This connection and confidence gained through archery will spread into other parts of their lives.”

Top Two Scorers

The top-scoring male student was seventh-grader Colton Fry of North Wood R-IV in Salem. The top-scoring female student was tenth-grader Emily Reel of Crane High School in Crane. In addition to trophies, these top scorers also received Special Edition Genesis Bows.

Winning teams and other individual winners who qualified for the national tournament were:

High School Division

1st: Crane High School, Crane

2nd: Willard High School, Willard

3rd: Helias High School, Jefferson City

Middle School Division

1st: Ridgewood Middle School, Arnold

2nd: Crane Middle School, Crane

3rd: Holy Rosary School, Clinton

Elementary School Division

1st: George Guffey Elementary School, Fenton

2nd: St. Joseph Cathedral School, Jefferson City

3rd: Meramec Heights Elementary School, Arnold

Individual High School Males

1st: Cody Wright, 10th Grade, Hurley R-I, Hurley

2nd: Garrett Essary, 9th Grade, Crane High School, Crane 

3rd: Preston McHolland, 10th Grade, Crane High School, Crane 

4th: Chase Meyer, 12th Grade, Helias High School, Jefferson City

5th: Corey Eutsler, 10th Grade, Galena High School, Galena

Individual High School Females

1st: Emily Reel, 10th Grade, Crane High School, Crane

2nd: Marissa Stevens, 9th Grade, Crane High School, Crane

3rd: Amber Hoeme, 12th Grade, Galena High School, Galena

4th: Connor Melzer, 9th Grade, Maries R-2, Belle

5th: Danielle Davis, 10th Grade, Galena High School, Galena

Individual Middle School Males

1st: Colton Fry, 7th Grade, North Wood R-IV, Salem

2nd: Nicholas Llewellyn, 8th Grade, Crane Middle School, Crane

3rd: Brandon Whitley, 7th Grade, St. Clair Junior High, St. Clair

4th: Steven Hellmer, 8th Grade, Willard Middle School, Willard

5th: Jacob Lemen, 7th Grade, Ridgewood Middle School, Arnold

Individual Middle School Females

1st: Megan Kowalewski, 8th Grade, Ridgewood Middle School, Arnold

2nd: Adriane Dehn, 7th Grade, Holy Rosary School, Clinton

3rd: Faith Bundy, 8th Grade, Ridgewood Middle School, Arnold

4th: Elora Doherty, 7th Grade, Ridgewood Middle School, Arnold

5th: Emma Lander, 7th Grade, Crane Middle School, Crane

Individual Elementary School Males

1st: Dalton Kaeshofer, 6th Grade, George Guffey, Fenton

2nd: Lincoln Talbott, 5th Grade, Perry Christian Academy, Perry

3rd: Richie Freukes, 6th Grade, Simpson Elementary, Arnold

4th: Blake Kirsch, 4th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

5th: Skyler Price, 6th Grade,  Maries R-2, Belle

Individual Elementary School Females

1st: Mallorie Mason, 6th Grade, Meramec Heights, Arnold

2nd: Rachel Schulte, 5th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

3rd: Rebecca Letcher, 6th Grade, Holy Rosary School, Clinton

4th: Elizabeth Yancey, 5th Grade, Perry Christian Academy, Perry

5th: Aubrey Stuart, 4th Grade, Meramec Heights, Arnold

The following teams and individuals also had qualifying scores for the national tournament:

Teams

Galena High School, Galena

Warsaw High School, Warsaw

Willard Middle School, Willard

St. Joseph Cathedral Middle School, Jefferson City

Cole Camp Middle School, Cole Camp

Longview Farms Elementary #1, Lee’s Summit

Males

Cole Sandbothe, 6th Grade, St. Stanislaus, Jefferson City

Dalton Cook, 6th Grade, Salem Upper Elementary, Salem

Landon Harrison, 5th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

Cole Higgins, 5th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

Bailey Vanbuskirk, 5th Grade, Holy Rosary School, Clinton

Nikolai Pominov, 5th Grade, Meramec Heights Elementary, Arnold

Ethan Johnson, 4th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

Luke Daledovich, 4th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

Sam Ball, 4th Grade, Salem Upper Elementary, Salem

Cameron Gasten, 4th Grade, Perry Christian Academy, Perry

Females

Jordan Wright, 6th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

Jessica Foster, 6th Grade, Meramec Heights Elementary, Arnold

Madeline Stasa, 6th Grade, George Guffey Elementary, Fenton

Rose Arnold, 5th Grade, Perry Christian Academy, Perry

Liska Hromnak, 5th Grade, Windsor, Imperial

Peyton Kiely, 5th Grade, Holy Rosary School, Clinton

Grace Patterson, 4th Grade, George Guffey Elementary, Fenton

Londyn Cook, 4th Grade, Salem Upper Elementary, Salem

Alexa Swon, 4th Grade, Perry Christian Academy, Perry

Maya Heckart, 4th Grade, St. Joseph Cathedral, Jefferson City

For more information on MoNASP, visit www.missouriconservation.org.

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MDC’s new e-Permits begin today

MDC Director Bob Ziehmer was among the first to purchase a 2011 Resident Hunting and Fishing permit using the MDC’s new e-Permits system.

E-Permits will enable hunters, anglers and trappers to buy, print and immediately use permits.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo – Beginning today (March 1), the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) new e-Permits system will enable Missouri hunters, anglers and trappers to purchase, print and immediately use most permits.

All sport-fishing and sport-hunting permits will be available through e-Permits, along with trapping permits and the Apprentice Hunter Authorization. Commercial permits and lifetime permits will continue to be sold through MDC’s Central Office by calling 573-751-4115.

Hunters, anglers and trappers will be able to buy permits online and print them 24/7 anywhere they have access to a computer and printer. They can still buy permits from vendors, and by phone by calling toll-free 1-800-392-4115. Phone purchases are subject to a $2 convenience fee, while the fee for online permit purchases is $1.

They also can save e-Permits on their computer and print extra copies of permits in case one is lost or ruined. As always, permits may not be shared, and additional copies of a permit do not provide additional valid permits for the buyer or others to use.

Missourians have been able to buy permits online since 2002. However, under the old online system, buyers received only confirmation at the time of purchase. They used this confirmation while waiting to receive the actual permits through the mail, which could take up to two weeks. This was no help to turkey and deer hunters, who need actual permits to tag game. With e-Permits, turkey and deer hunters will be able to buy permits, print them and have valid permits immediately.

Deer and turkey tagging procedures will change with the change to e-Permits. The main difference is that permits no longer will include a removable transportation tag. Instead, the permit itself will be the transportation tag. Deer and turkey permits will have months printed along one edge and dates on another edge. Hunters will notch the month and day as part of recording their harvested game and attach the permit to the animal. They will continue to check harvested animals through the Telecheck system.

E-Permits will not be printed on adhesive-backed material, so hunters will need to provide a means of attaching them to harvested game. Hunters are encouraged to put e-Permits inside zipper-type sandwich bags and attach them to deer or turkeys with string, twist-ties, wire, plastic cable ties or tape.

“Our change to e-Permits will also reduce costs as we phase out software, hardware and special permit material used in the old Point-of-Sale permit system,” said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. “When fully implemented, e-Permits will reduce the cost of issuing permits by approximately $500,000 annually.”

For more information on e-Permits and how to buy them, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/epermits.

-- Joe Jerek –

Missouri Public Land Hunting