MDC offers a number of hunter education opportunities in upcoming months

 

Individuals needing hunter education have classroom and online options.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The calendar may still say “summer,” but many people are starting to prepare for this fall’s hunting seasons. If taking hunter education is one of the things you need to do to enjoy firearms hunting opportunities this year, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has several options available

Individuals born after Jan. 1, 1967 hunting in Missouri during a firearms season or acting as an adult mentor to another hunter must have hunter education certification unless exempt (see exemptions listed below). MDC offers two hunter education options; an all-online format and a blended format.

The all-online format is an option that may be completed by Missouri residents age 16 and older. It consists of an online course and requires a fee paid to the online course provider (not MDC). The all-online option requires the passing of a final exam, but has no skills portion.

The blended format is an option for students of all ages and has two parts. The knowledge portion provides information to participants on all aspects of hunter education and can be taken online, through a free self-study guide, or in a classroom setting. Participants must also complete a four-hour skills session that includes a multiple-choice final exam. The skills portion is a hands-on demonstration of skills learned by participants. Participants must complete and pass both portions to earn certification.

For individuals participating in the blended format, here is a list of skills sessions coming up in southeast Missouri:

• Aug. 15 – Marble Hill United Methodist Church, 300 Missouri Highway 34 (Bollinger County)
• Aug. 22 – Bloomfield Assembly Church, 20034 Missouri Highway E (Stoddard County)
• Aug. 22 – Ste. Genevieve VFW, 852 Memorial Drive (Ste. Genevieve County)
• Aug. 28, Elm Street Baptist Church, 2668 North Highway 105, Charleston (Mississippi County)
• Aug. 31 – Poplar Bluff Junior High School, 550 N. Westwood Blvd. (Butler County)
• Sept. 8 – Black River Electric, 2600 U.S. Highway 67, Fredericktown (Madison County)
• Sept. 11 – Arcadia Valley R-11 School, 750 W. Park, Ironton (Iron County)
• Sept. 19 – Scott City First Assembly of God Church, 312 Dearborn St. (Scott County)
• Sept. 24 – Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center Pavilion, Wappapello Lake, 10276 Missouri Highway T (Wayne County)
• Sept. 25 – Perryville Elks Lodge, 921 N. Perryville Blvd. (Perry County)
• Sept. 26 – MDC Ellington Office, 2929 Reynolds County Road 618 (Reynolds County)
• Oct. 2 – Rice Lecture Hall, Mineral Area College, 5270 Flat River Road, Park Hills (St. Francois County)
• Oct. 3 – New Madrid Baptist Church, 1420 Scott St. (New Madrid County)
• Oct. 10 – Malden High School, 505 W. Burkhart St. (Dunklin County)

• Oct. 10 – MDC Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, 2289 County Park Drive (Cape Girardeau County)
• Oct. 24 – Diane Sayre Recreation Center, 1500 S. Truman Blvd. Caruthersville (Pemiscot County)

To register for one of these skills session or to learn more about Missouri's hunter education options and requirements, visit mdc.mo.gov/huntereducation.

To help keep participants, instructors, and others safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MDC will limit in-person class sizes to small numbers so social distancing can be practiced. Class availability will also be limited due to smaller class sizes and limited availability of venues. MDC will abide by applicable local health requirements and strongly encourages participants to bring and wear masks. Hand sanitizer will be available to participants, but masks will not be provided by at the above-listed classes.

“To help staff, volunteers, program participants, and others stay safe, MDC has changed the format and structure of some of our programs, including hunter education,” said MDC Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator Justin McGuire. “Opportunities to attend an in-person hunter education class or skills session are available, but limited, at this time. MDC still offers ample opportunities for people to legally hunt in Missouri through youth exemptions, our apprentice hunter education authorization, and online hunter education.”

Exemptions to Missouri’s hunter education requirements are:

• Hunters born before Jan. 1, 1967
• Hunters age 15 or younger who will be hunting with an adult mentor age 18 years or    older who is certified in hunter education.
• Hunters with a disability exemption from MDC
• Hunters age 16 or older who have purchased an apprentice hunter authorization and will be hunting with a properly permitted adult mentor age 18 or older
• Hunters who are landowners hunting on land they own.
• Hunters who can prove completion of an approved hunter education course in another state

More information about hunter education opportunities in southeast Missouri can be obtained by calling MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at 573-290-5730 or going to mdc.mo.gov.

Cottontails are focus of MDC online program for kids Aug. 7

Children can learn adaptations these animals use to survive in a predator-heavy world.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Cottontail rabbits are frequent sights on evening walks in urban and rural areas. However, if you think this abundance makes them easy pickings for coyotes, bobcats, and other wildlife predators looking for a rabbit meal, think again.

Children can learn about a number of unique adaptations cottontail rabbits use to avoid predators and raise their young in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) “Little Acorns: Cottontails,” a free virtual program 10-:30-11 a.m. on Aug. 7. This online program is part of MDC’s “Little Acorns” series of programs and is being put on by the staff of MDC’s Springfield Conservation Nature Center. MDC Naturalist Alan Reed will describe how, although a cottontail rabbit may be a common sight, it has several adaptations that are focused on how to avoid predators. This program is designed for ages 3-6, but is open to all ages. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173709

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/regions.

MDC offers online program that puts special spin on trout fishing

July 31 virtual program will focus on spin fishing for trout.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Spin fishing is an easy and relatively trouble-free way for anglers to catch a variety of fish – including trout.

People can get tips on how to get maximum benefits out of this popular style of fishing on their next trout-fishing trip at the free Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) online program “Spin Fishing For Trout,” a free virtual program 1-1:30 p.m. on July 31. Spin-fishing equipment can be effective trout-fishing tackle. MDC Conservation Educator Greg Collier will show how combining the proper reel, line, rod, and tackle, can help fill a stringer with rainbows on your next trout-fishing excursion. People can register for this program at:

 https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173591

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/regions.

MDC offers online firearms class for beginners July 29

Participants will learn the basics and proper loading of firearms with multiple types of actions during this free virtual program.

St. LOUIS, Mo.—Learning the safe and proper use of firearms can enable one to enjoy a full range of hunting and recreational shooting activities. There are several different types of actions used by a variety of firearms, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed when just starting out with shooting sports.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) presents Semi-automatics and Other Actions: Loading 101, an online program to help new shooters sort out how different kinds of firearms work. This free virtual program will be held Wednesday, July 29 from 6-7 p.m.

This virtual class is for anyone just getting into hunting, considering shooting sports, or is simply curious about how to load a firearm. It will cover how to properly load and unload various handguns, rifles, and shotguns, including semi-automatics, revolvers, a bolt action, and more. The class will touch on the difference between magazines and clips as well as the main parts of a firearm.

At the end of the program, there will be a chance for participants to submit their questions via chat during a Q&A session.  

Semi-automatics and Other Actions: Loading 101 is a free program, but online pre-registration is required at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z8H. An e-mail will be sent out to all registered participants prior to the program with the link to join in virtually.

MDC offers many free educational programs in the St. Louis region to help people discover nature, fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. Stay informed by going to the MDC St. Louis reginal events page at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZP6.

MDC offers free virtual class on handcrafting crankbaits Aug. 18

MDC will offer an online virtual class on making
 a balsa-wood crankbait Aug. 18.
Participants will be mailed a kit with lure making materials,
 and they must provide some tools and supplies
 such as pliers, glue, and paint.
 Registration is requested by Aug. 2.

Participants will build a balsa wood crankbait to catch fish such as bass

Kansas City, Mo. – Anglers can go fishing with lures of their own design if they don’t mind some wood carving, glue tasks, and fine-brush paint chores. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free virtual online class for making a balsa wood crankbait from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The crankbait will be suitable for catching fish such as largemouth bass or panfish.

This class is open to participants age 12 and older. Class size is limited to 20 participants. They are asked to register online by Aug. 2.

MDC will mail a lure kit to participants that includes materials such as balsa wood, eyelets, hooks, and a plastic crankbait bill. The kit will also include a list of tools or materials the participant must provide such as glue, pliers, and sandpaper. They may start carving on the lure prior to the class.

Participants will be sent an email with a WebEx link just prior to the class startup. To register for this crankbait building class, visit MDC events signup at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z8z.

MDC to offer virtual program on cottonmouths July 30

The cottonmouth (pictured above) can be found near some
Missouri waterways, but contrary to what
many believe, all snakes found in or near
 water are not cottonmouths. People can learn more about
cottonmouths, also called "water moccasins," at a free
Missouri Department of Conservation online program on
July 30.

Learn how to identify this venomous snake from other snakes.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For many people, all snakes found in or near water are presumed to be cottonmouths, also known as “water moccasins.” Cottonmouths do, indeed, live in Missouri, but all of Missouri’s snakes can swim and many can be found, at least occasionally, near water. Learning more about water moccasins may help you avoid confrontations with these venomous snakes and ease your worry level when you see a snake in the water.

People can learn about more about these snakes at a free virtual Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) program “Identifying the Water Moccasin.” MDC’s Springfield Conservation Nature Center staff will offer this online program July 30, from 1-1:30 p.m. Among the topics this class will cover is how to identify cottonmouths (i.e., "water moccasin"), their habitat and some precautions you can take to keep from being bitten. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173690

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/regions.

Fun Way to Support MO Conservation

There are a couple of organizations that we really believe in.  They advocate for preserving and conserving public lands and in general make things better for Missouri's outdoors.

Those two organizations are BHA (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers) as well as the Conservation Federation of Missouri(CFM). We'd really encourage you to join both of these great orgaizations to support there efforts that benefit us as sportsmen and women, as well as the future generations.

CFM is having a virtual banquet with auction, and you can participate.  If you are remotely interested, check out their page at https://www.32auctions.com/COL20.

MDC to offer virtual program on how snakes eat July 29

Two-Headed Ratsnake

Learn interesting facts about how snakes consume their food and see a two-headed snake eat.

BRANSON, Mo. – For a snake, eating is usually a jaw-dropping experience.

Learn interesting details about how snakes eat and watch a two-headed snake get fed July 29 at a free virtual Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) program “Snake Feeding: Featuring a Two-Headed Snake.” MDC’s Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center staff will offer this program July 29, from 1-2 p.m.

Among the snakes that will be fed during this online program will be the two-headed western ratsnake that has been housed at the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center since it was found by a family in Stone County in 2017. Though the feeding of the two-headed snake will be the highlight of the online program, people who register for this event will learn that even snakes having only one head utilize some unique adaptations to consume their prey. Participants will be able to watch Shepherd of the Hills staff feed several snakes that are kept at the Conservation Center.

Contrary to what’s often said, snakes cannot detach their lower jaw. However, due to incredible jaw flexibility, a snake can open its mouth wider than its body and swallow prey that is large in relation to its mouth and head. To put it in human perspective, some of the larger prey items snakes can consume would be the equivalent of a human swallowing a basketball. This unique form of eating has benefits. Because such a large quantity of food can be consumed at one time, some mature snakes in the wild can get by with eating once every several weeks. Swallowing items larger than their heads also helps snakes to provide benefits to humans by being able to eat mice and rats.

People can register for this online program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173822

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/regions.

MDC to offer free virtual hummingbird program July 21

People can learn more about hummingbirds (pictured above)
 at a free Missouri Department of Conservation
online program on July 21.

Springfield Nature Center staff will host online program on these fascinating birds.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Hummingbirds fascinate humans for a variety of reasons. The way these tiny birds hover at feeders and dart back and forth makes them a favorite of many people.

People who want to learn more about these unique birds should sign up for the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) virtual program “Hummingbird Basics.” MDC’s Springfield Conservation Nature Center staff will offer this program July 21 from 10-10:30 a.m. People can learn about these birds’ life cycles and why, in the upcoming weeks, hummingbirds will be looking for feeders as they ravenously feed to store up energy for their long migrations in the fall. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173682

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/regions.

MDC’s Springfield Conservation Nature Center is located at 4601 South Nature Center Way in southeast Springfield. The nature center building and facilities are currently closed to the public due to COVID-19 precautions, but the area’s three-mile network of trails is open to the public.

MDC to hold online program about St. Louis urban fishing opportunities on July 20

MDC will present the online program Introduction to
Urban Fishing in St. Louis on Mon., July 20 from 6:00-6:45 p.m.
 It will provide a chance for the public to learn and
ask questions about urban fishing in the metro area.

Learn what, when and where to fish for in the many fishing lakes in the St. Louis Urban Fishing program during this free presentation.

St. LOUIS, Mo.—The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Urban Fishing Program (UFP) is one of the largest and oldest in the country. Started in 1969 to bring great fishing home to St. Louis residents, it has steadily grown and expanded over the decades to encompass St. Louis County, as well as the lakes on the August. A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. Today, there are more angling opportunities year-round than ever before.

St. Louis area anglers will have the chance to learn more about the UFP at a free online program, Introduction to Urban Fishing in St. Louis. It will be held Mon., July 20, from 6:00-6:45 p.m. This virtual program will provide an opportunity to learn and ask questions about urban fishing in the metro area.

During the 45-minute program, anglers will discover what lakes are part of the UFP, where, when, and how many fish are stocked, where to borrow rods and reels at no charge, who needs a fishing permit and how to purchase them. The program will touch on basic identification of the fish species anglers will commonly find in St. Louis lakes. It will also introduce participants to MDC’s Discover Nature Fishing—a free educational program that will guide those new to the sport through the basics in a four-lessen sequence. A question-and-answer portion will follow the MDC presentation.

An Introduction to Urban Fishing in St. Louis is a free program, but online pre-registration is required at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z8b. An e-mail will be sent out to all registered participants the morning of the program with the link to join in virtually.

MDC offers many free educational programs in the St. Louis region to help people discover nature, fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. Stay informed by going to the MDC St. Louis reginal events page at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZP6.

MDC announces additions to Linscomb Wildlife Area in St. Clair County to boost native grasslands

Partners and donors have made it possible for MDC
 to add two land tracts to the Linscomb Wildlife Area in
 St. Clair County. MDC will restore it to
native wildflowers and grasses, similar to the nearby
 Wah’Kon-Tah Prairie Conservation Area.
Both areas are in MDC’s Upper Osage Grasslands,
 a priority geography for native grassland restoration.

New tracts will be added with help from donors and conservation partners

El Dorado Springs, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will purchase additional land tracts for the Linscomb Wildlife Area with the help of conservation partners and donors. This addition will provide new opportunities to enhance native grassland ecology and will provide new opportunities for hunting, hiking, and birding in southern St. Clair County.

MDC will add 510 acres in two separate tracts to be purchased from Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever. The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the purchase on July 9. The tracts border the southeast corner of the Linscomb area. They will provide new public access to the south portion of the area. The acquisitions will help restore a piece of western Missouri’s prairie heritage.

Tallgrass prairie once dominated the landscape near Linscomb. Slopes sometimes transitioned into open woodlands with trees or bottomland forest. The Linscomb area’s north boundary is the Osage River. But the uplands were dominated by open prairie.

The NeVada P. Linscomb Trust deeded the initial 1,728 acres for the
 Linscomb Wildlife Area in 1998. In 2003,
the Linscomb Trust purchased 146 additional acres.
 The Missouri Conservation Commission on July 9 authorized
 the purchase of an addition 510 acres, which was made possible
 in part by conservation partners and the
generous donations for prairie preservation
by the late Harry and Lina Berrier of Columbia.

The new tracts appear to have some sandstone glades with few trees, said Stasia Whitaker, MDC wildlife management biologist. They match well with adjoining acres where MDC has successfully restored native wildflower and grass species. This addition will dovetail into prairie restoration efforts in the Upper Osage Grasslands, an MDC priority geography. Conservation partners including private landowners are incorporating native species into practices that benefit native plant and wildlife species.

“Vegetation on the new tracts indicate native species still grow there,” Whitaker said. “They could be significantly restored following a management plan that includes prescribed fire, invasive species management, conservation grazing, and woody vegetation control.”

Less than one-tenth of one percent of Missouri’s once-vast tallgrass prairie remains. Similar changes in land use nationwide have made grassland birds among the nation’s most threatened and imperiled species. Prairies are havens for ground feeding and nesting birds from bobwhite quail to Henslow’s sparrows.

Portions of the new additions for the
Linscomb Wildlife Area have sandstone glades,
 like this lichen-rich glade in winter dormancy
at the nearby Taberville Conservation Area in St. Clair County. 

“These new tracts will boost efforts to preserve and enhance native grassland ecology in the Upper Osage Grasslands,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “This also gives people more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. We are very grateful to our conservation partners for making this possible, and we’re especially thankful for the generous donations the Berrier family made through the years on behalf of prairie preservation.”

Purchase of the new tracts were made possible in large part with donations from the late Harry and Lina Berrier to MDC. The Berriers, of Columbia, for many years donated portions of proceeds from their Show-Me Bar-B-Q sauce business towards prairie preservation and native grassland management.

The purchase was also aided by MDC’s conservation partners.

“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are excited to have had the opportunity to play a part in permanently protecting this vital piece of tallgrass prairie,” said Chris McLeland, director of field operations for the organization’s south region. “As a conservation partner and a habitat organization, we do all we can to assist in creating and protecting rare and declining habitats. This project is a first of its kind for us in Missouri, and we are beyond excited to see it added to Linscomb Wildlife Area and under MDC stewardship.”

Restoring functioning native grassland ecology will require public and private partnerships in the years ahead.

"The Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) congratulates the Conservation Commission and MDC on this purchase of native grassland," said Carol Davit, MPF executive director. "MPF was pleased to contribute the cost of a market analysis for this property, which assisted Quail Forever in acquiring it. Expanding native grassland habitat is extremely important for grassland-obligate birds like Henslow's sparrows and meadowlarks, and is important in safeguarding our state's natural heritage, which belongs to all Missourians."

For more information on the Linscomb Wildlife Area, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z8E.

Information about prairie in Missouri is available at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZxM. Ranchers can learn about conservation grazing at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZnX.

x

MDC says watch cavities in trees to spot wildlife

Interesting creatures may be making a hollow a home

Kansas City, Mo. – A freshly chipped, round hole in the tree limb’s outer bark led to a newly excavated cavity, revealing a woodpecker's handiwork. The woodpecker chipped inside the dead locust tree limb this spring and created a cavity, possibly for a nest site. But a thunderstorm snapped the limb from the tree. The limb broke apart at the hollow spot when it hit the ground, a loss to the woodpecker but a lucky new hideaway for a ground-dwelling creature.

Nature sometimes tears down what it builds, but nothing is ever wasted, including a hole in a tree. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) suggests that observing cavities in trees alive or dead, standing or fallen, is a good way for people to spot watchable wildlife using a hole as home. Creatures use hollows created by fungi, woodpeckers, and squirrels as nesting and hiding spots.

“I’m sure if the locust limb had not fallen a woodpecker or squirrel would have used the cavity,” said Krista Noel, MDC natural history biologist.

Missouri has more than 20 species of birds that use tree cavities as nesting or roosting sites. They have neighbors. Squirrels, raccoons, bats, bees, and other creatures also use hollows in trees as a place to hide or live.

Tree cavities can be small or big enough for a bear. Fungi can enter a tree through a damaged spot and consume heartwood without killing the tree. Nutrients that keep the hollow tree’s branches and leaves alive moves up and down in the outer rings of the tree trunk, not in the center. Big trees that appear solid throughout  when standing often turn out to be hollow. A black bear may make a large, hollow oak blown down by a summer storm its winter den site.

Woodpeckers are pioneers at creating small hollows in limbs or chipping into a tree trunk. They may peck away at dead wood looking for insects to eat and keep going. Squirrels, a member of the rodentia order of wildlife, may use their strong teeth to gnaw larger the hole a woodpecker started. Other birds or small mammals finding a cavity unoccupied may move in for a season, to nest in spring or ride out the winter cold.

The hollowed locust limb that fell to the ground can be used, too. Perhaps a lizard or skink needs a hiding spot?

“Even on the ground, whether in the woods or a fencerow, a wood cavity still serves as shelter for smaller animals,” Noel said. “I can see a mouse using it for shelter on the ground or perhaps a toad.  A snake might use it to escape the heat of the day temporarily, and of course insects would use it.”

A dead limb or tree trunk that poses a possible hazard to people and property should be removed. But if a dead tree, or at least the trunk, can be safely left standing in the woods or yards, they serve watchable wildlife, such as bluebirds.

For more information about how den trees and snags serve wildlife, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z8h.

MDC to offer free virtual wingshooting program July 11

Andy Dalton Shooting Range staff will host online program on how to improve shotgun skills.

ASH GROVE, Mo. – If you’re a waterfowl hunter or a quail hunter, the ability to hit a target in flight is the difference between a good hunting day and one where you come home empty-handed.

People interested in getting shotgun shooting tips on how to improve their wingshooting skills should sign up for the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) virtual program “Effective Wingshooting.” MDC’s Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education staff will offer this program July 11 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Among the topics this free class will cover are the fundamentals of wingshooting, distance estimation, non-toxic shell ammunition selection for hunting, and shotgun patterning. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/171717

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/regions.

MDC’s Andy Dalton Range, which is located at 4897 N. Greene County Farm Road 61, has re-opened to the public. For more information about the Dalton Range, call 417-742-4361.

MDC plants sunflowers at Columbia Bottom for viewing and photo opportunities

Sunflowers at
Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area

Visitors should be able to enjoy impressive golden displays continuously through mid-August.

SPANISH LAKE, Mo.—Sunflower fans should have the opportunity again this summer to view and photograph spectacular sunflower displays at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in North St. Louis County. Due to popular demand, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) staff have planted additional sunflower plots again this year.

MDC staff were unable to plant last year because flood waters lingered on the area. However, conditions have been more favorable this season, so staff utilized a similar planting strategy to the one from 2018, which proved highly popular with visitors.

Spectacular sunflower fields have been an annual tradition at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake. MDC staff have been planting sunflowers for years as part of their management for mourning doves. The area is known as an excellent dove hunting destination each September. The large flowers supply seeds that entice the doves, and their lofty stalks create cover for the hunters who pursue them. Sunflowers also benefit a wide variety of other birds and pollinators.

MDC Wildlife Biologist Jessi Tapp said that this year, as in 2018, her staff has added new sunflower plantings in addition to the dove management fields. Some are close to and easily spotted from the road. They’ve also staggered the timing of the plantings to spread their blooming periods out over a longer period. Visitors should be able to see sunflowers in bloom somewhere on the area from early July through the middle of August.

“We’re really excited about one of the plantings; we strategically placed it so that there’s a chance that it will provide a pretty spectacular view from the cropland overlook,” Tapp said.

Sunflowers usually take about 60 days from planting to flowering. The Columbia Bottom team typically plants about 14 fields throughout the 4,300-acre area in early May as part of the dove management regimen. At the peak of their 10-day blooming period they decorate the area with vibrant brush strokes of gold.

The common sunflower (Helianthus annulus) is an extremely large and showy member from the same plant family as daisies. The impressive height and brilliant yellow rays of a single sunflower are a striking sight. Uniform rows of hundreds can be positively mesmerizing. The sight has always been a popular draw for sight-seers, nature buffs, and photographers.

Facebook and Instagram might see an explosion of Columbia Bottom “sunflower selfies” this summer.

Tapp reminds visitors not to pick the sunflowers. Vehicles should park in designated parking lots or on the shoulder and avoid parking in roadways or blocking gates. MDC also reminds visitors to follow all recommended social distancing guidelines due to considerations regarding COVID-19.

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is managed to create a mosaic of bottomland habitats that includes shallow wetlands, bottomland hardwoods, prairie, and cropland. It is located at 801 Strodtman Road. The area can be reached by taking the Riverview Drive Exit from I-270 and travelling north approximately three miles. The area is open every day from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour past sunset.

Want to be a conservation agent? MDC taking applications for next agent training academy

Learn more at jobs.mdc.mo.gov/job/Conservation-Agent-Trainee-MO/656440900/

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Want to become a steward of conservation, help people, and protect nature by serving as a conservation agent? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it is taking applications during July for up to 16 participants for its 2021 conservation agent training academy, which will begin April 1, 2021.

Selected candidates will undergo 26 weeks of intense training in all facets of law enforcement and resource management. Those who make the grade will receive county assignments and become the faces of conservation in their assigned communities – educating and enforcing the Wildlife Code of Missouri through a community policing approach, helping the public with issues such as wildlife damage and disease, and providing information for water and land management.

Get information online on essential job duties, education requirements, experience and knowledge needed, required skills and abilities, physical abilities required, pay and benefits, along with additional details, how to apply, and conditions of employment online at jobs.mdc.mo.gov/job/Conservation-Agent-Trainee-MO/656440900/.

To learn more about the job, contact MDC Hiring Supervisor Cheryl Fey at Cheryl.Fey@mdc.mo.gov, or at 573-522-4115 ext. 3819. 

Want to know more about the work of conservation agents? Watch these videos from MDC Conservation Agent Matt Smith at youtube.com/watch?v=1856t1GC6OE and MDC Conservation Agent Lexis Riter at youtube.com/watch?v=8Beigpg8I3A.

New MDC migratory bird and waterfowl hunting digest now available

Get it online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) new Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest for the 2020-2021 hunting season is now available where permits are sold and online. Learn more about waterfowl hunting in Missouri and view the hunting digest online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl.

The handy, free guide has detailed information on needed permits and duck-stamp requirements, hunting seasons and limits, hunting areas, regulations, and more.

New points of note for the upcoming season include:

• The cost of nonresident hunting permits has gone up. The last time permit prices were raised was in 2009.
• The bag limit for scaup is now two (both species combined) for the first 45 days of the season in each zone. For the last 15 days of the season in each zone, the bag limit is one scaup. Possession limits also follow this pattern.
• Due to spring flooding, some conservation areas may have sections closed for repair and/or have reduced habitat for dove and waterfowl hunting. For an update on conditions at managed waterfowl hunting areas, search “preseason wetland area status” beginning in August at mo.gov.
• The COVID-19 pandemic may impact how waterfowl drawings are conducted this year and potentially in the future. MDC is committed to providing hunting opportunities, and any adjustments to drawing procedures will be communicated as soon as possible.

Buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/permits, or through MDC’s free mobile app, MO Hunting, available for download through Google Play or the App Store.