MDC Invites Comments on Wild Turkey Management Plan

Turkey Hunters...from MDC...

Dear Missouri Turkey Hunter --

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is in the process of revising our Wild Turkey Management Plan to better guide wild turkey management in Missouri. The new Plan includes goals related to population management, habitat management, recreational opportunities, and public engagement. We will be seeking public comment on the revised Wild Turkey Management Plan during the month of June, and we would like to invite you to provide feedback on the Plan.

Starting June 1, you will be able to visit mdc.mo.gov/turkeyplan to read the Plan and provide feedback through an online survey. You and others can also mail written comments to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Attention Michele Baumer, PO Box 180, Jefferson City MO 65102.

I also invite you to join our live Wild Webcast on Wild Turkeys and Turkey Management on Wednesday, June 3, at noon to 1 p.m. Register in advance for the live webcast at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zh2 and then join the webcast live on June 3 at noon.

During the webcast, I will present and discuss information on wild turkey biology and ecology, the history of wild turkeys in Missouri, the state’s wild turkey population status, and the MDC Wild Turkey Management Plan revision process.

Wild turkeys were nearly eliminated from Missouri in the early 1900s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. Today, wild turkeys can be found in every county thanks to decades of restoration efforts by MDC and numerous partners. Missouri now has one of the largest wild turkey populations in the nation and each year more than 100,000 hunters pursue and harvest about 40,000 wild turkeys in Missouri. Missouri’s turkey population reached its peak in the early-to-mid-2000s following extensive restoration efforts around the state and is currently experiencing declining numbers after several years of poor production driven by factors such as weather, habitat loss, and an increase in predators.

I appreciate your interest in wild turkeys and turkey hunting here in Missouri, and I am looking forward to receiving your input on the revised Wild Turkey Management Plan.

Sincerely,

Reina Tyl
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist

Bald eagles continue nesting comeback in Missouri

Photo by Terri Nickerson, Clay County Parks,
Recreation and Historic Sites

MDC tracking eagle nests statewide to monitor iconic raptors

Kansas City, Mo. – Missouri’s contribution to the recovery of bald eagle populations in the United States continues this summer, as eagle pairs finish raising young at nests. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and partners track nests. As of late May, 502 active eagle nests have been spotted and reported statewide, said Janet Haslerig, MDC resource scientist.

Summer’s nesting eagles are not as prominently visible as they are in winter. Migrating eagles move south ahead of icy winter conditions and they fly north again in spring. They are often congregated in groups near lakes or rivers where fish or waterfowl, favored foods, are available.

But some eagles make Missouri a year-round home or a nesting spot. Most eagle pairs pick nest sites near or within flying range of rivers or lakes that provide a continuous source of fish for themselves and their young. Eagles also feed on carrion and other wildlife. Mature eagles are recognizable with their large size and white feathering on their heads and tails. Immature eagles are almost as large, but feathers are brownish black throughout the body. It takes four to five years for eagles to reach maturity and gain the white head and tail.

In the Kansas City and St. Joseph areas, the 2020 eagle nest tally as of May by county includes Jackson, 8; Platte, 7; Clay, 4; Buchanan; 4, Cass; 3, and Lafayette, 3. Many of those nests are near rivers and lakes, especially along the Missouri River. But eagles also nest away from water.

Eagle nests can be enormous circular structures of sticks and twigs. Often, the older the nest, the larger it is, with more sticks added annually. So, the trees where they nest are large and usually offer them a wide field of vision for their surroundings. Adults and fledgling eagles can often be spotted sitting on nest sides or on nearby limbs. Sometimes only an eagle’s white head is visible above the nest sides.

Bald eagles were removed from the nation’s threatened and endangered species list in 2007. Their recovery from pesticides and habitat loss is a remarkable American conservation success story. But eagles are still a species of conservation concern in Missouri. They’re also a valued participant in the ecosystem. Their feeding on carrion helps cleanse wild places.

People boating on large lakes or rivers can watch for eagle nests. But eagles remain a protected species and nests should not be disturbed. Eagles have rebounded their populations thanks to Missouri citizens support for conservation. Seeing one flying in the wild, or tending a nest, is an exciting symbol of nature’s beauty and power.

For more information on bald eagles in Missouri, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZpY.

Get hooked on fishing with MDC Free Fishing Days June 6 and 7

MDC reminds anglers that fishing permits are required, except for Free Fishing Days.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites the public to get hooked on fishing through its Free Fishing Days June 6 and 7. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. Free Fishing Days is an annual MDC event that takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June.

Aside from not needing permits, other fishing regulations remain in effect during Free Fishing Days, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. Special permits may still be required at some county, city, or private fishing areas. Trespass laws remain in effect on private property.

MDC reminds anglers in Missouri that fishing permits are required before and after June 6 and 7, unless an angler is exempt by age or other factors. All other fishing regulations are also in effect. MDC temporarily suspended requirements for fishing permits from March 27 through April 15.

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish. Missouri has more than a million acres of surface water, and most of it provides great fishing. More than 200 different fish species are found in Missouri, with more than 20 of them being game fish for the state's more than 1.1 million anglers. Learn more about fishing in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

For information on Missouri fishing regulations, fish identification, and more, get a copy of MDC's 2020 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations where permits are sold, or online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/summary-missouri-fishing-regulations

MDC’s free MO Fishing mobile app can help anglers find the best places to fish in Missouri, access regulation information, identify fish by species, and more. Anglers can also buy, store, and show fishing permits right on their mobile devices. MO Fishing is available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mobile-apps/mo-fishing.

MDC reminds the public that it is still critical to continue to heed all recommendations for physical distancing, avoiding overcrowding, handwashing, and other public health measures during outdoor activities.

May 31 is last chance to apply for MDC’s first elk hunts in fall

Apply by May 31 for MDC’s first elk hunt in the fall
at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MO Hunting app,
or through a permit vendor.

Apply until May 31 at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MO Hunting app, or a permit vendor.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds Missouri hunters that the application period ends May 31 for Missouri’s first elk hunts this fall.

MDC will offer Missourians the state’s first elk-hunting season in modern history starting this October. MDC will issue five permits for hunting bull elk with four being general permits for the public and one permit reserved for qualifying area landowners. For more information on elk hunting in Missouri, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/elk.

Applicants must be Missouri residents at least 11 years of age by the first day of the hunt. Those selected to receive a permit must have their hunter-education certification or be exempt by age before they may purchase the permit.

Apply for the random elk-permit drawing online by May 31 at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC's free MO Hunting app, through a permit vendor, or by calling 1-800-392-4115.

Applicants can check to see if they have been selected for an elk-hunting permit online starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits after logging into “Manage Your Account” and selecting “View My Special Hunt History.”

Missouri’s first pending elk hunt comes after years of restoration efforts of the once-native species by MDC, numerous partners including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and many supporters including local communities and area landowners. Learn more about elk restoration in Missouri at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZYJ.

David Risberg Memorial

What a touching way to bring something good from tough circumstances!