MDC offers virtual fishing clinic July 18 to help new anglers learn the sport

Get started fishing with tackle and technique tips from experts

Kansas City, Mo. – Fishing is fun, and the first steps to catching a fish are getting basic tackle ready to use and knowing where and how to present lures and bait in the water. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a virtual fishing clinic via the internet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 18. Instructors from MDC’s Kansas City and Northwest regions will cover topics such tackle, casting, fish identification, regulations, and ethics.

This clinic is an excellent opportunity for people to learn the basic fishing skills and gear needed to get started and catch fish. Experienced anglers also may find a tip or two that helps them catch more fish or a new species. Western Missouri has a variety of waters to fish in, from farm ponds and small streams to large rivers and lakes.

Besides instruction, this virtual session will offer question and answer interaction for participants. This clinic will help anglers learn skills from the comfort of home that they can take outdoors and go fishing. MDC is offering some in-person outdoor programs in the coming weeks with safety protocols as a precaution against the COVID-19 virus. But staff will also offer virtual programs as an easy way for people to connect with the outdoors and learn lifetime skills.

Participants are asked to pre-register for the virtual clinic by July 16 by visiting https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z8p. They must register with a valid email address. A link will be sent via email for them to join the clinic online on July 18.

Missouri offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities for anglers whether fishing from shore or a watercraft. To learn more about fishing, visit https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

MDC to offer virtual floating, fishing programs in upcoming weeks

Kayaks such as the one pictured above
are great vessels for stream fishing
 or for exploring area waterways.
Kayak skills are among the stream-oriented information
people can get in three online programs
 put on by the Missouri Department of Conservation's
Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center staff.

Free online programs will cover kayaking, stream fishing, and how to "read" a stream.

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) does not want to let concerns about COVID-19 prevent people from getting outside and enjoying the state’s streams.

Coronavirus precautions have changed programming schedules at MDC facilities. Because of this, MDC is taking programs to the people in the form of online educational programs.

In the upcoming weeks, MDC’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center staff will offer three programs that provide information people can use to have fun on area streams.

Kayak for Beginners will be offered from 2-2:30 p.m. on June 29. This program will help people understand the fundamentals of kayaking. Topics that will be covered include the types of kayaks and the basic equipment needed to float Missouri’s lakes and streams safely. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173574

River Fishing: Bass will be 11-11:30 a.m. on July 7. This clinic will focus on how to fish for bass in area streams. Topics that will be covered include locations to fish, strategies, equipment, rules, and regulations. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173634

Reading the River will be offered 1-1:30 p.m. on July 9. This clinic will help you develop the skills needed to assess the safety of a stream and make good decisions about how, when, and if floating is a good idea. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173635

All of these programs are free, however, registration is required to participate using the links listed above for each respective program. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. Registrants will be able to log-in beginning 10 minutes prior to start time of the class. These programs will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with presenters. For more information, contact MDC Conservation Educator Andy Rhodes at Andrew.Rhodes@mdc.mo.gov.

MDC prepares to offer outside programs at nature centers and reopen shooting ranges in the Kansas City area

In the Kansas City area, MDC is preparing to hold outdoor programs
 at nature centers and reopen shooting ranges.
 They have been closed since March due to COVID-19 precautions.
 New protocols and health safety practices
 will be implemented as the programs reopen.

New programs and protocols will be in place as precautions against COVID-19

Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is preparing to offer outdoor programs at nature centers and reopen shooting ranges in the Kansas City area. The nature center buildings and outdoor shooting ranges have been closed to the public since March as a precaution against COVID-19. Staff have worked on maintenance projects and building upgrades in the interim.

MDC will begin holding nature and outdoor skills programs on Tuesday, July 7, at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs and the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. All programs will be held outdoors with social distancing and health safety in mind. It is recommended that participants bring a water bottle and hand sanitizer. The buildings will remain closed. Water fountains will not be available and drinking water cannot be provided due to health precautions. Plans call for temporary portable toilets to be installed outside the buildings. They will be handicapped accessible.

Examples of programs that will be offered include target archery, canoe and kayak paddling for families, fishing skills, and naturalist studies. Programs will vary by site.

The Parma Woods Shooting Range in Parkville and the Lake City Shooting range near Buckner will reopen to the public on Wednesday, July 8. Both ranges have new hours of operation, and both will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. The range offices and meeting rooms will remain closed.

MDC’s Lake City range will be open from 1 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

MDC’s Parma Woods range will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The range will also be open from 1 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

New guidelines for range use are in place as health precautions.

• No more than two target shooters in a booth.
• No more than five trap or skeet shooters on a shotgun field.
• It is requested that all visitors bring their own drinking water, water fountains and vending machines will not be available.
• The Lake City Shooting Range will limit all shooters to one hour on the rifle and pistol ranges and two rounds (50 birds) on the shotgun fields.
• It is requested that all shooters please provide their own eye and ear protection. The ranges will have disposable ear plugs available to the public, but will not be loaning out anything else, this includes spotting scopes, hand tools or any other equipment.
• It is requested that all shooters please provide their own cleaning supplies if they wish to disinfect their booths. The Department will only be providing hand sanitizer for visitors.

A list of events and programs offered in July after the reopening can be viewed by visiting https://mdc.mo.gov/regions/kansas-city. We will practice social distancing during these programs. Please also consider wearing a face covering for your protection and the protection of those around you.

For information about Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zm5. To learn about MDC’s Gorman Discovery Center, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z4b.

For information about the Lake City Shooting Range, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZoM. Information about the Parma Woods Shooting Range is found at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7t.

MDC reminds travelers that fishing in Branson area is still good

COVID-19 hasn't hampered angling success at Table Rock and Taneycomo.

BRANSON, Mo. – Due to COVID-19, this summer’s travel plans are tied to numbers. The number of new COVID cases, the number of recovering cases, and the percentage of increase are all figures vacationers look at as they plot their summer destinations.

Here are some numbers the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants travelers planning a trip to the Branson area to look at:

• More than 1,400 – the number of fish habitat structures added to Table Rock Lake between 2008 and 2013 to improve fishing.
• 575,000 – the number of trout stocked annually in Lake Taneycomo
• 40 pounds, 6 ounces – the size of the state-record brown trout caught at Taneycomo last year.

While many aspects of summer travel have changed for 2020, these numbers are clear indicators that fishing is still fine in the Branson area.

“Fishing has been outstanding in Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo this year,” said Shane Bush, the fisheries management biologist who manages both reservoirs for MDC. “High water over the past few years has improved both the number and the sizes of fish in both lakes. Anglers can expect to catch good numbers of quality-size bass and bluegill in Table Rock right now, as well as very good numbers of large rainbow and brown trout in Taneycomo.”

The fishing appeal of Table Rock and Taneycomo is no secret – it made the Branson area a vacation destination long before music shows, magic acts, and other entertainment venues arrived on the Taney County scene. The angling attraction of these reservoirs still exists today and is more vital than ever to people who are seeking alternatives to the normal summer vacation treks to Branson.

Table Rock Lake

For those seeking rod and reel relaxation on Table Rock, this 43,100-acre U.S Army Corps of Engineers lake provides opportunities for several species. MDC electrofishing surveys indicate good populations of largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, as well as crappie, walleye, bluegill, goggle-eye, channel catfish and several other sportfish species.

The six-year habitat project that was completed at Table Rock in 2013 has made a good fishing spot even better. This project, which was a cooperative effort of MDC. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bass Pro Shops, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission involved the placement of more than 1,400 fish habitat structures in the form of brush piles, stump fields and rock piles at select sites around the lake.

“The fish habitat project has improved angler catch rates in Table Rock Lake by congregating fish and making it easier for anglers to locate and catch them,” Bush said. “The structures also provide good habitat for young fish to escape predation, which further helps to improve the fish populations.”

An interactive fish habitat map of these structures is available on the MDC website at http://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/where-fish. These structures can also be found using MDC's MO Fishing App, which is available to download for free on a smartphone.

Lake Taneycomo

Taneycomo’s trout story started in 1959 when the construction of Table Rock Dam created a large, deep, and winding lake east of the Table Rock reservoir. (Lake Taneycomo, which is owned by Liberty Utilities, flows along the course of what was once the White River.) The water in Lake Taneycomo stays cool even during summer, because of cold-water discharges from the bottom of Table Rock Dam during hydro-electric generation. In effect, Taneycomo is a super-sized trout stream.

In addition to sufficient habitat and good temperatures, Taneycomo offers trout an abundant food supply. Among the creatures that flourish on the rocky bottom of the lake are amphipods – more commonly known as freshwater shrimp. These small crustaceans are one of the lake’s most common organisms and a favorite food of rainbow trout and younger brown trout.

Bountiful food supplies lead to good growth rates, but Taneycomo’s big-fish stories have to do with chromosomes as well as crustaceans. MDC biologists have introduced triploid brown trout into Taneycomo. Triploid fish have three sets of chromosomes as a result of coming from eggs that are pressure shocked. (Trout in the wild have two sets of chromosomes and are diploid). The triploid process makes fish sterile and, as a result, they spend more of their energy on growth than on reproduction.

The 40-pound, 6-ounce state-record fish caught last September smashed the previous state record of 34-10, which was caught in February of 2019, also at Taneycomo. This fish caught in February broke the previous state record for brown trout by six pounds. That means, in a single year, Taneycomo fish had raised the state record weight for brown trout by a whopping 12 pounds – a clear sign trout are doing well in Taneycomo.

“Trout fishing on Taneycomo has been exemplary,” said Clint Hale, who manages MDC’s Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, which grows and stocks Taneycomo’s rainbow and brown trout. “Two state-record brown trout were caught last year and there are more records in the lake as we speak.”

People can get more information on fishing at Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake and elsewhere in the state at mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

COVID-19 Safety Precautions

When fishing or enjoying other outdoor pursuits, remember to follow all the current health guidelines. These include:

• Avoid crowded places
• Stay at least six feet apart from others.
• Stay home if you’re sick.
• Bring water, soap, and hand sanitizer.
• Be considerate of others you may encounter when you’re out.

MDC says proper tending and disposal of fishing lines protects people and wildlife

Help keep rivers and lakes clean and safe

Kansas City, Mo. – Hazards for wildlife and people from lost or discarded fishing lines and hooks, and old and inactive trot lines or set lines, are not prevalent on the state’s rivers and lakes. But problems do occur sometimes, and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) urges anglers to recover lines and properly dispose of what is no longer useful.

MDC conservation agents commonly pick up discarded monofilament fishing line. Monofilament and fluorocarbon line does not readily degrade. Wildlife can get entangled in old lines and killed. Some lost or improperly maintained trot lines and jug lines can also create hazards.

For example, a kayak paddler was recently exploring a small island at Smithville Lake with her two small dogs. One of the dogs ate a dead fish it found on shore, and it also swallowed a hook and partially swallowed a long section of heavy monofilament line. The veterinarian who performed surgery to remove them said the hook was dangerous in the animal’s stomach. But the ingested fishing line also posed serious dangers to the digestive system. Wildlife faces the same hazard.

This was a rare and unusual case. But it shows what hazards are possible, and agents say it likely occurs with wildlife. The heavy line and 1½-inch hook the dog ingested likely came from a fish that broke the line for a pole and line angler, or it came from a floating or anchored jug line.

Jug lines are a popular and safe fishing method for catfish. But sometimes an anchored jug line does not have enough weight on the anchor and a fish is able to tow it away, said Cpl. Zeb Jordan, an MDC agent in St. Clair County who patrols Truman Lake.

“When people don’t put enough weight on an anchored jug line, fish pull it to deep water and the jug drops out of sight, or they pull it under a log,” Jordan said.

That leads to wasted fish and water hazards.

Trot lines, such as those tied from tree to tree with hooks tied on the line in between, can be another hazard if not tended properly. They are to be run by anglers every 24 hours, and the Missouri Wildlife Code requires them to be removed when the fishing is completed. Sometimes trot lines or bank lines are set during a highwater event. When they are not properly removed, the lines become a hazard for boaters and wildlife when the water goes down. It is also not legal to clip the hooks off an untended line with the intent of returning later to tie on new hooks and rebait the line.

“We’ve had tangled up dead birds hanging 10 or 15 feet up in the air on an old line after the lake went down,” Jordan said.

Rod and reel anglers commonly need to remove tangles or change line. They should dispose it in a trash sack, not on the ground or in the water. Anglers picking up and disposing old line or hooks they encounter on shore is helpful, too. Otherwise, shore birds and mammals could become entangled.

“If I see something like that, I pick it up,” said Cpl. Derek Cole, MDC agent in Jackson County. “Most of the people out there fishing, if they see it, they will pick it up.”

Volunteers with Missouri Stream Teams have installed PVC pipe bins for recycling monofilament line at some popular fishing spots or boat ramps. Anglers can place discarded line in the bins. The line will be sent to a recycling program.

For more information, visit the Monofilament Recovery Recycling Program section at the Missouri Stream Team website, http://www.mostreamteam.org/activities.html.

To study Missouri’s catfishing regulations, visit https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/species/catfish.

Photo: A kayak paddler's pet dog swallowed a dead fish and this hook and line. MDC urges anglers to properly tend and remove set lines for catfish, and dispose of waste monofilament line used on rods and reels properly. Lines left as trash are a hazard to wildlife and people.

MDC provides channel catfishing opportunities at Kansas City area lakes

Ponds and lakes in urban neighborhoods are stocked with catfish

Kansas City, Mo. – Channel catfish are a popular sport fish because they’re fun to catch and they make fine table fare. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) provides close-to-home catfishing opportunities by stocking 9 lakes in Kansas City, one in Raymore, and one in Liberty with channel catfish.

Catfish are stocked at various times through the summer. They are usually 14 to 16 inches long. Catfish are native to Missouri waters. In some of the deeper lakes, some stocked fish may grow to larger sizes.

The urban catfishing program is popular and the fish readily bite various baits. Different anglers will have a variety of favorite baits, from the venerable earthworm to prepared baits available in stores. But two baits tend to rise to the top of the favorite list _ shrimp and pepperoni, said Cpl. Derek Cole, an MDC agent in Jackson County.

With pepperoni, some people use cubes of pepperoni, Cole said. Others fold sliced pepperoni and thread it onto the hook, and often put a piece of earthworm on last to help hold the pepperoni on the hook.

“I don’t know if it is the oil in the pepperoni that they like,” he said, “but it does not take long for fish to hit it. I’ve seen people catch fish with this plenty of times.”

Special fishing regulations apply at the urban lakes. Missouri residents over 15 and under 65 need a Missouri Fishing Permit. Non-residents over 15 need a fishing permit. Fish may be taken by pole and line method only. No more than three poles may be used by any one person. The daily limit is four catfish.

MDC encourages anglers to use social distancing when afield and follow their local community protocols as a precaution against the COVID-19 virus.

The summer catfish program is a partnership between MDC and the Kansas City, Raymore, and Liberty park departments. For a list of the lakes stocked with catfish in Kansas City metro area and information about them, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zp7. A recorded hotline provides information about the latest fish stocking, call 816-525-0300.

MDC provides many catfishing opportunities in lakes and rivers throughout Missouri. To learn more, visit https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/species/catfish.

MDC thanks volunteers for their contributions to conservation

Help support nature on your own by participating in citizen science!

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to extend a big thank you to its volunteers for another year of hard work and dedication supporting conservation initiatives and helping to educate others about Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources.

“We so appreciate and value our volunteers,” said MDC Volunteer and Interpretive Program Coordinator Syd Hime. “These individuals are assets to the department as they connect with the public and help to educate them about Missouri’s natural resources.”

More than 1,600 volunteers donate their time and energy to MDC through the Missouri Master Naturalist program, shooting ranges, nature centers, interpretive sites, Hunter Education programs, and through fishing instruction. Nearly 3,000 people volunteer as part of the Missouri Forestkeepers Network, which is a forest-health monitoring program that educates the public about tree-care and helps monitor forest health. Additionally, nearly 30,000 people volunteer their time helping to improve Missouri’s streams through the Stream Team program.

During 2019, volunteers logged more than 250,000 hours in outreach efforts, citizen science, program support, and more.

The current public health crisis has slowed current volunteer duties and opportunities, but some nature centers have gotten creative in connecting with their volunteers.

“Last week, Runge Nature Center held a drive-thru social for our volunteers as a way to keep them engaged and to let them know the staff misses them,” explained Runge Nature Center Assistant Manager Becky Matney. “We usually have in-person monthly meetings with volunteers to provide updates on programs and events, but we haven’t had the chance to meet due to COVID-19. The drive-thru social was a way to lift their spirits, enjoy ice cream, and interact with staff and volunteers while also staying safe.”

Staff at the Cape Girardeau Nature Center took a similar approach – only instead, nature center staff made the trek to volunteers’ front lawns to safely say hello and check-in from a distance.

VOLUNTEER ON YOUR OWN

Though MDC isn’t currently recruiting new volunteers at the moment, there are ways to continue to support and connect with the outdoors, such as through citizen science. The public can help conservation efforts by downloading mobile apps such as iNaturalist or eBird and sharing their observations. These nature observations can be done as a solo endeavor out on a trail or with family in the backyard.

“Though we’re currently limited in our recruitment and engagement with our volunteers, citizen science is a great way to donate your time to contribute to conservation efforts,” explained Hime. “We look forward to welcoming back our volunteers and to having more opportunities on the horizon.”

For more information on citizen science or on activities you can do from your home, backyard, or neighborhood, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7D.

To find out more on the Missouri Stream Team program, visit http://www.mostreamteam.org/.

Stay updated with MDC’s latest news by signing up through GovDelivery at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZoP.

Apply online for MDC managed deer hunts starting July 1

Take a shot at more than 100 managed deer hunts throughout the state.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Beginning July 1, deer hunters can apply online through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) website for a shot at more than 100 managed deer hunts throughout the state for archery, muzzleloading, and modern firearms from mid-September through mid-January at conservation areas, state and other parks, national wildlife refuges, and other public areas. Some managed hunts are held specifically for youth or for people with disabilities.

The managed deer hunt application period is July 1 - 31. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available Aug. 15 through Jan. 15. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by mail.

Get more information on managed deer hunts, preview hunt details, and apply starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt.

Details about managed hunts can also be found in MDC's "2020 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information" booklet available starting in early July at MDC offices and nature centers, from permit vendors around the state, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

MDC to offer virtual rifle program June 18 at Dalton Range

Andy Dalton Shooting Range staff will host free online program on shooting fundamentals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) does not want to let continuing concerns about COVID-19 get in the way of providing educational programs about outdoor activities to the public.

Coronavirus precautions have, for the present, closed all MDC facilities and cancelled all programs the public can attend in person. Because of this, MDC is doing the next best thing and taking programs to the people in the form of online educational programs.

On June 18, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., MDC’s Andy Dalton Range and Outdoor Education Center will offer the virtual program “Learning to Shoot – Rifles.” This free class will cover the fundamentals of shooting a rifle. Different types of rifles, rifle basics, shooting techniques and safety are among the topics that will be covered. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/173577

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.

“This is the first online learning program in a series that we plan to present,” said Dalton Range Manager Mike Brooks. “We see value to the participant, even into the future when things have returned to normal, by using a blended learning format where the classroom portion will be completed virtually, then the hands-on portion of the class will be spent on the range shooting and learning."

Find MDC offerings of online programs at mdc.mo.gov/events-s3. Programs will be added as they become available. Programs will typically be 30 minutes or less and participants will be able to ask questions online.

Make a splash this summer during frogging season

MDC reminds the public frogging season runs June 30 through Oct. 31

JEFFERSON CITY Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages the public to discover nature this summer during frogging season. Beginning June 30 at sunset through Oct. 31, those with a fishing permit or small-game hunting permit may frog for bullfrogs and green frogs.

The daily limit is eight frogs of both species combined and the possession limit is 16 frogs of both species combined. Only the daily limit may be possessed on waters and bank of waters where frogging.

MDC notes that daily limits end at midnight. Froggers who catch their daily limits before midnight and want to return for more frogging after midnight must remove the daily limit of previously caught frogs from the waters or banks before returning.

The public can go frogging with a fishing or small-game hunting permit, but children 15 and under and residents 65-years and older are not required to have a permit.

Those using a fishing permit may take frogs by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing, or pole and line.

With a small-game hunting permit, frogs may be harvested using a .22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle or pistol, pellet gun, atlatl, bow, crossbow, or by hand or hand net. The use of artificial light is permitted when frogging.

The fun doesn’t have to end after catching frogs. Be sure to browse tasty recipes by visiting MDC online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zxz.

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

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.

Take Action to Fund LWCF and Maintenance Backlogs

This is a news release from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, an organization, along with Conservation Federation here in Missouri, that help us protect the public land outdoor resources that we enjoy. Pleas consider supporting these organizations, and please consider contacting your Senators to solicit their support for this legislation.

In a show of bipartisan and bicameral solidarity, Sens. Manchin (D-WV) and Gardner (R-CO) and Reps. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) and Mike Simpson (R-ID) and many other senators and representatives introduced legislation, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), addressing maintenance backlogs on public lands and ensuring full, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the nation’s most popular and successful access and conservation program. 

 

GAOA would appropriate the full $900 million annually allocated to LWCF in addition to providing $1.9 billion annually through fiscal year 2025 to address the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education accumulating maintenance backlogs on roads, trails, facilities and aquatic structures. 

Hunters and anglers rely on access sites funded by the LWCF, which has supported projects in all counties across the United States. As hunter numbers decline nationwide – leading to a corresponding decline in license-based conservation funding – sportsmen and women cite a lack of public access as the single greatest impediment to time afield. We need LWCF to receive full funding to support hunters, anglers, and our $778-billion outdoor recreation economy.  

 

Last year, Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation that secures the future of LWCF. Now we have the opportunity to ensure that public land managers have the resources they need to responsively oversee critical lands and waters – and advance conservation and access projects that make our communities more livable, strengthen our economy and uphold our legacy of public lands, waters and wildlife.

 

GAOA is a big win for hunters, anglers, conservationists and other outdoor enthusiasts. Expanding funding allocations to other public land management agencies is essential in gaining broad stakeholder support. These agencies manage the public lands most important to hunting and fishing and face funding deficits due to crumbling infrastructure. We need to repair roads and bridges to enhance access and recreational opportunities on all public lands — not just on our National Parks Service lands.

Please join Backcountry Hunters & Anglers in supporting this critical effort. Contact your lawmakers today and urge them to support the Great American Outdoors Act!

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO CONTACT YOUR SENATORS

MDC begins online education programs in St. Louis region this June

Those interested in learning about nature and outdoor recreation can connect with MDC experts from computers or mobile devices.

St. LOUIS, Mo.— With concerns about COVID-19 continuing, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will begin new online educational programs in June. These will enable those who want to learn about nature or outdoor recreational pursuits to do so while practicing social distancing guidelines.

“The goal of our virtual educational programs is to reach those seeking nature and outdoor-based learning opportunities in a convenient and safe way, given these current circumstances,” said MDC St. Louis Regional Administrator, Julianne Stone. “As we negotiate the new COVID-19 landscape, it’s more important than ever to maintain our connections with nature and we are very excited to adapt our conservation programming, so the people we serve can continue to access the quality programming MDC is known for,” Stone added.

The following two programs will kick off the new online learning opportunities in June:

• Virtual Firearms Safety 101, Wed., June 17, 6-7 p.m.—This is a basic firearms safety and knowledge class. MDC staff will discuss basic safety of firearms, hunting opportunities, and open locations to shoot your firearm. This quick 30-minute refresher will have you headed out the door for a safe experience. Register online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7a.
• Sssensational Snakes, Thur., June 18, 1-2 p.m.—Nothing catches people’s attention like snakes. Why are snakes important? How do you tell if they are venomous? Find out the answers to these questions and more. This program will help you learn about and meet some of the slithering serpents that call Missouri home. Register online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7R.

All MDC online programs are free. Registration in advance is required to participate using the links above. Registrants must provide an email, so a program link can be sent to them. Each program will be approximately 30 minutes, followed by a chat-based question and answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Join MDC webcast July 1 to learn about attracting backyard wildlife

Register in advance at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zht and then join the free webcast live.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – Interested in attracting birds, bees, and other wildlife to your backyard? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites the public to join its free live Wild Webcast on Attracting Backyard Wildlife on Wednesday, July 1, at noon.

MDC Urban Wildlife Biologist Erin Shank of Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center will explain the basics of creating backyard wildlife habitat; the importance of native plants and insects for pollination, wildlife food, and other benefits: planning and designing native plantings; attracting birds; supporting pollinators such as butterflies and bees; and more.

Register in advance for the free live MDC Wild Webcast on Attracting Backyard Wildlife at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zht and then join the webcast live on July 1 at noon.

Learn more about property improvements to attract wildlife from MDC at mdc.mo.gov/property/improve-my-property/wildlife-management.

Why Missouri Needs a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps - Posted from Missouri Conservation Federation Blog

As we prepare to rebuild from the devastation wrought by the pandemic, we will need to summon solutions that match the magnitude of the moment.

One challenge we will have to address is the youth unemployment crisis. Americans under 30 years of age are out of work at a level not seen since the Great Depression. This crisis touches all demographics, but disproportionally affects youth of color, indigenous youth and rural youth. More than a quarter of a million Missourians have filed unemployment claims.

The good news is that we already have a strong foundation upon which to build.

Shortly after his inauguration in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps to “conserve our natural resources, create future national wealth and prove of moral and spiritual value not only to those of you who are taking part, but to the rest of the country as well.” Roosevelt’s “Tree Army” ultimately employed 3.4 million young men, who planted three billion trees, created more than 700 state and local parks, and constructed trails across the country.

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MDC celebrates National Trails Day June 6

MDC offers options for hikers on conservation areas in northwest Missouri

St. Joseph, Mo. – Hiking in the outdoors offers fun and adventure throughout the year. But on Saturday, June 6, the American Hiking Society will also observe the annual National Trails Day. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites visitors to enjoy the day by hiking on trails at conservation areas.

Users of MDC areas in northwest Missouri will find two types of trails for hiking. Some are footpaths through forest, woodlands, or grasslands. Yet also available for hiking are gravel or service roads normally closed to vehicle traffic. The types of habitats people can hike through varies, too.

In Atchison County, the Star School Prairie Conservation Area and the Brickyard Hill Conservation Area both have service roads that serve as hiking paths. Brickyard Hill also has a designated hiking trail around a fishing lake. Visitors can access loess soil prairies from parking lots at the base of the areas’ west slopes, steep bluffs that rise above the Missouri River bottom. But forest and fields managed for wildlife are also found in the area’s interior acres beyond the bluff line.

The Riverbreaks Conservation Area in southern Holt County has several designated hiking trails throughout the area. This area is in the Missouri River bluffs and has a mix of forest, pockets of loess soil prairie, and fields managed for wildlife. One tip – grab a map at the parking lot bulletin board. A map and perhaps a compass will help hikers know which way to go when arriving at a junction of trail loops.

Wetlands are featured at the Nodaway Valley Conservation Area and the Bob Brown Conservation Area in Holt County. Besides service roads closed to traffic, both areas have grass or gravel-topped levees available for hiking past wetland pools or streams.

The Poosey Conservation Area northwest of Chillicothe has numerous designated trails. The hilly area has a mix of forest, creeks, woodlands, grasslands, fields, and lakes.

MDC offers many more areas throughout northwest Missouri with fishing, hiking, birding, and hunting opportunities. But not all hiking spots are rural.

The Mark Youngdahl Urban Conservation Area in St. Joseph offers two miles of hiking trails through grassland and forest. Two of the three trails are paved and accessible for those with mobility challenges.

To find a conservation area near you, visit https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places, or download the free MO Outdoors app with area information, directions, and trail maps at https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mobile-apps/mo-outdoors. For more information on the American Hiking Society and National Trails Day, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7i.