MDC invites youth, families to free fishing classes in August

 

MDC’s Discover Nature –
Fishing workshops help instill basic fishing skills and knowledge
 that provide children and f
amilies fun adventures in
 Missouri’s outdoors for years to come.
Register to attend an upcoming series of fishing workshops near you.

Discover Nature — Fishing courses offered at locations across mid-Missouri.  

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites kids and families to attend a free series of fishing workshops in various locations around mid-Missouri this August.  The Discover Nature — Fishing (DNF) workshops will cover the basics of fishing, from tackle to knot-tying, and participants will gain the skills and confidence to go fishing on their own. 

Each of the four lessons will focus on a different topic:

• Lesson 1 – Equipment, casting, and proper fish handling
• Lesson 2 – How to tie a knot and bait a hook
• Lesson 3 – Five common Missouri fish: anatomy, habitat, and lifecycle
• Lesson 4 – Fishing with lures and fishing regulations

Lessons 1 and 2 will take place on one evening, and lessons 3 and 4 on a second evening. All classes are free, but preregistration is required at mdc.mo.gov/centralevents. MDC will offer these clinics, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at the following locations:

• Aug. 2 & 4 – Blind Pony Hatchery in Sweet Springs
• Aug. 10 & 12 – DC Rogers Lake in Fayette
• Aug. 16 & 18 – Teal Lake in Mexico
• Aug. 24 & 26 – Prairie Home Conservation Area in Jamestown
• Aug. 30 & Sept. 1 – Tipton City Park Lake in Tipton

All DNF classes are free for registered participants and MDC will provide all needed fishing equipment and supplies.  Participants should bring their own drinking water, bug repellant, sunglasses, and sunscreen if they wish.

To help ensure public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, MDC asks all participants to observe current, local guidelines regarding physical distancing and masking. MDC encourages participants to bring and wear face coverings when appropriate.

DNF programs focus primarily on reaching kids 6–15 years of age and emphasize family involvement.  All children must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must preregister for each lesson by visiting mdc.mo.gov/centralevents.

Families now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own accounts which will streamline the program registration process.  Once a group account is setup parents will be able to register their children to an event without having to logoff and login for each individual.  This functionality will allow parents register their entire family or select family members to an event at the same time.  First, users will log into their account and click “My Group Profile,” then add family members to their account.  Setting up a group account today will make program registration quicker and easier for all MDC programs.

For more information about these classes, contact Edwards at Ashley.Edwards@mdc.mo.gov, or (573) 815-7901, ext. 2968.

MDC offers forest and wildlife management workshop in Portland, Sept. 11

 

MDC invites landowners and property managers
 to a free workshop on forest and wildlife
 management in Callaway County Sept. 11. Participants will
learn how to actively manage their own properties
for improved wildlife habitat, as well as ecological and economic value.
Registration is required by Sept. 8

Landowners and resource managers will learn integrated strategies to improve forests, habitat.

PORTLAND, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), in partnership with the Missouri Grouse Chapter of the Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF) will offer a forest and wildlife management workshop for landowners and natural resource managers in Callaway County on Sept. 11.

This workshop will give landowners and property managers a better understanding of forest and wildlife management on their own properties. Staff will present detailed information on topics including tick diseases, prescribed burning, invasive species management, timber harvest, stream management, tree pruning, MDC’s ruffed grouse translocation project, and other specific management practices.

This free workshop will take place 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, on private property in Callaway County. QUWF will provide lunch for all registered participants. Preregistration is required no later than Sept. 8 at mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178833.

To help ensure public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, MDC asks all participants to observe current, local guidelines regarding physical distancing and masking. MDC encourages participants to bring and wear face coverings when appropriate.

Active woodland management encourages healthy growth of valuable timber, and it creates more suitable habitat for a greater number and wider variety of wildlife species. Land management decisions can have long-lasting effects on Missouri’s conservation heritage and provide real returns to landowners and local communities for generations to come.

To learn more about this free workshop, contact MDC Private Lands Conservationist Jordon Beshears at 573-564-2262, ext. 110, or by email at Jordon.Beshears@mdc.mo.gov.

Missouri Outdoor Notes - July 26th, 2021

 

KC Canoe and Kayak classes on July 30th and 31st. Information and registration is HERE.

Virtual program on Shotguns thru Busch Shooting Range on August 3rd. Information and registration is HERE 

Live Shotgun Program as follow-up to August 3rd program thru Busch Shooting Range to be held on August 7th.  Info and registration is HERE

A few weeks ago, an MDC biologist rescued a peregrine falcon from the basement of a courthouse in Jackson.  Read the complete story here.

Stakeholders in the Cape Girardeau area have formed an organization called "Foothills Prescribed Burn Association." They look to improve habitat in the region by tapping into resources available to landowners, conservationists and others.  To read the full story or to get more information go HERE.

Missouri Outdoor Notes

Missouri anglers opinions are being solicited by the MDC. They'd love to have your input...or you could just complain later. (:-)  Follow this link... https://moconservation.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74GYIpjY5YYyDsO?Q_DL=P9uh6Mi3EZlaMUE_74GYIpjY5YYyDsO_CGC_bQMktHSUvv3DPL0&Q_CHL=email.  It took me less than 3 minutes.

If you want to learn more about public hunting areas in the Springfield area, consider attending this event on Julky 20th...get more info by following this link... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178561

If you get confused bout snake species and want to learn more, this event is also in the Springfield area on July 16th. This one is virtual, so anyone can attend... Follow the link here... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178546

Still in the Springfield area, there's a wingshooting clinic at the Andy Dalton Range on July 17th...Dove season isn't that far down the road!  Here's where to get more info... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178560

By the way...the Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting books are out. You can get them at retailers where you get licenses or online here... https://mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/fall-deer-turkey-hunting-regulations-information

Youth over on the East side of the state can get some good dove hunting at Columbia Bottoms for September 1st.  The link for more info is here... https://mdc.mo.gov/columbia-bottom-conservation-area-managed-dove-hunt-application

Another even over on the East side of Missouri is for people who want to develop food plots for wildlife. It'll be held August 3rd at Jay Henges Shooting range...info here... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178847

Learn to navigate via compass and map at a Warrenton Missouri event on July 30th.  Event details are here... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178321

Another event in Warrenton will provide useful info on backpacking. It's to be held on July 30th as well and the info for it is at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178328

MDC offering help for those wanting to Use Native Plant Species

 I reckon a lot of folks don't think too much about the problems associated with invasive species...not the awesome benefits that you can get by instead using native species on your property.  Find out how you can make native species work for you through the MDC...

MDC offers free native plant garden workshop July 19 at Clinton

A monarch butterfly caterpillar munches 
on whorled milkweed plant in the new
pollinator garden at MDC’s Clinton Office.
 Photo by Kathy Hetherington, 
Missouri Department of Conservation

Learn how to make native wildflowers thrive in landscaping

Clinton, Mo. – Native wildflowers are blooming on the prairies and they can also brighten a home garden. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free workshop on gardening with natives from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Monday, July 19, at the MDC Clinton Office, 2010 S. Second St. The teaching spot will be the new native pollinator garden at the office.

“This program will showcase our new native garden for pollinators and teach folks about how to plan, plant, and maintain a garden using prairie wildflowers and grasses,” said Ginger Miller, MDC conservation educator.

MDC staff will offer tips on planning, planting, and maintaining a native garden bed. Participants are invited to work alongside staff working in the garden. Bug spray and hand tools will be provided, or visitors may bring their own. All those registered in advance will take home a packet of native seeds and knowledge about gardening with them.

This program is open to all ages. Registration is requested. Families or groups may be registered together. COVID-19 precautions will be followed. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZVh.

To learn more about native plant gardening, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZV7.