MDC Cape Nature Center to host turkey hunting programs, Wildflower Walk in April

You can know how to hunt safely, too!
Learn about wildlife identification, habits and habitats, regulations,
safety, hunting strategies, equipment and
game care this month at Cape Girardeau Nature Center. 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Discover nature in April with Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center’s free programs!

• Hunting: Selecting and Fitting a Shotgun for Turkey Season (Virtual) | Monday, April 11, from 5 – 6 p.m.
• Hunting: Responsible Turkey Hunting (Virtual) | Monday, April 11, from 6 - 7 p.m.
• Discover Nature: Spring Awakening | Saturday, April 16, from 1 - 2 p.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Little Acorns: Time for Toads! | Saturday, April 16, from 9 - 10 a.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Little Acorns: Time for Toads! | Saturday, April 16, from 10 - 11 a.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Little Acorns: Time for Toads! | Tuesday, April 19, from 10 - 11 a.m. at Cape Girardeau Nature Center
• Introduction to Trap Shooting | Tuesday, April 19, from 1 - 3 p.m. at Apple Creek Conservation Area
• Introduction to Skeet Shooting | Tuesday, April 19, from 3 - 5 p.m. at Apple Creek Conservation Area
• Wildflower Walk at Trail of Tears (Ride With Us) | Wednesday, April 27, from 1 - 3 p.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Babes in the Woods: Need a Nest! | Saturday, April 30, from 9 - 9:30 a.m. at Cape Girardeau Nature Center
• Babes in the Woods: Need a Nest! | Saturday, April 30, from 10 - 10:30 a.m. at Cape Girardeau Nature Center

Check out details for all of MDC’s free April events here. And be on the lookout for more programs to register for in May!

Registration

Advance registration is required for most programs and can be completed here. All family members that plan to attend in-person and virtual events must be registered. First, create a profile here. Once a profile is created and event registration is complete, additional details about programs will be sent via email. If you’re having difficulty registering online, you may contact the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center at (573) 290-5218.

Stay connected

To ensure the safety of all, in-person programs require family groups to socially distance, and masks are recommended. Those interested are also reminded to follow current health recommendations which include stay home if you’re sick, wash hands with soap and water and/or use hand sanitizer, and be considerate of others.

Questions about events can be emailed to MDC Cape Nature Center Manager Laci Prucinsky at Laci.Prucinsky@mdc.mo.gov.

The Cape Nature Center sends program registration reminders and updates to those who sign up by texting “MDC Nature” to 468311. An online subscription is also available to “sign up for updates” at www.mdc.mo.gov. A variety of updates are available at this option, but Cape Girardeau specific updates are available under facility updates and news for southeast region.

Cape Girardeau Nature Center is located at 2289 County Park Dr. in Cape Girardeau, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. White Oak Trace Trails are open daily, from sunrise – 10 p.m.

SW Missouri Residents have opportunity to Learn Skeet Shooting Skills

People can improve their skeet-shooting skills
at a free Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
program on April 7 at MDC's Andy Dalton
Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center.

ASH GROVE, Mo. – Skeet is a popular shooting activity for sport shooters and also for hunters trying to improve their shotgun skills.

People can get tips on how to improve their skeet-shooting skills at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) free program “Shotgun – Learning to Shoot Skeet, Intermediate Level.” This free program will be Thursday, April 7 from 5-7 p.m. at MDC’s Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center. This program is for ages 15 and up. It’s not for a beginning shotgun shooter, but rather for the experienced shotgun shooter who wants to learn more about skeet. People can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/181330

Skeet is a shotgun sport shooting activity where clay targets are launched from two “houses” in somewhat sideways paths that intersect in front of the shooter. At the April 7 program, MDC Outdoor Education Center Specialist, Ali Underwood will cover skeet-related topics such as how the game of skeet works, how to mount your gun, hold points, break points, forward allowance and what type of guns and loads work best. Dalton Range staff will provide 20-gauge shotguns and ammunition, or participants can bring their own unloaded gun to the program. Participants who plan to use their own ammunition should bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition in the gauge of their gun. People who bring their own shotguns should leave all firearms (including concealed carry handguns) in their vehicles until the classroom portion of the program is finished and individuals are ready to move to the shooting range. There should be no live ammunition or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Social distancing and other COVID procedures will be encouraged during this program.

MDC’s Andy Dalton Range is located near Ash Grove at 4897 N. Greene County Farm Road 61. People can stay informed about upcoming programs at the Dalton Range and other MDC facilities by signing up for text alerts and e-mail bulletins. People who have questions about upcoming events or how to sign up for text alerts from the Dalton Range can call 417-742-4361.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding in-person and virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/events.

Meramec River Cleanup

The public is invited to join the Dome Life Stream Team
Mid-Meramec River Cleanup Saturday, March 19
starting at 8 a.m.  It includes both land and water trash
cleanups, and invasive plant removal projects
along 26 miles of the Meramec River, followed by a free festival. 

Earlier this week I was up at Maramec Spring for the opening of catch and keep trout season.  Maramec is not the headwaters of the Meramec River (like the springs at Montauk, which are the headwaters of the Current River), but I dd go down and look at where the spings feed into the river and admired it's beauty.  There is some good trout fishing there, and lots of great fishing and other opportunities for outdoor fun on the Meramec, all the way down to where it flows into the Mississippi River.

However, the sprawl of human activity has definitely impacted the water quality of the river - agricultural runoff, illegal dumping, etc. So, fortunately, there are several organizations that make great efforts to remediate some of those impacts.  

Join MDC and partners March 19 for an epic cleanup and festival in Meramec River Watershed

Missouri Stream Teams and Dome Life are organizing a large-scale cleanup event, followed by a festival with food and live music.

ROBERTSVILLE, Mo.—The Meramec River is an aquatic gem in the St. Louis region—a great river for floating, fishing, and recreation.  Part of what makes a great river great is the watershed that surrounds it and feeds it. 

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Stream Teams, and Dome Life invite the public to be part of an epic cleanup event to help make the Meramec and its watershed a better place, and to a festival after to celebrate the success.

The Dome Life Stream Team Mid-Meramec River Cleanup will take place Saturday, March 19 starting at 8 a.m.  The public is invited to join in this effort that includes both land and water trash cleanups, and invasive plant removal projects along 26 miles of the Meramec River. 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for all of us to improve the Meramec watershed and its natural communities, and to make the area a better place to recreate, enjoy, and live in,” said MDC Resource Science Aid, Brian Waldrop.

Cleanups and invasive species removals will be held at the following locations.  Participants can choose the one they prefer:

• Robertsville State Park and Access
• Don Robinson State Park
• Route 66 State Park and Access
• Catawissa Conservation Area
• Pacific Palisades Conservation Area and Access
• LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
• Hilda J. Young Conservation Area
• Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area
• Allenton Access

After participants are done with the cleanup, they can enjoy the festival taking place at Robertsville State Park that afternoon and evening.  Visit educational and informational booths, enjoy nature programs and activities for all ages and abilities. There will be food trucks on site offering options for dinner from 3:30-7 p.m., guest speakers, and live local music performances from 7-10 p.m. 

The Dome Life Stream Team Mid-Meramec River Cleanup event and festival are free.  However, participants must register online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4os.  See a list of camping facilities near the event, too.

Robertsville State Park is located of I-44 at 902 State Park Drive in Robertsville. 

As this is an in-person activity, MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.