MDC limits firearm antlerless deer permits

Antlerless deer hunting permits have been reduced from “any number” in most

counties of the state to one in most counties of the state for all portions of the firearms deer season combined.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters that firearm antlerless deer hunting permits have been reduced from “any number” in most counties of the state to one in most counties of the state. The reduction applies to all portions of the firearms deer season combined.

Exceptions to this regulation change allow hunters to fill two firearm antlerless deer permits in Chariton, Randolph, Macon, Linn, Sullivan, and Adair counties, which surround the area where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in a small number of deer in Macon County. According to MDC, continuing to maintain stable deer numbers in this “CWD Containment Zone” will help limit the spread of the disease to other deer and other areas.

Other areas where hunters can fill two firearm antlerless deer permits include urban zones around the state where deer numbers are typically higher than desired, and in Barton, Howell, and Oregon counties where local deer numbers are higher than deer management goals.

The regulations changes were approved by the Conservation Commission at its April meeting and MDC initially communicated the information to the public at that time.

Details on these changes and other information on deer hunting are available in the Department's “2014 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet available at locations where permits are sold, MDC regional offices and nature centers, and online at mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2010/03/ftd2014.pdf.

According to MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners, the regulation changes are in response to lower overall deer numbers around much of the state as a result of long-term efforts to reduce the deer population through increased doe harvest. Previous regulations allowing the harvest of any number of antlerless deer have helped to decrease and stabilize deer numbers in many areas where deer numbers were too high.

Sumners added that the planned effort to reduce deer numbers in some areas was intensified by an unanticipated, extensive outbreak of hemorrhagic disease (HD) throughout most of the state related to the record-setting drought during summer and fall of 2012. With the resulting recent decrease in deer numbers in many areas of the state, some hunters and landowners have voiced their concerns about the level of doe harvest and the continuing need to offer hunters “any number” of antlerless permits.

“Our Regulations Committee considers the changing status of the deer herd across the state -- along with feedback from hunters, landowners, and others -- each year as it reviews recommendations for deer-hunting regulations,” Sumners said.

“Deer populations in Missouri vary regionally and county-by-county as habitat, hunting regulations, hunter numbers, and frequency and severity of disease outbreaks affect deer numbers,” he explained. “As these factors change over time, our deer management strategy is to be responsive to those changes.”

He added that MDC’s deer management strategy focuses on using science-based wildlife management practices, providing opportunities for all citizens to enjoy deer-related recreational activities such as deer hunting and watching, maintaining a healthy deer population, and providing related information to the public.

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IOWA PHEASANTS FACED TOUGH WINTER, WET SPRING

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Iowa’s unseasonably cold and snowy winter and wet spring is not likely to boost its pheasant population. 

Pheasants typically show population increases following mild winters with spring that are warmer and dryer than normal. Based on that weather model, the western third of Iowa has the best chance to see an uptick in pheasants due to below average snowfall and less than eight inches of spring rain.

The weather model predicts the rest of the state to see either no population increase or fewer birds than last year. The nesting forecast will be updated by the August roadside survey, which is the best gauge of what pheasant hunters can expect to find in the fall.

Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said while the weather is not what upland bird hunters had hoped for, there is some progress on pheasant habitat. Landowners began enrolling in continuous CRP on Monday.

“This is great news for Iowa’s new pheasant recovery continuous CRP practice designed specifically to help recover pheasant numbers,” Bogenschutz said. Iowa has 45,000 acres available on a first come, first served basis.

“There will not be a general CRP signup this year so this is an option that landowners with expiring general CRP should consider,” he said.

Information on Iowa’s pheasant recovery continuous CRP is available online atwww.iowadnr.gov/habitat.

MDC offers incentive payments for CRP enrollment, enhancements

Incentive payments will help enhance private land for quail and other early successional wildlife, waterfowl, and grassland birds

JEFFERSON CITY – Landowners in 54 Missouri counties can receive $300 per acre in incentive bonuses for enrolling new land in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and those with existing CRP contracts could receive payments exceeding $200 for management practices that enhance the value of CRP acres for wildlife.

Private Land Programs Supervisor Lisa Potter with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) says the approximate 1.1 million acres of CRP on the Missouri landscape serves an essential role in the protection and enhancement of Missouri’s water quality, soil quality and wildlife habitat. In the past two years alone, Missouri has lost over 200,000 acres of CRP to contract expirations and land use conversions.   

Starting Dec. 1, in an effort to increase and enhance the amount of quality wildlife habitat in Missouri, MDC is offering $100 to $150 per acre for new land enrolled in certain CRP practices. The MDC incentives are in addition to $100 to $150 incentive payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency (FSA) for new enrollments.

Qualifying CRP practices include CP33 (Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds), CP38 (State Acres for Wildlife Enhancements), CP42 (Pollinator Habitat) and CP23 (Wetland Restoration).

MDC also is offering an additional $18 to $60 per acre for mid-contract management activities, such as prescribed burning, disking, herbicide application and legume or native forb interseeding on existing cool-season grass (CP1) and warm-season grass acres. These payments are in addition to FSA payments for required mid-contract management activities.

Besides all of the foregoing incentives, MDC is offering landowners incentive payments of $100 to $200 for planting or enhancing shrubby cover within or adjacent to CRP land.

“Today, most of Missouri’s rural landscape provides little habitat for early successional wildlife such as quail, grassland birds and cottontail rabbits,” says Potter.  “These special incentives, in combination with CRP, can provide an ideal mix of early successional habitat.”

Mid-contract management incentives are available Dec. 1. However, incentives for new CRP acres will not be available until Congress passes or extends the federal farm bill.

Counties included in the offer are: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Bollinger, Buchanan, Butler, Caldwell, Cape Girardeau, Cass, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb, Dunklin, Franklin, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Knox, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Mississippi, Monroe, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Pike, Platte, Putnam, Randolph, Ray, Ripley, St. Charles, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shelby, Stoddard, Sullivan, Vernon and Worth.

More information is available from local MDC private land conservationists (PLCs). To find your PLC, visit the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov and click on the “Local Contact” box.

-Jim Low-

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CRP Landowner Enrollment Workshops Taking Place in Missouri

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In response to the recent announcement of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General Sign-up 43, multiple CRP Landowner Workshops will be held throughout the month of March to inform producers and conservationists about Conservation Reserve Program General Sign-up 43. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from biologists how to improve the chances of their lands being accepted into the CRP Program. Information will also be presented informing producers on how conserving marginal lands through CRP can prove mutually beneficial for wildlife and agriculture production.

Follow this LINK for more information and updates to the CRP workshop schedule.

March 14th Missouri Dept. of Conservation NE Regional Office Kirksville, MO. Workshop begins at 6 P.M. For questions please contact Elsa Gallagher, Regional Wildlife Biologist Quail Forever/Pheasants Forever, at (573) 680-7115.

March 15th MU Bradford Research Farm Columbia, MO. Workshop begins at 6 P.M. For questions please contact Jason Sykes, Area Biologist, at (573) 769-3512 Ext.6.

March 16th USDA Service Center, 18450 Ridgeview Ln. Dexter, MO. Workshop begins at 1 p.m. For questions please contact Brandon Wirsig, Private Land Conservationist, at (573) 624-5939 Ext.136.

March 16th Memphis Fire Station, 104 N. Washington Memphis, MO. Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For questions please contact Craig Williamson, Private Land Conservationist, at (660) 216-1588 Ext.111.

March 20th Carrollton Public Library, 1 N. Folger St. Carrollton, MO. Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For questions please contact Andrew White, Farm Bill Biologist/Quail Forever, at (660) 619-1719.

March 20th Ketcham Community Center – Sugg Room, 1301 Main Street, Trenton MO. Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For questions please contact Scott Roy at the Grundy Co. USDA office in Trenton, (660) 359-5685 Ext.114.

March 21st Hal England Center, 801 Hickland, Princeton MO. Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For questions please contact Scott Roy at the Grundy Co. USDA office in Trenton, (660) 359-5685 Ext.114.

March 22nd Litton Center, Hwy 190 Chillicothe, MO. Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For questions please contact Andrew White, Farm Bill Biologist/Quail Forever, at (660) 619-1719.

March 27th Litton Center, Hwy 190 Chillicothe, MO. Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For questions please contact Andrew White, Farm Bill Biologist/Quail Forever, at (660) 619-1719.

March 29th Linn County Career and Technical Center, Brookfield, MO. Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For questions please contact Andrew White, Farm Bill Biologist/Quail Forever, at (660) 619-1719.

For more information regarding Quail Forever in Missouri, please contact Elsa Gallagher at (573) 680-7115 / Email Elsa. For all other inquiries, please contact Rehan Nana, Quail Forever Public Relations Specialist, at (651) 209-4973 / Email Rehan.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.

Missouri Outdoors Information

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USDA offers CRP sign-up with April 6 deadline

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Program can help farmers add habitat to cropland while protecting soil and water quality.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo -- Over the past 26 years, the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has created millions of acres of upland and wetland habitat for quail, pheasants, ducks, deer, turkeys and a wide array of nongame wildlife by offering payments to farmers for taking highly erodible farmland out of production. Efforts continue with the USDA’s and Missouri Farm Service’s (MFS) recent announcement of a CRP general signup March 12 - April 6.

Landowners enrolled in CRP receive annual payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland. According to the FSA website, “CRP is a voluntary program that helps agricultural producers use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to control soil erosion, improve water and air quality and develop wildlife habitat. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 to 15 years.”

According to the USDA, an estimated 6.5 million CRP acres are scheduled to expire nationwide in September with more than 377,000 of those acres being in Missouri.

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) staff can help farmers and other eligible landowners determine program eligibility, options, seeding mixes and maintenance requirements to help sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife. Visit www.mdc.mo.govto find local MDC Private Land Conservationists under “Who’s My Local Contact.” 

For more information on the CRP general signup and other conservation programs, contact the local USDA Service Center and speak with an FSA representative or MDC Private Land Conservationist. Visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/crpfor program details.

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