Missouri frogging season begins June 30 at sunset

MDC reminds folks to frog with either fishing or small-game hunting permit, unless exempt.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages Missourians to discover nature this summer -- and one fun and exciting way is through frogging. Frogging season begins June 30 at sunset and ends Oct. 31. Missouri has two frog species that are legal game — bullfrog and green frog. Bullfrogs are larger and therefore more sought-after.

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 the waters or banks thereof where limits apply. Daily limits end at midnight so froggers who catch their daily limits beforemidnight and then want to return for more frogging after midnight must remove the daily limit of previously caught frogs from the waters or banks before returning for more.

Frogging can be done with either a fishing permit or a small-game hunting permit. Children under the age of 16 and Missouri residents 65 years of age or older are not required to have a permit. Those with a fishing permit may take frogs by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throw line, 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 an artificial light is permitted when frogging.

For more information about frog hunting, including how to get started and tasty recipes to try, visit MDC online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/frog.

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Frogging season begins June 30 at sunset

Frogging season begins Tuesday, June 30, at sunset and ends Oct. 31. Missouri has two frog species that are legal game — bullfrog and green frog. The frog in the picture is a bullfrog. 

MDC encourages families to celebrate summer by taking part in frogging season.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages Missourians to discover nature this summer -- and one fun and exciting way is through frogging. Frogging season begins Tuesday, June 30, at sunset and ends Oct. 31.

Frogging can be done with either a fishing permit or a small game permit. Children under the age of 16 and Missouri residents 65 years of age or older are not required to have a permit. The Wildlife Code of Missouri allows those with a fishing permit to take frogs by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throw line, 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 an artificial light is permitted when frogging.

Missouri has two frog species that are legal game — bullfrog and green frog. Bullfrogs are larger and therefore more sought-after. The taste and texture of frog meat is similar to that of fresh-water fish. For frog leg recipes, visit the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/node/15131.

The daily limit is eight frogs of both species combined. The possession limit allows you to have no more than 16 frogs at a time.

It's important to know once a frog is speared or shot, it must be harvested. The Wildlife Code of Missouri prohibits the release of a speared frog as "wanton waste" because the animal is not likely to recover. Any frog taken into actual possession, unless immediately released unharmed after being caught, is included in the daily limit.

Almost any place with enough water to float a canoe is likely to harbor at least a few frogs. Frogs can be found in farm ponds and huge reservoirs, creeks, drainage ditches and rivers, sloughs, marshes and swamps statewide. For more information on frog hunting and suggested conservation areas to go frogging visit MDC's website atmdc.mo.gov/node/28859.

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish, so grab a gig and visit a pond or simply grab a frog and head to the frying pan before the "frog days" of summer are over.

For more information about bullfrog and green frog regulations, visitmdc.mo.gov/node/10834.

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“Frog days” of summer begin at sunset June 30

Put down the blackberry bucket and pick up a frog gig.

Courtesy MDC

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missourians can celebrate summer with a favorite outdoor pastime, as frogging season begins at sunset June 30.

Frogging can be practiced with either a fishing permit or a hunting permit. The Wildlife Code of Missouri allows those with a fishing permit to take frogs by hand net, gig, trotline, throw line, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing or pole and line.

With a hunting permit, you can harvest frogs using a .22-caliber firearm, pellet gun, atlatl, by hand or hand net and with a longbow or crossbow. The use of an artificial light is permitted when frogging. Children under the age of 16 and adults over the age of 65 are not required to have a permit.

Missouri has two species – bullfrog and green frog – that are legal game. Bullfrogs are larger and therefore more sought-after, but the legs of both species are delicious. The taste and texture of frog meat is similar to fresh-water fish.

The daily limit is eight frogs of both species combined. If you catch eight frogs before midnight, you can start frogging again at 12:01 a.m. and catch another day’s limit. However, it is not legal to possess more than one day’s limit while on the water, so you must put your first limit in a cooler before starting on the second day’s limit. The possession limit allows you to store no more than 16 frogs at a time.

Once a frog is speared, it must be harvested. The Wildlife Code of Missouri prohibits release of a speared frog as “wanton waste” because the animal is not likely to recover. However, a frog is not fatally injured by methods such as grabbing or pole and line and thus may be released.

Frogging season ends Oct. 31, so grab a gig and head to the pond or simply grab a frog and head to the fryer before the frog days of summer are over.

Bullfrogs and green frogs up for grabs June 30

Image via Wikipedia

Missouri’s annual frogging season runs from June 30 to Oct. 31.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Bullfrogs and green frogs are up for grabs beginning at sunset on June 30 as Missouri enters its annual frogging season.

A favorite outdoor pastime of many Missourians, frogging spans the gap between hunting and fishing. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) allows harvest of frogs by hand net, gig, trotline, throw line, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing or pole and line with a fishing permit. With a hunting permit, frogs can be harvested using .22-caliber firearms, pellet guns, atlatls, longbows and crossbows. The use of an artificial light is permitted when frogging. Children under the age of 16 and adults over 65 are not required to have a permit.

The daily limit is an eight-frog total of both species, with a possession limit of 16. If you catch eight before midnight, you can start frogging again at 12:01 a.m. and catch another day’s limit. To do this legally, the first eight frogs must be kept separate from the second set.

Once a frog is speared, it must be harvested. You should not release an injured frog, as the animal is not likely to recover. However, a frog is not fatally injured by methods such as grabbing or pole and line and thus may be released.

Frog legs have a mild flavor similar to that of fish. They can be battered and fried or sautéed in butter with garlic or herbs. They also make a good base for Cajun dishes that call for fish or shellfish. To top off your frogging experience, try this basic frying recipe:

Fried Frog Legs

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 cup crushed saltine crackers

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon season salt

1 tablespoon lemon pepper salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

2 quarts peanut oil

Instructions:

Thaw a possession limit of frog legs (16 pairs), drain and pat dry with paper towels. Heat oil to 375 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a large plastic bowl with lid. Dip legs into milk and egg mixture, then drop into bowl with dry ingredients. Cover bowl and shake. Drop legs in hot oil and cook until golden brown.