MDC: November firearms deer harvest ends with 189,938

Missouri's 2015 November firearms deer harvest ends with 189,938. Top harvest counties were Texas with 4,544 deer checked, Howell with 4,046, and Franklin with 3,707. The 2015 November firearms deer harvest was up from 2014  by more than 23,000.

Top three highest-harvest counties were Texas, Howell, and Franklin.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 189,938 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 14-24. Of the 189,938 deer harvested, 92,020 were antlered bucks, 21,256 were button bucks, and 76,662 were does. Top harvest counties were Texas with 4,544 deer checked, Howell with 4,046, and Franklin with 3,707.

Last year, hunters checked 166,383 deer during the 2014 November portion of firearms deer season with 78,556 being antlered bucks, 19,300 being button bucks, and 68,527 being does.

"Good weather and plenty of deer activity likely are the reasons why there was an increase in deer harvest during the November portion of the firearms deer season this year," MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners said.

MDC reported five firearms-related hunting incidents during the fall firearms November portion. The five incidents involved self-inflicted firearm wounds and occurred in Butler (2), Franklin, Newton, and Howard counties.

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting from Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, firearms antlerless portion Nov. 25 through Dec. 6, firearms alternative methods portion Dec. 19-29, and firearms late youth portion Jan. 2-3. Learn more about deer hunting from MDC athttp://on.mo.gov/1jjzeAa.

For current, preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at http://on.mo.gov/1jjz7Ew. For harvest summaries from past years, visithttp://on.mo.gov/1MRjOLV.

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Young hunters check 14,095 deer during Missouri early youth portion

Top counties were Franklin with 338, Osage with 337, and Howell with 288.

Young hunters checked 14,095 deer during Missouri's 2015 early youth portion. Top counties for the early youth hunt were Franklin with 338, Osage with 337, and Howell with 288.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced that young hunters ages 6 through 15 checked 14,095 deer during Missouri's early youth portion of the 2015 deer hunting season, which ran Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Top counties for the early youth portion were Franklin with 338, Osage with 337, and Howell with 288 deer checked. Last year's harvest total for the early youth portion was 18,091.

The total for the firearms deer urban zone portion, which ran Oct. 9 – 12, was 401 with the top three counties being Greene with 106, Jefferson with 57, and St. Charles with 43. The 2014 total for the firearms deer urban zone portion was 599. For the latest deer harvest totals by county and portion, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/

Archery deer hunting continues through Nov. 13 and again from Nov. 25 though Jan. 15, 2016. Up next for deer hunting in Missouri is the November portion of firearms deer season, which runs Nov. 14 through 24. That will be followed by the firearms deer antlerless portion running Nov. 25 through Dec. 6. The firearms deer alternative methods portion will run Dec. 19-29 followed by firearms deer late youth portion on Jan. 2-3, 2016.

Get more information on deer hunting in Missouri through MDC's free 2015 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available where permits are sold, from MDC regional offices and nature centers, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

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MDC announces waterfowl seasons and outlook

Additional details about Missouri waterfowl hunting regulations, including zone descriptions, will be published in the MDC 2015-2016 Waterfowl Hunting Digest, available starting in late September from permit vendors, MDC offices and nature center, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

Duck numbers are high, but limited food and cover and warm weather may limit availability. 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces that duck hunters will again have a 60-day season for 2015-2016 hunting. The Missouri Conservation Commission set upcoming Missouri waterfowl hunting seasons at its Aug. 19 meeting.

DUCK SEASONSNorth Zone: Oct. 31 – Dec. 29
Middle Zone: Nov. 7 – Jan. 5
South Zone: Nov. 26 – Jan. 24

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Daily Bag Limit: Six ducks daily with species restrictions of:

• 4 mallards (no more than 2 females)
• 3 scaup
• 3 wood ducks
• 2 redheads
• 2 hooded mergansers
• 2 pintails
• 2 canvasback (increased from 1 last year)
• 1 black duck
• 1 mottled duck

Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag limit (18), including species restrictions.

COOT SEASONS:
Concurrent with duck seasons in the respective zones with a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of 45.

GOOSE SEASONS:
Light geese: snow, blue, and Ross’s: Statewide, Oct. 31 - Jan. 31
White-fronted geese: Statewide Nov. 7 - Jan. 31
Canada geese and brant: Statewide Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 and Nov. 26 - Jan. 31

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Daily Bag Limit and Possession Limit: No more than three Canada geese and brant geese in aggregate daily and nine in possession, 20 light geese (snow, blue, or Ross’s) daily with no possession limit, and two white-fronted geese daily and six in possession.

YOUTH HUNTING DAYS:
North Zone: Oct. 24 and 25
Middle Zone: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1
South Zone: Nov. 21 and 22

Bag Limit: Same as during regular waterfowl season.

Shooting Hours: Same as during regular waterfowl season.

Participation Requirements: Any person 15 years of age or younger may participate in the youth waterfowl hunting days without permit, provided they are in the immediate presence of an adult 18 years of age or older. If the youth hunter does not have hunter-education certification, the adult must meet permit requirements for small-game hunting and have in his or her possession valid hunter-education certification unless born before Jan. 1, 1967.  The adult may not hunt ducks, but may participate in other seasons open on the youth days.

LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER:
The Conservation Order for light geese will be in effect Feb. 1 through April 30 with no bag limit. Hunters may use electronic calls and unplugged shot guns. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrises to one-half hour after sunset. A Conservation Order permit is the only permit required for resident and nonresident hunters.

FALCONRY SEASON FOR DUCKS, COOTS AND MERGANSERS:The federal framework allows 107 days. Falconry is open during teal season (16 days), regular duck season (60 days), and youth season (two days) in the respective zones, leavingFeb. 11 – March 10 (29 days) for extended falconry statewide.

Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Bag and Possession Limits: The daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed three and nine birds, respectively, singly, or in the aggregate, during the teal, regular duck, youth waterfowl and extended falconry seasons.

TEAL SEASONS:
As previously announced by MDC in July, blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal may be taken from Sept 12 through Sept. 27 from sunrise to sunset with a combined daily limit of six and a combined possession limit of 18 for all three species. Additional details are published in MDC's 2015 Migratory Bird Hunting Digest available where hunting permits are sold, at MDC offices and nature centers, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

WATERFOWL POPULATION ESTIMATES:
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the total number of North American ducks is estimated to be at a record high for the fourth year in a row at 49.5 million, 43% above the long-term average (LTA). Estimates of breeding populations for various duck species from 2015 survey results are:

• Mallard numbers are similar to the 2014 estimate and 42 percent above their long-term average.
• Blue-winged teal numbers are similar to 2014 and 73 percent above their long-term average.
• Green-winged teal numbers increased by 19 percent, which puts them 98 percent above their long-term average.
• Northern shoveler numbers dropped by 17 percent but still remain 75 percent above their long-term average.
• Gadwall and American wigeon numbers are similar to 2014 and 100 and 17 percent above their long-term averages, respectively.
• Redhead numbers are similar to 2014 and 71 percent above their long-term average.
• Canvasback numbers increased slightly. They are now estimated to be 30 percent above their long-term average.
• Scaup numbers are similar to the 2014 estimate and 13 percent below their long-term average.
• Pintail numbers are similar to 2014 and 24 percent below their long-term average.

HUNTING OUTLOOK:
MDC Resource Scientists note that there are three factors equally or more important than overall population numbers in contributing toward a season’s outcome: local habitat conditions, weather, and migration timing. They caution that preseason outlooks for habitat and weather are less than ideal.

“Wetlands should have plenty of water going into fall, but extensive and repeated flooding over the summer will mean food and cover could be patchy,” explained MDC Resource Scientist Andy Raedeke. “Moist-soil seed production will be excellent in wetlands that benefitted from a wet spring and early summer but did not have late-summer flooding. Those that did experience late flooding will likely have poor moist-soil seed production and limited vegetation for cover. Due to flooding, food provided by crops, such as corn, will likely be well below average.”

Raedeke added that weather conditions play a significant role in affecting duck movements and distribution. “Long-term weather forecasts are calling for milder than normal fall and winter weather in the upper Midwest,” he said.

Habitat conditions and weather combine to influence waterfowl migrations.

“The primary uncertainty is how ducks will respond if we have a hunting season with mild weather, plenty of water, and below average food and cover,” said Raedeke. “In the absence of significant cold fronts, ducks may disperse throughout the Mississippi Flyway resulting in lower peak numbers in Missouri. Once ducks arrive in Missouri, habitat conditions will influence how long they stay. Species that depend entirely on wetland sources of food may depart sooner than normal. For species that also field feed, such as mallards, the combination of ample water for roosting and harvested grain fields for feeding may help offset effects of below average wetland conditions.”

He added that hunters will need to be flexible in when and where they hunt. “If it is a mild fall, it will be especially important to time hunts with cold fronts and migration events. Hunters should also be willing to try new locations for potentially better habitat conditions,” Raedeke said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Additional details about waterfowl hunting regulations, including zone descriptions, will be published in the MDC 2015-2016 Waterfowl Hunting Digest, available starting in late September from permit vendors, MDC offices and nature center, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

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MDC seeks public input on Lone Jack Conservation Area

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to know what Missourians think May 1 through May 31.

about its nearly 1,000 conservation areas around the state. MDC is in the multi-year process of updating management plans for conservation areas and invites public comments. Draft plans for the Lone Jack Conservation Area in Jackson County will be available for public comment

   To preview draft management plans and share comments online, visitwww.mdc.mo.gov/areaplans.

  The 295-acre Lone Jack Conservation Area in southeastern Jackson County offers fishing, hunting and hiking. A centerpiece for the area is the 35-acre Lone Jack Lake that has a boat ramp and two fishing jetties. One of the jetties is accessible for those with mobility challenges.

      Statewide, MDC conservation areas cover almost one million public acres for the purpose of restoring and conserving forest, fish and wildlife resources, and for providing opportunities for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about these resources. Most Missourians are within a 30-minute drive of an MDC conservation area.

   “Missourians care about conservation and use conservation areas for many different reasons,” said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. “These areas help people discover nature through various activities, and help make Missouri a great place to hunt, fish, and enjoy other outdoor activities. We want to know how conservation areas are important to Missourians. Encouraging public comments on Conservation Area Management Plans is part of MDC’s ongoing efforts of working for and with Missourians to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.”

   Conservation Area Management Plans focus on natural resource management and public use on conservation areas. The plans do not address regulations on hunting, fishing and other area uses, which are set by the Conservation Commission and enforced under the Wildlife Code of Missouri. MDC will consider all ideas received and will work to balance the issues and interests identified with the responsibility of managing areas for the present and future benefits to forest, fish, wildlife, and people. Decisions on which ideas to incorporate into area plans and on how to best incorporate them will be based on the property’s purpose, its physical and biological conditions and capabilities, the best roles of the property in its local, regional and state-wide context, and on the professional expertise of MDC staff.

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MDC seeks public input on proposed deer hunting regulation changes

Possible changes involve firearms season lengths, use of crossbows, archery bag limits, regulations on conservation areas, and non-resident permit fees.  

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is seeking public input on proposed changes to the state’s deer hunting regulations for the 2016-2017 hunting season.

For the fall firearms deer season, MDC proposes:

• Maintaining the current timing of the November portion but reducing the length from 11 days to nine days,
• Expanding the late youth firearms weekend from two days to three days and having it begin the Friday after Thanksgiving instead of early January,
• Reducing the length of the antlerless firearms portion from 12 days to three days and beginning it on the first Friday in December, and
• Eliminating the urban zones portion. 

For the fall archery deer and turkey season, MDC proposes:

• Allowing crossbows as a legal method, and
• Reducing the limit of antlered deer during the archery season from two to one.

MDC also proposes simplifying conservation area regulations and also wants public comment on permit fees for nonresidents regarding a possible increase, decrease, or no change in price.

The proposed regulation changes are a result of public input and MDC deer management research and practices. During the summer of 2014, MDC gathered more than 4,000 public comments on deer management and possible regulation changes through open houses, online comments, letters and emails. MDC also surveyed many deer hunters regarding potential regulation changes. MDC staff will present final regulations recommendations to the Conservation Commission in late 2015.

MDC WELCOMES PUBLIC COMMENT

To explain the proposed changes and gather public feedback, MDC will hold the following public meetings around the state from 5 to 8 p.m.:

• Feb. 24 – MDC Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road in Blue Springs;
• Feb. 26 – MDC Powder Valley Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Road in Kirkwood;
• March 3 – MDC Springfield Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way in Springfield;
• March 5 -- West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. in West Plains;
• March 10 – MDC Cape Girardeau Nature Center, 2289 County Park Drive in Cape Girardeau;
• March 12 – MDC Northeast Regional Office, 3500 S. Baltimore in Kirksville;
• March 16 – MDC Central Regional Office, 3500 E. Gans Road in Columbia; and
• March 31 – MDC Northwest Regional Office, 701 James McCarthy Drive in St. Joseph.

MDC also welcomes public comments online. To learn more about the proposed regulations, MDC’s deer management plan, past public comments, and to provide comment, visit the Department’s website at mdc.mo.gov/node/28079.

Mail comments to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Attn: Policy Coordination, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

RATIONALE FOR REGULATION CHANGES

MDC expanded the November portion of firearms deer season to 11 days in 1995 in response to a rapidly growing deer population in many parts of the state. Deer numbers in most parts of Missouri are now at or below desired levels. According to MDC biologists, reducing the length of the November portion by two days will help increase those numbers.

The Department’s reasoning for changing the timing of the late youth portion from early January to the weekend after Thanksgiving is that it should increase youth-hunter participation and success as a result of better deer activity and weather conditions. Adding the Friday after Thanksgiving will provide an additional hunting day when schools are closed.

MDC anticipates that reducing the length of the antlerless season from 12 days to three days will help increase deer numbers to more desirable levels. The antlerless portion of the firearms deer season was implemented in 1996 to increase the harvest of female deer, or does, in response to a rapidly growing deer population in many parts of the state. The deer population in most of Missouri is currently at or below desired levels.

According to MDC, eliminating the urban zones portion of the firearms season is being considered because firearms hunting in urban zones is significantly limited by city ordinances and safety concerns. As a result, this portion does not significantly lower deer numbers in areas where urban deer conflicts occur.

The department anticipates that allowing crossbows as a legal method during the archery deer and turkey season will help younger hunters enter the sport and also prolong participation for older hunters. MDC research shows that most deer hunters are in favor of allowing crossbows during the archery season and bow hunters are about equally divided on the topic.

Reducing the buck harvest during archery season from two to one per hunter will make hunters more selective and help more bucks reach older age-classes. Regulations allowing bow hunters to harvest two bucks were implemented in 1988 when there were fewer than 100,000 individuals with a permit to hunt deer during the archery season compared to more than 180,000 in 2013.  Also, the harvest of bucks by bow hunters has nearly doubled from 11 percent of the total harvest in 2000 to 19 percent in 2013. 

The Department anticipates that simplifying deer hunting regulations on conservation areas to archery only, archery and muzzleloader only, or archery and firearms will both increase hunter satisfaction and allow area managers to adjust regulations based on current deer numbers.

MDC permit fees for nonresident hunters are competitive with those of surrounding states and have remained the same since 2009.

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MDC offers hunting-skills weekend for families

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites families to its first-ever Discover Nature – Families Hunting Skills Weekend workshop on March 13–15 at the Windermere Conference Center on Lake of the Ozarks. 

Families with members age six years and older who are interested in learning how to hunt with firearms and archery equipment, and in finding new ways to spend time outdoors together, will have fun learning skills they need.

The workshop will be conducted in a beautiful lakeside setting with sessions taught by professional instructors.

To qualify for the workshop, family members who are age 11 years and older must complete the first part of Missouri’s two-part hunter-education certification. This initial knowledge portion of hunter education can be completed online, through self-study with a student book, or by registering for and attending a four-hour classroom session. For details on how to complete the knowledge portion of hunter education, go online towww.mdc.mo.gov/node/3722. 

The weekend will begin on Friday afternoon with family members having an opportunity to complete the second part of hunter education – a four-hour skills session in which students demonstrate what they have learned through the first knowledge portion.

On Saturday and Sunday, families will participate in three hands-on skills sessions: Introduction to Firearms, Beginning Archery, and Basic Hunting.

All equipment will be provided. Weekend activities will be held outdoors so participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

The workshop is free to all registered participants, but families are responsible for makingarrangements for their own lodging and meals through Windermere Conference Center. There are several options for lodging, including Lakeview Lodge, motel, family cabins, and camping. Contact Windermere at 573-346-5200 or 1-800-346-2215 for details, or go online to www.windermereusa.org.

To register or for more information on MDC’s Discover Nature – Families Hunting Skills Weekend, go online to www.mdc.mo.gov/node/29866.

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One Day, Two Deer, Three Hunters

By AJ Hendershott

Deer hunting has produced many good memories for me.  Most of those memories deal with

the circumstances of the hunt or things I was privileged to witness in nature.  This year, however, I experienced the most memorable of any of my hunts and both of my children were involved.

The 2014 youth season opened up the morning of Nov. 1, and my children and I had plans in place the day before.  Tags were in the back pack along with any necessary equipment.  The gun was clean and ready for ammunition.  Our clothing was laid out and we had a hunting schedule.   My daughter likes to sleep in so she was glad to give her younger brother the morning shift with me.  This meant she would hunt in the afternoon. 

Saturday didn’t produce any harvest, but both children were able to see deer and get their first feel for the excitement.  Sunday morning, Hunter and I got out bright and early, and took our seats in the brush blind.  I was impressed with how still he was this year.  He made few movements and he was pretty silent.  An hour into the hunt I heard a deer behind us and to the left.  If the deer followed its path, it would give my son a perfect quartering away shot at about 10 steps. 

“Get your gun up son,” I whispered. 

He obeyed not yet seeing what I did.  The doe needed to walk ahead about 20 feet and it would be in sight with an easy shot.  That deer walked about 18 feet further and stopped.  She was oblivious to our presence even at the close range. 

“Take the shot if you have it,” I instructed.

It seemed like an eternity passed before the doe twitched her tail and hurriedly scampered off. 

“What happened?” I asked trying to mask my disappointment.

“There was brush in my way.  It wasn’t a good shot,” he replied. 

I was glad to hear his reasoning and rewarded his restraint with a heartfelt, “good call son.”

Another chance presented itself a few hours later.  Three does came trotting down the ridge intent on making it to the bottom.   They made it to an open area when I whistled.  All three deer stopped and looked our direction.  Again, I encouraged him to take the shot if he had it. 

A thunderous “kaboom” erupted from the gun muzzle as the hind doe dropped.  My son’s grin was so big his orthodontist could have done a full check of his braces.  That grin stayed with him through the entire process of tagging, field dressing, dragging, checking, skinning and quartering. My son had harvested his first deer and I was there to see it happen.

Unbeknownst to me, there was more in store for me that day.

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Early teal season approved

Dates are contingent on breeding population survey.

JEFFERSON CITY–The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved dates for the early teal-hunting season, contingent on the results of population surveys.

Blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal are legal during the September teal season in Missouri. The season was established primarily for blue-winged teal (BWT) because this early-migrating species is essentially not present during the regular waterfowl season. Teal season frameworks depend on the current year’s BWT breeding population indices, which are determined after surveys conducted in May.

Each year, the Conservation Commission approves season dates contingent on results of these surveys in order to meet deadlines for the state rule-making process. This year’s contingent dates are:

• Sept. 6 through 21 (16 days) if the BWT breeding population index is 4.7 million or greater.
• Sept. 6-14 (nine days) if the breeding population index is at least 3.3 million but less than 4.7 million.
• No season if the BWT breeding population index is below 3.3 million.

If there is an early teal season, the limits will be six daily and 18 in possession.

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Missouri Outdoor News for August 23rd, 2013

Bats at Onondaga State Park

August 31st offers interested members of the public an opportunity a chance to learn about bat conservation at Onondaga State Park.  The festivities will run from 11 am to 3 pm, and will offer the public a chance to also comment on park operations.  For information on the program, call the park at 573-245-6576.  Onondaga is located near Leasburg, MO off of I-44.

Open House at Knob Knoster State Park

Located near Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri, Knob Knoster State park is a beautiful place to visit.  They will offer an open house for the public from 2-4 pm on August 31st.  Please call 660-563-2463 to get details from park officials.

Hunter Education

Hunters born after January 1, 1967 are required to be hunter education certified before they can legally hunt in Missouri.  Also, some hunters who will act as mentors to younger hunters also require this certification.  If you have never taken the course, it is a great idea for any and all who hunt in Missouri.

There is a variety of options for completing the training, and the information can be found at http://www.mdc.mo.gov/node/11416. Don't delay in getting your certification before Fall hunting seasons get into full swing.

Waterfowl Reservations

If you want to hunt ducks on land managed by the MDC, you can start applying on September 1st.  To apply or get more information on this opportunity, visit http://mdc.mo.gov/node/3806

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Conservation Action August 2013

The Conservation Commission met Aug. 15 and 16 in Jefferson City.  Commissioners present were:

Don C. Bedell, Sikeston, Chair

James T. Blair, IV, St. Louis, Vice Chair & Secretary

Don R. Johnson, Festus

Tim E. Dollar, Blue Springs, Member

REGULATIONS

The Commission approved the following 2013-14 waterfowl hunting seasons and limits.

Duck Season: 

North Zone:                  Oct. 26- Dec. 24

Middle Zone:                Nov. 2 – Dec. 31                                            

South Zone:                  Nov. 28 – Jan. 26       

Shooting Hours:            One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Bag Limit: Six ducks daily with species restrictions of:

§  4 mallards (no more than 2 females)

§  3 scaup

§  3 wood ducks

§  2 redheads

§  2 hooded mergansers

§  2 pintails

§  2 canvasbacks

§  1 black duck

§  1 mottled duck

Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag (in total 18; varies by species).

Coot season:  Concurrent with duck seasons in the respective zones with a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of 45.

Goose Season:

§  Blue, snow, and Ross’s geese:  Statewide, Oct. 26 – Jan. 31 (98 days)

§  White-fronted geese: Statewide, Nov. 28 – Jan. 31 (65 days)

§  Canada geese and brant: Statewide, Oct. 5 – Oct. 13 (9 days)

                                              Nov. 28 – Jan. 31 (65 days)

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Bag/Possession Limit: The bag and possession limits include no more than three Canada geese daily (nine in possession), 20 blue, snow, or Ross’s geese daily (no possession limit), two white-fronted geese daily (six in possession), and one brant daily (three in possession).

YOUTH HUNTING DAYS:  Any person 15 years of age or younger may participate in the youth waterfowl hunting days without permit, provided they are in the immediate presence of an adult 18 years of age or older.  If the youth hunter does not possess a hunter education certificate card, the adult must meet permit requirements that allows small-game hunting and have in his or her possession a valid hunter-education certificate card unless they were born before Jan. 1, 1967.  The adult may not hunt ducks but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special youth days.

North Zone:                              Oct. 19-20

Middle Zone:                            Oct. 26-27

South Zone:                              Nov. 23-24

            Bag Limit:                                 Bag limits and shooting hours for ducks and geese are the same as during the regular waterfowl season. 

FALCONRY SEASON FOR DUCKS, COOTS, AND MERGANSERS:   The federal framework allows 107 days.  Falconry is open during teal season (16 days), regular gun duck season (60 days), and youth season (two days) in the respective zones, leaving 29 days remaining for extended falconry.  

Statewide, Feb. 10 - March 10

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Bag Limit: The daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed three and nine birds, respectively, singly, or in the aggregate during the regular duck hunting seasons (including teal and youth seasons) and extended falconry seasons.

LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER:  Persons must possess a Conservation Order permit to chase, pursue, and take blue, snow and Ross’s geese between the hours of one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset from Feb. 1 through April 30, 2014. An exception to the above permit requirement includes any person 15 years of age or younger provided either 1) s/he is in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult hunter (must possess a Conservation Order Permit) who is 18 years of age or older and has in his/her possession a valid hunter education certificate card, or was born before Jan. 1, 1967 or 2) s/he possesses a valid hunter education certificate card.  Any other regulation notwithstanding, methods for the taking of blue, snow and Ross’s geese includes using shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, and with the use or aid of recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds. A daily bag limit will not be in effect during the Conservation Order.

ZONE DESCRIPTIONS:

NORTH ZONE:  That portion of Missouri north of a line running west from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west on Lincoln County Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 47; west on Mo. Hwy. 47 to I-70; west on I-70 to the Kansas border.

SOUTH ZONE:  That portion of Missouri south of a line running west from the Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. Hwy. 25 to U.S. Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; north on Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. Hwy. 60; west on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. Hwy. 72; west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy. 65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to U.S. Hwy. 71; south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to Jasper County Hwy. M; west on Jasper County Hwy. M to the Kansas border.

MIDDLE ZONE:  The remainder of Missouri.

NONTOXIC SHOT:  Shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for other species as designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Commission also approved clarifications to some sections of the Wildlife Code, made corrections to some conservation area names, and modified regulations for specific areas. Details will be published in the Missouri Register, sos.mo.gov/adrules/moreg/moreg.asp in November.

ADMINISTRATION

The Commission:

• Received staff presentations from:

Ø  Policy Supervisor David Thorne regarding Conservation Goals and Challenges.

Ø  Public Involvement Coordinator Amy Buechler regarding public input on conservation-area management plans

Ø  Wildlife Programs Supervisor Dennis Figg regarding Healthy Forests, Fish, and Wildlife: The Comprehensive Conservation Strategy.

• Approved the advertisement and sale of an estimated 1 million board feet of timber on 608 acres of Compartment 10 at Current River CA in Reynolds County.
• Accepted the donation of approximately .25 acres in Phelps County as an addition to Beaver Creek CA.
• Approved the purchase of 265 acres in Shannon County as an addition to Angeline Conservation Area (CA).

·        Suspended hunting, fishing, and/or trapping privileges of 29 Missouri residents and six nonresidents for Wildlife Code violations. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

Phillip Applegate Jr., Morrisville, hunting, 1 year

Leland E. Barnes, Warsaw, fishing, lifetime

Nickolay G. Biliychuk, Springfield, fishing, 2 years

Robert K. Cassinger, Ellington, hunting, an additional 2 years

Timothy J. Compas, Cape Girardeau, hunting and fishing, until April 8, 2015

David A. Davis, Climax Springs, fishing, 1 year

Wayne A. Dillon, Clinton, hunting and fishing, 1 year

Nickolay F. Fomin, Sedalia, fishing, 2 years

Billy D. Helm, Salisbury, commercial fishing, 1 year

Hinh V. Ho, Kansas City, all sport privileges, 1.5 years

Randy R. Howlett, Waynesville, hunting, 3 years

Leonid Khomichuk, Clifton Park, NY, fishing, 3 years

David A. Knox, Climax Springs, all sport privileges, 6 years

Kenneth I. Kobbe, Plattsburg, all sport privileges, 1 year

Vitaliy N. Konkin, Portland, Ore., fishing 6 years

Michael Krout, Warsaw, hunting, 2.5 years

Michael L. Matney, Dexter, hunting and trapping, 1 year

Mark Ognevchuk, Mora, fishing, 1 year

Jason R. Pearson, Caulfield, hunting, 1 year

David R. Pichinevsky, Houstonia, fishing, 2 years

Chad Porter, Jasper, hunting, 3 years

James W. Rogers, Climax Springs, fishing, 7 years

Vyacheslav Rotar, Springfield, fishing, 1 year

Larry E. Sharp, Climax Springs, hunting, 1.5 years

Peter Sharpelyuk, Chariton, Iowa, fishing, 3 years

Phillip J. Shepard, Filmore, hunting, 1 year

Shelby P. Snedegar, Deepwater, all sport privileges, 1 year

Michael R. Steele, Fairview, hunting, an additional 6 months

Leonid Taylor, West Dundee, Ill., fishing, 3 years

Vladimir Tsipan, Green Ridge, fishing, 1 year

Leonid Tsurkan, Sedalia, fishing, 1 year

Sergey Vedernikov, Rogersville, fishing, 1 year

Vladimir P. Voytukhov, North Port, Fla., fishing 3 years

Randy E. Yates, Wayland, hunting, 3 years

Veniamin Zubkov, Woodborn, Ore., fishing, 3 years

• Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 259 people who are not in compliance with applicable child-support laws. Privileges suspended for noncompliance are reinstated once the Division of Child Support Enforcement notifies MDC that suspendees have come into compliance with the required laws.
• Suspended privileges of 247 people under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

·        Suspended the hunting privileges of three people who injured other persons in hunting incidents. The hunters must complete a hunter-education training course before restoration of privileges.

·        Set its next regular meeting for Oct. 3 and 4.