“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.