Jan. 26 MDC program to focus on rabbit hunting

 

Participants will have a chance to take part in a rabbit hunt at the Bois D'Arc Conservation Area.

ASH GROVE, Mo. – Rabbit hunting doesn’t get as much hype as some of Missouri’s other hunting events, but it’s a season that’s special to many Missourians.

People who would like to take up the sport of rabbit hunting can get helpful tips at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) program “Rabbit Hunting Basics” Jan. 26 at MDC’s Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education. This class will be taught from 6-7:30 p.m. and is for ages 11 and up. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/189449

Among the topics this free class will cover are regulations, safety, equipment, hunting techniques, and care and processing of harvested game. This portion of the program will be in the Dalton Range’s classroom, but participants will be invited to return later in the week to participate in a rabbit hunt at MDC’s Bois D’Arc Conservation Area, which surrounds the Andy Dalton Range. Participants ages 16-64 will need to be properly licensed to participate in the hunt. (Permit requirements will be covered in the Jan. 26 class.) Missouri’s rabbit season runs from Oct. 1-Feb. 15.

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate. Use the link above. MDC’s Andy Dalton Range and Outdoor Education Center is located at 4897 N. Greene County Farm Road 61. People can stay informed about upcoming programs at MDC’s Andy Dalton Range and Outdoor Education Center and other nearby 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.

Women: Celebrate nature and Valentine’s Day with MDC’s rabbit hunting clinic

PUXICO, Mo. – Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for Southeast Missouri women to relax and have fun hunting rabbits, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). MDC announces the annual Women’s Rabbit Hunting Clinic is scheduled for Feb. 14, beginning at 8 a.m., at Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA).

“This is a very hands-on course and is an environment where anyone can learn, even if they’ve never fired a gun before,” said Conservation Agent Mic Plunkett.

The clinic begins with an introduction to rabbit hunting, where the women learn rabbit species identification, hunting techniques, safety and regulations. They then learn how beagles assist in hunting rabbits before testing their shooting capabilities with expert instruction.

"We ensure each participant gets an opportunity to target shoot with one-on-one instruction before we take them to the field to hunt,” Plunkett said.

“This is an opportunity where someone who’s never hunted before, or had little opportunity to hunt, to get a hands on experience and really become comfortable with heading to the field to hunt,” Plunkett said.

After target practice and classroom instruction, the group is accompanied by guides while they try their hand at hunting rabbits. At the end of the day, there’s instruction on cleaning and cooking the harvest, before the new hunters share their stories around a dinner table.

Plunkett said those who sign up should come prepared for camaraderie, shared adventures and excitement.

"Every part of the clinic is designed to take someone through the whole experience step by step to ensure safety, a fun time and an understanding of why hunting is important,” Plunkett said.

“This rabbit hunting clinic is part of the Conservation Department’s mission to help people discover nature and improve their quality of life by spending time outdoors,” Plunkett said.

For more information and to sign up for the 2015 Women’s Rabbit Hunting Clinic, call the MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at (573) 290-5730. For more information about rabbit hunting in Missouri, go online to mdc.mo.gov.

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