Missouri NWTF names MDC Agent Killian as Wildlife Officer of the Year

Written by Candice Davis, MDC

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) chose Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Ripley County Conservation Agent Darren Killian as Wildlife Officer of the Year for Missouri. Killian was presented the award on Feb. 16 at the NWTF’s national convention in Nashville, Tenn.

MDC Agent Darren Killian is congratulated
by NWTF Regional Director Larry Neal
on being named Missouri Wildlife Officer of the Year.

MDC Protection Regional Supervisor Gary Cravens, who is Killian’s supervisor, said Killian is known for making unique and quality wildlife arrests.

“Darren continually strives to improve the professionalism of wildlife law enforcement and has done a tremendous job in maintaining a well-rounded conservation agent program. He covers all aspects of assigned duties and he always places a strong emphasis on wild turkey regulation enforcement,” Cravens said.

Killian is in his thirteenth year as a conservation agent in Ripley County. He is consistently one of the top agents in the region for cases related to illegal turkey hunting, according to Cravens. During his tenure, he has cited more than 65 individuals for hunting turkeys during the closed season.

Killian is also involved with the NWTF JAKES program and the Kiwanis Club. He contributes to a monthly radio program and he plays an active role with the feral hog eradication project in Ripley County.

One of Killian’s other great characteristics is his ability to relate and work well with children, Cravens said. He enjoys training and teaching children about the outdoors. This year he gave presentations on gun safety at two JAKES events, helped instruct the clay bird shoot, and served as a judge in the youth turkey calling competition.

“Killian is one of our most respected officers in the Ozark Region with his approach and creativity in enforcement,” Cravens said. “Conservation agents look to him for guidance because of his effectiveness in building difficult cases. He conveys a humble attitude and is a shining example for all Department of Conservation employees.”

A Sikeston native, Killian earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Southeast Missouri State University prior to his training at the Conservation Agent Academy.

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Bowhunters of Missouri choose Henry as Agent of the Year

Written by Candice Davis, MDC

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Douglas County Conservation Agent Mark Henry has received the prestigious United Bowhunters of Missouri Agent of the Year Award for 2012. Henry was presented the award at the recent United Missouri Bowhunters banquet held in Jefferson City.

Henry’s supervisor, Protection Regional Supervisor Gary Cravens, said Agent Henry is known for making unique and quality wildlife arrests.

This year he took advantage of the Telecheck system, had excellent public cooperation, and utilized Operation Game Thief to assist in investigating possible archery violations, Cravens said.

MDC Douglas County Conservation Agent Mark Henry
received the prestigious United Bowhunters
 of Missouri Agent of the Year Award for 2012.

“Without a doubt, he had an outstanding archery season with many exceptional wildlife violation cases,” Cravens said.

Henry is an avid archery hunter and enjoys sharing his archery knowledge with the public. Henry was a pivotal member in the formation of the city of Ava’s first Mother/Son Outdoor Adventure event. He helped organize the seventh annual National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes event in Douglas County with an emphasis on a youth archery station. He assisted Ava school administration in setting up the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MONASP) at the Ava Middle School. He worked at the popular “Hootin’ and Hollerin” archery event in Ozark County, and conducted archery programs for events that reached those who might not otherwise be introduced to the sport of archery. Henry spent valuable hours this year in his local schools teaching youth the importance of firearms and archery techniques and safety, Cravens said.

According to Cravens, Henry’s resourceful law enforcement and effective balance of program responsibilities contributed to his selection of this honor. “Henry has developed a tremendous wildlife law enforcement and public relations program in Douglas County,” Cravens said. “He represents the MDC and his division well.”

Agent Henry’s home town is Fordland, Mo. He earned a degree in Animal Science from College of the Ozarks and joined the Department of Conservation in 2002. He held jobs with Wildlife and Forestry Divisions prior to being accepted into the conservation agent training class in 2005. After six months of intensive training, Henry was assigned to Douglas County.

For more information about conservation agent jobs in Missouri, go online to mdc.mo.gov.

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2013 hunting, trapping, fishing regulation booklets available from MDC

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) 2013 Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations and 2013 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulationsbooklets are now available. The booklets contain related regulation information in an easy-to-read format, including regulation changes and other new information for the year ahead.  Booklet content becomes effective March 1.  

“Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish, and abiding by the regulations of theWildlife Code of Missouri is important to keep it that way by sustaining healthy forests, fish and wildlife,” says MDC Protection Division Chief Larry Yamnitz.  “These handy regulation summary booklets are great resources for hunters, trappers and anglers.”

Get copies of the booklets where permits are sold, at MDC offices throughout the state, and online. The online link to the hunting and trapping regulations booklets is mdc.mo.gov/node/11416. The online link to the fishing regulations booklet is mdc.mo.gov/node/11414.

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Grant applications are available for outdoor recreation projects

 Applications are available for the federally funded Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to assist in financing outdoor recreation projects. All local governments and public school districts are eligible for the federal LWCF funds, which are made available through the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service. Projects can be for the development or renovation of outdoor recreational facilities, or for acquisition of park land. A 55 percent match is required.

Applications must be postmarked by April 22, 2013. An estimated $600,000 is expected to be awarded in the fiscal year 2013 cycle.

In Missouri, the Department of Natural Resources administers the LWCF grant program. The application is available on the department’s web page at www.mostateparks.com/page/55065/outdoor-recreation-grants or by writing to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks, Grants Management Section, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Black River produces record fish

The Missouri Department of Conservation has

two ways to recognize anglers who catch big fish.

Courtesy MDC

POPLAR BLUFF – Brian Taylor, Poplar Bluff, took a 1-pound, 14-ounce gizzard shad from the Black River on Jan. 9 to set the first Missouri state fishing record of 2013.

Taylor gigged the 16-inch fish, earning a state record in the alternative-methods category. The previous record was a 1-pound, 8-ounce fish taken by Haden Crouch, Bradleyville, from Beaver Creek in 2011. The pole-and-line record belongs to Johnny Lee Ash, Windsor, for a 1-pound, 6-ounce gizzard shad he caught below Truman Dam in 2001.

More information about Missouri fishing records is available at mdc.mo.gov/node/2476.

Anglers who catch unusually large fish but fall short of records can get recognition through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Master Angler Award program. To qualify, fish must meet minimum weight or length requirements. For example, a gizzard shad must measure at least 13 inches or weigh at least 1 pound to qualify for a Master Angler Award. For more information about the Master Angler program, visitmdc.mo.gov/node/6039.

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Volunteers Sought To Work On Mark Twain National Forest Piney River Heritage Farm

ROLLA, Mo. -- Mark Twain National Forest is looking for eight volunteers to test and stabilize Piney Ridge Heritage Farm April 22-26, 2013.The farm is 9 miles from Roby or 27 miles from Houston, Missouri. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old; under 18 years with a responsible adult and must commit to working all five days. Application deadline is Monday, February 25, 2013 athttp://www.passportintime.com.

Piney River Heritage Farm offers a rare glimpse of early farm life in Missouri's Ozark Mountains. The farm was established in the mid-19th century and was in operation until shortly before 1980, when the property was acquired by USDA Forest Service.

Working with Missouri Barn Alliance and Rural Network (MoBARN), volunteers will work with Mark Twain National Forest staff to work toward stabilizing several of the farm’s remaining structures. Volunteers will also be building and repairing fences, clearing vegetation and debris, and chipping in with whatever is required for the historic structures.

“Additionally, the historic site warrants further archaeological study, so in tandem with preservation efforts, we'll do systematic shovel testing of the property, and we'll create an accurate, scaled, and up-to-date site map,” said Mark Twain National Forest Heritage Program Manager Kerri Hicks. “This is an important project and one that promises to be fun and rewarding. We hope to see you on the Mark Twain this spring!”

Previous construction, carpentry, historic structure stabilization, archaeological survey, mapping, and/or sketching experience helpful, but not required.

Tent and RV camping available at no charge on site or at nearby Paddy Creek Recreation Area campground; vault toilets and solar shower, no potable water, no hookups. One additional RV pad available at no charge at nearby Roby Complex site; full hook-ups, first come, first served.

Licking and Houston are full-service communities with motels, restaurants, and a range of other amenities. Volunteers are responsible for personal camping equipment/lodging, meals, water, and transportation.

For more information, contact Keri Hicks at khicks@fs.fed.us or call 573-341-7442.

Mark Twain National Forest is the largest public land manager in Missouri with 1.5 million acres in 29 counties in southern and central Missouri. Mark Twain National Forest’s mission is to continue to restore Missouri’s great outdoors and maintain a healthy, working forest.

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Conservation Action February 2013

The Conservation Commission met Feb. 7 at the Lake City Outdoor Education Center and Shooting Range, 28505 East Truman Road, Buckner, and on Feb. 8 at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City. Commissioners present were:

Don C. Bedell, Sikeston, Chair

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

Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass, Secretary

Don R. Johnson, Festus, Member

The Commission:

• Received presentations from:

Ø  Forestry Division Chief Lisa Allen regarding forest and woodland management on conservation areas (CAs)

Ø  Chief Financial Officer Margie Mueller regarding Fiscal Year 2013 mid-year review of revenue and expenditure trends

Ø  Design and Development Division Chief Jacob Careaga regarding major construction projects

Ø  Information Technology Services Chief Douglas Fees regarding major information technology projects

Ø  Federal Aid Coordinator Doyle Brown regarding federal aid in wildlife and sport fish restoration programs

• Approved entering into a contract with Martin General Contractors, LLC, Eolia, for the construction of the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery Drum Filters for Brown Trout Complex project in Taney County at a total estimated cost of $373,700.  Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration Program funds will be used to cover 75% of the total project cost.
• Approved entering into a contract with Tandem Paving Company, Inc., Blue Springs, for the construction of the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area Road System Renovation project in Jackson County at a total estimated cost of $652,045.70
• Approved exchanging a 23-acre tract and a 40-acre tract of the Clearwater Conservation Area in Reynolds County for an 80-acre tract in Wayne County as an addition to the Riverside CA
• Voted to encourage the Regulations Committee to continue exploring options for an elk-hunting season
• Suspended hunting, fishing, and/or trapping privileges of three Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of three Missouri residents. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

Jonathan M. Bassnett, Sedalia, fishing privileges, 3 years

Grady W. Bentley, Bakersfield, hunting privileges, until Dec. 11, 2013

Austin Lamb, Bakersfield, hunting privileges, until Dec. 11, 2013

Eldon E. Luckey, Frohna, all sport privileges, lifetime

Danny R. Tankersley, Dexter, hunting privileges, until Oct. 5, 2013

Raymond L. Treon, Brunswick, all sport privileges, 1 year

• Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 404 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 285 people under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

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