Acoustic musical artist John Nilsen to perform at Runge Conservation Nature Center June 23

MDC invites public to free concert, photo exhibit in Jefferson City.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – There are different paths to discovering nature, and music and photography are two of the most popular.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will welcome popular northwest musical artist John Nilsen to a live performance at its Runge Conservation Nature Center Thursday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m.The concert is free and open to the general public.  Nilsen, a noted pianist and acoustic musician, comes from Portland, Ore. He is one of the largest-selling musical artists in the Northwestern U.S. 

For this multi-media engagement, Nilsen will compliment his music with the spectacular nature, landscape, and wildlife images of MDC Photographer Noppadol Paothong.  Paothong’s photography can be seen regularly in MDC’s Missouri Conservationist Magazine, as well as many other MDC publications.

According to Nilsen, “As a performer, I like exploring beyond the boundaries of my recorded songs. It gives me the chance to offer something special, spontaneous and personal to my audience.  The entire performance hinges on the connection not only between the players, but with the audience as well.”

Nilsen began studying classical piano at age 6. Since then, his music has touched the lives of millions of listeners through his CDs, radio, concerts, and his record label, Magic Wing. Nilsen gains inspiration for some of his music through the beauty of nature.

Based out of Oregon, Nilsen is a sought-after performer throughout the U.S.  He has performed in all 50 states and toured the United Kingdom as well. 

Notable releases by Nilsen during his nearly three-decade career include his first solo piano album, Places I Go, and the folk rock CD, John Nilsen and Swimfish—both on his own Magic Wing label.  His latest release, Local Ocean, will be out this summer.  More details on Nilsen’s work can be found atjohnnilsen.com. 

“Nature is defined not only through science but through music and the arts,” said Kathy Cavender, manager of Runge Conservation Nature Center. “John Nilsen brings nature to life through his music.  He shares his love of nature through stories and songs that cut to the very essence of our connection to nature.”

Attendance for the concert is free and open to all 12 years and older. No registration is required. For more information, contact the Runge Conservation Nature Center at 573-526-5544.

Fishing Missouri Conservation Areas

Missouri conservation areas offer some of the best fishing in the state as well as access to good fishing.  Many people think of conservation areas as great places to hunt, which is true enough and a subject of our next blogs on CA's, but it is just an incomplete picture.

When I think about the conservation areas near to where we live in Warren County, two of the three offer some pretty darn good fishing, and it seems that this feature is often overlooked.  So, with a very little bit of research, you might find some outstanding opportunities you'd not considered.

A lake in Busch Memorial
Conservation Area

One conservation area that does get a ton of use in the STL region, is Busch Memorial Conservation Area.  I love this area because there is a little something there for anyone.  There is a ton of panfishing that can be fast and furious which is awesome for initiating kids into fishing.  During the winter, some of the lakes are stocked with trout.  There are so many species that can be caught out at Busch you could probably catch a different gamefish species everyday for a whole month. You can even rent fishing equipment and a small boat to go out on one of the dozens of lakes/ponds in the area.

It's pretty likely that if you are an avid Missouri fisherperson, you have looked up fishing on various bodies of water around the state and researched how to fish them.  That is awesome, and I do the same thing.

First results of web search for Hariison County, Missouri Fishing.  

But if you want to find some new places, try searching for fishing options in a geographical area, and almost certainly conservation areas will be featured prominently.  As a case-in-point, I searched for fishing in a county where I have probably done some deer hunting, but for sure had never fished.  The top two results are in the graphic to the left.

So when you get the results, for conservation areas (which are not always labeled as conservation areas...like Harrison Lake), often, there will be a "Fishing Reports" page for one or more of the areas in the county, and there will be pages for each of the conservation areas.  Both are helpful.

List of fish species available in area from MDC site.
Note also the camping and canoeing listing.

The individual conservation area pages list species and activities available in that CA (see right).  You can decide, based on what is there, whether or not you want to fish the area. You can also decide what gear and tackle to bring with you.  Many of these fishing spots - not all - are hidden gems that do not get much attention.  That is a good thing to know for a fisherman looking for a new spot. In most, if not all, Missouri counties, you will be able to locate such gems.

Sometimes, a conservation area is just an access to a body of water, such as river access points.  Often these are places to launch a boat or canoe, but they also can make very good fishing spots.  Rivers like the Missouri and Osage, just to name a couple, are dotted with MDC access.

There certainly are MDC areas that are without fishing opportunities, or where they are limited, so do your research before going. But if you are looking for someplace to fish, or just somewhere new, give MDC conservation areas a try. You will be glad you did!

NEXT IN SERIES ON HUNTING MISSOURI CONSERVATION AREAS ON 6/17/2016

Related articles

• MDC offers free Discover Nature - Fishing programs
• South Dakota GFP Commission Proposes Deer Hunting Season Changes
• New Great Missouri Birding Trail website takes flight
• MDC joins birding enthusiasts at Wings Over Weston
• Florida ranchers keep adding acres to conservation easements

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.

Related articles

• MDC offers private landowners payment for public use of land
• Video: Goliath Heron Swallows a Big Catfish Whole!

MDC searches for vehicle in elk poaching case

A reward of nearly $4,500 is offered for information in elk poaching case.

SHANNON COUNTY, Mo. – Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) agents would like to speak to the driver of a 2007-12 dark gray four-door GM pickup, reported by an anonymous tip to have been at Log Yard Access along the Current River between 8:30 and 9 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2015.  Anyone who was at the Log Yard Access area any time that evening may have seen the vehicle and know the driver or perhaps saw or heard something that could be helpful to the investigation. Conservation agents would also like to hear from the driver of the vehicle, for the same reasons.

In the late winter of 2012, a yearling bull elk was captured in eastern Kentucky.  In late spring of that same year, that young bull was relocated some six hundred miles to Peck Ranch in Missouri and given Elk Identification Number 260 in Missouri’s elk restoration program.  Over the next three years the young bull grew into a magnificent example of what all people envision when they think of a mature bull elk.  In the evening of Dec. 28, 2015 near Log Yard Access on the Current River, this bull’s life was taken by a poacher’s gun, his fully‑developed antlers were taken by the poacher’s chainsaw, and his carcass was left to rot by the poacher.

That same night, the Current River was flooding to near historic levels.  River gauge levels show that between 6 p.m. and midnight it rose from about 24 feet to 28 feet and then crested around 3 a.m. on Dec. 29 at about 29 feet.  Shannon County Highway HH, which leads to the Log Yard area, was closed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) from 8 a.m. on Dec. 28 until late in the day Dec. 29, due to flooding of Carr Creek. Still, many people who wanted to see the river during this flood event took another route in to Log Yard. Any one of these people may have information that could help in the investigation of the poaching of Elk 260.

Elk 260 made a long and difficult journey from eastern Kentucky to Missouri, then flourished for three years and became a mature bull elk. It likely contributed a few calves to Missouri’s growing elk population. It also may have given many people their first opportunity and pleasure to see an elk in the wild.  A poacher’s actions, for nothing more than Elk 260’s antlers, stopped both contributions. 

Anyone with information about the 2007-12 dark gray four-door GM pickup, or anything else regarding the poaching of Elk 260, please call Conservation Agent Brad Hadley at (573)230-3706 or call the Operation Game Thief (OGT) hotline at (800)392-1111. The OGT hotline is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A reward from Operation Game Thief and the Conservation Federation of Missouri currently stands at $4,445.00.

Related articles

• MDC joins birding enthusiasts at Wings Over Weston
• ZimParks rangers kill 2 poachers
• Turn in a Poacher, Get a Free Tag? Not for One Utah Man

Emerald Ash Borer advances across more Missouri Counties

Emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations have been detected for the first time in 12 Missouri counties this spring. In southeastern Missouri, EAB was detected in Carter, Dent, Iron, Phelps, Ripley, Shannon, Stoddard, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, and Texas counties. The addition of those counties to previously known infestations results in a contiguous block of 18 EAB positive counties in that part of the state. 

EAB was also detected for the first time this spring in Clinton and Ray counties, adding to the four other Missouri counties and five Kansas counties with EAB infestations in the vicinity of Kansas City and St. Joseph. Other infestations are present in the St. Louis and Hannibal areas. A total of 27 counties are now known to have EAB infestations across Missouri.

The big jump in number of EAB detections this year is largely due to an increased effort by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) visually surveying for infestations in southeast Missouri. The USDA and Missouri Department of Agriculture are also monitoring EAB traps in many counties throughout the state to detect additional infestations.

EAB populations can expand slowly on their own to new areas, but the primary way that EAB spreads quickly is by movement of firewood. As the number of EAB infestations increases, the risk of EAB hitchhiking on firewood increases. To slow the spread of EAB and other invasive forest pests, don’t move firewood. Buy it near where you burn it!

You can prepare for EAB’s arrival by knowing the signs of an EAB infestation. Report EAB suspects if they’re in a new county where EAB has not yet been found. And start planning how you can manage EAB infestations when they arrive in your community. For more information see: eab.missouri.edu

Runge Conservation Nature Center encourages hometown discovery with Passport Jefferson City

Participating locations offer free activities and prizes.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – From now until Sept. 5, the Runge Conservation Nature Center will offer a new program, Passport Jefferson City. The free program is designed to encourage people to explore their hometown, including discovering new places around Jefferson City and the city’s rich history.

Participants complete tasks at participating local locations, earn small prizes and have their passport sheets stamped. Tasks consist of a tour, scavenger hunt or small activity. All activities are free and open to the public.

“Passport Jefferson City is a great avenue for discovering Missouri’s treasures right here in Jefferson City,” said Kathy Cavender, manager of Runge Conservation Nature Center.

Participating locations include Runge Conservation Nature Center, Highway Patrol Safety Education Center, Lincoln University Farmer’s Market, Missouri State Archives and other local organizations.

Participants who visit and receive stamps at all sites in the Passport Jefferson City program will be eligible to win one of three large gift baskets containing Jefferson City centered items. 

Participants can drop off completed sheets at their final passport location, or can mail them to Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau, 700 E Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101. 

The drawing winner for the basket will be announced in September.

Passport sheets are available at each participating location as well as online athttp://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZZk. 

To schedule tours of sites, contact the location directly using the information on the back of the Passport sheet. For questions about the program, contact Runge Conservation Nature Center at 573-526-5544.

Related articles

• MDC offers new Missouri Conservationist app
• MDC reminds public to not feed deer in CWD counties

Frog gigging clinic for youth in East Prairie

This free event welcomes ages seven to 17 to try their hand at frogging.

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. – Frog gigging, or frogging, is a great way to enjoy Missouri’s fish, forest and wildlife resources while also putting food on the table. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites families to discover nature at a frog gigging clinic 6:30 to 11 p.m.,Saturday, July 9, at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area (CA). The clinic is free and open to youth ages seven to 17 and their parent or adult mentor, but preregistration is required byJuly 6.

The event will begin with a classroom session on the basics of frog gigging safety, equipment, identification and regulations. Participants will learn how to clean their catch to take home and cook. Then, the giggers will put their knowledge to the test and go frogging with the help of MDC personnel.

“Catching frogs can be a fun and exciting activity for the whole family,” said Conservation Agent Andrew Mothershead.  “Frogging is a great way to introduce youth to the outdoors and wetland environments where bullfrogs and green frogs live.  Frog legs are an added bonus to a night out gigging or grabbing.”

Frogs are allowed to be harvested with either fishing or hunting permits, as long as the method matches the permit. With a fishing permit, frogs may be harvested by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throw line, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing or pole and line during frog season. With a hunting permit, frogs may be harvested using .22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle or pistol, pellet gun, bow, crossbow, atlatl or by hand or hand net.

This year’s frog season begins at sunset on June 30 and will continue through Oct. 31. Daily limit is eight bullfrogs or green frogs and 16 in possession. Children under the age of 16 and adults over 65 are not required to have a permit.

To register, or for more information, contact MDC’s Southeast Regional Office in Cape Girardeau at (573) 290-5730.

To get to Ten Mile Pond CA from East Prairie, take Highway 80 east, and then take gravel County Road 515 south five miles to the tee. At the tee, go left 300 yards to the area headquarters on the right.

Related articles

• MDC Cape Nature Center hosts Youth Pond Catfishing Clinic June 11