Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site hosts Dutch oven cooking for beginners March 30

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 15, 2019 – Ever wonder how settlers got fresh bread as they moved across Missouri? Or how Civil War soldiers prepared their dinner, if they were lucky enough to have something to eat? Dutch ovens are one of the most historic versatile cooking pots available and can be a valuable addition to your outdoor experience. Come to Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site March 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and staff will teach and demonstrate the basics of Dutch oven cooking.

If you have your own Dutch oven but don't know how to use it, bring it along and staff will help you cook in it. If you would like to learn the basics on how to choose an oven, and how to prep and clean an oven, this class is for you. If you do not have an oven, and we will have a few for you to try out.

Call the park staff to sign up and get the list of supplies you will need to bring if you are going to try cooking. Spend the day with us learning about this historic cooking pot and how to use it today, make some good memories and sample hot pie cooked outdoors.

Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic site is located in southeast Missouri at 118 E. Maple St., Pilot Knob. For more information about the event, call the site at 573-546-3454.

For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the web at mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

MDC reports November firearms deer harvest ends with 199,427 mdc news release MDC reports November firearms deer harvest ends with 199,427

Top counties: Franklin with 4,021 deer checked, Howell with 3,858, and Callaway with 3,695.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested a near-record 199,427 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 10- 20. Of the 199,427 deer harvested, 102,930 were antlered bucks, 19,924 were button bucks, and 76,573 were does.

Top harvest counties were Franklin with 4,021 deer checked, Howell with 3,858, and Callaway with 3,695.

Last year hunters checked 192,797 deer during the 2017 November portion of firearms deer season with 100,161 being antlered bucks, 20,267 being button bucks, and 72,369 being does.

The recent-record season was 2012 with 204,668 deer harvested, including 87,368 antlered bucks, 27,143 button bucks, and 90,157 does.

For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at on.mo.gov/1jjz7Ew. For harvest summaries from past years, visit on.mo.gov/2fyMaBN.

MDC reported eight firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of firearms deer season of which three involved fatalities -- two of which occurred incidental to hunting while at hunting camps and one self-inflicted incident while in the field. Of the five non-fatal incidents, four were self-inflicted and the fifth occurred when the shooter struck a victim while swinging on game.

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting from Nov. 21 through Jan. 15, 2019. The late youth portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 23-25. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. Lastly, the alternative methods portion will run Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2019. Learn more about deer hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians’ lives and family traditions. Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies.

MDC offers women’s basic handgun workshops near Hartsburg

Preregister today to attend this free program on Dec. 13.

HARTSBURG, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites women to attend a free workshop near Hartsburg on the basics of handguns and shooting.

The class will take place 6–8 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Ammo Alley, LLC, 11562 Callaway County Road 395, south and east of the Highway 63 bridge over Cedar Creek.

Women will learn handgun parts and operation, ammunition, handgun safety, and shooting fundamentals. Participants will receive classroom training and one-on-one shooting instruction in a climate-controlled indoor shooting range.

MDC offers this workshop and classroom instruction free of charge.  However, Ammo Alley requires a $10 range fee from each participant, to be paid directly to Ammo Alley.

MDC will provide handguns and ammunition. Participants are welcome to bring their own, unloaded, cased handguns to the class, but will be required to provide their own new, factory ammunition (no reloads).

Women ages 14 years and older are invited to register for this workshop, however, participants younger than 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who also registers for the workshop.

“Women are the fastest-growing group of gun owners in the U.S.,” said MDC Outdoor Skills Specialist Justin McGuire. “This workshop is designed to help women become more comfortable with handguns and improve their shooting abilities.”

Space is limited to the first 16 registrants. Register for this workshop by visiting mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/163184.

For more information, contact McGuire at 573-815-7901, ext. 2866, or Justin.McGuire@mdc.mo.gov

Still time to take MDC hunter education

MDC offers hunter education year-round online, through self-study, and in the classroom.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – While firearms deer hunting is coming to an end, waterfowl, rabbit, squirrel, furbearer, quail, and other hunting seasons continue into the new year. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds those pursuing game with firearms that hunter education is required for most hunters. MDC offers hunter-education classes year-around online, through a self-study option, and in the classroom.

Missouri's hunter-education course is required for any hunter born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, who uses a firearm while hunting, unless exempt. Anyone 11 or older is eligible to take the course and exam. Hunters who have completed an approved hunter-education course in another state are not required to take Missouri’s hunter-education course.

“MDC’s hunter-education program provides a foundation in hunting safety and ethics,” said MDC Outreach and Education Unit Chief Kyle Lairmore, who coordinates the program. “It instills responsibility, improves skills and knowledge, and encourages interaction between beginner and veteran hunters. In fact, hunter education has reduced hunting incidents and deaths in Missouri by more than 70 percent since it became mandatory in 1987.”

Hunter education covers: hunter responsibility and ethics, how firearms work and firearm safety, wildlife identification, game care, survival, first-aid skills, firearm-handling skills and hunting techniques, awareness about wildlife conservation and management, and rules and information unique to Missouri.

“Nearly 24,000 new hunters have taken hunter education so far in 2018, including about 11,400 taking the all-online course,” Lairmore added. “We’re also seeing a pretty even split among male and female participants with most participants being ages 16 to 35, which are the younger hunters we are trying to reach.”

Hunter Education Options
MDC offers two options to complete hunter education. The “blended format” is for all ages and includes a knowledge session that must be completed online, in the classroom, or through a self-study guide followed by a skills session and final exam. MDC’s “all-online” option is for Missouri residents 16 years of age and older. They can complete the entire program online through coursework and a final exam without having to take the skills session.

For more information on MDC hunter education, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/hunter-education-skills-training.

Bowhunter Education Too!
MDC also offers voluntary bowhunter education in the classroom and online. While classroom offerings are limited, the online offering can be taken any time through a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. It includes live‐action, high-def videos complemented by a comprehensive instruction booklet. Participants must be at least 16 years old and a Missouri resident to take the online course. There is a $30 fee.

Watkins Woolen Mill hosts Christmas on the Farm Dec. 1

Come join Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site staff as they host Christmas on the Farm from 2 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1. Visit with costumed interpreters as you stroll along lantern lit paths to the Watkins’ family home where you will be greeted with the smell of hot apple cider and wassail and the sound of Christmas carols.

Enjoy free samples of traditional treats, the flaming of the plum pudding, reading of family letters and a visit with Father Christmas. Activities at the visitor center will include crafts for the kids and live holiday music. The event is free.

Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and Historic Site is located at 26600 Park Road North in Lawson, north of Kansas City. For more information about the event, call the visitor center at 816-580-3387.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Day with Ducks & Decoys - Runge Nature Center

Take a closer look at the ducks and geese that call Missouri home through activities and displays. Visit with members of the Missouri Duck Decoy Collectors group as they bring a variety of decoys from the last century and discuss the materials, artistry, creativity, skill and ingenuity that went into making duck decoys.

Saturday, November 17 from 10am-2pm

Runge Nature Center
573-526-5544 

Runge@mdc.mo.gov

The Opportunities abound for Missouri Trout Fishermen

Current River at Baptist Camp

I used to go round and round on one of the old Google Groups that was focused on fly fishing about how good Missouri trout fishing was and is.  Some of them acknowledged that you could catch a lot of fish, but because many of them were hatchery fish, or at least not native, they were somehow unworthy.  I do not agree, and continue to be excited by the opportunities that await for myself, but also trout fishermen of all types.

In this post, I am just giving some basic details on the options - at the end of the article, you will find a link to an in depth article written by us on the vast majority of options available to you.

Trout Parks
You almost have to start here, because this is where the majority of Missouri trout fishermen get started and likely do the most fishing.  The parks are spread out west to east, but because the spring fed waters that produce water cool enough for trout is located in the Ozarks, the trout parks are all south of the Missouri River.

These parks offer easy fishing of a wide variety of methods - bait, spin, fly, bank, wading, sitting in a folding chair... They all have stores where you can purchase most of the gear you need as well as receive advice.  A little research on the internet will assist you greatly.

Rivers
The Current, Eleven Point, North Fork of the White, and Meramec are a few of the rivers in Missouri that offer outstanding fishing.  A lot of these waters are blue ribbon (fish must be 18" to keep), but you will not really be fishing them for the numbers of fish.  They are beautiful, and solitude can be yours here.

Small Streams
There are a bunch of small streams like Little Piney, Capps, Crane, Blue Springs, etc., that offer great solitude, unique opportunities for special breeds of fish, but like the rivers, they arenot going to fill your freezer with fish...

Finally, the MDC stocks many waters around Missouri for winter trout fishing in local lakes.  This can be a lot of fun, and since the fish will not survive through the summer anyhow, there is certainly no downside in limiting out any chance you get.

If you'd like to get started, or learn some new places to go, check out Missouri Trout Fishing.