MDC offers forest and wildlife management workshop in Portland, Sept. 11

 

MDC invites landowners and property managers
 to a free workshop on forest and wildlife
 management in Callaway County Sept. 11. Participants will
learn how to actively manage their own properties
for improved wildlife habitat, as well as ecological and economic value.
Registration is required by Sept. 8

Landowners and resource managers will learn integrated strategies to improve forests, habitat.

PORTLAND, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), in partnership with the Missouri Grouse Chapter of the Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF) will offer a forest and wildlife management workshop for landowners and natural resource managers in Callaway County on Sept. 11.

This workshop will give landowners and property managers a better understanding of forest and wildlife management on their own properties. Staff will present detailed information on topics including tick diseases, prescribed burning, invasive species management, timber harvest, stream management, tree pruning, MDC’s ruffed grouse translocation project, and other specific management practices.

This free workshop will take place 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, on private property in Callaway County. QUWF will provide lunch for all registered participants. Preregistration is required no later than Sept. 8 at mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178833.

To help ensure public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, MDC asks all participants to observe current, local guidelines regarding physical distancing and masking. MDC encourages participants to bring and wear face coverings when appropriate.

Active woodland management encourages healthy growth of valuable timber, and it creates more suitable habitat for a greater number and wider variety of wildlife species. Land management decisions can have long-lasting effects on Missouri’s conservation heritage and provide real returns to landowners and local communities for generations to come.

To learn more about this free workshop, contact MDC Private Lands Conservationist Jordon Beshears at 573-564-2262, ext. 110, or by email at Jordon.Beshears@mdc.mo.gov.

Missouri Outdoor Notes - July 26th, 2021

 

KC Canoe and Kayak classes on July 30th and 31st. Information and registration is HERE.

Virtual program on Shotguns thru Busch Shooting Range on August 3rd. Information and registration is HERE 

Live Shotgun Program as follow-up to August 3rd program thru Busch Shooting Range to be held on August 7th.  Info and registration is HERE

A few weeks ago, an MDC biologist rescued a peregrine falcon from the basement of a courthouse in Jackson.  Read the complete story here.

Stakeholders in the Cape Girardeau area have formed an organization called "Foothills Prescribed Burn Association." They look to improve habitat in the region by tapping into resources available to landowners, conservationists and others.  To read the full story or to get more information go HERE.

Missouri Outdoor Notes

Missouri anglers opinions are being solicited by the MDC. They'd love to have your input...or you could just complain later. (:-)  Follow this link... https://moconservation.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74GYIpjY5YYyDsO?Q_DL=P9uh6Mi3EZlaMUE_74GYIpjY5YYyDsO_CGC_bQMktHSUvv3DPL0&Q_CHL=email.  It took me less than 3 minutes.

If you want to learn more about public hunting areas in the Springfield area, consider attending this event on Julky 20th...get more info by following this link... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178561

If you get confused bout snake species and want to learn more, this event is also in the Springfield area on July 16th. This one is virtual, so anyone can attend... Follow the link here... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178546

Still in the Springfield area, there's a wingshooting clinic at the Andy Dalton Range on July 17th...Dove season isn't that far down the road!  Here's where to get more info... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178560

By the way...the Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting books are out. You can get them at retailers where you get licenses or online here... https://mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/fall-deer-turkey-hunting-regulations-information

Youth over on the East side of the state can get some good dove hunting at Columbia Bottoms for September 1st.  The link for more info is here... https://mdc.mo.gov/columbia-bottom-conservation-area-managed-dove-hunt-application

Another even over on the East side of Missouri is for people who want to develop food plots for wildlife. It'll be held August 3rd at Jay Henges Shooting range...info here... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178847

Learn to navigate via compass and map at a Warrenton Missouri event on July 30th.  Event details are here... https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178321

Another event in Warrenton will provide useful info on backpacking. It's to be held on July 30th as well and the info for it is at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178328

MDC offering help for those wanting to Use Native Plant Species

 I reckon a lot of folks don't think too much about the problems associated with invasive species...not the awesome benefits that you can get by instead using native species on your property.  Find out how you can make native species work for you through the MDC...

MDC offers free native plant garden workshop July 19 at Clinton

A monarch butterfly caterpillar munches 
on whorled milkweed plant in the new
pollinator garden at MDC’s Clinton Office.
 Photo by Kathy Hetherington, 
Missouri Department of Conservation

Learn how to make native wildflowers thrive in landscaping

Clinton, Mo. – Native wildflowers are blooming on the prairies and they can also brighten a home garden. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free workshop on gardening with natives from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Monday, July 19, at the MDC Clinton Office, 2010 S. Second St. The teaching spot will be the new native pollinator garden at the office.

“This program will showcase our new native garden for pollinators and teach folks about how to plan, plant, and maintain a garden using prairie wildflowers and grasses,” said Ginger Miller, MDC conservation educator.

MDC staff will offer tips on planning, planting, and maintaining a native garden bed. Participants are invited to work alongside staff working in the garden. Bug spray and hand tools will be provided, or visitors may bring their own. All those registered in advance will take home a packet of native seeds and knowledge about gardening with them.

This program is open to all ages. Registration is requested. Families or groups may be registered together. COVID-19 precautions will be followed. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZVh.

To learn more about native plant gardening, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZV7.

MDC offers free camping workshop June 16 near Parkville

Kansas City, Mo. – If you’ve never been camping, what gear to load in the car and where to camp can seem daunting, especially for families. But the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) can help anyone learn the basic gear and tips that can make camping successful and fun for all ages. MDC’s Parma Woods Shooting Range near Parkville will host a free Camping 101 workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16.

Load a vehicle with gear and food, head to a campground, and you’ll find yourself outdoors in nature _  but in a managed way. Campgrounds are usually mowed with level sites for tents or recreational vehicles. Many offer restrooms and showers. Some offer electricity and fresh water at campsites. Others simply provide a shady place away from hubbub to set up a tent. Either way, it’s usually a short walk from the vehicle to the campsite, which makes carrying gear and setup easier. MDC staff will discuss what gear is needed and tips for activities and staying comfortable while camping.

Backpacking is a challenging but doable type of camping in the wilds and off the beaten path. MDC staff will cover this outdoor adventure, too. If you can carry a lightweight tent, sleeping bag, food, water, and a few other necessities on your back you can backpack camp. MDC staff will provide information on how individuals and families can enjoy a hike topped by a sleepover in the woods.

The Camping 101 workshop is open to all ages. Children should be accompanied by adults. Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZHg. MDC’s Parma Woods Shooting Range offers outdoor skills classes. For more information about the range, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZHM.

MDC invites public to free June 8 canoe and kayak clinics

Two sessions will be held at Kellogg Lake in Carthage.

CARTHAGE, Mo. – Whether you enjoy fishing area streams or you like to relax by spending a day paddling a local waterway, kayaks and canoes are great ways to connect with the outdoors.

People can learn more about these popular watercrafts at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) clinic “Introduction to Canoe and Kayak” on June 8 Kellogg Lake in Carthage. This program is for ages 7 and up and will be taught at two time slots:

People who want to sign up for the 5:30-6:30 p.m. program can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/177580

The same program will be offered again from 7-8 p.m. and people can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/177585

Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets will be provided. This program is designed for novice canoe and kayak users and will focus on the basics of operating these watercrafts. Discussion topics will include the basic equipment and techniques people need to know to float Missouri streams and lakes safely.

The entrance to Kellogg Lake is located at the intersection of Highway 96 and Jasper County Highway V (also known as Old 66 Boulevard). People should dress for the weather and wear shoes and other clothing items that can get wet.

People wanting more information about this event can contact MDC Conservation Educator Andy Rhodes at 417-629-3243 or by e-mailing Andrew.Rhodes@mdc.mo.gov.

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.

MDC offers a number of hunter education opportunities in upcoming months

 

Individuals needing hunter education have classroom and online options.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The calendar may still say “summer,” but many people are starting to prepare for this fall’s hunting seasons. If taking hunter education is one of the things you need to do to enjoy firearms hunting opportunities this year, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has several options available

Individuals born after Jan. 1, 1967 hunting in Missouri during a firearms season or acting as an adult mentor to another hunter must have hunter education certification unless exempt (see exemptions listed below). MDC offers two hunter education options; an all-online format and a blended format.

The all-online format is an option that may be completed by Missouri residents age 16 and older. It consists of an online course and requires a fee paid to the online course provider (not MDC). The all-online option requires the passing of a final exam, but has no skills portion.

The blended format is an option for students of all ages and has two parts. The knowledge portion provides information to participants on all aspects of hunter education and can be taken online, through a free self-study guide, or in a classroom setting. Participants must also complete a four-hour skills session that includes a multiple-choice final exam. The skills portion is a hands-on demonstration of skills learned by participants. Participants must complete and pass both portions to earn certification.

For individuals participating in the blended format, here is a list of skills sessions coming up in southeast Missouri:

• Aug. 15 – Marble Hill United Methodist Church, 300 Missouri Highway 34 (Bollinger County)
• Aug. 22 – Bloomfield Assembly Church, 20034 Missouri Highway E (Stoddard County)
• Aug. 22 – Ste. Genevieve VFW, 852 Memorial Drive (Ste. Genevieve County)
• Aug. 28, Elm Street Baptist Church, 2668 North Highway 105, Charleston (Mississippi County)
• Aug. 31 – Poplar Bluff Junior High School, 550 N. Westwood Blvd. (Butler County)
• Sept. 8 – Black River Electric, 2600 U.S. Highway 67, Fredericktown (Madison County)
• Sept. 11 – Arcadia Valley R-11 School, 750 W. Park, Ironton (Iron County)
• Sept. 19 – Scott City First Assembly of God Church, 312 Dearborn St. (Scott County)
• Sept. 24 – Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center Pavilion, Wappapello Lake, 10276 Missouri Highway T (Wayne County)
• Sept. 25 – Perryville Elks Lodge, 921 N. Perryville Blvd. (Perry County)
• Sept. 26 – MDC Ellington Office, 2929 Reynolds County Road 618 (Reynolds County)
• Oct. 2 – Rice Lecture Hall, Mineral Area College, 5270 Flat River Road, Park Hills (St. Francois County)
• Oct. 3 – New Madrid Baptist Church, 1420 Scott St. (New Madrid County)
• Oct. 10 – Malden High School, 505 W. Burkhart St. (Dunklin County)

• Oct. 10 – MDC Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, 2289 County Park Drive (Cape Girardeau County)
• Oct. 24 – Diane Sayre Recreation Center, 1500 S. Truman Blvd. Caruthersville (Pemiscot County)

To register for one of these skills session or to learn more about Missouri's hunter education options and requirements, visit mdc.mo.gov/huntereducation.

To help keep participants, instructors, and others safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MDC will limit in-person class sizes to small numbers so social distancing can be practiced. Class availability will also be limited due to smaller class sizes and limited availability of venues. MDC will abide by applicable local health requirements and strongly encourages participants to bring and wear masks. Hand sanitizer will be available to participants, but masks will not be provided by at the above-listed classes.

“To help staff, volunteers, program participants, and others stay safe, MDC has changed the format and structure of some of our programs, including hunter education,” said MDC Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator Justin McGuire. “Opportunities to attend an in-person hunter education class or skills session are available, but limited, at this time. MDC still offers ample opportunities for people to legally hunt in Missouri through youth exemptions, our apprentice hunter education authorization, and online hunter education.”

Exemptions to Missouri’s hunter education requirements are:

• Hunters born before Jan. 1, 1967
• Hunters age 15 or younger who will be hunting with an adult mentor age 18 years or    older who is certified in hunter education.
• Hunters with a disability exemption from MDC
• Hunters age 16 or older who have purchased an apprentice hunter authorization and will be hunting with a properly permitted adult mentor age 18 or older
• Hunters who are landowners hunting on land they own.
• Hunters who can prove completion of an approved hunter education course in another state

More information about hunter education opportunities in southeast Missouri can be obtained by calling MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at 573-290-5730 or going to mdc.mo.gov.