Hunting and Trapping Events at Busch Shooting Range

Event and Date	Location	Reserve by
Range Closed at 1:00pm Sat, Dec. 24, 2011	Busch Shooting Range	Sat, Dec. 24
Range Closed Sun, Dec. 25, 2011	Busch Shooting Range	Sun, Dec. 25
Discover Hunting: Rabbit Hunting Clinic Wed, Jan. 11, 2012	Busch Shooting Range	Mon, Jan. 9
Discover Hunting: Predator Hunting  Wed, Jan. 18, 2012	Busch Shooting Range	Mon, Jan. 16
Map & Compass Sat, Jan. 21, 2012	Busch Shooting Range	Wed, Jan. 18

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Great Time for Rabbit Hunting

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The Christmas Holidays are a great time for rabbit hunting.  For those that get a few days or more off around Christmas, getting out for a morning or evening excursion can be a great way to work off a few calories and spend time with family and friends.

One thing to keep in mind is that Missouri's muzzleloader deer season runs from December 17th through December 27th.  While pressure and activity in the field is nothing compared to the regular firearms season, it's vital to practice safety in the field, especially if hunting on public land.  It's always the right thing to do to wear blaze orange when rabbit hunting anyway, but a must when venturing out during muzzleloader season.

There are many great public areas to hunt rabbits in Missouri.  If you have beagles or some other rabbit dog, check and make certain the area you are in allows them.  For example, Bush Wildlife area has specials regs for hunting rabbits in general and especially with dogs.  Visit mdc.mo.gov for specifics.

If you want a heads up on locating some of the better rabbit hunting conservation areas, visit the page HUNTING RABBITS ON MISSOURI PUBLIC LANDS. There you'll find great basic information on what to look for in identifying rabbit habitat.  Also, there you will find a list of conservation areas with good rabbit hunting in each of Missouri's geographical regions.

Using this research, you should be able to find an area within a one county drive or so.  If you want to look for some other areas, visit the Missouri Public Land Hunting Page.  Towards the bottom, you will find a link to pages where conservation areas are listed by county.  Also, the availability of various species are identified.  You can quickly tell whether a given conservation area has good rabbit (as well as most other game species) hunting or not.  Also, the size of the area is given as well as a link to the MDC page for that area.  We feel it's an area that every Missouri Outdoosrman or Outdoorswoman should have bookmarked for regular use.

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Five students win MDC Endangered Species Postcard Contest

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More than 4,000 students participated with schools submitting their 674 best cards.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo — Have you ever heard of a cerulean warbler? What about a pink mucket? The first is a colorful bird native to Missouri. The second is a native freshwater mussel. These endangered species are among many that are disappearing from Missouri’s midsized rivers and their corridors, such the Platte, Salt and Osage.

To help Missouri’s students learn about these and other endangered species, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) holds an annual contest in which students in kindergarten through grade 12 illustrate postcards with drawings of state endangered species or species of conservation concern.

This year, about 4,100 students from across the state created postcards depicting the theme, “River habitat—we gotta have it!”  Schools sent their students’ best efforts—a total of 674 cards—to be judged. Five talented students took first-place honors, one each for the contest’s five grade categories.

·        First-grader Myles Hamacher of St. Francis Xavier in Jefferson City won first place in the K-2nd- grade category.

·        Fourth-grader Ray Winter of St. Catherine Laboure’ in St. Louis won in the 3rd-4th-grade category.

·        Sixth-grader Sydney Haistings of St. Paul's Episcopal Day School in Kansas City took the top prize for the 5th-6th-grade category.

·        Eighth-grader Katie Heflin of Heflin Homeschool in St. Peters won the 7th-8th-grade category.

·        Twelfth-grader Ryan Vernon of California High School in California took first place in the 9th-12th-grade category.

“Participating students learned about Missouri’s endangered species and the importance of sustaining healthy habitats,” said MDC Graphic Designer and contest coordinator Marci Porter. “A lot of teachers really took advantage of the educational opportunities tied to this contest, which is what we ultimately hope for.”

All five first-place winners will have their postcards printed and sold through MDC’s Nature Shops.

View the top three entries from each grade category and get more information on the contest at www.mdc.mo.gov/node/3533.

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MDC names Summersville men Loggers of the Year

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J&G Logging receives highest honor loggers can achieve in Missouri.

JEFFERSON CITY – Loggers throughout the state play important roles in keeping Missouri forests healthy and sustainable. In recognition of outstanding performance by Missouri loggers, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) presents annual regional and state Logger of the Year awards.

The 2011 Missouri Logger of the Year state award is being shared by Jay Duncan, Gene Fiske Sr. and Gene Fiske Jr. of J&G Logging in Summersville. The three men received multiple nominations and were named Loggers of the Year for MDC’s Ozark Region earlier in 2011.

“MDC recognizes and appreciates loggers who use best practices to harvest timber in ways that are economically, ecologically and socially sustainable,” said Missouri State Forester and MDC Forestry Division Chief Lisa Allen. “The statewide Logger of the Year award is the highest honor loggers can achieve in Missouri. It takes special conviction to being the best to achieve this honor, and we congratulate these outstanding loggers. ”

The awards are given to loggers who demonstrate good working relationships with landowners and foresters, cause minimal damage to remaining trees and resources on harvest sites, use best management practices to conserve soil and water, address wildlife management concerns, practice sustainable forest management and use wood products wisely.

“For Jay, Gene Sr. and Gene Jr., these traits are a way of life,” said Missouri Forest Products Association (MFPA) President Tony Parks, who nominated the men. “J&G’s desire is to make harvesting a pleasurable experience for the landowner and logger. They are receptive to concerns and instructions from the landowner.”

One of the projects that J&G Logging recently worked was a sensitive and high-profile thinning operation in a virgin pine area of Pioneer Forest near the Current River and close to Highway 19. The site included trees more than 250 years old that were being left in the stand.

Pioneer Forest is the largest private landowner in the state. Brandon Kuhn, a Pioneer professional forester, also nominated the loggers based on how impressed he was with their work.

“J&G is the best I have worked with at shutting themselves down when it is too wet to work,” Kuhn said. “As a forester, it is very difficult to tell loggers to go home because of wet conditions knowing they only get paid when they work.  It is truly a blessing when loggers make this decision on their own.”

The Nature Conservancy Ozarks Preserve Manager Neal Humke, who also nominated the men, inspected the logging operation and noted, “It was good to see that J&G was putting in the effort and time that it took to do it right, leaving a stand of timber that Pioneer Forest can continue to be proud of.” 

J&G Logging has also completed several timber sales on Sunklands and Angeline conservation areas in Shannon County. MDC Forester Michael Bill, who also nominated the men, said, “They are very concerned about the forest resource.” 

Missouri Logger of the Year recipients receive framed certificates from MDC and a Stihl chainsaw donated by Crader Distributing in Marble Hill.  J&G Logging received the award at an MFPA meeting in Branson.

MDC recognizes Loggers of the Year in each of its eight regions. Those selected are then eligible for the statewide award. Loggers must be nominated by a professional forester.  For more information on the MDC Logger of the Year Award criteria and process, visit www.mdc.mo.gov.

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Begin 2012 with a hike in a Missouri state park

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  JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., DEC. 9, 2011 – Celebrate the beginning of 2012 by participating in America’s State Parks First Day Hikes in one of nine Missouri state parks. The free guided hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy and rejuvenating hike Jan. 1.

            “We’re excited to host First Day Hikes in Missouri state parks as part of this national effort to get people outdoors and into our parks. Hikes offer great ways to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family,” said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Nine Missouri state parks will offer Jan. 1 guided hikes ranging from one-half mile to three miles.  A list of state parks with guided hikes follows.

·         Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Wildwood. Meet at 2:30 p.m. at the Virginia Day Memorial Trailhead; hike will be one mile;

·         Crowder State Park near Trenton. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Redbud Trailhead; hike will be two miles; Call 660-359-6473 or emailcrowder.state.park@dnr.mo.gov. to register.

·         Graham Cave State Park near Montgomery City. Meet at 12 noon at the park office; hike will be one-half mile on the Indian Glade Trail.

·         Pomme de Terre State Park near Hermitage. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Pittsburg area campground entrance near trail kiosk; hike will be 2.75 miles on the Indian Point Trail.

·         Prairie State Park near Mindenmines. Meet at 10 a.m. at the park’s nature center; hike will be 1.5 miles on the Drover’s Trail.

·         Roaring River State Park near Cassville. Meet at 12 noon at the Devil’s Kitchen Trailhead; hike will be 1.5 miles;

·         Rock Bridge Memorial State Park near Columbia. Meet at 12:45 a.m. at the Devil’s Icebox parking area; hike will be three miles (with an option for a longer hike) in the Gans Creek Wild Area.

·         Trail of Tears State Park near Jackson. Meet at 1 p.m. at the park’s visitor center; hike will be approximately two miles along the park’s southern boundary.  Please register in advance by calling 573-290-5268 and leaving a message.

·         Washington State Park near De Soto. Meet at 2 p.m. at the Thunderbird Lodge; hike will be 1.5 miles on the 1000 Steps Trail.

“I hope you’ll take this opportunity to start the new year with a new tradition for your friends and family and take a hike in a Missouri state park. If you are not able to attend one of our guided hikes, you can still take advantage of the numerous trails throughout our state park system,” Bryan said.

            First Day Hikes originated more than 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Mass. The program was launched to promote both healthy lifestyles throughout the year and year-round recreation at state parks. While many states offered outdoor recreation programs on New Year’s Day, this is the first time all 50 state park systems have joined together to sponsor First Day Hikes.

            “What better way to kick off the new year than with a hike in a state park?” said Ruth Coleman, president of the National Association of State Park Directors. “Think of it as the start of a new and healthy lifestyle for the whole family. Whether you’re staying close to home or traveling, join us at one of America’s State Parks on New Year’s Day.”

            “Studies have shown that getting outdoors is one good way to relax and recharge the body, mind and spirit,” stated Phil McNelly, NASPD’s executive director. “We hope that hiking along a trail in a state park will become part of an individual’s or family’s regular exercise routine.”

            America’s State Parks and Missouri State Parks are committed to promoting outdoor recreation in state parks as a way to address obesity, especially among children. Getting kids outside and unplugged from video games and other electronic media creates a unique connection with nature that promotes physical and mental well-being and encourages creativity and stewardship of our shared resources.

            For more information on the First Day Hikes as well as all Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. For information on the First Day Hikes initiative across the nation, visit americasstateparks.org. 

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Winter Fishing the Missouri Trout Parks

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Perhaps the best time of year to go to a Missouri Trout park is the winter.  If your goal is to bring home trout for the table, this will not be an option.  If that is your goal, visit one of the Areas the MDC stocks for Winter trout fishing.  These can be found at places like Bush Wildlife area near St. Louis, as well as numerous ponds and lakes in St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, and more.

If you are after some great catch and release trout fishing, combined with solitude, the Trout Parks are just the place to go.  It's important to check times when they are open as they do vary for the Winter months.  Also, check regs for what licenses and tags you might need.  We are always relectant to state them on our blogs or site because we do not control when they change, or when people access the information on our sites.

If you want some tips and basic information on the Missouri Trout Parks, visit our sister site page Missouri Trout Park Fishing.  It's a great place to get started on some great fishing and a great way to get out over the holidays after deer season has ended.

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MEETING OF THE MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Conservation Department Headquarters

2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, Missouri

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 – 2:00 p.m. – Executive Session (Closed)

Thursday, December 15, 2011 – 8:00 a.m. – Regular Open Meeting

TENTATIVE AGENDA

(Background documents related to each agenda item are available for public viewing at Conservation Department Headquarters, Jefferson City, for eight calendar days prior to the meeting. Any person who would like to comment to the Commission about a specific agenda item must make a written request to the Director at least four calendar days prior to the meeting. Speakers will be limited to five minutes each and number of speakers may be limited.  Recording the open meeting is permissible, pursuant to any guidelines established by the Commission to minimize disruption to the meeting. Individuals wishing to record the open meeting by audiotape, videotape or other electronic means should notify the Director at least four calendar days prior to the meeting so accommodations for such recording can be made.)

Wednesday, December 14, 2:00 p.m.

Executive Session (Vote to go into closed session – reconvene open meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 15:

(1)        Call to order and approval of minutes of previous Executive Session(s). (610.021 RSMo.)

(2)        Consideration of supporting documentation for recommendation to suspend or revoke all hunting and fishing privileges of individuals who are juveniles or who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws. Action to be taken in open meeting. (Disclosure protected by law, 610.021(14), 454.440.9, 211.321, RSMo.)

(3)        Consideration of confidential or privileged communications between the Commission and its Internal Auditor regarding work product. (Communications between public governmental body and its auditor, 610.021(17) RSMo.)

(4)        Consideration of recommendation relating to the hiring/firing/disciplining/promoting of personnel. (Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting, 610.021(3) RSMo.)

(5)        Consideration of negotiated contracts. (Documents related to a negotiated contract, 610.021(12) RSMo.)

(6)        Update on potential real estate transactions/negotiations. (Leasing, purchase or sale of real estate, 610.021(2) RSMo.)

(7)        Consideration of legal actions and attorney-client privileged communications involving the Conservation Commission. (Legal actions, causes of action or litigation, 610.021(1) RSMo.)

Thursday, December 14, 8:00 a.m. – Regular Open Meeting:

Approval of minutes of previous meeting.

Staff Presentations:

8:05 a.m.         Missourians’ Interests and Actions for Conservation.

8:20 a.m.         Missouri Wetlands.

Report of the Regulations Committee, which includes recommendations for the 1) 2012 turkey hunting seasons and spring turkey hunting brochure, and 2) opening date for the 2012 Fall Firearms Deer Season.

·         Turkey Season Review.

·         Elk Restoration Update.

October and November Monthly Financial Summaries. 

Status of Major CI-IT Projects Funded in FY12 Budget; consideration of bids received for the construction of the Blind Pony Lake Conservation Area Renovation of Hatchery Production Ponds Phase IV Project located in Saline County, and authorization to enter into a contract with the low bidder.

Recommendation for approval of personnel reclassifications.

Quarterly Update of Conservation Employees’ Benefits Plan Trust Fund; recommendations to appoint a new staff representative to the Board of Trustees for the Conservation Employees’ Benefits Plan Trust Fund and modifications to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

Recommendation for approval to fund a perpetual conservation easement on approximately 415 acres in Lawrence County, with the Department being reimbursed for all costs from a federal grant.

Staff Presentation:

10:15 a.m.       Land Conservation and Stewardship Program.

Recommendation for approval of the 2010-2011 Annual Report for the Department of Conservation, and authorization for publication and distribution.

Legislative Report.

Recommendations for approval of nomination(s) for Master Conservationist and for induction into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.

Recommendations for approval to suspend or revoke 1) one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of individuals for cause; 2) all hunting and fishing privileges of individuals who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws; 3) one or more hunting, fishing and trapping privileges of individuals in accordance with the terms of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact; and 4) hunting privileges of one individual who inflicted injury to another person while hunting.

Special Presentation:

11:15 a.m.       Dr. Harry and Mrs. Lina Berrier, Show-Me Barbecue, Columbia.

Recess for Lunch – Reconvene at 1:15 p.m.

Announcement of actions taken in executive session, if any.

Other matters of interest.

Confirmation that the next regular meeting will be held January 26-27, 2012.

1:30 p.m.         Presentation of Awards:

                                    Clerical Employee of the Year Award.

                                    Workforce Diversity Award.

                                    Employee Service Awards. 

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