Interested in Maple Sugaring? Enjoy maple sugaring with MDC Cape Nature Center on Feb. 5 Southeast Banner Enjoy maple sugaring with MDC Cape Nature Center on Feb. 5

 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – As the weather changes, maple tree sap begins to flow and can soon be transformed into sweet treats. Find out how nature can satisfy your sweet tooth at Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) free Maple Sugaring event from 2 – 4 p.m. on Feb. 5 at Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center.

“Participants will learn the entire process of making maple syrup and take part in different activities along the way,” said MDC Naturalist Angela Pierce. “They will also learn why this time of year is the best time for collecting sap.”

Registration is not required.

This family-friendly event offers something for all ages and visitors will have the opportunity to sample some of the maple syrup made from the nature center’s sugar maple trees.

To ensure the safety of all, in-person programs require family groups to socially distance, and masks are recommended. Those interested are also reminded to follow current health recommendations which include stay home if you’re sick, wash hands with soap and water and/or use hand sanitizer, and be considerate of others.

Questions about this event can be emailed to MDC Naturalist Angela Pierce at Angela.Pierce@mdc.mo.gov.

Learn more about maple sugaring at mdc.mo.gov.

Joplin Area Outdoors Folks: Test your nature trivia knowledge at Jan. 29 MDC program

 Teams can win prizes at Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center event.

JOPLIN, Mo. – There’s nothing trivial about nature – until you turn it into a contest where you can win prizes.

People can test their knowledge of nature in a format that’s both fun and educational at the Missouri Department Conservation’s (MDC) “Nature Trivia” event on Jan. 29 at MDC’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center. At this event, which is from 1-2 p.m. and is designed for ages five and up, families or groups of friends will answer trivia questions about the outdoors for prizes. The questions, which will be provided by MDC naturalists, will cover a range of outdoor features that can be found in the state.

COVID procedures will be in effect for this program, which means social distancing and masking will be recommended. People can register for this event at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/181838

MDC’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center is located at 201 Riviera Drive in Joplin. People can learn more about this program or other upcoming events at the facility by calling 417-629-3434.

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.

Virtual Program on Raptors from MDC

 

Powder Valley Nature Center presents An Evening with Raptors virtually Jan. 28

This popular annual event will continue this year in an online format.

KIRKWOOD, Mo—Bird buffs, falcon fanciers, and anyone enraptured by raptors is invited to meet the objects of their admiration online during this year’s An Evening with Raptors virtual event.

The annual An Evening with Raptors hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center will be held virtually again this year on Friday, Jan. 28 from 7-9 p.m.  The event is free and is open to all ages. 

It’s the ultimate partnership between man and bird.  The sport of falconry goes back thousands of years and you can learn about it at An Evening with Raptors virtual event.  “Several area falconers will gather virtually to offer the rare chance to observe and learn about these fascinating feathered hunters,” said MDC Assistant Nature Center Manager, Robyn Parker. “They will also explain how viewers can get started in this age-old sport themselves,” she added.

The falconers will display their falconry tools, hoods, and other equipment, as well as live birds – the same birds that they use in their sport. Participants will also have the chance to ask the falconry team questions through the WebEx online chat feature.

Falconry is the art of training raptors—birds of prey like hawks and falcons—to capture wild game, so that bird and trainer essentially become hunting partners. The use of falconry can be traced back to 700 B.C.E., and by some accounts even farther back in time. 

An Evening with Raptors is a free WebEx event, but advanced registration is required for each person attending. To sign up, participants should go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4kv.  Attendees will receive an invitation by email from the MDC Event Management System with a WebEx program link 24 hours before the program. It’s recommended to check junk mail folders if no email is received.

Program registrants should note that families now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own which will streamline the program registration process.  Once a group account is set up, parents will be able to register their children to an event without having to logoff and login for each person.  This allows parents to register an entire family or select family members to an event at the same time. 

Stay informed of MDC latest programs by going to the MDC St. Louis regional events page at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZP6.

Missouri Deer Harvest Slightly less than Last Year-Up from 5 Year Average

 

MDC reports final deer harvest for season more than 293,600

Archery deer harvest was 60,834. Archery turkey harvest was 2,523.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri's 2021-2022 deer-hunting season ended Jan. 15 with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reporting a preliminary total deer harvest for the season of 293,670. Of the deer harvested, 143,049 were antlered bucks, 26,599 were button bucks, and 124,022 were does.

Top harvest counties for the overall deer season were Franklin with 6,392 deer harvested, Texas with 5,478, and Callaway with 5,452.

Hunters harvested 297,214 deer during the 2020-2021 deer hunting season with 140,855 being antlered bucks, 28,652 being button bucks, and 127,707 being does.

“This year’s harvest total was slightly behind last year’s mark and about 3% above the previous five-year average,” said MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle. “We’ve seen an increasing trend in statewide deer harvest for about the past eight years,” said Isabelle. “The deer population has continued to increase across much of southern Missouri at the same time that we’ve seen a population recovery in most of the counties impacted by the severe hemorrhagic disease outbreak that occurred in 2012.”

ARCHERY DEER RESULTS

Deer hunting ended with the close of the archery season. Preliminary data from MDC showed that hunters checked 60,834 deer during the 2021-2022 archery deer season making it the third highest archery deer harvest on record. Top counties for the archery deer season were Jefferson with 1,563 deer harvested, St. Louis with 1,368, and Franklin with 1,274.

Hunters checked 67,487 deer during the 2020-2021 archery deer season. This year’s archery deer harvest total was 10% below last year’s record harvest and 8% higher than the previous five-year average.

For deer harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

For deer harvest summaries from past years, visit mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-reports/deer-harvest-summaries.

For more information on deer hunting in Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.

ARCHERY TURKEY RESULTS

Fall archery turkey hunting also ended Jan. 15. Preliminary data from MDC showed 2,523 turkeys harvested. Top counties for the fall archery turkey season were Franklin with 69 turkeys harvested, Jefferson with 67, and Callaway with 61.

Hunters harvested 2,350 turkeys during the 2020-2021 fall archery turkey season.

For more turkey harvest information for the current season, go online to extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

Prowl for owls Jan. 21 at MDC’s Busch Conservation Area

 This free, MDC-lead evening excursion will help visitors learn about and experience these night raptors first-hand.

St. CHARLES, Mo.—Hoots, howls, laughs, screams, and eerie whinnies . . . these are some of the mysterious sounds that owls can make.  Exactly who is creating all this racket, and why?

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will help you discover the answers at an Owl Prowl program held at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area on Friday, Jan. 21 from 6-8 p.m.  The free program is open to all ages.  This event is a reschedule of the Owl Prowl that was cancelled on Jan. 14 due to weather.

The still, winter nights of January are perfect for prowling for these amazing raptors.  This program will begin indoors for an educational classroom presentation.  Visitors will learn why owls are such effective nighttime hunters.  They’ll also find what they’re making so much noise about this time of year.  Participants will then journey outside for a short walk and some possible close encounters as MDC naturalists attempt to entice owls to fly in and talk.  Visitors may encounter, barred, great horned, or perhaps even screech owls.

Participants should bring a flashlight or head lamp and dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and be prepared to spend time outside during the second half of the program.

While the Owl Prowl is a free program, advanced online registration is required at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ZN.

The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is in St. Charles at 2360 Highway D, about two miles west of Highway 94. 

As this is an in-person activity, MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines.  Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate for the in-person activity. 

Program registrants should note that families now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own which will streamline the program registration process.  Once a group account is set up, parents will be able to register their children to an event without having to logoff and login for each person.  This allows parents to register an entire family or select family members to an event at the same time. 

Reallocated Upper Mississippi waterfowl blind sites available; drawing open Aug. 7-15

 

An online reallocation drawing will be held to assign two (2) relinquished blind sites.

St. CHARLES, Mo.—The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is conducting a reallocation drawing for two waterfowl hunting blind sites in the restricted zone on the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Area.  Waterfowl hunters can register online for the reallocation drawing from Aug. 7-15.  MDC will select the winning applicants by random drawing Sept. 17.  The winning hunters will have from Aug. 21-31 to add co-registrants to the blind sites.

The blind sites available for reallocation are:

• A12 in Pool 26 (Dresser/West Alton)
• W28 in Pool 25 (Stag Island)

Hunters may opt to build a permanent blind on the site, construct a temporary blind, or hunt from a boat blind.

Registrants for the reallocation drawing must meet the following requirements:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Those between age 16 and 64 are required to have a current annual Resident or Nonresident Small Game Hunting Permit and a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
• Any honorably discharged military veteran having a service-related disability of sixty percent (60%) or greater, or was a prisoner of war during military service, or any member of the U.S. military currently assigned as a patient to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition Unit, or a military medical center, will only need a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
• Missouri residents age 65 or older only need to have a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
• Nonresidents age 65 or older need to have a nonresident Small Game Hunting Permit and a Missouri Migratory Bird Permit
• A Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) is not needed to apply, but will be necessary while hunting

To register for the reallocation drawing, go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZjS.  The page also contains a link to scalable aerial maps of the blind sites.

For more information, call the Upper Mississippi Conservation Area at 573-898-5905 or the MDC St. Louis Regional Office at 636-441-4554.

The Upper Mississippi Conservation Area includes federal lands along the Mississippi River north of St. Louis. These sites include Pools 24, 25, and 26, and consist of 87 separate tracts totaling 12,500 acres between Melvin Price Lock and Dam and LaGrange, Mo.

MDC’s Runge Nature Center announces August programs

Runge Nature Center offers a full program of
events to help visitors discover nature in August.
Program topics include reptiles, migratory insects, t
ree ID, and more. Register today to attend
a program and discover nature with Runge.

FREE public programs include reptiles, migratory insects, tree ID, and animal Olympics.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City is open and ready to connect you with nature this summer.

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

The nature center has a full schedule of programs planned for August. Most programs require registration in advance and space is limited, so Nature Center Assistant Manager Becky Matney encourages guests to familiarize themselves with MDC’s event website at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZPf. 

Unless otherwise noted, registration opens Aug. 1 for all programs.

August programs at the nature center will include:

• Reptiles: Tails, Scales, and Shells — Virtual Program
  Wednesday Aug. 4, 3–4 p.m — all ages
  Why do snakes stick out their tongues? How tough is a turtle’s shell? Slither into this virtual, naturalist-led program that will include activities, slides, and live animals. Instructors will dispel fear and make connections to help participants learn the unique and important roles reptiles play in Missouri.
  Registration required at: mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178242.
       * Early registration — now open

• Insects at Night
  Friday, Aug. 6, 9–11 p.m. — all ages
  Discover the wonderful and mysterious insect life that comes out after dark.
  Registration required at: mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178247.
       * Early registration — now open
• Discover Nature: Tree ID
  Saturday, Aug. 14, 9–11 a.m. — ages 12+
  Join a Runge naturalist on an informational hike and take a moment to really get to know the trees around you. Participants will become equipped with the tools to identify trees, in addition to discovering Missouri’s most common trees.
  Registration required at: mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178248.
  
  
• Midweek Trekkers: Graham Cave State Park
  Wednesday, Aug. 18, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. — ages 18+
  Put on your hiking shoes and travel to Graham Cave State Park in Montgomery County to join a guided hike. Distance: 4 miles; difficulty: moderate. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, bring a water bottle and pack a lunch/snack.
  Registration required at: mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178249.  
  
  
• Discover Nature: Migratory Insects — Virtual Program
  Thursday, Aug. 26, 4–5 p.m. — ages 12+
  During the fall, a monarch, which weighs half as much as a paperclip, may travel 50 to 100 miles a day and migrate a total of 3,000 miles over two months. Learn all about this incredible journey and those made by a variety of other fantastic insect migrators.
  Registration required at: mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178251.         
       *Early registration — now open
  
  
• Conservation Kids: Animal Olympic Games
  Saturday, Aug. 28, 9–11 a.m. — ages 7–12
  Humans aren’t the only animals that can be athletes. Come be a part of the Animal Olympic Games. Discover who are the strongest, fastest, and smartest animal athletes in Missouri, and how humans measure up to these critter Olympians.
  Registration required at: mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178252.  

Visitors can conveniently manage program registration online at mdc.mo.gov/centralevents. The first step in registering for a program is creating an account, then signing up for future programs is simple. Once registrants create an account and register for events, they will receive details about those specific programs.

Families now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own accounts which will streamline the program registration process.  Once a group account is set up, parents will be able to register their children to an event without having to logoff and login for each individual.  This functionality will allow parents to register their entire family or select family members to an event at the same time.  First, users will log into their account and click “My Group Profile,” then add family members to their account.  Setting up a group account today will make program registration quicker and easier for all MDC programs.

Sign up for email and/or text updates from Runge Nature Center and other conservation news at mdc.mo.gov/GovDelivery.

Events at Runge Nature Center are free, thanks to the one-eighth of 1 percent conservation sales tax. Runge Nature Center, located at 330 Commerce Drive in Jefferson City, is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; and Thursday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Trails at the nature center are open every day, 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Visitors should practice physical distancing and wear masks covering mouth and nose when distancing is not feasible. 

For more information about events at Runge Conservation Nature Center, visit mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/runge-conservation-nature-center, or call the nature center at 573-526-5544.