MDC Cape Nature Center to host turkey hunting programs, Wildflower Walk in April

You can know how to hunt safely, too!
Learn about wildlife identification, habits and habitats, regulations,
safety, hunting strategies, equipment and
game care this month at Cape Girardeau Nature Center. 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Discover nature in April with Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center’s free programs!

• Hunting: Selecting and Fitting a Shotgun for Turkey Season (Virtual) | Monday, April 11, from 5 – 6 p.m.
• Hunting: Responsible Turkey Hunting (Virtual) | Monday, April 11, from 6 - 7 p.m.
• Discover Nature: Spring Awakening | Saturday, April 16, from 1 - 2 p.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Little Acorns: Time for Toads! | Saturday, April 16, from 9 - 10 a.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Little Acorns: Time for Toads! | Saturday, April 16, from 10 - 11 a.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Little Acorns: Time for Toads! | Tuesday, April 19, from 10 - 11 a.m. at Cape Girardeau Nature Center
• Introduction to Trap Shooting | Tuesday, April 19, from 1 - 3 p.m. at Apple Creek Conservation Area
• Introduction to Skeet Shooting | Tuesday, April 19, from 3 - 5 p.m. at Apple Creek Conservation Area
• Wildflower Walk at Trail of Tears (Ride With Us) | Wednesday, April 27, from 1 - 3 p.m. at Cape Nature Center
• Babes in the Woods: Need a Nest! | Saturday, April 30, from 9 - 9:30 a.m. at Cape Girardeau Nature Center
• Babes in the Woods: Need a Nest! | Saturday, April 30, from 10 - 10:30 a.m. at Cape Girardeau Nature Center

Check out details for all of MDC’s free April events here. And be on the lookout for more programs to register for in May!

Registration

Advance registration is required for most programs and can be completed here. All family members that plan to attend in-person and virtual events must be registered. First, create a profile here. Once a profile is created and event registration is complete, additional details about programs will be sent via email. If you’re having difficulty registering online, you may contact the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center at (573) 290-5218.

Stay connected

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 events can be emailed to MDC Cape Nature Center Manager Laci Prucinsky at Laci.Prucinsky@mdc.mo.gov.

The Cape Nature Center sends program registration reminders and updates to those who sign up by texting “MDC Nature” to 468311. An online subscription is also available to “sign up for updates” at www.mdc.mo.gov. A variety of updates are available at this option, but Cape Girardeau specific updates are available under facility updates and news for southeast region.

Cape Girardeau Nature Center is located at 2289 County Park Dr. in Cape Girardeau, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. White Oak Trace Trails are open daily, from sunrise – 10 p.m.

SW Missouri Residents have opportunity to Learn Skeet Shooting Skills

People can improve their skeet-shooting skills
at a free Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
program on April 7 at MDC's Andy Dalton
Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center.

ASH GROVE, Mo. – Skeet is a popular shooting activity for sport shooters and also for hunters trying to improve their shotgun skills.

People can get tips on how to improve their skeet-shooting skills at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) free program “Shotgun – Learning to Shoot Skeet, Intermediate Level.” This free program will be Thursday, April 7 from 5-7 p.m. at MDC’s Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center. This program is for ages 15 and up. It’s not for a beginning shotgun shooter, but rather for the experienced shotgun shooter who wants to learn more about skeet. People can register at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/181330

Skeet is a shotgun sport shooting activity where clay targets are launched from two “houses” in somewhat sideways paths that intersect in front of the shooter. At the April 7 program, MDC Outdoor Education Center Specialist, Ali Underwood will cover skeet-related topics such as how the game of skeet works, how to mount your gun, hold points, break points, forward allowance and what type of guns and loads work best. Dalton Range staff will provide 20-gauge shotguns and ammunition, or participants can bring their own unloaded gun to the program. Participants who plan to use their own ammunition should bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition in the gauge of their gun. People who bring their own shotguns should leave all firearms (including concealed carry handguns) in their vehicles until the classroom portion of the program is finished and individuals are ready to move to the shooting range. There should be no live ammunition or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Social distancing and other COVID procedures will be encouraged during this program.

MDC’s Andy Dalton Range is located near Ash Grove at 4897 N. Greene County Farm Road 61. People can stay informed about upcoming programs at the Dalton Range and other MDC facilities by signing up for text alerts and e-mail bulletins. People who have questions about upcoming events or how to sign up for text alerts from the Dalton Range can call 417-742-4361.

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.

Meramec River Cleanup

The public is invited to join the Dome Life Stream Team
Mid-Meramec River Cleanup Saturday, March 19
starting at 8 a.m.  It includes both land and water trash
cleanups, and invasive plant removal projects
along 26 miles of the Meramec River, followed by a free festival. 

Earlier this week I was up at Maramec Spring for the opening of catch and keep trout season.  Maramec is not the headwaters of the Meramec River (like the springs at Montauk, which are the headwaters of the Current River), but I dd go down and look at where the spings feed into the river and admired it's beauty.  There is some good trout fishing there, and lots of great fishing and other opportunities for outdoor fun on the Meramec, all the way down to where it flows into the Mississippi River.

However, the sprawl of human activity has definitely impacted the water quality of the river - agricultural runoff, illegal dumping, etc. So, fortunately, there are several organizations that make great efforts to remediate some of those impacts.  

Join MDC and partners March 19 for an epic cleanup and festival in Meramec River Watershed

Missouri Stream Teams and Dome Life are organizing a large-scale cleanup event, followed by a festival with food and live music.

ROBERTSVILLE, Mo.—The Meramec River is an aquatic gem in the St. Louis region—a great river for floating, fishing, and recreation.  Part of what makes a great river great is the watershed that surrounds it and feeds it. 

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Stream Teams, and Dome Life invite the public to be part of an epic cleanup event to help make the Meramec and its watershed a better place, and to a festival after to celebrate the success.

The Dome Life Stream Team Mid-Meramec River Cleanup will take place Saturday, March 19 starting at 8 a.m.  The public is invited to join in this effort that includes both land and water trash cleanups, and invasive plant removal projects along 26 miles of the Meramec River. 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for all of us to improve the Meramec watershed and its natural communities, and to make the area a better place to recreate, enjoy, and live in,” said MDC Resource Science Aid, Brian Waldrop.

Cleanups and invasive species removals will be held at the following locations.  Participants can choose the one they prefer:

• Robertsville State Park and Access
• Don Robinson State Park
• Route 66 State Park and Access
• Catawissa Conservation Area
• Pacific Palisades Conservation Area and Access
• LaBarque Creek Conservation Area
• Hilda J. Young Conservation Area
• Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area
• Allenton Access

After participants are done with the cleanup, they can enjoy the festival taking place at Robertsville State Park that afternoon and evening.  Visit educational and informational booths, enjoy nature programs and activities for all ages and abilities. There will be food trucks on site offering options for dinner from 3:30-7 p.m., guest speakers, and live local music performances from 7-10 p.m. 

The Dome Life Stream Team Mid-Meramec River Cleanup event and festival are free.  However, participants must register online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4os.  See a list of camping facilities near the event, too.

Robertsville State Park is located of I-44 at 902 State Park Drive in Robertsville. 

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.

Two Days to Trout Park Catch and Keep Opener

Accuweather Forecast for Licking, MO

I'm not brave enough to mix it up with the opening day crowd, but man-oh-man, is the forecast looking perfect!  At Licking, just outside Montauk State Trout Park, the forecast high is 65 degrees with sunshine and a 0% chance of precipitation. As Opening Day veterans can tell you, you're probably just as likely to encounter snow as to have conditions like these.

If you are a first timer for Opening Day, what can you expect?  Well, lots and lots of people all ready to spend the day trying to catch their 4 fish limit and maybe even land one of the lunkers that are stocked on Opening Day as well as for a while after as well.  We will be making the rounds at a couple of the parks sharing the scenes through our Twitter   (@FamilyOutdoors1) and Facebook pages (https://www.facebook.com/thefamilyoutdoors/ ). I will thoroughly enjoy seeing the fun and waiting for more tranquil days to wet my line in the parks.

Opening Day numbers from 2021

6:30 am is the official starting time for fishing...if you are new to the whole process, here's how it works. Ahead of time, you want to get your license and tag taken care of.  The park offices can let you know what all you need, but the general idea is you need a fishing license and a daily trout park tag.  On Opening Day, you'll want to get those items taken care of way ahead of time as the lines will be LONG!  

If you are ready to fish at 6:30 am (on Opening Day, get to your spot way before), you will be standing in the stream likely checking the time over and over.  At 6:30 am, a horn will sound and everyone will cast pretty much simultaneously.  As the crowds will be great, some communication prior to the horn about the planned direction of casts is a great idea. 

Glow Bug trout fly
A go-to Trout Park classic

If you are unsure about techniques for catching fish in the trout parks, visit Trout Park Fishing from Family-Outdoors. The information is designed for people starting off in the Trout Parks.

We are looking forward to a great day and wish all the fishermen, women, and kids a great day of fishing. Drive safely and be courteous to those around you once the fishing starts.  

Missouri Trout Park Opener

March 1 marks the annual opening of catch-and-keep
trout fishing in Missouri at the state’s
four trout parks:
Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon,
Montauk State Park near Licking,
 Roaring River State Park near Cassville,
and Maramec Spring Park near St. James.

There are a number of BIG EVENTS on the calendar for Missouri outdoors folks. Perhaps one of the biggest is the Missouri Trout Park opener which is always on March 1.  It's not for everyone as it's kind of...no it IS...combat fishing through and through. But, the waters are stocked with some of the biggest hatchery fish (lunkers) and the day is kind of a dividing line for outdoors folks between winter and spring.

For lots of tips and information about Missouri Trout Park fishing as well as trout fishing and fishing in general in the Show-Me State, visit Family-Outdoors

MDC reminder that catch-and-keep trout season starts March 1 at trout parks

MDC operates trout hatcheries at four parks and stocks rainbow trout daily throughout season.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- March 1 marks the annual opening of catch-and-keep trout fishing in Missouri at the state’s four trout parks: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. The catch-and-keep season at the trout parks runs through Oct. 31.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) operates trout hatcheries at all four parks and stocks rainbow trout daily throughout the season.

Trout anglers need a daily trout tag to fish in Missouri's trout parks. Daily trout tags can only be purchased at each of the four trout parks. MDC encourages trout anglers to have the correct amount of cash for daily tags if possible. Missouri residents 16 through 64 and nonresidents 16 and older also need a fishing permit in addition to the daily trout tag.

The cost of a daily trout tag to fish at three of Missouri’s four trout parks -- Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River State Park – is $4 for adults and $3 for those 15 years of age and younger. A daily fishing permits $8. The daily limit is four trout.

At Maramec Spring Park, the daily limit is five trout and the cost of a daily trout tag for adults is $5 and $3 for anglers 15 years of age and younger.

Get more information on the four trout parks from MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/species/trout/trout-parks.

MDC encourages trout anglers to buy their fishing permits ahead of time from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

MDC reminds those attending to follow COVID-related signage at the parks, wear masks as appropriate, and to social distance when in buildings and other applicable areas.

Missouri has a wealth of trout waters, including red, white, and blue-ribbon areas that support naturally reproducing trout. For more information on trout fishing in Missouri, visit MDC online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/where-fish/trout-areas.

MDC also offers the Missouri Blue Ribbon Trout Slam to honor anglers who catch a trout in at least five of the nine blue-ribbon trout streams. Participants can have their successes listed on the MDC website. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/troutslam.

REMINDER TO TROUT ANGLERS: To prevent the spread of the invasive alga called didymo or "rock snot," the use of shoes, boots or waders with porous soles of felt, matted or woven fibrous material is prohibited at all trout parks, trout streams, Lake Taneycomo, and buffer areas. Get more information at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/protect-missouri-fishing/dont-spread-didymo.

Trout hatcheries are just one way that conservation pays in Missouri. MDC staff stock more than 800,000 trout annually at the state's four trout parks and approximately 1.5 million trout annually statewide. Trout anglers spend more than $100 million each year in the Show-Me-State, which generates more than $180 million in business activity, supports more than 2,300 jobs, and creates more than $70 million dollars in wages. About 30 percent of Missouri trout anglers come from other states, so a substantial portion of trout fishing expenditures is "new money" for the state's economy.

What can you eat in the woods?

A salad made with greens from native plants
 (pictured above) is one of the dishes people
 can learn about at a Missouri Department
of Conservation virtual program on wild edibles on March 5.

I grew up in SE Alaska and am familiar with a survival story of a young lady who persevered through a boat wreck, swim to shore, and over a week living off the land before she was found. Her survival was based on the fact that she was an excellent swimmer and that she knew what you could eat in the woods.

You probably do not foresee getting lost in the Alaskan wilderness, but surely you've occasionally wondered what things in the Missouri woods were okay to eat, and which were not.  This MDC program will help you better know what's good and what's not.

For additional information on the outdoors in Missouri and elsewhere, visit Family-Outdoors

Learn about wild edibles March 5 at MDC virtual program

Event will discuss food items that can be found growing in the outdoors.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Wild edibles consist of much more than morel mushrooms. The forests and grasslands that stretch across the southern part of the state produce a bounty of natural foods that can add variety to any dinner table.

People can learn more about edible plants that can be found in southern Missouri March 5 at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) virtual program “Wild Edibles.” This free online program, which will be from 2-4 p.m., is being put on by the staff of MDC’s Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center and by guest presenter Bo Brown. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/181324

The March 5 program that will be given by Brown, along with MDC Outdoor Education Center Specialist Ali Underwood, will discuss the variety of food items the region’s landscape can provide for the table. Brown is a local author who has written a book on wild edibles. In addition to talking about what’s available, Brown and Underwood will also have tips about gathering and preparing these items for the table.

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Program registrants should note that they 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 for an event without having to log-off or log-in for each person. This allows parents to register an entire family or select family members for an event at the same time.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/events.

Regs to Remain Consistent for Catfish on Missouri's Big Rivers

MDC announced it does not recommend regulation
changes on minimum length limits and daily limits
for blue and flathead catfish in the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers and a small portion of the
St. Francis River. Shown is an angler holding a blue catfish.  

A few reg changes had been kicked around by MDC on the Missouri, Mississippi, and portion of the St. Francis Rivers for catfish. These included minimum length limits and potential limits to the number of larger fish caught (in addition to existing maximum catches). However, state biologists studies indicate the fishery is healthy under current regs, and after public input, no major changes will be made. Details are below.

For more Missouri fishing information, visit Family-Outdoors

No changes from MDC for blue and flathead catfish in big rivers

MDC does not recommend regulation changes to minimum length limits and daily limits for blue and flathead catfish in Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and part of St. Francis River.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced in February that it does not recommend regulation changes to minimum length limits and daily limits for blue and flathead catfish in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and a small portion of the St. Francis River. The decision follows research by MDC and results of public input.

MDC sought public input this past summer on potential regulation changes for recreational fishing of blue catfish and flathead catfish on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. One potential change would have established a minimum length limit of 18, 21, or 24 inches for recreational fishing of blue catfish and flathead catfish on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Currently there is no minimum length limit. A second potential regulation change would have maintained the current recreational-fishing daily limit of five blue catfish per day on the Missouri River but establish that only one blue catfish over 30-inches in length may be kept as a part of that limit.

MDC also sought public comments this past summer on establishing a minimum length limit of 18, 21, or 24 inches for commercial fishing of blue catfish and flathead catfish on the Mississippi and St. Francis rivers. The current minimum length limit is 15-inches.

MDC received more than 400 public comments with strong support for keeping regulations as they are.

The public input followed several years of related research by MDC. MDC population assessment studies for blue and flathead catfish in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers found that populations of both fishes were generally healthy and the fisheries sustainable under current management. MDC studies confirmed that current management approaches continue to support healthy and sustainable blue catfish and flathead catfish populations in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and regulation changes do not appear to be necessary to maintain these populations or prevent overfishing.