Missouri River flooding prompts MDC to close several conservation areas in northwest region

Areas are closed due to high water or access and public safety issues

St. Joseph, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has closed several conservation areas in the state’s northwest region due to Missouri River flooding. Some areas are under water, others are inaccessible or will remain closed due to public safety issues until further notice.

MDC staff on March 19 continued to work with local farmers and the levee district to keep flood water from overtopping or breaching levees protecting farms and the Bob Brown Conservation Area near Forest City in Holt County. But other conservation areas to the north are flooded, said Blaine Adams, MDC disaster response coordinator. Some of those areas include flood plain acreage between the river and levees, while other areas are behind levees that have been breached by floodwater.

“About everything in Atchison County west of Interstate 29 is under water or is going to be soon,” Adams said of MDC areas.

MDC has also closed the Cooley Lake Conservation Area boat ramp in Clay County in the Kansas City area due to high water.

The following conservation areas or river accesses with boat ramps are closed in northwest Missouri.

Atchison County: Aspinwall Bend, Corning, Hoot Owl Bend, Langdon Bend, Lower Hamburg Bend, Upper and Lower Nishnabotna, and Watson Access.
Holt County: Bob Brown, Derion Bend, Monkey Mountain, Payne Landing, Rush Bottom Bend, Thurnau, Wolf Creek Bend.
Andrew County: Nodaway Island, Tom Brown Access, Worthwine Island.
Buchanan County: Dupree Memorial, French Bottoms Access at St Joseph, Jentell Brees Access, Kneib Memorial.
For more information on MDC conservation areas, including updates on closures, visit http://mdc.mo.gov.

MDC hosts women’s shotgun clinic near Columbia April 2

Register today for a free opportunity to learn safe handling and shooting techniques.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites women to a free, basic shotgun workshop near Columbia on April 2. The program will begin with a brief classroom session at 6 p.m., followed by a live-fire session at a local shooting range.

Participants will learn about shotgun safety, handling, and shooting skills. This for-women, by-women workshop is designed for beginner and intermediate shooters.

“This class is for ladies and taught by ladies,” said MDC Conservation Education Consultant Emily Porter. “We want to provide a place to learn, ask many questions, and feel comfortable while trying something new. Shotgun shooting is a sport that hunters and non-hunters alike can enjoy.”

Following the classroom portion, ladies interested in advancing their knowledge on the range will have the opportunity to challenge themselves at trap and skeet shooting.

Firearms and ammunition will be provided, though participants are welcome to bring their own shotguns, cased and unloaded.

This workshop is free and open to women-only of all ages. Participants must preregister at mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/166417. With questions or for more information, contact Porter at (573) 815-7901, ext. 2964.

Powder Valley Nature Center presents Missouri Waters multimedia program April 5

music performance.

KIRKWOOD, MO.—The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center will host the Missouri Waters multimedia program featuring the Two Bobs Friday, April 5 at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to anyone age 12 and up.

It will be an evening of music, song, photographs, and thoughts on the beauty, health, and future of Missouri’s streams and rivers. The presentation is performed by the duo of Bob Ranney and Bob Korpella, both members of the Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalists.

The Two Bob’s bringing together their diverse talents in one performance is truly a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

Ranney, a musician with a life-long passion for environmental quality, will perform music he has composed while spending years on our rivers. He’ll also share his insights about both the past and future of Missouri’s waterways.

Korpella is a chronicler of environmental issues as a photographer and freelance writer. He will present slides of his nature photography as well as experience and insight he’s gained on water quality from monitoring Missouri’s streams.

The duo will also bring real specimens of aquatic larvae and nymphs to give visitors a closeup look at these tiny creatures, which play a big role in the health of streams and revealing water quality.

Missouri Waters, a unique, educational, and entertaining multimedia experience, proves that two Bobs are even better than one.

Advanced online registration is required by going to https://bit.ly/2BR4x1C.

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road in Kirkwood, near the intersection of I-44 and I-270.  

MDC invites public to learn about turkey hunting basics

Free April 3 clinic at Walter Woods Conservation Area has tips for all levels of experience.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Spring turkey hunting involves a variety of skills. Knowing how to locate a gobbler and call him into range, knowing how to handle firearms in a safe fashion, and understanding the turkey hunting regulations are all parts of a successful and safe hunt.

Hunters can learn more about the fundamentals of this popular spring pastime at a free Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) clinic from 6-10 p.m. April 3 at MDC’s Walter Woods Conservation Area in Newton County. Topics covered at these programs will include calling, locating, firearms safety, hunt preparation, identifying legal birds and improving your shooting skills. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/164988

To get to Walter Woods Conservation Area, take Newton County Highway NN south from Redings Mill for 1.25 miles, then turn west on Dutch Elm Drive, which leads to the area. This workshop will provide good preparation for those wishing to participate in Missouri’s youth-only turkey season, April 6-7, or the state’s regular spring turkey season, April 15-May 5.

People can learn about other events organized by MDC’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center by calling 417-629-3434. More information about turkey hunting can be found at https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

Box call draws 22 toms during spring turkey hunt

Fun, food, fellowship and turkey stories are the norm at thousands of National Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage fundraising banquets held annually across the United States.

For the second consecutive year, I had the pleasure of attending the Turkey Creek Longbeards banquet, held recently at the Joplin Elks Lodge.

One of the highlights was hearing a turkey story by Terry McGinnis, who was born in Joplin and raised in Webb City. He currently lives near Diamond.

Terry approached and said that I looked familiar. In no time, he and I bonded. We are graduates of Webb City High School and, of course, avid turkey hunters.

He noted that he and his wife, Honie, had “a heck of a hunt” for longbeards last spring in Southwest Missouri.

On the opening morning of spring turkey season, the couple was well-concealed, sitting in a blind in a brushy fence roll.

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Roaring River State Park hosts Birding Boot Camp March 30-31

Roaring River State Park hosts Birding Boot Camp March 30-31

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 15, 2019 – Come to Roaring River State Park for Birding Boot Camp during the weekend of March 30-31. Beginning and experienced birders are invited to learn about topics such as bird identification, songs, nests and helping scientists around the world protect birds. Strap on your boots, grab your binoculars and get ready for 2019 Birding Boot Camp! These free events are open to the public.

Saturday March 30
9 a.m. Birding March - Bring your binoculars for our first bird watching experience. We will hike Chute Ridge Glade to observe the birds in this unique habitat. Meet at the nature center.

12 p.m. Fancy Feathers and Field Marks - Learn the basics of bird anatomy and field marks. Field marks are crucial for learning to identify new birds. Meet at the nature center.

3 p.m. Bird the Builder - Birds build unique homes. Come learn about the different styles of nests, and get a chance to create your own. Meet at the nature center.

Sunday March 31
9 a.m. Birding March - Bring your binoculars for a short hike. We will hike River Trail to observe the birds along Roaring River. Meet at the nature center.

3 p.m. Birding by Ear - Come listen to recordings of bird calls. You will learn tips to recognize bird songs and calls. After, we will test our skills outside of the nature center.

Roaring River State Park is located seven miles south of Cassville on Highway 112 in Barry County, southwest Missouri. For more information about the event, contact the park office at 417-847-2539.

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.

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.