Conservation Action: March 2013

The Conservation Commission met March 11 at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, 520 E. Park St., in Neosho.

Commissioners present were:

·         Don C. Bedell, Sikeston, Chair

·         James T. Blair, IV, St. Louis, Vice Chair

·         Don R. Johnson, Festus, Member

The Commission:

·         Received presentations from:

• Chief Financial Officer Margie Mueller regarding February monthly financial summary.
• Design and Development Division Chief Jacob Careaga regarding major construction projects completed and the status of major CT projects funded in the FY13 budget.
• Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer regarding black bear management plan and research project.
• Resource Science Division Chief Mike Kruse regarding deer management review and planning update.
• Fisheries Division Chief Chris Vitello and Policy Coordinator Stuart Miller regarding flow regimes for Missouri stream systems.

·         Approved recommendation to purchase approximately 77.5 acres in Shannon County as an addition to Rocky Creek Conservation Area.

·         Approved authorization to advertise and sell an estimated 897,441 board feet of timber from 621 acres of Compartment 22 on Sunklands Conservation Area in Shannon County.

·         Approved the report of the Regulations Committee, including the recommendation for changes to the Wildlife Code including but not limited to daily, possession, and length limits for blue catfish on Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Lake, and amendments regarding commercial harvest of shovelnose sturgeon to align Missouri’s regulations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s similarity of appearance ruling.

·         Suspended hunting, fishing, and/or trapping privileges of 21 Missouri residents and two (2) out-of-state residents for Wildlife Code violations, and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of one (1) Missouri resident. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

• Joseph B. Barton, Clarence, Hunting, 1/10/2016

o   Glenn B. Beck, Seligman, Hunting and Fishing, 1 year

o   Joshua S. Bisher, Florissant, Hunting, 1 year

o   James L. Groves, Greenville, Hunting, 2 years

o   Donald L. Hammons, Pleasant Hill, Hunting, 1 year

o   David B. Hand, Eldon, Hunting, Add 6 months

o   Joseph W. Hensley, Lebanon, Hunting, 1 year

o   Thomas J. Korn, Bismark, Hunting and Fishing, 1 year

o   Rathe P. Mann, Halfway, Hunting, 4 years

• Daniel R. Morgan, Kahoka, Hunting and Fishing, 1 year
• Taylor J. Morris, Eldon, Hunting, 6 months
• Darren E. Murphy, Billings, All Sport, 2 years
• Travis W. Reynolds, Doniphan, Hunting, 1 year
• James R. Ross, Warrensburg, Hunting, 1 year
• Michael J. Sims, West Plains, Hunting, 1 year
• Hall E. Solomon, Fort Pierce, FL, Hunting, 1 year
• Debonnie L. Spires, Moberly, Hunting, 1 year
• David A. Sudduth, Houston, 3 years and complete hunter education
• Michael R. Steele, Fairview, Hunting, 1 year
• Jason B. Thornton, Duenweg, Hunting, 2 years
• Daniel  Tran, Jefferson City, Fishing, 1 year
• Michael H. Ulberg, St. Charles, Hunting, 2 years
• William R. Westbrook, Prairieville, LA, Hunting, 2 years
• Edward A. Yoder, St. Louis, Hunting, 1 year

·         Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 220 people who are not in compliance with applicable child-support laws. Privileges suspended for noncompliance are reinstated once the Division of Child Support Enforcement notifies MDC that suspendees have come into compliance with the required laws.

·         Suspended privileges of 141 people under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

·         Approved next regular meeting for April 25-26 at MDC Headquarters in Jefferson City.

Related articles

• Tentative agenda for March Conservation Commission meeting (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• MDC and federal agents snag major paddlefish poaching operation (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Conservation Action February 2013 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• 2013 hunting, trapping, fishing regulation booklets available from MDC (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Paddlefish Spawning Season Offers Big Angling Opportunities (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Missouri NWTF names MDC Agent Killian as Wildlife Officer of the Year (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

The Conservation Commission met April 12 and 13 at Conservation Departent Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City. Commissioners present were:

Don R. Johnson, Festus, Chair

Don C. Bedell, Sikeston, Vice Chair

Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass, Secretary

James T. Blair, IV, St. Louis, Member

ADMINISTRATION

The Commission:

• Received presentations from:

-          Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer regarding black-bear research.

-          Forest Nursery Supervisor Greg Hoss regarding operations at George O. White State Forest Nursery.

-          Administrative Services Division Chief Carter Campbell regarding division activities.

• Presented volunteer-service awards to Phyllis Boyd and Charlotte Cox for more than 2,000 hours of service at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs.
• Approved the advertisement and sale of estimated 847,228 board feet of timber on 505 acres of Compartment 8, Angeline Conservation Area in Shannon County.
• Approved a recommendation to sell approximately 2 acres of the Long Ridge Conservation Area in Franklin County.
• Approved naming the new building at the Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center in Columbia the E. Sydney Stephens Building. 
• Suspended hunting, fishing and/or trapping privileges of 33 Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of one Missouri resident. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

Seth A. Baker, Bronaugh, all sport, 1 year.

Dallas W. Beasley, Everton, hunting and trapping, 1 year.

Christopher R. Brawley, Bunker, all sport, 3 years.

Charles E. Browers, Olean, hunting and trapping, 3 years.

Cory A. Cook, Perryville, all sport, 1 year.

Andrew B. Douglas, Stoutland, all sport, 1 year.

Collin B. Edwards, Springfield, hunting and trapping, 1 year.

Phillip C. Eidson, Urbana, all sport, 1 year.

Dane T. Goff, Rolla, hunting and trapping, 3 years.

Terry D. Hahnfeld, Bronaugh, all sport, 1 year.

Joshua L. Hicks, Macomb, hunting and trapping, 3 years.

Shawn L. Hood, Birch Tree, all sport, 4 years.

Jason R. Horn, St. Joseph, all sport, 1 year.

Bobby D. Huffmon, Hale, all sport, 1 year.

Randy C. Kern, Ellsinore, all sport, 1 year.

Charles D. Langley, New Madrid, hunting and trapping, 2 years.

Chad W. Lemons, Grovespring, hunting and trapping, 1 year.

Eric R. Littrell, Centralia, all sport, 1 year.

William T. Miller, King City, all sport, 3 years.

Layton A. Moore, Warrensburg, hunting and trapping, 1 year.

Austin W. Muff, King City, hunting and trapping, 3 years.

Ryan D. Palmer, Clinton, all sport, 1 year.

Adam L. Perea, Perryville, all sport, 1 year.

Loyd D. Rantz, Spokane, hunting and trapping, 1 year.

Vitaliy Soyarkov, Sedalia, all sport, 1 year.

Justin R. Swayze, Orrick, hunting, until 12/6/2012.

Raymond B. Sworde, Nevada, all sport, 1 year.

Leland T. Thompson, Rolla, all sport, 1 year.

Kirk D. Troy, Springfield, all sport, 1 year.

Jacob A. Waddle, LaPlata, hunting and trapping, 1 year.

Ralph A. Weber, Bonnots Mill, all sport, 1 year.

James A. White, Kansas City, all sport, 1 year.

David A. Wilson, Center, all sport, 1 year.

Ezekiel Young, Villa Ridge, all sport, 1½ years.

• Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 277 people who are not in compliance with applicable child-support laws. Privileges suspended for noncompliance are reinstated once the Division of Child Support Enforcement notifies MDC that suspendees have come into compliance with the required laws.
• Suspended privileges of 226 people under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

• Imposed hunting privilege suspensions of one to three years for two Missouri residents and one nonresident who injured other persons in hunting incidents. The hunters must complete a hunter-education training course before restoration of privileges.
• Viewed the Conservation Department’s new, 75^th anniversary video, The Promise Continues.

·         Set the next regular Conservation Commission meeting for May 24-25 in St. Joseph.

Related articles

• Conservation Action March 2012
• Conservation Action January 2012
• Early spring presents turkey hunting challenges
• Meeting of the Missouri Conservation Commission
• Youth turkey harvest up

Conservation Action March 2012

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The Conservation Commission met March 7 and 8 at St. Louis. Commissioners present were:

Don R. Johnson, Festus, Chair

Don C. Bedell, Sikeston, Vice Chair

Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass, Secretary

James T. Blair, IV, St. Louis, Member

REGULATIONS

The Commission approved the following regulation changes, effective March 1, 2013, unless otherwise noted:

·        Removed the requirement for affixing an approved safety sticker to firearms while hunting wild turkey, effective as soon as possible.

·        Established daily and length limits for striped bass at Bull Shoals Lake and standardizes striped bass length and daily limits on Norfork Lake with those of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to provide consistency and reduce angler confusion.

·        Approved several regulation changes for specific conservation areas (CAs).

ADMINISTRATION

The Commission:

• Received presentations from:

-       Private Land Services Division Chief Mike Hubbard regarding wildlife damage management

-       Resource Science Division Chief Mike Kruse regarding chronic wasting disease monitoring in northern Missouri

-        Urban Wildlife Biologist Erin Shank regarding St. Louis Community Stewardship Grants

-       Protection Division Chief Larry Yamnitz regarding Protection Division community outreach

• Presented 2011 State Hunter Education Instructor Awards to:

-         Floyd Bohler, St. Louis, Hunter Education Volunteer Instructor

-         Joe McFadden, St. Charles, Bowhunter Education Volunteer Instructor

-         Jean Mayer, Greenfield, Conservation Department Staff Instructor

-         Mark Haviland, Loose Creek, Conservation Agent Instructor

• Accepted the donation of approximately 54 acres in St. Louis County as an addition to Rockwoods Range.
• Approved selling approximately .57 acre and granting a temporary construction easement on approximately .94 acre of the Saline Valley Conservation Area in Miller County to the State of Missouri, acting by and through the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, for a bridge replacement project.
• Suspended hunting, fishing and/or trapping privileges of 17 Missouri residents and one nonresident for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of two Missouri residents. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

James E. Boyer, Birch Tree, all sport privileges, lifetime

Kent W. Conley, Fordland, all sport privileges, 1 year

Kenneth M. Cooper, Crocker, all sport privileges, 1 year

James J. Cunningham, Sedalia, all sport privileges, 1 year

Travis J. Dority, Roach, all sport privileges, 6 additional years

Jeffrey A. Fike, Moberly, all sport privileges, 1 year

Benjamin S. Jackson, Macon, all sport privileges, 2 years

Charles D. Langley, New Madrid, hunting, until 12-28-2012

James C. McIntyre, Holden, all sport privileges, 1 year

Jerry D. Morgan, Climax Springs, all sport privileges, 1 year

Darrell E. Nolder, Hamilton, Ill., all sport privileges, 1.5 years

Mark A. Norton, Bowling Green, all sport privileges, 1 year

Bruce E. Potts, Fredericktown, all sport privileges, 3 years

Rodney D. Roland, Osceola, hunting, until 12/23/2013

John B. Schaeffer, Nixa, hunting, 3 years

Jerad R. Smith, Unionville, all sport privileges, 1 year

Gregory L. Thornhill, St. Joseph, all sport privileges, 1 year

Ryan C. Wade, Independence, all sport privileges, 1 year

James K. Waggoner Jr, Jefferson City, all sport privileges, 1 year

Toby L. Washburn, Kahoka, all sport privileges, 1 year

• Suspended or revoked all hunting and fishing privileges of 270 people who are not in compliance with applicable child-support laws. Privileges suspended for noncompliance are reinstated once the Division of Child Support Enforcement notifies MDC that suspendees have come into compliance with the required laws.

• Suspended privileges of 221 nonresidents under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

·        Set the next regular Conservation Commission meeting for Apr. 12 and 13 in Jefferson City.

- end –

This document is provided for public information only and is not an official record of the Missouri Department of Conservation or Missouri Conservation Commission.

Related articles

• Conservation Action January 2012 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Conservation Action December 2011 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Wildlife restoration, unusual animal sightings top 2011 conservation news (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Gov. Nixon appoints St. Louisan to Conservation Commission

Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

Jim Blair is an ardent conservationist and has been active in several conservation groups including Ducks Unlimited and Conservation Federation of Missouri. 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon announced on July 13 the appointment of St. Louis businessman and longtime conservationist James T. Blair IV to the Missouri Conservation Commission. The Governor has appointed Blair (R) to a term that expires June 30, 2017. Blair replaces William F. “Chip” McGeehan of Marshfield whose Commission appointment expired June 30.

“Jim Blair has demonstrated his dedication to conservation in Missouri through his many years of leadership at several of the most pre-eminent conservation organizations in our state,” Gov. Nixon said. “That leadership experience will be of great value on the Conservation Commission in its role of managing the state’s forestry and wildlife resources.”

Missouri Department of Conservation Director Bob Ziehmer praised Blair for his longtime service to and passion for conservation. “Jim Blair’s enthusiasm for conservation and his life experience in both business and outdoor pursuits will prove beneficial in the Commission’s important work.”

Blair is past president of the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, a current board member for the Conservation Federation of Missouri, and has served on local, state and national committees for Ducks Unlimited. He and his wife, Anna, are avid hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

Blair also has a family history of commitment to conservation with his father, Jim Tom Blair III, serving as a commissioner from 1965 to 1977.

Blair is a principal and member of the board of directors at Moneta Group LLC, one of the nation’s largest registered investment advisory firms. He is a certified financial planner and an accredited wealth management advisor. He is regularly ranked among the top financial advisors in the country. In addition to his activity in conservation causes, Blair serves as the board director of the St. Louis chapter of the National MS Society, and is an advisory board member for the MS Corporate Achievers Campaign.

The Missouri Conservation Commission controls, manages, restores, conserves and regulates the bird, fish, game, forestry and all wildlife resources of the state, including hatcheries, sanctuaries, refuges, reservations and all other property owned, acquired or used for such purposes, as well as the acquisition and establishment of those properties.

Blair’s appointment will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.