News from the Missouri Department of Conservation
Discover fishing in Missouri with MDC Free Fishing Days June 8-9
Share a pastime that can last a lifetime. Along with fish, you may catch some priceless memories.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Discover the lure of Missouri outdoors with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Free Fishing Days June 8 and 9. During Free Fishing Days, anyone can fish in the Show-Me-State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout stamp or trout park daily tag. Normal regulations, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler can keep, remain in effect. Some private fishing areas may still require permits, and trespass laws remain in effect on private property.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
Trees may need special attention after wet spring
Imagine how difficult rainy weather would be for you if you breathed through your feet.
JEFFERSON CITY–If you are tired of wet feet, you have lots of company. Many trees are suffering, too. The Missouri Department of Conservation has advice for helping trees cope with wet weather.
Flooding along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and high water on many other streams has left many trees stressed, because they breathe through their roots.
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
Striped bass to be stocked in Bull Shoals
Because of their size and fighting qualities, striped bass are highly valued by anglers, and help make Missouri a great place to fish.
THEODOSIA, Mo. – All sportfish have their devoted followings, but few species evoke higher levels of angler excitement than striped bass.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
Bushytails and bronzebacks are legal May 25
Squirrels and smallmouth bass make Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
JEFFERSON CITY–Whether your taste in outdoor activities runs toward fishing or hunting, May 25 is a day to mark on your calendar.
Missouri’s hunting season for gray and fox squirrels opens May 25 and runs through Feb. 15, 2014. Legal methods include rifles, shotguns, or archery equipment. The aggregate bag limit is 10 squirrels and the possession limit is 20.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
MDC offers free community forestry workshop in Kansas City, and webinar
June 4 workshop will discuss benefits of public trees and encourage care for urban forests.
Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a community forestry workshop 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave. in Kansas City. Experts will discuss urban tree issues, research findings, and trends regarding trees on public and private lands. The workshop will discuss the benefits of public trees and encourage care for the urban forests.
Also, a webinar on community forestry will be offered 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 6.
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
Popular northwest acoustic musical artist John Nilsen to perform at Powder Valley Nature Center
Discover nature through a free concert Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m.
Kirkwood, MO – There are different paths to discovering nature, and music is one of the most popular. The Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center will welcome popular northwest musical artist John Nilsen to a performance in the nature center’s auditorium Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Nilsen, a noted pianist and acoustic musician, comes from Portland, Oregon. He is one of the largest-selling musical artists in the northwestern U.S.
Key Messages:We help people discover nature.
MDC offers upland game management and CRP workshop in Marshall
The May 28 workshop is free, but participants must pre-register by May 22.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting an upland game and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) management workshop on May 28 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Marshall High School, 805 South Miami Ave. in Marshall. The workshop is free, but space is limited and participants must pre-register by May 22.
The landowner workshop will cover CRP sign-up information, quail and rabbit ecology and biology, habitat management for upland game and cost-share practices.
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
MDC offers upland game management and CRP workshop in Marshall
The May 28 workshop is free, but participants must pre-register by May 22.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting an upland game and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) management workshop on May 28 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Marshall High School, 805 South Miami Ave. in Marshall. The workshop is free, but space is limited and participants must pre-register by May 22.
The landowner workshop will cover CRP sign-up information, quail and rabbit ecology and biology, habitat management for upland game and cost-share practices.
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
Discover nature in Columbia with free fishing event June 8
During Free Fishing Days, June 8-9, anyone can fish in the Show-me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout stamp or trout park daily tag.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), in partnership with Bass Pro Shop, Mexico Bassmasters and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invites families to discover nature at the 8th annual “Reel” Time with Kids free fishing event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, at Bass Pro Shop Sportsman’s Center, 3101 Bass Pro Drive in Columbia.
Bait will be provided, as well as fishing poles for those who do not have their own. The event will also have educational displays, food and drawings for prizes.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
Montrose High School students discover nature during grasslands field day
Field trip part of and funded by MDC Discover Nature Schools program.
Deepwater, Mo. – Bright red Indian paintbrush and purplish prairie violet blooms rose above greening grasses on May 7 as Lucas Hetherington and his Montrose High School classmates walked Chapel View Prairie. Hetherington, 16, pondered grasslands past and present as his school held a prairie field day.
Key Messages:We help people discover nature.
Invasive zebra mussels found in lake at Schell-Osage Conservation Area
Anglers asked to help stop spread.
Nevada, Mo. – Biologists have found zebra mussels in a lake at the Schell-Osage Conservation Area, which is in Vernon and St. Clair counties in west central Missouri. Zebra mussels are an invasive species from Eurasia that can cause ecological and property damage.
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
Five year Missouri poaching case against 46 ends in Federal Court
Help MDC stop poaching by reporting poaching activities to Operation Game Thief at 1-800-392-1111.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently wrapped up a major special investigation involving 46 individuals that began in 2008. Operation “Pulling Wool” came to a close on April 25 with a final conviction in Federal Court. The last defendant charged in the operation was found guilty by a United States Magistrate in Cape Girardeau.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
MDC offers workshop in Concordia to improve pond management for fishing
Farm pond angling opportunities are one reason Missouri is a great place to fish.
Kansas City, Mo. – A free workshop on pond management will be offered by the Missouri Department of Conservation 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, in Concordia at the Concordia Community Center, 802 S. Gordon St.
The workshop will cover all aspects of pond management such as stocking fish, managing fish populations, vegetation control and solving other pond problems. This workshop is designed for anyone building a new pond for those seeking advice for managing an existing pond. Farm pond angling opportunities are one reason Missouri is a great place to fish.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
Avoid invasive trees such as Bradford pear in landscape plantings
Bradford pear has become invasive species that harms native plants and trees which support wildlife.
Kansas City, Mo. – An oft-planted ornamental tree – Bradford pear – has become an invasive species that harms native plants or trees that support wildlife. Property owners and managers are urged to consider native alternatives, such as the downy serviceberry tree, as they plant new trees this spring.
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
Pulaski County native has lived turkey hunting history
Jim Greenstreet has seen a lot of change while hunting in every spring turkey season since 1960.
CROCKER–The history of turkey hunting in Missouri has been chronicled in books, magazines, and newspapers, but for capturing the excitement of the early years and the progress made, it’s hard to beat spending a morning with Jim Greenstreet.
Greentstreet was 25 years old in 1960. He and his father, Dave Greenstreet, bridged a historic gap of sorts that year.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
2013 spring turkey harvest ticks up another notch
Hunters’ ability to top last year’s harvest in spite of dismal hunting conditions indicates a continuing rebound of Missouri’s wild turkey flock.
JEFFERSON CITY–Hunters shot 42,220 turkeys during Missouri’s regular spring turkey season. That is an increase of 1,773, or 4 percent, from 2012.
Top harvest counties during the regular spring turkey season April 15 through May 5 were Franklin with 996 birds checked, Texas with 879, and Callaway with 710.
This year’s spring turkey season was the safest on record, with only one firearms-related hunting incident reported. That incident was nonfatal and occurred during the regular season.
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
Missouri FFA/High School Trap Championship draws 850 students
LINN CREEK, Mo. -- More than 85,000 shots rang out from the Missouri Trapshooters Association home grounds in Linn Creek on April 27 for the 26th Annual Missouri FFA and High School Trap Championship. More than 850 students from all over the state participated.
Key Messages:Conservation pays by enriching our economy and quality of life.
Team Henges Trapshooting Club nabs top honors at three competitions
High Ridge, Mo. — Team Henges Trapshooting Club, comprised of youth from all over the St. Louis-area and representing the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Jay Henges Shooting Range, took multiple top honors at three recent trapshooting competitions.
Most recently, the team competed with 878 other shooters at the Paul Larsen Memorial High School Shoot in Linn Creek. Despite difficult weather conditions – rain and cold – the team left with multiple awards, including:
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
Think native when replacing landscape trees
Smart choices can prevent problems.
JEFFERSON CITY–Stately oaks that once shaded front yards lost the battle with drought. Ornamental pear trees that used to bid ironic farewells to winter with blizzards of white blossoms were wrecked by winter storms. As home and business owners set about replacing lost landscape trees, the Missouri Department of Conservation has a word of advice – natives.
Key Messages:We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.
Kids Fishing Day at Lost Valley Hatchery draws new anglers
Warsaw, Mo. – Young anglers paid little heed to damp weather at the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Kids Fishing Day on April 27 because hybrid bluegill and channel catfish were biting. The event at Lost Valley Fish Hatchery drew more than 350 youths and a total crowd of almost 700 people.
“We had a really nice turnout and everyone had a great time,” said MDC Aquaculture Biologist Lesly Conaway. “They caught fish, and there were some nice channel catfish in the pond for them.”
Key Messages:Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
