MDC is offering Free Hunter Education Classes during August

Department of Conservation offering free hunter education classes in northwest Missouri during August

Autumn hunting seasons are approaching quickly. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering free upcoming hunter education skills sessions for hunters to earn the safety certificate needed to obtain hunting permits. These sessions will teach and test participants for safe firearms handling and basic hunting skills. The upcoming sessions include: From 4 to 8 […]

Quail standing on a log

Blunt sponsors bipartisan senate effort to protect wildlife

U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Martin Heinrich (N.M.) introduced the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) of 2021 to invest in proactive, on-the-ground conservation work led by states, territories, and Tribal nations to support the long-term health of fish and wildlife habitat all across America. “Missouri is home to some of the best hunting, […]

Antlered Deer in the forest

New Missouri Department of Conservation fall hunting booklets available for deer, turkey, dove, waterfowl

Missouri deer and turkey hunters and waterfowl and dove hunters can get the most current information on upcoming fall hunting from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s 2021 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting & Regulations Information booklet and Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2021-2022, available where permits are sold and online. The 2021 Fall Deer and […]

Fountain Grove Conservation Area

Missouri Department of Conservation to offer free Outdoor Skills Fun Day at Fountain Grove Conservation Area

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer a free Outdoor Skills Fun Day at the Fountain Grove Conservation Area south of Meadville. Participants can learn basic hunting and shooting skills on July 17, 2021, from 10 to 2 o’clock. Participants can target shoot with shotguns, pellet guns, and archery. MDC staff and volunteers will provide tips […]

Missouri 4-H shooting sports teams won third-place honors at the 2021 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships

Missouri 4-H shooting teams place third at national championships

The Missouri 4-H shooting sports teams won third-place honors at the 2021 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships, June 20-25 in Grand Island, Neb. More than 590 participants from 32 states competed in nine disciplines, demonstrating excellence in marksmanship, safety, responsibility, and teamwork, said Jim Sappington, University of Missouri Extension state 4-H shooting sports coordinator. “It […]

Bull Elk

Missouri Department of Conservation announces five hunters drawn for 2021 elk permits

The Missouri Department of Conservation congratulates the five Missourians drawn for the state’s 2021 elk hunting season this coming fall and winter. MDC will issue one permit each to the five lucky Missourians randomly drawn from 9,714 permit applications, including one drawn from 84 resident-landowners who applied and 9,630 from other Missourians. The five applicants […]

Fall Turkey Hunting Season

Learn about Missouri wild turkey numbers and management efforts through a Missouri Department of Conservation webcast

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites turkey hunters, landowners, and managers interested in wild turkeys and others to join its Wild Webcast on “Wild Turkeys in Missouri: Population Trends and MDC Management” on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at noon. MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Reina Tyl will discuss factors contributing to Missouri wild turkey numbers and […]

Missouri Department of Conservation Sign

Conservation Commission approves CWD regulation changes by Missouri Department of Conservation

The Missouri Conservation Commission recently approved proposed regulation changes from the Missouri Department of Conservation related to chronic wasting disease surveillance and management efforts. The changes were approved at the Commission’s May 21 open meeting. They add four counties to the CWD Management Zone and reinstate mandatory CWD sampling requirements. The approved MDC regulations add […]

Squirrel on fence rail

Squirrel and black bass seasons open on May 22 in Missouri

The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages the public to discover nature this summer by squirrel hunting and black bass fishing. Both seasons open Saturday, May 22. SQUIRRELS The hunting season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs May 22 through Feb. 15, 2022. Allowed methods include shotguns, rifles, and other legal firearm methods, as well […]

Wild Turkeys In A Field

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports spring turkey season ended with 34,593 birds harvested

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that turkey hunters checked 31,798 birds during Missouri’s 2021 regular spring turkey season, April 19 through May 9. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 710 birds telechecked, Texas with 666, and Callaway with 639. Young turkey hunters also harvested 2,795 birds over the youth weekend, April […]