Antlerless Dear in field or does

Missouri Department of Conservation reports 14,896 deer harvested during antlerless portion

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 14,896 deer during the antlerless portion of the firearms deer season, Dec. 4-12. Top harvest counties were Callaway with 467 deer harvested, Pike with 376, and Morgan with 354. During the 2020 antlerless portion, the harvest total was 15,620.  Harvest […]

Coyote in field

Missouri Department of Conservation proposes expanding furbearer hunting and trapping seasons

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation at its December 10. 2021, open meeting on proposed regulation changes that would extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species. Furbearers are mammal species that have traditionally been trapped or hunted for their fur, such as coyotes, raccoons, […]

Deer and Turkey together

Missouri Department of Conservation sets deer and turkey hunting dates for upcoming seasons in 2022

At its December 10 open meeting in Jefferson City, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved the following recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation for upcoming turkey-hunting and deer-hunting season dates. 2022 SPRING AND FALL TURKEY HUNTING DATES Spring Youth Portion: April 9 and 10 Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 18 through May 8 Fall Firearms […]

Antlered Deer in the forest

Missouri Department of Conservation reports November firearms deer harvest ends with 187,967

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 187,967 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season, Nov. 13-23. Of the 187,967 deer harvested, 101,501 were antlered bucks, 16,435 were button bucks, and 70,031 were does. The top harvest counties in the state were Franklin with […]

Jackson Boyer age 7 of Hillsboro with his first deer harvest in Adair County

Hunters harvest 89,861 deer during opening weekend of firearms season

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 89,861 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season on November 13 and 14. Of the 89,861 deer harvested, 54,415 were antlered bucks, 7,187 were button bucks, and 28,259 were does. Top harvest counties for […]

Deer in a field

Young hunters harvest 15,608 deer during early youth portion

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 15,608 deer during Missouri’s early youth portion of the 2021 deer hunting season, Oct. 30-31. The top counties were Osage with youth hunters harvesting 359 deer, Franklin with 329, and Howell with 310. Youth hunters harvested 15,854 deer […]

Bear Standing on Hill

Missouri hunters take 12 black bears during first black bear hunting season

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports that Missouri hunters harvested 12 black bears during the state’s inaugural bear-hunting season, which ran Oct. 18–27. More than 6,330 hunters applied for 400 permits for the season with the maximum total harvest for the season being 40 bears. “This was an incredibly successful first bear hunting season for […]

MDC Field to Freezer Workshop

Missouri Department of Conservation offering Field to Freezer workshop in Kirksville

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer a free Field to Freezer workshop on basic deer processing at the MDC Northeast Regional Office in Kirksville. The event will be on November 1, 2021, from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants may attend in person or online. Participants will learn how to field dress, skin, and butcher […]

Annual Poosey Tour

More than 1700 attend the Poosey Fall Driving Tour in Livingston County

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s 35th annual Poosey Fall Driving Tour on Oct. 17 drew visitors in cars, trucks, wagons, carriages, and on horseback. A sunny day attracted more than 1,700 visitors to travel on service roads not normally open to the public. Besides fall color and autumn woods, the tour at MDC’s Poosey Conservation […]

MDC welcomes 15 new conservation agents

Missouri Department of Conservation graduates 15 new conservation agents

The Missouri Department of Conservation congratulates 15 new conservation agents upon their graduation from MDC’s 2021 Conservation Agent Training Academy. The agent class of 2021 took the Conservation Agent’s Oath during a special graduation ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 12 at Richardson Fine Arts Center on the Lincoln University campus in Jefferson City. MDC Director Sara Parker […]

Girl holding bow and arrow

Missouri Department of Conservation partners invite youth to outdoor skills day in northeast Missouri

 The Missouri Department of Conservation, in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Foundation and other local sponsors, invites youth ages 6–15, and their families, to register for a day of FREE outdoor skills instruction at Union Ridge Conservation Area. The NWTF JAKES program, or Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship, works with MDC to get […]

Poosey Tour

Missouri Department of Conservation to host 35th annual Poosey Conservation Area fall driving tour

The Missouri Department of Conservation will welcome visitors to the 35th annual fall driving tour at the Poosey Conservation Area from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Visitors can enjoy the annual driving tour uphill and down on winding gravel roads through forest and woodlands. MDC will provide a tour brochure at […]

MDC Hunter Education Card

Missouri Department of Conservation to offer two hunter education classes in north Missouri in October

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer two in-person hunter education skills classes in northwest Missouri in October. Classes will be offered on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at Lathrop High School and Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Hamilton High School. Both classes are from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Unless exempt, a hunter education certificate is required to […]

Photo of black bear walking courtesy Mo. Dept of Conservation

Learn black bear hunting basics during a Missouri Department of Conservation virtual program September 30

Four hundred Missourians were drawn to participate in this year’s inaugural black bear hunt, slated to open Oct. 18. Those hunters were invited to attend special education programs to prepare for their hunt, but the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is now opening the educational opportunity to the public. Learn about black bear hunting at […]

Fall Color at Crowder State Park

Find the best places to see fall foliage with Missouri Department of Conservation’s fall color forecast

Missouri is blessed with a variety of trees, shrubs, and vines that make the fall season come alive with color. You can find the best places to view the changing foliage using the Missouri Department of Conservation’s fall color report at this link. “Our fall color report is updated weekly from MDC foresters all over […]

Missouri Department of Conservation Sign

MDC and partners offer deer hunting clinic for youth with terminal, chronic illness

The Missouri Department of Conservation, in partnership with Missouri Disabled Sportsmen, the Outdoor Dream Foundation, Dead End Game Calls, and the Rest Inn Him Lodge and Retreat Center, will offer a unique opportunity for youth with terminal or chronic illnesses to participate in a hunting clinic and mentored deer hunt this fall in northeast Missouri. […]

Dunn Ranch Prairie

Celebrate grasslands at Prairie Day on September 11 at Dunn Ranch Prairie near Eagleville

Native warm-season grasses and wildflowers retain a place in Northwest Missouri pastures because they benefit cattle forage, scenery, and wildlife habitat. The Missouri Department of Conservation and The Nature Conservancy invites the public to enjoy grasslands at a free Prairie Day event on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Dunn Ranch Prairie and Pawnee Prairie west […]