The Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to get hooked on fishing through its Free Fishing Days on June 12 and 13. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without buying a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. Free Fishing Days is an annual MDC event that […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer free instructional courses during May on handgun and archery skills at the Parma Woods Shooting Range near Parkville. These courses are designed for people who wish to get started using handguns or archery equipment for target shooting or hunting. Parma Woods will offer handgun orientation on Tuesday, May […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will continue initiatives to integrate conservation with agriculture practices and help restore and manage sand prairies after being awarded two partnership projects through the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Through RCPP, conservation partners work in collaboration with NRCS to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners throughout […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missourians interested in hunting black bears in the state to apply during May for one of 400 permits being offered by MDC for the state’s first black-bear hunting season this coming fall, Oct. 18–27. The maximum total harvest for the season will be 40 bears. Bear hunting in Missouri […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missourians interested in hunting elk in the state this fall to apply during May for one of five available permits. At least one permit will be for approved area landowners with qualifying property and the remainder for the general public. MDC has designated a nine-day archery portion running October […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reports it has completed its monitoring, management, and testing efforts for its 2020-2021 chronic wasting disease surveillance year. From those efforts, MDC reports it collected more than 15,300 tissue samples from mostly hunter-harvested deer for CWD testing. MDC has confirmed 44 new cases of CWD from the deer tested. The […]
Devlin Rich of Williamsville set a new state record when he caught his spotted gar. Rich was fishing with a pole-and-line at Wappapello Lake on February 25 when he reeled in the 10-pound, 9-ounce fish. His catch is not only the latest Missouri state record, but it beats the current spotted gar world record of […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) thank the thousands of Missouri deer hunters who donated 238,920 pounds of venison to the state’s Share the Harvest program this past deer season, including 4,787 whole deer. MDC and CFM also thank the participating meat processors throughout the state who grind […]
Ducks Unlimited and numerous partners invested more than $575,000 to protect, enhance or restore 1,926 acres of wetland and grassland habitat in Missouri in 2020, greatly improving water quality and wildlife habitat. The milestones in 2020 were achieved with field staff taking extra precautions and using creative solutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The acres […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer two workshops on morel mushrooms in northeast Missouri in April. One of Missouri’s most favored mushroom species emerges this month. Learn where to look for, and how to identify edible spring mushrooms, as well as species to avoid. An in-person workshop will take place Tuesday, April 13, from […]
As you head outdoors this season to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather, you may encounter a variety of newborn animals. Young wildlife can pull on our heartstrings as they appear to be abandoned, but that’s usually not the case. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds the public that interfering with wildlife can do […]
Most people who have ventured through Missouri woods, fields, yards, and other outdoor environments have encountered ticks. These small, creepy crawlers climb on and cling to clothes and skin in search of a blood meal. Some tick species and the bacterial pathogens they carry can also cause illnesses in people. The Missouri Department of Conservation […]
Warming spring weather brings nature to life with trees, shrubs, and bulbs sending out their spring flowers. It also prompts the popping up of another spring favorite for many Missourians – MORELS! The elusive and edible morel mushroom shows itself during April and into May and is a flavorful favorite for many mushroom lovers. Morels […]
Missouri turkey hunters can expect this spring season to be about as challenging as the past few spring seasons according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The spring turkey hunting season starts with a youth-only weekend April 10 and 11 followed by the regular spring season April 19 through May 9. “A great deal […]
The Missouri Conservation Commission approved Missouri’s second annual elk-hunting season at its March 26 meeting. The Commission approved the Missouri Department of Conservation’s recommendation of issuing five permits for hunting bull elk for the 2021 season. At least one permit will be for qualifying area landowners with the remainder for the general public. Missouri’s second […]
The Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations from the Missouri Department of Conservation at its March 26 meeting for upcoming 2021 migratory-game-bird-hunting seasons and 2021-2022 waterfowl-hunting seasons. 2021 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, and White-Winged Doves Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 29 Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession combined total for […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer two in-person hunter education skills classes in northwest Missouri in April. Classes will be offered on April 8 in Chillicothe and April 13 in Cameron, both from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Unless exempt, a hunter education certificate is required to purchase a firearm hunting permit in Missouri. These […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation, in partnership with Missouri Disabled Sportsmen, the Outdoor Dream Foundation, 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 turkey hunt this spring in northeast Missouri. The clinic will begin […]
