COVID-19 presented considerable challenges to Missouri schools, staff, and students in 2020, including closures, cancellations, remote learning, and more. The pandemic also presented challenges to schools and instructors teaching the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) hunter education courses. “Many schools were closed for much of the year, which reduced the number of kids who could […]
Winter is a good time for birding because foliage doesn’t hamper the viewing. The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer a free guided birding hike from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Pershing State Park west of Laclede in Linn County. Hikers will explore the boardwalk near Locust Creek and the trail […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation will reopen its Chillicothe office and the Northwest Regional Office in Saint Joseph on February 16th after they were temporarily closed as a COVID-19 precaution. Precautions and local protocols will be observed at the offices, including face masks and physical distancing. The staff has remained in the offices during the […]
Bird-feeding is a popular hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and it’s a great way to learn about various species of birds that are found in this area. People can get tips on attracting birds to feeders in winter at the Missouri Department of Conservation virtual program “Attracting Winter Birds.” This […]
Missouri’s 2020-2021 deer-hunting season ended Jan. 15 with the Missouri Department of Conservation reporting a preliminary total deer harvest for the season of 296,516. Of the deer harvested, 140,468 were antlered bucks, 28,587 were button bucks, and 127,461 were does. Top harvest counties for the overall deer season were Franklin with 5,786 deer harvested, Howell […]
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 14,555 deer during the alternative-methods portion of the firearms deer season, Dec. 26 – Jan. 5. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 318 deer harvested, Callaway with 317, and Osage with 298. The harvest total for 2020’s alternative-methods portion was […]
Missouri’s first elk-hunting season ended Sunday with all five of the hunters selected for permits harvesting bull elk during the firearms portion December 12-20. An archery portion ran October 17-25 with no harvests. The five Missouri hunters were selected for elk-hunting permits through a random drawing of more than 19,215 permit applications, including 33 for […]
A live Christmas tree can give your home a one-of-a-kind ambiance during the holiday season. From the natural suppleness of its needles to that majestic stature, to the unmistakable evergreen aroma. But after the holidays are over, it doesn’t mean that your natural Christmas tree needs to retire. It can find a second career in […]
Corporal Aaron Post of Platte County was recently named as Missouri’s Outstanding Conservation Agent for 2021 for his accomplishments and service to his community and conservation. A committee from MDC’s Protection Branch selected Post as outstanding agent. Cpl. Chris Ely of Texas County was runner up. Post was also selected as MDC’s Kansas City Region […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation has closed the St. Joseph and Chillicothe offices to the public due to rising COVID-19 concerns. MDC staff will still be able to answer phone calls to those offices. Sales of 2021 Natural Events Calendars will continue if arrangements by phone are made for contactless pickup outside the buildings. MDC […]
At its December 11 open meeting in Jefferson City, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved the following recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for upcoming turkey-hunting and deer-hunting season dates. 2021 SPRING AND FALL TURKEY HUNTING DATES Spring Youth Portion: April 10 and 11 Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 19 through May 9 Fall […]
The Missouri Conservation Commission recently gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation for the state’s first black bear hunting season framework. The Commission finalized the hunting season framework and related regulations at its December 11 open meeting in Jefferson City. The approved framework limits any future bear hunting to areas of southern Missouri […]
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 15,425 deer during the antlerless portion of the firearms deer season this past weekend. That’s 4,500 more than the corresponding weekend last year across the state. This past weekend, the top harvest counties were Callaway with 438 deer harvested, Morgan with […]
The second weekend for youth firearms deer season took place Saturday and Sunday with Missouri noting a record number of deer taken for those specific dates. Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 39-hundred deer during Missouri’s late youth portion of 2020 deer hunting. That was […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds hunters not to forget their hunter orange before heading out the door for the opening weekend of firearms deer season Nov. 14-24. Hunters must wear a hunter orange hat and a hunter orange vest, shirt, or coat. The color must be visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not […]
Procedures will be determined via communication with local county health departments and department staff. Four procedure levels are available for 2020. All party leaders will be required to wear a mask while in a draw room facility and use hand sanitizer upon entry. Only party leaders will be allowed in the building and must have […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation will provide drop-off sites in Northwest Missouri for hunters who wish to have deer tested for chronic wasting disease. Four drop off sites in a CWD Management Zone will be available through January 15th: the Lake Paho Conservation Area of Princeton, The Trading Post of Marceline, PB-5 of Linneus, and […]
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 15,591 deer during Missouri’s early youth portion of the 2020 deer hunting season, October 31 and November 1. Top counties were Franklin with youth hunters harvesting 336 deer, Howell with 324, and Osage with 320. View additional harvest […]
Students at Trenton High School recently added a native plant garden to their campus in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation and Quail Forever. Members of the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter organized the planting. Native wildflowers and grasses can provide beauty and benefit pollinator insects such as butterflies. Students prepared planting beds […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation encourages young hunters to get outdoors and discover nature this weekend for the early portion of youth firearms deer season Oct. 31 – Nov. 1. Shooting hours run one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. To participate, hunters must be at least 6-years-old and no older than 15 […]
