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 […]
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that hunters checked 2,127 turkeys during Missouri’s fall firearms turkey season in October. Top harvest counties were Greene with 70 birds harvested, Maries with 58, and Franklin with 55. This year’s total is 174 more turkeys than the total of 1,953 during the 2019 fall firearms […]
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 […]
A contractor bidding process is to begin this fall to prepare for the construction of a 344-acre multipurpose reservoir in Caldwell County. This comes after all agencies involved approved the Little Otter Creek Lake to move forward to begin construction after nearly 25 years of planning, design, reviews, and permitting. The primary purpose of the […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds hunters to be aware of baiting regulations during the fall deer and turkey hunting seasons. The use of bait, including grain or other feed, placed or scattered to attract deer or turkey, while hunting is illegal. The regulations are in place to help limit the spread of chronic wasting […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation will host a Field to Freezer workshop in Kirksville on basic deer processing. The free workshop, designed for persons at least 11 years old, will be at the MDC Northeast Regional Office on the evening of November 2nd from 5:30 to 8:30. The program will cover the field dressing process […]
This year’s annual wild turkey brood survey by the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that turkey production was slightly better on the statewide scale this year and some regions saw significant improvements in productivity. MDC’s statewide poult-to-hen ratio (PHR) for this year was 1.0, which was 11% greater than the 2019 PHR and equal to […]
Earlier this year, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) made the decision to modify the 2020-2021 waterfowl managed hunt process to assure the safety of hunters and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the first managed hunt application period set to open on Oct. 20, MDC has determined procedural levels for the start of the […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold a free basic shotgun wingshooting workshop near Kirksville. Hunters at least 14 years old are invited to the program outside at the Big Creek Conservation Area October 27th at 4:30. The workshop will help new shooters and migratory and upland bird hunters improve their hunting skills. Topics to […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation is accepting applications through Nov. 13 for the Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program (MRAP). The MRAP program provides incentive payments and habitat improvement help to private landowners who open their properties to the public for walk-in hunting, fishing, or wildlife viewing. The recreation allowed on each property varies according to […]
Cooler temperatures and longer nights mean more wildlife movement along and across state roads. The Missouri Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be prepared for the sudden appearance of wild animals such as deer and coyote on Missouri roadways during the fall. “Deer/vehicle collisions are at their peak from mid-October through the end of November,” […]
Missouri’s hills might not be alive with the sound of music, but they soon will transition into a kaleidoscope of color. The foliage of trees, shrubs, and vines is about to burst into its full glory. Colors usually peak around the third weekend of October, but Mother Nature is a woman of mystery. “It’s always […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation announces it has changed its mandatory sampling requirements for chronic wasting disease to voluntary sampling in 30 counties during the opening weekend of this year’s November firearms portion of deer season. The change was prompted by ongoing cases and public-health concerns in Missouri regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The change will […]
With a few modifications, the 34th annual fall driving tour at the Poosey Conservation Area will occur from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has changed the format slightly as a precaution against COVID-19. But the annual driving tour uphill and down on winding gravel roads through […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation recently awarded $366,446 to Missouri communities through its Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, schools, and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands. “TRIM grants help communities with tree management-related activities that help keep neighborhood trees […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reports low levels of hemorrhagic disease (HD) in deer around the state. HD is a naturally occurring virus that infects deer through the bite of a native midge fly. It is common in Missouri between July and October when the insect that spreads it is most active. Hemorrhagic disease in […]
With fall firearms turkey season running Oct. 1 – 31 and archery turkey season underway, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) advises turkey hunters it could be another challenging season. According to MDC, turkey production in Missouri steadily increased during the 1990s before declining during the 2000s. While production began to increase throughout much of […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds anglers that a definition for “invasive fish” has been added to the Wildlife Code of Missouri and effects what type of fish is allowed for use as live bait. The definition includes a list of bighead carp, silver carp, grass carp, and common carp. “Invasive fish are not native […]
