Missouri - Austin Jones, a 13-year old student at Richland R-1 Schools, knows all to well the pride in frogging in Missouri.  He is the son of Carlie & Cody Jones. He's counting the days until Frogging season opens!!

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages Missourians to discover nature this summer -- and one fun and exciting way is through frogging. Frogging season begins June 30 at sunset and ends Oct. 31. Missouri has two frog species that are legal game — bullfrog and green frog. Bullfrogs are larger and therefore more sought-after.

The daily limit is eight frogs of both species combined and the possession limit is 16 frogs of both species combined. Only the daily limit may be possessed on the waters or banks thereof where limits apply. Daily limits end at midnight so froggers who catch their daily limits before midnight and then want to return for more frogging after midnight must remove the daily limit of previously caught frogs from the waters or banks before returning for more.

Frogging can be done with either a fishing permit or a small-game hunting permit. Children under the age of 16 and Missouri residents 65 years of age or older are not required to have a permit. Those with a fishing permit may take frogs by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throw line, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing or pole and line. With a small game hunting permit, frogs may be harvested using a .22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle or pistol, pellet gun, atlatl, bow, crossbow, or by hand or hand net. The use of an artificial light is permitted when frogging.

Missouri - Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 189,938 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 14-24. Of the 189,938 deer harvested, 92,020 were antlered bucks, 21,256 were button bucks, and 76,662 were does. Top harvest counties were Texas with 4,544 deer checked, Howell with 4,046, and Franklin with 3,707.

Last year, hunters checked 166,383 deer during the 2014 November portion of firearms deer season with 78,556 being antlered bucks, 19,300 being button bucks, and 68,527 being does.

"Good weather and plenty of deer activity likely are the reasons why there was an increase in deer harvest during the November portion of the firearms deer season this year," MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners said.

MDC reported five firearms-related hunting incidents during the fall firearms November portion. The five incidents involved self-inflicted firearm wounds and occurred in Butler (2), Franklin, Newton, and Howard counties.

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting from Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, firearms antlerless portion Nov. 25 through Dec. 6, firearms alternative methods portion Dec. 19-29, and firearms late youth portion Jan. 2-3.

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians' lives and family traditions. Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies.

Dexter, Missouri - Through a cooperative effort involving several entities, another successful deer hunting adventure took place at Gobbler Ridge Farms on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Disabled Veterans
Wildlife Facility.

The 125-acre farm, located west of Bloomfield, was offered to six area disabled veterans on Tuesday for a day of deer hunting in some prime Stoddard County wilderness.

Gobbler Ridge Farm, owned by Tom Love and Alan Hedrick, was transformed into a haven for disabled veterans in 2012 through a no-cost lease agreement with its owners and the American Legion Post #59 in Dexter.

Legion members manage the facility, which includes a spacious, handicap equipped cabin, and the facility operates through generous community donations and a host of volunteers.

Along with Tom Love and members of Post 59, making the hunt possible were several members of the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Sikeston Rotary Club, Jerry Elder with Zalma Frozen Foods and members of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The six veterans ended their day with a total of three deer killed. The group enjoyed lunch in the cabin on the farm and a tour of the grounds.

The Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility is available to all disabled veterans in the area, regardless of whether the disability is a direct result of their service.

Contact Tom Love at (573) 820-0802 for further information. The farm is available for hunting, fishing, or simply enjoying the abundant wildlife on the farm.

Veterans included in the hunt were Chris Hyche, Tony LaForest, Mike Cord, Matt Johnston, Wayne Godwin and Tony Curran

Missouri - Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 97,171 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 14 and 15. Of the 97,171 deer harvested, 53,359 were antlered bucks, 10,320 were button bucks, and 33,492 were does.

Top harvest counties for opening weekend were Texas County with 2,184 deer checked, Howell County with 1,959 and Franklin County with 1,899.   

Last year, hunters checked 91,460 deer during the opening weekend of the 2014 November Portion of Firearms Deer Season.

The November portion of the fall firearms deer season continues through Nov. 24. Archery deer hunting opens again from Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2016. The firearms antlerless portion will run Nov. 25 through Dec. 6. The firearms alternative methods portion will run Dec. 19-29 followed by the firearms late youth portion Jan. 2-3, 2016. Missouri's early youth weekend ran Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The firearms deer urban zone portion ran Oct. 9 – 12.

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians' lives and family traditions. Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies.

Shown in the photo are Ben and Melissa Stevens of Dexter, Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced that hunters checked 6,158 turkeys during Missouri's fall firearms turkey season, which ran Oct. 1 - 31. Last year's fall firearms turkey harvest total was 5,680. Top harvest counties for the 2015 fall firearms turkey season were Dent with 210, Greene with 159, and Franklin with 148.

Fall archery turkey hunting continues until Nov. 13 and then resumes again from Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2016.

For fall firearms turkey harvest results by county and type of bird, go online to the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.