The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer and turkey hunters of regulation changes that apply to hunting this fall.
* Crossbows have been added as a legal method during archery deer and turkey seasons and also during the fall firearms turkey season. As a result, MDC has removed the “hunting method exemption” requirement for hunters to use crossbows during the archery deer season. The regulation change will provide additional hunting opportunities for young hunters and help prolong hunting activities for older participants.
* To offer additional hunting opportunities for youths, MDC has expanded the late youth portion of the fall firearms deer season from two to three days and moved it earlier in the season. It will now start on the first Friday after Thanksgiving instead of in early January.
* MDC has reduced the length of the deer-hunting antlerless portion from 12 to three days and it now begins on the first Friday in December.
* The Department has eliminated the urban-zones portion of the firearms deer season and has moved the areas under statewide regulations.
According to MDC, there were so few deer harvested during this portion that it proved unnecessary.
* To help protect young bucks and increase the number of mature bucks, the harvest limit of antlered deer has been reduced from three to two during the combined archery and firearms deer hunting season. Only one antlered deer may be taken during the firearms deer hunting season, and only one antlered deer may be take prior to the November portion of the firearms deer season.
* Hunters who harvest deer during the opening weekend of the fall firearms November portion (Nov. 12 and 13) in any of the 29 counties of the Department’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone in northeast, central, and east-central Missouri are required to present their deer for CWD sample collection on the day of harvest at one of 75 MDC CWD sampling locations throughout the 29 counties. Hunters also have the option of presenting just the deer head with about six inches of neck attached. Sampling locations will be open from 7:30 a.m. through 8 p.m. The 29 counties of the CWD Management Zone are: Adair, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Putnam, Randolph, St. Charles, St. Louis, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Warren, and Washington.
*FALL DEER AND TURKEY HUNTING DATES*
* Archery Deer and Turkey: Sept. 15 - Nov. 11 and Nov. 23 - Jan. 15, 2017
* Firearms Turkey: Oct. 1 - 31
* Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 29 and 30
* Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 12 - 22
* Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 25 - 27
* Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: Dec. 2 - 4
* Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 24 - Jan. 3, 2017
*Get more information from MDC’s “2016 Fall Dee
Puxico, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is giving youth hunters a chance to learn all of the skills needed to try waterfowl hunting. The free clinic is scheduled for Oct. 1, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA) on Highway 51 north of Puxico.
“This is a very hands-on course and is an environment where anyone can learn, even if they’ve never fired a gun before,” said Dee Dee Dockins, MDC’s southeast region outdoor skills specialist.
The hands-on clinic will cover wing shooting, waterfowl hunting techniques, distance estimation, waterfowl identification, bird retrieval, ammunition selection and much more. After participants complete the clinic, they will be eligible for a waterfowl hunt during the regular season at their choice of Southeast Missouri waterfowl areas. No prior hunting experience is required and equipment will be provided if needed.
"The target shooting and one-on-one instruction is really helpful," said Will Leonard of Sikeston. Leonard is a graduate of the course and a new waterfowl hunter.
After a short presentation about waterfowl hunting, experts lead the group in a field trip to acquire the skills needed for their upcoming waterfowl hunt. Participants and mentors will then enjoy a lunch of various waterfowl.
The event is free to participants but requires pre-registration and a $25 deposit that will be refunded the day of the event. Applicants must be 11 to 15 years of age and must have an adult guardian attend with them. Participants must also be Hunter Education certified before the day of the event. For more information or to sign up for the 2016 Youth Waterfowl Clinic, call the MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at (573) 290-5730.
Bloomfield, Missouri - The annual UCAN 4-Person Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, September 30th with a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
All proceeds benefit UCAN - the area's first non-profit organization formed for the singular purpose of assisting area cancer patients.
The tournament will be held at Crowley's Ridge Country Club in Bloomfield.
The entree fee per golfer is $60 or $240 for a team of four. Cart is not included. Lunch, snacks, and beverages are provided. There will be a 50/50 raffle, hole prizes, and more. Skins games are $20 per team and Mulligans are $5.00 per player.
Entry forms are available at First Midwest Bank in Dexter. Contact Kim Sifford at (573) 624-3571 or Janice Nichols at (573) 624-5525 for forms. If you would like to be a Hole Sponsor the cost is $100. Mail in your registration fees to First Midwest Bank of Dexter, P.O. Box 158, Dexter, MO 63841.
Bernie, Missouri - The Mules took the sting out of the Hornets on Friday evening beating Holcomb 13-3 in five innings.
Fifth inning runs put the nail in the coffee when the Mules earned six runs scoring on an RBI single by Alex Guzman, a walk by Nate Dillinger, a stolen home by Wyatt Barnett, a sacrifice fly by Jayce Burk and an error.
Bernie jumped out to an early lead in the first inning scoring on a Jayce Burk single. He stole 2nd base and finally rounded the bases for home.
The Hornets scored three runs taking the lead; but the Mules kicked it up a notch and managed to grab the lead back in a strong fourth inning show. They went up for good on a two-run double by Dillinger off Josh Watson (Hornets Pitcher) bring home Corbin Hunt and Alex Guzman. Dillinger racked up three RBIs on one hit.
Dalton Hobgood got the win for the Bernie Mules varsity. He allowed three runs over five innings, struck out four, walked one and surrendered six hits.
Watson of Holcomb was charged with the loss. He allowed 13 runs in four inning, walked three and struck out only one Mule.
The Bernie Mules will be back in action on Tuesday night when they host the Campbell Camels at 4:30 p.m.
Bernie, Missouri - The Mules varsity baseball team outlasted Twin Rivers on Monday squeaking out a 5 - 3 win at home.
Senior Jayce Burk lead the way for the Mules with a three RBI day.
Twin Rivers grabbed the early lead in the top of the first when LeGrand kicked things off with a single. Bernie bounced back to go up 2 - 1 in the third by scoring sophomore Wyatt Barnett and senior Corbin Hunt.
Royals then went back ahead in the 5th from a 2-run by LeGrand to make it a 3 - 2 game.
The Mules rallied back in the 6th scoring junior Weston Comstock, Barnett, and Burk. Comstock lead things off with a lead-off single. Barnett and Burk followed with singles of their own. An error on a Gavin Brown (junior) hit and a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Josh Ellenburg lead to Bernie finally taking the lead 5 - 3.
Bernie didn't give up the lead after the 6th inning. Alex Guzman (senior) closed out the game for the Mules to earn the save. Blake Beacham got the win for Bernie. He allowed three runs over six innings, striking out one, walked two, and surrendered six hits.
LeGrand took the loss for Twin Rivers. He walked one, struck out six, and allowed five runs.
Bernie will be back in action on Wednesday, August 31st when they host the Bell City Cubs. Game time 4:30 pm
