Sports
MDC and MBRC Host 19th Annual Take a Kid Fishing Clinic
July 28th 2017 by Dee Loflin
MDC, MBRC host 19th annual Take a Kid Fishing Clinic
Conservation agents will lead archery activities and offer boat rides while families fish together.
KENNETT, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium (MBRC) Inc. will host the 19th annual Take a Kid Fishing Clinic at Jerry P. Combs Lake, Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the largest annual fishing event in the Bootheel.
“This event typically pulls in 500 or more people and we’re glad it’s popular,” said Conservation Agent Eric Heuring.
The purpose of the event, which is part of MBRC’s Fathers First Initiative, is to engage fathers and children in outdoor activities together. In addition to fishing, MDC will lead archery activities and offer boat rides on the lake, The Missouri National Guard will be present, free lunch and breakfast refreshments will be provided by MBRC, and a limited number of t-shirts will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Cynthia Dean, CEO of MBRC, said the Fatherhood First program was initiated in 1998 in order to assist fathers in maintaining positive relationships with their children and families. She said the fishing clinic helps support local interventions and services to assist fathers in overcoming barriers to responsible fatherhood.
“MBRC is committed to continuing this important community event to emphasize the importance of male involvement in the lives of their children and families,” Dean said.
Adults and children are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles and equipment. A limited number of loaner fishing poles will be available, with identification required for use of loaner poles. All children must be accompanied at all times by an adult.
“Fishing and other outdoor activities provide a perfect opportunity for families to bond as they learn about and enjoy the outdoors,” Heuring said. “MDC is proud to be a part of this event because of the strong tie to maintaining that tradition of families enjoying nature together.”
Heuring has coordinated MDC’s portion of the event for well over a decade. He said watching children experience nature, sometimes for the first time, never gets old.
“The highlight of this event is always witnessing the children have a great time catching fish, getting a bull’s-eye and going on the boat rides. For many, this is a first time experience with these activities,” he said.
Heuring said for MDC, this event is part of a mission to help people discover nature. He said the hope is that after experiencing these outdoor activities for the first time at an event, parents and children will incorporate things like fishing, archery and general outdoor time into their regular routines.
“Fishing, like anything else, is only improved when enjoyed with your family,” Heuring added.
To learn more about the MBRC Fishing Clinic, go online to mbrcinc.org/2017-fishing. For more information on places to fish in Missouri, go online to mdc.mo.gov/fish. For information on MDC nature programs occurring throughout Missouri, go to mdc.mo.gov/events.
Last Updated on July 28th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v7va/MDC-and-MBRC-Host-19th-Annual-Take-a-Kid-Fishing-Clinic
MDC and Partners Provide Mentored Dove Hunts for First-Time Hunters
July 08th 2017 by Dee Loflin
MDC and partners provide mentored dove hunts for first-time hunters
Dove fields around state offer opportunities to learn to hunt these migratory game birds.
Jefferson City, Missouri - Interested in dove hunting but have not yet given it a try? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) -- in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Quail Forever, Missouri Prairie Foundation, and private landowners -- will provide mentored dove hunts for first-time hunters starting in September.
The hunts will take place on 10 fields primarily located on private land in or near the communities of Cabool, Chillicothe, Hartsville, Joplin, Lynchburg, Mokane, Mountain Grove, Paris, St. Genevieve, and Washington.
According to event organizers, there will be three hunts offered on each field, including one or two on opening day of dove season (Sept. 1) and then one or two other days. Those dates are yet to be determined.
Each field will be limited to two first-time hunters and their mentors per acre to maximize safety and provide a quality experience. Priority will be given to anyone 11 and older who is hunting for the first time. Second priority will be given to new migratory bird hunters and youths 11-15 who may have previously hunted doves.
Field assignments will be determined on a first-come-first-served basis. First-time hunters can attend multiple hunts as registration space permits.
Each participating new hunter will be assigned a mentor and are encouraged to attend a pre-hunt workshop or a hunter-education course prior to participating in a hunt. Workshops provide basic hunter safety in addition to information about dove biology and management, the importance of hunters and hunting, and the opportunity to practice shooting a shotgun.
Last Updated on July 08th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v7qr/MDC-and-Partners-Provide-Mentored-Dove-Hunts-for-FirstTime-Hunters
Geese Banded at the Dexter City Pond
July 06th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Dexter, Missouri - More than 60 geese were captured at the Dexter Pond on One Mile Road last week. About half were new geese that were banded the others were banded from years past. This is a great opportunity to study the birds and to monitor their survival and harvest rates in our area. The geese were not harmed and were released back to the pond within less than one hour.
Canada geese in Cape Girardeau, Stoddard, Dunklin, Mississippi, and St. Francois counties were rounded up and banded this week as part of the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) efforts to track them. MDC biologists check the numbers on geese that already have leg bands and put new leg bands on birds that are without. The purpose is to monitor survival and harvest rates of Canada geese and collect information that influences hunting season lengths and limits.
"We can also learn interesting things about where geese go after they get banded or how long they may live in the wild," said MDC Wildlife Management Biologist Kevin Brunke. "We get data back from birds when hunters harvest a banded goose and report its band number."
When a banded bird is harvested, hunters report band numbers to www.reportband.gov or by calling 1-800-327-BAND. This cooperation between conservation organizations and hunters helps biologists learn about and manage the species.
"The Canada goose population seems to be stable in Southeast Missouri," Brunke said. "The numbers of birds we catch at individual locations varies from year to year, but overall, the population levels do not seem to be increasing or decreasing."
Brunke and other MDC biologists submit their locally collected data to MDC resource scientists who enter the data into the U.S. Geological Survey's Bird Banding Laboratory's database. Every bird that is banded goes through the Bird Banding Laboratory's system. From that system, researchers and biologists can use data from across the nation or local data to answer specific questions they may have in managing the bird populations. Managing the species benefits the birds and the people who enjoy watching and hunting them.
"Canada geese offer many Missourians the chance to view wildlife in their own back yard this time of year," Brunke said. "Many parks or residential areas with manicured grass and small lakes attract geese to raise their broods and molt their wing feathers. In the fall, many hunters enjoy hunting geese."
Brunke said sometimes conflicts arise when one neighbor may enjoy watching the geese through the summer, but another neighbor doesn't appreciate the mess they leave behind on their lawn, docks, or driveways.
Canada geese live most often on farm ponds, lakes, and marshes. Once close to extinction, this species has made an amazing recovery. They can be so numerous they cause problems from overgrazing, abundant droppings, collisions with aircraft, destruction of newly sprouted crops, and more. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects these geese, their nests, and eggs, but the Missouri Department of Conservation can issue permits to help control nuisance geese.
Canada geese play an important role in nature, as many predators feed on the eggs and young. In addition to their grazing in wetlands throughout the state, Canada geese and other waterfowl have an important impact when they gather in wetland staging areas along migration routes.
More information about Canada geese can be found at https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/canada-goose.
Last Updated on July 06th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v7qk/Geese-Banded-at-the-Dexter-City-Pond
Frogging Begins June 30th at Sunset
June 27th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages Missourians to discover nature this summer. 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 ᾢ 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 waters and banks of waters where hunting.
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 artificial light is permitted when frogging.
Last Updated on June 27th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v7p3/Frogging-Begins-June-30th-at-Sunset
Apply Online July 1st for 100 MDC Managed Deer Hunts
June 19th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Apply online starting July 1 for a shot at more than 100 MDC managed deer hunts
Apply starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt for a shot at more than 100 hunts.
Missouri - Beginning July 1, deer hunters can apply online through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) website for a shot at more than 100 managed deer hunts throughout the state for archery, muzzleloading, and modern firearms from mid-September through mid-January at conservation areas, state and other parks, national wildlife refuges, and other public areas. Some managed hunts are held specifically for youth or for people with disabilities.
The managed deer hunt application period is July 1 - 31. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available Sept. 1 through Jan. 15. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by mail.
Get more information on managed deer hunts, preview hunt details, and apply starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt.
Details about managed hunts can also be found in MDC's "2017 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information" booklet available starting in early July at MDC offices and nature centers, from permit vendors around the state, and online at mdc.mo.gov.
Last Updated on June 19th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v7nj/Apply-Online-July-1st-for-100-MDC-Managed-Deer-Hunts
