Jefferson City, Missouri -  The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters that migratory bird season starts Sept. 1 with the opening day for dove, snipe, and rail, followed by teal hunting starting Sept. 9, and woodcock Oct. 15.

Mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves, and white-winged doves may be taken from Sept. 1 through Nov. 29 from one half hour before sunrise to sunset with a combined daily limit of 15 and a combined possession limit of 45 for all species.

MDC provides numerous conservation areas around the state for dove hunting, including many planted with crops of sunflower, corn, millet, wheat, and buckwheat to attract the popular game birds. Find conservation areas for dove hunting and dove-field maps online at nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/dove-hunting-areas.

Wilson’s snipe (common snipe) may be taken from Sept. 1 through Dec. 16 from one half hour before sunrise to sunset with a daily limit of 8 and a possession limit of 24.

Sora and Virginia rail may be taken from Sept. 1 through Nov. 9 from one half hour before sunrise to sunset with a combined daily limit of 25 and a combined possession limit of 75 for both species.

Hunting season for blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal runs Sept. 9 - 24 from sunrise to sunset with a combined daily limit of 6 and a combined possession limit of 18 for all species.

Hunting season for American woodcock runs Oct. 15 through Nov. 28 from one half hour before sunrise to sunset with a daily limit of 3 and a possession limit of 9.

Ozark, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that Timothy Keene of Ozark became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he hooked a quillback on Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County using a rod and reel.

The new “pole and line” record quillback caught by Keene on June 26 weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces. It broke the previous state-record of 2 pounds, 12 ounces. Keene and a fishing buddy were using red and purple-colored spoons trying to catch walleye when he hooked the state-record quillback.

“The quillback put up a pretty good fight. I fought it for at least four minutes until I got it in the boat,” Keene said.

Keene said once he got it in the boat he didn’t really know what type of fish it was, but his fishing buddy did.

“I’m pretty new at fishing so I don’t know all the fish species, but my fishing buddy knew we had a really nice size quillback,” he said. “After some quick research, we were confident we had a new state-record fish.”

Keene says he still can’t believe he has a Missouri state record, which was confirmed by MDC staff using a certified scale at Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery.

“I can’t believe it! This is an event I would have never dreamed of,” he said.

The quillback fish is a part of the sucker family. It is deeper-bodied than most suckers, leading to a carp-like appearance. It can be distinguished from carp by the lack of barbels around the mouth.

Keene is unsure if he is going to mount the fish or not.

Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.

The St. Francois County outdoor enthusiast brings experience and passion to MDC.

Jefferson City, Missouri - Gov. Greitens announced on July 31 the appointment of long-time conservationist and outdoor enthusiast Nicole Wood to the Missouri Conservation Commission. The Governor has appointed Wood to a term that expires June 30, 2023. Wood replaces James T. Blair, IV, of St. Louis whose Commission appointment expired. Wood’s appointment will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

Wood is the director of operations at Woodland Operations and Maintenance, where she is involved in the daily management of 20,000 acres of land in the Missouri Ozarks. She is only the fifth woman appointed to the Conservation Commission in the Department’s 80 year history.  

“Nicole’s passion for the outdoors and her strong business acumen will be extremely beneficial to the Commission’s ongoing work in strategic planning, budget guidance, and Wildlife Code regulations,” said Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker Pauley.

Wood serves on the boards of the National Wildlife Federation, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Parkland Hospital Foundation, and the National Wildlife Federation Endowment. She and her family share a passion for the outdoors.

“Missouri has the best Department of Conservation in the United States and, to be part of that as a commissioner is an incredible honor,” Wood said. “I look forward to working with all the commissioners, staff and citizens on continuing to make the Department the best in the country.”

Her interest in the outdoors started at a young age while on family hunting and fishing trips. She enjoys floating, rafting, kayaking or just sitting on a gravel bar. Wood also has a family history of commitment to conservation with her father, Howard Wood, serving as commissioner from 1997 to 2003.

The Missouri Conservation Commission controls, manages, restores, conserves and regulates the bird, fish, game, forestry and all wildlife resources of the state, including hatcheries, sanctuaries, refuges, reservations and all other property owned, acquired or used for such purposes, as well as the acquisition and establishment of those properties. 

Greentop, Missouri -  The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports Bowen Dockery of Greentop became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he caught a green sunfish on a private pond in Schuyler County. The new “alternative method” record fish caught by Dockery on July 5 weighed 1 pound, 3 ounces. Dockery’s recent catch broke the previous state record of 6-ounces, caught in 1993.

“Pulling up that trotline and seeing that large green sunfish on the end of my hook is wild to think about. I still can’t believe I caught that fish,” Dockery said.

Dockery said he was fishing for bait using night crawlers when he caught the state-record green sunfish.

“This was my first time I have ever fished with a trotline, and somehow I caught a state-record fish,” he said. “I have tried to break records fishing in the Mississippi River before, but I never thought I would break a record by fishing out of my own pond. I’m so excited about this catch.”

MDC weighed the green sunfish on a certified scale in Kirksville.

“This is the eighth state-record fish this year. 2017 is shaping up to be a year for state-record fish,” said MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. “The mild weather we have had this year means more anglers are fishing, and catching big fish.”

Dockery said he plans to mount the new state-record green sunfish.

Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl. 

Dexter, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Dexter Greenhead Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will host their Annual Duck Banding Event at Otter Slough Conservation Area on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 7:00 a.m.

The event will begin with Missouri Department of Conservation staff demonstrating electrofishing equipment on Cypress Lake. 

Fisheries Biologist Mike Reed will run a electrofishing boat along the shoreline and you will have a front row seat to the fish population of Cypress Lake.  Mike will also show how biologists tag fish for research projects.  While everyone is watching the show, Ducks Unlimited volunteers and MDC staff will be operating various capture equipment around Otter Slough hoping to catch mourning doves and ducks. 

Following the fish show, will be an opportunity for all youth to assist wildlife biologists band and release any birds captured on the area that day.  For a grand finale, we will travel out to a rocket net site on Otter Slough and see first hand how the nets are deployed to capture wildlife.  Ducks Unlimited volunteers will also be on hand to demonstrate retriever handling techniques and hand out some free stuff for the kids.  

The event will begin at 7:00 a.m. sharp in the large parking lot next to Cypress Lake and the equipment yard at Otter Slough Conservation Area. Most of the activities will occur in shaded areas and will conclude at approximately 10:00 a.m. 

No registration is required and the event is free to all ages.