Squirrels and smallmouth bass make Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.
JEFFERSON CITY–Whether your taste in outdoor activities runs toward fishing or hunting, May 25 is a day to mark on your calendar.
Missouri’s hunting season for gray and fox squirrels opens May 25 and runs through Feb. 15, 2014. Legal methods include rifles, shotguns, [...]

If you are part hunter, part baseball stats fanatic, you probably already know about this.
It’s an odd combination of wildlife management, numbers and fun. We’re indebted to the Missouri Department of Conservation for this clickable widget, telling us more than we every dreamed possible about the spring turkey harvest.
How many hens were killed in [...]

JEFFERSON CITY–Hunters shot 42,220 turkeys during Missouri’s regular spring turkey season. That is an increase of 1,773, or 4 percent, from 2012.
Top harvest counties during the regular spring turkey season April 15 through May 5 were Franklin with 996 birds checked, Texas with 879, and Callaway with 710
This year’s spring turkey season was the safest [...]

Late spring may affect turkey hunters
Mature gobblers and jakes are more plentiful this spring…
By Jim Low, Missouri Department of Conservation

Hunters hoping to bag mature gobblers during the early season should cultivate patience and watch wild turkey hens, according to the Show-Me State’s top turkey expert.
Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle oversees turkey management for the Missouri Department [...]

Quick Draw option for waterfowl hunting increases “poor line” spots
MDC decision based on hunter feedback and analysis of past hunting seasons.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Based on feedback from waterfowl hunters and analysis of past waterfowl seasons, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is implementing a minor change to “Quick Draw.” This online draw system is [...]

By Jo Schaper
With the 8th Congressional District’s seat officially vacant, Missouri’s two senators, Roy Blunt (R) and Claire McCaskill (D) have been meeting in February with federal officials as they seek to make a final determination on the 58-year-old New Madrid Floodway/St. John’s Bayou project along the east side of Mississippi County
They continue to [...]

Jo is quite frankly confused about the new Missouri Department of Conservation policy on feral hogs.
An MDC Facebook post on February 4 has elicited a fair amount of comment, both pro and con.
That post linked to a page on the MDC website:
http://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/problem-plants-and-animals/invasive-animals/feral-hog-control
This basically says, “shoot hogs on sight if you are out for other reasons, [...]

(This unsolicited blog on hearing protection tweaked Jo’s interest; her best girlfriend has always been hearing impaired. Mr. O’Connor makes some points which bear repeating as hunters ready their equipment for the upcoming seasons. – Jo)
By John O’Connor
Hi my name is John O’Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman and passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. [...]

By Jo Schaper
The headline on the KY3.com story caught my eye.
The gist of the story is: feral hogs are OK to shoot on sight. Both the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the USDA APHIS division have made this clear. But MDC says not to hunt them, especially on public land.
So what’s the deal? According [...]

Managed turkey hunt application deadline is Feb. 28
MDC’s spring 2013 managed turkey hunts include ones for youth and people with disabilities.
JEFFERSON CITY Mo. – Turkey hunters have until Feb. 28 to apply for managed hunts during Missouri’s 2013 spring turkey season. A list of all 19 managed turkey hunts and application instructions are available at [...]