CONSERVATION ACTION

News of the January 21, 1999 Special Conservation Commission meeting

Contact: Jo Radmacher, (573) 751-4115;

E-mail: Jo.Radmacher@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission met via a telephone conference call on January 21 at Department Headquarters in Jefferson City. Commissioners participating were:

Randy Herzog, in St. Joseph

Anita B. Gorman, in Kansas City

Howard L. Wood, in Bonne Terre

Ronald J. Stites, in Kansas City

The primary item on the Commission's agenda was consideration of the Report of the Regulations Committee that included a recommendation to amend Missouri's waterfowl hunting rules and establish an extended season in 1999 for blue, snow and Ross' geese, including the use of extraordinary hunting methods, that will comply fully with regulations of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service now pending final approval through the Federal Register process. Unless excepted in the proposed extended season, federal regulations for the taking, possession, transportation and storage of waterfowl continue in effect.

The Commission accepted the Report and, by unanimous vote, approved the following, to become effective February 1, 1999:

Blue, snow and Ross' geese may be taken statewide from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset from March 11 to April 30, 1999, with no daily bag limit and no possession limit, by persons who possess a 1999 Migratory Bird Hunting Permit; except the permit requirement is waived for landowners and lessees, as described in this code, on any land s/he owns or, in the case of the lessee, upon which s/he resides, and for persons fifteen (15) years of age or younger, provided s/he is in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult or has in his/her possession a valid hunter education certificate card. Hunting methods authorized for taking blue, snow and Ross' geese from February 1 to April 30 may include shotguns capable of holding more than three (3) shells, and may include the use of recorded or electronically amplified bird calls.

Also by unanimous vote, the Commission approved establishment and modification of public use activities on lakes owned by the City of Sedalia and managed by the Department under a Community Assistance Program agreement, to become effective June 1, 1999.