CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the August 24, 2001 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Stephanie Ramsey, (573) 751-4115;
E-mail: Stephanie.Ramsey@mdc.mo.gov

Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City
Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
Stephen C. Bradford, Cape Girardeau
Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis

The next meeting of the Conservation Commission is September 28, 2001, in West Plains, Missouri.

Commission meetings are open to the public.Those wishing to be placed on the agenda for a presentation or other business must send a written request to: Director, Department of Conservation, P. O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or FAX to (573) 751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date.

At the previous Commission Meeting held on July 18, 2001:

• Anita B. Gorman was elected Chairman and Howard L.Wood was elected Vice-Chairman.
• Election of Secretary was postponed until official notification of the appointment of members to the Conservation Commission was made by Governor Bob Holden.
• Official notification was presented by Stephen C. Bradford and Cynthia Metcalfe.
• Mr. Bradford and Ms. Metcalfe were sworn in on August 23 by The Honorable Patricia S. Joyce, Associate Circuit Judge of Cole County Missouri.
• Mr. Bradford was elected Secretary of the Commission, with Ms. Metcalfe serving as Member.

REGULATIONS: The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Committee, approving recommendations for 2001-2002 waterfowl hunting seasons:

1. Duck Season
60 days within each of the three zones, with an opening framework date of the Saturday nearest October 1 (September 29, 2001) and a closing framework date of the Sunday nearest January 20 (January 20, 2002).

• Regular Hunting Days:
  North Zone: October 27-December 25
  October 27 - November 15 for canvasbacks
  Middle Zone: November 3 - January 1
  November 3 - November 22 for canvasbacks
  South Zone: November 22 - January 20
  January 1 - January 20 for canvasbacks
• Youth Hunting Days:
  North Zone: October 20-21
  Middle Zone: October 27-28
  South Zone November 17-18
  (Participants in Youth Hunting Days must be less than 16 years of age and must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 18 years of age who will not be permitted to hunt. Adults need not be licensed if the youth possesses a valid hunter education certificate card.) Bag limits for ducks and geese will be the same as during the regular waterfowl season. The daily bag limit includes 1 canvasback during youth hunting days.
• Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
  Bag Limit: 6 ducks daily with species restrictions of:
  - 4 mallards (no more than 2 females)
  - 3 scaup
  - 2 wood ducks
  - 2 redheads
  - 1 pintail
  - 1 black duck
  - 1 canvasback during the prescribed
  season
  - 1 hooded merganser
  Possession Limit: Twice the daily bag (in total 12; varies by
  species)

2. Coot Season
Concurrent with duck season in the respective zones with a daily bag limit of 15 and possession limit of 30.

3. Goose Season

A. Blue, Snow and Ross' geese
107 days in the respective zones with framework closing date March 10.

North and Swan Lake Zone: October 27 - January 30 (96 days)
Middle Zone: November 3 - January 30 (89 days)
South and Southeast Zone: November 22 - January 30 (70 days)

B. White-fronted geese
86 days (2-goose limit) or 107 days (1-goose limit) in the respective zones with framework closing date of the Sunday nearest February 15 (February 17, 2002). The Committee recommends the 86-day season and 2-goose bag option
North Zone September 29 - October 8
(except Swan Lake Zone) October 27 - November 25
December 22 - January 30 (80 days)
Swan Lake Zone October 27 - November 25
December 15 - January 30 (77 days)
Middle Zone September 29 - October 8
(except Southeast Zone) November 3 - November 25
December 22 - January 30 (73 days)
South and Southeast Zone November 22 - January 30 (70 days)

C. Canada geese and Brant
70 days statewide with no more than 30 days after November 30 in the North, Middle and Swan Lake zones; framework closing date January 31, 2002.
North Zone September 29 - October 8
(except Swan Lake Zone) October 27 - November 25
December 22 - January 20 (70 days)
Swan Lake Zone October 27 - November 25
December 15 - January 13 (60 days)
Middle Zone September 29 - October 8
(except Southeast Zone) November 3 - November 25
December 22 - January 20 (63 days)

South and Southeast Zone November 22 - January 30 (70 days)

The daily bag and possession limits include no more than 20 Blue, Snow, or Ross' geese daily (no possession limit) and 2 Brant daily (4 in possession) and 2 White-fronted geese daily (4 in possession).
In the North Zone (except Swan Lake Zone), Middle Zone, the bag limit is 3 Canada geese daily (6 in possession during September 29 - October 8); and 2 Canada geese daily (4 in possession) thereafter.
In the Swan Lake Zone, South and Southeast Zone, the bag limit is 2 Canada geese daily (4 in possession).

4. Falconry Season for Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers

North Zone September 8 - September 23
September 26 - December 25

Middle Zone September 8 - September 23
October 23 - January 1

South Zone September 8- September 23
October 22 - January 20

The daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed 3 and 6 birds respectively, singly, or in the aggregate during both regular duck hunting season and extended falconry seasons.

5. Light Goose Conservation Order

The hunting season for Blue, Snow and Ross' geese is closed statewide beginning January 30, 2002. Persons who possess a valid migratory bird permit may chase, pursue, and take Blue, Snow and Ross' geese between the hours of one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset from January 31 through April 30, 2002. Any other regulation notwithstanding, methods for the taking of Blue, Snow and Ross' geese include using shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, and with the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds. A daily bag limit will not be in effect during January 31 - April 30, 2002.

6. Approved amending the following recommended changes that will become effective March 1, 2002:

• Open Rudolf Bennitt Lake on Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area to fishing.
• Change the daily limit on black bass at Manitou Lake in Moniteau County from two to six fish.
• Change the length limit on black bass at Manitou Lake in Moniteau County from an 18" minimum to a 12-15" protected slot limit.
• Establish provisions for boat use on Stephens Lake (Columbia).
• Change the name of the reservoir managed in cooperation with the City of Unionville from City Lake to Lake Mahoney.
• Establish a daily limit of two black bass on Stephens Lake (Columbia), Teal Lake (Mexico) and Lake Mahoney (Unionville)
• Establish daily limit on bluegill on Stephens Lake (Columbia) and McCredie Lake (University of Missouri ).
• Change the minimum length limit on black bass at Lake Mahoney (Unionville).
• Establish minimum length limit on black bass at Stephens Lake (Columbia) and on bluegill at Stephens Lake (Columbia).
• Eliminate the minimum length limit on bluegill at Dairy Farm Lake No. 1(University of Missouri).

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

1. Authorized entering into contracts for: construction of the Roaring River State Park Hatchery Bridge Repair and Bank Fishing Development Project located in Barry County; and for supply and installation of audio visual system for Discovery Center and Metro Office Urban Conservation Campus located in Kansas City.
2. Approved proposed responses to certain Resolutions adopted by the Conservation Federation of Missouri at its annual meeting on April 1, 2001.
3. Authorized purchase of approximately 163 acres in Macon County as an addition to the Atlanta Conservation Area.
4. Revoked all hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for a specified period of time for multiple violations of Missouri Wildlife Code regulations for the following individuals: Rowdy Altic, Pleasant Hope--one year; Danny R. Gallion, Oxley --one year; James R. Hill, Jr., Ozark--three years; and Albert W. Schrock, Richmond --one year.
5. Approved Commission resolutions recognizing Commissioners Emeriti Randy Herzog and Ronald J. Stites for their six years of dedicated service and outstanding leadership for the Conservation Department.