CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the April 29, 2002 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Stephanie Ramsey Westbrook, (573) 751-4115;
E-mail: Stephanie.Westbrook@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission met April 29 at the Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center, Salem, Missouri.  Commissioners present were:

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 was set for May 29-30 at Department Headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri.

PRESENTATION:

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 (573) 751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date.  The deadline for the next meeting is May 15, 2002.

The Commission heard the following presentations:

• Gail Gartside, Missouri Equine Council, Inc.
  • Presented information regarding the use of horses on Conservation Department areas.

REGULATIONS:

The Commission accepted the report of the Regulation Committee, highlights include:

1. Amended 3 CSR 10-9.425 Wildlife Collector’s Permit to improve procedures and revise the fee structures.
2. Amended 3 CSR 10-11.125 Field Trials and 3 CSR 10-20.805 Definitions to amend regulations for conducting managed field trials on Department areas—including separating field trial regulations on Department areas from those held on other lands and incorporating a list of Department areas approved for field trial use.
3. Amended 3 CSR 10-4.141 Right to Possess Wildlife to prohibit individuals from keeping wildlife taken illegally or while trespassing.
4. Amended 3 CSR 10-10.725 Commercial Fishing: Seasons, Methods to eliminate the use of hooks on the Missouri River upstream from U.S. Highway 169, prohibits harvest of shovelnose sturgeon on the Missouri River upstream from U.S. Highway 169, requires that bowfin and shovelnose sturgeon be kept whole and intact and that paddlefish ovaries be kept intact while on waters of the state, and prohibits the possession of extracted fish eggs while on waters of the state.
5. The Commission also approved the Regulation Committee recommendation for the 2002 deer season and archery turkey season: 
   • Firearms Deer Season:  November 2-3 (Youth Only); November 16-26; December 7-15 (Muzzle-loading Firearms Portion); December 19-22 (anterless-only in units 1-27, 33-37, 58 and 59).  Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
   • Archery Deer Season:  October 1-November 15 and November 27 to January 15.  Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.  The limits include:  two deer of either sex, except that only one antlered deer may be taken before the November portion of the firearms season.  Additional deer may be taken on antlerless-only archery permits in specified deer management units.  The hunting area is statewide.
6. Amended 3 CSR 10-5.420 Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit to establish a minimum age of six (6) years of age and increase the maximum age to under sixteen (16) years of age.

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

1. Authorized purchase of approximately 320 acres of land in Dade County as an addition to the Stony Point Conservation Area.
2. Authorized purchase of approximately 40.5 acres of land in Newton County as an addition to Walter Woods Conservation Area.
3. Authorized the acceptance of a donation of approximately 218 acres in St. Charles County as an addition to Weldon Spring Conservation Area.
4. Authorized the acceptance of a donation of approximately 15.263 acres in St. Charles County as an addition to the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area.
5. Approved the designation of two Missouri Natural Areas, one owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers—Little Rock District, and one owned by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
6. Approved Commission Resolutions recognizing former Director Carl R. Noren and former Deputy Director Edwin H. Glaser, both who recently passed away.
7. Revoked all privileges for the following individuals for violations of Missouri Wildlife Code Regulations:  Charles L. Gurney, Sturdivant, MO—1 year; Michael L. Hawks, Caruthersville, MO—1 year; Tim Davidson, Marble Hill, MO—1 year; Ricky L. Feltes, Palmyra, MO—1 year; Sylvester L. Houston, Macon, MO—3 years; Jimmy D. Lacy, Bloomfield, MO—1 year; Michael E. McGee, Bonne Terre, MO—1 year; and Timothy J. Fender, Edina, MO—suspension of privileges for 3 years for hunting and/or trapping and suspension of privileges for 1 year to fish.
   

The Commission received the following staff presentations:

1. Update on FY 02 Status on Major Construction/Development Projects dated March 31, 2002.
2. Update on the Monthly Financial Summary and Out-of-State Travel Detail Report dated February and March, 2002.
3. Review of legislation affecting the Department.
4. Discussion pertaining to Chronic Wasting Disease and the Conservation Department’s joint efforts with other state agencies and organizations to help ensure the safety of Missouri’s white-tailed deer population.

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