The Conservation Commission met May 28 and 29 at Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, Mo. Commissioners present were:

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

The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for June 25 and 26 at New Haven, Mo.

PRESENTATIONS:
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 June 11, 2003.

The Commission heard the following presentations:

1. Steve Johnson, Project Manager, Missouri River Communities Network, updated the Commission on the network's activities.
2. Troy LaRue, Regional Director, Ducks Unlimited, presented awards of appreciation for continuing partnership efforts between the Conservation Department and Ducks Unlimited.

REGULATIONS:

The Commission accepted recommendations from the Regulation Committee, including:

Setting firearms deer season dates
The Commission approved a shift in deer harvest management to increase antlerless deer harvest in units where deer are abundant.

Setting archery deer season

Setting archery turkey season

Key changes from previous years include:

1. A new, two-day Urban Portion of the Firearms Deer Hunting Season will provide additional opportunity to harvest antlerless deer in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
2. Resident and nonresident hunters may purchase and fill any number of antlerless-only Second Bonus Permits ($7 each, valid in most units)
3. Resident or nonresident archers may purchase and fill any number of Antlerless-Only Archery Deer Permits ($5 each, valid in selected units.)
4. Firearms antlerless-only First Bonus Permits will be available in three additional units. Antlerless-only Second Bonus Permits will be available in seven additional units.
5. Resident landowners of at least 5 contiguous acres may farm tag one deer of either sex.
6. All immediate household members of resident landowners of at least 75 acres can qualify to receive no-cost Firearms Any-Deer and Bonus Deer permits.

Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal:

The Commission approved early migratory game bird hunting seasons, contingent upon approval of federal season frameworks. The regulations represent no change for rail, snipe, woodcock and doves. Season dates are:

• Sora and Virginia Rails: Sept. 1 through Nov. 9 (70 days); limits--25 daily or in possession.
  Common Snipe: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16 (107 days); limits--8 daily, 16 in possession.
• American Woodcock: Oct. 15 through Nov. 28 (45 days); limits--3 daily, 6 in possession.
• Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared-Doves and White-winged Doves: Sept. 1 through Nov. 9 (70 days); limits--12 daily, 24 in possession.

The population status of the blue-winged teal will not be known until late July. If the blue-winged teal breeding population index is below 3.3 million, the season will be closed. If the population index is at least 3.3 million but less than 4.7 million there will be a nine-day teal season, Sept. 13 through 21, with a daily limit of four and possession limit of eight. If the population index is 4.7 million or greater there will be a 16-day season, Sept. 6 through 21, with the same limits.

ADMINISTRATION:

The Commission also took the following action:

1. Presented a resolution honoring outgoing Conservation Federation of Missouri Executive Director Denny Ballard for his service to conservation.
2. Approved the purchase of 355 acres in Lewis county, including 112-acre LaBelle City Lake.
3. Accepted a donation of 63 acres in Greene County and authorized the sale of the property.
4. Suspended hunting, fishing and trapping privileges of the following people for cause: Mark Robbins, St. Clair, 6 months, hunting and fishing; Christopher R. Schaefer, Park Hills, 1 year, all privileges; James R. Wilson, Blytheville, Ark., 2 years, all privileges.
5. Suspended or revoked all hunting and fishing privileges of individuals who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
6. Approved a request to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation to allocate the balance of the Ozark Council of Trout Unlimited donation to a Cold Water Project Fund.

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