The Conservation Commission met the Audrain 4-H Center in Mexico, Mo. Commissioners present were:

Stephen C. Bradford, Cape Girardeau, Chairman
Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis, Vice-Chairman
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City, Secretary
Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City, Member

The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for Oct. 9 in Van Buren, Mo. 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 Sept. 25, 2003.

PRESENTATION:

The Commission heard a presentation from Wildlife Division Administrator David Erickson and Private Land Services Chief Wayne Wittmeyer about the Missouri Northern Bobwhite Quail Recovery Plan.

REGULATIONS:

The Commission approved 2003-2004 waterfowl hunting regulations recommended by the Regulations Committee. Highlights include:

Youth Duck hunt North and Swan Oct. 18-Oct. 19 Lake zones Middle & Oct. 25-Oct. 26 Southeast zones South Zone Nov. 15-Nov. 16 Duck Season North & Swan Oct. 25-Dec. 23 Lake Zones Middle & Nov. 1-Dec. 30 Southeast zones South Zone Nov. 22-Jan. 20 Pintails & North and Swan Oct. 25-Nov. 23 Canvasbacks Lake zones Middle and Nov. 1-Nov. 30 Southeast zones South Zone Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Canada Geese North Zone Sept. 27-Oct. 12 & Brant Oct. 25-Nov. 23 Dec. 20-Jan. 18 Swan Lake Zone Oct. 25-Nov. 30 Dec. 20-Jan. 18 Middle Zone Sept. 27-Oct. 12 Nov. 1-Nov. 30 Dec. 27-Jan. 25 Southeast & Oct. 4-Oct. 12 South zones Nov. 22-Jan. 25 White-fronted geese North & Swan Oct. 25-Jan. 18 Lake zones Middle, southeast Nov. 1-Jan. 25 & South zones Blue, Snow & North & Swan Oct. 25-Jan. 18 Ross's Geese Lake zones Middle, Southeast Nov. 1-Jan. 25 & South zones

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The daily limit on ducks is six, including no more than:

• Mallards, 4 (no more than two hens)
• Scaup, 3
• Redheads, 2
• Wood Ducks, 2
• Black Ducks, 1
• Hooded Mergansers, 1
• Pintails (during the prescribed season), 1
• Canvasbacks (during the prescribed season), 1
• Other species may be taken in any number up to the daily bag limit of six ducks total.

The possession limit for ducks and geese is twice the daily limit. The daily and possession limits on coots are 15 and 30, respectively.

The Conservation Order for light geese will be in effect from Jan. 19 through April 30, 2004 in the North and Swan Lake zones and from Jan. 26 through April 30, 2004 in the Middle, South and Southeast zones. During the conservation order, hunters may use electronic calls, unplugged shotguns and shoot from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset with no daily or possession limit.

ADMINISTRATION:

The Commission also took the following action:

--Approved the purchase of a 37-acre inholding in St. Louis County as an addition To Rockwoods Reservation.

--Approved the purchase of a 71-acre inholding in Livingston County as an addition to Poosey Conservation Area (CA).

--Approved the purchase of 2,107 acres in Pemiscott County as a new conservation area, subject to Wetland Reserve Program payments and easements.

--Approved a request from the city of Chillicothe to change the official name of Chillicothe Access on the Grand River to Coval Gann--Chillicothe Access.

--Approved responses to resolutions adopted by the Conservation Federation of Missouri at its annual meeting in March.

-- Voted to suspend or revoke all hunting and fishing privileges of 15 Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

• William L. Anderson Hannibal 2 years
• Joseph J. Applegate Queen City 1 year
• Douglas W. Brown Marshall 1 year
• Nathan G. Hammond Climax Springs 1 year
• James Howen Independence 1 year
• Brandon K. Inman Salem 1 year
• David E. Jackson Dexter 1 year
• Joey W. Long Mansfield 1 year
• Chad N. Neuman Crocker 1 year
• Joshua D. Paisley Doniphan 4 years
• Brian Ponder Springfield 1 year
• Timothy A. Rawlings Malden 1 year
• Jeff Seward Butler 1 year
• Keith Willing Bowling Green 1 year
• Vince Zike Moberly 3 years

--Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 38 Missouri residents who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.

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