CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the Conservation Commission meeting December 17 in Jefferson City
Contact: Jim Low, 573/522-4115; extension 3243, jim.low@mdc.mo.gov

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

• The Commission received a financial gift from Dr. and Mrs. Harry Berrier, Columbia.
• The Commission presented the following awards to Conservation Department employees:

• Gary Smith, Neosho;
• Roger Schmidt, Neosho;
• Steve Eder, Dexter Carr, Paris;
• and Rich Wehnes, Jefferson City.

• Jake Altman, Liberty;
• B. J. Gorlinsky, Columbia;
• Shawn Cunningham, Jefferson City;
• and Norman Steelman, Salem.

• Lana Wilson, Rockville.

• Dustin B. Turner, Phillipsburg.

• An experimental hand-fishing season for channel, blue and flathead catfish on portions of the Fabius, St. Francis and Mississippi rivers. Hand-fishers will be required to purchase a $7 permit, and Conservation Department staff will study the effects of the season on catfish populations. The daily limit for hand fishing will be five channel, blue or flathead catfish in the aggregate, with a minimum length limit of 22 inches for blue and flathead catfish. Taking fish by hand fishing will be permitted only from natural objects or cavities or from bona fide constructions such as bridges. Hand fishers will not be permitted to use any fishing equipment except a stringer. A post-season report will be required of all persons participating in the experimental hand-fishing season.
• A 2005 Youth Spring Turkey Hunting Season April 9 and 10, with season length and bag limits the same as in 2004.
• A 2005 Spring Turkey Hunting Season from April 18 through May 8 with the same season length and bag limits as in 2004.
• An expanded 2005 Fall Turkey Hunting Season from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. The bag limit will remain two birds of either sex, but hunters will be allowed to take both birds in one day. In the past, hunters could take only one turkey per day. Conservation Department staff will track the fall harvest to ensure that it does not exceed 10 percent of the statewide turkey population.
• Sixty-four percent of turkey hunters surveyed by the Conservation Department favored the longer fall season, and 74 percent favored changing the bag limit.

• Approved changes in the method of remitting payments to counties in lieu of property tax fees.
• Approved the purchase of 220 acres in Mercer County as an addition to Lake Paho Conservation Area.
• Approved renaming a 33.28 acre tract in Laclede County the Long Ford Access.
• Suspended or revoked hunting and/or fishing privileges of 25 Missouri residents for Wildlife Code violations. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

• Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 176 Missouri residents who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
• Suspended or revoked all hunting privileges of two Missouri residents for two years and two Missouri residents for three years for injuring other persons in firearms-related hunting incidents.
• Suspended or revoked all hunting privileges of one Iowa resident for four years for injuring another person in a firearms-related hunting accident.

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