The Conservation Commission met Aug. 17 and 18 at the Conservation Department office, 2000 S. Limit, Sedalia.
Commissioners present were:
- Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City, Chairman
- Stephen C. Bradford, Cape Girardeau, Vice-chairman
- Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis, Secretary
- William F. "Chip" McGeehan, Marshfield, Member
The Commission formally welcomed William F. "Chip" McGeehan, Marshfield, whom Gov. Matt Blunt recently appointed to the Conservation Commission.
The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for Oct. 6 and 7 at Montauk State Park, Salem.
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 Sept. 23.
The Commission received presentations from:
- Jef Hodges, Regional Director, Quail Unlimited, presented an Outstanding Conservation Award to the Conservation Department for its support of Quail Unlimited and quail management in Missouri.
- Cliff Rost, Morrison, to discuss proposed regulations regarding sturgeon.
- Charles Callaway, Jefferson City, to discuss proposed commercial fishing seasons and methods.
- Howard Ramsey, Paris, and Gary Webb, Ludlow, to discuss handfishing issues.
REGULATIONS:
The Commission approved 2005-2006 waterfowl hunting regulations recommended by the Regulations Committee. Highlights include:
- Youth Duck hunt North Zone Oct. 22-23
Middle Zone Oct. 29-30 (Including the ` Southeast Zone)
- South Zone Nov. 19-20
- Duck Season North Zone Oct. 29-Dec. 27
Middle Zone Nov. 5-Jan. 3
- South Zone Nov. 25-Jan. 23
- Canvasback North Zone Oct. 29-Nov. 27
- Middle Zone Nov. 5-Dec. 4
- South Zone Dec. 25-Jan 23
- Canada Geese North Zone Oct. 1-9 & Brant Oct. 29-Nov. 27 Dec. 23-Jan. 29
- Middle Zone Oct. 1-11 (Except Southeast Zone) Nov. 5-30 Dec. 23-Jan. 31
- Southeast and Oct. 1-9 South zones Nov. 25-Jan. 31
- White-fronted geese North Zone Oct. 29-Jan. 22
Middle Zone Nov. 5-Jan. 29 (Except Southeast Zone)
- South and Nov. 5-Jan. 29 Southeast zones
- Blue, Snow & North Zone Oct. 29-Jan. 29 Ross's Geese Middle Zone Nov. 5 Jan. 31
- South and Nov. 5-Jan. 31 Southeast zones
The bag limits during youth hunting days are the same as during the regular waterfowl seasons, including one canvasback and two Canada geese.
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, 2 (new)
- Redheads, 2
- Wood Ducks, 2
- Black Ducks, 1
- Hooded Mergansers, 1
- Pintails, 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.
Bag limits include no more than 20 blue, snow or Ross's geese daily (no possession limit) and one brant daily and one white-fronted goose.
- In the North Zone, the bag limit is three Canada geese Oct. 1-9 and two thereafter.
- In the Middle Zone (except the Southeast Zone), the bag limit is three Canada geese daily Oct. 1-11 and two thereafter.
- In the South and Southeast zones, the bag limit is three Canada geese per day Oct. 1-9 and two Canada geese per day thereafter.
- The possession limit for ducks and geese is twice the daily limit. The daily and possession limits on coots are 15 and 30, respectively.
- Falconry season dates for ducks, coots and mergansers are: North Zone Sept. 10-18 Sept. 24- Dec. 27
- Middle Zone Sept. 10-18 Sept. 28-Jan. 3
- South Zone Sept. 10-18 Oct. 18-Jan. 23
The daily bag and possession limits for falconry are three and six birds
The Conservation Order for light geese will be in effect from Jan. 30-April 30, 2006, in the North Zone and from Feb. 1-April 30, 2006, in the Middle, South and Southeast zones. Blue, snow and Ross's geese only may be taken during the Conservation Order. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset during the Conservation Order.
The Commission set teal season dates and bag limits earlier this summer. That season will run from Sept. 10 through 18 statewide. The daily limit is four, with a possession limit of eight. Shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset.
The Commission retained the traditional quail season of Nov. 1 through Jan. 15.
ADMINISTRATION: The Commission took the following action:
- Authorized the Conservation Department to enter into a contract with N. B. West Contracting Co., St. Louis, for road repair and construction at Rockwoods Reservation Conservation Area (CA) in St. Louis County for an estimated cost of $250,000, plus a contingency fund of $25,000.
- Authorized the Conservation Department to enter into a contract with R. L. Persons Construction, Inc., Poplar Bluff, for wetland renovation at Fountain Grove CA in Linn and Livingston counties for $1,510,141, plus a contingency fund of $151,000.
- Authorized the Conservation Department to enter into a contract with G&G Construction Co., Carthage, for water-supply renovation and dam stabilization at Roaring River Fish Hatchery in Barry County for $2,299,753, plus a $230,000 contingency fund.
- Authorized the Conservation Department to enter into a contract with MJC Constructors, Inc., St. Jacob, Ill., for spillway and dam modifications at Lake No. 35 on August A. Busch Memorial CA in St. Charles County for $272,779, plus a contingency fund of $27,000.
- Approved the purchase of a 100-acre inholding in DeKalb County as an addition to Pony Express CA.
- Approved the purchase of a 40-acre inholding in Scotland County as an addition to Indian Hills CA.
- Approved the purchase of 140 acres in Worth County as an addition to Emmett and Leah Seat Memorial CA.
- Authorized the Conservation Department to dispose of the 34-acre Henry's Mill Access on Locust Creek in Sullivan County.
- Approved the exchange of 5.3 acres of Woodson K. Woods CA for 4 acres in Phelps County to eliminate inholdings, address trespass issues and give public access to Dry Fork Creek.
- Approved the purchase of 3.47 acres in Osage County, including a steel-frame building.
- Approved the sale of 1,384,300 board feet of timber on 793 acres of Sunklands CA in Shannon County.
- Approved renaming Rinquelin Trail Community Lake in Maries County Rinquelin Trail Lake CA.
- Approved a 325-acre addition to Mule Hollow Glade Natural Area on Peck Ranch CA in Carter County.
- Authorized Conservation Department Director John Hoskins to sign the Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy, which will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Suspended hunting and/or fishing privileges of 26 Missouri residents and one nonresident for Wildlife Code violations. Those whose privileges were suspended are:
| Individual | Location | Duration | Privilege |
|---|---|---|---|
Charles Abbott |
Doniphan | 1 year | All privileges |
David W. Ball |
Bunker | 1 year | All privileges |
Robert Barker |
Fenton | 1.5 years Hunting | Hunting |
Bennie Billups |
St. Robert | 3 years | All privileges |
Jason Bishop |
Senath | 1 year | All privileges |
Ronald Botterton |
Osceola | 1 year | Fishing |
Gary Bray |
Osceola | 3 years | All privileges |
Clifford D. Butler |
Obion, Tenn. | Until 4/11/07 | All privileges |
Gary B. Callis |
Linn Creek | 1 year | All privileges |
Mark Copeland |
Elsinore | 1 year | All privileges |
David D. Davis |
Crocker | 1 year | All privileges |
Joseph Davis |
Lampe | 1 year | All privileges |
Dustin Fisher |
Winona | 3 years | All privileges |
Robert F. Goforth |
Squires | 1 year | All privileges |
Greg Harrison |
Marceline | 4 years | All privileges |
Ronald Jewell |
Nixa | 2 years | All privileges |
Ashley C. Kirkwood |
St. Charles | 1 year | All privileges |
Brandon Kyle |
Piedmont | 1 year | Hunting |
Aaron Lilly |
Winona | 4 years | All privileges |
Anthony Lovett |
Bucklin | 1 year | All privileges |
Anthony D. Malan |
Clinton | until 11/1/05 | Hunting & fishing |
Paul Papayik |
Doniphan | 1 year | All privileges |
Raymond C. Snider |
Dora | 1 year | All privileges |
Brian A. Taff |
Martinsville | until 5/17/06 | Hunting |
Justin T. Taylor |
Exeter | 3 years | All privileges |
Clifton Tims |
LaGrange | 1 year | All privileges |
| Stephen Young | Doniphan | 1 year | All privileges |
- Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 98 Missouri residents and three nonresidents who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
- Suspended all hunting privileges of six Missouri residents for from one to five years for injuring other persons in firearms-related hunting incidents.
- Approved a policy of reviewing and considering for suspension of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges those found guilty of violating the state law against operating off-road vehicles in streams or rivers.
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