The Conservation Commission met April 24 Conservation Department Headquarters in Jefferson City and April 25 at Monsanto Auditorium, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University Of Missouri-Columbia.
Commissioners present were:
- William F. “Chip” McGeehan, Marshfield, Chairman
- Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City, Vice-chairman
- Don R. Johnson, Festus, Secretary
- Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass, Member
The Conservation Commission set its next meeting for May 29 and 30 at Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City.
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 May 14.
The commission received a presentation from Wildlife Division Chief DeeCee Darrow concerning the Golden Anniversary Wetlands Initiative.
REGULATIONS
The Conservation Commission approved 2008 archery deer and turkey hunting and firearms deer hunting seasons, including four days of youth firearms deer hunting split between November and December. Season dates are:
- Archery deer and turkey seasons Sept. 15-Nov. 14 and Nov. 26-Jan. 15.
- Urban Portion of Firearms Deer Season Oct. 3-6.
- Early Youth Portion of Firearms Deer Season Nov. 1-2.
- November Portion of Firearms Deer Season Nov. 15-25.
- Muzzleloader Portion of Firearms Deer Season Nov. 28-Dec. 7.
- Antlerless Portion of Firearms Deer Season Dec. 13-21.
- Late Youth Portion of Firearms Deer Season Jan. 3-4, 2009.
Other Commission actions regarding deer hunting regulations included:
- Extending the four-point rule for antlered deer from 29 to 65 counties. Counties where the rule now applies are Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Bates, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway Camden, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Johnson, Knox, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Maries, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Nodaway Phelps, Pulaski, Ralls, Randolph, Osage, Pettis, Pike, Putnam, Ray, St. Clair, Saline, Scotland, Schuyler, Shelby, Sullivan, Vernon, Warren and Worth.
- Removing two counties in the Springfield area – Christian and Webster – from the area open to hunting during the Urban Portion of Firearms Deer Season.
- Removing seven southwest-Missouri counties – Barton, Barry, Christian, Dade, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Polk, Webster and Wright – from the area open to hunting during the Antlerless Portion of Firearms Deer Season.
- Adding one central-Missouri county – Miller – to the area open during the Antlerless Portion of Firearms Deer season.
- Adding 12 southwest-Missouri counties – Barry, Barton, Christian, Dade, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, Stone, Webster and Wright – to the area where hunters may only fill one antlerless-only deer tag.
- Additional details of fall deer and turkey hunting regulations will be published in a regulation summary available from permit vendors statewide in July.
The Commission also approved changes in quail hunting regulations that:
- Consolidate quail hunting regulations and open conservation areas (CAs) with the Nov. 1 quail season opening date to the statewide youth quail season.
- Authorize managed quail hunts on CAs that were open by posting.
- Eliminate the 1 p.m. closure of quail hunting on CAs and establishes a Dec. 15 closing date on CAs with heavy hunting pressure.
- Establish a framework for monitoring hunter numbers and quail harvest on selected CAs consistent with the manner in which waterfowl hunters and harvest are reported. The overall effect of these changes is minimal except for elimination of the 1 p.m. closure and closure by posting.
ADMINISTRATION
The Commission also approved:
- A low bid of $4,791,496 from Wulff-Rodgers Construction, Inc., of Knob Noster for construction of the Lake City Range Relocation and Renovation Project in Jackson County.
- Accepting a donation of 9.5 acres as an addition to Patrick Bridge Access in Ozark County.
- Purchasing .1 acre as an addition to Wigwam School Access in Morgan County.
- Purchasing 6.7 acres as an addition to McClure Conservation Area in Mercer County.
- Purchasing 12.38 acres as an addition to Frost Island Conservation Area in Clark County.
- Purchasing 58.57 acres as an addition to Shoemaker Conservation Area in Adair County.
- Purchasing 364 acres of forest land in Camden County as a new conservation area, and to name the new area Burnt Mill Cave Conservation Area.
- Purchasing a chain of wooded islands comprising 583.3 acres, together with any and all accretions (the county assessor’s office currently indicates a total of 686.43 acres) as a new conservation area in Cape Girardeau County, and to name the new area the Windy Bar Island Conservation Area.
- Suspending hunting and/or fishing privileges of 26 Missouri residents and one nonresident for Wildlife Code violations. Those whose privileges were suspended are:
| Lynn R. Barton | Arnold | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Jonathan W. Beck | Imperial | 1 year | hunting |
| Jason L. Bowen | Valley Park | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Floyd D. Busbey | Salem | 3 years | hunting |
| Cynthia J. Childress | Edina | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Steve L. Conz | Arkoe | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| James T. Crowder | Longmont, Colo | 1 year | hunting |
| Thomas R. Douchette III | Steele | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Ryan G. Dugger | Hartville | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Robert M. Engelhard | Marceline | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Lucas L. Gann | Dixon | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Paul A. Harpham | Mayview | 3 years | all sport privileges |
| Donald R. Hobeck | Cape Girardeau | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Edward T. Holland | Doniphan | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Raymond R. Kinnamon | Queen City | 3 years | all sport privileges |
| Brian Lundy | El Dorado Springs | 5 years | hunting |
| Justin E. Mogan | El Dorado Springs | 3 years | all sport privileges |
| Daniel W. Moses | Troy | 1 year | hunting |
| Dennis Quick | Salem | 3 years | all sport privileges |
| Brad P. Reither | Alton | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Richard D. Ross | Patterson | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Randolph R. Routh | Amazonia | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| John L. Shepherd | Hanniba | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Larry Shockey | Willow Springs | 1 year | hunting |
| Dustin J. Skaggs | Puxico | 1 year | all sport privileges |
| Terry Taylor | Mountain Grove | 3 years | all sport privileges |
| Michael W. Wortham | Park Hills | 1 year | all sport privileges |
- Suspending or revoking all hunting and fishing privileges of 232 Missouri residents and four nonresidents who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
- Suspending hunting and fishing privileges of seven Missouri residents and 409 nonresidents under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
- Suspended the hunting privileges of four Missouri resident for periods of one to two years for injuring other persons
In other business, the Conservation Commission announced:
- The promotion of Protection Field Chief Tim Ripperger to Assistant Director.
- The promotion of Fisheries Program Coordinator Bill Turner to Fisheries Division Chief.
- The promotion of Protection Field Chief Larry Yamnitz to Protection Division Chief.
- end -
