All Outdoors, June 4, 1999

1. Commission approves early migratory bird seasons
2. Support builds for nongame wildlife funding
3. Commission to hold conference call meeting June 22
4. Outdoor Calendar

Available via Internet at: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/news/out

"That wildlife is merely something to shoot at or look at is the grossest of fallacies. It often represents the difference between rich country and mere land." Aldo Leopold

1. Commission approves early migratory bird seasons

Dove season will be split between September and November this year.

JEFFERSON CITY--The Missouri Conservation Commission approved 1999 early migratory game bird hunting seasons at its May 25 meeting. The seasons approved by the Commission are based on proposed federal frameworks and are contingent on final federal approval.

Rail, snipe and woodcock seasons are the same as last year's. Shooting hours remain one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The season for sora and Virginia rails will run from Sept. 1 through Nov. 9, with daily and possession limits of 25 rails in the aggregate.

The season for common snipe will run from Sept. 1 through Dec. 16, with a daily limit of eight and a possession limit of 16.

Woodcock season will last from Oct. 15 through Nov. 28, with a daily limit of three and a possession limit of six.

The Commission approved a split season for mourning doves,
from Sept. 1 through 30 and Nov. 1 through 30. Shooting hours remain one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, and the limit will stay 15 daily, 30 in possession.

The early season for blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal will be Sept. 11 through 26. Shooting hours remain sunrise to sunset, and the limit stays at four teal in the aggregate daily; eight in possession.

- Jim Low -

2. Support builds for nongame wildlife funding

Five of Missouri's 11 congressional delegates support legislation to increase funding for parks, recreation and wildlife.

JEFFERSON CITY--Support is building among Missouri's congressional delegates for a proposal to provide stable federal funding of state outdoor recreation and conservation programs.

U.S. Rep. Pat Danner (D-Kansas City) is the latest to back the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 (CARA), along with Rep. Karen McCarthy (D-Kansas City). Missouri Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Mexico) is a cosponsor of the Senate version of the bill (S. 25). House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-St. Louis) and U.S. Rep. William Clay (D-St. Louis) have endorsed H.R.798, also known as Resources 2000. The Senate version of the bill is S.446.

Both CARA and Resource 2000 would dedicate a percentage of existing federal revenues from offshore oil and gas leases to states for land-based recreation and wildlife conservation. Supporters of the various versions are working to develop compromise legislation that incorporates key provisions from all the bills.

CARA would allocate about half of the estimated $4 billion generated annually from Outer Continental Shelf oil drilling royalties for conservation and recreational uses. Missouri's portion of those funds could add up to $17 million a year, according to Cheryl Riley of the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM).

"The Conservation Federation endorses CARA because of what it can do for wildlife," Riley says. "It can provide money to protect some 2,000 nongame species that lack a secure base of funding. In addition it can be used for outdoor recreational activities in communities across the state."

If Congress approves some version of CARA, the departments of Conservation and Natural Resources would distribute the resulting federal funds throughout Missouri. The funds would be allocated under the three titles of the Act. Title I sets aside money for coastal impact assistance. Title II makes funds available for land-based recreation, and Title III for wildlife conservation, education and recreation.

The congressional committees considering these conservation proposals are expected to have a final bill in July. That's why it is imperative, Riley says, that Missourians who want a permanent funding source for conservation and recreation encourage their congressional representatives to support CARA or similar legislation.

"There has never been a better chance to pass such landmark legislation," says Riley. "It's crucial that people who want this passed contact their legislators. They need to emphasize that this is important to Missouri and all states. Calls and letters to legislators could make the difference in getting it passed. If we don't make it happen this year, while it has bipartisan support, it may not happen."

The CFM heads a Missouri coalition working to secure congressional approval of CARA. The coalition includes more than 100 businesses and organizations. For more information, contact the CFM at (800) 575-2322.

- Arleasha Mays -

3. Commission to hold conference call meeting June 22

JEFFERSON CITY--The Missouri Conservation Commission will hold a special telephone conference call meeting at 10 a.m., June 22, 1999.

At this time, the main subject of the meeting will be approval of comments on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' draft supplemental environmental impact statement on the Saint John's Bayou/New Madrid Floodway Project.

This is an open meeting. The public can attend and hear the Commission's discussion in the Upper Missouri River meeting room at Conservation Department headquarters at 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City.

- Jim Low -