Outdoors

MDC reports young hunters took 2,881 turkeys over youth weekend

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 2,881 birds over the past youth weekend, April 9 and 10. Top harvest counties were Miller with 87 birds harvested, Osage with 71, and Franklin with 71. Young hunters checked 2,795 turkeys during the 2021 spring youth weekend.

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MDC approves expansion of furbearer hunting, trapping seasons

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its March 25 open meeting on regulation changes that will extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species. The extension comes in response to stakeholder requests to provide additional opportunity for the taking of multiple furbearer species.

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Prairie State Park hosts Guided Bison Saunter April 2

Team members at Prairie State Park invite the public to join on a Guided Bison Saunter from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 2, starting at the Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center. “What is a ‘saunter’?” you ask. According to Merriam-Webster, saunter means “to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner: STROLL” (that is,

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Crater of Diamonds celebrates 50 years as an Arkansas state park

by Waymon Cox Crater of Diamonds State Park celebrates its 50th year as an Arkansas state park this year and will hold an anniversary celebration on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23. Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, Ark., has managed North America’s only public diamond mine since the State of Arkansas purchased

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MDC sets 2022 elk and bear seasons with permit applications in May

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer five permits to hunt bull elk in Missouri this fall with at least one permit designated for qualifying area landowners and the remaining permits for the general public. MDC will also offer 400 permits for the taking of a maximum of 40 black bears during the second

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Jasper County bowfisher swipes first state record of 2022

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) confirms Josh Lawmaster of La Russell is the first state-record holder of 2022 after shooting an 8-pound, 5-ounce quillback from Table Rock Lake. Lawmaster was bowfishing March 15 when he shot the fish. His current record breaks the previous record of 7-pounds, 10-ounces set in 2015. Lawmaster said he

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Illinois man now holds Missouri paddlefish state record

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) congratulates Jim Dain of Pittsfield, Ill. for snagging a monster 140-pound, 10-ounce paddlefish March 18 at the Lake of the Ozarks. The latest record breaks the previous record of 140-pounds, 9-ounces set in 2015 on Table Rock Lake. Dain said he was on a fishing trip with his family

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