December 10, 2025
Beginning July 1, deer hunters can apply online through the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) website for a shot at more than 100 managed deer hunts throughout the state for archery, muzzleloading, and modern firearms from mid-September through mid-January at conservation areas, state and other parks, national wildlife refuges, and other public areas. Some managed
I stopped the boat above the shoal and walked around the swift water on gravel which crunched beneath my feet. Wading out into the cool current, I had my eye on the deepening pool just below the shoal, where the water slowed. I cast the top-water minnow across the pool, and began jerking it out
In my column last week I wrote that in view of what has been happening to wild turkey populations the last few years, we need to ease off the hunting pressure somewhat by re-arranging the youth season – by setting it after the regular season instead of before. We should think about shortening the regular
I don’t know if we have had a worse wild turkey season than this past spring season in Missouri and Arkansas in the past 40 years. And I think eastern Kansas could also be included in that observation as well. The hunting was poor… darn poor. And you can blame part of that on the
CHAMPION COON HUNTERS – 7th grader Judd Koshko and his dad, Walt, both won a coonhunt near Coal Camp over the weekend. They go somewhere to a hunt almost every weekend. Judd recently won tickets to a $20,000 hunt later this year. Their dog, in a pack of four, gets 100 points for being the
In January, I came in to load my boat after dark and was surprised by a man standing there in the darkness. He identified himself as a Missouri Conservation agent. “Now what?” I thought to myself. He was young, he was alone, and his vehicle was nowhere to be seen. And everything he did was
Memorial Day weekend brings an extra-special celebration for squirrel hunters and bass anglers in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds them that the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 26, marks the opening of both squirrel season statewide and catch-and-keep bass season in most streams south of the Missouri River. Squirrels Hunters can
Public can comment in May on plan for key wetland, fishing, and upland area Schell City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) continues to seek public input as it enters the next phase of the planning process for Schell-Osage Conservation Area in Vernon and St. Clair counties. From May 1 through May 31,
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that turkey hunters checked 34,055 birds during Missouri’s 2018 regular spring turkey season April 16 through May 6. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 760 birds checked, Texas with 732, and Laclede with 657. Young turkey hunters harvested 1,729 birds during the 2018 spring youth
I have had a number of readers ask me about my underprivileged kids ranch… Panther Creek. Recently a church from Owensville reserved the place for a weekend in June and will bring more than 20 kids. Panther Creek amounts to a 60-acre outdoor education center with a lodge and 2 cabins, absolutely free to any
