Outdoors

The complete December 2024 issue of the Missouri Conservationist is now available for viewing and/or downloading at mdc.mo.gov/conmag.

Once a fellow called me to report seeing a hen pheasant down on the Arkansas-Missouri border. I knew exactly what he had seen. I had just seen something similar… a road-runner. About twenty years ago I saw a road-runner up here on Lightnin’ Ridge about forty yards from my back door. The bird, which is

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 68,312 deer during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season Nov. 16 and 17. Of the 68,312 deer harvested, 42,283 were antlered bucks, 5,105 were button bucks, and 20,924 were does. Top harvest counties for opening weekend

Taberville Report by Bobby Dains Dains Fish Farm 417/432-3391 Another guy and I are sitting on the bank fishing. River looks good. Flatheads are biting. It’s opening day of deer season. A guy shot a 7 point buck and it jumped in the river. We helped get it out. Store hours are 9 a.m. to

Check out the latest information. Firearms deer season will be starting tomorrow. With that in mind, here are a few rules and regulations to keep in mind. • Always keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction and positively identify your target before you pull the trigger. • Newton County has been added to the

Two flood events and a hot, dry summer have impacted waterfowl hunting opportunities in many Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wetlands in the Kansas City region this season. Waterfowl hunting seasons in the Middle Zone will be open in two parts: Nov. 2-10 and Nov. 16-Jan. 5. Despite dry conditions, duck and goose hunters will

I have yet to figure out how to get trailer lights to work. I have four different boat trailers, which I have wired up, and none of them work like any of the others. One works fine when the pickup lights are on, but the turn signals don’t work at all. Another one has the

Have nature lovers on your holiday gift list? The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) online Nature Shop makes holiday shopping a breeze for anyone interested in nature-themed gifts. Offerings include the ever-popular Natural Events Calendar, plus a variety of books and more for all ages. Holiday shoppers can also skip retail stores and visit one

Taberville report by Bobby Dains Dains Fish Farm 417-432-3391 Fishing is good. The flatheads are biting, and blue cats. If someone wants to fish, they can catch the heck out of fish. The river is up about 2 ft. from the rain. The river is in good shape. They are catching the flatheads on live

The Missouri Department of Conservation may not accomplish much, but you have to hand it to them…they know how to make money. In talking with a retired MDC employee I learned more about that. Take the great black bear and elk fiasco. They inflated the number of bears in Missouri to 1200 or so. “In