Outdoors

Hunters harvest 10,602 deer during Missouri alternative-methods portion

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 10,602 deer during the alternative-methods portion of the fall firearms season, which ran Dec. 24- Jan. 3. Of the total harvest, 2,787 were antlered bucks, 1,496 button bucks, and 6,319 does. Top harvest counties were Oregon with 262 deer

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MDC reports three new cases of CWD from mandatory sampling

Final results from 19,200+ deer tested show total of five cases of chronic wasting disease. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports it has received final results from the more than 19,200 tissue samples tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) following the Department’s mandatory sampling of deer harvested on Nov. 12 and 13 in 29

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New Directions

So a new year begins. My new year’s resolution is the same this year as it has been each and every year since I can remember… “I resolve to live and enjoy every day of this year one day at a time, and try to think of others more than myself. And I will thank

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The Most Valuable Tree

I marvel sometimes at how well wildlife can survive cold weather, but to tell the truth, when cold weather hits hard, especially with rain, ice and snow, plenty of wild creatures do not survive. Birds are hit especially hard if they are being fed from a feeder and then it stops. A day or so

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Apply online for MDC spring managed turkey hunts

Apply at mdc.mo.gov/springturkeyhunts between Jan. 6 and Feb. 28. Missouri youth, archery, and firearms turkey hunters can apply online for 2017 spring turkey managed hunts between Jan. 6 and Feb. 28 through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) website at mdc.mo.gov/springturkeyhunts. Managed hunt details and application procedures are outlined on the webpage. Drawing results will

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January conservation management plans

How are conservation areas important to you? The Missouri Department of Conservation is in the process of updating management plans for conservation areas and invites public comments. To view management plans and share comments online, visit mdc.mo.gov/areaplans. The following draft conservation area management plans are available for public comment January 1-31, 2017. Kansas City Region

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Be on the lookout for signs of emerald ash borer

We need your help detecting populations of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB). This tree-killing beetle has been found in 31 Missouri counties so far, but we suspect it is present in several more. EAB kills ash trees in the genus Fraxinus, which includes the commonly planted green ash and white ash. How can you

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MDC reports halfway mark on results of deer samples being tested for CWD

by Joe Jerek The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports it has received results for more than half of approximately 19,200 tissue samples being tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) collected during the Department’s mandatory sampling of deer harvested on Nov. 12 and 13 in 29 counties in northeast, central, and east-central Missouri. From those

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A Matter of Patience

It isn’t too hard to figure that this will be a year of high deer ‘harvest’. The warm weather insures that. “Why is that?” you might ask. Let me explain. The average deer hunter will sit quietly and wait if he has a sack with sandwiches in it and some of those little chocolate cakes

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