MDC managed waterfowl reservations for fall open Sept. 1
Pre-season reservation period will run Sept. 1-18. In-season weekly drawings will take place Monday afternoons.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces its managed waterfowl hunts for this hunting season. The pre-season reservation period will run Sept. 1-18 with results posted Oct. 1. The in-season weekly drawings will take place on Monday afternoons with a seven-day application period that opens the Tuesday before and closes the Monday of the draw at 3 p.m.
Missouri residents and qualifying non-residents, such as students from out of state or members of the military stationed in Missouri, can apply online for a reservation to guarantee them an opportunity to hunt on a specific day on a specific area. Residents and nonresidents can also arrive at a managed waterfowl hunting area the morning they wish to hunt and wait in line for the possibility of getting a hunting spot.
Applicants for waterfowl reservations must have their required permits to apply, and their Federal Duck Stamp to hunt.
MDC offers managed waterfowl hunting on more than a dozen conservation areas specially managed with a focus on wetlands. Hunters can apply for a reservation or participate in a daily morning drawing for opportunities to hunt at these areas. MDC also offers waterfowl hunting on other conservation areas. In addition to MDC areas, Missouri offers waterfowl hunting opportunities at numerous other public and private locations around the state.
For this fall, MDC’s waterfowl reservation system will offer 50 percent of daily hunting positions for the managed-hunt areas through online reservations. Of the 50 percent of spots through online reservations, half will be for pre-season applications and half will be allocated during a weekly in-season application period. The remaining 50 percent of spots will be held for hunters who participate in the daily morning drawing and wait in the “poor line” for the possibility of getting a hunting spot.
“Under this reservation system, if an area offers 20 daily hunting positions, five will be allocated through pre-season reservations and five through in-season reservations,” explained Joel Porath, who coordinates managed waterfowl hunts for MDC. “The remaining 10 positions will be allocated to hunters from the poor line the morning of each hunt.”
Successful pre-season and in-season reservation applicants will be notified after their respective draws via email or text message with their hunt date, location, and pill assignment. “Pills” designate the order hunting parties select their hunting locations on the area. The lower the number, the sooner hunting parties get to select their hunting location.
“This will let reservation holders know before they leave their homes if their randomly generated number will enable them to be one of the first, middle, or last parties to pick their hunting location,” said Porath.
Only one member from each hunting party will be allowed to have a staff member pull a pill for their respective party. Residents and nonresidents can hunt with a reservation holder and hunting parties are limited to a maximum of four people.
MDC also notes that hunters with disabilities will apply to use ADA hunting blinds through the online reservation system during the same timeframe as the preseason application period. ADA blinds that are not selected and allocated during the preseason drawing will be placed in the weekly in-season draws.
Apply online for MDC managed deer hunts starting July 1
Get more information on MDC managed deer hunts, preview hunt details, and apply starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt.
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 this fall and winter.
MDC offers managed deer hunts for archery, muzzleloading, crossbow, 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 deer hunts are held specifically for youth or for people with disabilities.
The managed deer hunt application period is July 1 - 31. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available Aug. 15 through Jan. 15. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by email, or mail if an email address is not located on the customer’s account.
MDC’s ongoing bear research indicates Missouri is home to around 800 black bears, and that population is growing by 8% each year.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is reminding southeast Missouri residents to “Be Bear Aware,” with now being prime time for seeing young male black bears on the move.
MDC Southeast Regional Administrator Matt Bowyer said only one species can be found in this state — the American black bear — though multiple color phases can be found in Missouri other than black, such that a bear’s fur can be brown, red, or cinnamon in color.
“Young bears begin to wander seeking food and new areas to settle,” said Bowyer. “This time of year we are likely to see a bear, or two, as young males naturally wander in search of a new place to call home.”
Bear population is expanding, both in total numbers and range, he said, which might explain the uptick in sightings in recent years. MDC’s ongoing bear research indicates the Show-Me-State is currently home to around 800 black bears, and that population is growing by 8% each year.
“These creatures are part of our state’s natural history, and many people enjoy the thought of seeing one of these impressive animals,” said Bowyer. “But with an expanding population of bears, however, comes an increased potential of human-bear interactions.”
And, he noted, while generally not aggressive, black bears are driven to find food, and they can become accustomed to obtaining food from humans.
MDC suggests the following tips to avoid issues if a bear has been sighted in the area:
Store garbage, recyclables, and compost inside a secure building or in a bear-proof container or location.
Regularly clean and disinfect trash containers to minimize smells that could attract bears.
Keep grills and smokers clean and store them inside.
Don’t leave pet food outside. Feed pets a portion at each meal and remove the empty containers.
Refrain from using bird feeders in bear country from April through November. If in use, hang them at least 10 feet high and 4 feet away from any structure. Keep in mind that even if a bear cannot get to the birdseed, the scent could still attract it to the area.
Use electric fencing to keep bears away from beehives, chicken coops, vegetable gardens, orchards, and other potential food sources.
For more on black bears in Missouri, go to mdc.mo.gov/bearaware. Report bear sightings and submit photos online at mdc.mo.gov/reportbears.
In addition to directly educating Missourians on how to Be Bear Aware about black bears in the state, MDC is also affiliated with the BearWise® program. BearWise is a multi-state education effort developed by black bear biologists and supported by state wildlife agencies, such as MDC, that provides sound information and smart solutions that help people, neighborhoods, and communities prevent problems with black bears and keep bears wild. BearWise shares ways to prevent conflicts, provides resources to resolve problems, and encourages community initiatives to keep bears wild. Learn more at BearWise.org.
At its Dec. 10 open meeting in Jefferson City, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved the following recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for upcoming turkey-hunting and deer-hunting season dates.
2022 SPRING AND FALL TURKEY HUNTING DATES
Spring Youth Portion: April 9 and 10
Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 18 through May 8
Fall Firearms Turkey Season: Oct. 1 - 31
2022 – 2023 ARCHERY DEER AND TURKEY HUNTING DATES
Sept. 15 through Nov. 11 and Nov. 23 through Jan. 15, 2023
2022 - 2023 FIREARMS DEER HUNTING DATES
Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 29 and 30
Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 12 - 22
Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 25 - 27
Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: Dec. 3 - 11
Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 24 - Jan. 3, 2023
Details on hunting regulations, harvest limits, allowed methods, required permits, and other related information will be available online and in MDC’s 2022 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet and MDC’s 2022 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet prior to the related seasons.
Top harvest counties for opening weekend were Franklin, Texas, and Benton.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 89,861 deer during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season Nov. 13 and 14. Of the 89,861 deer harvested, 54,415 were antlered bucks, 7,187 were button bucks, and 28,259 were does.
Top harvest counties for opening weekend were Franklin with 1,968 deer harvested, Texas with 1,814, and Benton with 1,654.
Last year, hunters checked 80,744 deer during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season.
For current, ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website by clicking HERE.
