Conservation Action Meeting of the March 2010 Conservation Commission

Commissioners present were:

• William F. “Chip” McGeehan, Marshfield,
• Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass,
• Don R. Johnson, Festus,
• Don C. Bedell, Sikeston

REGULATIONS

The Commission approved regulation changes effective March 1, 2011. These include

• Allowing the use of the atlatl as a method for taking bullfrogs and green frogs with a hunting permit.
• Adding the atlatl as a permitted method for taking fish under certain conditions.
• Changing provisions pertaining to blind construction on the Upper Mississippi Conservation Area by directly referencing the specifications, dates, and other requirements described in the biannual Upper Mississippi Conservation Area Waterfowl Hunting Information booklet.
• Changing certain area-specific hunting and fishing regulations.
• Adding marbled crayfish, Procambarus marmorkrebs, to the prohibited species list due to potentially invasive characteristics of this non-native species.
• Clarifying the need for a person thave a Wildlife Collector’s Permit in addition to a federal bird banding permit.
• Establishing the ability for authorized persons to carry concealable firearms on their person while archery deer hunting or while turkey hunting with a bow during the fall firearms season or on an archer’s permit.
• Bringing the Missouri state falconry regulations into compliance with federal guidelines.
• Adding the use of Conservation Numbers as a way to identify equipment being used by anglers, hunters and trappers.
• The following changes are to become effective as soon as possible.
• Modifying hunting and fishing regulations on certain areas managed by the Conservation Department.
• Closing the ruffed grouse season in Missouri due to low population levels.
• Clarifying that only red fox, gray fox, and coyotes may be taken with cable restraints during February and allowing cable restraints to be used during the entire furbearer trapping season.
• Clarifying that the Resident Roe Fish Commercial Harvest Permit is required to take, possess, and sell shovelnose sturgeon and their eggs from the Missouri River and bowfin, paddlefish, and shovelnose sturgeon and their eggs from the Mississippi River.
• Clarifying the provision that a Nonresident Roe Fish Commercial Harvest Permit is required to take, possess, and sell bowfin, paddlefish, and shovelnose sturgeon and their eggs from the Mississippi River and removing the reference to a shovelnose sturgeon harvest permit in Tennessee.
• Adding a reference tpermit requirements for harvesting bowfin and paddlefish and removing a reference treciprocal harvest privileges for shovelnose sturgeon that are no longer available in Tennessee.
• Clarifying that fish eggs may be sold only at retail by resident commercial establishments.

ADMINISTRATIVE

The Commission

• Received a presentation from:
  • Scott Manley, Director of Conservation Programs for Ducks Unlimited, Southern Region, and David Kostersky, State Grants Coordinator, DU Canada, regarding joint conservation endeavors in Missouri and Canadian Prairies.
  • Fisheries Field Operations Chief Chris Vitellregarding fish hatchery operations.
  • Resource Scientist David Gwaze, Forest Systems Field Station Supervisor Tom Nichols, and Deputy Director Tom Draper regarding the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MoFEP).
• Authorized entering into a contract with Bales Construction Company, Inc., Waynesville, for the construction of the Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery New Hatchery Building and Raceway Improvements Project in Laclede County at a total estimated cost of $1,860,800. The project consists of construction of a new hatchery building and fish rearing raceway improvements.
• Approved conveying controlled access rights on a portion of Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in Benton County abutting U.S. 65 to the State of Missouri, acting by and through the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
• Approved consolidating, for naming purposes, Grandin Towersite and Little Black Conservation Area in Ripley County into a single entity tbe known as Little Black Conservation Area.
• Approved consolidating, for naming purposes, Berry Bluff Conservation Area and Lead Mine Conservation Area in Dallas County into a single entity to be known as Lead Mine Conservation Area.
• Approved relinquishing the Conservation Commission’s remainder interest in an approximately 40-acre tract in Marion County.
• Approved the advertisement and sale of estimated 1.3 million board feet of timber located on 393 acres of Compartment 20, Peck Ranch Conservation Area in Carter County.
• Suspended hunting and/or fishing privileges of 25 Missouri residents and two nonresidents for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of seven Missouri residents. Those whose privileges were suspended are:
  • Tommy M. Alff, Edwards, all sport privileges, 3 years
  • Randy E. Barnes, Ellington, all sport privileges, twadditional years
  • Jesse J. Baumgarden, Deepwater, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Bobby Carver, Bethany, hunting, until Dec. 23, 2011
  • Erik Casas, Wheaton, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Clark A. Chrisman, Doniphan, all sport privileges, 3 years
  • Junior R. Conaway, Salem, all sport privileges, 3 years
  • Steven D. Cully, Stockton, hunting, until Jan. 27, 2012
  • Robert L. Dorf, Steelville, all sport privileges, 1.5 years
  • Daniel J. Dunn, Marshfield, all sport privileges, 2 years
  • Justin M. Evans, Springfield, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Joshua R. Faulstich, Imperial, all sport privileges, 6 months
  • Leon E. Ford, Elkland, hunting, 1 year
  • William K. Grunden, Fair Grove, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Jeremy L. Henry, Mansfield, hunting, until Jan. 27, 2012
  • Brian C. Hill, Jackson, all sport privileges, 1 additional year
  • Jeremy E. Jones, Columbia, hunting, 6 months
  • Andrew J. Karr, Salem, all sport privileges, 3 years
  • Michael J. Krout, Harrisonville, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • John C. McDonald, Salem, all sport privileges, 3 years
  • Taylor J. Morris, Eldon, all sport privileges, 6 months
  • Jacob Prince, Camden, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Larry E. Robertson, Bronaugh, all sport privileges, until Jan. 25, 2011
  • Shaun E. Shanks, New Madrid, hunting, until Dec. 2, 2010
  • Charles D Shattuck-Knaebel, Crocker, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Mark W. Sheets, Mission, Kan., all sport privileges, 2 years
  • Joshua S. Shook, Steelville, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Jeffrey A. Shotts, Kahoka, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Shane A. Stewart, Mansfield, hunting, until Jan. 27, 2012
  • Michael A. Stillwell, Clinton, all sport privileges, 1 additional year
  • Scott A. Velasc, Belleville, Ill., all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Robert H. White, Lathrop, all sport privileges, 1 year
  • Charles M. Wood, Eureka, all sport privileges, 2 years
  • A juvenile, Maitland, hunting, until July 7, 2010
• Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 289 people whare not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
• Suspended the hunting and fishing privileges of 170 nonresidents under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
• Imposed hunting privilege suspensions of one tthree years for four Missouri residents whinjured other persons in hunting incidents. The hunters must complete a hunter-education training course before restoration of privileges.
• Director Bob Ziehmer announced that during closed session at the Jan. 28 meeting, the Commission authorized filing suit trecover damages against an individual who purchased vehicles at a Department surplus auction and then stopped payment on the check. That lawsuit has been filed.
• Director Ziehmer alsannounced the approval, in closed session, of the suspension of the State of Missouri Deferred Compensation Program employee incentive ($35 match) effective with the March 31, 2010, paycheck. Dollars used tfund the incentive will be redirected tpartially support the projected $660,000 increase in contributions tthe Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) in Fiscal Year 2011. MOSERS indicates the retirement contribution rate for employee pensions will increase from 12.75% of salary in Fiscal Year 2010 t13.81% in Fiscal Year 2011, with possible future increases of up to 19.01% by Fiscal Year 2016.
• Confirmed that the next regular meeting will be held on April 15 and 16 at Jefferson City; and discussed future meeting dates.

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