MDC

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