PURPOSE: This amendment removes Upper Mississippi Conservation Area from having an annual drawing to allocate blind locations. This will result in all sections of the Upper Mississippi Conservation Area falling under the statewide regulations (paragraph 1) for decoys and blinds.
Acknowledgements
Title 3 – Department of Conservation
Division 10 – Conservation Commission
Chapter 11—Wildlife Code: Special Regulations for Department Areas
Proposed Amendment
Proposed Amendment
(1) Decoys and blinds are permitted but must be removed from the area daily and may not be left unattended between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Blinds may not be constructed on-site from woody vegetation except for willows (Salicaceae spp.).
[(A) The current Upper Mississippi Conservation Area Waterfowl Hunting Information booklet is hereby incorporated in this Code by reference. This booklet is published annually in March by, and a printed copy can be obtained from, the Missouri Department of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 and is also available online at www.missouriconservation.org. This rule does not incorporate any subsequent amendments or additions.
(B) On those portions of Upper Mississippi Conservation Area designated as restricted waterfowl hunting areas, blind sites shall be designated and allotted through a system of registration and drawing established by the department. No blind drawings will take place after the 2024 drawing. Blinds must be constructed in accordance with specifications, dates, and other requirements as described in the Upper Mississippi Conservation Area Waterfowl Hunting Information booklet. Waterfowl may be taken only from a designated blind except that hunters may retrieve dead birds and pursue and shoot downed cripples. This rule does not apply during the early teal season and the early Canada goose season. On portions of the area designated as open, blinds may be constructed without site restrictions. Blinds or blind sites on both restricted and open portions of the area may not be locked, transferred, rented, or sold. Boats shall not be left overnight at blind sites. Blinds unoccupied at one-half (1/2) hour before legal shooting time may be used by the first hunter to arrive.]
AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* This rule previously filed as 3 CSR 10-4.115. Original rule filed April 30, 2001, effective Sept. 30, 2001. For intervening history, please consult the Code of State Regulations. Amended: Filed October 3, 2025.
PUBLIC ENTITY COST: This proposed amendment may cost state agencies or political subdivisions an estimated $25,700 in aggregate.
PRIVATE ENTITY COST: This proposed amendment will not cost private entities more than five hundred dollars ($500) in aggregate.
NOTICE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS: Anyone may file a statement in support of or in opposition to this proposed amendment with Regulations Committee Chairman, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or via the department’s website at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49. To be considered, comments must be received within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Missouri Register. No public hearing is scheduled.
FISCAL NOTE
PUBLIC COST
I. Department title: Missouri Department of Conservation
Division title: Division 10 – Conservation Commission
Chapter title: Special Regulations for Department Areas
II. SUMMARY OF FISCAL IMPACT
| Affected Agency or Political Subdivision | Estimated Cost of Compliance in the Aggregate |
| Missouri Department of Conservation | ~$8,566 |
| USACE | ~$8,566 |
| USFWS | ~$8,566 |