This amendment modifies the Mississippi River levels that will trigger closing hunting during the spring turkey hunting season and the fall deer and turkey hunting seasons in Southeast Missouri in Zones 1 and 2.
Acknowledgements
Title 3 – Department of Conservation
Division 10 – Conservation Commission
Proposed Amendment
Proposed Amendment
(4) Wildlife, except waterfowl, may not be pursued or taken while trapped or surrounded by floodwaters or while fleeing from floodwaters or fire.
(A) In Southeast Missouri no person shall take, attempt to take, or pursue wildlife, except waterfowl, during the fall deer and turkey season(s) in:
1. Zone 1 (Scott County) when the Mississippi River level is at or above [thirty-three feet (33’)]thirty-five feet (35’) on the Thebes, IL, gauge. Zone 1 fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri east of a line running west from the Illinois border at Commerce access in the town of Commerce to North Water Street; south on North Water Street to Mo. Hwy. E; west on Mo. Hwy. E to Mo. Hwy. N; south on Mo. Hwy. N to County Hwy. 351; south on County Hwy. 351 to Mo. Hwy. NN; south on Mo. Hwy. NN to the Scott County line; east on the Scott County line to the Illinois border.
2. Zone 2 (Mississippi County) when the Mississippi River level is at or above [forty-one feet (41’)]forty-three feet (43’) on the Cairo, IL, gauge. Zone 2 fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri east of a line running west from the Illinois border on the Mississippi County line to Mo. Hwy. NN; south on Mo. Hwy. NN to County Hwy. 222; east on County Hwy. 222 to Mo. Hwy. N; south on Mo. Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 62; east on Mo. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 77; south on Mo. Hwy. 77 to Mo. Hwy. D; west on Mo. Hwy. D to County Hwy. 329; south on County Hwy. 329 to County Hwy. 318; west on County Hwy. 318 to Mo. Hwy. DD; south on Mo. Hwy. DD to County Hwy. 331; south on County Hwy. 331 to Mo. Hwy. 80; west on Mo. Hwy. 80 to Mo. Hwy. AA; south on Mo. Hwy. AA to Mo. Hwy. FF; south on Mo. Hwy. FF to Mo. Hwy. 77; south on Mo. Hwy. 77 to Mo. Hwy. A; east on Mo. Hwy. A to the Kentucky border.
3. Zone 3A (New Madrid and Mississippi counties) when the Mississippi River level is at or above thirty-four feet (34’) on the New Madrid, MO, gauge. Zone 3A fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri south of a line running west from the Kentucky border on U.S. Hwy. A to Mo. Hwy. 77; north on Mo. Hwy. 77 to Mo. Hwy. 102; west on Mo. Hwy. 102 to County Hwy. 521; west on County Hwy. 521 to Mo. Hwy. 102; north on Mo. Hwy. 102 to County Hwy. 526; west on County Hwy. 526 to County Hwy. 727; south on County Hwy. 727 to Mo. Hwy. P; South on Mo. Hwy. P to Mo. Hwy. WW; west on Mo. Hwy. WW to Mo. Hwy. U; west on Mo. Hwy. U to Interstate 55; south on Interstate 55 to Mo. Hwy. M; east on Mo. Hwy. M to Mo. Hwy. KK; west on Mo. Hwy. KK to Mo. Hwy. 162; east on Mo. Hwy. 162 to the Tennessee border.
4. Zone 3B (New Madrid and Mississippi counties) when the Mississippi River level is at or above thirty-six feet (36’) on the New Madrid, MO, gauge. Zone 3B fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri south of a line continuing from Zone 3A on a line running north on Mo. Hwy. U to Mo. Hwy. P; east on Mo. Hwy. P to Mo. Hwy. BB; north on Mo. Hwy. BB to Mo. Hwy. OO; east on Mo. Hwy. OO to the toe of the protected side of the Corps of Engineers secondary levee; north on the Corps of Engineers secondary levee to Mo. Hwy. 80; east on Mo. Hwy. 80 to Mo. Hwy. AA; south on Mo. Hwy. AA to Mo. Hwy. FF; south on Mo. Hwy. FF to Mo. Hwy. 77; south on Mo. Hwy. 77 tying back into Zone 3A.
5. Zone 3C (New Madrid and Mississippi counties) when the Mississippi River level is at or above forty feet (40’) on the New Madrid, MO, gauge. Zone 3C fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri south of a line continuing from Zone 3B on a line running north on Mo. Hwy. V to Mo. Hwy. 80; east on Mo. Hwy. 80 to the toe of the protected side of the Corps of Engineers secondary levee; north on the Corps of Engineers secondary levee to Mo. Hwy. 77; south on Mo. Hwy. 77 to Mo. Hwy. D; west on Mo. Hwy. D to County Hwy. 329; south on County Hwy. 329 to Mo. Hwy. DD; south on Mo. Hwy. DD to County Hwy. 331; south on County Hwy. 331 to Mo. Hwy. 80; west on Mo. Hwy. 80 to Mo. Hwy. AA tying back into Zone 3B.
6. Zone 4 (Pemiscot County) when the Mississippi River level is at or above thirty-two feet (32’) on the Caruthersville, MO, gauge. Zone 4 fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri east of a line running west from the Tennessee border on Mo. Hwy. 162 to Mo. Hwy. TT; south on Mo. Hwy. TT to Mo. Hwy. T; west on Mo. Hwy. T to Interstate 55; south on Interstate 55 to Interstate 155; southeast on Interstate 155 to Mo. Hwy. U; west on Mo. Hwy. U to Mo. Hwy. D; south on Mo. Hwy. D to County Hwy. 536; west on County Hwy. 536 to County Hwy. 515; south on County Hwy. 515 to U.S. Hwy. 164; west on U.S. Hwy. 164 to Mo. Hwy. H; south on Mo. Hwy. H to County Hwy. 569; south on County Hwy. 569 to the Arkansas border.
7. Zone 5A (Dunklin County) when the St. Francis River level is at or above twenty-one feet (21’) on the St. Francis, AR, gauge. Zone 5A fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri west of a line running east from the Arkansas border on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; south on Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. Hwy. 25 to Mo. Hwy. 84; west on Mo. Hwy. 84 to the Arkansas border.
8. Zone 5B (Dunklin County) when the St. Francis River level is at or above fifteen and one-half feet (15.5’) on the Holly Island, MO, gauge. Zone 5B fall deer and turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri west of a line running east on Mo. Hwy. 84 to U.S. Hwy. 412; southwest on U.S. Hwy. 412 to Mo. Hwy. F; south on Mo. Hwy. F to Mo. Hwy. FF; south on Mo. Hwy. FF to the Arkansas border.
(B) In Southeast Missouri no person shall take, attempt to take, or pursue wildlife, except waterfowl, during the spring turkey hunting season in:
1. Zone 1 (Scott County) when the Mississippi River level is at or above [thirty-three feet (33’)]thirty-five feet (35’) on the Thebes, IL, gauge. Zone 1 spring turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri south of a line running west from the Illinois border at Commerce access in the town of Commerce to North Water Street; south on North Water Street to the toe of the protected side of the Corps of Engineers main line levee; south on the Corps of Engineers main line levee to the Scott County line; east on the Scott County line to the Illinois border.
2. Zone 2 (Mississippi County) when the Mississippi River level is at or above [forty-one feet (41’)]forty-three feet (43’) on the Cairo, IL, gauge. Zone 2 spring turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri east of a line running west from the Illinois border at the Mississippi/Scott County line to the toe of the protected side of the Corps of Engineers main line levee; south on the Corps of Engineers main line levee to Mo. Hwy. A; east on Mo. Hwy. A to the Kentucky border.
3. Zone 3 (New Madrid and Mississippi counties) when the Mississippi River level is at or above thirty-four feet (34’) on the New Madrid, MO, gauge. Zone 3 spring turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri south of a line running west on Mo. Hwy. A to the toe of the protected side of the Corps of Engineers main line levee; south on the Corps of Engineers main line levee to Mo. Hwy. 162; east on Mo. Hwy. 162 to the Tennessee border.
4. Zone 4 (Pemiscot County) when the Mississippi River level is at or above thirty-two feet (32’) on the Caruthersville, MO, gauge. Zone 4 spring turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri east of a line running west from the Tennessee border on Mo. Hwy. 162 to the toe of the protected side of the Corps of Engineers main line levee; south on the Corps of Engineers main line levee to the Arkansas border.
5. Zone 5A (Dunklin County) when the St. Francis River level is at or above twenty-one feet (21’) on the St. Francis, AR, gauge. Zone 5A spring turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri west of a line running east from the Arkansas border on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; south on Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. Hwy. 25 to Mo. Hwy. 84; west on Mo. Hwy. 84 to the Arkansas border.
6. Zone 5B (Dunklin County) when the St. Francis River level is at or above fifteen and one-half feet (15.5’) on the Holly Island, MO, gauge. Zone 5B spring turkey season boundary shall be that portion of Missouri west of a line running east on Mo. Hwy. 84 to U.S. Hwy. 412; southwest on U.S. Hwy. 412 to Mo. Hwy. F; south on Mo. Hwy. F to Mo. Hwy. FF; south on Mo. Hwy. FF to the Arkansas border.
AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. Original rule filed Aug. 26, 1964, effective Dec. 31, 1964. For intervening history, please consult the Code of State Regulations. Amended: Filed September 4, 2020.
PUBLIC COST: This proposed amendment will not cost state agencies or political subdivisions more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate.
PRIVATE COST: This proposed amendment will not cost private entities more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the 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.