December 2019 Conservation Commission Action

The Missouri Conservation Commission met at Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City, on Dec. 12 for its closed executive session and on Dec. 13 for its regular open meeting. Commissioner present were:

  • Don C. Bedell, Chair
  • Wm. L. (Barry) Orscheln, Vice Chair/Secretary
  • Steven D. Harrison, Member
  • Mark L. McHenry, Member

Presentations

The Commission received the following presentations/reports

  • Director’s Comments/Year in Review -- Sara Parker Pauley, Director
  • Operational Excellence Update -- Kendra Witthaus, Assistant to Director – Operational Excellence
  • 2020 Missouri Wild Turkey Hunting Regulation Recommendations -- Reina Tyl, Turkey Biologist
  • Ginseng Regulation Review -- Malissa Briggler, State Botanist
  • Financial Report -- Andrew Bond, Financial Services Chief
  • Land Conservation Strategy 101 -- Jennifer Battson Warren, Deputy Director and Chair, Realty Committee
  • Major Construction Projects Status Report -- Jacob Careaga, Design and Development Division Chief
  • Information Technology Projects Status Report -- Douglas Fees, Information Technology Services Chief

Administration

The Commission

  • Recognized the following staff for national awards:
    • MDC Resource Scientist Paul Michaletz on receiving the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 2019 Fisheries Biologist of the Year award;
    • MDC’s St. Louis Urban Fishing Program’s 50th Anniversary Project on receiving the 2019 Sport Fish Restoration Outstanding Project award from the American Fisheries Society in the category of Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation;
    • MDC Project Engineer Mattheuw Prenger on receiving the 2019 Carl V. Anderson Conservation Project “Award of Excellence” from the Association of Conservation Engineers; and
    • The MDC Pistol Team for numerous placements at the 2019 National Police Shooting Competition.
  • Gave final approval to a series of recommendations for changes to the Wildlife Code and approved one proposed change to the Wildlife Code.
  • Approved 2020 wild turkey hunting regulation recommendations, including the follow season dates:
    • Spring Youth Portion: April 4 and 5,
    • Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 20 through May 10, and
    • Fall Firearms Turkey Season: Oct. 1 – 31.
  • Approved season dates for each portion of the 2020-2021 firearms deer hunting season:
    • Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 31 – Nov. 1,
    • Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 14 – 24,
    • Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 27 – 29,
    • Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: Dec. 4 – 6, and
    • Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 26 - Jan. 5, 2021.
  • NOTE: The 2020-2021 deer and turkey archery season will run Sept. 15 through Nov. 13 and Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2021
  • Suspended or revoked one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of 11 individuals for cause:
    1. Kevin A. Bridges, Harrisonville, Hunting, 2 Years;
    2. Gary G. Buck, Perryville, All Sport, 1 Year;
    3. Matthew A. Camden, Poplar Bluff, Hunting, 1 Year;
    4. Thomas W. Clemmons, Buffalo, Hunting & Fishing; 1 Year;
    5. Kent A. Crouch, Rolla, All Sport, 1 Year;
    6. Tyler J. Fesmire, Polo, Hunting, 4 Years;
    7. Scott E. Nabors, Odessa, All Sport, 1 Year;
    8. Pual T. Peng, Springfield, Fishing, 1 Year;
    9. Clarence D. Scheets, Willard, All Sport, 1 Year;
    10. Jeremy D. Waddell, Ewing, All Sport, 1 Year; and
    11. Cody R. White, Bonne Terre, All Sport, 1 Year.
  • Suspended or revoked one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of two individuals per court orders:
    1. Austin C. Earnest, Rushville, Hunting, Revoked until Sept. 10, 2021; and
      Kince Hutchinson, Jamesport, All Sport, Revoked until Oct. 1, 2021.
    2. Suspended or revoked all hunting and fishing privileges of 177 individuals who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
    3. Suspended or revoked one or more hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges of 588 individuals in accordance with the terms of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
    4. Appointed Robyn Parker to the Board of Trustees for the Conservation Employees’ Benefits Plan for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2020.
    5. Approved naming three recently acquired tracts in Boone County the “Henry J. Waters III and Vicki S. Russell Unit of Three Creeks Conservation Area” in recognition of the donors’ partial donation of the property.
    6. Set the next regular meeting for Jan. 28-29, 2020
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