News and Almanac

LIFETIME PERMITS AVAILABLE SOON

For the first time ever, lifetime hunting and fishing permits are being offered to Missouri residents. The permits become available in December and make a great gift for ardent outdoors people.

Lifetime permits are for basic fishing and/or hunting privileges. They do not include deer or turkey permits or fees for fishing in trout parks.

A Lifetime Conservation Partner permit allows fishing, trout, small game hunting and migratory bird permit privileges and costs $800.

The Lifetime Fishing permit includes fishing and trout permit privileges and costs $400. Lifetime Hunting includes small game hunting and migratory bird permit privileges and costs $400.

Lifetime permits are available only from the Conservation Department Central Office. For an application call 1 (800) 392-4115 or write MDC Permits, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, 65102.

People under 11 years of age may be issued a lifetime permit, but it will not be valid for hunting until proof of hunter education certification is obtained.

MAN INDICTED FOR KILLING RARE BIRDS

A Kentucky man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for killing three bald eagles, a red-tailed hawk, a great-horned owl and other animals.

The killings took place in southeast Missouri in Mississippi County on land the man was farming. The indictment accuses the man of placing the pesticide Furadan in hamburger and setting the poisoned meat out in various locations.

The animals are protected by federal laws and violations are punishable by fines of up to $250,000 and prison sentences of up to two years.

NATURAL GIFTS PRESERVE STATE LANDS

The Conservation Department manages and protects many properties that have been donated in appreciation of loved ones or in order to preserve an area's natural beauty.

For information about donations or memorials, write Donation Coordinator, Conservation Department, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, 65102-0180, or call (314) 751-4115.

LEAFLET ADDRESSES PESTICIDE RUNOFF

A free leaflet produced by the Mark Twain Water Quality Initiative provides practical information about preventing buildups of atrazine, cyanizine and other products in the state's drinking water supplies.

"Best Management Practices for Reducing Pesticide Runoff from Agricultural Fields" discusses application rates of pesticides, calibration of equipment, field scouting, crop rotation and other ways to reduce runoff.

The leaflet is being distributed to agricultural producers in selected watersheds. It is also available from all field offices of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service), Soil and Water Conservation Districts and University Extension Centers.

STUDY BAR CODES, TRACKS PADDLEFISH

A multi-state research project is implanting micro-chip tags that contain bar coded information into the snouts of paddlefish. The project is an attempt to learn more about the life history of this popular sport fish.

Paddlefish are very mobile, moving up and down rivers and across state lines. In parts of the fish's range, it is considered threatened, but Missouri's population is healthy enough to provide a 45-day snagging and gigging season.

The tags will help researchers learn where and when fish travel, how fast they grow and where they spawn.

Creel clerks will interview and check anglers at boat ramps during the state's March 15-April 30 paddlefish season to recover tags. Researchers plan to record cooperating anglers' names and hold a drawing for prizes.

Commercial anglers will be encouraged to cut the bills off paddlefish and drop them at collection points where they sell their catches. Posters with more information about the project will be displayed at selected boat ramps and fish markets.

TV SHOW NETS EMMY

"Missouri Outdoors," the Conservation Department's television program, received an EMMY in the Informational Program category at a recent ceremony in St. Louis.

The regional competition included entries from TV stations and organizations from all markets in Missouri and portions of Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky and Louisiana.

HUNTERS DONATE VENISON TO NEEDY

Successful hunters can donate venison to people who need food through the Share the Harvest Program, in place in several areas of Missouri.

Hunters donated more than 3,200 pounds of venison to the needy in 1994 through eight organizations and 11 participating meat processors. Longer hunting seasons should increase the amount of meat available in 1995.

Look for Share the Harvest posters at participating meat processors. For information about how to start a program in your area, write Share the Harvest, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, 65102-0180.

DIRECTOR TO LEAD INT'L GROUP

Jerry Presley, Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, has been named President of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

The IAFWA is an organization of fish and wildlife agencies from the states, provinces, territories and governments of several nations. The group works at national and international levels to promote policies and practices that conserve fish, wildlife and other natural resources.

"Missouri has always been a leader in conservation," Presley said. "I am honored to be able to help continue that tradition in this leadership role."

RESEARCHER SEEKS MOUNTAIN LION INFO

Southwest Missouri State University graduate student Steve Hardin is seeking data for his study of the historical and current status of mountain lions, also known as cougars, panthers or pumas, in Missouri.

He requests that sightings, photographs or other evidence of cougars in Missouri within the last 50 years be reported to him at SMSU Department of Biology, 901 S. National, Springfield, 65804, or call him at (417) 836-5126.

This painting of a rainbow trout netted Phil Schroeder of Jefferson City first place in the 1996 trout stamp competition. Schroeder also won the 1993 trout stamp competition. This is the last year for the contest, because a move to a "point-of-sale" permit distribution system will make trout and waterfowl stamps obsolete. The Conservation Department will offer 1996 trout and waterfowl stamps as a service to collectors, even though the stamps won't serve as valid permits.