Get Outside in August

Ways to connect with nature

Southeast Region

Dove Hunting Basics

Saturday, Aug. 18 • 8:30–11:30 a.m. Andy Dalton Shooting Range 4897 N. Farm Road 61, Ash Grove, MO 65604 Registration required. Call 417-742-4361 by Aug. 18 Ages 10 and older

Join us to learn the most effective methods for dove hunting. We will discuss the biology of the bird and teach you how to wingshoot using techniques from Effective Wingshooting for the Hunter. We will discuss using decoys and how to use concealment to your benefit.

Leaving the Den

Watch for young striped skunks out and about. They are leaving the den and striking out on their own.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane…

It’s a bat! Baby bats begin taking flight. Look for these nocturnal mammals at dusk as they hunt for insects.

Birds of a Feather

Look for flocks of purple martins as they gather for migration.

Enjoy the Night Sky

Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 12. How many shooting stars and constellations can you see?

Southeast Region

Turtle Mania

Saturday, Aug. 18 • 1–4 p.m. Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center 2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 No registration required. Call 573-290-5218 for Information. All ages.

Join us for a turtle-tastic time! Shelled, clawed, and scaled, turtles are some of the oldest creatures on Earth. Stop by to learn about the species in our state and how these unusual beings survive. We’ll have turtle-themed crafts and activities as well as live turtles to see.

Find more events in your area at mdc.mo.gov/events

Enjoy more time here

Ever have a lost or forgotten permit spoil your outdoor plans? Not anymore. MDC’s permits system lets you buy online, print your permit at home, and have it in hand immediately. You can even reprint the permit if you lose or damage it. Buy your permits online at mdc.mo.gov/permits

Natural Events to See This Month

Here’s what’s going on in the natural world.

• Sumac fruits, hawthorn fruits, wild grapes, and elderberries ripen
• Shorebirds begin migrating south
• Young gray squirrels search for home territories.