In Brief

By MDC | February 1, 2025
From Missouri Conservationist: February 2025
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Catch-and-Keep Trout Season Starts March 1

Opening day at Missouri’s four trout parks expected to draw large crowds 

March 1 marks the annual opening of catch-and-keep trout fishing in Missouri at the state’s four trout parks: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. The catch-and-keep season at the trout parks runs through Oct. 31.

MDC operates trout hatcheries at all four parks and stock rainbow trout daily throughout the season. MDC staff stock more than 800,000 trout annually at the state’s four trout parks and approximately 1.5 million trout annually statewide.

Trout anglers need a daily trout tag to fish in Missouri’s trout parks during this time. Daily trout tags can only be purchased at each of the four trout parks. MDC encourages trout anglers to have the correct amount of cash for daily tags, if possible. Missouri residents 16 through 64 and nonresidents 16 and older also need a fishing permit in addition to the daily trout tag.

The cost of a daily trout tag is $5 for adults and $3 for those 15 years of age and younger. A daily fishing permit is $9. The daily limit is four trout.

MDC encourages trout anglers to buy their fishing permits ahead of time from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

For more information on trout parks, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/4cw.

Missouri has a wealth of trout waters, including red, white, and blue-ribbon areas that support naturally reproducing trout. 

MDC also offers the Missouri Blue Ribbon Trout Slam to honor anglers who catch a trout in at least five of the nine blue-ribbon trout streams. Participants can have their successes listed on the MDC website. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/troutslam.

For more information on trout fishing in Missouri, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/Zvy. Get the information in booklet form with our new Trout Fishing in Missouri, available for free at MDC locations or order one online at short.mdc.mo.gov/4fK.

To prevent the spread of the invasive alga called didymo or “rock snot,” the use of shoes, boots, or waders with porous soles of felt, matted, or woven fibrous material is prohibited at all trout parks, trout streams, Lake Taneycomo, and buffer areas. Get more information at short.mdc.mo.gov/4ZA.

Deer and Turkey Hunting Season Dates Set

MDC recently set deer and turkey hunting season dates for the 2025–2026 seasons, which were approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its Dec. 13 open meeting at the MDC St. Louis Regional Office in St. Charles.

The commission also gave initial approval to recommendations related to chronic wasting disease (CWD) that would rescind the intrastate carcass transportation regulations for deer and other cervids and establish carcass-disposal requirements for deer and other cervids harvested in Missouri.

2025 Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting Dates

  • Spring Youth Portion: April 12–13
  • Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 21–May 11
  • Fall Archery Turkey Portion: Sept. 15–Nov. 14 and Nov. 26–Jan. 15, 2026 
  • Fall Firearms Turkey Portion: Oct. 1-31 (in open counties)
  • 2025–2026 Archery Deer Hunting Dates
  • Sept. 15–Nov. 14 and Nov. 26–Jan. 15, 2026
  • 2025–2026 Firearms Deer Hunting Dates
  • Firearms Early Antlerless Portion: Oct. 10–12 (in open counties)
  • Firearms Early Youth Portion: Nov. 1–2
  • Firearms November Portion: Nov. 15–25
  • Firearms CWD Portion: Nov. 26–30 (in open counties)
  • Firearms Late Youth Portion: Nov. 28–30
  • Firearms Late Antlerless Portion: Dec. 6–14 (in open counties)
  • Firearms Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 27–Jan. 6, 2026

Recommendations for changes to firearms antlerless permit numbers, CWD mandatory sampling, conservation area regulations, managed hunts, and other proposals will be submitted to the commission for consideration this spring. 

Detailed information on the upcoming seasons and portions will be included in the 2025 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet and the 2025 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available closer to the seasons. The booklets will be available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov.

Deer Carcass Movement and Disposal

The Conservation Commission gave initial approval for rescinding the intrastate deer carcass transportation regulations that prohibit high-risk parts of hunter-harvested deer and other cervids from being moved from CWD Management Zone counties unless being delivered to a licensed meat processor, licensed taxidermist, or CWD sampling station.

In its place, the commission gave initial approval for establishing statewide requirements for the disposal of carcasses of deer and other cervids harvested in Missouri. MDC recommended allowing hunters who harvest deer in any county in Missouri to be able to transport the carcass, including all parts, to any final destination in the state for processing as long as unused parts are disposed of in a landfill, through a trash service, or on the property where the animal was harvested. Hunters would be required to report their deer through Telecheck before any parts are transported out of the county of harvest. 

According to MDC, these changes were recommended to slow the spread of CWD, minimize regulatory complexity, and reduce the burden on hunters to comply with regulations.

“Improper disposal of deer carcasses can spread CWD, threatening Missouri’s deer population,” said MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle. 

He noted the current intrastate carcass transportation regulations required hunters who process their own deer to debone or quarter the animal prior to leaving a CWD Management Zone.

 “This can be challenging for hunters who harvest deer just before dark or in inclement weather,” said Isabelle. “The carcass disposal regulations would still allow a hunter to take their deer to a taxidermist or processor as they normally would. And if they process deer themselves, these changes will allow them to take their entire deer home to process it as long as the unused parts are either disposed of in a landfill, through a trash service, or left on the harvest property.”

MDC did not recommend changes to the carcass transportation regulations for cervids harvested outside of Missouri. These regulations prohibit the transportation of high-risk cervid parts into Missouri, from cervids harvested out of state, except that hunters may import cervid heads with cape attached if delivered to a licensed taxidermist within 48 hours of entering Missouri.

MDC will take public comments on the regulation changes from Feb. 19 through March 20, 2025, at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49.

MDC will compile comments received and share them with the commission prior to their April 4 open meeting when final consideration will be given to the regulation changes. If approved, the changes would become effective June 30, 2025.

Buy 2025 Hunting and Fishing Permits

Annual hunting and fishing permits expire at the end of February, including 2024 permits for small game, fishing, trout fishing, and combination hunting and fishing.

Buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from vendors around the state or online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits. Once purchased, permits may be carried electronically through our free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

Save time by buying hunting and fishing permits for multiple people in a single transaction. Select the Additional Customer option during the permit purchase.

Try our online permit auto-renewal service to automatically renew your permits prior to the start of the next season or permit year so you never have an expired permit when you need it most. Enrollment in auto-renewal can be done during an online permit purchase or by using the Manage Your Account feature. 

Commercial and lifetime permits can be purchased only through the MDC Permit Services Unit by calling 573-522-0107 for an application.

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Agent Advice
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Clarissa Stroder
Butler County
Conservation Agent

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The Light Goose Conservation Order begins on Feb. 7. During this season, hunters can harvest snow, blue, and Ross’s geese. A Conservation Order Permit is required, and there are no daily bag or possession limits. Hunters must use shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller, which may hold more than three shells. All shot must be lead free. Light geese tend to congregate in open fields, so be aware of your location and have permission before hunting on someone’s property. White-fronted geese tend to sit with or near these geese, but they are not included in the season. For more information, check the Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2024–2025 wherever you buy your permits or online at 
short.mdc.mo.gov/4Hk.

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Invasive Species
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Curly-Leaf Pondweed

by Angela Sokolowski

Invasive nonnative species destroy habitat and compete with native plants and animals. Please do what you can to control invasive species when you landscape, farm, hunt, fish, camp, or explore nature.

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Curly-Leaf Pondweed
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JAMES WHITELY
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Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) is an invasive submerged aquatic perennial plant that can infest ponds, lakes, and streams. This species can be identified by its wavy — or curly — alternate leaves with finely toothed margins and flattened stems. The growth period differs from most aquatic vegetation. Growth starts in fall and continues through winter, even under ice, and is often the first aquatic plant noticed in spring. By mid-summer, it dies back and may wash ashore, decomposing.

Why It’s Bad

This species can displace beneficial aquatic plants, form dense mats at the water’s surface, and interfere with fishing, swimming, and boating activities. Plant fragments can regenerate new individuals. It can easily be spread by boats and trailers, so “Clean, Drain, and Dry“ watercraft and gear before transporting to prevent spreading this weed. 

How to Control It

Mechanical: Pulling or raking can temporarily clear away dense mats but may unintentionally distribute plant parts that establish new populations. 

Chemical: Several aquatically approved herbicides are commercially available to treat this species. Consult a professional for guidance on proper treatments. Never use unapproved herbicides in surface waters.

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What is it?
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Eastern Red Bat

The eastern red bat resembles a mouse with wings. The wings are thin and leatherlike, stretched across the bat’s limbs and fingers and attached to its sides, allowing it to glide in flight. Missouri is home to 14 species of bats, most of which belong to the evening bats, or Vespertilionidae, family. They are nocturnal, taking to the skies at night to hunt for flying insects.

This Issue's Staff

Magazine Manager – Stephanie Thurber
Editor – Angie Daly Morfeld
Associate Editor – Larry Archer
Photography Editor – Ben Nickelson
Staff Writer – Kristie Hilgedick
Staff Writer – Joe Jerek
Staff Writer – Dianne Van Dien
Designer – Marci Porter
Designer – Kate Morrow
Photographer – Noppadol Paothong
Photographer – David Stonner
Circulation – Marcia Hale