Events

Virtual Vice; Fly Tying at Home. This Month Sam Stewart will be showing us some tips on dying buck tails and will hopefully have time left to show us another large buck tail fly. Save your buck tails from deer season so you can dye them to use on flies throughout the year. have your fly tying tools ready as well if you already have some buck tail ready.

Material list will be up soon.

Hunting Series: Hunting Deer on MDC Conservation Areas in the Missouri Ozarks. This is the fifth virtual program "Movement Patterns of the Rut" and will be on Monday, November 30 from 5:30-6:30 PM. MDC Wildlife Biologist Matthew Peter will discuss strategies to harvest bucks or does after the November firearm season. The link to join this class will be sent by 1 PM the afternoon of Nov. 30th (registration will close at 1 PM). Be sure to check your Spam or Junk box for the email. If an email is not received, please send an email to Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov to let him know.

Hunt Program Series:

Wed. 9/30 5:30-6:30 PM: Virtual Program: Deer Scouting Using Online Mapping (we hope you were able to attend)

Mon. 10/5 5:30-6:30 PM: Virtual Program: On the Ground Scouting & Stand Placement at MDC C.A. (we hope you were able to attend)

Tues. 10/13 5:30-6:30 PM: Virtual Program: Pre Rut Deer Sign (we hope you were able to attend)

Wed. 10/21 5:30-6:30 PM: Virtual Program: Movement Patterns of the Rut (we hope you were able to attend)

Mon. 11/30 5:30-6:30 PM: Virtual Program: Post Rut and Winter Deer Hunting

Come enjoy one of our favorite pastimes in the Ozarks - fish gigging!

In this program you will learn the techniques of fish gigging, how to identify the sucker fish you will be harvesting, and enjoy the fish you harvest with a fish fry!

The program will be held at Van Buren Riverfront Park in Van Buren, MO, and we will be taking boats out on the Current River.

Participants do not need a fishing license - a group fishing permit will be used for the event.

Weather will most likely be cooler, so warm layers, gloves, and waterproof boots will be needed.

Participants who will be traveling for the event - there are hotels in Van Buren.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will be hosting a mentored rabbit hunt for first-time rabbit hunters ages 18 to 34 on Dec. 12, 2026.

This mentored rabbit hunt is specifically designed for ten individuals aged 18 to 34 who have never harvested a rabbit. MDC will be utilizing beagle dogs during the mentored hunt. MDC mentors will be on-site assisting each participant.

Complete program and event details will be sent to registered participants by December 7th. Rabbit management talk and practice shooting will occur before the actual morning rabbit hunt. Participants are responsible for driving to/from the hunting site. Participants will need to have their Hunter Education Certificate and Small Game Hunting Permit.

All shotguns, shotshells, earplugs, safety glasses, and orange hats will be provided by MDC; if the participant chooses to bring their own 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun, MDC will provide the shotshells. Registered participants must provide their own shotshells IF they are bringing a personal shotgun other than a 12 gauge or 20 gauge.

Questions about the hunt may be directed to MDC Conservation Educator and program lead Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov.

Join us to learn how to use trapping as a nuisance wildlife control technique and find enjoyment in being in nature at the same time. Trapping used to be a great source of income for families, but remains a fun and useful hobby. This is a beginner's program.

Join us as we make beautiful holiday wreaths using local Missouri conifer boughs. Dried native plants and berries will add interesting accents. All materials will be provided.

Join us as we make beautiful holiday wreaths using grape vine wreaths and local Missouri conifer boughs. Dried native plants and berries will add interesting accents. All materials will be provided.

Beginners Trapping Clinic

Hosted by The Missouri Department of Conservation & The Missouri Trappers Association

Who: For anyone 6 years and older interested in learning how to trap all species of furbearers in a dry land or water setting.

Where: Maramec Spring Park, 21880 Maramec Spring Dr, St James, MO 65559

• Education classroom within James Foundation Museum

When: Two days; January 9 (Saturday) 9 AM – 5 PM and January 10 (Sunday) 8 AM – 2 PM

• Saturday AM: Participants will receive presentations on regulations, furbearer species, and various types of traps.

• Saturday PM: Participants will have the opportunity to gain a fundamental knowledge of trapping, through a hands-on approach setting land and water type sets in small groups led by mentors of MDC or MTA.

• Sunday: Participants will check their trap lines followed by developing their skills of skinning, fleshing, drying, and other steps of the fur handling process.

• Dress for the weather as most of this clinic is hands-on and in the outdoors. Bring hip or chest waders for setting water trap sets.

• Participants need to bring their own lunch both Saturday and Sunday.

• $7/vehicle entry fee / day to enter Maramec Spring Park (James Foundation)

Clinic is for 25 registered participants. Pre-registration is required for all participants (registered 6–15 year-olds must have a registered adult with them). Registration link: https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/220063

Contact Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov or 573-368-2591 X1584 for more details.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to tie flies? This is an introduction to fly-tying workshop designed for beginners. Participants will be provided the tools and expert coaching to create up to three different flies to take home. Instruction and equipment are provided at no cost by Missouri Department of Conservation & Roubidoux Fly Fishers Association during the workshop; but individuals may bring their own fly-tying equipment if they wish. Space is limited to 15 participants, and all participants must be 15 years or older. This workshop will be held at St. James Nelson Hart Community Hall (1340 Nelson Hart Rd, Saint James, MO 65559) on January 16th from 1 – 4 PM.

Questions can be directed to Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to tie flies? This is an introduction to fly-tying workshop designed for beginners. Participants will be provided the tools and expert coaching to create up to three different flies to take home. Instruction and equipment are provided at no cost by Missouri Department of Conservation & Roubidoux Fly Fishers Association during the workshop; but individuals may bring their own fly-tying equipment if they wish. Space is limited to 15 participants, and all participants must be 15 years or older. This workshop will be held at Eugene Northern Community Hall (400 W 4th St, Rolla, MO 65401) on February 6th from 1 – 4 PM.

Questions can be directed to Dwight Warnke at Dwight.Warnke@mdc.mo.gov.