JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation Commission met last week to address several actions, including unveiling a new mural.
Deputy Director Tim Ripperger unveiled the eighth mural in the series “Conservation Advances in Missouri” by the Department’s wildlife artist Mark Raithel. The eighth mural in the series represents a decade of conservation history and accomplishments and features shooting sports programs in schools, youth hunting, 50 years of wetland restoration and management, sturgeon restoration, prairie management, and research on salamanders and hellbenders.
A contract was approved for construction on Duck Creek Conservation in Bollinger, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties.
Authorizations and conveyances were approved for various properties. Almost one million board feet of timber will be advertised and sold from the Sunklands Conservation Area in Shannon County, while two plots of land in St. Louis County are being conveyed to their local municipalities for bridge replacement.
Twenty-five individuals saw the suspension or revocation of one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges for cause. Additionally, 279 individuals who are not in compliance with child support laws will see hunting and fishing privileges suspended or revoted. Another 497 individuals who were found in violation of terms of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact will see their hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges suspended or revoked.
The commission also approved the Fiscal Year 2016 Internal Expenditure Plan.
The next regular meeting of the commission will be July 9-10.
Missouri Conservation Commission Action – May 2015
The Missouri Conservation Commission met May 28 and 29 at Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City. Commissioners present were:
- James T. Blair, IV, Chairman
- David W. Murphy, Vice Chair
- Marilynn J. Bradford, Secretary
- Don C. Bedell, Member
PRESENTATIONS
The Commission received the following staff presentations:
- Unveiling of newest MDC mural in “Conservation Advances in Missouri” series by MDC Wildlife Artist Mark Raithel — Tim Ripperger, Deputy Director
- Avian Influenza — Dr. Kelly Straka, State Wildlife Veterinarian
- Final deer season attributes and CWD management challenges — Jason Sumners, Resource Scientist
- Strategic Planning Process — David Thorne, Policy Supervisor
REGULATIONS
The Commission voted to approve:
- A final Order of Rulemaking that sets parameters for use of Conibear® traps in water.
- Orders of Rulemaking to establish availability of resident landowner firearms antlerless deer hunting permits by county for those owning seventy-five (75) or more contiguous acres, remove the antler point restriction in specific counties, eliminate the Columbia/Jefferson City urban zone, and establish availability of firearms antlerless deer permits by county, effective for the 2015-2016 deer season.
- Conservation area deer hunting regulations and managed hunts for the 2015-2016 Fall Firearms Deer Season.
- Orders of Rulemaking to establish 2015 Early Migratory Bird Season dates and limits.
ADMINISTRATION
The Commission:
- Approved a contract with ASA Asphalt, Inc. for the construction of 200 acres of wetlands, construction of 3 spillways, and 6 footbridges on Duck Creek Conservation Area in Bollinger, Stoddard, and Wayne counties.
- Approved Conservation Commission Fund Fiscal Year 2016 Internal Expenditure Plan.
- Approved authorization to advertise and sell an estimated 953,941 board feet of timber located on 536 acres of Compartment 14, Sunklands Conservation Area in Shannon County, to be sold in two harvest units (Sale 1 and Sale 2). The harvest will improve forest health and wildlife habitat.
- Approved the conveyance of approximately .06 acre of Rockwoods Reservation in St. Louis County to the City of Wildwood, Missouri, for a bridge replacement project and to grant the City of Wildwood a temporary construction easement on an additional .25 acre until the project is complete.
- Approved the conveyance of approximately .02 acre of Rockwoods Range in St. Louis County to the City of Wildwood, Missouri, for a bridge replacement project and to grant the City of Wildwood a temporary construction easement on an additional .145 acre until the project is complete.
- Approved the sale of approximately .89 acre of Bear Creek Conservation Area in Laclede County.
- Approved the purchase of approximately 752 acres in Livingston County as an addition to Fountain Grove Conservation Area. The tract is a mix of open fields, forest, wetlands, and stream frontage with 627 acres enrolled in a long-term easement through the Federal Wetland Reserve Program.
- Approved the suspension or revocation of one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of the following individuals for cause:
- Gary A. Akers, Independence, All Sport, 1 Year
- Michael T. Appel, Jericho Springs, Hunting, 1 Year
- Rickey L. Carder, Mountain Grove, Hunting, 1 Year
- Robert L. Chance, Elsberry, All Sport, 1 Year
- Morgan R. Colvard, Brighton, Hunting, 3 Years
- Corey M. Donnell, Billings, All Sport, 1 Year
- Kevin L. Eaton, Iberia, All Sport, 1 Year
- Paul E. Glaser, Pleasant Hope, Hunting, 1 Year
- James A. Gray, Des Arc, All Sport, 1 Year
- Mark K. Grieshaber, Jr., St. Joseph, All Sport, 1 Year
- Cory D. Harris, Bland, Hunting, 1 Year
- Kurtis R. Helm, Deepwater, All Sport, 1 Year
- Daniel S. Helmstetter, Mountain Grove, Hunting, 2 Years
- Lucas J. Henson, Boss, Hunting, 1 Year
- Brennan C. Holt, Preston, Hunting, 3 Years
- Joseph C. Jobe, Springfield, All Sport, 1 Year
- Damon D. Johnson, Joplin, Hunting, 1 Year
- Marvin A. McBay, Centerview, Hunting and Fishing, 1 Year
- Robert J. Newman, Bevier, All Sport, 1 Year
- Randall W. Nicholas, Winona, Hunting, 1 Year
- Jettediah A. Osborn, Lowry City, Hunting, 1 Year
- Lesley L. Parsons, Mansfield, Fishing, 1 Year
- Travis L. Paul, Boonville, Fishing, 1 Year
- Orrin J. Phillips, Winona, Hunting, 1 Year
- Daniel L. Politte, St. Louis, All Sport, 1 Year
- Samuel J. Scruby, Lebanon, Hunting, 1 Year
- Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 279 individuals who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
- Approved the suspension or revocation of one or more hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges of 497 individuals in accordance with the terms of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
- Set the next regular Commission meeting for July 9–10, 2015.
Featured image provided.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
