JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —The Missouri Conservation Commission, at its Aug. 23 meeting, made several changes to regulations affecting both resident and nonresident hunters and anglers.
The most notable, and likely the most controversial, is a change to the acreage requirements for landowners to receive free deer and turkey hunting permits.
Starting in 2020, MDC will implement a landowner registry for those seeking permits, which the department hopes will reduce the current 35% misuse of the free tags.
Beginning next year, landowners will be required to own at least 20 acres to receive free deer and turkey permits for themselves and those in their immediate household. The previous minimum was five acres.
Those with five or more acres will continue to be allowed to hunt small game, trap and fish in state waters on their land without a permit.
Nonresident Permits
In a move which will likely make resident sportsmen happy, the commission approved a new rate schedule for nonresident hunting and fishing permit prices.
Starting next year, nonresident deer hunting permits will cost $265, up from $225. Spring turkey permits will cost $224, up from $190, and fall turkey permits will go from $110 to $130.
An annual small game permit, which currently costs nonresidents $80, will go up to $94, and the Conservation Order permit for snow goose hunters will increase from $40 to $47.
A furbearer hunting and trapping permit, currently $130, will go to $192, while daily small game permits will cost $14 for the single day or $42 for the three-day version.
The new price for a daily fishing permit will be $8, while the three-day version will cost $24. An annual fishing permit will rise from $42 to $49.
Trout Permits
The commission also approved permit price increases affecting trout anglers.
An annual trout permit will go from $7 to $10, while the special daily tag at the state’s trout parks will be increased from $3 to $4 at Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River state parks.
Maramec Spring Park, being a leased property, is a special case and MDC will begin a pilot program there in 2020, increasing the daily limit from four fish to five. The daily tag at Maramec Spring will increase from $3 to $5.
Gigging Extension
Fish gigging in area rivers is an honored pasttime, and local anglers likely will be happy to know the Conservation Commission has extended the season an additional 15 days, starting this fall.
The extension comes at the request of anglers through an MDC survey.
Carcass Transportation
The commission also implemented some new rules on the transportation of cervid (deer and elk) carcasses into the state from other regions.
The rules are not yet published, but reports say whole carcass transportation into the state will be restricted. Animal heads and capes must be taken to a licensed taxidermist.
Within the state’s CWD zones, hunters will not be allowed to transport a whole deer carcass out of the county it was taken in unless it is taken to a taxidermist or meat processor within 48 hours. Cut and bones meat, quarters with no spinal column attached and antlers are exempted.
Other regulations will require meat processors and taxidermists to properly dispose of animal parts and keep records of those operations.