Big changes are in the works for the waterfowl draw system at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s managed wetlands across the state, and if approved, they’ll go into effect this fall.
First and foremost, the QuickDraw system used at the Otter Slough, Grand Pass and Eagle Bluffs conservation areas since 2010, finally is going away. Under QuickDraw, hunters had to apply online twice a week for a spot at one of the three properties, and getting drawn was nearly impossible as the odds fell each year to dismal levels.
“QuickDraw was very divisive,” said MDC’s top waterfowl biologist, Andy Raedeke. “Some liked it, but many more really didn’t.”
In its place will be a statewide, weekly online drawing for 25% of the available positions. With another 25% of the hunting spots taken by reservation holders from the traditional pre-season drawing, that will leave 50% to poor-line hunters. Previously, QuickDraw hunters took up 75% of available hunting spots on the properties where it was used.
“It wasn’t popular that many positions were allocated to QuickDraw,” Raedeke said.
The day of the week for the new weekly draw hasn’t been finalized yet, Raedeke noted, but hunters should have a one-week notice if they’re selected. That gives them more time to plan and prepare versus the QuickDraw system.
However, just like the old QuickDraw system, those selected in the pre-season or weekly reservation drawing will know their pill number before the actual draw, which is something hunters said they liked.
Another big change is the elimination of the “every member draws” system in use at some locations.
For years, those drawing lower numbers at Otter Slough have complained about the slow draw procedure and not being able to get to the west side pools, which invariably are taken last, before daylight, and MDC is addressing that by going to the “one member draws” procedure at all managed wetlands in an effort to speed up the lines.
Nonresident license fees also are expected to go up, which could potentially curb some crowding.
Interestingly, MDC officials found that hunters from Kentucky could travel to Missouri conservation areas and hunt for less than it would cost them to hunt the top-rated Ballard WMA in their own state.
That could explain the high number of nonresidents trying to draw at Otter Slough each day, which, according to former area manager Kevin Brunke, on most days has been as high as 50% of the poor-line total.
A couple other changes coming this year are minor, but should prove beneficial to hunters and staff alike.
Inside each managed area’s draw room, plans are to have a large-screen monitor to display which hunting spots have already been taken and which remain, an idea Raedeke said should help alleviate crowding around the window.
Also, new green cards will have a bar code, which will be scanned, along with your license, so the data is entered immediately into the computer system, leaving only the harvest totals to be added later.
Even better, future plans include allowing hunters to check out of waterfowl areas on their phones, but currently, internet connectivity is a major holdup.
“Ultimately, our wetland managers would like for there to be an app on your phone where you can enter your daily harvest,” Raedeke said.
All the changes are dependent on commission approval, and if needed, changes will be made.
“The idea is to take a deep dive every five years, check hunter preferences and tweak things as needed instead of just throwing out things and seeing if they work,” Raedeke said.
Arkansas WMA
Permits
Public-land waterfowl hunting in Arkansas also may be changing for nonresidents who flock there for the state’s world-famous duck hunting.
Currently, Arkansas offers wildlife management area permits good for specific properties. If you move to a new WMA, you need to purchase a new permit. Under a new proposal, those permits would be consolidated so they can be used on any state WMA for a period of up to five days.
The proposed WMA permits can be purchased in any amount. However, dates are limited for their use, and they’ll be valid only Nov. 23-Dec. 2, Dec. 27-Jan. 5 and Jan 22-31. That will give resident hunters lots of time to hunt without nonresident competition, which is something they’ve been complaining about for years.
Trout Permit Increase
Another proposal in Missouri seeks to raise the price of trout permits and daily tags at the four trout parks, which haven’t changed since 1999.
If approved, the changes would not go into effect until the 2020 season.
Currently, an annual trout permit costs $7 and the new price would be $10. In the trout parks, the daily tag price of $3 will go to $4.
The new prices will help recoup some of the increased costs involved in operating five coldwater hatcheries and rearing nearly two million trout annually.
When the current prices were set 20 years ago, it cost the Department of Conservation about $1 to raise each trout, but officials now say that cost is nearly double and, according to Director Sara Pauley, the new prices will be “more in line with today’s real costs of the work we do.”
As usual with such proposals, MDC is asking for public comments, and a link is available on its website at mdc.mo.gov.
Arkansas Trout
Likewise for those who fish for trout in Arkansas, whether it be on the Spring River, White River or elsewhere, the cost of doing business is about to go up there as well.
At its most recent meeting, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted to increase the price of trout fishing permits for residents and nonresidents alike.
Resident annual trout permits now will cost $10, and nonresident annual permits, which were priced at $12, will go up to $20.
The funding from the price increases will be dedicated to paying for renovations at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery at Mammoth Spring, which uses a unique silo system to raise trout instead of the typical concrete runs used in most other hatcheries.
River Tournament
For river anglers, the Current River Smallmouth Association will host its first tournament of the season Saturday, based out of Van Buren.
Take-off from the Watercress ramp will be at 7 a.m., and fishing will conclude at 5 p.m.
Paul Henderson has all the club information at 573-686-5476.
Roads Reopening
Finally, just in time for summer squirrel hunters, all the gated side roads in the Mark Twain National Forest’s Cane Ridge area will reopen to vehicular traffic starting Saturday.
They’ve been closed since mid-March to allow for less disturbance to nesting hens during the spring turkey brooding period.