A lot of seasons in Missouri are winding down this week, and for hunters, that will leave rabbits, squirrels, crows and geese as options.
Easily the most popular season closing is the one for ducks. The state’s South Zone season will close 30 minutes after sunset Friday.
At Butler County’s Coon Island Conservation Area, biologist Luke Wehmhoff reports about 6,000 ducks this week, and they’re using the refuge pools almost exclusively.
“The river is up out of its banks still, so there’s lots of flood water between the core levees, and not much was using the units that I saw,” he said.
At the Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area in Mississippi County, biologist Keith Cordell counted just shy of 19,000 ducks late Monday, but just like at Coon Island, he said, they are using the refuge pools most of the time.
New birds haven’t moved into the region in quite a while, so obviously the ones here have learned the ropes and know to stay where they can’t get shot.
By the way, Arkansas’ statewide duck season also closes Friday.
The furbearer hunting season closes for most species Friday. That includes hunting for badger, bobcats, gray and red foxes, opossum, raccoon and striped skunks.
Coyote hunting remains open year-round, with some spring exceptions.
The trapping season for badger, bobcats, coyotes, gray and red foxes, mink, opossum, raccoon, rabbits and striped skunks also closes Friday, leaving only otter, muskrat, beaver and nutria trapping.
Otters and muskrats will remain open through Feb. 20, while beaver and nutria can be trapped through March 31.
Both the squirrel and rabbit hunting seasons will continue through Feb. 15, so there’s not a lot of time left for those options, either.
For those who prefer a wingshooting challenge, Missouri’s crow season runs through March 3, while Canada, Brant, snow, Ross’s and white-fronted geese can be hunted through Feb. 6. Beginning Feb. 7 and continuing through April, hunters can pursue snow and Ross’s geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order.
Anglers in Missouri also will be impacted by the closures of the stream gigging/snagging and winter trout program seasons this week.
Our local rivers haven’t been in any decent shape to try gigging lately, so unless someone wants to give it one last effort, it will go out with a whimper.
While it’s not the same, gigging on impounded waters will open Saturday.
Those bowfishing the state’s impounded waters will no longer be able to do so around the clock after Friday. Beginning Saturday, the legal time frame will be restricted to the hours between sunrise and midnight through March 31.
Those fishing for trout in the Winter Trout Program lakes, like Jackson’s Rotary Lake, can keep fish beginning Saturday.
With all the changes, it’s certainly in your best interest to double-check the regulations booklet.
They didn’t have the best conditions to fish, with the water level dropping, but eight teams took part in last weekend’s Wappapello Crappie Club tournament.
Sandage and Manes earned the top spot, bringing 8.31 pounds to the scales.
Second place was a tie between the teams of Guiling/Conner and Hill/Green. Both teams ended the day with 5.45 pounds.
Rounding out the top three was the team of Duley and Mattison with 4.09 pounds.
The Wappapello Crappie Club’s next event will be its two-day Classic on Feb. 15-16.
For those who have taken furbearers this winter, fur buyer Marc Romine will be at Poplar Bluff’s Sale Barn Friday.
As is normal, Romine plans to arrive around 9 a.m. and leave by 11.
Don’t expect much, he cautions, because markets remain very weak.
If you have bobcats or river otters needing tags, Conservation Agent Mark Skelton plans to be on hand to take care of those.
Finally, the Missouri Department of Conservation’s online application period for spring managed turkey hunts begins Saturday.
Throughout February, you can apply online for one of 33 hunts across the state. Some are for youth hunters only, and one is archery only.
You can get to the application page at mdc.mo.gov.
Beginning March 12, you can check that same website to see if you were drawn.