While the season on all species of geese in Missouri closes Thursday, hunters still will have an opportunity to take snow and Ross’s geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order, which kicks off Friday.
Just as in years’ past, the Light Goose Conservation Order has relaxed regulations in an effort to make it easier for hunters to take larger numbers of geese.
During the order, hunters can use electronic calls, unplugged shotguns, and there is no daily limit to the number of geese a person can take.
Nontoxic shot still is required to be used.
Snow goose numbers appear to be a bit lower than normal for this time of year, but friends in Arkansas say there still are plenty of birds down there, and they’ll be passing through Southeast Missouri in the next couple weeks.
While some hunters put out huge, and expensive, spreads of decoys for snow geese, the majority just travel the region’s roads, looking for flocks they can jump shoot near ditched and tree lines.
That method is very effective, but it has a couple drawbacks.
First, safety can be an issue, especially if hunters are in larger groups, and secondly, you still need permission to access geese on private lands. Yes, most landowners hate snow geese, but they also hate trespassers, so do the right thing and get permission.
The Light Goose Conservation Order will continue through April, though most hunting opportunity is over by late February.
Speaking of waterfowl hunting, the Missouri Department of Conservation will host a public meeting on the future of duck hunting seasons from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in Dexter at the National Guard armory.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees all migratory bird regulations, allows states to change their duck hunting regulations every five years, and that period is coming up in 2021.
Options, which hunters can voice their opinions on, include season timing, how many zones Missouri can have versus a statewide hunting period, season splits versus a continuous season and more.
The recent feral hog eradication flights at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge resulted in 346 pigs being taken off the refuge, the Duck Creek Conservation Area and some neighboring private properties.
“We had great success,” said Mingo Refuge manager Ben Mense. “We had really good weather conditions the entire week except one day.”
The USDA helicopter crew also was available the entire week, Mense said, where in the past, it’s been a one-day event.
Last year, Mense said, the hog flight netted about 127 or 128 pigs.
By the last day of this most recent operation, Mense said, the helicopter crew took about 32 or so hogs, easily the slowest day.
“They were really having to look hard to find hogs that day,” he said.
Refuge staff, Mense said, now is working to determine where any other hogs may be located and will begin trapping operations immediately.
Wappapello Lake has fallen below 358 feet after rising sharply a while back after several storms.
The current level puts it just a few feet higher than normal for this time of year, but with Wednesday and Thursday’s rain, it could come back up some.
At Clearwater Lake, the water level is down to about 496.7 feet, which is less than 3 feet above the normal winter pool of 494.
While speaking with Department of Conservation Director Sara Pauley and Deputy Director Aaron Jeffries earlier this week, Jeffries mentioned where the department is in relation to developing an elk hunting season.
The department’s elk biologist, Jeffries said, would be flying over the Peck Ranch Conservation Area and Current River drainage in the next couple weeks to determine the size of the elk herd, and once that data is collected, the process for finalizing a fall elk hunt can continue.
“Hopefully in the next couple weeks, we’ll have some news as to whether we’ll have five tags or 10 tags,” Jeffries said. “It’s pretty exciting to know we’ll have an elk season.”
“The next time we could take a recommendation to the commission would be in April,” Pauley added, and if approved, things would be put into action quickly.
Elk, however, aren’t the only new species to have an upcoming hunting season in Missouri, Pauley said.
“Our bear biologist is working to complete our bear management plan, and I think the result of that will be an upcoming black bear season,” she said.
The department estimates the current black bear population in Missouri at between 500 and 800 animals. With natural reproduction, the number of bears has been growing for years.
Most, if not all, of the state’s bears can be found south of the Missouri River, but the largest concentrations, by far, are located in the southern third counties, between the Current River and the state’s western boundary.
Finally, if you need something outdoorsy to do this weekend, you might consider heading to Jonesboro for the Arkansas Sportshow, which will be held Friday through Sunday at the First National Bank Arena on the Arkansas State University campus.
The show will be open from 4 until 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday.
The cost for the Rotary Club fundraiser event is $8 for adults, $4 for children age 6-12 and those age 5 and under can enter free.
Fishing, boating, camping, RV equipment, ATVs and more are on the bill for this year’s show.