Submitted by Kyle Dick,
Conservation Agent, Atchison County
Fishing: Spring fishing is heating up. Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to remind anglers that the free fishing ended on April 15 and anglers will need to have a fishing permit, unless exempt. Please see the Wildlife Code of Missouri to see exemptions.
Turkey Season: The 2020 spring turkey season came to an end on May 10. Preliminary data from MDC shows that turkey hunters checked 41,454 birds during Missouri’s 2020 spring turkey season (youth and firearm seasons combined).
This preliminary data shows hunters harvested 164 total birds in Atchison County. Here is the breakdown of the harvest numbers from Atchison County:
Spring youth season total: 12 (11 adult gobblers and 1 juvenile gobbler)
Spring firearms total: 152 (126 adult gobblers, 25 juvenile gobblers and 1 bearded hen)
“Even though non-resident, permit sales were down this year, there were about 9,600 more spring turkey hunters overall than in 2019 due to an increase in resident permit sales,” said MDC Turkey Biologist Reina Tyl. “When turkey hunting participation increases, we expect to see a subsequent increase in turkey harvest. It’s great to see that more Missourians were able to get out into the turkey woods this year.”
Squirrel Season: MDC reminds hunters that squirrel season opens May 23, the Saturday before Memorial Day. The open season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs May 23 through February 15, 2021. Allowed methods are shotguns, rifles, and other legal firearm methods, as well as archery equipment, slingshots, or atlatls. The daily limit for hunting and trapping is 10 and the possession limit is 20. Hunters can harvest squirrels with the following permits: Archery Hunting, Daily Small Game, Small Game Hunting and Fishing, and Small Game Hunting.
Squirrels may also be harvested with cage-style traps during the hunting season as long as hunters have valid permits. Traps must be labeled with the hunter’s full name and address, or conservation number, be attended daily, and have an opening 144 square inches or smaller.
“Small-game hunting is a great way to introduce kids or young adults to hunting,” said MDC Small Game Coordinator Dave Hoover. “Species like squirrels provide abundant opportunities to be successful, making the learning experience fun.”
Get more information on squirrel hunting and trapping from MDC’s 2020 Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZhQ and from MDC’s Small Game Hunting Prospects at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZGt.
MDC reminds the public that it is still critical to continue to heed all recommendations for physical distancing, avoiding overcrowding, handwashing, and other public health measures during outdoor activities. Contact Conservation Agent Kyle Dick at 816-383-0404 or Kyle.dick@mdc.mo.gov with any questions.
