Missouri Conservation News
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Missouri Conservation News
Deer hunters reminded to Share the Harvest
Hunters do double duty, feeding thousands of fellow Missourians while keeping the state's deer population at an acceptable level.
In pioneer days, a successful hunt often meant the difference between feast and famine. In the 21st century, hunters still are making a difference, setting the table for less fortunate Missourians.
For the past 16 years, Missouri hunters have been donating venison to food banks and other charitable organizations through the Share the Harvest Program. The effort started modestly, netting only a few hundred pounds the first year.
Nothing is so powerful as an idea whose time has come, and Share the Harvest came along at a time when the state's deer herd was burgeoning. The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri saw an opportunity for hunters to feed the hungry while controlling deer numbers.
With the help of statewide and local sponsors, they marshaled the resources needed for a massive expansion of Share the Harvest. In 2007 hunters donated more than 260,000 pounds of venison through the program.
"The benefits of this program are almost incalculable," said Conservation Federation Director Dave Murphy. "The obvious benefit is putting more than a million servings of high-protein, low-fat meat on needy people's plates.
"What might not be so obvious is all the crop damage, traffic accidents and human injuries that have been prevented because hunters removed tens of thousands of deer from the wild, keeping growth of the state's deer herd in check. And on top of all that, you have millions of hours of healthful, family-centered outdoor recreation. I can't imagine a more beneficial thing for people to do than supporting Share the Harvest."
Missourians support Share the Harvest in several ways. Hunting groups and other citizen activists organize local Share the Harvest programs. Local businesses, civic clubs and other organizations provide financial support to pay for processing deer carcasses into venison burger, while food banks, Salvation Army posts and other charitable groups store and distribute the meat.
Statewide sponsors provide the lion's share of financial backing for venison processing. The Conservation Department, Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Shelter Insurance, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, the Safari Club International, Whitetails Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the JB Reynolds Foundation of Kansas City all provide funds to turn donated deer into food for the hungry.
So far, the Conservation Federation has commitments totaling $205,000 for venison processing this year. Murphy said he hopes to reach $250,000.
"Cash for meat processing is one of the few limiting factors for this program," said Murphy. "I honestly think we could bring in a million pounds of venison annually if we could just cover the cost of processing more whole deer. It's just a matter of organization and fundraising."
The phenomenal success of Share the Harvest is due in part to the efforts of conservation agents, who promote the program in their communities and find meat processors and charities to participate.
The other driving force behind Share the Harvest is local sponsors - the civic clubs, church groups and sportsmen's organizations that coordinate the roles of food banks and meat processors and find local sponsors to pay meat processing costs.
For more information about organizing a Share the Harvest program in your area, visit www.missouriconservation.org/hunt/deer/share/ or contact the Conservation Federation at 573-634-2322, dmurphy@confedmo.org
Hunting, fishing permit prices to increase in 2009
The Conservation Commission considered the Consumer Price Index and other factors in determining that an increase was needed.
JEFFERSON CITY--At its September meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved price increases for most hunting and fishing permits and created a new permit for hunters who pursue snow geese and other "light geese" during the federally mandated Light Goose Conservation Action.
The increases - the first for Missouri resident hunting and fishing permits in five years - will go into effect March 1, 2009. Conservation officials said the increases are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, cost comparisons with surrounding states and citizen comments received during public deer meetings in 2008.
"We want to keep resident permit prices as reasonable as possible," said Conservation Department Director John Hoskins. "When compared with other states, our prices tend to be in the middle to lower end of the scale."
Besides the general cost of doing business reflected in the Consumer Price Index, Hoskins said new programs and enhanced services also add to the cost of conservation programs. These services include expanded youth education, dove-field management, winter fish stocking and assistance to private landowners.
Permits included in the increases are:
* Resident Hunting and Fishing, from $19 to $22
* Resident Fishing, from $12 to $14
* Daily Fishing, from $7 to $7.50
* Nonresident Fishing, from $40 to $42
* Trout fishing, from $7 to $10
* Resident Small-Game Hunting, from $10 to $12
* Resident Fur Handler, from $10 to $11
* Resident Trapping, from $10 to $14
* Cable Restraint, from $10 to $10.50
* Nonresident Furbearer Hunting/Trapping, from $120 to $130
* Nonresident Small-Game Hunting, from $75 to $80
* Daily Small-Game Hunting, from $11 to $20
* Migratory Bird, from $6 to $8
* Replacement Permit, from $2 to $3
* Resident Spring Turkey, from $17 to $20
* Resident Fall Turkey, from $13 to $15
* Nonresident Spring Turkey, from $175 to $190
* Nonresident Fall Turkey, from $105 to $110
* Resident Archer's Deer/Turkey, from $19 to $23
* Resident Firearms Antlerless, from $7 to $10
* Resident Firearms Deer Hunting, from $17 to $20
* Resident Managed Deer Hunt, from $17 to $20
* Nonresident Firearms Deer Hunting, from $175 to $225
* Nonresident Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting, from $7 to $25
* Nonresident Archer's Hunting, from $150 to $225
* Nonresident Managed Deer Hunting, from $175 to $225
* Resident Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting, from $7 to $10
* Nonresident Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting, from $7 to $25
Effective July 1, 2009, the Conservation Commission created a Resident ($5) and Nonresident ($40) Conservation Order permits for hunting light geese during the Light Goose Conservation Action. The extended season and liberalized harvest regulations for light geese is designed to reduce overpopulation that is causing ecological damage to the birds' tundra habitat.
Hoskins said Missouri hunting and fishing permits are relatively inexpensive when compared to other recreational expenses. A Resident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit, which will cost $20 next year, is the same price as one bleacher seat at a Cardinals or Royals baseball game. A Resident Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit, which will cost $10 in 2009, is less than a ticket and refreshments for a first-run movie.
For a comparison of Missouri's hunting and fishing permit prices and those of neighboring states, see www.mdc.mo.gov/18487, pages 65 through 69.
Missouri Hunting and Fishing Seasons and Limits
Events
Outdoor Calendar
Missouri Conservationist Magazine Online
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Kansas City Regional Web page!
The Missouri Department of Conservation invites you to explore the Kansas City regional web page.
The Nutshell Newsletter
The Nutshell is the Missouri Department of Conservation's newsletter for the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center (Kansas City Area). It contains information on public programs available at the Nature Center, programs and seasonal information, workshops available to educators and youth leaders, and special events occurring throughout the year. Read the Nutshell Newsletter Here.
To receive The Nutshell by mail, please call (816) 228-3766.
Regional MDC Office
3424 N.W. Duncan Road
Blue Springs, MO 64015
Phone: (816) 655-6250
Fax: (816) 655-6256
Discovery Center
4750 Troost
Kansas City MO 64110
Phone: (816) 759-7300
Fax: (816) 759-7333
Liberty Office
1 Victory Drive
Suite 100
Liberty MO 64068
Phone: (816) 792-8662
Missouri Department of Conservation
Statewide Fishing Report will return this Spring.
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