Outdoor living 6/8

At the recent meeting of the Missouri Conservation Commission, the members approved a shift in deer harvest management to increase antler-less deer harvest in units where deer are abundant. One of the key changes that many landowners have wondered about allows resident landowners of at least five contiguous acres to farm tag one deer of either sex. Previously only a buck could be farm tagged by these hunter/landowners. It just makes sense that if there are so many deer why should bucks only be farmed tagged. The opening day for the firearm deer season had been set for months, but the complete season was approved and the closing date is Nov. 25. The Youth Hunt is set for Nov. 1-2, muzzleloader portion is Nov. 28-Dec. 7 and the December hunt for antler-less deer for unsuccessful November hunters will be Dec. 13-21 in units 1-27, 33-38 and 58-59. The archery season for deer and turkey will open on Oct. 1 thru Nov. 14 and reopen on Nov. 26 thru January 15. Other key changes in the deer hunting regulations for 2003 include; a new two-day urban portion of the firearm hunt that will provide additional opportunity to harvest deer in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Resident and non-resident hunters may purchase and fill any number of antlerless-only Second Bonus Permits ($7 each, valid in most units), firearms antler-less-only First Bonus Permits will be available in three additional units while antlerless-only Second Bonus Permits will be available in seven additional units and archers may purchase and fill any number of antlerless-only Archery Deer Permits ($5 each, valid in selected units). The Commission also approved early migratory game bird hunting seasons contingent on approval of federal season frameworks. The approved regulations represent no change for rail, snipe, woodcock and doves. The rail season will last for 70 days starting Sept. 1 through Nov. 9 with a daily limit of 25 birds. The snipe season will run for 107 days starting Sept. 1 through Dec. 16 with a daily limit of eight birds. Woodcock hunters will have a 45-day season starting on Oct. 15 through Nov. 28 with a daily limit of three. Dove hunters will once again have a 70-day season starting on the traditional Sept. 1 thru Nov. 9 with a daily limit of 12 birds. If the population status of the blue-winged teal breeding index is below 3.3 million, the season will be closed. However, if the index is at least 3.3 million, but less than 4.7 million, there will be a nine-day season starting Sept. 13 with a daily limit of four and should the index be above 4.7 million, there will be a 16-day season starting Sept. 6 with the same daily limit. The population index won't be known until late July. We haven't reached summer officially and here we are talking about hunting seasons opening in about three months.