Sports

Trophy or table-fare? Catch a notable fish and you’re stuck with the choice. Besides the high cost, taxidermy requires handing over your prize instead of enjoying it as a meal. A quick photo of the fish at the time of the catch is nice to share with friends via social media, but rarely are worthy of hanging on a wall...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation recently announced the 2020 Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees and its Legacy Award. These individuals will be recognized at the 2020 annual Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday, August 29 in Little Rock...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted recently to approve many changes to the Commission’s Code of Regulations, including many wildlife regulations that may impact hunters during the 2020-21 hunting seasons. The proposals were presented to the public through an online survey in March and were formally proposed to the Commission during its April 23 meeting. ...

Thanks to a proclamation by Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced May 21, anyone may fish in Arkansas without a fishing license or trout stamp from noon Friday, June 12, through midnight Sunday night, June 14. The proclamation was read at today’s online commission meeting by Megan Perkins, agriculture and commerce liaison to Hutchinson’s office...

For some children, mimicking the northern bobwhite quail’s mating call was how they learned to whistle. They heard the urgent and earnest “bob-white” sound lilting from pastures and fields. The call’s short and sharp notes are impressive, and rather easily imitated, so youngsters did. ...

MDC reminds anglers that fishing permits are required, except for Free Fishing Days. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites the public to get hooked on fishing through its Free Fishing Days June 6 and 7. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. Free Fishing Days is an annual MDC event that takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June...

Comment during June on MDC Turkey Management Plan at mdc.mo.gov/turkeyplan. Interested in turkey hunting, managing land for wild turkey habitat, trends in Missouri turkey numbers, and what MDC is doing to improve wild turkey management? Join the upcoming MDC live webcast to learn more, and comment in June...

By Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters Hooray the Norfork Lake threadfin shad have finally started their spawn and the stripers and hybrids are feeding heavy. The bass are also feeding and with this week’s upcoming weather pattern, we should see an explosion of fish activity. ...

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that turkey hunters checked 38,730 birds during Missouri’s 2020 regular spring turkey season, April 20 through May 10. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 899 birds harvested, Callaway with 699, and Laclede with 651...

Crown Lake (updated 5-13-2020) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) is reopened, and they have good reports on fishing. The lake is dingy and about 10-12 inches above normal level. The surface temperature is 63 degrees. Bream fishing is good using crickets. Crappie are good on minnows. Not a lot of people are talking about the bass, they say, but they see good catches and anglers are catching a lot of smaller fish. Catfishing is good using chicken liver...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is seeking initial public input on a proposed limited and highly regulated hunting season for black bears, which would be open only to Missouri residents. If approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission, a season could occur as soon as the fall of 2021. MDC is asking for initial public comments through June 5...

Crown Lake (updated 5-6-2020) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) has reopened this week, but they had no recent reports to send along. Lake Charles (updated 5-6-2020) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said flathead and channel catfish are biting on minnows. ...

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that turkey hunters checked 38,730 birds during Missouri’s 2020 regular spring turkey season, April 20 through May 10. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 899 birds harvested, Callaway with 699, and Laclede with 651...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters and anglers that squirrel and black bass season opens May 23, the Saturday before Memorial Day. Squirrels The open season on eastern gray and fox squirrels runs May 23 through Feb. 15, 2021. ...

Crown Lake (updated 5-6-2020) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) has reopened this week, but they had no recent reports to send along. Lake Charles (updated 5-6-2020) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said flathead and channel catfish are biting on minnows. ...

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) is partnering with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide $309,172 in grants to 18 conservation districts across the state. The grants must be used to carry out natural resource enhancement, restoration, or protection activities. A list of the conservation districts receiving grant awards may be found at https://static.ark.org/eeuploads/anrc/Conservation_District_Grant_Projects.pdf...

Residents of a White Hall neighborhood had an early awakening Sunday morning as authorities responded to a call about a large black bear that had climbed into a tree nearby and had to be removed. Mark Hooks, wildlife management supervisor for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said the best course of action during similar situations is to clear an area and allow a bear to come down on its own, but that was not an option in this case...

During the April 23 meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, commissioners heard the proposal of 100 regulations changes to wildlife and fishing codes. During the course of that meeting four of the proposals saw modifications or were tabled to not be included in this year’s regulations package that will be voted on in May...

During the April 23 meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, commissioners heard the proposal of 100 regulations changes to wildlife and fishing codes. During the course of that meeting four of the proposals saw modifications or were tabled to not be included in this year’s regulations package that will be voted on in May...

Out of an abundance of caution and to protect participants amid ongoing COVID-19 concerns, Missouri State Parks and the Missouri State Parks Foundation have cancelled the 2020 Katy Trail Ride scheduled to begin Monday, June 22. The five-day, 240-mile annual ride, which takes travelers through many of Missouri’s rural communities, along open fields and between the Missouri River and its bordering bluffs, draws approximately 350 bicyclists from across the nation and overseas. ...

Healthy lawns make for healthy streams. University of Missouri Extension offers homeowners a new series of Zoom classes on how to keep lawn fertilizers and pesticides from reaching streams. The live series, “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams,” runs May 18 to June 11. Sessions are 6:30-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, except Memorial Day...

Each spring the emergence of cool season grass seedheads is a sign of an advancing season and the gradual decline of forage quality in pastures and hay fields. All grasses experience a decline in forage quality with the development of reproductive structures...

Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, today announced phase one of a phased approach to resuming normal operations. While the vast majority of Missouri state parks and historic sites have remained open for day use, Missouri State Parks has implemented a number of measures designed to maintain required social distancing and protect visitors and team members.  ...

Crown Lake (updated 4-29-2020) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) is has been closed throughout the month of April because of coronavirus. There is still lake access via the launch ramp. There is a deposit box set up for the launch fees. Lake Charles (updated 4-29-2020) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water at Lake Charles remains high and murky. ...

The application period for Arkansas’s public land elk hunting permits is open from 8 a.m., May 1 until 11:59 p.m. June 1. Twenty-six permits will be drawn to hunt elk in Arkansas this year, with eight being either-sex tags and the other 18 being for cow elk only. This is a reduction of three either-sex and three cow tags from last year...

Many species of wildlife have their young in spring, and many well-meaning Arkansans regularly call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to report young animals that look abandoned. But moving these animals can actually cause more harm than good. Most wildlife parents cannot be with their young nonstop. ...

The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center is hosting a special contest for aspiring writers and conservationists in May: a special poetry contest focused on conservation and the environment. Winners will be featured in the September/October issue of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s award-winning magazine, Arkansas Wildlife...

During the April 23 meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, commissioners heard the proposal of 100 regulations changes to wildlife and fishing codes. During the course of that meeting four of the proposals saw modifications or were tabled to not be included in this year’s regulations package that will be voted on in May...

Healthy lawns make for healthy streams. University of Missouri Extension offers homeowners a new series of Zoom classes on how to keep lawn fertilizers and pesticides from reaching streams. The live series, “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams,” runs May 18 to June 11. Sessions are 6:30-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, except Memorial Day...

Each spring the emergence of cool season grass seedheads is a sign of an advancing season and the gradual decline of forage quality in pastures and hay fields. All grasses experience a decline in forage quality with the development of reproductive structures...

Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, today announced phase one of a phased approach to resuming normal operations. While the vast majority of Missouri state parks and historic sites have remained open for day use, Missouri State Parks has implemented a number of measures designed to maintain required social distancing and protect visitors and team members.  ...

Fishing for Norfork Lake stripers, bass, and crappie continues to improve. The crappie has moved off the banks due to the cold weather but are being caught over the deep brush piles. Slow trolling small crank baits in 20 to 30’ of water near the shore will produce. ...

Events, programming and group reservations also suspended Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the extension of the statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order, Missouri State Parks is extending temporary closures of campgrounds, park-run lodging, offices and visitor centers and extending the suspension of special events and programming through May 3. ...

Newborn animals, such as birds, rabbits and fawns, are best left alone JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – As the weather warms up and more people head outside, they may encounter a variety of newborn animals. Though young wildlife oftentimes appears to be abandoned, that’s usually not the case. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds residents that interfering with wildlife can do more harm than good...

Arkansas is home to 16 species of turtle, but only two are land dwellers — the three-toed box turtle and the ornate box turtle. Box turtles are the only turtles in North America with a flexible hinge on their belly to close the front and rear halves of the shell tightly like a “box.”...

Arkansas is home to 16 species of turtle, but only two are land dwellers — the three-toed box turtle and the ornate box turtle. Box turtles are the only turtles in North America with a flexible hinge on their belly to close the front and rear halves of the shell tightly like a “box.”...

Fishing for Norfork Lake stripers, bass, and crappie continues to improve. The crappie has moved off the banks due to the cold weather but are being caught over the deep brush piles. Slow trolling small crank baits in 20 to 30’ of water near the shore will produce. ...

Although turkey season and fishing get top billing in April, another season opens each April 15, and to those who chase this quarry, it’s a powerful draw. Frogging season runs April 15-Dec. 31 in Arkansas, and offers a great escape that’s a little different than most folks are accustomed to...

Despite a major cold front and Easter services for many families last weekend, the annual Arkansas youth turkey hunt showed a 27 percent increase from last year. Hunters under the age of 16 checked 882 birds during the two-day hunt to open the 2020 spring turkey season...

Events, programming and group reservations also suspended Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the extension of the statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order, Missouri State Parks is extending temporary closures of campgrounds, park-run lodging, offices and visitor centers and extending the suspension of special events and programming through May 3. ...

Newborn animals, such as birds, rabbits and fawns, are best left alone JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – As the weather warms up and more people head outside, they may encounter a variety of newborn animals. Though young wildlife oftentimes appears to be abandoned, that’s usually not the case. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds residents that interfering with wildlife can do more harm than good...

Fishing for Norfork Lake stripers, bass, and crappie continues to improve. The crappie has moved off the banks due to the cold weather but are being caught over the deep brush piles. Slow trolling small crank baits in 20 to 30’ of water near the shore will produce. ...

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 2,712 birds over the past youth weekend, April 4 and 5. Top harvest counties were Miller with 74 birds checked, Franklin with 62, and Callaway and Sainte Genevieve with 60 each.  ...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages people to unwind in nature by enjoying Missouri’s flowering trees and shrubs. Many of Missouri’s native trees and shrubs bloom in spring, putting on dazzling displays that attract native wildlife such as birds and pollinators. ...