Sports

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission unanimously approved the addition of the veteran’s/active duty military waterfowl hunt to Arkansas’s youth waterfowl hunt days during today’s regularly scheduled meeting. This is the second consecutive year the Commission has approved the option since it was made available by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will reopen its doors to public access for the first time since March beginning this Wednesday. All buildings will have limited public access as part of the state’s reopening process. “We’ve been working diligently to address the safety of our staff and the public as we begin the reopening process,” AGFC Director Pat Fitts said. ...

Star of the Week 2 Game Score Plus Handicap Paul Prusak 200 7-13 Game Winners Pit 1 Brooks and Prusak 199 Pit 2 Clementi and Garner 186 Pit 3 Morgan and Watts 182 7-17 Game Winners Pit 1 Prusak And Clementi 199 Pit 2 Morgan and Brooks 180...

Tri-County Crush won the USSSA Midwest National Championship. There were 26 teams from Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Kansas, Illinois and Oklahoma participating in the competition held in Branson, Mo. last week. Pictured are members of Tri-County Crush. ...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will reopen its doors to public access for the first time since March beginning this Wednesday. All buildings will have limited public access as part of the state’s reopening process. “We’ve been working diligently to address the safety of our staff and the public as we begin the reopening process,” AGFC Director Pat Fitts said. ...

Area fans of Grizzly Athletics at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will still be able to see their favorite teams in action. They’ll just have to wait until the 2021 spring semester. Officials with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) this week announced an updated plan of action for 2020-2021, which moves the majority of competition to spring...

Free classes designed to introduce families to fishing. Fishing is a great way to connect families with the outdoors. It’s a great tool to introduce children to healthier lifestyles and it’s a good activity for strengthening family bonds. These are some of the many benefits of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Discover Nature Fishing Program...

The roving bear that is suspected to have traveled several states has been released safely outside the urban area. St. CHARLES, Mo.—The adult male bear who attracted public attention and was christened “Bruno” by social media has been sedated and transported to suitable habitat outside the urban area, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)...

Head Coach Jared Phay announced today four more recruits have been added to the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball roster for the upcoming season. They include: • Mo Kora, a 6-foot, 6-inch wing from Renton, Washington • James “Scooter” Williams, a 6-foot, 5-inch guard from Clarksville, Tennessee...

Missouri State Parks invites the public to begin their archer journey by attending a hands-on instruction at Graham Cave and Knob Noster state parks. This program is for those who want to take a step back in time to learn new skills with joint instruction on the basics of archery and atlatl throwing. The program is free and available to ages 10 and up...

Take MDC hunter ed conveniently and safely online, in a classroom, or through self-study. With hunting seasons coming up for deer, turkey, migratory birds, waterfowl, and other game, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages Missouri hunters who need hunter education to get it early...

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) new Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest for the 2020-2021 hunting season is now available where permits are sold and online. Learn more about waterfowl hunting in Missouri and view the hunting digest online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites anglers and others to a free live webcast on July 14 at noon to learn about potential new catfish regulations for Mark Twain Lake, located in Ralls and Monroe counties in northeast Missouri. MDC staff recently completed a multiyear assessment of blue catfish and flathead catfish in Mark Twain Lake. ...

Five more players have been added to the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball roster for the upcoming season. Head Coach Jared Phay recently announced the signings of: Nate Garrett, a 6-foot, 6-inch wing from Florrisant Armani Williams, a 6-foot, 3-inch guard from Tempe, Arizona...

Want to become a steward of conservation, help people, and protect nature by serving as a conservation agent? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it is taking applications during July for up to 16 participants for its 2021 conservation agent training academy, which will begin April 1, 2021...

Crown Lake (updated 7-1-2020) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) reports the lake clarity has remained clear while water level is normal. Surface temperature Tuesday was 85 degrees. Bream are excellent; go with crickets. No crappie reports came in. Black bass are good late in the evenings now in deep water. Use a jig. Catfish are said to be spotty, fair results at best...

Freshwater mussels are considered one of the most imperiled groups of animals, with over 75% of all species listed as endangered, threatened, or in need of conservation actions. Arkansas is home to 85 species of mussels, of which over half are federally listed or listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need. ...

Star of the Week: Two-Game Score, plus Handicap – Archie Matheny, 206 June 29 game Winners: Pit 1: Morgan, 101 Pit 2: Howe and Garner, 175 Pit 3: Matheny and Gruger, 196 Pit 4: Prusak and Jones, 197 July 3 game winners Pit 1: Gruger, 94 Pit 2: Matheny and Howe, 193...

Norfork Lake is fishing good but its very inconsistent, on cloudy days fishing stays good most of the morning. On sunny days the bite is strong at before light and for the first hour of daylight. Once the sun comes up the stripers start going deep. We are catching stripes at different water columns based on the time of day. ...

Crown Lake (updated 6-24-2020) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) reports the lake clarity has clear while water level is down to normal. Bream are good on redworms or crickets. Crappie reports are poor. Black bass are good late in the evenings and early mornings in shallow water; use your favorite topwater bait. Catfish are good on perch or goldfish...

Star of the Week 2 Game Score Plus Handicap Paul Prusak 194 6 - 22 Game Winners Pit 1 Matheny and Hollis 176 Pit 2 Garner and Clementi 171 Pit 3 Prusak and Hawk 185 6- 26 Game Winners Pit 1 Brooks and Hollis 195 Pit 2 Morgan and Clementi 190...

A new disease is sweeping through rabbit populations in the United States, and it has officials at both the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture concerned. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a highly contagious virus that is nearly always fatal and is capable of causing high mortality in both domestically raised rabbits and wild rabbit species found in Arkansas...

People interested in chasing an Arkansas alligator on public land and water this fall have until midnight June 30 to put their name in the hat. Applications for the 2020 Arkansas alligator season are available online at http://www.agfc.comwww.agfc.com. ...

People interested in chasing an Arkansas alligator on public land and water this fall have until midnight June 30 to put their name in the hat. Applications for the 2020 Arkansas alligator season are available online at http://www.agfc.comwww.agfc.com. ...

By Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters Norfork Lake is still in a state of transition. The stripers have not migrated down towards the dam. Limits of stripers are being caught at the 62 bridge, Float Creek, Panther Bay and Fall Creek. The lake temperature is still around 83 degrees and the thermocline is only at 17’. ...

Find MDC Places to Go and Things to Do online and through the MDC MO Outdoors app. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – With the Fourth-of-July weekend coming up, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages people to look for some red, white, and blue in nature through a holiday hike, bird watching, backyard fun, fishing, and other outdoor activities...

The returners and first group of recruits for the Grizzly Basketball program at Missouri State University-West Plains possess a lot of versatility on the floor, according to head coach Jared Phay. “I like our group, so far. We have guys who can play multiple positions,” said Phay, who is beginning his first season at the helm of the Grizzlies...

With the recent attention to the sport of cheer through various media including the Netflix series “Cheer”, many have a new appreciation for the cheer athlete. Cheer as an activity has evolved from sideline chants to a very technical and physically demanding sport. ...

Weeks of June 15 and June 19 Star of the Week: 2 Game Score Plus Handicap – Archie Matheny, 204 June 15 game winners: Pit 1 – Matheny and Morgan, 186 Pit 2 – Gruger and Howe, 179 Pit 3 – Lofquist and Watt, 173 June 19 game winners: Pit 1 – Morgan and Hollis, 172...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted unanimously to allow Class I electrically assisted bicycles on AGFC-owned wildlife management areas at the most regularly scheduled meeting. Recent changes to Arkansas state law determined that certain classes of electrically assisted bicycles were not classified as motorized vehicles, which has resulted in some confusion on their use on Arkansas WMAs that do not allow motorized vehicles but do allow mountain bikes. ...

That is the mantra of moles as they follow their favorite food, earthworms, and tunnel throughout your yard. A molehill creates an upheaval of soil surrounding a vertical tunnel shaft, which often occurs after big rains, that is an exit point for moles to get some air, says University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller. Both tunnels and molehills can trap falling worms and serve as fast-food drive-thru lanes for moles...

Be careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. As people celebrate this summer, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds everyone to be careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire...

Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, today announced an expanded reservation window for campgrounds, increasing from a six-month period to a 12-month period. Beginning at 7 a.m. CST on Tuesday, June 30, campers can reserve a campsite at Missouri State Parks one year prior to arrival date to better allow for planning for visitors and staff. ...

Help support nature on your own by participating in citizen science! The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to extend a big thank you to its volunteers for another year of hard work and dedication supporting conservation initiatives and helping to educate others about Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources...

With all the spring rains, most landowners are ready to hit the field to cut hay. There are a few things to consider this year before you get on that tractor.  Nothing changes the landscaping of your property overnight like hay-cutting your fields. A hay-cutting operation can transform a field’s wildlife use almost overnight, usually not for the better. With a little extra planning, you can minimize the disturbance to wildlife while still realizing profit from your hayfields...

Fishing opportunities in Arkansas are plentiful and diverse, Scott Jones, small impoundment Extension specialist for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, shelter-in-place, social distancing and temporary non-essential business closures have added confusion to the task of finding certain types of fishing venues – especially for those who do not own a boat...

Some fishing conservation methods require more taking than leaving. Such is the case with several Arkansas lakes that, with no creel limits on certain species such as channel catfish, are encouraging anglers to take an unlimited number of that particular fish...

If you’re looking for an extra opportunity to put some meat in the freezer this fall, feed needy Arkansans and help control urban deer populations, now is the time to start planning. Registration for the 2020 Arkansas Urban Archery Hunts is open until midnight Aug. 12 at https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/big-game/deer/urban-archery-hunt. ...

Tiger trout, a hybrid of brown trout and brook trout often stocked in waters in the western and northwestern United States, will be stocked for the first time in Arkansas within the next couple of weeks, according to Christy Graham, trout program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission...

Precautions to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 have forced the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to cancel the annual fishing derbies held at its five fish hatcheries in June, but anglers throughout the state will still be able to enjoy some quality time chasing catfish. AGFC hatcheries are delivering thousands of pounds of catchable-sized catfish to small, publicly accessible ponds throughout Arkansas to prepare for Free Fishing Weekend, June 12-14...

Source: Gatlin Bunton, 573-775-2135 Poison hemlock, a poisonous plant that can cause death in livestock, is especially toxic in spring, says Gatlin Bunton, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy. It can also cause birth defects in the offspring of pregnant animals...

Source: Sarah Kenyon, 417-256-2391; Anthony Ohmes, 573-243-3581 The buttercup’s beauty belies its blistering poison. All parts of the perennial pasture crop are poisonous, says University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Sarah Kenyon...

By Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters Norfork Lake is hot. Literally the lake temperature went from 72 plus last week to 85 degrees today (Sunday, June 7). It might cool down a little with coming rains but don’t expect much. From now through September, it is advised to not throw back any legal stripers. Studies have shown that 75% of stripers caught in water temperatures above 75 degrees will die within seven days. Catch your limit, call it a day and enjoy your striper dinner...

Precautions to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 have forced the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to cancel the annual fishing derbies held at its five fish hatcheries in June, but anglers throughout the state will still be able to enjoy some quality time chasing catfish. AGFC hatcheries are delivering thousands of pounds of catchable-sized catfish to small, publicly accessible ponds throughout Arkansas to prepare for Free Fishing Weekend, June 12-14...

Participate in MDC online programs from the comfort and convenience of where you are. With concerns about COVID-19 continuing, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has extended its cancellation of programs and events at nature centers and other Department locations through June 30...

Participate in MDC online programs from the comfort and convenience of where you are. With concerns about COVID-19 continuing, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces it has extended its cancellation of programs and events at nature centers and other Department locations through June 30...

Register in advance at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zht and then join the free webcast live. Interested in attracting birds, bees and other wildlife to your backyard? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites the public to join its free live Wild Webcast on Attracting Backyard Wildlife on Wednesday, July 1, 12 at noon...