OUTDOOR CORNER: MISSOURI OUTDOORSMEN NEED TO TAKE NOTE OF RULE CHANGES

Missouri hunters and anglers should be aware of regulation changes that may affect their outdoor activities. Rule changes that appear in the 1997 Wildlife Code will become effective March 1. Hunters and anglers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with rule changes before venturing afield.

Several hunting regulations in the 1997 Wildlife Code are different than last year. The renamed Resident Archer's Hunting Permit will now allow resident archers the same privileges extended to nonresident archers -- to take not only deer and turkey during the fall archer season, but to take small game during prescribed seasons and to sell furbearers taken by hunting.

The Daily Small Game Hunting Permit and the Nonresident Small Game Hunting Permit will now allow nonresident furbearer hunters to use either permit to train dogs during closed seasons.

The waiver of permit requirements for landowners and lessees has been modified to clarify that those who qualify under this exemption must still apply for special deer hunting permits and must purchase and hunt with the prescribed Migratory Bird Hunting Permit when hunting on their land. Provisions were added that if a permit or privilege is revoked for cause by the Conservation Commission, any hunting method exemption granted to persons with disabilities would be concurrently revoked.

The fee for replacement of a lost, destroyed or mutilated permit has been reduced to $2, and Missouri Conservation Heritage Cards will be issued as a replacement for lost or damaged Hunter Education Certificate Cards, also at a reduced fee of $2.

Several requirements have been added to the hunting methods rule: First, that hunting dogs -- except those used while hunting waterfowl and game birds -- must wear collars that identify the owner; second, that river otters may not be chased while training dogs; and, finally, that river otters may not be taken by firearm.

Turkey and deer hunters will be allowed to tag animals taken with homemade transportation tags, but the Conservation Department will still make tags available through permit vendors.

Speaking of deer hunters, the procedure for obtaining any-deer and bonus permits has changed. In past years, these permits were issued through a random drawing process.

There will not be a drawing for any-deer and bonus deer permits for the 1997 season. You can buy your 1997 any-deer and bonus deer permits directly from the permit vendor beginning Feb. 1.

The number of any-deer and bonus deer permits is still limited. When the unit quotas are filled, unlimited buck-only permits will continue to be available. Make sure the information, including the quota unit number, on your 1997 permit is correct before you leave the store. No refunds, exchanges or transfers will be allowed.

Quota unit maps and the number of any-deer and bonus permits available in each unit will be displayed where permits are sold.

In most units, 100 percent of the hunters will be able to get an any-deer permit. However, there will be a small number of units in the southern part of the state that will not have enough any-deer permits available for all hunters. In those areas, early purchase will be the best approach to getting an any-deer permit. Hunters will find that they do not have to purchase one on Feb. 1, or stand in long lines, since permits still will be available in many units throughout the year.

Landowners still will have to apply on renewal forms and paper applications for landowner any-deer and bonus permits (Renewal forms mailed in July and first-time applications available in July, as in the past). They will be awarded based on the acreage formula and landowners will be guaranteed a landowner any-deer permit, as in the past.

The difference will be that there will not be a drawing for landowner bonus permits. If any first bonus permits are for sale to regular hunters, then all landowners who request a bonus permit on their application will automatically get one as well. The same thing is true for second bonus permits.

While it is true that a young hunter turning 11 later in the year will have to wait until they have completed hunter education to purchase permits, there should still be plenty of any-deer permits available in most units.

In order too assist permit purchasers, the Missouri Department of Conservation, Southeast Regional Service Center in Cape County Park North will be open Saturday, Feb. 1 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (290-5730).Gene Myers is a Missouri Department of Conservation agent in Cape Girardeau County.