CONSERVATION COMMISSION GATHERS HERE

The Missouri Conservation Commission Friday received a special report concerning a rapidly growing volunteer program to help stream problems in the state.

It marked the first time the Commission had met in Cape Girardeau in more than a year.

The Commission approved several of the recommendations of the report, entitled, "Stream Team: Addressing the Need for Public Involvement," during its August meeting at the Holiday Inn.

Stream Team is a rapidly growing volunteer program. Commission members voted support of recommendations to strengthen support services to teams and encourage more teams in areas of the state's now sparsely covered and develop water quality monitoring programs in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Attending Friday's session here were Jay Henges of St. Louis, chairman of the group, and members Jerry P. Combs of Kennett, John Powell of Rolla, and Andy Dalton of Springfield.

Other actions at the one-day session included the setting of waterfowl hunting seasons, approving new land acquisitions, presentation of two conservation awards and discussions on stocking of private lakes and the department's tree nursery.

The Commission also approved purchase of more than 250 acres of land and a donation of more than 500 acres. The property donation consisted of 517 acres on the Cole-Moniteau County line as a new state forest. Purchases include 160 acres in Bates County as an addition to Settle's Ford Wildlife Area; 70 acres in Reynolds County as an addition to Clearwater State Forest; and 40 acres in Phelps County as an addition to Woodson K. Woods Memorial Wildlife Area.

Also approved was a plan to sell or trade 32 properties involving 2,345 acres. The tracts are no longer essential to meeting the conservation department's management objectives and are considered either too small or isolated to manage efficiently.

"Some of the areas lack public access," said Gerard Ross, an assistant director who attended the meeting. "Most were acquired for a purpose no longer operative, such as a fire tower, or as part of a large acquisition or donation."

The commission presented Peter Myers of Sikeston with a service award for his tenure on the board. Myers was appointed chief of the USDA's Soil Conservation Service in March of 1982, requiring him to resign from the commission and move to Washington.

The group also honored the late Robert G. Delaney of Charleston, a former commissioner. The commission presented a resolution expressing sympathy to the family and identifying him as a "giant in Missouri's conservation history."

In addition, a special Canada goose season in Central Missouri will be held if federal authorities approve the waterfowl seasons set by the Commission Friday.

"The Commission voted to created a Central Missouri Zones with a special season for hunting Canada geese," said Ross. "The zone includes Boone County and a part of Callaway County west of U.S. Highway 54."

Hunting in the special area will be Oct. 3-12, noted Ross. "Hunters would have a daily limit of three Canada geese and possession limit of six," he said.

Duck and goose hunting will begin Oct. 31 in some parts of Missouri if the season are approved.

The Commission voted on duck, goose and coot seasons and bag limits. The group set the following duck seasons:

North Zone - Oct. 31 through Nov. 29; Middle Zone - Nov. 7 through Dec. 6; South Zone - Nov. 28 through Dec. 27. Shooting hours approved by the Commissioners are from one half hour before sunrise to sunset. The bag limits was set at three ducks daily, including no more than one pintail, one hooded merganser, one redhead, one black duck, two wood ducks or two mallards. Only one mallard may be a hen. The possession limit is twice the daily limit.

The season remains closed for canvasback ducks.

Coot season will run concurrently with duck season in each zone, with a daily limit of 15 and a possession limit of 30. The Commission approved goose seasons as follows:

Blue and Snow Geese North Zone and Swan Lake Zone - Oct. 31 through Jan. 18; Middle Zone South Zone and Schell-Osage Zone - Nov. 14 through Feb. 1.

White-fronted Geese North Zone and Swan Lake Zone - Oct. 31 through Jan. 8; Middle Zone South Zone and Schell Osage Zone - Nov. 14 through Jan. 22.

Canada Geese North Zone and Swan Lake Zone - Oct. 31 through Nov. 8 and Nov. 21 through Dec. 31; Schell-Osage Zone - Nov. 14 through Jan. 2; Middle Zone and South Zone - Nov. 28 through Dec. 6 and Dec. 19 through Jan. 28.

Hunting in the Swan Lake Zone may be closed early if a quota of 10,000 geese is reached before Dec. 31, and hunters at Swan Lake may only have 10 shells for goose hunting.

The aggregate daily limit for geese is seven (possession limit 14), including no more than two white-fronted geese (four in possession) and two Canada geese (four in possession).

Falconry season for ducks, coots and mergansers will run from Sept. 12 through 20 and from Oct. 3 through Jan. 8 statewide. Bag and possession limits are three and six birds respectively. Additional information about waterfowl hunting regulations will be available in the 12 Waterfowl Hunting Digest later this fall.