MISSOURIANS ADVISED TO CHECK PERMITS

JEFFERSON CITY -- Take a look at your fishing and hunting permits before taking rod or gun in hand.

That's the advice from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Agency officials say they don't want anyone to be caught unintentionally hunting or fishing without a valid permit.

Until last year, hunting, fishing and other permits from the MDC were good for a calendar year -- Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. But in 1996 the permit year changed to March 1 through the end of February. Permits go on sale Feb. 1 each year, and that creates the potential for hunters and anglers to forget that they haven't renewed their permits.

Outdoors people who might be particularly susceptible to such slip-ups include trout anglers, goose hunters and those who hunt crows.

The regular season at Missouri's four trout parks opens March 1. Anglers there will be wise to buy fishing permits before arriving at trout parks, thereby reducing the amount of time spent standing in last-minute lines. But even if they wait until the last minute, they are likely to receive gentle reminders from trout park concessionaires about the need for a new fishing permit in addition to a daily trout tag.

The MDC also reminds late-season goose hunters to check their permits. Blue and snow goose season now lasts through March 9, nine days past the expiration date for state small-game and waterfowl hunting permits. (Federal waterfowl stamps still are good for the duration of the waterfowl hunting seasons.)

Missouri's crow season runs through March 3, just long enough to get crow hunters into trouble if they forget to buy a 1997 hunting permit.

So if you plan to go outdoors in search of fish or fowl any time soon, take a look at your permits. It could save you some embarrassment.