Changes in wildlife code go into effect on Monday

Monday marks the start of a new year for those who hunt, fish or participate in the wide variety of outdoor activities in Missouri. The first day of March is the day the 2004 edition of the "Wildlife Code of Missouri" is implemented.

The "Wildlife Code of Missouri" is a permissive code, telling sportsman what they can legally do.

Each year, the regulations committee of the state Department of Conservation reviews the rules in the code, considers comments from the public and department staff and recommends rules changes to the Missouri Conservation Commission. The commission approves rules changes.

Sixty-seven rules have been changed, added or deleted since last year. They are listed near the front of this year's code book and should be reviewed by hunters and anglers.

Among the changes this year:

Any person ages 6-15 may purchase a youth deer and turkey hunting permit without displaying a hunter education certificate card. The youth with this permit must hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult with a valid hunter education certificate card or in the presence of a resident landowner. The land must be the landowner's property and the landowner, who may or may not have a hunter education certificate card, must have been born before Jan. 1, 1967.

Previously, any adult accompanying a youth was during the youth dear and turkey season were required to possess a valid hunter education certificate card.

Squirrels may be taken from the fourth Saturday in May through Feb. 15.

Squirrel season previously ended on Jan. 15.

Any person possessing a valid sport fishing license issued by the state of Kentucky, or who is legally expempted from those license requirements, may fish in the Mississippi River within the boundary of Missouri adjacent to Kentucky. Similarly, any person possessing a Missouri sport fishing permit will have the same fishing priviliges on the Mississippi River within the boudary of Kentucky.

The black bass special management area on the Big River is expanded upstream to Leadwood Access in St. Francois County. From Leadwood Access downstream to the Meramec River, the minimum length limit on smallmouth bass is 15 inches, and the daily possession limit of 12 black bass -- which may include no more than six largemouth and six smallmouth bass in the aggregate -- may include only one smallmouth bass.

Trappers will have an extended season for furbearers. Seasons for badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, mink, opossum, raccoon and striped skunk is Nov. 15 through Feb. 15. Beavers may be trapped Nov. 15 though March 31.

For complete details, see the "Wildlife Code of Missouri" or the 2004 summaries of "Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations" and "Missouri Fishing Regulations." All three publications will be available at permit vendors statewide.

Myers is an agent with the Missouri Department of Conservation.