March 2022 Conservation Commission Action

The Missouri Conservation Commission met March 24 for a budget workshop and closed executive session. The Commission met March 25 for its regular open meeting. All were held at MDC Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City. Commissioners also attended a field workshop at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area in Boone County on March 23.

Commissioners attending the open meeting in person or online were:

• L. (Barry) Orscheln, Chair
• Mark L. McHenry, Vice Chair
• Steven D. Harrison, Secretary
• Margaret (Margy) F. Eckelkamp, Member

Presentations

The Commission received the following presentations/reports:

• Director’s Comments — Sara Parker Pauley, Director
• MDC Inclusion and Diversity Initiative and Community Conservation Framework Pilot — Chris Kennedy, Assistant to Director Inclusion and Diversity, and Bill White, Community and Private Land Conservation Branch Chief
• Comments on furbearer hunting regulation recommendations by individuals who submitted written requests prior to the meeting
• Recommendations for 2022 elk season quotas — Aaron Hildreth, Scientist
• Recommendations for 2022 dove season dates and limits and 2022-23 migratory bird season dates and limits — Andy Raedeke, Environmental Resource Scientist
• Avian Influenza Update — Jason Sumners, Science Branch Chief, and Sherri Russell, State Wildlife Veterinarian
• Financial Report — Jennifer Battson Warren, Deputy Director
• Major Construction Projects Status Report — Jacob Careaga, Infrastructure Management Branch Chief

Administration

The Commission:

• Approved furbearer hunting regulation changes.
• Approved recommendations for 2022 black bear season quotas.
• Approved recommendations for 2022 elk season quotas.
• Approved recommendations for 2022 dove season dates and limits and 2022-23 migratory bird season dates and limits.
• Approved the purchase of approximately 168 acres in Sullivan County as an addition to Morris Prairie Conservation Area.
• Accepted the donation of approximately 193 acres in Putnam County from The Conservation Fund (TCF), a non-profit organization, of Arlington, Virginia as an addition to Mineral Hills Conservation Area.
• Approved the naming of a new public-contact office at 4640 Shenandoah in the City of St. Louis the Howard Wood Urban Conservation Office.
• Approved the advertisement and sale of an estimated 837,940 board feet of timber located on 444 acres of Compartment 23, Sunklands Conservation Area in Shannon County.
• Approved the advertisement and sale of an estimated 554,288 board feet of timber located on 280 acres of Compartment 20, Sunklands Conservation Area in Shannon County.
• Approved the advertisement and sale of an estimated 3,531,258 board feet of timber located on 659 acres of Compartment 4, Current River Conservation Area in Reynolds County.
• Approved the nomination of David Murphy for recognition as a Master Conservationist.
• Approved the nomination of Herschel “Woody” Bledsoe for induction into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.
• Approved the nomination of Joel Vance for induction into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.
• Approved MDC recommendations to suspend or revoke one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of 11 individuals for cause:
  1. Zach T. Bundy, Kansas City, Hunting, 1 Year;
  2. Hunter Crossland, Seymour, Hunting, Addition of 7 Years to Current Revocation;
  3. Joseph B. Cummings, Park Hills, All Sport, 1 Year;
  4. James F. Gravil, Marble Hill, Hunting and Fishing, Addition of 1.5 Years to Current Revocation;
  5. John S. Groves, Hermitage, All Sport, 1 Year;
  6. Dustin M. Hampton, St. Charles, All Sport, 2 Years;
  7. Eric A. Hopkins, Kansas City, All Sport, 7 Years;
  8. Joshua W. Main, Mexico, All Sport, 1 Year;
  9. Weston B. Shelton, Dixon, Hunting, 1 Year;
  10. Mitchell K. Steinkuehler, High Ridge, Hunting, No Additional Years Added to Current Revocation; and
  11. Cole D. Williams, Hartville, All Sport, 1 Year.
• Set the next regular meeting for May 20, 2022.