Missouri Waterfowl Hunting For The Avid Sportsman

By Sharlene Fleming


Missouri waterfowl hunting is a well managed and well regulated industry. Since mankind has always wanted to hunt - then for food, now for sport - it has become necessary to ensure that there will always be birds and other game available to gratify this primeval instinct. Britain's Glorious 12th - the opening of the grouse shooting season - has been in existence for nearly 200 years and would be practically enshrined in the Constitution, if there was one. The Federal and State Governments have now regulated most game hunting throughout the US and all regulations, relevant dates, license requirements can easily be found online.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is in the forefront of this effort. It maintains and manages 15 wetlands to allow the breeding of mallard and teal. The open season coincides with the start of the migration. Geese too can be shot in these areas and season. As it is imperative to maintain both the survival of the birds and the integrity of the marshlands, creeks, sloughs and oxbows for which the state is justly famous, limited numbers of guns per day are admitted and as there are always far more applicants than places, lots are drawn.

So many species in the world have been hunted to extinction. Consequently there are very strict rules in place in Missouri and other states where hunting for sport is allowed. A limited number of hunters and a limited amount of birds per hunter help to preserve the various species.

Sadly as in every walk of life, there are always those who break the rules. They may bag too many birds and try to remove them unseen or they may make use of various illegal methods to tempt flocks of birds into their gun sights. Or they may just be poachers, creeping in early in the day, or just after sunset when hunting is officially over to see what they can bag. It is your duty to report any such activity and also the sale of any illegal game.

You can shoot from a blind near the bank or a moored boat. In some areas you can build your own blind and use it for a specified period. For those who prefer there is plenty of opportunity to wade-in and enjoy the sport to its fullest measure. If you do not draw a lot for the MDC shoot there are plenty of private lands where shooting is arranged by the Hunting Associations and you can also shoot over some common land although there may not be many birds.

If you are planning your first waterfowl shooting trip to Missouri, it is a very good idea to look up all the federal regulations on the internet. There are many things which are illegal and you might easily fall foul of such rules in ignorance. Of course all this will be explained to you by the organizers of the site you are going to. However it is better to be prepared.

For example, you may not hunt from a baited area. That means anywhere that grain, salt or any feed has been deliberately or accidentally scattered and that will attract waterfowl. You may not trap birds nor hunt with rifles, or shotguns larger than 10 gauge. You may only use approved nontoxic shot. There are many more restrictions in force that you should familiarize yourself with.

Read all about Missouri waterfowl hunting online. Get yourself a license and enjoy the sport. Stay within the rules of conservation.




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