MDC Announces Waterfowl Managed Hunt Changes

The Missouri Department of Conservation has announced the changes being made to the process for waterfowl managed hunts this year due to COVID-19.

The department has announced that there will be no pre-season reservations taken for the 2020-21 waterfowl season and no teal season drawings or youth season morning drawings. Individual conservation areas will have their procedures posted on the MDC website closer to the season.

All reservations will be done through the weekly in-season reservation draw. The first application period for that draw will be October 20th. Results of that draw will be announced on October 27th. The application period will be open at 8am each Tuesday and close at 3pm on the following Monday.

Every conservation area will also receive a certain procedural level based on the state of COVID-19 in the county. A Red Level will not allow for facility use. An Orange Level will allow limited facility use and employ social distancing. It will also only allow Missouri residents in the reservation draw and will not include a poor line. A Yellow Level will also allow Missouri residents only in the reservation draw and will allow a poor line for reservation no-shows. A Green Level will allow 50% allocation through the in-season reservation draw with a poor line for no-shows and 50% of hunt positions.

The MDC also says there are no plans to make the changes permanent.

There are MDC staff members that have been charged with answering questions from hunters about the changes for the waterfowl season.

Statewide-
Lauren Hildreth 573-522-4115 ext. 3259
Joel Porath 573-522-4115 ext. 3188

North Zone-
Chris Freeman 660-646-6122
Craig Crisler 660-446-3371
Mike Flaspohler 573-248-2530

Middle Zone-
Luke Wehmhoff 573-624-5821 ext. 4662
Gary Calvert 636-441-4554 ext. 4180

South Zone-
Lauren Hildreth 573-522-4115 ext. 3259