The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds waterfowl hunters that its preseason reservation period to apply for managed waterfowl hunts will run September 1-18, with results posted October 1.
A news release says MDC will offer 50 percent of daily hunting positions for managed-hunt areas through online reservations. Of those, half will be for preseason applications and half will be allocated during a weekly in-season application period. The remaining 50 percent of spots will be held for hunters who participate in the daily morning drawing, called the “poor line.”
In-season weekly drawings will take place on Monday afternoons with a seven-day application period that opens the Tuesday before and closes at 3 p.m. the Monday of the draw.
Successful applicants of both pre-season and in-season reservation will be notified of their pill numbers after the weekly in-season draw for their hunt date. This change will allow reservation holders to know before they leave their home if their randomly-generated number will enable them to be one of the first, middle or last parties to pick their hunting location. Only one member from each hunting party will be allowed to draw a number.
Due to spring flooding, four MDC conservation areas will not be available for pre-season waterfowl reservations: Columbia Bottom, Marais Temps Claire, BK Leach and Bob Brown. MDC is still determining whether these areas can open for in-season reservations.
For more information on waterfowl reservations and to apply starting Sept. 1, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Photo provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation.