Jefferson County residents hoping to participate in the state’s managed deer hunting program this fall have many things to think about before applying for their best opportunity. The most important consideration is timing. The online applicat…

The August primary election is more than a month away, and I am already sick and tired of the television advertising. The ballot includes multiple issues, and big spenders are flooding the airwaves with relentless mischaracterizations for and…

When I interviewed new Jefferson County conservation agent Dominick Montileone III earlier this month, I was not surprised to learn that one of the places he identified as part of his indoctrination to the outdoors was in the woods and water …

Every spring the state Department of Conservation sends a reminder to “leave wildlife wild” because the advice is so important for the newborns and hatchlings that sometimes end up a little too close to home.

Deep in the recesses of my aging mind, I have the lyrics for hundreds of old country songs bouncing around. Occasionally, one of them worms its way to my consciousness. Today that song is a 1980s tune by Earl Thomas Conley: “Every once in a b…

For more than a decade Cpl. Lexis Wilson has patrolled Jefferson County with the goal of protecting our natural resources and investigating game law violations, but the role of conservation agent goes way beyond those familiar tasks.

The deluge of overnight rain certainly played a part, but I was surprised to see so many box turtles crossing the road during a recent morning trip through central Missouri. This is the time of year when they are most active, and the good new…

I love this line from Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I feel like it strikes close to home.

Everyone is opposed to the boogeyman, and the state Department of Conservation is poised to jump on him with both feet.

All conversations about rails-to-trails conversions in our state begin with the story of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad corridor. The MKT rail line property is now the 240-mile Katy Trail State Park from near the confluence of the Missour…

Twice each year I get to write about the tremendous success of archers in Jefferson County. In January, bow and arrow hunters here recorded the top deer harvest for the 14th year in a row. Then last month, students in the National Archery in …

Generally, I would be excited to write about an upcoming outdoors event in Jefferson County, but a program planned by the state Department of Conservation gives me some pause, because I am familiar with the long-term effect that the informati…

The old saying claims that hunting is all fun and games until you pull the trigger. That's when the work begins.

The Missouri Invasive Plant Council has sent a Save The Date reminder for the annual Bradford Pear Buyback Event on April 21, but the more important calendar consideration is March 16, which is opening day for registration to participate.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Camp Hellbender, a program for adults to relive their childhood summer camp experiences. It sounded like a good time, but I was disappointed when I found out that the annual program didn’t have anything to…

The best known New Year celebration came nearly two months ago when the Gregorian calendar changed from 2025 to 2026. This past week the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, was ushered in with the first new …

Following a successful debut in 2023, and popular follow-up seasons for the next two years, the state Department of Conservation is adding a new twist to its Camp Hellbender program for adults in 2026.

Missouri’s managed spring turkey hunts do not have the numbers of opportunities that hunters can apply for in the fall for deer hunting, but for those hoping to find something close to home in the St. Louis region, options abound.