Hunters Reminded of Conservation Area Closures

Eleven areas in southeastern Missouri have been closed due to flooding.

KENNETT, Mo.-Turkey hunters who normally head for conservation areas in southeastern Missouri should check the list of closed areas before opening day of spring turkey season. They may find their favorite areas closed.

The Missouri Department of Conservation closed 11 of its areas last week due to flooding. Those conservation areas are:

--Wolf Bayou, Girvin, Black Island, DeSoto and Gayoso Bend in Pemiscot County;

--Ten Mile Pond and Seven Island in Mississippi County;

--Donaldson Point in New Madrid County;

--Coon Island in Butler County;

--Ben Cash and Hornersville Swamp in Dunklin County.

--Parts of Duck Creek CA in Bollinger, Stoddard and Wayne counties

Conservation Department officials said the closures serve two purposes. One is to keep visitors out of areas where high water has created unsafe conditions. The other is to protect turkeys and other wildlife that have been forced to take refuge from flooding on a limited amount of high ground.

“Chapter 7 of Missouri’s Wildlife Code says that wildlife may not be pursued or taken while trapped or surround by floodwaters or while fleeing from floodwaters,” said Conservation Department Protection Regional Supervisor Ken West. “We certainly are experiencing that now. We encourage landowners who have property near the closed public areas to restrict hunting activity to help protect wildlife fleeing high waters.”

For more information, contact the Conservation Department Southeast Regional Office, 573/290-5730.

-Jim Low-