From the desk of Senator David Pearce
As the fall weather begins, it is typical for thoughts to lead to those fall outdoor activities, such as hunting. There are many opportunities to participate in that ever-popular sport around the 31stSenatorial District.
Many folks look forward to deer season every year. And with good reason. Not only is a test of skill, but venison can help fill many freezers with nutritious meat. Regular firearm season for deer will run from Nov. 10 through Nov. 20 this year. However, archery, or bow, season has already begun. That season stretches from Sept. 15 to Nov. 9 and will resume on Nov. 21 and run until Jan. 15, 2013. Archery season for turkey runs the same dates as deer, with the fall firearm season taking place from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.
Of course, participating in any activity that involves weapons calls for certain safety precautions. Using safe, ethical hunting practices keeps both hunters and by-standers at minimal risk. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), there are a couple of things to always keep in mind while hunting. Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it before you shoot. Be certain that your equipment is in good condition and your firearm is properly sighted. Always wear a harness if shooting from a tree stand. Please be sure to get permission when hunting or crossing private land and know the boundaries and obstacles. Be safe and respectful and follow all laws and rules. Remember that wearing hunter orange is not a choice. It is a necessary precaution. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; remembering this can keep you and your fellow hunters out of harm’s way.
Hunting also provides for the less fortunate. The Share the Harvest Program assists many Missouri families every year. According to the MDC, 6,191 hunters donated 317,882 pounds of venison during the 2011 hunting season. That is truly a wonderful gift to those with so little. It is easy to participate in the Share the Harvest Program. Just take your deer to any participating processing center and let them know how much of your deer you would like to donate, either in pounds or the whole deer. They will see that your donation gets picked up by the local sponsoring agency who will take it to a charitable agency for distribution. While the processing fees are the responsibility of the donating hunter, there are often funds available to assist with those costs. You can call your regional MDC office for a list of participating processors. That center can then turn in the amount of your donation for reimbursement. Always talk to your local processor to determine if funds are available.
The MDC website, www.mdc.mo.gov, provides information about all things hunting-related in the Show-Me State. I encourage you to visit its website and educate yourself before heading out into our state’s vast hunting areas to enjoy one of Missouri’s most celebrated pastimes. This state of ours is full of beauty, and we owe it to ourselves to make the most of it.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.
Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31st State Senatorial District.
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