by Jill Pritchard, Missouri Department of Conservation 


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – After a hot summer, most are welcoming the fall season with open arms. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages everyone to enjoy fall foliage through camping, hiking, driving tours, or even floating. To help, MDC offers weekly online fall color updates from agency foresters all over the state at mdc.mo.gov/fallcolor.

“Our weekly fall color updates are a great resource for the public,” said MDC Forestry Field Programs Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “Foresters begin posting reports in mid-September that show users where trees are beginning to turn and even suggest great places to see changing leaves.”

Hinnah said the dry summer conditions will likely cause fall color to start sooner than normal.

“Due to recent dry weather across central and southern Missouri, we’re already starting to see trees change and some may even lose leaves early,” he explained.

The chilly evenings we see in the fall season are critical for leaves to change color.

“Sugars produced by photosynthesis are trapped inside leaves by the cool autumn nights,” Hinnah explained. “Those sugars are the building blocks for the rich red, yellow, orange, and purple pigments. Chilly nights
cause the breakdown of green pigments, allowing the fall colors to show through.”

Missouri trees first begin changing color in the northern part of the state, then move southward. Sassafras, sumac, and Virginia creeper are some of the earliest to change in mid-September. In late September, black gum, bittersweet, and dogwood are turning. The peak of fall color usually hits around mid-October.

“Trees like maple, ash, oak, and hickory are at the peak of their fall display by the middle of October,” Hinnah noted. “Normally by the end of the month, colors are fading and leaves are falling.”

Missouri’s fall color can be enjoyed from almost anywhere. For spectacular vistas, choose routes along rivers with views of forested bluffs, and along ridges with sweeping scenes of forested landscapes.

“MDC conservation areas or Missouri state parks are wonderful places to take in the fall color,” suggested Hinnah.

And fall color isn’t just limited to trees. Prairies and roadsides display beautiful shades of gold, purple, olive, and auburn with autumn wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses. In cities and towns, enjoy places with mature trees such as older neighborhoods, parks, and even cemeteries.

​MDC provides its annual fall color update at mdc.mo.gov/fallcolor. The weekly reports include what species of trees are turning and suggestions on best places to see them. The updates run September through November.

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation 


BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) requires hunters at certain conservation areas to use non-toxic shotshells while hunting for waterfowl and various other game species. Hunters seeking to improve their skills with non-toxic shot are invited to attend a fundamentals clinic from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Lake City Shooting Range.

This class will help migratory and upland bird hunters become more efficient and ethical at harvesting game while using non-toxic ammunition. This free, all-day program includes an introduction to wingshooting fundamentals, distance estimation, non-toxic shotshell ammunition selection, and shotgun patterning. Instructors will teach participants how to choose the correct choke, load, and shot size for different game, how to estimate shooting distances, and how to effectively lead their target. This program includes shotgun safety, operation, maintenance, and safe storage.

Registration is required. Participants must be at least 15 years old. Visit https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/210472 to register. Participants are responsible for bringing their own food and drinks for the day and are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

For more information on the nontoxic shot regulation, you can visit https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/nontoxic-shot-regulations.

Lake City Shooting Range is located at 28505 E Truman Road, Buckner Mo., near Blue Springs. For any questions regarding the program, contact MDC Conservation Educator Adam Brandsgaard at [email protected]

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation 

Monarch butterflies are an important species to our state, and they depend on milkweed. Join the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for a course about the relationship between milkweed and monarchs from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs.


Participation in this program may be done in-person or virtually. This course is intended for ages 18 and older, and registration is required.

To register for the in-person course, visit https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/208711.
To register for the virtual course, visit https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/208712. A link to the webcast will be sent to registered participants prior to the program.

​MDC staff will discuss the 13 native species of milkweed found in Missouri, as well as how to grow them at home to help monarch butterflies.

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation


The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites anyone interested in learning how to fish for catfish on the Missouri River using alternative methods such as trotlines, jug lines, and limb lines to a free two-day clinic. The clinic will be on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15, in the Blue Springs area.

The “Big Muddy Alternative Methods Catfish Clinic” will start at 10:00am on June 14, at MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs. MDC staff will lead an orientation session on using various types of set lines to target blue, flathead, and channel catfish.

Participants and staff will then go out on the Missouri River on Saturday afternoon in MDC boats to set trotlines, jug lines, and limb lines for catfish. The day will end around 7:00pm.

There will be time to eat lunch between the orientation session and the time on the river. Participants should bring snacks and water and dress appropriately for the weather. 

Sunday morning, June 15, at 8:00am, participants and staff will return to the Missouri River, meeting at the LaBenite Park River Access to collect fish caught overnight. Staff will then demonstrate how to clean catfish for eating. The day will end around noon.

This program is appropriate for adults and families with children aged nine years and older. MDC will provide all equipment, including life vests for each person. Participants are welcome to bring their own Coast-Guard-approved life vest if they prefer. Life vests are required at all times on MDC boats. 
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Registration is required for this clinic. Interested participants must be able to attend both days. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/208570. 

by Joe Jerek, Missouri Department of Conservation 

Want some free fun that gets family and friends outside in nature? Get hooked on fishing with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Free Fishing Days June 7 and 8. During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit, or trout park daily tag. 
Free Fishing Days is an annual MDC event that takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June.

Aside from not needing permits, other fishing regulations remain in effect, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. Special permits may still be required at some county, city, or private fishing areas. Trespass laws remain in effect on private property.

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish, and Free Fishing Days encourages people to sample Missouri’s abundant fishing opportunities. Missouri has more than a million acres of surface water, and most of it provides great fishing. More than 200 different fish species are found in Missouri, with more than 20 of them being game fish for the state's more than 1.1 million anglers.

For information on Missouri fishing regulations, fish identification, and more, get a copy of MDC’s 2025 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, available where permits are sold, or online at mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/summary-missouri-fishing-regulations.

Want to learn to fish? MDC’s Discover Nature – Fishing Program provides a series of free lessons throughout the state. All fishing gear is provided. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/discover-nature-fishing.

Need fishing gear? MDC works with numerous libraries and other locations around the state to loan fishing gear for free. Loaner gear includes fishing poles and simple tackle box with hooks, sinkers, and bobbers. Worms, minnows, or other bait are not provided. Find MDC Rod and Reel Loaner Program locations at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/get-started-fishing/rod-reel-loaner-locations.

​MDC’s free MO Fishing app can help anglers find the best places to fish in Missouri, access regulation information, identify fish by species, and more. Anglers can also buy, store, and show fishing permits right on their mobile devices. MO Fishing is available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mobile-apps/mo-fishing.

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