March brings the beginning of spring and a new season to enjoy to outdoors. Fish start to bite better as the waters warm, turkeys start to gobble, and trees start to bud.

With the new season, please remember March 1st was the annual date for small game and fishing permits to expire. You must renew your fishing and small game permits prior to enjoying the outdoors. Permits can be obtained online, the Hunt MO smartphone application or at any local permit vendor.

March 1 marked the traditional opening day of trout season at the trout parks in southern Missouri. If you are going to any of Missouri’s four trout parks, please remember to obtain your 2020 fishing permit prior to fishing. At the trout parks, a daily trout fishing permit also is required. If you decide to fish outside of a park, you will need to have a trout permit to keep and possess trout.

The traditional opening for snagging season in Missouri is March 15. Many will head to the big rivers and lakes in search of landing a large spoonbill.

There are a few things to remember when going snagging. First, remember to renew your fishing license. They expire on the last day of February each year. The limit is two fish per day with a possession limit of four. The fish must be at least 24 inches in most areas, except on Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake, and their tributaries where the length limit is 34. A gaff is commonly used for taking paddlefish. You measure a paddlefish from the eye to the fork of the tail.

To abide by the length limit, fish must be returned immediately to the water unharmed. The use of a gaff can be the take of a fish, due to damage caused to the fish. Paddlefish eggs are regulated as well due to the caviar trade. Extracted paddlefish eggs may not be possessed while on waters of the state or adjacent banks and may not be transported. Paddlefish eggs may not be bought, sold, or offered for sale. The discarding of carcasses can be considered littering if done in an unsightly fashion.

For those of you looking forward to turkey season, it is not too far away. The Youth season is April 4-5. The regular turkey seasons opens April 20 and ends May 10. Coyote hunting season during daylight hours closes March 31. It reopens under turkey regulations on the opening day of turkey season. Bobcat and otters need to be tagged or registered by April 10. Please call your local conservation agent or office to schedule a time to tag or register your bobcats and otters.

Several changes to landowner permits have occurred in the past year. Leasee landowners are no longer eligible to obtain landowner permits. Individuals need to either be the landowner or be an immediate household member of the landowner to be eligible for landowner permits. An immediate household member is an individual living in the same residence as the landowner. Also, to obtain permits, a landowner registry has been developed to link individuals to properties claimed. Landowner permits will no longer be given unless land has been registered to the name requesting the permit.

If you have any wildlife related questions or information, please call me, Norman Steelman, Audrain County conservation agent, at 573-473-8000. You may also call the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-392-1111 if you have information regarding a violation of the Missouri Wildlife Code. You may remain anonymous, and you may ask to be considered for a reward if you wish.