Events

Who’s that hooting it up each January evening?? Owls that’s who. You will learn what makes them such effective night time hunters and why they hoot so much this time of year. Then we will take a short walk and see if we can entice any owls to fly in and talk to us. Dress appropriately (warm clothing, including gloves) since we will be outside the whole hour. Please bring flashlights.

This program and hunt is for women, new to duck hunting, that is interested in learning the skills needed to successfully hunt ducks. We will begin with a mandatory clinic on Tuesday, November 23 from 6-7 p.m. at Busch Range to discuss safety, firearms, clothing, hunting techniques, and details of the hunt. The hunt will be Saturday, December 4. All participants for the hunt must attend the mandatory clinic and be Hunter Education Certified to participate in the hunt on December 4th.

First Time Archery Deer Hunters

December 4 & 5 and December 11 & 12

Hunt # 22

1 deer of either sex

Hunter must attend pre-hunt orientation, those who do not attend, are disqualified.

Only first-time deer hunters, 18 years of age or older, who have never harvested a deer by archery method are eligible.

Hunters who require an assistant must provide one.

Mandatory Pre-Hunt Orientation – Tuesday, September 21, 6pm – 8pm, Jay Henges Shooting Range, Education Center

Contact Kurt Otterstein at kurt.otterstein@mdc.mo.gov for questions

Beginning In-Line Muzzleloading Class

(Ages 9 and up)

In this introduction to in-line Muzzleloading class, we will discuss the components for the rifle, loading, firing and cleaning. Participants will have the opportunity to shoot as well. If you have your own in-line, please bring it, otherwise, one will be provided.

We’re out for trout! Come and join us for a winter urban fishing program perfect for all experience levels. Whether you’re a novice fisher or an experienced angler, this program aims to connect participants with the winter fishing areas of Saint Louis city and provide a lively time as the holidays approach.

This will be a rainbow trout catch-and-release program. Poles and bait will be provided. Experienced anglers are welcome to bring their own poles and bait, regulations apply.

Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants 16 and over who plan to fish will need a valid fishing license which can be purchased here: https://mdc-web.s3licensing.com/

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

You harvested a deer, field dressed it, and have it ready to process for the table.This event will provide instruction on how to make burger and sausage out of venison. We will discuss how to grind and season your harvest to make it into tasty burgers and sausage. This program will be held in the Busch Shooting Range classroom.

Does your little one love to be outdoors in the winter? Do they love animals, especially birds? Winter is a great time for bird watching, no matter your age or experience. Come and join us as we read Paddle, Perch, Climb: Bird Feet are Neat; a story about birds and how they live. We will also learn how to make an easy apple bird feeder that you can take home. Birds think this type of feeder is a treat, and you can make yourself a treat, too! You will be able to enjoy your homemade treat while you watch the birds enjoy your home-made bird feeder.

***While this program is intended for ages 3 to 6, all are welcome to participate.***

***Register each person attending individually.

Join us for an in-person guided hike on Pine Trail at August A. Busch Conservation Area, where we will make multiple stops to nature journal the sights and wildlife, as well as our experiences. This hike will be less than a mile on a very flat terrain. Participants can bring lunch to eat during one of our nature journaling stops.

Please wear proper hiking shoes and dress for the weather. Participants should bring their own nature journaling materials such as: pencils, journals, blending tools, non-photo blue pencil, eraser, etc.

We will meet in the August A. Busch Nature Center parking lot and caravan to the trailhead from there.

NOTE: This program is hosted by Powder Valley naturalists, but the program will take place at August A. Busch Conservation Area.

Who’s that hooting it up each December evening?? Owls that’s who. You will learn what makes them such effective night time hunters and why they hoot so much this time of year. We will then take a short walk and see if we can entice any owls to fly in and talk to us. Dress appropriately since we will be outside part of the time. Please bring a flashlight. MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.?

.22 Rifle

(Ages 9 and up)

Interested people may experience shooting .22 rifles by an instructor. Each participant will be learning safety and the proper techniques of shooting .22 rim fire rifles. Firearms, ammunition, and safety equipment will be provided. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Come and join us in-person at Rockwoods Reservation (first at the classroom) as we discuss the caves and cave life of Missouri and why we need to protect this unique ecosystem. We will briefly discuss Missouri's caves, biology, and safety, and then visit Rockwoods (Bathtub Cave).

Please dress in layers and dress appropriately for the weather. Bring an extra change of clothes, water, and snacks/lunch.

**Helmets and one flashlight will be provided. Please wear rubber boots as well as bring 2 additional sources of light (such as headlamps or flashlights).

***Only 10 people at a time can enter the cave, so we will have to do two groups into the cave.

**only the age range (7 and up) will be allowed in the cave.

**note: you will have to crawl into the entrance and crawl in the cave; knee pads are recommended.

***Program will be canceled in inclement weather and rescheduled at a different date.

***If large clusters of bats are encountered, the field trip portion will be cut short.

***Must attend the classroom session to attend the field trip portion.

***Register each person attending individually.

*** Masks will be required to wear inside the cave (surgical masks will be provided, or you may wear your own cloth mask).

*** MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

Experience the sounds of the night during a moderate hike at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. We will hike the Busch Hiking/Biking Trail which is approximately 3 ½ miles in length. We may hear coyotes howling and hear 2 or 3 species of owls calling their mates. Dress for the weather, Bring small flashlight

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate

Join us as we take a hike around Rockwoods Reservation to explore some habitats, from small microhabitats, to glades, to forests. We will learn how Missouri wildlife use habitats to survive, and how their habitats might change over the seasons or their lifetime. The hike will be easy to moderate in difficulty. Please register everyone attending, and dress for the weather. Meet at the pavilion by the Rockwoods Reservation Education Center.

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

We will walk you through step by step on some of our favorite ways to cook venison.

We will be discussing the books of Rachel Carson, biologist and author. Pick your favorite(s) of her books

and come prepared to share with the group or feel free to just listen.

Nature provides many things for us, including craft materials! Come create nature-based gifts for the holiday season. We will have multiple crafts for people of all ages to assemble and take home. Although all craft materials will be provided feel free to bring any additional natural materials or craft supplies

Crafts include:

Wood Cookie Ornaments

Pinecone Christmas Trees

Driftwood Centerpieces

Snakeskin/Wildflower Bookmarks

Wildlife Garland

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate

Ages 18 and up

Enjoy a crisp winter hike on the Green Rock Trail! Participants will join Rockwoods Reservation naturalists on a challenging 16 mile hike through Rockwoods Reservation, Greensfelder County Park, and ending in Rockwoods Range. Please bring plenty of snacks and water, and packable lunch. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear for a long hike with a few steep inclines and rocky terrain. This is a no-drop hike (we will not be splitting up at any point), and naturalists will be driving participants back to Rockwoods Reservation at the end. This is a moderate-difficult trail.

Join us in-person at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center. On a cold winter’s morning, there is nothing like having a breakfast of black oil sunflower seeds, or maybe a hot cup of coffee and a sweet roll. That would, of course, depend upon whether you are bird or human! So, while the birds feed outside, we’ll enjoy the coffee and sweet rolls as we learn how to identify them. We will discuss common winter birds in Missouri such as woodpeckers and sparrows, as well as rare winter birds such as the snowy owl, red breasted nuthatch, and pine siskin! We will finish up the presentation by discussing the Great Backyard Bird Count, a citizen science opportunity to report the birds in your backyard.

**This is a beginner's guide to backyard/winter birding in Missouri, but everyone is welcome to attend.

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

***Register each person attending individually.

Join us in-person at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center to learn all about winter birds. View birds in bird viewing area, make a bird craft or two to take home or gift for the Holidays, or take a bird hike on your own! This is an open event, no registration required.

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

The days shorten and the nights lengthen as we near the winter solstice. The sun is very low in the western sky before it disappears below the horizon. Take a walk on a paved wooded path to watch the full moon come up over the Confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. During our short walk to the Confluence, we will listen and watch for some of nature’s creatures moving about before the long, cold winter night begins.

Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight or lantern. Meet at parking lot “L.” Allow 15 minutes to drive from the front entrance to lot “L.”

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

The yearly invasion is well under way… by our good friends the Canada geese. Come join us on this feathery, honking geocaching adventure. New geocachers welcome, as we introduce geocaching and send you off on the search for the goose’s treasure. Participants are also welcomed to bring small trinkets to leave in the caches they find.

We will spend most our time outside, so dress for the weather. Meet outside the visitor center.

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

Bring your preschoolers as we celebrate the last day of fall. We will read When Winter Comes, a story of the transition from fall to winter, make a craft, and go on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Will we see any fall colors? What about signs that winter is coming? Please register everyone attending, and dress for the weather. Meet at the pavilion by the Rockwoods Reservation Education Center.

MDC asks all participants to observe current local social distancing and masking guidelines. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when appropriate.

Women’s Beginning Handgun

(Ages 16 and up)

The Women's Beginning Handgun program includes handgun fundamentals, operation, safety, maintenance and safe storage. We start in the Education Center with classroom instruction then move to the range for a live-fire session. Firearms, ammunition, and safety equipment are provided however, you may bring your own handgun and ammunition to the live-fire session. Firearms and ammunition are not allowed in the Education Center. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

This program will cover what to do to get started shooting handguns. We will cover handgun fundamentals, including handgun actions, operation, safety, shooting techniques, maintenance, and safe storage. After the classroom portion we will head to the range to practice what was just taught. All firearms and ammunition will be provided.