Missouri agency tries to lure kids to the outdoors

The Missouri Department of Conservation is trying to lure kids to the ol’ fishing hole.

Throughout May, special events centering on children will take place throughout the state.

▪ Not many fishermen get the privilege of fishing in a hatchery. But children ages 15 and younger do each spring.

Kids Fishing Day at Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in Warsaw, Mo., gives youngsters a chance to fish in waters normally off limits. The event, which will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7, will also include archery shooting, a casting area, fish-cleaning demonstrations, a craft area and photos of children who catch their first fish.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tackle, rods and reels and bait will be provided for those who do not have their own.

▪ Kids also will be the guests of honor at Missouri’s four trout parks in late April and May.

Kids Free Fishing Day will give children a chance to fish in a zone set aside for them, to get a free daily tag, to get tips on how to catch trout and to receive a free lunch.

The special events will start at Montauk State Park near Licking, Mo., on April 30. Kids will have the spotlight May 7 at Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Mo., and May 14 at Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Mo., and Maramec Spring State Park near St. James, Mo.

▪ Families in the Kansas City area will learn the basics of fishing during two Discover Nature — Fishing programs in May.

Programs at the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area in Blue Springs and the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Lee’s Summit will include four lessons. The first will center on equipment, casting and proper fish handling, the second on how to tie a knot and bait a hook, the third on learning about five common Missouri fish, and the fourth on fishing with lures and understanding fishing regulations.

For information on the dates of the classes, go to http://on.mo.gov/ 1HWUast.

Turkey season progress

Looking for Missouri’s best turkey hunting? If harvest records kept by the Missouri Department of Conservation are any indication, look to the east-central region.

Through Wednesday, each of the top three counties in the state’s harvest listings were in that part of the state. Franklin led the state, followed by Gasconade and Callaway.

The Missouri season continues through May 8.

Conservation Federation event

Kansas City will be in the conservation spotlight May 21 when the Conservation Federation of Missouri holds its Explore the Outdoors: Kansas City event.

The program, which will be at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center in Independence, will feature a banquet, silent and live auctions, and talks. Sara Parker Pauley, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Bill Bryan, director of state parks, will be the keynote speakers.

Banquet doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 7:15 p.m. and the auctions following. The cost is $40 per person, with discounts for families. For more information and to register, go to the website www.confedmo.org/ kansas-city/.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Missouri agency tries to lure kids to the outdoors."