Mo. Conservation Agents Crack Down Violations

Story by: Guest Contributor

First posted on 05-17-2007

Conservation agents crack down on set-line violations, off-road vehicle misuse

WARSAW, Mo.-Anglers who ignore regulations on trotlines, limb lines and other unattended fishing devices are more likely to be ticketed, due to stepped-up enforcement efforts by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Off-road vehicle (ORV) users might want to pay close attention to where they roam, too.

Along with their usual season duties, conservation agents will put special emphasis on these two activities this summer. Protection Division Chief Dennis Steward said it isn’t just about protecting wildlife. Public safety and the overall health of outdoor areas are at stake.

Unattended lines, collectively known as “set lines,” include trotlines, throw lines, limb lines, bank lines and jug lines. All are legal in most Missouri waters, as long as they are attended daily. Unanchored, free-floating jug lines must be personally attended at all times. Steward said failure to properly check and attend to equipment is one of the most common violations of set-line regulations.

“There are good reasons for the 24-hour rule for set-lines,” said Steward. “Requiring anglers to check lines every day prevents hooked fish from dying on the line and being wasted. It also ensures that set lines are not left high and dry when water levels fall. That is a safety issue for others using the same waters. A hook dangling in the air is an accident waiting to happen.”

Another set-line regulation sometimes neglected by anglers is the requirement to label each line with the user’s name and address. Such labels provide accountability for anglers and enable conservation agents to contact them about their lines.

“Agents are putting special emphasis on checking set lines and making sure their owners are doing things right,” said Steward.

Steward said conservation agents’ other major emphasis this summer will be stopping misuse of ORVs. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Jeeps, four-wheel drive trucks and other vehicles capable of traversing rugged terrain can be tremendously destructive when operated where they do not belong.

Off-roading on conservation areas destroys vegetation and leads to soil erosion. Operating vehicles in streams destroys fish habitat and muddies the water, smothering fish eggs and other aquatic life. Whether it occurs on land or in streams, ORV misuse also diminishes the quality of others’ outdoor experience.

Fishing violations, as well as illegal ORV activities, are Class A misdemeanors, and are punishable by fines of up to $1,000 and a year in jail. Steward noted that the Conservation Commission has recently upped the ante on irresponsible off-roading in streams.

“A number of people have had their hunting and fishing privileges suspended for ORV abuse,” he said. “That is a pretty high price to pay for something you could be doing legally somewhere else. Missouri has places where folks who enjoy off-roading can do it legally.”

Steward said ORV owners should get permission from landowners before riding on private property. However, there also are public areas set aside especially for ORV riders in Missouri. These include:
* Finger Lakes State Park in Boone County, (573) 443-5315.
* St. Joe State Park, 8,238 acres in St. Francois County, (573) 431-1069.
* Sutton Bluff Recreation Area in Reynolds County, (573) 729-6656.
* Chadwick ATV and Motorcycle Area in Christian County, (417) 683-4428.

-Jim Low-

To check hunting and fishing seasons listed on the Outdoor Calendar, visit http://mdc.mo.gov/seasons
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