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Tenant farming is
an uncommon practice today and the existing regulation has resulted in a
misunderstanding and misuse of free landowner permits.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
– At its August meeting, the Missouri
Conservation Commission initially approved a regulation change from the
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) that will limit free landowner
permits for deer and turkey hunting to only qualifying resident landowners and
members of their immediate households age six years or older – starting next year.
MDC is taking
public input on this regulation change and welcomes comments online during
October at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49 under regulation “3 CSR 10-7.431:
Deer Hunting Seasons: General Provisions.”
When MDC began offering free deer and turkey permits to landowners
back in 1944, “tenant farming” was a common practice in Missouri so the
Department included lessees (renters or tenants) in the offering.
According to MDC, the free landowner permits were never intended
to apply to individuals leasing land for hunting, or those who live on a property
but do not farm the land. The free permits were an incentive for those working private
land to create and maintain habitat for deer and turkey. This time in the 1940s
was the beginning of Missouri’s current firearms hunting seasons for deer and
turkey. Game numbers were still very low compared to today and habitat was
greatly needed to grow the populations.
Much has changed in nearly 80 years, including the fact that tenant
farming is no longer a common practice in Missouri.
In reviewing who is now getting these free permits, MDC found that
most who lease and live on private land are just renting residences -- not the
entire farm or acreage – and do not manage the properties.
“Our conservation agents have a very good sense of the hunters,
landowners, and lessees in their counties -- and the habitat work being done,” said
MDC Deputy Director Mike Hubbard. “Unfortunately, we found that there is
significant misunderstanding of the point of the free permits and far more
lessees are inadvertently obtaining free permits and not actually farming and managing
the land.”
The regulation
change – which would start in March 2019 -- does not affect qualifying resident
landowners who have at least five acres and all members of their immediate
households age six years and older. For more information on qualifications for
resident landowner permits and what permits are available, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/permits/qualifications-resident-landowner-permits.
 The
Missouri Conservation Commission has initially approved a regulation that will
limit free landowner permits for deer and turkey hunting to only qualifying
resident landowners and members of their immediate households age six years or
older.
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