Happy New Year! No, this is not a reprint of a two-month-old column. If you are one of the many people who participate in outdoor activities in Missouri, then Wednesday, March 1, marks the beginning of the new outdoor year.

Each year the Conservation Department's Regulations Committee reviews all of the rules in the Wildlife Code of Missouri to determine whether the existing regulations continue to sustain the state's fish, forest and wildlife resources with the least amount of regimentation and inconvenience to the public. When needs are identified, rule changes are recommended to the Conservation Commission for approval. The 2000 Wildlife Code contains a total of 30 such changes that become effective March 1.

Many of those 30 changes are of limited interest (commercial fishing, etc.) so we won't cover all of them. However, some changes will apply to a large number of people so we will touch on a few of them.

There is now a length limit on walleye and sauger on all bodies of water except the Mississippi River. All walleye and sauger less than fifteen (15) inches in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. On certain waters all walleye and sauger less than eighteen (18) inches in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught these include Bull Shoals Lake and its tributaries, Eleven Point River and its tributaries, Long Branch Lake, Norfork Lake and its tributaries and Table Rock Lake.

While on the subject of walleye and sauger a review of some pre-existing regulations might be in order. Between February 20 and April 14 walleye and sauger may be taken and possessed only between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the unimpounded portions of all streams except the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Walleye and sauger may not be possessed on waters or banks thereof during closed hours.

In addition to these rules, it is important to remember that, on the waters of Wappapello Lake and its tributaries, including the St. Francis River and its tributaries above Wappapello Dam, all walleye and sauger must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught year round.

Sport fishing and small game hunting permits expire February 29. Before you rush out to purchase new ones, check your existing permits. If you purchased them since late December, they will be marked as 2000 permits and you are ready to go.

Veterans with a 60-percent or greater service-related disability or who were prisoners of war during military service are exempt from selected hunting and fishing permit requirements, provided, while hunting or fishing he or she carries a certified statement of eligibility from the Veterans Administration. In addition, resident permit privileges are not available to those members of the armed forces of other countries stationed or residing in Missouri only members of the United States armed forces.

Another pre-existing regulation that should be noted is the season for taking Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) from streams. Page 54 of the 2000 Wildlife Code specifies that: Black bass may be taken throughout the year from the Mississippi River, all waters north of the south bank of the Missouri River, the St. Francis River downstream from Wappapello Dam and in that portion of southeast Missouri bounded by a line from Cape Girardeau following Highway 74 and 25, U.S. Highways 60, 67 and 160, and the west bank of the Little Black River to the Arkansas state line. In the remainder of the state from March 1 through the Friday before the fourth Saturday in May, no black bass may be possessed on the unimpounded portion of any stream and all black bass must be returned to the water immediately after being caught.

In other words: Check a roadmap before you go stream fishing for bass. Depending on where you go, the season on black bass in streams is closed from March 1 through May 26, 2000.

All hunters and anglers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with rule changes before venturing afield. Consult both the 2000 Summary of Fishing Regulations and the 2000 Summary of Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Both pamphlets are available free of charge wherever permits are sold.

For additional information about regulations and authorized public use activities on conservation areas contact your nearest Conservation Department office (573/290-5730).

Public comments about any regulations are always welcome. Written comments and suggestions should be directed to the Regulations Committee, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.

Permits can be purchased at vendors statewide, or by calling 1-800-392-4115.

To speed the purchase of permits, Missouri Conservation Heritage Cards are available for $2. These cards store pertinent information, including hunter education certification, on a magnetic strip (similar to a credit card). Request an application at any permit vendor or Conservation Department office, or write the Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.

The Conservation Department's worldwide web home page address is <http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/>.

In closing, those of us at the Missouri Department of Conservation would like to take this opportunity to wish you an enjoyable and safe new outdoor year.

Gene Myers is a Missouri Department of Conservation agent in Cape Girardeau County.