Note To Our Readers

Share Your Adventures

There is no better place than nature to slow down, learn, refuel, and reflect. Fortunately, Missouri is rich with natural areas where you can step off the paved path into a place where time is measured, not by meetings and to-do lists, but by sunrises and sunsets. I’ve done my best thinking over the years in the solitude of the outdoors.

While we all find value in disconnecting now and again, we also live in an age where technology has enhanced almost everything we do. Discovering nature is no different. People instantly post their big catch or GPS coordinates on a recently discovered trail. Bird watchers immediately log sightings online to help other bird enthusiasts in the area. People snap interesting photos of Missouri wildlife, filter seamlessly with an app, and wow their friends across the country on social media.

To better serve and communicate with Missourians, we continue to expand our outreach efforts with social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, as well as offering Department news and information straight to your email or phone via text. Whether you’re interested in outdoor pursuits or the beauty of Missouri, we also offer three apps — Find MO Fish, MO Hunting, and MO Fall Colors — for instant access on the go.

The Department is also in the process of rolling out a new, streamlined website with some unique features based on suggestions provided directly by our users. The new hunting and fishing sections are already live, with the Discover Nature section launching this month. The website has some new interactive capabilities, such as allowing people to share outdoor experiences with us directly through their social media photos. By using the hashtag #MDCbragboard when posting your outdoor photos on social media, those #MDCbragboard photos will also show up on a Department Web page for others to enjoy.

I hope you will find time this fall to get out and explore the outdoors. We live in a beautiful state with abundant forest, fish, and wildlife resources waiting to be discovered. I challenge you to share those outdoor experiences with others and with us, too. After all, the best part of any story is getting to share it with others.

Robert L. Ziehmer, director