The revised regulation allows landowners who own property of any size and their authorized representatives to own, control and use night vision, infrared and thermal imaging equipment to kill wild boars on the landowner`s property while in possession of equipment where wildlife could be killed or taken away. Landowners and their representatives would have the right to kill or take wild boars with these methods throughout the year without the prior approval of a conservation officer. Landowners can already use thermal imaging and night vision devices on their own property to kill wild boars. This does not currently apply to other people who want to hunt at night on someone else`s private property. And when coyotes or other animals cause problems with farm animals, the agency plans to allow hunters to also use night vision and thermal imaging devices to kill the offending animals. MDC notes that landowners and their representatives can still use night vision, infrared, thermal imaging equipment or artificial light to kill coyotes or other wildlife that cause property damage at any time of the year with the written permission of a conservation officer. JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri ( AP) — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) updated the Wildlife Code of Missouri`s regulations regarding coyote hunting and wild boar control at its Sept. 4 meeting of the Conservation Commission in Jefferson City. The change responds to citizens` requests to the Regulatory Committee to use night vision, infrared, thermal imaging or artificial light devices to hunt coyotes, and by landowners to allow their authorized representatives to use night, infrared or thermal vision devices without the prior approval of a conservation officer to repair damage caused by wild boars.
In a press release, MDC emphasized that the landowner or landowner`s representatives should obtain written permission from their local conservation officer to use thermal imaging or night vision equipment to combat problematic wildlife species such as coyotes. Private landowners can already use night vision and thermal imaging devices to better track wild boars at night on their own property. Following initial approval by the Missouri Conservation Commission, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is currently accepting public comments on proposed regulatory amendments to help landowners control wildlife and invasive species of concern. Specifically, the proposed changes to the rules would allow landowners and their representatives to use thermal or night vision optics to protect livestock and property from species such as coyotes and wild boars, upon receipt of written approval from a Missouri conservation officer. New technologies such as thermal and night vision images allow landowners to protect their property more effectively. To give landowners the ability to protect their property without sacrificing conservation officers` ability to enforce laws to protect Missouri`s wildlife, these new regulations would require written permission before the heat or night vision lens can be used to harvest disruptive or invasive species. For all Missouri landowners who constantly have problems with wild boars and other invasive species, the game of hunting has become a little easier for you. The Missouri Department of Conservation has responded to citizens` requests to change regulations on the use of thermal, infrared and night vision to combat invasive species. MDC reminds the public that the possession of thermal imaging or night vision devices in possession of a firearm, bow or other method of harvesting wildlife is prohibited under the Missouri Wildlife Code, unless a landowner controls wild boars on their own property. The regulation also allows hunters with an appropriate licence to use artificial light, night vision, infrared or thermal imaging equipment in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to track and catch coyotes from February 1 to March 31. These new rule changes will come into force on November 30, 2020. The regulatory changes allow the use of thermal, night vision or infrared devices without prior authorization for hunting invasive species such as wild boar.
In addition, hunters with an appropriate licence may be authorized from February 1 to 31. Mars use the same devices without prior authorization. Wild boars pose a serious threat to Missouri landowners due to the destructive capabilities of this highly invasive species. In the United States, wild boars have caused more than $1 billion in property damage per year. In addition, wild boars are carriers of diseases that threaten livestock. Finally, wild boars can be highly destructive to native plant communities, harming populations of native wild animals such as deer and turkeys from predators and competition for resources. Unlike many wildlife species, wildlife management organizations often prefer wild boar eradication to population management. To achieve this, the Missouri Department of Conservation has banned wild boar hunting on state lands to encourage highly targeted fishing efforts aimed at eliminating entire groups of pigs. However, more than 90% of the property in Missouri is privately owned and hunting remains legal on these private lands. Under current regulations, it is illegal to own thermal imaging or night vision devices, while being in possession of a firearm, bow or other object used to harvest wildlife, with the exception of landowners who use this equipment to control wild boars on their own property.