Duck hunters may be allowed to hunt at DC Rogers Lake again. During its regular meeting on May 19, the Fayette city council heard from parks director Benji Conrow who suggested the city revert back to an older ordinance that allows duck and bowhunting at the city-owned lake.

The ordinance was changed in June 2019 to ban all hunting at DC Rogers when the city had hoped to redevelop the area. Fayette was later denied a Recreational Trails Program grant from Missouri State Parks for recreation improvements at the lake. Area sportsmen have been working with the Parks Board to once again allow duck hunting at the lake during seasons which occur from November to January. Archery season for deer is open September 15 through mid-January.

City council members expressed concern for hunting at DC Rogers due to increases in camping and boating at the lake. But the waterfowl seasons occur during the winter months when activity at the lake is minimal.

“Your boat traffic at the lake is going to be very minimal November through January. If we were talking summer months, I could see it being more of an issue,” said East Ward Alderman Anthony Shiflett, who advocated for the change in ordinance to allow hunting.

Duck hunters also fire toward the lake, and not outward in the directions of the road and campground, Shiflett said.

Ultimately the council chose to table any action on changing the ordinance. To allow for hunting at the lake, the city must draw up a new ordinance. “I think it would be reasonable to give everyone an opportunity to think about,” said Southwest Ward Alderman and acting Mayor Grafton Cook, who indicated he is still undecided on the issue and wants to allow the public ample opportunity to discuss.