Cape Girardeau Nature Center offers women’s frog-gigging clinic

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Some lucky southeast Missouri women will learn to gig frogs at a free event offered by the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. "Discover Nature Women: Goin’ Frogging" will take place Friday, July 22, 7 p.m. to midnight at the Nature Center. Call 573-290-5218 for more information or to register.

According to MDC naturalist Angela Pierce, frog gigging or “frogging,” is a sport that takes fun right to the dinner table.

“Frogging spans the gap between hunting and fishing,” Pierce said. “After we take the group out to try their luck at gigging some frogs, we’ll teach them how to clean their catch to take home and cook.”

Pierce said women can expect to learn the ins and outs of frog gigging and then put their knowledge to the test. First the lucky frog giggers will learn regulations and techniques before they go out to gig.

Frogs are allowed to be harvested with either fishing or hunting permits, as long as the method matches the permit. With a fishing permit, frogs may be harvested by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throw line, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing or pole and line during frog season. With a hunting permit, frogs may be harvested using .22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle or pistol, pellet gun, bow, crossbow, atlatl or by hand or hand net.

This year’s frog season began June 30 and will continue through Oct. 31. Children under the age of 16 and adults over 65 are not required to have a permit.

MDC's Discover Nature Women programs are designed to give women 14 years and older the skills and confidence to pursue a wide range of outdoor activities alone, with friends or with their families. This program is for women ages 18 and up or age 14 and up when accompanied by an adult.

To find more outdoor events in your area, visit www.MissouriConservation.org.