The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages Missourians to celebrate summer with a favorite outdoor pastime for many -- frogging season. It begins at sunset on June 30 and ends Oct. 31.

Missouri has two frog species that are legal game — bullfrog and green frog. Bullfrogs are larger and therefore more sought-after. The taste and texture of frog meat is similar to that of fresh-water fish. For recipes, visit the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/node/15131.

Frogging can be practiced with either a fishing permit or a hunting permit. Children under the age of 16 and Missouri residents over the age of 65 are not required to have a permit. The Wildlife Code of Missouri allows those with a fishing permit to take frogs by hand, hand net, atlatl, gig, bow, trotline, throw line, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing or pole and line. With a hunting permit, frogs may be harvested using a .22-caliber or smaller rifle or pistol, pellet gun, atlatl, bow, crossbow, or by hand or hand net. The use of an artificial light is permitted when frogging.

The daily limit is eight frogs of both species combined. The possession limit allows you to store no more than 16 frogs at a time.

Once a frog is speared, it must be harvested. The Wildlife Code of Missouri prohibits the release of a speared frog as “wanton waste” because the animal is not likely to recover. Any frog taken into actual possession, unless immediately released unharmed after being caught, is included in the daily limit.

For more information on bullfrog and green frog regulations, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/10834.