Bullfrogs

By Jeff Berti
Missouri’s most sought after amphibian is the bullfrog. During warm summer nights, many of Missouri’s outdoor enthusiasts, flashlight in hand, attempt to gig, grab, net or even shoot a limit of bullfrogs.

Bullfrog season opens at sunset on June 30 and will run through midnight Oct. 31. The daily limit is eight while the possession limit is 16. Frogs can be taken by fishing or hunting methods, and appropriate licenses are required. The holder of a fishing license can take frogs by hand, hand net, longbow, gig, or hook and line. Since most frogs are taken at night, an artificial light may be used.
The holder of a hunting permit may take frogs with a .22 caliber rifle or pistol, or by pellet gun, longbow, crossbow, hand or hand net. Hunters may also use an artificial light. It’s important to remember that water causes bullets to ricochet, so firearms shouldn’t be used to take frogs that are actually in the water. If you don’t have a safe backstop, simply try another method.
Hunters and anglers are also allowed to include green frogs in their daily limit during the season. Green frogs are very similar to bullfrogs, but are smaller in size.
In Missouri, bullfrogs are active from late March through October. Frogs spend most of their lives near aquatic habitats such as ponds, lakes, rivers, creeks, sloughs and marshes. Permanent water is required, and frog populations tend to decline during periods of drought. Although this year’s wet weather has been hard on most wildlife, the frogs in Grundy County should be very plentiful.
Bullfrogs breed from mid-May through early June. It’s important to realize that bullfrog season follows the breeding period. People who take frogs before the season are simply hurting the future frog populations.
Although the color of bullfrogs varies from green, olive and brown, sexes can be distinguished by the presence of an outer eardrum, called a tympanum. The tympanum appears as a dark circle near each eye. Adult males have a tympanum much larger than the eye while adult females have a tympanum smaller than the eye.
During the day, bullfrogs are easily disturbed and usually escape by jumping into the water or by submerging themselves and swimming away. At night, the same bullfrog will sit tight and can be approached with the aid of a flashlight that is shined into its eyes. This is when the frog hunter can test their skill, and is usually most successful.
Whatever method you choose to use in taking the elusive frog, please remember that you can only possess your daily limit while you are in the field or water. Also remember to take your bug spray with you because the home of the frog is also the hangout of the dreaded mosquito. Take it from someone who knows, you don’t want to leave home without “spraying up.” It could make for a miserable evening. Have fun, and happy hunting!