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1. Sign Up Now for Youth Duck Hunting Clinics
2. Birdseed Company Backs Teaming With Wildlife
3. MDC Sells Surplus Vehicles to Fire Departments
4. Intensive Gypsy Moth Monitoring Turns Up Good News
5. Outdoor Calendar
"Even today, many an Ozark old-timer will stoutly defend the practice of woods burning. Some will tell you they do it to make better grass, or to kill the ticks and chiggers, or to drive out the varmints, or to kill the brush and clean up the woods. Others offer no particular explanation, except to say that 'Pa always burned the woods in the spring.' . . . It has been estimated by foresters that prior to the advent of organized fire control in the 1930s, the total wooded area of the Ozark Region was burned over at least once every three years." -- Charles Callison, Man and Wildlife In Missouri
1. Sign Up Now for Youth Duck Hunting Clinics
Lessons in the lore of wildfowling are free, and some participants will win guided duck hunts.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Several hundred Missouri youngsters will have a chance to learn the basics of waterfowl hunting in special clinics being offered by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) next month. Youths aged 11-15 are eligible for free waterfowl hunting clinics scheduled for six locations around the state. The kids will learn about waterfowl habitat, equipment needed to hunt ducks and geese, how to identify the birds, hunting ethics, hunting safety and hunting strategies.
Jack Boyles, MDC wildlife district supervisor in Hannibal, says the clinics are designed to teach outdoor skills to youths who otherwise might not have the opportunity. "In Missouri there are about 63,000 youngsters who hunt," he says. "That s about 9 percent of our youth population and twice the national average for hunters in this age group. So there is a demand for hunter skills training. We re trying to meet the demand for the kids out there who want to learn to hunt, but have no one to teach them."
The one-day clinics are a mix of classroom training and practical experience that cover the skills needed to participate in a waterfowl hunt. Boyles says the classroom training emphasizes safety and outdoor ethics. The hands-on courses teach participants how to distinguish different types of waterfowl and how to shoot and handle firearms safely.
Each clinic attendee will be eligible for a drawing to participate in one of MDC's special youth duck hunts. Those hunts have yet to be scheduled. Boyles says about 75 percent of the youths will get to participate in a hunt. Those chosen must have hunter education certification before the hunt date and must be accompanied by the guardian who attended the hunting clinic with them.
The Shikar Safari Club International, St. Louis Big Game Inc., the Missouri Bowhunters Defense Council, the National Rifle Association and Duck Unlimited and other sponsors donated equipment for the youth waterfowl clinics last year. This equipment, along with donations from other sponsors, permits MDC to offer the workshops free of charge, even for participants who don't own shotguns or other duck hunting equipment.
Last year 224 youngsters attended the clinics. Of the 135 youths chosen for hunts, 105 participated, bagging a total of 259 ducks and 21 geese.
Registration is required for participating in the clinics, and each youth must be accompanied by a guardian aged 18 or older. Sept. 23 is the registration deadline for clinics to be held Oct. 5 at MDC's St. Joseph office, Grand Pass Conservation Area and the Andy Dalton Shooting Range at Bois D' Arc CA. Youths who want to attend clinics Oct. 12 at Ted Shanks CA and Oct. 12 and 13 at August A. Busch Memorial CA have until Sept. 30 to register. For more information contact your local MDC office or call MDC s central office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-4115.
In addition to the youth waterfowl hunting clinics, the MDC is offering three special youth-only waterfowl hunting dates for the first time this year. These dates fall on the Saturday before the opening of regular duck season in each of Missouri's three waterfowl zones. Dates for youth waterfowl hunting are Oct. 19 in the North Zone, Oct. 26 in the Middle Zone and Nov. 16 in the South Zone.
Only persons age 16 and younger may hunt on youth-only dates. Youth hunters must be accompanied by hunters at least 18 years of age, who may not hunt. The adult companion must be a licensed hunter unless the youth participant has a valid hunter education certificate card. No special permits or applications are needed by youth hunters. However all duck hunters who are 16 years old must have valid Missouri Small-game Hunting Permits, Migratory Bird Hunting Permits and federal duck stamps.
2. Birdseed Company Backs Teaming With Wildlife
Support from companies, Congress and the public is essential to the success of this national initiative to fund non-game wildlife conservation.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - - When American AGCO endorsed Teaming With Wildlife -- a national initiative to enhance non-game wildlife management programs -- they worried that their support would generate negative publicity from other bird food manufacturers. But the Minnesota-based company didn't have to worry. Instead of nasty responses, they received more than 50 letters from customers, government agencies and bird groups praising their endorsement.
"We debated supporting Teaming With Wildlife for a long time, because nobody is in favor of more taxes," says Jim Mallman, American AGCO's manager of commodities trading. "But we decided to back the program and support the stewardship of wildlife and natural resources. These issues are too large for any one company or state to deal with alone. We all enjoy our wildlife and the outdoors, and this is a way that we can give something back to the environment."
Also known as the Wildlife Diversity Funding Initiative, Teaming With Wildlife would provide funding and professional management nationwide for 2,000 species of non-game wildlife -- birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals that are not pursued by hunters or anglers. At present, many states have little or no funding dedicated to conserving these animals. The program would protect habitat that supports a variety of non-game wildlife and help keep species from becoming endangered. Teaming would also ensure public enjoyment of enhanced wildlife resources by funding the development of hiking trails, nature centers, nature viewing areas and environmental education projects for schools.
If passed by Congress, Teaming With Wildlife would place an excise tax of between one-quarter of a percent and 5 percent on outdoor recreation equipment, including cameras and film, field guides, binoculars, camping gear, bird seed and feeders, mountain bikes, hiking boots, canoes, recreational vehicles and wildlife-related items other than hunting and fishing goods.
The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA), which is leading the initiative, modeled the program after the wildlife and sport fish restoration programs passed by Congress beginning in the 1930s. Hunters and anglers were instrumental in the establishment of those programs. Sporting groups continue to support the excise taxes on sporting firearms and ammunition, fishing equipment and marine motor fuels. Items taxed under these programs would not be taxed again under Teaming With Wildlife. Teaming would distribute the cost of wildlife conservation among all outdoor enthusiasts.
Manufacturers would pay the excise tax, and wholesalers and retailers could pass on this cost to consumers. Molly Williams, assistant campaign coordinator for Teaming With Wildlife, says the impact on consumers will be small. "The fee won't exceed 5 percent of manufacturer's cost on products," she says. "The average person who buys outdoor equipment will pay only $5 or $10 a year. The tax will increase the cost of a $10 field guide by just 25 cents and increase the cost of a $100 tent by about $2.50."
Teaming With Wildlife would generate $350 million nationally, says Williams. The money would go into a national non-game wildlife trust fund and be divided among the states based on land area and population. No state would receive more than 5 percent of the total amount raised. The trust fund would pay up to 75 percent of the cost of approved projects to match a 25 percent share of state money.
Richard Thom, Chief of MDC's Natural History Division, says Missouri would receive about $7.5 million annually from Teaming With Wildlife. MDC would use half of this money for wildlife-related cooperative projects and grants with other state agencies, local governments and private groups. The remaining money would fund education, recreation and wildlife diversity programs within the MDC.
The idea for this program began over a decade ago when Congress recognized the need for non-game funding and passed the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act in 1980. However, no funds were appropriated. Realizing a need for funding, many state fish and wildlife agencies established their own non-game species funding programs. However, most of those sources were inadequate, and some are declining. In addition, non-game funding was inconsistent from year to year.
As a result, IAFWA started the Teaming With Wildlife campaign five years ago. Since then, the initiative has received more than 1,200 endorsements from organizations and manufacturers, including Bass Pro Shops, Swarovski Optik, Carl Zeiss Optical, Swift Instruments and Falcon Press. In addition, 10 governors and all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies support the initiative.
There has never been a coalition this big for conservation," says Naomi Edelson, wildlife diversity director for IAFWA. "Thanks to the strong support we have received, the bill will most likely be introduced early in the next congressional session."
Thom says the key to congressional approval of Teaming With Wildlife is widespread approval by the public and industry. "We have a great deal of citizen and customer support, but our goal right now is to get more industry support. We are very happy that companies such as American AGCO, Bass Pro and Falcon Press back Teaming With Wildlife, but we need to get even more companies on board," he says. "We need people who believe in Teaming With Wildlife to contact the companies they do business with and let them know that their customers want to pay a small user fee on outdoor items to benefit wildlife across the country. Companies will ultimately benefit by helping to conserve wildlife and open spaces for wildlife and people to roam. In the long run, good conservation will ensure the future of the outdoor recreational pastimes these companies serve."
For more information on Teaming With Wildlife, contact Richard Thom, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or call (573) 751-4115 ext. 193.
3. MDC Sells Surplus Vehicles to Fire Departments
The Missouri Department of Conservation sells firefighting vehicles at half their wholesale value to enhance the state's ability to combat wildfires.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Fire departments that fight wildfires and want to get the most from their equipment-buying budgets can get a hand from the Missouri Department of Conservation. The agency is selling surplus vehicles 50 percent below the wholesale book price.
In the past, the MDC has sold its surplus vehicles for 10 percent below wholesale value, but now fire departments can buy late-model three-quarter ton 4x4 trucks and two-ton cargo trucks at half of "blue book" price.
"Our mission is to protect forest, grass, crop and wildlands and provide better fire protection to a broad area," says MDC Excess Property Coordinator Bill Hale. "By giving fire departments the opportunity to purchase cheaper trucks, we can put more brush trucks on the road and fight more fires."
The MDC will sell about 22 trucks each year, some as late as 1991 and 1992 models. They will be available in the late summer and fall and have between 80,000 and 100,000 miles on them.
In order to be considered for the sale, fire departments must fulfill several criteria. They must use the trucks for fire suppression, respond to non-member fires, respond outside their city limits and submit fire reports to the MDC. They also must agree not to resell the vehicles within a five-year period unless authorized by the State Forester. The fire department also must have a signed mutual aid agreement -- a legal contract between the MDC and the department outlining a cooperative plan to protect against fires.
In addition, vehicles cannot be bought using Rural Community Fire Protection or Conservation Sales Tax fund grants. "Each year, the MDC gives fire departments money in the form of grants to buy equipment," Hale says. "We made this rule about not using grant money because we do not want departments buying our trucks with our own money."
Hale says the MDC wants to give priority to departments with a heavy fire load, so they have devised a formula that takes into account the community's needs, the needs of the MDC, fire department size and department status.
"The MDC also lends equipment to fire departments," Hale says. "This is federal excess property that we get from military bases. The equipment is old -- from the 1960s and 1970s -- but it is very useful equipment for a fire department with a small budget. The MDC surplus-vehicle purchasing program is attractive to those departments with a larger budget. They can actually buy a late-model truck at half the actual value."
To apply for one of these surplus MDC fire vehicles, departments should contact the MDC district forester in Piedmont, Clinton, Columbia, Eminence, Rolla, Hannibal, Blue Springs, Kirksville, Camdenton, Sullivan, Neosho, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, St. Joseph, Glencoe or West Plains.
4. Intensive Gypsy Moth Monitoring Turns Up Good News
Thousands of traps covering every county in the state caught only five moths.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Two-inch long caterpillars with five pairs of raised blue spots, six pairs of raised red spots and hair all over are eating their way across America. Missouri entomologists and foresters are anticipating an infestation of this gypsy moth, but so far, there are few signs of the tree-eating pests.
"Our traps have caught only five moths so far this year," says Missouri Department of Agriculture Entomologist Michael Brown. "This is great news, because the numbers are down from the 26 caught last year and 40 caught in 1994. In fact, the numbers for many states in this region are also down."
Brown speculates that the low number of moths is weather-related. "The extreme wet weather or the fluctuations in winter temperatures may have affected the survival of the moth's egg masses," he says. "Last January we had temperatures in the 40s and 50s and then it went down to 10 and 20 degrees below zero in February. The egg cases can withstand these cold temperatures, but the fluctuations make them more susceptible."
Voracious gypsy moths can strip the leaves from large tracts of forest. Repeated defoliation can kill trees, create food shortages for wildlife, and contribute to soil erosion that contaminates water supplies. A severe infestation can curtail tourism and cause health problems.
This year, the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Missouri launched Missouri's most intensive gypsy moth monitoring program, setting 13,000 traps throughout the state. The Missouri Department of Agriculture is the lead agency in this effort. The Conservation Department chairs the Missouri Cooperative Gypsy Moth Program Steering Committee and is collecting data on gypsy moth captures, entering the information into a computer database and analyzing it to help plan for guture gypsy moth control work.
The caterpillar is the only destructive stage of the moth's life. But finding caterpillars would take a ground search of almost the entire state. Instead, trapping targets adult male moths, which can be lured into orange, triangular traps with chemicals that mimic the female moth's pheromones -- sexual attractants. Egg-laden females can't fly, so males follow the pheromone trail to potential mates.
The traps are not intended to control gypsy moth numbers, but to detect infestations. They are placed in areas with high risk of infestation and in areas where an infestation would be especially costly, such as state parks and popular tourist destinations. Data from the traps is crucial to foresters, because once the gypsy moth establishes itself in an area, it can be extremely difficult to eradicate.
"The goal of our trapping program is to detect an infestation within three years of its establishment," Brown says. "It can take quite a while for a population to build up, but we need to keep track of their numbers each year. What we find in the traps will let us know whether we have a problem that requires immediate action, or whether we're in good shape for another year."
Brown says that the traps, together with public education, are used as a prevention tool. When the gypsy moth eventually arrives en masse, entomologists and foresters will take steps to minimize their impact by destroying egg masses and spraying with pesticides.
Originally from Europe, gypsy moths escaped into the wild in Massachusetts in 1869. Since then, they have slowly moved west, causing severe damage as they make their way across the nation. The first moth appeared in Missouri in 1974, and several turn up each year. The moths are expanding their range by about 15 miles per year. At that rate, they should reach Missouri around the year 2020.
"Gypsy moths will be very destructive in Missouri," Brown says. "Oak leaves are among their favorite food, and because oaks dominate Missouri forests, there will be plenty of food for them here."
Gypsy moths have tremendous appetites. A single gypsy moth caterpillar eats about nine square feet of leaves during its life. They also have tremendous reproductive capacity. Females lay masses of as many as 1,000 eggs on everything in their path, including cars, barbeque grills, boat trailers, playground equipment, trees and houses. When these items are moved from one area to another, the gypsy moth gets a free ride to new, greener pastures.
To forestall the moth's arrival in Missouri, travelers returning from the northeastern U.S., including Michigan and Wisconsin, should look for egg masses on vehicles and other items exposed outdoors. The masses are the size of a quarter, covered with fuzzy hairs and light brown or tan colored. The moths lay their eggs in July and August. If you find any egg masses, phone the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Plant Industries Division at (573) 751-5502.
HUNTING
Bag Limit
Opens Closes (Daily-Possession)
Bullfrogs 6/30/96 10/31/96 8-16 (See Wildlife Code)
Common Snipe*+ 9/ 1/96 12/16/96 8-16
Coyotes 5/ 6/96 3/31/97 Some restrictions during
deer season. (See Wildlife Code)
Crows 11/ 1/96 3/ 3/97 No Limit
Deer/Turkey (Archery) 10/ 1/96 11/15/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
11/27/96 1/15/97 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer (Firearms) 11/16/96 11/26/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer (Muzzleloader) 11/16/96 11/26/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
12/ 7/96 12/15/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer 1/ 4/97 1/ 5/97 Open only to hunters with unfilled
(Firearms & Muzzleloader Any-Deer Bonus Deer Tags for
in units 1-17, 22, 58 & 59) open units. See Regulations
Dove*+# 9/ 1/96 10/30/96 15-30
Ducks and Coots*
North Zone 10/26/96 12/14/96 Five ducks daily with no more
Middle Zone 11/ 2/96 12/21/96 than 4 mallards (no more than 1 female),
South Zone 11/23/96 1/11/97 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail,
Youth-only Duck Hunting Dates 1 black duck, 1 hooded merganser or
North Zone 10/19/96 10/19/96 1 canvasback. Daily bag for coots is
Middle Zone 10/26/96 10/26/96 15. Possession limits are twice the
South Zone 11/16/96 11/16/96 daily limit.
Furbearers 11/20/96 1/20/97 No Limit
Geese and Brant
Blue, Snow and Ross' Geese*+# Daily bag limits include no more than
North and Swan 10 blue, snow or Ross' geese; 2
Lake Zones 10/26/96 1/19/97 Canada geese; 2 brant; and 2 white-
2/17/97 3/9/97 fronted geese. Possession limits for
Middle and Schell-Osage Canada geese, brant and white-fronted
Zones: 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96 geese are twice the daily limit. For
11/29/96 3/ 9/97 blue, snow and Ross' geese, the
South Zone 11/23/96 3/ 9/97 aggregate possession limit is three the
White-fronted Geese and Brant daily limit.
North Zone 9/28/96 10/ 6/96
10/26/96 11/ 3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Swan Lake Zone 10/26/96 11/ 3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Middle and Schell-Osage
Zones 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96
11/29/96 1/31/97
South Zone 11/23/96 1/31/97
Canada Geese
North Zone 9/28/96 10/ 6/96
10/26/96 11/3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Swan Lake Zone 10/26/96 11/ 3/96 (Unless a quota of 5,000 geese is
11/29/96 12/29/96 reached before Dec. 29; a daily limit
of 10 shot shells.)
Middle Zone 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96
11/29/96 1/31/97
Schell-Osage Zone 11/29/96 1/ 7/97
South Zone 11/23/96 1/31/97
Groundhogs 5/ 6/96 12/15/96 No Limit
Pheasants &
Gray Partridge 11/1/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Quail 11/1/96 1/15/97 8-16
Rabbits 10/1/96 2/15/97 6-12
(may include only
2-4 swamp rabbits)
Ruffed Grouse 10/15/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Sora and Virginia Rails*+ 9/ 1/96 11/ 9/96 25-25
Squirrels 5/25/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Teal*+ 9/ 7/96 9/15/96 4-8
Turkey 4/21/97 5/ 4/97 1 bearded bird per week
Turkey (Fall Firearms) 10/14/96 10/27/96 (See Wildlife Code)
Woodcock*+ 10/15/96 12/18/96 5-10
FISHING
Trout Parks 3/ 1/96 10/31/96 5-10
Trout Parks 11/8/96 2/ 8/97 Catch & release Fri., Sat.,
(Winter Tag Required) Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Trout Management Areas Open All No Closed 5-10 (See Wildlife Code)
(Trout Permit Required) Year Season
Trout (Trophy and Wild) Open All No Closed 3-3 (See Wildlife Code)
Trout Management Areas) Year Season
(Trout Permit Required)
Black Bass
(streams, specified zone) 5/25/96 2/28/97 6-12 (See Wildlife Code)
(impoundments) Open All No Closed (See Wildlife Code)
Year Season
Bullfrogs 6/30/96 10/31/96 8-16 (See Wildlife Code)
Paddlefish 3/15/97 4/30/97 2-4 (See Wildlife Code)
(See Wildlife Code for creel limits on other species.)
TRAPPING
Beaver 11/20/96 3/31/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
Coyotes 11/20/96 2/15/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
Furbearers 11/20/96 1/20/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
___________
*Hunters of migratory birds are required to have a migratory bird
hunting permit in addition to other appropriate permits (See Wildlife Code).
+Subject to final federal approval
#Complete waterfowl details will be found in the Migratory Bird Hunting Digest,
to be available from permit vendors and MDC offices in early October.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
September 30, Hiatt Regency, Kansas City, Mo.
(For additional information contact the Department Director.)
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