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to MDC Home Page1. Weather dampens fall turkey harvest
2. Hunting & shooting sports benefit wildlife
3. Deer hunters "Share the Harvest" with needy
Missourians
4. Incorrect times reported
for catch-and-release trout fishing
5.
Outdoor Calendar
The most-missed game bird in America. That, I think, is the dubious distinction of the Bob White quail."--Havilah Babcock, "My Health is Better in November"
Inclement weather accounts for a slight dip in Missouri's autumn turkey take. The number of fall turkey hunting accidents increased from last year but was below the 10-year average.
JEFFERSON CITY--Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation credit wet, windy weather for keeping the 1997 fall turkey kill 1,352 below last year's figure. The number of reported fall turkey hunting accidents was below average.
Missouri hunters bagged 11,792 turkeys during the fall firearms season Oct. 13-26. The 1996 fall turkey harvest was 13,144. Conservation Department turkey biologist Larry Vangilder said the drop was the result of reduced hunter effort.
"Permit sales were down slightly," said Vangilder. "We probably had fewer than 30,000 hunters in the woods. That reflects the poor weather conditions we had the first two days and the last weekend of the season. Rain and wind kept hunters inside."
Vangilder said the amount of time hunters spend in the woods depends heavily on the weather. And the amount of time hunters spend in the woods determines how many turkeys are killed.
"A reduction in turkey harvest doesn't necessarily indicate a population decrease," he said. "We had a fair hatch this spring, and there are plenty of birds out there. Fall turkey hunting takes place mostly on weekends, and we effectively lost one weekend to bad weather."
The Conservation Department recorded five turkey hunting accidents this year, compared to none last year. Over the preceding 10 years, Missouri averaged 8.1 fall turkey hunting accidents annually.
"Naturally, we're disappointed to see the number go back up after last year's perfect fall turkey hunting safety record. But we had no fatal accidents, and this is not nearly as bad as we had before we took measures to improve turkey hunting safety in 1987."
Starting in 1987, turkey hunters were required to place a yellow safety-reminder sticker on the receivers of their shotguns, where hunters would see them while aiming. The Conservation Department also stepped up public education efforts to make turkey hunting safer. Since then, the frequency of turkey hunting accidents in the spring and fall hunting seasons has decreased from 2.9 per 100,000 permits sold to 1.37 per 100,000.
Counties posting the largest fall turkey kills were DeKalb (510), Macon (458) and Adair (404). Regional totals were: Northeast, 2,807; Northwest, 2,739; West-central, 1,748; Central, 1,330; East-central, 984; Southwest, 692; Ozark, 616; Southeast, 477; and St. Louis, 146.
-jim low-
Funds from a federal excise tax on sporting firearms and ammunition pump millions of dollars annually into habitat preservation, wildlife management and hunter education.
JEFFERSON CITY--Who benefits when hunters buys firearms, ammunition or archery equipment? If you think the answer to that question is hunters, merchants and sporting goods manufacturers, you're only half right. Everyone who enjoys the outdoors and wildlife benefits from purchases of those sporting goods, thanks to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Hunters and conservationists are celebrating the 60th anniversary of America's most successful conservation program and its accomplishments.
The enabling legislation for the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program is also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act. It has funded more than $4 billion in habitat and wildlife management efforts throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Mariana Islands. Missouri has received $80 million from the program.
The success of the program is evident in our nation's booming white-tailed deer and wild turkey populations. Today's white-tailed deer population is 36 times larger than it was at the start of this century. Wild turkey numbers are 45 times greater. The black bear, elk and some non-game animals also are among the wildlife species that have had substantial population increases due to Pittman-Robertson funding.
The wildlife restoration program was initiated by hunters and conservationists in 1937, a crucial time for the nation's wildlife. The industrialization, destruction of habitat, increases in the hunting and poaching that were occurring across the country were causing drastic declines in wildlife and wildlife habitat. In an effort to reverse that trend, hunters sought congressional legislation to levy an 11 percent excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, with the tax proceeds to be appropriated to state restoration programs. On Sept. 2, 1937, legislation putting the tax into effect became law.
The restoration law has been amended twice. In 1970, a 10 percent tax on handguns went into effect, with half those funds dedicated to hunter education programs and shooting range construction and maintenance. Two years later, an 11 percent excise tax on archery equipment was established to further boost wildlife restoration.
Despite a three-fold increase in the number of licensed hunters and increases in other pressures on wildlife and wildlife habitat, states are restoring many dwindling populations of species, acquiring millions of acres of habitat and educating hundreds of thousands of hunters with funds provided by the Pittman-Robertson Act.
Money collected under the program provides 75 percent of the funding for a variety of conservation programs. In Missouri, Pittman-Robertson funding helps support wildlife and habitat management and research programs. Fees from the sale of state hunting licenses contribute to the remaining 25 percent of the cost for these programs.
-arleasha mays-
Check your meat packing plant to find out more about donating venison to charitable causes.
JEFFERSON CITY--Last year, hunters donated more than ten tons of deer meat to needy Missourians around the state. This year, Missouri Department of Conservation Protection Programs Supervisor Dave Beffa is hoping for more.
Beffa said 1,680 deer hunters donated 20,497 pounds of venison to needy people during the 1996-97 deer hunting season. This was made possible by 65 local Share the Harvest programs in 50 counties.
Share the Harvest was established in 1992. It allows hunters to donate deer meat to families in need through established charities. The program is statewide, but is organized and operated locally. Local programs begin with civic organizations or hunter groups. These local groups find at least one USDA-approved deer processor and one charitable agency, usually a food pantry, Salvation Army or ministerial group, that will join in the effort. After receiving MDC approval, the partners are ready to receive meat. That's where hunters come into the picture.
"It takes caring hunters to make this program work," says Beffa. "Many hunters have enough venison to share with friends and family. Share the Harvest lets them go a step farther and share with fellow Missourians who don't have enough food."
Hunters interested in donating venison should check first with the packing house where they normally take their deer for processing. If their regular processor isn't participating in Share the Harvest, the county conservation agent may be able to provide information about the nearest Share the Harvest organization. As a last resort, they can call Beffa at 573/751-4115, ext. 819.
-jim low-
The hours given in last week's issue of All Outdoors for catch-and-release fishing at Missouri's four trout parks were incorrect. The hours given were from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The correct times are from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
News Services Coordinator
(314) 751-4115, ext. 243
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