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The 2000 November deer harvest topped the previous record by 6,495.
JEFFERSON CITY--Encouraged by near-perfect weather conditions, Missouri hunters killed a record 201,165 deer during the November portion of the firearms hunting season.
A record opening weekend harvest of 111,002 provided an early hint that this year's harvest might exceed previous years'. The total for the 11-day November 2000 firearms deer hunting season is 25,240 more than were bagged last year, when unseasonably warm weather made deer less active and discouraged some hunters. This year's total topped the previous record, set in 1998, by 6,495.
The six firearms-related hunting accidents reported during the November hunt is well below the average for the past 10 years. However, two of the accidents were fatal.
Howell County led harvest totals with 4,166 deer checked. Macon County was second with 3,716, and Henry County came in third with 3,663.
Regional harvest totals were: northeast, 36,945; northwest, 32,507; west-central, 29,481; central, 24,173; east-central, 19,674; Ozark, 18,289; southwest, 18,019; southeast, 13,959; Kansas City, 4,503; St. Louis, 3,615.
Missouri's deer herd, now estimated at 800,000 to 1 million, is growing slowly in a few areas, but is stable in most parts of the state. Deer herd growth is primarily in suburban areas.
Two segments of Missouri's firearms deer season remain. Muzzleloader season runs from Dec. 2 through 10, and the January Extension runs Jan. 6 through 9.
Roughly 425,000 hunters took part in the 2000 firearms deer season. Conservation Department officials say a more precise number is difficult to determine. The Conservation Department sold nearly 365,000 basic resident and nonresident deer hunting permits for the November season.
Another 41,000 people hunted under landowner deer hunting permits.
In addition, any Missourian living on at least five acres can legally hunt antlered deer without a permit. Upon killing a deer they simply write out a tag with their full name and address and attach it to the deer. No one knows how many people hunt under this "farm tag" option, but 6,116 deer were checked this way in 1999. Assuming these bucks-only hunters have an average success rate of 23 percent, this represents roughly 26,000 additional deer hunters.
- Jim Low -
Tired of the luck of the draw at public waterfowl hunting areas? You might want to try your luck on Missouri's big rivers.
JEFFERSON CITY--It's early November, and the weather has just turned wintry. Anticipating a spike in waterfowl migration ahead of the front, a St. Louis area duck hunting addict arises at 1 a.m. and drives to a big public wetland area, sleet clicking against his windshield as he heads west. He doesn't have a reservation to hunt. His hopes are pinned on getting lucky in the morning drawing for limited hunting spots.
The conservation area's parking lot is jammed with sport utility vehicles towing trailers of layout boats and pickup trucks with everything from high-dollar duck barges to beat-up canoes. Duck hunters think alike the worse the weather, the better the hunting.
The draw doesn't go well. The intrepid waterfowler fails to draw a hunting spot and begins the long drive home with a restless retriever whining in the kennel behind him. That's the lot of a Missouri duck hunter. Most accept it without complaint. Others develop a "Plan B."
It's easy to recognize the Plan B types at the public hunting area drawings. They're the ones who don't linger to commiserate with other luckless hunters when they pull a high number. Instead, they look across the room at their partners and say, "Let's go!" Where they're going most likely is to the Missouri or Mississippi river.
Missouri's position at the confluence of two of the world's great rivers gives us more than 1,000 miles of river frontage, including countless sand bars. They beckon to southbound ducks and geese . . . and to hunters.
Most shoreline along the rivers is privately owned. Many landowners are willing to allow duck hunters access to their frontage, but if you have a boat suitable for big river use you can set out decoys and hunt anywhere the water is shallow enough to attract waterfowl.
Furthermore, areas owned or managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation contain a significant amount of river frontage. Construction of additional river accesses in recent years has made it easier to launch a boat to reach river frontage on conservation areas. These are listed in the "Discover Outdoor Missouri Map" and "Missouri's Conservation Atlas." Both these publications are available at conservation nature centers and Conservation Department regional service centers statewide.
Big river waterfowl hunting poses some unique challenges. To pursue this sport, you need a wide, stable boat at least 16 feet long and a reliable motor. A backup motor is strongly recommended.
The question of hunting regulations and permit requirements can be complicated where the Missouri and Mississippi rivers form the boundary with other states. As a general rule, Missouri regulations apply if you stay on the Missouri side of the river. In a few areas, however, the state line actually lies on the Missouri side of the river. To identify these areas, consult your county conservation agent.
Concealment usually isn't a problem. Camouflage netting and a little brush and grass gathered on the spot will hide your boat. To hide yourself, cut a few willow saplings and stick them in the sand near your decoy spread.
River hunters are likely to encounter some duck species seldom seen inland. Canvasbacks, redheads, goldeneyes, ruddy ducks and ringnecks all are possible, so it's especially important to be aware of species identification.
Large decoy spreads aren't necessary. Twenty is enough for almost any situation. Whenever possible, set out decoys from your boat. Wading can be treacherous, since river currents can carve sharp drop-offs even in shallow water around sand bars.
Losing decoys to current or floating debris is a hazard unique to river hunting. Be sure to use plenty of weight, and set up in the slack water downstream and on the inside of bends to minimize problems.
In most cases, you will be calling to more distant ducks, so you will need to increase the volume of your calling. River hunters end up shooting more at passing birds than at ones settling in among decoys. This calls for heavier loads and larger shot sizes. Remember that you or your retriever may not be able to fetch birds that fall in swift current. Don't shoot at long-range birds unless you can go after them safely.
Ducks fly low along the edges of rivers, looking for places to land. They often make detours to buzz a decoy spread without ever slowing down. A hunter who is holding a cup of coffee or fiddling with gear will miss these shots.
Murky river water can conceal downed trees, rock dikes and other hazards, so it's best to proceed slowly. Be sure your boat meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements for safety gear. Running lights, personal flotation devices and emergency signaling equipment can save your life in an emergency.
Bring plenty of clothing, high-energy food and warm liquids to ward off the chill of winter winds. Even if the forecast calls for mild weather, a north wind whipping across half a mile of water can cut to the bone.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has navigation maps of both rivers. These maps are extremely valuable in finding good hunting spots and navigating the rivers safely.
Finally, leave word with friends about where you plan to hunt and when you will return, just in case you need to fall back on "Plan C."
- Jim Low -
The Missouri Department of Conservation's Nature Shop has a flock of ideas for Christmas gift giving.
JEFFERSON CITY--The outdoors person in your life will go wild for a gift from the Missouri Department of Conservation Nature Shop. From recordings of animals in the wild to journals for recording outdoor experiences, the Nature Shop has items that are sure to please everyone on your gift list.
A Nature Notes Journal is ideal for writers and artists. Whether they want to capture outdoor adventures with words or pictures, the Nature Notes Journal can get them started. Tips on keeping a nature journal from Conservation Department naturalists are included in the leaf-embossed, spiral-bound journals. The notebooks are available in burgundy and moss colors for $5 each.
Adventure-seekers will enjoy the "Conservation Trails Guide." The guidebook, available for $4, will direct you to and through 86 trails on conservation areas across the state. Featured trails range from 0.2 to 18 miles, level, paved paths to difficult rugged natural-surface trails, and from foot-traffic-only paths to trails where biking and horseback riding are permitted. Easy-to-use maps accompany each trail description.
Celebrate 2001 naturally with a "Natural Events Calendar." The 10- by 14-inch calendar includes striking color photos of wildlife, wildflowers and wild habitats. The calendar also has daily notes on what's blooming or nesting, astronomical events, when to set out feeders, when to look for blackberries and much more. The calendar may be purchased for $5.
Conservation Department books make great gifts. The newly revised "Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri" ($18 soft cover, $22 hard cover) details the habits, habitats, breeding and distribution of 132 amphibians and reptiles found in the state. The fifth edition of Edgar Denison's "Missouri Wildflowers" book makes identifying common Missouri wildflowers easy. Its 297 color photographs are arranged by flower color and blooming time. "Missouri Wildflowers" sells for $12.
Fend off the chill of winter in style with a Missouri Outdoors sweatshirt and cap. Both are embroidered with the Missouri Outdoors logo, featuring a heron in flight against a brilliant sunset. The Wedgewood blue sweatshirt in sizes small to extra large are $32. The extra-extra large sweatshirts sell for $35. The Missouri Outdoors denim cap has a tawny suede bill. The khaki cap is constructed of a sand-washed cotton fabric. The caps are priced at $12.50 each.
Youngsters can move and groove to "Critter Rock," with a video, cassette or CD music collections package. The new video, available for $10, features naturalist Jan Syrigos performing six tunes. The CD and cassette contain nine original songs, complete lyrics and sing-along tracks. "Critter Rock" is available on cassette for $8 or CD for $10.
The Nature Shop catalog is filled with other entertaining and informative books, videos, cassettes and CDs. To receive a catalog and order form, write to Nature Shop, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or call 877/521-8632. Orders should be placed early to ensure delivery by Christmas. Be sure to include shipping costs. Sales to Missouri residents are subject to sales tax.
Hunting and fishing permits make wonderful presents. All permits, except any-deer and bonus deer permits, can be purchased with a credit card seven days a week, 24 hours a day by dialing 800/392-4115. To purchase a permit as a gift, you need the recipient's conservation identification number, which is printed on current permits. If the conservation number is unavailable, you must provide the person's name, address, date of birth, social security number, hair and eye color, height and weight. A hunter education certification number also is required, if the recipient was born on or after Jan. 1, 1967.
- Arleasha Mays -
Good weather gets credit for a record opening-weekend deer harvest.
JEFFERSON CITY--Pity Missouri's deer hunters; many found themselves waiting in line to check deer on opening morning of firearms deer season. By the end of the opening weekend, they had checked 111,002 deer.
That's 16,521 more than last year and 496 more than the opening-weekend harvest record set in 1998. Best of all, the Missouri Department of Conservation recorded only one non-fatal firearms-related hunting accident.
Conservation Department officials credit favorable weather for the record deer kill. The weather was chilly enough to encourage deer to move around, but not cold enough to drive hunters out of the woods. The number of deer permits sold was about the same as last year.
Montgomery County led the state's deer harvest totals with 2,249 deer checked. Howell County was second with 2,180, followed by Macon County with 2,175.
Regional totals were: northeast, 21,790; northwest 17,761; west-central, 16,272; central, 13,933; east-central, 10,689; Ozarks, 9,640; southwest, 9,204; southeast, 7,627; Kansas City, 2,240, and St. Louis, 1,846.
- Jim Low -
Between the covers are 365 days of outdoor learning and enjoyment.
JEFFERSON CITY--Enjoy outdoor Missouri every day with a 2001 Natural Events Calendar. The Missouri Department of Conservation calendar has breathtaking photographs of wild Missouri and a wealth of nature information.
The 10- by 14-inch calendar is a feast for the eyes and offers food for thought. It contains more than 30 color photos ranging from landscapes to wildflowers and wildlife. Notes on more than 200 dates reveal when natural outdoor events typically occur. At a glance, discover when redbuds begin to bloom, bats come out of hibernation, morel mushrooms appear, chigger season begins, katydids sing and pawpaw fruits ripen. Every month also includes relevant "when-to" tips, such as when to buy fishing and hunting permits, set up winter bird feeders, fertilize trees and check for bagworms.
Natural Events Calendars sell for $5 plus tax at Conservation Department Nature Centers and regional offices. Mail order purchases can be made by calling the Nature Shop at 1-877-521-8632, or writing to: Nature Shop, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Shipping and handling charges will be added to mail orders. Calendars also can be ordered online at the Conservation Department's web site at www.mdcnatureshop.com.
- Arleasha Mays -
Seeing live eagles in the wild is a great way to shake off the winter blahs.
JEFFERSON CITY--Enjoy aerial feats that amaze and amuse this winter at one of the Missouri Department of Conservation's seven Eagle Days events. The programs are designed to let you view bald eagles in their natural habitat and learn about the species' recovery from the brink of extinction.
Eagle Days events include live eagle programs, films documenting the biology and recovery of eagles in Missouri, displays about birds of prey and activities for children. Conservation Department staff and volunteers are on hand with telescopes for viewing eagles in the wild, but bringing a pair of binoculars is a good idea. For some locations, the Conservation Department also has mapped out auto tour routes for viewing eagles.
Eagle Days events are scheduled for weekends December through February. Unless otherwise noted, each event begins at 9 a.m. and is free of charge. The dates and locations of the events are:
--Dec. 2-3 at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Mound City;
--9 a.m. Jan. 6 and 10 a.m. Jan. 7 at Willmore Lodge, Lake of the Ozarks;
--Jan. 13 at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex on Smithville Lake;
--Jan. 20-21 at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, St. Louis;
--Jan. 20-21 at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center;
--Jan. 27-28 at the Apple Shed Theater, Clarksville;
--Feb. 3-4 at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and Duck Creek Conservation Area, Puxico.
Because many of the events will take place outside or in unheated buildings, those attending Eagle Days should wear warm clothing.
Missouri has many locations where you can enjoy viewing eagles on your own in winter. Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Sumner, Table Rock Lake near Branson, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area south of Columbia and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge are among the sites where large numbers of eagles gather. Plan a visit to one, or all, of these locations, and watch for eagles flying or perched in large trees along the edges of rivers or lakes.
For a brochure with directions to all Eagle Days events, write to Missouri Department of Conservation, Eagle Days, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or call 573/751-4115.
- Arleasha Mays -
This Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman event will provide a chance to apply shotgun skills in a hunting situation.
JEFFERSON CITY--Women who have a working knowledge of shotgun handling but lack opportunities to put that knowledge to practical use should look into a quail hunt sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The hunt will take place Dec. 1, 2 and 3 at Midway Farms near Fayette. Participants will receive instruction in quail hunting and take part in guided hunts.
The two-day event costs $150. This includes food, lodging, instruction, quail dogs and guides. Participants must have either a hunter education certificate or have attended a firearms safety course. They also must be familiarthough not expertwith the use of a shotgun.
Outdoor Skills Coordinator Mariah Hughes says there is room for up to 14 participants in the quail hunt. "It's first-come, first-served, so if you're interested, you should call right away," she says. For reservations, call 573/751-4115, ext. 3189.
The event is an extension of the Conservation Department's popular Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program, which provides an introduction to outdoor activities, from birdwatching and orienteering to hunting and fishing. Hughes says the quail hunt and similar activities are part of the Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BBOW) program.
"Becoming an Outdoor Woman workshops expose women to outdoor activities they might not have a chance to try otherwise," says Hughes. "For some skills, that's enough to get started. But for other activities there's a big jump from learning the basics to going out and doing it. Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman provides an intermediate step to help women get started in those sports."
Quail hunting is a good example, says Hughes. Women who take the BOW shotgun shooting course come away with a good working knowledge of firearms safety and how to hit moving targets. But hunters need special clothes, knowledge of game birds' behavior, dog handling skills and other knowledge best gained through experience.
"Shooting clay targets with a shotgun is as different from quail hunting as hitting balls on a driving range is from playing golf," says Hughes. "For some people, target shooting is enough, but for those who want to go the next step, there's BBOW."
For more information about other BOW and BBOW activities, call the number listed above.
- Jim Low -
The average Missouri deer hunter's chances of winding up an accident statistic are small, but that's no reason to ignore hunting safety.
JEFFERSON CITY--As orange-clad hunters pursue deer, few will be mulling the possibility of being involved in a hunting accident. The odds are small, but the stakes are highdisabling injury or even death. Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation offer insights into what causes deer hunting accidents and how to avoid them.
During the 1999-2000 deer hunting season, the Conservation Department recorded eight firearms-related deer hunting accidents. That is fewer than one per 50,000 licensed deer hunters. One of the state's 410,000-plus licensed deer hunters died in the 1999-2000 season.
"News reports and hunter education classes tend to dwell on the experiences of unsafe hunters, which are the exceptions, rather than the rule," says Bob Staton, who oversees the Conservation Department's hunter safety program. "That creates the perception that hunting is very dangerous, when in fact it's remarkably safe."
Nevertheless, says Staton, it's important to investigate accidents and learn from them. The chance of hunting accidents is never small enough, he says, and hunting safety shouldn't be left to chance.
Last year's deer hunting accidents present a fairly typical cross-section of deer hunting accidents in general. Three of the eight happened on opening day, when the largest number of hunters are in the field and excitement runs high. The lone fatality of the season occurred when a 14-year-old hunter fired twice at a deer, and one of the shots struck a hunting companion on a tree stand 250 yards away.
"This accident could have been avoided if the shooter and his father, who was hunting with him, had made a point of knowing where the victim's stand was and not firing in that direction," says Staton. "This line-of-fire type of accident is a common cause of hunting injuries. A hunter should always know what is in his line of fire before releasing the safety."
The two other opening day accidents had a common componentfirearms with exposed hammers. One involved a 53-year-old man who shot himself in the calf of his right leg while trying to lower the hammer on a cocked rifle. In the other, an 11-year-old hunter slipped while walking back home from hunting, causing his thumb to slip off the hammer of his rifle. The gun discharged, striking the shooter's hunting companion in the right buttock.
"Exposed hammer guns can be used safely," says Staton, "but they are more subject to accidental discharge than guns without hammers. They're not the best choice for young or inexperienced hunters and, all things being equal, they are less safe for anyone to use."
Staton says the 11-year-old hunter also could have avoided his accident by unloading his firearm as soon as he headed for home. "A significant number of hunting accidents take place before the hunt begins or after it's over," says Staton. "There's a tendency to let your guard down when you aren't hunting and forget about safety. Guns shouldn't be left loaded any longer than absolutely necessary."
Three more accidents happened on the second day of the 1999 firearms deer hunting season. The first occurred when a hunter tried to make the action of his lever-action rifle safe and the gun fired, striking a hunting companion in the left leg and right foot. Another occurred during a deer drive, when a bullet fired at a deer ricocheted off a hard object and struck the victim in the back. The spent bullet penetrated the 13-year-old victim's skin and lodged over the right shoulder.
Staton notes the similarity of the first accident to the one described earlier. "Here are two cases where people were paying attention to their rifles, both trying to make them safe and both accidentally hurting someone when their guns went off. Any time you're handling a gun, manipulating the trigger, hammer or action, there's the potential for mishaps."
As for the man who stopped a spent bullet while driving deer, Staton says the danger inherent in such situations should be obvious. "It's possible to conduct deer drives safely, but it takes careful planning, and everyone involved in the drive has to know exactly what's going on at all times. Ricochets are always possible, so you should never take a shot that is anywhere even in the general direction of another person, a house, a road or livestock."
The victim in the third accident of the day was astonishingly lucky, if any gunshot victim can be called lucky. The incident involved a 42-year-old shooter who came home from work and went out to hunt, not knowing that his 46-year-old brother was hunting in the same area. The shooter mistook his brother for a deer and fired. The bullet entered the victim's body around the bottom of the rib cage and exited near the middle of the back, missing all vital organs and the spine. This accident was similar to one that happened the next day. In that accident, a 13-year-old shooter fired at movement in the woods, striking his 79-year-old grandfather in the right thigh.
Staton says failure to correctly identify targets is one of the leading and most preventable causes of hunting accidents. Hunters should always wait to see the entire animal before firing. "That can be a difficult thing to do in the excitement of a deer hunt," says Staton, "but anything less than that, and you chance killing another human being. It's that simple."
The final accident of the 1999-2000 November deer season was another case of a hunter mistaking a companion for a deer. The victim was wearing brown coveralls with rips that exposed the garment's white lining. While that didn't excuse the shooter's mistake, it does point up the importance of hunting defensively.
"Wearing colors that resemble those of a deer can be a fatal mistake," says Staton. "If you're going to take a handkerchief to the woods , dye it green, yellow, anything but white. A splash of white in the woods can be mistaken for a white-tailed deer's tail."
Staton said the Conservation Department doesn't count injuries sustained when hunters fall from tree stands as a hunting accident. But he said several hunters hurt themselves this way each year. Some spills occur because stands aren't fastened to trees securely. Others happen when drowsy hunters doze off, lending new meaning to the phrase "falling asleep." Safety belts that fasten hunters to tree trunks could prevent such incidents, some of which cause death or permanent injuries.
Hunters also can get into trouble while climbing into or out of tree stands. One hunter shot himself in the foot last year while trying to pull his rifle up a tree with a rope. Using a haul rope to bring your gun into the stand is a good idea, because it leaves your hands free for climbing. Keep the gun unloaded until it is in the stand with you, though.
Climbing into a permanent, wooden tree stand can be dangerous if wood or nails begin to deteriorate. Check such stands carefully to ensure that all parts, including steps, are sturdy.
Hunters can take action to improve their chances of survival if they are injured while hunting alone. The first precaution is to make sure others know where you are hunting and when you should return. Carry a whistle or other noisemaker to signal for help.
In case rescuers don't arrive immediately, hunters should be prepared to survive overnight. A vacuum bottle containing a hot drink, food and a foil "space blanket" will help prevent hypothermia.
- Jim Low -
Conservation Department nursery encourages Missourians to go nuts.
LICKING, Mo.--Each year the Conservation Department's George O. White Nursery near Licking offers approximately 60 species of trees and shrubs for reforestation, wildlife habitat improvement, windbreaks, erosion control and other environmental uses.
Large-growing tree species available this year include 12 species of oak, black walnut, pecan, hickory, green and white ash, bald cypress and many more. The nursery also grows a variety of small trees and shrubs, including three species of dogwood, wild plum, redbud, aromatic and smooth sumac and hawthorn.
In addition, they offer three special bundles, each containing several species. This year, for the first time, the nursery is offering a bundle of extra-large nut trees. This bundle includes 15 pecan seedlings two feet and taller, and 15 black walnut seedlings measuring three feet or more.
Missourians can order seedlings from now through May 1. Most are sold in bundles of 25 that cost $3 to $12. Order forms, including lists of available seedlings and bundles, are available from Missouri Department of Conservation, 14027 Shafer Road, Licking, MO 65542, 573/674-3229, or you can order on line at www.conservation.state.mo.us/forest/nursery/ starting November 15.
Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's best to order early. In addition to spelling out which plants you want, the order form allows you to specify when you want the plants delivered. The trees will be shipped to you or you may prefer to pick them up at the nursery from February through May.
-Jim Low -
Forests pests found in Missouri's vacation hot spots.
JEFFERSON CITY--St. Louis and Branson remain among the places where gypsy moths are found. The 12 moths captured during this summer's statewide monitoring of gypsy moth populations were found in those two areas. This is the 21st consecutive year that some of the forest pests were captured in metropolitan St. Louis and the ninth year in a row they have been found either in Stone or Taney county.
The capture of a dozen moths does not indicate that Missouri has a gypsy moth infestation, but Missouri Department of Conservation Forest Entomologist Rob Lawrence says it emphasizes the need to continue efforts to prevent the insects from establishing large populations in the state.
"Although we are seeing repeated incidences of gypsy moths around St. Louis and Branson," says Lawrence, "We do not have any evidence that they have yet established populations in Missouri. We believe the moths being trapped were brought into the state inadvertently by people traveling to and from infested areas. Because repeated sightings can provide early warning that a gypsy moth population may be developing, we'll continue to carefully monitor the St. Louis and Branson areas."
Trapping gypsy moths is a monitoring tool, not a control method. Traps are baited with female moth pheromone, which attracts males. In most areas, trap placement ranges from one trap per eight square miles to one trap per square mile. In areas where moths were captured in previous years, one trap is placed per quarter square mile. This year the Conservation Department, Missouri Department of Agriculture, University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management Unit and the U.S. Department of Agriculture placed 12,000 traps throughout the state.
Gypsy moths have been moving westward since their introduction in Massachusetts in 1869. One estimate by the USDA Forest Service had predicted that the insects would become established in parts of Missouri around 2015. Lawrence says new efforts to slow their spread could forestall the forest pest's arrival in Missouri. A federal government program aimed at reducing gypsy moth populations along the advancing front of infestation in neighboring states is expected to have some success.
There is good reason for attempts to delay the insects' establishment in the state. Oak trees, which dominate the state's forested areas, are a primary food source for gypsy moths. Each gypsy moth caterpillar consumes about nine square feet of leaves before changing into an adult. Their appetite, along with the insects' tremendous reproductive capacity, could be very destructive to the state's forests.
The insects also pose a potential health risk to humans. Lawrence says at epidemic levels the caterpillars create large amounts of waste that could contaminate water sources, and hairs from the caterpillars can aggravate respiratory and allergy problems.
- Arleasha Mays -
Missouri took second place at the national Youth Hunter Education Challenge.
JEFFERSON CITY--Six Missourians are among North America's most skilled teen hunters. The Missouri Magnums, a team of 15- to 17-year-old from Cole and St. Louis counties, captured second place in the senior division of the 15th annual International Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC International) held July 24 through 28 in Mansfield, Pennsylvania.
Team members Jacob Crismon, Frankie Clayton, Nick Hemeyer, Nick Muckermann and Kevin Uballez qualified for the YHEC International by winning the 2000 Missouri Youth Hunter Education Challenge State Championship. Zach Spencer joined the Magnums for the YHEC International after Crismon suffered a broken hand. The Magnums are coached John Muckermann of St. Louis and John Hemeyer and Greg Pearre of Cole County.
The Magnums faced nearly 250 competitors from across the United States and Canada at the four-day competition. The team, formed just a month before the contest, ran a close second to the winning team from Pennsylvania, which has won the international event the past three years. The Missouri team scored 7,429, the Pennsylvania team 7,827. Each Magnum team member received a medal, a compound bow, a .50-caliber muzzle-loading rifle, an engraved hunting knife, shotgun ammunition and a dozen arrows for their second-place finish.
In the YHEC International, teens compete in eight outdoor skills events: muzzle-loading rifle marksmanship, small-bore rifle marksmanship, shotgunning, archery, orienteering with map and compass, animal identification, hunter safety trail and a written hunter responsibility exam. Each trial is timed and conducted under simulated hunting conditions to provide the best practical environment for reinforcing and testing the teens' hunting skills.
The Magnums posted the top score in the hunter responsibility written exam and second place in the archery competition. Individual accomplishments include Frankie Clayton's first-place finish in the archery event and a second-place finish for Nick Muckermann in the individual overall scoring category.
YHEC competitions are sponsored by local and international chapters of the Hunter Education Association and the National Rifle Association. Their purpose is to enhance the knowledge, responsibility and safety skills of young hunters. The competitions are open to youths ages 11 through 19, who are hunter-education certified. Approximately 15,000 youngsters participate in YHEC competitions each year.
- Arleasha Mays -
The $5 permit for catch-and-release fishing at Missouri trout parks will be discontinued after the 2000-2001 winter fishing season.
JEFFERSON CITY--This is the last year you will need to buy a no-creel permit to fish at Missouri's four trout parks during the off-season. Winter no-creel fishing will continue in 2001-2002, but the no-creel permit will be gone.
The no-creel season offers anglers a chance to continue fishing at trout parks after the close of the catch-and-keep season, which runs from March 1 through Oct. 31. No-creel fishing begins Nov. 10 and runs through Feb. 11 at Bennet Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. All fish caught during this time must be released unharmed immediately. The good news is you don't have to fight elbow-to-elbow crowds.
This year, a $5 no-creel trout permit, officially known as an Area Winter Trout Fishing Tag, entitles you to fish from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at any of the four trout parks. The permit is good for the entire three-month season, and anglers don't have to check in to receive daily no-creel tags as they have in the past.
After the current winter fishing season, the no-creel permit will be discontinued, and winter fishing in the four trout parks will be included under the $7 statewide Trout Permit. This permit, together with a fishing permit, entitles holders to possess trout in public trout streams outside the parks.
No-creel permits are available at all permit vendors in Barry, Dallas, Dent, Laclede and Phelps counties and at trout park headquarters. Some vendors in the St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield also sell the permits. It's a good idea to buy your permit ahead of time. Although trout parks are less crowded during no-creel season, anglers who wait until they get to trout parks to buy permits may have to wait in line.
Tackle for the winter catch-and-release season is restricted to flies only. Jigs on single-point hooks meet the definition of a "fly," and are among the most effective lures for trout park fishing. Mini-jigs of 1/64th, 1/80th and 1/100th ounce work best and can be fished on a fly rod or an ultra-light spinning rod. Black and yellow and brown and white are the favorite color combinations for mini-jigs. Flies that imitate salmon eggs are also top producers.
- Jim Low -
The decline in number of birds killed during the two-week season reflects waning enthusiasm for fall turkey hunting, not a drop in turkey numbers.
JEFFERSON CITY--Missouri's fall firearms turkey harvest decreased by 1,421 birds this year, but officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation say the decrease doesn't mean that the state's turkey population is declining.
Missouri hunters checked 13,230 turkeys during the two-week season in October, compared to 14,651 in 1999. The 1998 harvest was 15,253.
The zenith of fall turkey hunting's popularity was 1987, when hunters bought 52,922 fall firearms turkey hunting permits and bagged 28,139 birds. Since then, the number of fall turkey hunters has declined steadily.
Decreasing participation explains part of the decrease in the fall turkey harvest, but not all of it. Sales of fall turkey hunting permits fell by 2.4 percent this year, while the harvest dropped by nearly 10 percent. Permit sales increased slightly from 1998 to 1999, but the number of birds killed dropped 4 percent.
Mike Hubbard, wildlife research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, says the only logical explanation for the continuing decline in turkey harvest is decreased enthusiasm for the fall sport.
"Population surveys and continuing increases in spring turkey harvest show that our turkey flock is doing great," says Hubbard. "Fall turkey hunting enjoyed a honeymoon period when it was new and everyone was excited about it. But as the novelty wore off, people began drifting away. There are a lot of things competing for hunters' time in the fall, and a lot of guys hunted turkeys for a few years and then went back to bowhunting and other activities."
Hubbard noted that while fall turkey hunting can be exciting, many hunters find it easier to get excited about pursuing turkeys in April and May, when toms are gobbling, other hunting seasons are closed and spring is in the air. In the 2000 spring turkey season more than 110,000 hunters bagged nearly 57,000 gobblers.
"Annual fall turkey hunting permit sales have hovered around 33,000 for the past few years," says Hubbard. "We've got a core of fall turkey hunters who still buy permits every year, but even they aren't as excited about it as they once were. They don't hunt as hard as they once did, and the difference shows in the total harvest."
Laclede County led this year's fall turkey harvest figures with 351 birds checked. Macon County was second with 339, and Henry County came in third with 294. Northeastern Missouri led regional totals with 2,500 birds, followed by the northwest region with 2,376, west-central with 2,241, east-central with 1,339, southwest with 1,214, central with 1,051, Ozarks with 954, southwest with 950, Kansas City with 399 and St. Louis with 206.
The Conservation Department recorded four firearms-related fall turkey hunting accidents, none of them fatal. That's twice the number of fall turkey hunting accidents recorded last year.
Three of the accidents resulted when the shooters mistook other hunters for turkeys. The fourth involved a shooter who caught a hunting companion in his line of fire when shooting at a flying bird.
- Jim Low -
A state holiday the day before the firearms deer season opener could be troublesome for those who don't think ahead.
JEFFERSON CITY--Successful deer hunters are early birds by nature. They begin scouting their hunting areas early in the season, get their equipment ready early and arrive in the woods early. But this year hunters should add a couple of extra early chores to their checklists, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
This year, opening day of firearms deer season falls on Nov. 11, which is Veteran's Day. Because state offices observe Veteran's day on the weekday nearest the actual calendar date, Conservation Department offices around the state will be deserted on Friday, Nov. 10. This could be a problem for hunters who give deer season little thought until the last minute.
"The phones at our offices ring nonstop the day before deer season," says Bill Heatherly, wildlife programs supervisor at the Conservation Department headquarters in Jefferson City. "They finally start thinking seriously about deer season, and they come up with all sorts of questions they need answered. Normally that's OK, but there won't be anyone around to answer those questions the day before deer season opens this year."
The solution, says Heatherly, is to buy deer hunting permits early, read through the Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information summary and call early with questions.
"You can wait until Thursday, Nov. 9 to call," says Heatherly, "But if you do, you'll be part of that last-minute rush, and chances are good that you'll spend some time on hold. You'll be better off if you think of your deer hunting questions now."
Greg Jones, fiscal services supervisor for the Conservation Department, says it's also important for deer hunters to buy permits early. "Last year we had a deadline for buying any-deer and bonus permits," he says. "That broke permit sales into two rush periods, one a week before the season and one the day before. This year, that first deadline is gone, so there will be one monster rush. As many as 100,000 hunters will be trying to buy permits in a very short period, and a lot of vendors will be swamped. The day before opening day is always a wild ride; this year will probably be twice as wild as last year."
Heatherly notes that most questions come up when hunters buy permits. "That's when most people begin practical preparations for deer season," he says. "Getting that permit in your hand really focuses your mind on the nitty-gritty details. That's when a lot of folks pick up the phone and call us."
- Jim Low -
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