October 2007
Waterfowlers offer to help kids, disabled hunters
Friday, October 26, 2007
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| The Missouri Waterfowl Association (MWA) has an offer for young hunters and those with mobility impairments. If you want to try waterfowl hunting, call MWA State Chairman James Worley, (816) 941-7065. He will put you in touch with volunteers who will introduce you to the excitement of duck hunting. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
JEFFERSON CITY-The Missouri Waterfowl Association (MWA) has an offer for aspiring duck and goose hunters who are under age 16 or have mobility impairments. Call them, and they will make sure you get the chance to hunt.
The 1,100-member MWA has a history of reaching out to those who want to hunt waterfowl but lack the necessary resources or experience. To meet the needs of hunters with mobility impairments, MWA members have put up money and invested personal time and labor in recent years to build special blinds at several state-owned wetland areas. The most recent addition is a state-of-the-art blind at Grand Pass Conservation Area near Marshall. The blind got heavy use last year, and it is likely to be occupied every huntable day again this year.
Last year also was the first that MWA let youth hunters borrow chest waders.
“Waders are a relatively expensive item,” said MWA State Chairman James Worley, Kansas City. “It’s a big investment when you aren’t sure if a youngster is going to like duck hunting, and you only use them a few times a year. On top of that, teenagers grow so fast, they might not even fit the next year. We thought we could remove a barrier to hunting by letting kids borrow a pair for a day.”
The MWA bought several pairs of insulated neoprene waders and put them on permanent loan to Eagle Bluffs, Four Rivers and Nodaway Valley conservation areas. For safety sake, they added life jackets, and just for fun they threw in disposable cameras so young hunters could make visual records of their experiences.
“It worked out great,” said Worley. “Our waders were in use almost 50 days last year. That is likely to increase as more people learn about the offer, and we are hoping to expand the program to other areas.”
These efforts are making waterfowl hunting available to people who otherwise would not have the opportunity. But Worley has an even more personal offer to Missourians who want to hunt waterfowl.
“If you know someone who is under the age of 16 or disabled and does not have the chance to hunt, call me,” said Worley, “I will put you in touch with MWA volunteers who are willing to get you out in the marsh this fall. We can’t promise a hunt on any given date, but we will do out best.”
To arrange a guide for a disabled hunter, contact Worley at (816) 941-7065, worley@mowaterfowl.org. For more information about the MWA, visit www.mowaterfowl.org.
The following CAs have disabled-accessible waterfowl blinds. Call early for the best chance of obtaining a reservation.
- B.K. Leach CA in Lincoln County, (636) 441-4554.
- Bob Brown CA in Holt County, (816) 271-3100.
- Duck Creek CA in Stoddard County, (573) 290-5730.
- Eagle Bluffs CA in Boone County, (573) 445-3882.
- Fountain Grove CA in Linn County, (660) 646-6122.
- Four Rivers CA in Vernon County, (417) 395-2341.
- Grand Pass CA in Saline County, (660) 595-2444.
- Marais Temps Clair CA in St. Charles County, (314) 877-6014.
- Montrose CA in Henry County, (660) 693-4666.
- Nodaway Valley CA in Holt County, (816) 271-3100.
- Otter Slough CA in Stoddard County, (573) 290-5730.
- Schell-Osage CA in Vernon County, (417) 432-3414.
- Ted Shanks CA in Pike County, (573) 248-2530.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also has a wheelchair-accessible blind at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Chariton County. Call (660) 856-3343 or 856-3323 for information.
-Jim Low-
Floods to affect duck hunting in west-central Missouri
Friday, October 26, 2007
Floods upset normal management at Conservation Department wetlands, but not all the changes are bad.
NEVADA, Mo-Waterfowl hunters will find changes - some minor and some dramatic - at wetland areas managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation in west-central Missouri this year. The changes are traceable to this year’s unusual weather.
The summer of 2006 had many Missourians talking about extreme drought conditions that left most of the wetlands dry in the west-central part of the state. The temporary loss of habitat for wetland wildlife also translated into reduced hunting opportunity on several Conservation Department wetland areas. Now one year later, several of those areas are recovering from near-record flooding. The resulting changes may require hunters to adjust their tactics during upcoming duck and goose seasons.
Widespread flooding occurred in eastern Kansas and western Missouri following heavy rains from June 27 through July 1. Among streams affected were the South Grand, Marais des Cygnes, Little Osage, Marmaton and Osage rivers, with a few approaching record levels.
As a reference, consider that the Osage River level on July 4, 2007, near Schell-Osage Conservation Area (CA) was about 11 feet greater than the 1993 flood level, and only 2 ½ feet shy of the record flood of 1986.
In addition to the impacts to farms, towns and highways, the flooding caused damages to the several CAs, including the August A. Busch, Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers (Four Rivers), Schell-Osage and Settles’ Ford.
Biologists managing these wetland areas use a combination of techniques to provide good habitat conditions for wetland wildlife, including waterfowl. Dewatering pools during the spring, for example, is done to produce natural or “moist-soil” annual plants which produce edible seeds for waterfowl. Cropping is also used in some cases to provide a supplemental food source.
Unfortunately, the timing, depth, and duration of the flooding had damaging effects to the food resources on these areas. In most cases the floodwater drowned out the moist-soil and destroyed any crops that had been planted. In some locations floodwaters did not recede soon enough to facilitate drawdowns and allow for natural regrowth or cropping.
On Four Rivers, pools in the “draw units” (Units 1 and 2) were dewatered in mid through late July. As a means to mitigate for lost crops and moist-soil vegetation, Japanese millet was aerial-seeded on mudflats. Buckwheat and milo were also planted as a secondary food source, and Sudan grass was planted for cover.
The overall success of these plantings has been good, but food and cover will still be slig htly limited as compared to “normal” years.
The open hunting units (Units 3 and 4) at Four Rivers CA suffered somewhat greater loss. Due to backwater effects and infrastructure limitations, floodwater remained in these units for a more extended period. There was also levee and structure damage to Unit 3, but repairs were recently completed. Because drawdowns were delayed, water was held above normal late-summer levels in order to provide some fall habitat and hunting opportunity. As a result, little vegetation survived.
Hunters should expect to find typical water levels with good food and adequate cover in the two draw units on Four Rivers. There will also be plenty of huntable water in the open units, but food for ducks and cover for hunters will be in limited supply in the DU Marsh in Unit 3, and pools 15-20 in Unit 4. For up-to-date area conditions call the Four Rivers information hotline at (417) 395-4495, or (417) 395-2341 to speak to area staff.
Schell-Osage CA also suffered flood damage. Because this area is farther downstream than Four Rivers, it is under greater influence from Truman Lake. Again, there will be plenty of huntable water, but waterfowl food will be very limited. Recently planted wheat fields will improve goose hunting prospects. Schell-Osage does have blinds, but cover will be hard for hunters to find in the wade-and-shoot area. For up-to-date area conditions at Schell-Osage, call (417) 432-3414.
Although Settles’ Ford CA is in a different basin than Four Rivers and Schell-Osage, it was also affected by flooding. Damage there includes impaired ability to manage water levels and the loss of approximately 2,000 acres of bottomland crops. Fortunately, repairs were completed quickly and infrastructure is again operational.
Planting Japanese millet and 400 acres of wheat, along with a fair to good moist-soil response, has improved the food outlook at Settle’s Ford. Unless conditions change, hunters can expect around 500 acres of water in nine of the area’s 14 pools, including the refuge. For reports on current conditions, call (816) 862-6488.
-Chris Daniel-
"Gobbleteer" gets big payoff for listening to turkeys
Friday, October 26, 2007
Contributing to a Conservation Department study earned this volunteer his choice of a commemorative shotgun or a lifetime hunting permit.
JEFFERSON CITY-The 2007 spring turkey hunting season was a great one for Jeff Gebhardt. He spent more time on scouting than ever before, hunted with his son for the first time and helped a friend kill a gobbler. As a reward for this “work,” he received a free lifetime hunting permit.
Gebhardt, who farms near his home in Salsbury, was among 729 volunteers who signed on for a five-year study of turkey gobbling behavior starting last spring. These “gobbleteers” listen for turkey gobbling activity two mornings each week from March 15 through May 15 and report their observations to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
To encourage participation in the study, the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation sponsor an annual drawing. Winners get their choice of a commemorative shotgun or a lifetime hunting permit. Gebhardt won the first year’s drawing. He said winning was the last thing on his mind.
“I never thought I would win it,” he said. “I was out of college and I thought was important to keep on learning. This was a way to do that. It also gave me a reason to get out scouting turkeys earlier and more often than I probably would have otherwise.”
Gebhardt said taking part in the study was a win-win situation for him even without the permit - a $700 value.
“This year I had an 8-year-old son who was going to be hunting for the first time. I thought I should be out there finding out what the birds were doing for him.
The scouting paid off when Gebhardt helped a friend bag a turkey and his son got within 20 yards of three gobblers.
Gebhardt has been hunting turkeys since he was in junior high school and loves sharing it with others. “It’s a chance to get a little closer to God’s creation,” he said. He said he already has shotguns, and had always wanted a lifetime hunting permit.
The “Gobbleteer Study” is designed to discover when the peak periods of gobbling activity occur. This will enable the Conservation Department to time the spring turkey season to coincide with the period when gobblers are most receptive to calling. The study also seeks to discover any relationships between gobbling and other factors, such as weather and spring leaf-out.
To join the Gobbleteer Study, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/13771, and click on “create account.”
-Jim Low-
Firearms deer hunting outlook varies by region
Friday, October 19, 2007
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| The destruction of this year’s white oak acorn crop by a hard freeze in April is good news for deer hunters. The Missouri Department of Conservation’s deer expert says the November portion of firearms deer season could top last year’s record harvest of 235,054 deer. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
JEFFERSON CITY-Missouri deer hunters will find some hot spots and some areas with below-average deer numbers this year. The state’s top deer expert says he won’t be surprised if the statewide firearms deer harvest equals or exceeds last year’s record mark.
Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen has been tracking white-tailed deer population and deer harvest trends for the Missouri Department of Conservation for more than 20 years. He said the outlook is bright for deer hunters this year, due largely to one weather event.
A severe freeze in late April destroyed virtually all the flowers of oak trees. Acorns from trees in the red oak group - the northern and southern red, black, pin, shingle, willow, water, blackjack, cherrybark, shumard and scarlet oaks - are bitter because they contain more tannin. They mature the year after flowers are set. Acorns from trees in the white oak group - the white, post, bur, swamp white, chinquapin, overcup and swamp chestnut oaks - are less bitter and therefore are the preferred food of white-tailed deer. They mature the same year flowers set.
“There are essentially no white oak acorns in Missouri this year, thanks to the record-breaking cold spell in April,” said Hansen. “That means deer are going to have to make do with acorns from red oaks this year.”
The Conservation Department’s annual survey of acorns and other durable wild fruit used by wildlife shows an average red oak acorn crop. The relative scarcity of acorns will tend to concentrate deer around red oaks and other food sources, such as crop fields and food plots. Deer behavior will be most predictable in the southern half of the state, where food alternatives to acorns are scarcer.
Hunters can take advantage of this by focusing their efforts around areas where red oak acorns are plentiful or near crop fields and other alternate food sources.
“It should be easier to kill a deer in the Ozarks this year,” said Hansen. He noted, however, that hunting could be more difficult in some areas due to another weather-related circumstance.
This summer’s hot, dry weather has led to an increase in hemorrhagic disease. Hemorrhagic disease may be caused by two similar viruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and blue tongue virus, but most deer deaths are caused by EHE. Drought promotes EHD, because it concentrates deer around water sources, where biting insects known as midges multiply and spread the disease.
“We had a pretty bad outbreak of EHD in the southeastern quarter of the state this year,” said Hansen. “There appears to have been significant loss i n local populations, so some county populations might be depressed somewhat for a few years.”
He said the total impact of local EHD outbreaks is difficult to predict, but he does not expect it to make a significant difference in the statewide deer harvest. He said he thinks the advantage hunters will enjoy due to acorn scarcity will offset local harvest decreases due to EHD.
“I think harvest will be as good or possibly better than last year,” he said. “I won't be surprised if we have a record harvest or if we don't have a record harvest. It could go either way, depending on weather.”
Hunters set a harvest record during the November portion of last year’s firearms deer season, killing more than 235,000 deer.
EHD does not pose a threat to domestic livestock or to hunters. Deer tend to die within days of contracting the disease, so it is rare for hunters to encounter deer suffering from the disease. Hunters who kill deer that appear to be in poor health are encouraged to contact the nearest conservation agent to obtain a replacement permit so they can continue hunting.
Hansen also predicts an increase in the number of large-antlered deer taken in the 29 counties where antler-point restrictions have been in place for the past three years. This experimental restriction was designed to increase the number of does taken by hunters. At the same time, it allows more bucks to survive long enough to grow impressive antlers.
“Based on trends the last couple of years, we should take more adult bucks in antler restriction counties than in adjacent control counties,” said Hansen. “There should be more 3 ½- and 4 ½-year-olds around this year.”
Hansen said unseasonably warm weather will not affect the timing of deer mating, a period known as the “rut.”
The timing of the rut is determined by day length, not temperatures. However, warm temperatures can affect daily feeding patterns. Overall feeding activity is lower when we get warm temperatures, and that can affect hunter success.
Hansen noted that deer hunting regulations on some conservation areas have changed this year. Hunters should check area regulations listed in the 2007 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulation Information booklet, which is available from hunting permit vendors statewide. The information also is available online at www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/.
Another change this year is the new Youth Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit. The $7 permit allows youths age 6 through 15 who are not hunter-education certified to take antlerless deer during any segment of the firearms deer hunting season. It is available to both residents and nonresidents.
Young hunters can buy as many Youth Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits as they want. This increases the number of deer they can take legally. However, they can still take only one deer during the youth portion.
Also, the use of antlerless permits is restricted in some counties. See the 2007 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet for details.
Youths who are hunter-education certified have the added options of taking part in deer season using a Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit or a resident or nonresident Firearms Deer Hunting Permit. Each permit has restrictions, so hunters should consider their particular circumstances and preferences before deciding which to buy.
The Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit is available to both residents and nonresidents. It allows youths age 6 through 15 to hunt deer and turkey when in the immediate presence of a qualified adult. It allows the holder to take one deer of either sex. However, only antlerless deer may be taken during the urban and antlerless portions of the season.
A regular resident or nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit also allows hunter-education certified holders to take one deer of either sex during any of the firearms deer season segments except the urban and antlerless portions. These permits cost the same as the y outh version, but do not restrict the holders to hunting with adults.
Regardless of which permits a hunter may hold, he or she may only take one antlered deer during all segments the firearms deer season.
-Jim Low-
Urban deer harvest falls for third consecutive year
Friday, October 19, 2007
Unseasonably warm weather contributed to the decrease.
JEFFERSON CITY-The number of deer taken during the urban portion of Missouri’s firearms deer hunting season fell for the third year in a row. The Missouri Department of Conservation cites weather as a possible contributing factor in the continued decline.
Hunters checked 554 deer during the urban hunt Oct. 5 through 8 in 11 counties in the St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield and Columbia-Jefferson City areas. That is a 59 percent decrease from last year, when hunters killed 1,348 deer during the urban hunt, which is for antlerless deer only.
Boone County led urban hunt harvest totals with 141 deer checked, followed by Webster County with 75 and Christian County with 54. Other county harvest totals were: Clay, 49; St. Charles, 45; Cole, 39; St. Louis, 36; Cass, 33; Greene, 33; Jackson, 25; Platte, 24.
“The weather was miserably hot during this year’s urban hunt,” said Conservation Department Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen. “The temperature was near 90 degrees across much of the state, which makes hunting unpleasant, not to mention complicating the job of getting venison out of the field before it spoils. I am sure a lot of hunters stayed home rather than hunt under those conditions.”
Hansen also noted that hunters have several other options in early October, including the early Canada goose season, firearms and archery turkey seasons and squirrel hunting.
“Now that this urban hunt is in its fifth year, the novelty has worn off,” he said. “Hunters have so many other opportunities to take antlerless deer during the November portion of the season, the muzzleloader portion and the December antlerless deer season, most don’t feel the need to hunt in October.”
Hansen said the Conservation Department will include the urban portion of firearms deer season in an upcoming review of deer hunting regulations. Whether the urban season is changed will depend partly on feedback the agency receives at public meetings focusing on deer hunting.
Past harvest totals from the urban portion of firearms deer season are: 2003, 129; 2004, 2,077; 2005, 1,838; 2006, 1,348.
-Jim Low-
Share the Harvest aims to top previous donation record
Friday, October 19, 2007
Organizers of the venison donation program hope to put more than 333,000 pounds of meat on the tables of less fortunate Missourians.
JEFFERSON CITY-Call them overachievers. Call them driven. Call them anything you want, as long as you call on local Share the Harvest organizers when you have venison to share with needy Missourians.
Now in its 16th year, the Share the Harvest Program (STH) allows Missouri hunters to donate all or part of deer they bag to local food banks. Last year the program channeled more than 322,000 pounds (161 tons!) of lean red meat into local charities to feed the hungry. This year, they hope to top one-third of a million pounds.
STH coordinates the efforts of hunters, local organizations and meat processors to get ground venison to people in need. The Conservation Federation of Missouri coordinates the program with help from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Key to the program’s amazing success is financial support from the Conservation Department, Shelter Insurance, Bass Pro Shops, Drury Hotels, Safari Club International, Whitetails Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation and a host of local sponsors. Cash donations allow STH to accept donations of whole deer and have them processed at no cost to hunters.
“It’s an amazing partnership that benefits Missouri in so many ways,” said Conservation Federation Executive Director Dave Murphy. “Needy Missourians get high-quality protein. The Conservation Department gets help ma naging the state’s deer herd. That helps reduce problems with deer-vehicle accidents and crop damage, and it keeps the deer herd healthy by preventing overpopulation.”
Murphy says he thinks STH could ultimately bring in millions of pounds of venison annually. “It’s just a matter of organization and fundraising,” he said.
The phenomenal success of STH is due in part to the efforts of conservation agents, who promote the program in their communities and find meat processors and charities to participate.
The other driving force behind STH is local sponsors - the civic clubs, church groups and sportsmen’s organizations that coordinate the roles of food banks and meat processors and find local sponsors to pay meat processing costs.
For more information about Share the Harvest, visit www.missouriconservation.org/hunt/deer/share/ or contact the Conservation Federation at (573) 634-2322, dmurphy@confedmo.org.
-Jim Low-
Winter season approaches at Missouri's four trout parks
Friday, October 19, 2007
No need to pine for fishing season. You can wet a line throughout the winter at Missouri’s four trout parks.
JEFFERSON CITY-For devoted anglers, November’s chilly winds bring the winter of their discontent. But Missouri’s four trout parks remain refuges for angling addicts long after other fishing holes ice over.
The Missouri Department of Conservation provides fish for three trout parks operated by the Department of Natural Resources and for the James Foundation’s Maramec Spring Park near St. James. All four parks are open for catch-and-keep fishing from March 1 through Oct. 31.
In 1976, Bennett Spring State Park (SP) launched an experiment in year-round fishing, letting anglers catch trout during the winter as long as they released them unharmed. The state’s other three trout parks adopted the “no-creel” season four years later, allowing hard-core trout anglers to pursue their passion all year.
Winter fishing opportunities at state-owned trout parks have expanded in recent years and now include no-creel fishing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Fridays through Mondays, starting the second Friday in November and continuing through the second Monday in February. Maramec Spring Park opens its gates to anglers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily throughout the winter season. This year’s winter no-creel season begins Nov. 9 and runs through Feb. 11.
Anglers can get park-specific regulation pamphlets at each trout park. The pamphlets explain where fishing is allowed. Some facilities that are open during the regular fishing season may be closed during the catch-and-release season.
The only permits required for catch-and-release fishing at trout parks are a fishing permit and a statewide trout permit. The trout permit is valid throughout the winter season. These two permits also allow anglers to catch and keep trout all year in many public trout streams outside the parks.
Trout fanatics also can pursue their favorite fish at Stone Mill Spring Branch on the Big Piney River near St. Robert. The area is open to catch-and-release fishing from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Nov. 1 through Feb. 28. Like Maramec Spring Park, Stone Mill is open to fishing every day of the week.
Stone Mill Spring Branch is on the Mark Twain National Forest. The only practical access to the area is through Fort Leonard Wood. Use the visitor’s lane at the main gate and be ready to show your driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
Once through the main gate, go southeast on Missouri Avenue approximately 2 miles. Turn left on First Street and go 3.5 miles to Route 25. Take Route 25 3.5 miles and turn left onto Route 26. Go across the Big Piney River and travel approximately 2 miles farther before turning right onto a gravel road. Another mile on this road will get you to the parking lot. From there, follow the foot path .3 miles to the spring branch.
Information about Missouri’s diverse trout fishing opportunities is found in “Missouri Trout Fishing,” whic h is available from MDC, Missouri Trout Fishing, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or by e-mailing pubstaff@mdc.mo.gov.
Further information is available by calling:
Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery, (417) 532-4418.
Maramec Spring Fish Hatchery, (573) 265-7801.
Montauk Fish Hatchery, (573) 548-2585.
Roaring River Fish Hatchery, (417) 847-2430.
-Jim Low-
Special measures sustain fishing at Bennett Spring State Park in spite of flood losses
Friday, October 12, 2007
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| Transferring fish between hatcheries enables the Missouri Department of Conservation to maintain quality trout fishing at all four trout parks and at trout fishing areas around the state, in spite of temporary setbacks like the flood at Bennett Spring State Park in August. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
LEBANON, Mo.- To the casual observer, it looks like a typical October at Bennett Spring State Park.
On any day, a heavy sprinkling of anglers can be found along the stream that dissects the popular trout park, trying to squeeze in a few final fishing trips before the regular fishing season closes Oct. 31.
The number of rainbow trout slicing through the stream’s clear waters is about the same as it is throughout the summer. The water level is about normal for this time of year.
However, this normalcy follows an anything-but-normal late summer for the staff at Bennett Spring Hatchery and the state park, which straddles the Laclede-Dallas county line and is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
An August flood at the park killed thousands of rainbow trout in the hatchery’s rearing pools and forced the staff to look elsewhere for fish. Sixteen-thousand rainbows from Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery in Taney County are supplementing Bennett’s end-of-the-season trout supply.
In the months ahead, the Bennett Spring Hatchery and the other state-operated trout-rearing facilities will return the favor by shipping a similar number of trout to Shepherd of the Hills. Most of the fish are destined for stocking at Lake Taneycomo.
This trout-trading is an example of the cooperation involved in Missouri’s trout management. Just as important to Bennett Spring Hatchery Manager Mike Mitchell, it has allowed fishing as usual at Bennett.
“Fishing at Bennett Spring should not be impacted at all for the remainder of this year or next year,” Mitchell said. “The mortality suffered during this event was not devastating, but merely a bump in the road.”
A different tale was being told by stories that began circulating over the Internet and through trout fishing circles following the August 20th downpour. They spoke of a drastic trout die-off and bemoaned the impact this would have on the park for years to come. As is the case with many run-away rumors, these stories contained kernels of truth: Bennett Spring had been hit with significant flash-flooding that caused a trout die-off larger than had occurred at any Department of Conservation trout hatchery in a number of years.
This mortality resulted from a rainbow trout’s somewhat sensitive physiological make-up and the confined water component that’s part of a hatchery’s trout-rearing system.
“Trout are a coldwater species, which means they require cool water temperatures which con tain higher oxygen in the water,” Mitchell said. “In flood events, the oxygen levels in the water are decreased by high silt loads and warm water.”
These lower oxygen levels compound the stress for a trout, which increases its production of ammonia. Reduced oxygen and increased ammonia can prove fatal for trout.
Mitchell said everything about the rain-drenched park was counter-productive to trout survival.
“This particular event was not just a flood, but a flood which rose very quickly, was very turbid and had water temperatures that were above normal levels for more than an hour,” he said. “All these factors came together to produce a very inhospitable environment for trout.”
However, the trout fatalities didn’t match the level of tragedy that was being circulated on the Internet. Mitchell estimates that less than 10 percent of the hatchery’s trout died as a result of the flooding. At this time of year, Bennett Spring Hatchery holds between 600,000 and 700,000 trout of various sizes. Even though thousands of fish died, the loss only put a small dent in Bennett’s overall rainbow population.
Nevertheless, due to Bennett Spring’s heavy angler traffic, it was a situation that called for immediate help. Conservation Department hatchery workers moved thousands of near-stocker sized trout (nearly 12 inches) from Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery near Branson to Bennett Spring to meet daily stocking needs through October. This winter, the Bennett Spring Hatchery will repay the favor by providing trout for stocking at Lake Taneycomo.
Fisheries Field Operations Chief Chris Vitello says these efforts are “behind the scenes” and should not be evident to anglers.
“There will be some movement of fish between hatcheries over the next few months,” he said. “Staff may also adjust feeding rates slightly to encourage accelerated growth in limited cases and to meet the need for stocker-sized fish across the system. Overall, the impacts from the loss of fish at Bennett will be absorbed by our hatchery system with minimal impact.”
Vitello said this is one of several examples of how Missouri Department of Conservation hatcheries act in a concerted effort with each other, with other states and with federal operations.
“Moving fish between hatcheries and sharing stocking assignments to minimize transportation costs are good examples of how our coldwater system works as a unit,” he said. He said hatcheries also routinely hold brood stock, gather eggs and raise fingerlings at one hatchery and then move fingerlings to other hatcheries for rearing. State hatcheries also work with Neosho National Fish Hatchery to stock additional rainbow trout in Lake Taneycomo.
“This flexibility allows us to respond to incidents such as the recent loss of fish at Bennett in a timely and efficient manner. Recently completed and ongoing renovations and upgrades at our coldwater hatcheries will improve this flexibility over the next few years.”
Anglers are reminded that, while the regular portion of the fishing season at the state’s four trout parks is drawing to a close, fishing at these facilities isn’t finished for the year. The winter season at the trout parks opens Nov. 9 and runs through Feb. 11. This season is for catch-and-release fishing only - no trout may be kept.
At Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park and Roaring River State Park, the season is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The season is open every day of the week at Maramec Spring Park. Flies are the only type of lures permitted during the winter season. You can still use spin-casting or bait-casting equipment, but you must use some type of fly as a lure.
Besides Bennett Spring State Park, Missouri’s other three trout parks are Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Montauk State Park near Salem and Maramec Spring Park near St. James.
Trout parks are not the only places where trout anglers can go in fall or winter. Lak e Taneycomo offers excellent trout fishing opportunities, as do a number of streams in southern Missouri that have designated trout management areas. More information about trout fishing opportunities in the state is available at your nearest Missouri Department of Conservation office or at www.missouriconservation.org/7248.
-Francis Skalicky-
Conservation officials prepare for "The Next Storm"
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tornadoes and a devastating ice storm have set the stage for another disaster in southwest Missouri.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-Southwest Missouri has suffered some heavy blows from weather in recent years, but officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation caution that another kind of storm is developing. The good news is that area residents can do something about it.
In recent years, tornadoes have cut swaths of destruction across several southwest Missouri counties, devastating towns and felling thousands of trees. The natural mayhem continued in January, when a freak ice storm laid waste to trees in towns and on tens of thousands of acres of rural forests. In the wake of that storm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 29 counties natural disaster areas.
Conservation Department foresters say the enormous volume of woody debris created by these natural disasters dramatically increase the risk of the next storm - wildfire.
Southwest Regional Forestry Supervisor Tim Stanton said deciduous forest like Missouri’s typically has about 3.5 tons of available fuel - things like downed tree limbs, dead trees, dry leaves and other plant material - per acre. He said surveys of storm-damaged areas have much more fuel.
“The hardest-hit ice-storm areas resemble areas with moderate to heavy logging debris,” he said. “If we accept the conservative estimate of moderate logging debris, this fuel type has an average fuel load of 34.5 tons per acre. That is a 10-fold increase in available fuel for wildfire. The potential for a serious fire season is before us. It will be with us for the next three to five years.”
Compounding the danger is the fact that southwest Missouri has the states’ fastest-growing population. A surge in home-building has accompanied that population growth, and many new developments are in rural and suburban areas near forests.
Southwest Missouri residents can do several things to minimize wildfire risk. Stanton said one way to get fuel out of the woods is to turn tree limbs and trunks into firewood for home use or for sale. He said Missourians also should consider the value of woody cover to wildlife.
Collecting woody debris in brush piles creates isolated islands of fuel, making it harder for wildfires to move through a forest. Quail, rabbits, birds and other wildlife benefit from the cover created by brush piles.
Another use for woody debris is garden mulch. A wood chipper turns broken tree tops from a hazard into a useful commodity. You can take excess wood chips to designated dump sites.
Stanton suggested pooling resources with neighbors to bring together the equipment and labor needed to get the work done.
Many people choose to get rid of downed tree limbs by burning. This calls for extreme caution, however. Stanton said escaped debris fires burned 17,000 acres in Missouri last year. To be sure you don’t put your property or others’ at risk when burning debris, follow the following advice.
Contact local fire officials before burning to advise them of your plans and learn if any restrictions are in place.
Check the weather forecast and do not burn on dry or windy days.
Burn before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. when higher humidity minimizes the risk of a fire escaping.
Burn in open fields after grass has greened up.
Keep piles of woody debris at least 30 feet from homes or other structures.
Keep debris piles small - no larger than 8 feet in diameter.
Do not build burn piles under trees or power lines or near homes or other structures.
Cover burn piles with plastic sheets to keep them dry. B urn them immediately after a rain, when surrounding vegetation is wet.
Have a water source and shovel on hand when burning.
Stay with burn piles until they are extinguished completely.
Drown the ashes with water and stir with a rake or shovel until the fire is completely out.
-Jim Low-
Conservation Commission to meet Nov. 1-2 in Joplin
Friday, October 12, 2007
JEFFERSON CITY- The Missouri Conservation Commission will hold its next meeting Nov. 1 and 2 in Joplin.
The Commission will meet in closed session Nov. 1. It will meet in open session at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, 201 W. Riviera Drive, Joplin.
Commission meetings are open to the public. Items to be placed on the agenda for presentations or other business should be sent in writing to Director, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, fax (573) 751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date. The deadline for the next meeting is Oct. 18.
People requiring special services or accommodations to attend Conservation Commission meetings can make arrangements by writing to the same address, or by phone at (573) 751-4115.
Commissioners are: William F. “Chip” McGeehan, Marshfield, chairman; Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City, vice-chairman; Don Johnson, Festus, secretary, and Becky L. Plattner, Grand Pass, member.
-Jim Low-
Avoid the leading causes of hunting accidents
Friday, October 05, 2007
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| Tree-stand hunters can prevent falls by wearing a full-body harness that is connected to a safety line when climbing to and from tree stands. Using a haul rope to bring firearms and other equipment to the stand keeps hands free for climbing. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
JEFFERSON CITY-Missouri hunters could cut their chances of being hurt in hunting accidents by more than half if they just avoided the three leading causes, according to statistics compiled by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The agency’s 2006 Annual Hunting Incident Summary shows that nine out of 30 hunting accidents reported last year were the result of one hunter mistaking another for game. Seven of those involved turkey hunters. Of the remaining two victim-mistaken-for-game accidents, one involved deer hunting and one squirrel hunting.
Last year’s second-leading cause of firearms-related hunting accidents was a tie. Four accidents were attributed to a hunter accidentally shooting another while swinging on game. Another four resulted when a hunter rested a hand or arm on the muzzle of a firearm or rested the muzzle of a gun on his foot.
Swinging-on-game accidents most often involve dove, quail or other bird hunting, but can occur when hunting deer, rabbits, turkeys or any other game animal. Wearing hunter orange and keeping close track of the location of hunting partners helps reduce the chances of such accidents.
Six of last year’s accidents involved avoidable hunter errors in firearms handling. These included the accidental discharge of a pistol, carrying a cocked pistol, accidentally catching triggers on objects, bumping the external hammer of a deer rifle and carrying a loaded rifle in a vehicle.
Ten percent of last year’s firearms-related hunting injuries were self-inflicted, and 30 percent were inflicted by family members or friends.
These statistics do not include falls from tree stands. Such falls might be the leading cause of injuries and deaths among hunters. Virtually all could be prevented by a few precautions.
One important tree stand safety measure is wearing a full-body safety harness that meets standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Belts and uncertified harnesses can cause injury by distributing the force of a fall unevenly on the body.
For full protection, tree-stand hunters must combine safety harnesses with straps that will prevent falls while climbing into and out of tree stands, not just when they are in the stands. This can be a climbing strap, which the hunter moves up and down the tree as he goes, or a retractable strap that automatically locks when a fall occurs.
Other important tree-stand safety measures include keeping guns unloaded until seated in the stand and using a haul rope to bring firearms, backpacks and other items up to the stand. This keeps hands free for climbing.
In spite of last year’s 24 recorded hunting injuries and four deaths, the Conservation Department notes hunting has a better safety record than many other sports, based on the number of injuries per capita. Missouri has more than 487,000 hunting permit holders who spend millions of hours in the field annually. A strong emphasis on safety in mandatory hunter education classes has reduced the frequency of hunting accidents to a fraction of what it was 20 years ago.
More information about hunting safety is available from: --The International Hunter Education Association, 2727 W. 92nd Ave., Ste 103, Federal Heights, CO 80260, (303) 430-7233, Carrie@ihea.com, www.ihea.com/. --The Treestand Manufacturer’s Association, P.O. Box 15214, Hattiesburg, MS 39404, 601/584-7983, www.tmastands.com/.
-Jim Low-
New Conservation Department assistant director a strong proponent of all kinds of outdoor recreation
Friday, October 05, 2007
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| Engaging Missourians in outdoor activities is the top priority for new Conservation Department Assistant Director Dave Erickson. Erickson will supervise the Forestry, Fisheries, Wildlife, Private Land Services, Protection and Resource Science divisions. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
JEFFERSON CITY-- The newest assistant director at the Missouri Department of Conservation has a track record consistent with his goal of balancing diverse recreation and management interests. He says his top priority is engaging Missourians in outdoor activities.
Conservation Department Director John Hoskins announced Friday his selection of Dave Erickson as one of three assistant directors in Jefferson City. Erickson replaces John Smith, who retired Sept. 30 after 27 years with the agency and 10 years as its assistant director.
In his new capacity, Erickson will supervise the Forestry, Fisheries, Wildlife, Private Land Services, Protection and Resource Science divisions, chair the Regulations Committee and continue to represent Missouri on the Mississippi Flyway Council.
"Dave brings nearly 10 years of field work and 21 years of supervisory experience to his new job," said Hoskins. "He has directed operations in areas ranging from wildlife research to fiscal services and has a grasp of agency affairs that extends far beyond his own professional expertise in wildlife management."
Hoskins said Erickson’s ability as a team builder has been critical to his success in tackling hard issues and complex challenges. "Rationality and balance are hallmarks of his decision making. I feel very fortunate to have someone of his ability to fill this very important position."
Erickson, 55, is in his 31st year with the Conservation Department. His previous jobs included wildlife biologist, wildlife research biologist, wildlife management specialist, wildlife research supervisor, Wildlife Division assistant chief, Administrative Services Division chief and, most recently, Wildlife Division chief.
He has served as president of the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society (TWS), treasurer and president of the Missouri TWS chapter and executive board member of the Missouri Ruffed Grouse Society and has served on three North American Bird Conservation Initiative joint ventures. His professional honors include the E. Sydney Stephens and G. Andy Runge awards from the Missouri chapter of TWS and the Wildlife Division Employee of the Year Award.
Erickson counts his father as one of the earliest and most influential people in determining his professional path.
"I grew up in a little industrial town in the Allegheny Mountains where fishing and hunting were part of everyday life. My dad was an avid angler, one of the best I’ve ever seen. He always wanted to go hunting, but he never had the opportunity, and when I turned 12 he started hunting. He and I learned together."
When Erickson graduated from high school he decided to attend college and major in wildlife management. His guidance counselor had never heard of such a thing. When he discovered this was, in fact, a career opt ion, the counselor remained unencouraging.
“He told me there were no jobs in that field. We didn’t have a lot of college graduates in my family prior to that. I remember my father saying to me, ‘Dave, go get your education. It doesn’t matter whether you ever work as a wildlife biologist. Once you have your education, no one’s ever going to take it away from you.’
"The other thing he said was ‘Whatever you do, you’re going to do it for a long time, so do something you enjoy.’ I think for the most part people who work for the Conservation Department - whether they work in wildlife or fiscal services or design and development - love their work, because we have a noble mission."
Erickson earned a bachelor of science degree in natural resources from the University of Michigan, followed by a master’s degree in wildlife management from Pennsylvania State University. After short stints with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he took a job in Columbia, Mo., as the Conservation Department’s furbearer biologist.
"I thought I would get a few years of experience here and then go back home. Like a lot of people, I decided this was a pretty good place to live and work, and I am still here 30 years later."
Erickson’s personal outdoor interests run toward hunting and fishing. "I buy every permit every year," he confessed. "I am not active in bowhunting right now, though I have been in the past, but I hunt ducks, doves, deer and turkeys - spring and fall. I fish the Missouri River and fish for crappie in the spring. As busy as I am, I still find time to hunt and fish."
As Wildlife Division chief, Erickson worked to expand outdoor recreational opportunities and engage more people in those activities. The acreage actively managed to create dove hunting opportunities quadrupled under his leadership, and he accepted sometimes harsh criticism as the necessary price for implementing Every Member Draws, a new waterfowl hunt drawing system that increased hunter participation on conservation areas by 30 percent.
Erickson said he is especially excited right now about progress the Conservation Department is making in managing bobwhite quail and other species that depend on prairie and other types of open land. He said the key to this success has been the dual approach of actively managing conservation areas to create quail habitat and aggressively pursuing Conservation Reserve Program opportunities on private land, which comprises 80 percent of the state’s acreage.
"We have a quail program that is making a difference!" he said.
He takes the same interest in encouraging nontraditional recreation, such as birding, hiking and horseback riding, on conservation areas.
"I want to engage people in the outdoors," he said. "That can be in the kinds of things I spend my spare time doing, or it can be other things that have become a real professional interest of mine."
As examples, Erickson noted the Conservation Department’s outreach to every birding group in the state and its efforts to involve groups like The Nature Conservancy and the Grassland Coalition in conservation partnerships. He said those efforts paid dividends in citizen involvement.
"We have gotten nontraditional groups involved with on-the-ground conservation projects, which is something relatively new. It’s a normal thing for Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation and other groups with their roots in hunting and fishing to put money and energy into habitat work, but it is not a tradition thing for groups like Audubon Missouri. I am very gratified by the progress we have made there."
Erickson said he is "unabashed and unapologetic" about both his personal passion for hunting and fishing and his professional commitment to other types of wildlife-related recreation. He said he believes "either/or decisions," between active game management or wildlife-diversity management are not necessary. "We do both," he sa id, citing his work with dove and waterfowl management on one hand, and comprehensive wildlife management on the other.
Erickson and his wife of 33 years, Janice, live in Columbia.
-Jim Low-
Don’t let deer ruin your commute
Friday, October 05, 2007
Deer are much more active in October, so drivers need to be extra alert.
JEFFERSON CITY-It is 7:45 a.m., and you are behind the wheel, headed for the office. You haven’t even had your first cup of coffee. Seemingly out of nowhere, a deer materializes and dashes into traffic ahead of you. Panic ensues as you and other commuters try frantically to avoid hitting the deer or each other.
It is a scene that plays out thousands of times every year on Missouri streets and highways. The Missouri State Highway Patrol recorded more than 3,500 deer-automobile collisions in 2006, approximately one every 2.5 hours Sometimes everyone comes out OK. Other times it ends with wrecked cars and injuries. Such scenarios can even prove fatal - for people as well as deer. Many could be prevented.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average property damage from a deer-vehicle accident nationally is approximately $2,800. Nationally, 10,000 people are injured each year. Approximately 100 people die in such accidents nationwide annually.
Deer-vehicle accidents can happen any time of year, but statistics from the National Safety Council show they are most likely to occur in October, November or December, when deer are mating. Increased activity means increased road crossing, and deer are focused on each other, not cars. It is up to motorists to pick up the slack.
In spite of their distraction, deer remain somewhat predictable at this time of year. They are most active around dawn and dusk. Unfortunately, this coincides with rush-hour traffic.
Deer often travel in groups, so seeing one should serve as a warning that more may be nearby. If you see a deer, slow down immediately in case others appear.
You are most likely to encounter deer where roads pass through natural travel corridors, such as streams or wooded valleys. The Institute offers the following suggestions to reduce the risk of deer-related accidents: --Use high-beam headlights, which reflect in deer eyes, making them easier to see. --Slow down and sound your horn to warn the deer away. --Brake firmly when you see a deer in or near the roadway. --Do not swerve. This can confuse the deer about where to run. It can also cause you to lose control of your vehicle. --Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in deer-vehicle crashes are not wearing seat belts. --If you strike a deer with your car, get your vehicle off the road, and call the police. Don’t approach an injured animal. It could hurt you. -- Immediately report any injury or damage to your insurance agent or company.
For more information, call the Institute at (202) 833-1580 or visit www.iii.org/individuals/auto/lifesaving/deercar/?printerfriendly=yes.
-Jim Low-
Fifth-graders can win prizes in Arbor Day poster contest
Friday, October 05, 2007
Youngsters with a flair for art can win cash and learn why biological diversity makes for healthier forests.
JEFFERSON CITY-It isn’t too late to enter the 2008 National Arbor Day Poster Contest, but don’t delay; the deadline is approaching fast.
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council invite fifth-grade students in the state to enter the Fifth Grade Arbor Day Poster contest. The contest theme is "Trees are Terrific...Inside and Out!"
Through the contest and accompanying curriculum materials, children in more than 75,000 classrooms nationwide learn why healthy forests need a diverse mix of tree species. Instructional materials are designed to meet national standards for science, geography and education.
The contest is open to fifth-graders in public, private or parochial schools and home-schooled children. Competition begins in individual schools. Only entries from schools will be accepted. Each school’s w inning poster advances to the state competition. The Conservation Department plants a tree in the state winner’s honor in his or her community. The state winner also receives a $50 savings bond and advances to the national contest, where prizes include a $1,000 savings bond and an expense-paid trip to the 2007 National Arbor Day celebration. The winner's teacher will receive $200 for classroom materials.
The deadline for state Arbor Day contest submissions is Feb. 1. Teachers can get contest packets from Donna Baldwin, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Donna.Baldwin@mdc.mo.gov. The national winner will be announced on National Arbor Day, April 27.
For more information about Arbor Day programs, contact the National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, phone (888) 448-7337, or visit www.arborday.org/index.cfm.
-Jim Low-
