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1. County Deer Kill Stats Hide Hunting Hot Spots
2. Boaters' Help Still Needed to Control Zebra Mussel
3. Mo. Businesses Back Non-game Wildlife Initiative
4. MDC to Publish Fishing Guide, Boat Livery Directory
5. Commission to Meet in Jefferson City Dec. 13
6. Outdoor Calendar
"What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man." -- Chief Seattle of the Dwamish Indians
1. County Deer Kill Stats Hide Hunting Hot Spots
Overall deer-harvest numbers may establish county bragging rights, but you'll find these figures more useful for putting venison in the freezer.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Famed British statesman Benjamin Disraeli divided falsehoods into three categories, "lies, damned lies and statistics." If he were around today, Disraeli might point to annual county-by-county deer harvest statistics compiled by the Missouri Department of Conservation as proof. Viewed uncritically, annual harvest data can be misleading. But, with a little analysis, they also can provide useful information for Missourians intent on finding the best hunting spots.
After every deer season, the Missouri Department of Conservation compiles figures on how many deer were killed in each of the state's 114 counties. It also publishes a list of the top three deer-harvest counties in each of nine regions. These data are interesting to those who want to know which counties have "bragging rights," but the counties with the largest total deer harvests are not always those that provide hunters the best chance of killing a deer.
"Looking at the number of deer taken per square mile gives a much more accurate view of the deer harvest," said MDC Wildlife Biologist Lonnie Hansen. "When we say the counties with the top deer kills we don't take into account how big they are."
For example, consider Texas and Schuyler counties. Texas is Missouri's largest county, with 1,180 square miles. It posted an impressive total harvest of 4,024 deer last year, putting it fourth in deer-harvest totals. Schuyler County, on the other hand, is the state's second-smallest county, with 307 square miles of land. That's about a quarter the land area of Texas County. Yet, it managed a 1995 harvest of 1,741 deer -- about 40 percent the kill in Texas County.
Schuyler County's per-square-mile deer harvest was 5.7, easily topping Texas County's 3.4 deer-per-square-mile harvest. Where would you rather be sitting on opening day?
Similarly, Boone County was in the top three counties by total deer kill in Missouri's northeast region, but Scotland and Clark counties have higher deer kills per square mile.
Comparing overall and per-square-mile deer harvest figures changes the picture of deer-hunting quality from county to county. But it does reinforce trends seen in the larger deer-harvest picture. Whether you're looking at total deer kills or the per-square-mile harvest, northern Missouri has significantly better deer hunting year after year than the southern half of the state.
Five of the eight counties south of the Missouri River that made the top 25 according to total harvest in 1995 (Henry, Camden, Texas, Howell and Oregon) fell off the list when standings were calculated on a per-mile basis. But the top 25 counties on a deer-per-square-mile basis did include three counties in southwestern Missouri (Benton, St. Clair, and Hickory) and two on the south bank of the Missouri River (Osage and Gasconade).
"Southern Missouri is heavily forested, but deer are not creatures of the forest," said Hansen. "They're more woodland edge animals. Northern Missouri is forest and fields. It's the best of both worlds, good cover and good food."
Missouri hunters brought in a total of 208,917 deer last year, a sign that Missouri has good deer hunting in many areas. "There's great deer hunting statewide," Hansen said. "It depends on what type of deer you want as to where you'll hunt. Larger deer with bigger antlers and a higher hunter success rate are in northern Missouri but southern Missouri still has great deer hunting."
There are advantages and disadvantages to both regions. Southern Missouri has more public land, so it is easier to find places to hunt. In northern Missouri, hunters must rely more heavily on private landowners' permission to hunt. On the other hand, fall harvesting of crops in northern Missouri reduces the amount of cover available for deer to hide in, concentrating deer numbers in smaller areas.
Counties in northeastern Missouri led the state's regions last year with an average harvest of 4.5 deer per square mile. North-central Missouri counties posted a very close second, with an average of 4.4 deer per square mile. The state's west-central region was third with an average of 3.8 deer per square mile.
Fourth place was a tie between northwestern and central Missouri counties, which both posted 1995 averages of 3.2 deer per square mile. East-central Missouri counties showed an average harvest of 2.5 deer per square mile, and southeastern Missouri brought up the rear with 1.3 deer per square mile. County harvests ranged from six deer per square mile in St. Clair County to 0.06 in Pemiscot County.
2. Boaters' Help Still Needed to Control Zebra Mussel
The exotic clam from Eurasia seems to be stymied by the Mighty Missouri's powerful currents. Now boaters must do their part to avoid accidentally spreading the pest upstream or inland.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Zebra mussels have become popular study subjects among aquatic biologists since their introduction into the Great Lakes system caused ecological panic in the 1980s. Scientists have looked at everything from what the mussels eat to how long they live, hoping to stop the tiny invaders from expanding their range. Recent discoveries provide hope that, with continued caution by anglers and boaters, Missouri lakes and streams could avoid a zebra mussel invasion.
Al Buchanan, aquatic services biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, attended The Zebra Mussel Conference for Inland Water Users in St. Louis last summer.
There, he learned that the creatures life span and spawning abilities are greatly reduced under conditions like those in the Missouri River. Scientists had predicted that zebra mussels, which already have spread throughout the Mississippi River, would use the Missouri River as a conduit to colonize the West. But the fast-moving waters of the Missouri River are an obstacle that the mollusks have been unable to overcome.
Some combination of turbidity (muddiness) and high flows is keeping zebra mussels from colonizing the Missouri, says Buchanan. The average speed of the Missouri is two mph. The speed of boats in combination with the water speed apparently is shearing the zebra mussels off of boats and barges where they ve attached themselves, so they aren t entering the river. The Missouri Rivers s turbid conditions also may be providing a natural barrier to the invasion of zebra mussels. Muddy water is not favorable to the food sources the mollusks need to survive.
Keeping out zebra mussels is important because they can disrupt existing plant and animal life. Zebra mussels attach themselves to objects at the bottoms of streams, where they filter microscopic plants and animals from the water for food. Very young bass, sunfish and shad also eat tiny plants and animals and likely would suffer from the competition for food if zebra mussels took hold in the Missouri River and its tributaries. Shad serve as food sources for many fish species valued by Missouri anglers.
Zebra mussels also pose a threat to native mussel populations in Missouri streams because they attach to any hard surface at the bottom of streams. They reproduce so rapidly that they smother native mussels, which cannot avoid or shed the smaller, introduced mussels.
The zebra mussel's potential to harm fishing opportunities and aquatic diversity requires anglers and boaters to take precautions when moving boats from one lake or stream to another. To avoid unintentionally spreading the fingernail-sized mussels, follow these procedures.
Buchanan asks boaters to call him at (573) 882-9880, ext. 3257, if they see zebra mussels.
3. Missouri Businesses Back Non-game Wildlife Initiative
Several Missouri companies have decided that what's good for wildlife is good for business.
JEFFERSON CITY -- The owners of several Missouri businesses think that when it comes to protecting wildlife, what s good for the goose also can be good for non-game animals. Those entrepreneurs have joined a coalition supporting the Wildlife Diversity Funding Initiative, also known as Teaming With Wildlife (TWW). The proposal would establish an excise tax on outdoor recreation equipment to fund non-game wildlife conservation, recreation and education.
Congressional consideration of TWW is expected to begin this spring. If approved, the measure will create an excise tax of one-quarter of 1 percent to 5 percent on equipment used for birdwatching, backpacking, nature photography and outdoor pursuits other than hunting and fishing. The tax would be applied at the manufacturer's level.
Arundale Products Inc., a bird feeder manufacturer based in St. Louis, is the latest Missouri business to back TWW. Company owner Anne Taussig says she chose to support the initiative after learning of the benefits it will provide to wildlife and her customers.
We believe that it will help protect and restore wildlife habitats. Since we re in the industry of making bird feeders, it seemed a good fit. Other groups have done it to support their outdoor recreational interest, so why shouldn t we? says Taussig.
Support from the outdoor recreation industry is vital to gaining Congressional approval of TWW, according to Cheryl Riley, wildlife diversity coordinator for the Conservation Federation of Missouri. Riley, who heads Missouri's TWW efforts, says she will work to increase business support of the plan in the coming months.
A big part of that work will be allaying concerns that businesses will suffer if TWW is approved. Some manufacturers fear the added cost of even a small excise tax will make their products undesirable to consumers or cause their companies to lose sales to competitors. Riley says that s unlikely, because the tax would be applied equally, and would be too small to affect sales. Furthermore, she says, many consumers have expressed a desire to help fund wildlife programs.
It's set up so that manufacturers pass this small tax on to the consumer. It s a level playing field in that everyone has to pay it, including those selling imported products. So if they merely pass it on to consumers their competitors will do likewise."
Riley says most items that would be affected by TWW are leisure products that people buy with discretionary income. She says she believes that most people who buy those products would be willing to pay pennies or less on the dollar if they knew it would help support the resources that are the basis of their recreation and provide better access to those resources.
"A lot of companies have received letters from consumers saying they will pay extra to support wildlife, says Riley. She also notes that the excise tax would not be hidden. A distinctive "Teaming With Wildlife" logo will appear on product packages, explaining to consumers that their purchase will benefit wildlife conservation.
Riley says the initiative has the potential to create economic opportunities for businesses. If there was no wildlife or outdoor recreational opportunities," says Riley, "there would be no reasons for their businesses to exist. It could also help the economy by providing more opportunities to build eco-tourism around watchable wildlife. It s an investment in the future.
Hunting and fishing equipment -- including firearms, ammunition, rods, reels, lures and marine motor fuels, would be excluded from the TWW tax, because they are already taxed under the wildlife and sportfish restoration programs. TWW is modeled on those programs.
The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA), the organization leading the national effort to establish a wildlife diversity fund, has secured endorsements of TWW from 300 businesses and more than 1,000 conservation organizations and prominent individuals. The National Association of State Park Directors and state fish and wildlife agencies across the nation are promoting the initiative, too.
Other Missouri companies supporting TWW include Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Missouri Wildflower Nursery, American Rod & Gun and Big Cedar Lodge. Companies nationwide supporting the initiative include binocular makers Swarovski Optik, Carl Zeiss Optical and Swift Instruments. For more information about TWW, call Riley at (573) 893 8100.
4. MDC to Publish Fishing Guide, Boat Livery Directory
MDC will list outfitters free of charge to help floaters and fishers to find the services they need.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Every day, workers in the Missouri Department of Conservation's Fisheries Division field dozens of questions. Often, the query is something like, "I want to take a float-fishing trip on the Gasconade River. Can you tell me where I can rent a canoe?" Or perhaps, "Do you know of any fishing guides on Courtois Creek?"
Often as not, a lack of information makes good answers impossible. But that will change soon. The MDC is compiling a list of canoe outfitters and fishing guides serving recreationists on thousands of miles of floatable and fishable streams.
"We get a ton of inquiries about floating conditions, outfitters and that kind of thing," says Eric Roberts of MDC's Fisheries Division. "We have a few listings, but they don't include all the outfitters in the state. They don't even cover all the floatable streams."
Roberts says the MDC hopes to compile a list of outfitters next spring. The goal is to provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of fishing guides and boat-rental services statewide. He says the process has just started, and the biggest challenge will be making the list comprehensive. To help identify all outfitters on the state's more than 20,000 miles of floatable stream, the MDC is asking the operators of such businesses to make themselves known.
Fishing guides and boat outfitters interested in listing their services in the MDC directory can contact: Missouri Department of Conservation, Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone, (573) 751-4115, ext. 175 or via e-mail at: BORGWC@ mail.mdc.mo.gov.
When the directory is ready, it will be announced through news media and the MDC home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/news/out/out96.html.
5. Commission to Meet in Jefferson City Dec. 13
JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Conservation Commission's next meeting will take place Dec. 13 at the Conservation Department headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City. The Commission will meet in closed executive session at 8:30 a.m. The open session will begin at 10:15 a.m. The Commission will not meet in November.
Commission meetings are open to the public. To be placed on the agenda for a hearing or other business, write to Director, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, at least 10 working days before the meeting date. For information about Commission meetings, call (573) 751-4115. Persons requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements at the same address or phone number.
Commissioners are: John Powell, Rolla, chairman; Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg, vice-chairman; Randy Herzog, St. Joseph, secretary; and Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City, member.
By Total Total By Deer Deer Deer Kill Deer Kill Kill/mi.2 Kill/mi.2 St. Clair* 4,210 St. Clair* 6.0 Macon* 4,055 Schuyler 5.7 Callaway* 4,033 Adair* 5.6 Texas 4,024 Hickory 5.6 Benton* 2,942 Howard* 5.2 Boone* 3,529 Scotland 5.2 Pike* 3,302 Daviess* 5.2 Adair* 3,202 Clark* 5.1 Chariton 3,132 Boone* 5.1 Howell 3,115 Macon* 5.0 Oregon 3,082 Linn* 5.0 Linn* 3,071 Benton* 5.0 Harrison 2,981 Pike* 4.8 Henry 2,961 Callaway * 4.8 Daviess* 2,942 Livingston* 4.7 Carroll 2,779 Knox 4.7 Sullivan 2,692 Caldwell 4.7 Osage* 2,684 Grundy 4.7 Monroe 2,615 Montgomery 4.5 Camden 2,614 Putnam 4.4 Clark* 2,612 Osage* 4.4 Livingston* 2,548 Randolph 4.3 Shelby 2,529 Gasconade 4.3 Lincoln 2,526 Lewis 4.2 Howard* 2,468 Ralls 4.1 ___________________________________________ *Counties that made the 1995 top 25 by total kill and kill/mi.2
HUNTING
Bag Limit
Opens Closes (Daily-Possession)
Bullfrogs 6/30/97 10/31/97 8-16 (See Wildlife Code)
Common Snipe*+ 9/ 1/96 12/16/96 8-16
Coyotes 5/ 6/96 3/31/97 Some restrictions during
deer season. (See Wildlife Code)
Crows 11/ 1/96 3/ 3/97 No Limit
Deer/Turkey (Archery) 10/ 1/96 11/15/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
11/27/96 1/15/97 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer (Firearms) 11/16/96 11/26/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer (Muzzleloader) 11/16/96 11/26/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
12/ 7/96 12/15/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer 1/ 4/97 1/ 5/97 Open only to hunters with unfilled
(Firearms & Muzzleloader Any-Deer Bonus Deer Tags for
in units 1-17, 22, 58 & 59) open units. See Regulations
Dove*+# to be announced
Ducks and Coots*
North Zone 10/26/96 12/14/96 Five ducks daily with no more
Middle Zone 11/ 2/96 12/21/96 than 4 mallards (no more than 1 female),
South Zone 11/23/96 1/11/97 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail,
Youth-only Duck Hunting Dates 1 black duck, 1 hooded merganser or
1 canvasback. Daily bag for coots is
15. Possession limits are twice the
South Zone 11/16/96 11/16/96 daily limit.
Furbearers 11/20/96 1/20/97 No Limit
Geese and Brant
Blue, Snow and Ross' Geese*+# Daily bag limits include no more than
North and Swan 10 blue, snow or Ross' geese; 2
Lake Zones 10/26/96 1/19/97 Canada geese; 2 brant; and 2 white-
2/17/97 3/9/97 fronted geese. Possession limits for
Middle and Schell-Osage Canada geese, brant and white-fronted
Zones: 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96 geese are twice the daily limit. For
blue, snow and Ross' geese, the
South Zone 11/23/96 3/ 9/97 aggregate possession limit is three the
White-fronted Geese and Brant daily limit.
North Zone 9/28/96 10/ 6/96
10/26/96 11/ 3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Swan Lake Zone 10/26/96 11/ 3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Middle and Schell-Osage
Zones 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96
11/29/96 1/31/97
South Zone 11/23/96 1/31/97
Canada Geese
North Zone 9/28/96 10/ 6/96
10/26/96 11/3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Swan Lake Zone 10/26/96 11/ 3/96 (Unless a quota of 5,000 geese is
11/29/96 12/29/96 reached before Dec. 29; a daily limit
of 10 shot shells.)
Middle Zone 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96
11/29/96 1/31/97
Schell-Osage Zone 11/29/96 1/ 7/97
South Zone 11/23/96 1/31/97
Groundhogs 5/ 6/96 12/15/96 No Limit
Pheasants and
Gray Partridge 11/1/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Quail 11/1/96 1/15/97 8-16
Rabbits 10/1/96 2/15/97 6-12
(may include only
2-4 swamp rabbits)
Ruffed Grouse 10/15/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Sora and Virginia Rails*+ 9/ 1/96 11/ 9/96 25-25
Squirrels 5/25/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Teal*+ 9/ 7/96 9/15/96 4-8
Turkey 4/21/97 5/ 4/97 1 bearded bird per week
Turkey (Fall Firearms) 10/13/97 10/26/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Woodcock*+ 10/15/96 12/18/96 5-10
FISHING
Trout Parks 3/ 1/97 10/31/97 5-10
Trout Parks 11/8/96 2/ 8/97 Catch & release Fri., Sat.,
(Winter Tag Required) Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Trout Management Areas Open All No Closed 5-10 (See Wildlife Code)
(Trout Permit Required) Year Season
Trout (Trophy and Wild) Open All No Closed 3-3 (See Wildlife Code)
Trout Management Areas) Year Season
(Trout Permit Required)
Black Bass
(streams, specified zone) 5/25/96 2/28/97 6-12 (See Wildlife Code)
(impoundments) Open All No Closed (See Wildlife Code)
Year Season
Bullfrogs 6/30/97 10/31/97 8-16 (See Wildlife Code)
Paddlefish 3/15/97 4/30/97 2-4 (See Wildlife Code)
Nongame Fish Stream Gigging 9/15/96 1/31/97 20
(See Wildlife Code for creel limits on other species.)
TRAPPING
Beaver 11/20/96 3/31/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
Coyotes 11/20/96 2/15/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
Furbearers 11/20/96 1/20/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
___________
*Hunters of migratory birds are required to have a migratory bird
hunting permit in addition to other appropriate permits (See Wildlife Code).
+Subject to final federal approval
#Complete waterfowl details will be found in the Migratory Bird Hunting Digest,
to be available from permit vendors and MDC offices in early October.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
December 13 MDC Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO
(For additional information contact the Department Director.)
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