All Outdoors December 4, 1998

2. Memorial provides equipment for disabled anglers

3. Say happy holidays with conservation presents

"As the weapon became more and more effective, man imposed more and more limitations on himself . . . to avoid making the prey and the hunter excessively unequal, as if passing beyond a certain limit in that relationship might annihilate the essential character of the hunt, transforming it into pure killing and destruction."-Jose Ortega Y Gasset

1. Balmy fall favors big deer harvest

Hunters stayed in the field longer and killed a record number of deer.

JEFFERSON CITY--Good news and bad news came out of Missouri's 1998 firearms deer hunting season. Hunters killed a record-breaking 194,670 deer during the 11-day season. They also were involved in 15 firearms hunting accidents, one of which proved fatal.

This year's firearms deer harvest is 8,218 more than last year and 7,973 more than the previous record, which was set in 1995, the first year Missouri had an 11-day November firearms deer season.

Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Research Biologist Lonnie Hansen attributes the large deer harvest to fair weather that encouraged hunters to stay in the field.

"I don't know if we have ever had nicer weather during deer season," says Hansen. "A lot of people would rather have cold and snow, but truth be told, warm weather puts people in the woods and keeps them there."

Hansen says this year's deer harvest statistics show some important differences from the usual distribution. "Southern Missouri saved us. The harvest was way down compared to what it usually is in most of northern Missouri. Some counties had only about half the harvest they usually do. But the harvest was very strong in the Ozarks."Hansen attributed the poor showing of some northern counties to an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, which may have killed significant numbers of deer where the outbreak was severe. He credits changes in acorn production for the upswing in numbers of deer killed in southern Missouri counties.

"Last year the acorn crop was very good throughout most of southern Missouri. That makes it hard to find deer, because they can find food almost anywhere. But those deer not killed last year were still there, and this year the acorn crop in the south was poor in many areas. Deer were concentrated around food sources, making them easier to find, and the harvest figures really show it."

Leading the 1998 deer harvest statistics were Macon County with 4,361 deer checked, Howell County with 4,190, Boone County with 3,432 and Oregon County with 3,341. Regionally, northeastern Missouri led the pack with 39,068 deer checked, followed by the northwestern region with 32,476, west-central Missouri with 27,611, central Missouri with 22,898, the Ozarks with 18,516, east-central Missouri with 17,949, southwestern Missouri with 15,252 and southeastern Missouri with 13,352. Hunters in the St. Louis deer management region checked 3,030 deer, and those in the Kansas City region checked 4,518.

The Conservation Department recorded two more firearms deer hunting accidents this year than last year. Last year's firearms deer hunting accidents did not include any fatalities. But this year a 51-year-old man from Cuba, Mo., died after a hunting companion went to move a bolt-action rifle lying in the back of a pickup to a safer position and the rifle accidentally discharged, striking the victim in the hip.

Half the reported accidents were self-inflicted.

- Jim Low -

2. Memorial provides equipment for disabled anglers

Rod holders and electric reels bring the joy of fishing to anglers with disabilities.

JEFFERSON CITY--A Creve Coeur woman was looking for a way to establish a memorial to her late husband, who loved fishing. A supply of special fishing equipment, manufactured for use by the disabled, will be purchased for use in St. Louis area fishing clinics and personal use, thanks to her gift of $2,500 to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.

"He was an avid outdoorsman," says Mary Ward of her late husband, Cameron Ward. They were married late in life and had no children, but Cameron had nephews that shared his love of hunting and fishing. He and Mary often drove through the Conservation Department's August A. Busch Memorial Wildlife Area near St. Charles just to see the wildlife.

Mary remembers the first time she saw her husband's collection of deer mounts. "That was a new experience for me. I soon learned there was nothing Cameron enjoyed more that the outdoors. The donation will help ensure that others can enjoy fishing as much as Cameron did," Mary Ward says.

The equipment will be used at the Conservation Department's Therapeutic Fishing Clinics at Forest Park. It also will be available for use in the Disabled Angler's Loaner Equipment pilot program in the St. Louis Region. The Conservation Heritage Foundation is actively seeking additional funds to combine with the $2,500 gift to buy more fishing equipment for angling programs in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield, and donations are invited.

Some equipment is already on hand, and therapeutic clinics offer fishing opportunities to hundreds of mentally and physically disabled peopled from the St. Louis area each spring. People who attend the clinics can then reserve the equipment for personal use through the loaner program. As more tackle becomes available, it will be put in the hands of area anglers.

"Use of this adaptive equipment gives independence to a lot of people who need help to fish," says Dennis Cooke, an outdoor skills education specialist with the Conservation Department.

The clinics are for organized groups, which must provide their own transportation to the fishing site. Transportation must stay with the group during the clinic. Reservations are available through Cooke at (314) 231-3803.

Special equipment includes rod holders that can be used standing or sitting. Another item is a harness that supports the fishing rod with shoulder and waist straps. A wrist-support glove has a piece of plastic pipe attached to the palm. The pipe fits over the handle of the reel and, through arm and shoulder rotation, the user can reel in a fish.

An electric reel fits most rods, allowing people who don't have the use of their shoulders to reel in fish. Another item is a sleeve for the forearm that allows independent casting. The handle of the fishing rod fits in a pocket on the device and rests against the forearm.

Adaptive angling equipment already on hand, thanks to donations from the Northside Optimists of St. Louis and the Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, is available for loan to disabled groups in the St. Louis area. Groups can reserve the equipment by contacting Cooke or the Conservation Department's St. Louis regional office in St. Charles at (314) 441-4554.

The equipment is available year-round, except for May and September, when it is used exclusively for the Therapeutic Fishing Clinics at Forest Park.

The donation that made the purchase of the fishing equipment possible is an example of the things citizens can do in partnership with the Conservation Heritage Foundation. The Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that supports Conservation Department programs and helps meet the overall conservation needs of the state. Through the Foundation, donors can specify how their money will be spent.

One group of 191 people raised $140,000 in individual donations to purchase 391 acres of land in southwest Missouri. Donors gave their money to the Foundation, which deposited the funds in a special account. The Foundation is purchasing the tract of land and will deed it over to the Conservation Department for management and public use.

Most gifts to the Foundation, like the fishing tackle for disabled anglers, are much smaller. In Springfield, Commerce Bank gave $5,000 to help restore endangered peregrine falcons to the city. Students in a fifth-grade class at a St. Louis school donated $725.45 for use on another endangered species project. One gift of $785 went toward a bench and bookcase in the children's area at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Potential donors can contact the Conservation Heritage Foundation at P.O. Box 366, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0366. Telephone (573) 751-4115, ext. 209. E-Mail <mchf@mdc.mo.gov>.

- Jim Auckley -

3. Say happy holidays with conservation presents

From fishing permits to Missouri's Conservation Atlas, the Conservation Department has a holiday gift for every outdoor pursuit.

JEFFERSON CITY--Give your loved ones the world this holiday season. The outdoor world that is, with a gift from the Missouri Department of Conservation. From books and videos that teach outdoor skills to audio cassettes that bring the sounds of nature into your home, the Nature Shop has items that are sure to please even the most finicky person on your gift list.

Hunting and fishing permits make wonderful presents. Permits now available for 1999 include resident fishing ($11), resident small-game hunting ($9), resident combination hunting and fishing ($19), trout ($7), nonresident fishing ($35) and nonresident small-game hunting ($65). To purchase a permit as a gift you will need the recipient's conservation number. If it 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 to purchase hunting permits if the recipient was born on or after January 1, 1967.

Let your friends express themselves through the beauty of nature with nature note cards. The sets of cards feature some of Missouri's most colorful birds and scenic landscapes. Each set includes a dozen 4.5- by 6-inch blank note cards and envelopes and sells for $8.50.

Track outdoor events while you track the days of the week with the 1999 Natural Events Calendar. Entries on more than 200 dates reveal things such as when redbud trees bloom, when chigger season begins and when pawpaw fruits ripen. Helpful tips will keep you updated on when to set up winter bird feeders, fertilize trees or buy hunting and fishing permits. The 10- by 14-inch calendar also features dozens of beautiful photos of wild Missouri. The 1999 Natural Events Calendar may be purchased by mail for $5.

The outdoors person in your life will go wild for a gift that includes all of Missouri's great outdoor locations. Missouri's Conservation Atlas is the perfect guide to nature viewing, hiking, photography, hunting and fishing areas. A detailed index describes facilities, activities and the fish and wildlife you can expect to find at more than 900 conservation areas. The atlas is available by mail for $15.

Identifying common wildflowers is easy with a copy of "Missouri Wildflowers." The Conservation Department recently released the fifth edition of Edgar Denison's field guide with many improvements. New features of the book include new photos and descriptions of 297 of the state's flowering plants, along with an expanded glossary of plant terms and updated scientific names. "Missouri Wildflowers" may be purchased for $12.

The Conservation Department CD-ROM game "Habitactics" makes a perfect gift for kids. The computer game helps youngsters learn about Missouri plants and animals as they try to match species to their habitats or conserve land near a city. The price is $10.

Little toes will tap to the tunes of "Critter Rock," as kids learn about animals, their habits and habitats. The music collection package contains nine original songs, complete lyrics and sing-along tracks. It is available on cassette for $8 or CD for $10.

At $11, the Conservation Department video "Back to the Wild" is practically a steal. Its breathtaking photography gives you a bird's eye view of Canada geese soaring through the sky, a ringside seat to view the underwater antics of river otters and views of five other species in their natural surroundings. The film tells the story of restoration efforts that brought these seven species back from the brink of extinction in Missouri. Both youngsters and adults will find "Back to the Wild" entertaining and informative.

Conservation Department books, videos, CDs and tapes are available at conservation nature centers and service centers in St. Louis, Blue Springs, Springfield, Jefferson City and Cape Girardeau and by mail order. To receive a catalog and order form, write to Nature Shop, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.

Orders should be placed early to ensure delivery by Christmas. Be sure to include shipping costs ($2 for orders up to $12.51, $5 for orders from $12.52 to $60) and, for Missouri residents, 6.225 percent sales tax. If you have a Conservation Heritage Card you can receive a 15 percent discount.

- Arleasha Mays -