All Outdoors December 11, 1998

2. Conservation Federation seeks award nominees

3. Russian economic woes batter Missouri's fur trade

4. Reform CA closed to January firearms deer hunt

"Relegating grizzlies to Alaska is like relegating happiness to heaven. One may never get there"-Aldo Leopold

1. Snow geese can provide gourmet fare

Marinating and judicious application of heat make the difference.

JEFFERSON CITY--Thanks to liberal bag limits and burgeoning numbers of snow geese, Missouri hunters are bagging more snow geese than ever before. That translates into tasty rewards for hunters who discover how to turn North America's most plentiful wild fowl into good eating.

In the 1970s, the North American snow goose population hovered around 2 million birds. Today, the continental snow goose population is estimated at more than 6 million. Waterfowl biologists from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico note with concern that snow goose numbers continue to soar.

The burgeoning snow geese are destroying summer habitat on which they and other wildlife depend. To head off an ecological catastrophe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has raised the daily limit on snow geese to 20, and removed the possession limit entirely. This makes it possible-at least in theory-for a hunter to bag hundreds of snow geese during Missouri's 106-day snow goose season. And with an anticipated 600,000 snow geese bound for the Show-Me State this winter, hunters here should have their share of the action.

Nevertheless, waterfowl managers are afraid the harvest still won't be large enough to make a difference and are considering further liberalization of snow goose hunting regulations. The national Wildlife Federation, the National Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy and a host of other conservation groups have expressed support for allowing the use of electronic calling devices, extended seasons and other methods deemed necessary to increase the annual harvest of snow geese enough to prevent further environmental destruction.

Snow geese are relatively small, averaging six to eight pounds live weight. Most hunters use a fillet knife to slice off breast meat in two boneless steaks. This eliminates the time-consuming job of scalding and plucking, allowing experienced hunters to clean a day's limit of geese in half an hour or so.

One bird yields a little over a pound of breast meat. Snow goose breast is dark and rich. Marinating is a frequent choice for preparation. One quick and easy recipe calls for soaking breast fillets in Italian salad dressing and then grilling over charcoal or in the oven broiler. Another variation uses equal parts of white cooking wine and soy sauce seasoned with fresh garlic and ginger root and two tablespoons of lime juice.

For best results, perforate the fillets with a fork and allow to marinate overnight. To prevent drying, wrap breast halves in smoked bacon and check often to prevent overcooking. The red color of the meat makes it easy to underestimate doneness. Cook only until firm to the center, leaving the fillets juicy and tender.

Combine pan drippings with leftover marinade to make a sauce and serve with wild rice.

The huge amount of meat that successful snow goose hunters can accumulate encourages innovations, such as the following recipe for snow goose salami.

--12 pounds ground snow goose meat

--3 pounds pork sausage

--3/4 cup curing salt

--6 teaspoons of Liquid Smoke

--5 teaspoons garlic powder

--6 teaspoons of cracked pepper

--6 teaspoons of whole mustard seed

Mix well and chill overnight. Divide into 1-pound portions and roll each into an 8-inch log. Wrap each tightly with cheesecloth and tie the ends. Place on a wire rack over a pan and bake four hours at 225 degrees. Freeze or refrigerate until used.

- Jim Low -

2. Conservation Federation seeks award nominees

Each year, the state's premier conservation group honors Missourians who have made outstanding contributions in various conservation endeavors. Do you know someone who might qualify?

JEFFERSON CITY--While the pleasure of aiding wildlife and the environment is all that citizen conservationists expect, the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) thinks they also deserve recognition. In a quest to acknowledge outstanding contributions to conservation, CFM is seeking nominations for Missouri Conservation Achievement Awards.

The awards honor state residents who work to improve, preserve and promote wise use of natural and outdoor resources. CFM honors 11 individuals and one group for outstanding achievements in conservation each year.

Individual award nominations may be submitted for the following categories: Conservationist of the Year, Conservation Communicator of the Year, Conservation Educator of the Year, Air Conservationist of the Year, Forest Conservationist of the Year, Soil Conservationist of the Year, Water Conservationist of the Year, Wildlife Conservationist of the Year, Professional Conservationist of the Year, Youth Conservationist of the Year and Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.

Groups may be nominated for the Conservation Organization of the Year Award. Awards will be based largely on accomplishment made during 1998.

Nominations for Missouri Conservation Achievement Awards are open to all state residents. Nomination applications must include triplicate copies of the following information: your name and address, the nominee's name, address and occupation, a statement detailing the nominee's accomplishments and the category for which the person is being nominated.

The deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 20. To receive nomination forms, call 800/575-2322.

- Arleasha Mays -

3. Russian economic woes batter Missouri's fur trade

JEFFERSON CITY--Populations of raccoon, bobcat and other furbearers are thriving, but devaluation of the ruble spells trouble for the fur market.

Economic conditions half a world away are reaching into the wallets of Missouri fur trappers. With devaluation of their money, Russians are largely unable to buy fur garments this year, and because of that the market for wild furs in Missouri has crashed.

"It's just awful . . . a major pothole in the recovery of the wild fur industry," says David Hamilton, a wildlife research biologist with the Conservation Department.

Populations of most furbearing animals in Missouri have increased or are stable, and a relatively large number of trappers are in the field. The money that makes the system go is just not there, however.

"Pelt prices for most items, particularly raccoons, muskrat and mink, will be substantially below last year's prices," Hamilton says. Raccoons set the tone for the whole Missouri fur market, and their population has skyrocketed since the early 1980s. Raccoons represent about 90 percent of the volume of the fur industry in Missouri, and Russia is the primary consumer of finished garments made with raccoon fur.

The retail fur market in the United States has totaled as much as $1.8 billion in one year. In Missouri, trappers have taken as many as 300,000 raccoons in one season, contributing between $2.5 and $9 million to the state's economy.

In years past, Russia has consumed more fur that it produces. Fur in such a northern climate is not simply a fashion statement, but a necessity. Hamilton likens it to bread. Raw furs from Missouri do not go directly to Russia, but are bought and shipped to countries like Greece, South Korea, China and Japan. There they are made into garments, and the garments are then sold in Russia. Due to devaluation of the ruble, fewer Russians have been able to afford coats, and most of last year's coats are still clogging warehouses in Greece.

Trapping hit a low point in 1991, when Missourians bought only 2,842 trapping permits. But with some improvement in pelt prices over the years, the number of trappers reached almost 5,000 in 1997. Hamilton says many trappers won't be aware of this year's price situation until they make their first attempt to sell pelts. Raccoon pelts that brought $11 last year may only bring $3 this year. As the word spreads, trapping activity will probably fall off considerably.

Hamilton says the only bright side to this year's situation is that fur is once again being vigorously marketed by the fashion industry. "Probably at no time in recent history has fur received as favorable press coverage as it has during the past two seasons," Hamilton says. "Fur trim is popular, and fashion is even heading back to the longer, fuller coats that fueled the industry during the early 1980s."

The Conservation Department uses two methods to keep tabs on furbearer populations. The Archer's Index for Furbearer Populations is based on wildlife sightings recorded by cooperating archery deer and turkey hunters during the early archery season Oct. 1 through Nov. 10.

Some 1,500 archers participate, and their observations are expressed as the number of sightings of each species per 1,000 hours of hunting. In 1997 there were increases in four of the seven primary species. Raccoon numbers were high, and gray fox, red fox and striped skunk remained about constant. The 1997 index for bobcats was a record, eclipsing red fox for the first time.

The second method of surveying furbearer populations uses scent stations. Each station consists of a strong-smelling lure designed to attract furbearers, surrounded by a bed of bare soil prepared to record the footprints of any animal that visits the station.

The tally of tracks left at 1,250 scent stations across the state in 1997 showed that raccoon, opossum and coyote populations remain relatively high. Gray fox, red fox and striped skunk numbers declined from the previous year.

Missouri continues to be one of several states where a search for the most humane animal trapping methods is underway. The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Inc. (IAFWA) of Washington, D.C. is conducting a national trap research project to evaluate traps used for most furbearer species in the United States. The program is headquartered at the Conservation Department's research center in Columbia, where a full-time employee coordinates the effort.

Currently researchers are testing 24 different traps on 11 species of furbearers in 18 states. Four traps are being tested on raccoons in Missouri. The results are encouraging, according to Hamilton, and will lead to improved animal welfare.

Congress appropriated $450,000 to continue this work. The program included 16 trapper training workshops held across the country this year. The ultimate goal is recommending the most humane and effective and the safest traps and trapping practices to the states by the year 2002.

- Jim Auckley -

4. Reform CA closed to January firearms deer hunt

JEFFERSON CITY-Contrary to information in Missouri Game & Fish magazine, Reform Conservation Area in Callaway County is not open to firearms hunting during the January Extension of firearms deer season Jan. 2 through 5.

An article titled "Missouri's Late-Winter Whitetails" in the January, 1999, issue of the magazine erroneously lists Reform CA as "a popular hotspot for the January hunting dates." However the Missouri Department of Conservation says this area is open only to archery deer hunting throughout the hunting season.

Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation say they don't want anyone to get a citation for illegally using firearms on the Reform area on account of the misinformation, and they hope hunters will spread the word about this misprint.

- Jim Low -