All Outdoors, June 18, 1999

1. Anglers go by the book to get in the book
2. Biologists keeping an eye on deer diseases
3. Special deer hunts planned for youths
4. Outdoor Calendar

Available via Internet at: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/news/out

"Sometimes in June, when I see unearned dividends of dew hung on every lupine, I have doubts about the real poverty of the sands."Aldo Leopold, "A Sand County Almanac"

1. Anglers go by the book to get in the book

Failure to follow the rules can cost anglers their moments of triumph.

JEFFERSON CITYFrom the instant they feel an unusually heavy tug on their line, anglers are apt to wonder "Could this be a record-book fish?" For a few Missouri anglers each year, the answer is yes. One Missouri woman recently caught a fish that could have been a world record. But her excitement turned to disappointment because she didn't make her catch by the book.

"The book" is the Wildlife Code of Missouri. Fish taken illegally don't qualify for state titles, as the lucky/unlucky angler learned after landing an 81-pound, 4-ounce black buffalo fish. Her catch completely eclipsed the existing state record, a 53-pounder caught in 1989. It cast just as long a shadow on records recognized by the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (54.5 pounds) and the International Game Fish Association (55.5 pounds).

That made it particularly heartbreaking when officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation discovered that the angler had not bought a fishing permit before making her spectacular catch. As a result, her catch doesn't qualify as a record anywhere.

Going by the book is not a problem for most anglers who catch fish with record potential. The rules for certifying Missouri state-record fish are fairly simple. Fish must be taken by legal means from Missouri waters. They must be species for which the Conservation Department keeps records.

Qualifying fish also must be weighed in the presence of Conservation Department personnel on a certified scale, and their species must be verified by a conservation agent or fisheries biologist. An official State Record Fish Entry Form, signed by witnesses and accompanied by a color photograph, must be submitted to the Conservation Department for certification.

The Conservation Department recognizes fishing records in two categories, catches made with pole and line and fish taken by other methods, including gigging, archery and set lines.

Missouri has had four new state record fish just in the past three months. On April 9, Barry Caldwell of Puxico took a 59.25 pound black buffalo with bow and arrow at Duck Creek Conservation Area in Bollinger County to set a new "other methods" record.

The next day, bowfisherman Nelson Watson of Cassville set another "other methods" record by taking a 33-pound longnose gar from the Elk River in McDonald County.

On May 11, David Williams of Lake Lotawanna used a bow and arrow at his town's namesake lake in Jackson County to take a common carp that tipped the scales at 35.75 pounds.

The most recent record was another longnose gar, but this one was taken with pole and line. Dale Davis of Kirbyville caught the 27-pounder at Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County using a Swimmin' Minnow lure.

To receive a list of current state-record fish or a record fish entry form, contact the nearest Conservation Department office or write to Fisheries Division - State Record Fish, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or call (573) 751-4115, ext. 593.

- Jim Low -

2. Biologist keeping an eye on deer diseases

Disease has affected hunter success in some deer management units

JEFFERSON CITYOfficials with the Missouri Department of Conservation say an outbreak of a deer disease called epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in parts of northern Missouri last year rivaled one a decade earlier that killed up to 20 percent of the white-tailed deer in certain areas.

EHD is a viral infection that is spread through the bites of tiny flies known as midges. Conditions that concentrate deer help spread EHD by increasing the opportunity for midges to carry the virus between animals. Such conditions most often occur during dry weather in late summer and early fall, when deer gather around a few water sources.

Symptoms of the disease include weakness, swelling of the mouth and tongue, sores on the mouth and tongue and bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes or anus. The disease causes thirst, and affected animals often die near water. EHD outbreaks end when fall frosts kill the midges that spread the virus.

Deer with EHD may die from internal bleeding. The disease does not infect humans, and eating venison from deer with EHD is not dangerous. Secondary infections can render venison unfit to eat, however.

"This past year we had a total of 1,625 cases of EHD reported by conservation agents," says Lonnie Hansen, a wildlife research biologist with the Conservation Department. In 1988 the Conservation Department received more than 1,400 reports of EHD. "Most of the 1998 cases were between Highway 63 on the east and Interstate 35 on the west. The area where it was most severe was from around Highway 24 north to the Iowa border."

"We felt we had upwards of 20 percent mortality in some deer management units, and locally it might have been worse. You'll have an area the size of a township that gets hit real hard, but not too far away they are not hit hard at all. It can severely impact some local populations without hurting others.

"It's a disease that's hard to measure," Hansen says. "When they die in the late summer and fall they disappear into the woods real quickly, so there are a lot of them that die that we never know about. It's not until we can see what effect the disease has on the deer harvest that we can really make adjustments in deer permit quotas. We are in a wait-and-see mode right now."

Hansen says people in the affected areas won't see as many deer as in the past. However, other parts of the same management units still will have high deer populations that the Conservation Department would like to reduce. This year's deer regulations are already set and are similar to last year's liberal regulations. Hansen says the Conservation Department may reduce deer quotas in a few management units in coming years because of the impact of EHD.

Another disease, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has the potential to affect deer, but has not been seen in Missouri yet. It first appeared in captive deer in Colorado. CWD was first reported in 1981 in wild elk in Colorado. Since then people have reported about 100 cases in wild white-tailed and mule deer and elk from northeastern and northcentral Colorado and southeastern Wyoming.

"CWD is of significant concern," Hansen says. "It's an exceptionally nasty disease and we don't want it here. We are monitoring for suspected cases of the CWD. Deer exhibit pretty distinct characteristics when they get CWD. In those situations where deer show up sick we are going to have them tested for it. Nobody in the Midwest has found it in wild deer populations yet. There have been a couple documented cases in captive elk populations in Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Dakota. We're hopeful it doesn't make it into our wild population of white-tailed deer."

CWD symptoms include gradual weight loss (hence the name), excessive thirst and urination and listlessness, with animals often standing with heads down, ears drooping and saliva dripping from their mouths. A classic CWD suspect is a deer 18 months of age or older that is emaciated and shows some combination of signs including abnormal behavior, increased salivation, tremors, stumbling, incoordination, difficulty in swallowing, excessive thirst and excessive urination.

Human disease has not been associated with CWD. However, there are many unknowns about the disease. As with any sick animal, a person should avoid contact as much as possible and, if handling, should wear protective gloves.

If you encounter a sick or dead deer, report it to a conservation agent or the nearest Conservation Department regional office.

- Jim Auckley -

3. Special deer hunts planned for youths

Hunters age 11 through 15 can take part in youth deerhunts at August A. Busch and Weldon Spring conservation areas.

JEFFERSON CITYHunters have from July 1 through August 15 to apply for youth deer hunts sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Conservation Department administers two hunts especially for youths age 11 through 15. The hunts will take place Oct. 30 and 31 at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area (CA) and Weldon Spring CA. Both hunts take place in St. Charles County, but they are open to youths statewide.

As many as 120 youngsters, each accompanied by an adult sponsor, will take part in the two hunts. Friends who want to hunt together may apply on one application card. However, each youth must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult sponsor who is at least 21 years of age. The signature of a parent or guardian must appear on the application. A second signature is required to request a volunteer adult sponsor if the parent or guardian does not participate.

Application cards for the youth-only hunt are available by calling the Busch area near St. Charles, (314) 441-4554, or by contacting the Missouri Department of Conservation, Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, (573) 751-4115, ext. 156.

Hunter education certification is required for both youth hunters and their adult sponsors. Both also must attend a pre-hunt orientation. The orientation will involve four to six hours of advanced youth hunter certification, including deer rifle familiarization, development of hunting skills and hands-on instruction in adjusting rifle sights at a shooting range and how to field dress a deer.

Hunters permanently confined to wheelchairs automatically will be allowed to take part in youth deer hunts. Applicants must fill out a separate application form and attach a supporting licensed physician's statement. Eligible hunters must purchase a managed deer hunt permit for participation.

- Arleasha Mays -