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Serendipitous circumstances contributed to record harvests in all three of Missouri's firearms deer seasons.
JEFFERSON CITY A break in the weather helped Missouri hunters bag 14,656 deer Jan. 6 through Jan. 9, boosting the firearms deer season total to an all-time high of 220,636.
Hunters set harvest records in all three segments of the season. The January deer kill topped last year's by 953. The 201,165 deer bagged in November was 25,240 more than last season. Hunters checked 4,815 deer during the December muzzleloader portion of the season. That is up 723 from 1999.
The January increase came as no surprise to Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Research Biologist Lonnie Hansen.
"This January we had ideal conditions for taking deer," Hansen said. "During harsh conditions like we had in December, deer tend to concentrate and not be very active. Just before the January portion the weather broke. The deer began to move around, and the snow on the ground made it easier for hunters to find deer."
Northeast Missouri led regional totals with 5,851 deer checked. The northwest region harvest of 4,703 was second, followed by 3,170 in the central region. The remaining regional totals were St. Louis with 425, Kansas City with 409, west-central with 75 and the east-central region with 23.
The Conservation Department received no reports of firearms-related deer hunting accidents during the January Extension.
Of the state's 59 management units, only 23 in the northern half of the state were open to deer hunting in January. The season was created to help reduce the number of does in management units where deer populations are above target levels set by the Conservation Department. In setting those targets, the department must balance some people's desire for more deer with increased frequency of deer-related traffic accidents and the wishes of people whose crops, trees and shrubs sustain increased damage with higher deer numbers.
Hansen said the department will use deer harvest data to assess the effectiveness of the January Extension in removing female deer from the population. The assessment also will help the Conservation Department determine whether many bucks that have lost antlers are being harvested.
Missouri's total deer harvest for the 2000-2001 hunting season won't be known until after the archery deer season ends Jan. 15. The archery kill typically is a little more than 20,000 deer annually.
- Arleasha Mays -
The makers of HeviShot say it is ballistically superior to lead.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved a new nontoxic shot for waterfowl hunting, giving duck and goose hunters an alternative that is heavier than lead shot.
Final approval of HeviShot was published in the Jan. 4 Federal Register. The rule allows hunters to use shotgun shells loaded with the new material for hunting waterfowl, effective immediately.
Environ-Metal of Albany, Ore., developed HeviShot, an alloy of 50 percent tungsten, 35 percent nickel and 15 percent iron. The company says its product is 10 percent heavier than lead and about as hard as steel shot.
Lead, the traditional material for pellets in shotgun shells, was banned for waterfowl hunting in 1990 because waterfowl and eagles were ingesting spent shot and dying of lead poisoning. Steel shot was the first nontoxic alternative and remains the most popular because of its relatively low price.
Because it is lighter than lead shot, steel shot has a shorter effective range. However, its hardness prevents pellets from bending out of shape when fired from shotguns. Round shot pellets fly straighter than deformed pellets, keeping steel shot closer together as it flies through the air. The resulting shorter, tighter shot strings make hitting targets more difficult, but contribute to clean kills for hunters with good wingshooting skills.
Since lead shot was banned, ammunition makers have sought a shot material with the range advantage of lead and the tight shot pattern of steel. Envrion-Metal touts HeviMetal as a sort of holy grail of shotgun pellets, protecting the environment while performing better than steel or lead.
Other materials, including bismuth alloys and tungsten bound in a polymer matrix, have weights and ballistic performance comparable to lead. However, they are significantly more expensive than steel shot and consequently not as popular. Environ-Metal representative Daniel "Pancho" Fulton says the price of HeviShot shotgun shells will be somewhere between steel and the more expensive nontoxics.
- Jim Low -
The University of Missouri and Clemson University are cooperating to bring the course to Missouri via satellite.
JEFFERSON CITY Missourians with a strong interest in forest management can become certified Master Tree Farmers through a series of workshops in February and March.
The workshops are offered cooperatively by the University of Missouri and Clemson University in South Carolina. They will be presented in video format via satellite downlink at 12 Missouri locations. Each workshop will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on seven consecutive Tuesday evenings Feb. 6 through March 20. Hands-on workshops will follow the video series at several locations throughout the state.
The series is patterned after the highly successful Master Gardener Program sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension Service. The goal is to train a corps of master tree farmers who will share their expertise with others interested in wise, sustainable forest management.
Topics include forestry as an investment, managing for pine, managing for hardwoods, timber marketing, security and harvesting, wildlife management and forestry services for landowners.
Attendance is limited to 25 participants at each location. The cost is $40 per person. For more information, call: Bowling Green, 573/324-3751; Poplar Bluff 573/686-8064; Versailles, 573/387-5358; Fredericktown, 573/783-3303; Carthage, 417/358-2158; Kansas City, 816/792-7760; Columbia, 573/445-9792; Jackson, 573/243-3581; Union, 636/583-5141; Nevada, 417/448-2560; West Plains, 417/256-2391; Warrenton, 636/456-3444; Chillicothe, 816/646-6122.
- Jim Low -
Added to a record November deer harvest, the muzzleloader and archery deer kills could set a new overall deer harvest record.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Hunters using muzzle-loading firearms killed 4,815 deer during the December portion of Missouri's firearms deer season, bringing the season tally to 205,980.
The 2000 muzzleloader deer harvest was 723 more than last year and the largest on record. Top counties were Boone with 138 deer harvested, Osage with 122 and Howell with 120.
Northeastern Missouri led regional harvest totals with 848, followed by the west-central region with 655, east-central with 609, northwest with 569, central with 559, southeast with 462, Ozark with 460, southwest with 407, St. Louis with 142 and Kansas City with 104.
The nine-day December portion of firearms deer season is open only to hunters using muzzle-loading firearms. Hunting with muzzleloaders is more of a challenge than hunting with modern firearms, since the hunter has just one shot to bring down a deer. Black-powder weapons also have a shorter effective range, which forces hunters to get closer to their quarry before firing.
Missouri's total deer harvest for the 2000-2001 hunting season won't be known until harvest figures come in from the January Extension of firearms deer season Jan. 6 through 9 and from archery deer season, which ended Jan. 15. However, most deer are taken during the 11-day November firearms deer hunt each year, and the record harvest in the 2000 November hunt makes an overall harvest record likely.
- Jim Low -
Here's your chance to learn everything from Dutch oven cooking to hunting and outdoor photography.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Everything from the basics in outdoor skills to the thrill of the hunt are offered in Missouri Department of Conservation's 2001 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) and Beyond Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BBOW) programs.
The Conservation Department is offering nearly two dozen workshops through the BOW program to help Missourians learn or improve outdoor skills. Missouri's BOW program began in 1994 to introduce women to outdoor recreation in an enjoyable, pressure-free setting. BOW provides the basics in firearms safety, fishing, wild edibles, outdoor photography, woodworking, archery, waterfowl identification, canoeing and many other outdoor skills.
The program has been expanded to include BBOW workshops, which provide basic and advanced training in outdoor skills, as well as managed hunts.
BOW workshops are scheduled for May 18 through 20 at the YMCA of the Ozarks in Potosi, Missouri and September 14 through 16 at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, Missouri.
This year's BBOW schedule includes:
--March 23-25, Shooting Sports Clinic, Ozark Shooters Complex, Walnut Shade.
--April 6-8, Introduction to Fly Fishing, Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center, Eminence.
--May 4-6, Spring turkey hunting clinic, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Wappapello.
--May 4-6, Backpacking workshop, Mark Twain national Forest, Willow Springs Ranger District.
June 30, Shooting sports workshop at the St. Louis Trap and Skeet Club, Eureka.
--Aug. 17-19, Smallmouth Bass Fishing by Canoe, Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center, Eminence.
--Sept. 1-2, Dove Hunt, Andy Dalton Shooting Range & Training Center, Springfield.
--Oct. 19-21, Deer Hunting Clinic, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Wappapello
--Oct. 26-28, Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop, Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center, Eminence.
--Nov. 2-4, Introduction to Map & Compass/Wilderness Survival, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood.
Nov. 2-4, Deer hunting clinic, Charles A. Green Conservation Area, Ashland.
Turkey, quail and archery deer hunting clinics on dates to be announced later.
BBOW workshops planned for 2001 include training on Dutch oven cooking, wilderness survival and a quail hunt. Cost of the workshops range from $50 to $170, depending on the activity. Meals, lodging, and equipment are included in the workshop fees.
For more information about BOW and other outdoor skills training programs write to: BOW, Missouri Department of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0180, hughem@mail.conservation.state.mo.us.
- Arleasha Mays -
Winter is the best time to view nature.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Missourians don't have to suffer from cabin fever. The Show-Me State offers outdoor recreation opportunities even during the harshest winter weather.
Some of the best nature viewing can be done on a winter hike. Several Conservation areas in eastern Missouri have natural features that are accentuated by winter conditions.
--A hike through Clifty Creek Natural Area in Maries County can include a walk under a natural bridge for views of icicle formations on the area's cliffs.
--Large boulders, cascading water and 20 acres of shut-ins on the St. Francis River are among the sights available at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area in Madison County.
--A frozen waterfall, sandstone arches and other formation are among the visual treats available during a winter hike of the two-mile trail at Pickle Springs Conservation Area in Ste. Genevieve County.
--A drive down along Highway 79 through Ted Shanks Conservation Area in Pike County has many scenic overlooks that let you view wildlife and the Mississippi River.
For information on nature viewing opportunities in your area visit the "Places to Go" page of the Conservation Department website, www.conservation.state.mo.us.
Conservation nature centers have a wide variety of programs that enable you to experience the outdoors. Nature hikes and bird feeding workshops are among the activities offered. Nature centers are located in Jefferson City, Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City.
Eagle viewing in Missouri is at its best in winter. Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Sumner, Table Rock Lake near Branson, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area south of Columbia and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near Puxico are among the sites where large numbers of eagles winter. Plan a visit to one, or all, of these locations, and watch for eagles perched in large trees along the edges of rivers or lakes.
Winter canoeing on southern Missouri streams let you view the Ozark wilderness and wildlife without large crowds. The Current and Eleven Point rivers can be fairly easily navigated and have many locations along their banks that make good camping grounds. Basic gear for winter canoeing includes food, water, a blanket, extra clothing in a plastic bucket and wood and matches to start a fire.
Participating in conservation restoration programs is a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. The Ozark Regional Land Trust (ORLT) actively seeks volunteers to work on land preservation projects throughout Missouri, Arkansas, Southeast Kansas and Northwest Oklahoma. Projects include seed collecting, cutting woody growth from prairies and helping with prescribed burns. Upcoming volunteer opportunities include a litter cleanup and weed removal project at Woods Prairie and a litter removal, cave mapping and water quality monitoring project at Sarcoxie Cave and Spring. For information on becoming an ORLT volunteer, visit the organization's website at www.orlt.org.
- Arleasha Mays -
Conservation program provides hands-on training in natural resources management.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Caring for people, not trees, was Urban Forester Ann Koenig's career goal
in high school. She chose a career in forestry after learning about job opportunities in the field of
natural resources at the Conservation Honors program.
"When I was growing up there was little information available about what a job in forestry, fisheries or wildlife would involve," Koenig says. "The Conservation Honors Program showed me the duties of those jobs and gave me information on the degrees needed for a career in the field of natural resources. That experience made me realize I would be much happier working as a
forester, than as a nurse."
Conservation Honors Program is a six-day summer course, offered by the Missouri Department of
Conservation in cooperation with the University of Missouri, that gives participants academic
training and field experience in forest, fish and wildlife management, nature interpretation, outdoor
skills and public speaking.
Participants stay in dormitories at the University of Missouri-Columbia campus and conduct field
work at Prairie Forks Conservation Area. The course allows students to explore career
possibilities while earning one hour of advanced college credit. It looks good on a scholarship or
job application, too. Teachers who volunteer to help with the course also gain valuable knowledge
and earn free graduate credit.
This year's Conservation Honors program is scheduled for June 10 through 15. Students will be
selected on the basis of scholastic achievement and interest in conservation. Student applicants
must be high school juniors and Missouri residents and must have taken a national college entrance
exam and submit test scores. Applications, which include test scores, a 500- to 1,000-word essay
and a recommendation, must be received by April 19. Students and teachers can obtain
applications by writing to Director, School of Natural Resources, 103 Anheuser-Busch Natural
Resources Building, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211-7220.
- Arleasha Mays -
A deer hunter with a video camera caught the large adult cougar on tape.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation have confirmed
another mountain lion sighting, this one near the state's northeast corner. They say the sighting is
not cause for alarm; the state is prepared to deal with cougars that become threats to people or
livestock.
Michael Sharpe was sitting in his tree stand on private land in Lewis County at 1:30 p.m. New
Year's Eve when a large, adult mountain lion appeared. Sharpe, 18, had opted to "hunt" deer with
a video camera instead of with his bow, and he documented the big cat's passage on tape.
"I had a doe underneath my stand, so I was preoccupied with that," recalls Sharpe. "When I looked
up, I saw something standing in a field of wheat stubble about 250 yards away. I thought it was a
coyote at first, but when it started to walk away I noticed its long tail. I knew then it couldn't be a
coyote."
It wasn't until he viewed the video tape that he realized he had seen a mountain lion.
Senior Conservation Agent Gene Lindsey, who has chased down his share of mountain lion reports
that couldn't be substantiated, watched the tape and visited the scene of the sighting before
declaring it "irrefutable." He said the cougar appeared to be hunting. The undulating landscape,
with a mix of crop land, pasture, hardwood forest and cedar thickets, harbors a thriving population
of white-tailed deer, the mountain lion's primary prey.
Sharpe's sighting brings the number of confirmed mountain lion reports in Missouri in recent years
to five. Two other cougars have been videotaped, both in the Ozarks. Another was treed by two
rabbit hunters' beagle hounds in January 1999 in Texas County. Conservation Department
biologists confirmed that two deer carcasses found nearby had been killed by a cougar.
The fifth case involved a mountain lion killed by poachers in 1994 in Carter County near Peck
Ranch Conservation Area. The men, who later pleaded guilty to killing the cat while raccoon
hunting, photographed themselves with the carcass, but said they had gotten rid of it. Two years
later, a deer hunter discovered a cougar hide, with the head and feet still attached, alongside a
road in Texas County. Some evidence suggested that it might be the same animal.
Five confirmed mountain lion sightings aren't many, considering the fact that the Conservation
Department receives hundreds of reports of sightings each year. Most end up being classified
"improbable" or "unconfirmed." Conservation Department officials say some of these reports
could represent actual sightings, but they are impossible to verify without photos, video or other
physical evidence, such as tracks or droppings.
"In most cases it's simply impossible to determine whether a person really saw a mountain lion,"
says Wildlife Research Biologist Dave Hamilton. "That doesn't mean we don't believe people
who report sightings or that we don't want to know about them. We can only go by what can be
proved."
Hamilton said Missourians who think they see mountain lions are encouraged to call the nearest
Conservation Department office as quickly as possible. The agency does not send biologists for
on-site investigations unless human safety is threatened or there is substantial physical evidence.
As a matter of policy, the Conservation Department doesn't conduct an on-site investigation if it
learns about the sighting more than two days after the fact.
"Quick reporting is critical," says Hamilton. "Mountain lions are very mobile, so the chances of
finding the animal or any useful evidence after two days are very slim." He says anyone who finds
what they think are mountain lion tracks or droppings should photograph them and then cover the
evidence with a bucket and send the photos to the Conservation Department so experts can
examine them.
Conservation officials say they haven't released mountain lions or taken any other actions to
encourage the big cats to return Missouri. However, they note that the most important element of
cougar habitat that was missing here for decades food has returned with the resurgence of deer
numbers. "If mountain lions migrated into Missouri from Texas or Colorado, the nearest self-
sustaining populations, they would find enough food to sustain them now," says Hamilton. "The
same is true of captive animals that escape or are released from captivity. Thirty years ago, they
might have starved. Now they would have no problem."
The mountain lion is a protected species in Missouri, and it's illegal to kill cougars that are
minding their own business. If the Conservation Department documents an attack on a human or domestic animals, however, efforts will be made to find and destroy the offending animal.
The Wildlife Code of Missouri also allows anyone to kill a mountain lion that is attacking people
or domestic animals. In situations where attacks on pets or livestock are suspected but not
confirmed, the Conservation Department can issue temporary permits to kill mountain lions.
Anyone who does kill a mountain lion is required by law to report the incident immediately. They
also must turn the carcass over to a conservation agent within 24 hours of the kill.
Hamilton emphasized that the few mountain lions apparently living in Missouri pose very little
threat to people or property. However, he acknowledged that the presence of a predator large
enough to kill adult deer is not without risk. Those who spend time outdoors can reduce their risk
by knowing how to act in encounters with mountain lions.
A mountain lion that sees a human and does not run away should be considered dangerous. It's
important not to run from a cougar. Fleeing is likely to trigger the cat's predatory instincts. Don't
turn your back on the mountain lion, either, and don't crouch or bend over.
Instead, stand directly facing the animal. Make and maintain eye contact and do anything you can to
make yourself look large and threatening. Raise the sides of your coat or shirt with your arms, or
wave your arms slowly.
Talk to the cougar in a loud, firm voice. If you have pets or small children with you, keep them close to you. If attacked, fight back with a knife, rocks, sticks or anything available.
- Jim Low -
Conservation Department officials say raising sterile fish for a few years is the best way to avoid
another exotic invasion while helping fish farmers.
JEFFERSON CITY Some Missourians are concerned about a plan to raise black carp in state
fish hatcheries. Others are just confused by the concept of raising the exotic fish as a means of
eliminating them. Norm Stucky, administrator of the Missouri Department of Conservation's
Fisheries Division, says it's kind of a cross between fighting fire with fire and joining them in
order to beat them.
Black carp arrived in the United States accidentally in the 1970s. The first ones stowed away in
shipments of grass carp, which were imported from Asia to control vegetation in ponds. Fish
farmers, who are suffering serious economic losses because of a parasitic flatworm in their
product, turned to the black carp as a cure.
The black carp, which is native to Asia, is a voracious snail eater. Since the parasitic worm needs
snails as an intermediate host to complete its life cycle, putting black carp in ponds reduces the
parasites. Fewer snails in fish-rearing ponds means fewer worms contaminating the flesh of
commercially reared fish and reduced economic losses.
But, as often is the case with imported species, there's a problem. Black carp don't distinguish
between harmful snails in fish farms and good and in some cases endangered mollusks in lakes
and streams. If black carp escaped into waters of the state, which they almost certainly would
eventually, they could decimate native mollusk populations. That could upset the balance of
ecological systems of which clams and snails are integral parts.
That's why the black carp isn't on the list of approved species for rearing on fish farms. But
Conservation Department officials have come up with A Five-Year Plan to Eliminate All Black
Carp From Missouri, which they think will help address the needs of fish farmers while protecting
the state's ecological integrity.
The plan, recently approved by the Conservation Commission, calls for rearing black carp at state
fish hatcheries and selling them at cost to fish farmers. But they won't be regular black carp.
The carp from Conservation Department hatcheries will look and act identical to regular black
carp, but their genetic makeup will prevent them from spawning. Any that escape from captivity
won't be able to reproduce.
Conservation Department Fisheries Division Administrator Norm Stucky said providing black
carp that are safe for Missouri's ecology will eliminate fish farmers' need for regular black carp.
"The five-year black carp plan calls for immediate destruction of all illegally held fertile black
carp," said Stucky. "It's a safe, economical way of dealing with the threat that black carp pose to
our environment, while still meeting the needs of the state's thriving aquaculture industry.
To ensure the accomplishment of the five-year goal of eliminating all black carp from Missouri,
Stucky said the Conservation Department is working with fish farmers and research institutions to
develop alternative methods of snail control. He also said the Conservation Department will work
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Missouri's congressional delegation to obtain
financial incentives for fish producers who control snails using other methods.
"Using state hatcheries to produce sterile black carp is the best way to achieve the goal of
eliminating these fish," said Stucky, "but it is only an interim measure."
- Jim Low -
Researchers get a glimpse of animals' struggle against the elements.
WILLIAMSBURG, Mo. -- Another bobwhite quail had died at Whetstone Creek Conservation Area (CA), and Robert Byrd was determined to know how. This particular bird went to its death wearing a radio collar that Byrd had placed around its neck. So, using a radio receiver, the wildlife researcher tracked the ill-fated quail to its final resting place in a clump of prairie grass.
The round, brown body showed no sign of injury. Apparently it simply ran out of fuel for its tiny metabolic furnace. The flame of its life was snuffed out by weather more characteristic of the Arctic than the Midwest.
Wildlife biologists with the Missouri Department of Conservation know that deep snow, extreme cold and gusty wind shift the precarious balance of life and death against small birds and mammals. But the evidence seldom is as immediate and concrete as what Byrd has been seeing in his daily rounds. He is studying bobwhites' habitat preferences and survival as part of a cooperative study involving the Conservation Department and the University of Missouri.
Tracking dozens of radio-collared quail gives Byrd a window on the day-to-day struggle of small creatures in extreme weather. The high-quality habitat at Whetstone Creek CA a patchwork of harvested and standing row crops and native, warm-season grass pastures interlaced with thick, brushy cover is ideal for quail and other small birds and mammals. Sometimes, though, even ideal habitat isn't enough.
Cold weather forces small animals to venture out and forage for food to replenish their energy. With all but the thickest cover drifted over, owls, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, skunks, weasels and raccoons find it easier to find and catch their prey. Hawks sometimes find prey so easy to catch that they eat only the heads of birds, dropping the bodies to the ground.
Large animals, such as deer and turkeys have more of a buffer against extended cold, and they can dig through snow cover or forage above it for food. They can afford to reduce their activity during bitterly cold weather to conserve energy and seek out foods rich in carbohydrates to maintain energy reserves.
Animals whose habits allow them to find food and shelter regardless of weather fare well, too. Squirrels can feed on buds and stockpiled nuts and hole up in hollow trees. Flocks of ducks, robins and other migratory birds fly south until they find favorable conditions.
Snakes, lizards and turtles generally fare well during harsh winters, waiting out the cold in hibernation. A few succumb to cold because they failed to dig deep enough into the ground, but these are the exception.
The animals that suffer most in severe winter weather are species that must find food and shelter at ground level but, are too large to hide beneath the snow. Abundant food and brushy cover help rabbits, quail, armadillos, sparrows and juncoes survive by providing energy-rich foods and shelter from the elements. However, as the plight of quail at Whetstone Creek CA demonstrates, sometimes even high-quality habitat isn't enough.
Even among apparently similar animals, tolerance to cold varies widely. Chickadees can survive at 50 degrees below zero, while Carolina wrens perish in weather like Missouri has seen in recent weeks. Mockingbirds, bluebirds, quail and meadowlarks are similarly sensitive, succumbing to bitter cold when snow shuts them out of their normal food sources.
Aquatic animals survive cold weather by going dormant beneath the ice. However, shallow ponds and those with excessive underwater vegetation can experience winter kills when covered by snow. Cut off from sunlight, the plants die and decompose, depleting oxygen that fish need to survive.
Although individual animals perish and severe weather may cause temporary declines in local wildlife numbers, wildlife populations have tremendous capacity to recover from hard times. Given adequate food, shelter and water, surviving individuals' reproductive rate increases to fill available habitat. Within a few years, the effects of a tough winter disappear.
For a list of free publications about helping wildlife survive, write to Publications brochure, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. The Conservation Department's book About Mammals and How They Live is available for $12.50 plus shipping and handling from Nature Shop, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, phone 877/521-8632. Or visit the Nature Shop website, www.mdcnatureshop.com.
- Jim Low -
Buying a youngster a rifle or shotgun is only the first step toward ensuring a lifetime of safe shooting.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Tragedy can easily follow the thrill of owning that first airgun or rifle for youngsters who do not know how to safely operate a firearm. To help children avoid accidents that could seriously injure or kill someone, the Missouri Department of Conservation advises parents to provide firearms safety training before allowing their children to operate firearms.
"One of the most tragic examples of what can happen when a child does not know how to safely operate a gun occurred a few years ago at Bennett Spring," says Conservation Department Protection Programs Supervisor Bob Staton. "Two young boys who had received rifles for Christmas were allowed to take the guns on a trip they took to Bennett Spring with their grandparents.
"The boys had been told not to take the guns out unsupervised, but one morning when the grandparents had gone fishing the boys decided to go squirrel hunting alone. As they were walking one of the boys tripped. His gun went off and killed his brother who was walking in front of him."
Knowing the rules of safe gun storage and handling could help your family avoid such an accident, says Staton. Storing guns in a locked cabinet and keeping the key in your possession reduces the chances your child will use a gun unsupervised. The rule of keeping guns unloaded when not in use prevents accidents when transporting guns. Keeping gun muzzles pointed in a safe direction reduces the risk of injury if misfires occur.
"The first step to responsible gun ownership for a youngster is understanding that a gun is not a toy," says Staton. "After several years of playing with toy guns, a youngster may not know the dangers of mishandling a real gun. Once it's decided that a child is old enough to own a gun, it's your obligation as a parent to know the rules of safe gun handling and make sure your child understands and follows those rules."
Children 11 and older can receive firearms safety training in Conservation Department hunter education courses. Many national youth and community organizations have programs that introduce youngsters to shooting sports and firearms safety. Those organizations include the Boy Scouts of America, the U.S. Jaycees, 4-H Youth Programs and the National Rifle Association. Staton suggests parents attend the training courses with their children to reinforce the importance of the training.
A child's maturity level is a parent's best guide for deciding if the child is capable of responsibly operating or owning a firearm. The National Shooting Sports Foundation brochure "A Parent's Guide to Recreational Shooting for Youngsters" has information on how to determine if your child is ready for the responsibility of gun ownership, where to get safety training and equipment costs. For a copy of the brochure write to National Shooting Sports Foundation, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470.
- Arleasha Mays -
Government and private conservation workers will hear presentations on how to achieve their goals on the 80 percent of land in private ownership.
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. -- Professional conservationists and citizens with a strong interest in the stewardship of Missouri's natural resources will gather for the annual Missouri Natural Resources Conference Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 at Marriott's Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach. The focus of the conference will be private lands.
Keynote speaker Paul Johnson a farmer, past chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and former director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will kick off the conference at 9 a.m. Feb. 1. Other highlights of the conference will include a mixer Jan. 31, art and commercial exhibits, a student job fair, awards banquet with entertainment by Idaho cowboy entertainer, poet and Western humorist Rudy Gonzales.
The meat of the conference is five workshops and 50 technical sessions. The workshops, which will take place concurrently from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 1, will offer participants continuing education credit. Topics include "Using Soil Surveys for Watershed Assessment and Management," "Green Acres Is the Place to Build Exchanging Green for Green," "River Rehabilitation Strategies Geomorphic Perspectives," "Amphibian and Reptile Management on Private Lands," and "Erosion Control, It's More than Riprap and Cedar Tree Revetments."
The technical presentations will last 20 minutes each, with five presented concurrently in each of 10 sessions Feb. 2. They will be divided into general subject areas, including "Planning and Plotting Missouri's Forests," "Landowners, Streams and Fisheries Management," "Wildlife Management Trends and Opportunities," "Private Lands Partnerships" and "Watershed Assessment and Initiatives."
Poster presentations on 20 research projects will be on display at the conference exhibit hall. Further conference information is available on-line at www.mnrc.org. Conference registration materials are available at the Web site or from Sarah Minor, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Parkade Center, Suite 250, 601 Buisness Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203,
The conference is sponsored by the Missouri chapters of The Wildlife Society, the American Fisheries Society, the Soil and Water Conservation Society and the Society of American Foresters in cooperation with the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the USDA Forest and Natural Resources Conservation services.
- Jim Low -
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