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Waterfowl numbers are down for the second year in a row, but most duck species still are above long-term averages, and experts predict a good year for hunters.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Waterfowl biologists are keeping a watchful eye on fluctuating numbers of ducks and geese, but they say 2001 is likely to be another good year for duck hunters.
Ducks found better nesting conditions in the eastern prairie region of the United States and Canada this year than in the west. The result was nesting conditions favorable for ducks migrating into the Mississippi Flyway. However, less favorable conditions for waterfowl nesting may be on the way if the drought spreads east during the next year.
The number of breeding ducks was above the long-term average in the eastern Dakotas and southern Manitoba, but below both the 2000 and long-term averages in other prairie regions. Overall, breeding duck numbers were down for the second year in a row. This year, an estimated 36.2 million ducks were on the breeding grounds. This is less than the record 43.4 million seen in 1999, but still 9 percent more than the long-term average.
This year, biologists estimated the mallard breeding population at 7.9 million, down 17 percent from last year but 5 percent above the long-term average. Although numbers of most duck species declined compared to last year, only scaup and pintails were below the long-term average.
Duck production was far above average in the eastern Dakotas, but at or below long-term averages elsewhere. This year's fall flight projections for various duck species remain at or above those of the 1970s, when ducks were relatively abundant. This year's midcontinent mallard flight is predicted to be 10.5 million, down 6 percent from 2000.
Missouri's wetter than normal spring and early summer will help waterfowl habitat this fall. However, the extra rain also made it difficult to plant corn and other crops that supply food for ducks and geese at wetland areas. As a result, waterfowl could find less to eat at managed wetland areas in Missouri than last year. This may affect how long the birds linger on their southward migration. Natural food production has been fair to good in most areas.
"Fall rains, migration timing and the timing of freeze-up will have the greatest impacts on hunting prospects," said Dale Humburg, a wildlife research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. "Regardless, Missouri waterfowl hunters will have nearly unprecedented hunting opportunity for the fifth year in a row."
- Jim Low -
Zone boundaries have changed slightly, but the familiar scheme of having continuous seasons in each of three zones will continue through 2005.
JEFFERSON CITY Continued strong duck populations will allow Missouri hunters to enjoy liberal duck and goose seasons and bag limits again this year. At its meeting in Jefferson City Aug. 24, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved a 60-day duck season with a daily limit of six ducks.
The state waterfowl seasons are subject to final federal approval in September. Notable changes in this year's regulations include a reduced season for canvasback ducks and changes in the waterfowl zone boundaries.
Duck and coot seasons
The Commission approved a 60-day 2001-2002 duck season. All waterfowl hunting regulations are subject to final federal approval. Hunting in the North Zone will open Oct. 27 and continue through Dec. 25, with canvasback harvest allowed from Oct. 27 to Nov. 15.
In the Middle Zone the season will run from Nov. 3 through Jan. 1, with a canvasback season of Nov. 3 through Nov. 22.
In the South Zone, duck season will open Nov. 22 and run through Jan. 20, with canvasbacks legal from Jan. 1 through Jan. 20.
Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. The bag limit will be six ducks daily, with the following species restrictions: four mallards (no more than two females); three scaup; two wood ducks; one pintail; one black duck; two redheads; one hooded merganser, and one canvasback during the prescribed season. The possession limit will be twice the daily bag limit.
Coot season will run concurrently with duck season in the respective zones, with a daily bag limit of 15 and possession limit of 30.
Concern about the low population of canvasbacks led to the reduction in number of hunting days allowed for this species.
Youth hunting days
Two youth hunting days for waterfowl will precede regular duck season openings in each zone. Youth hunting days will be Oct. 20 and 21 in the North Zone, Oct. 27 and 28 in the Middle Zone and Nov. 17 and 18 in the South Zone.
Participants in youth hunting days must be less than 16 years of age and must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 18 years of age who will not be permitted to hunt. Adults need not be licensed if the youth possesses a valid hunter education certificate card. Bag limits for ducks and geese will be the same as during the regular season. One canvasback per day may be taken by youth hunters.
Goose seasons
The season for blue, snow and Ross' geese will be Oct. 27 through Jan. 30 in the North and Swan Lake zones, Nov. 3 through Jan. 30 in the Middle Zone and Nov. 22 through Jan. 30 in the South and Southeast zones. Bag limits for blue, snow and Ross' geese are the same as last year's statewide20 daily, with no possession limit.
White-fronted goose season will be split in each zone again this year. In the North Zone (except in the Swan Lake Zone), the season will be divided into three segments: Sept. 29 through Oct. 8, Oct. 27 through Nov. 25 and Dec. 22 through Jan. 30.
In the Swan Lake Zone white-fronted goose season will be in two segments, Oct. 27 through Nov. 25 and Dec. 15 through Jan. 30.
The Middle Zone (except the Southeast Zone) will have a three-segment white-fronted goose season, Sept. 29 through Oct. 8, Nov. 3 through Nov. 25 and Dec. 22 through Jan. 30.
The South and Southeast zones' white-fronted goose season will run from Nov. 22 through Jan. 30.
The daily limit for white-fronted geese is two daily, with a possession limit of four.
Canada goose and brant hunting in the North Zone (except the Swan Lake Zone) will run from Sept. 29 through Oct. 8, from Oct. 27 through Nov. 25 and from Dec. 22 through Jan. 20.
In the Swan Lake Zone, Canada goose and brant season will run from Oct. 27 through Nov. 25 and Dec. 15 through Jan. 13.
In the Middle Zone (except the Southeast Zone) Canada goose season will run from Sept. 29 through Oct. 8, from Nov. 3 through Nov. 25 and from Dec. 22 through Jan. 20.
In the South and Southeast zones, Canada goose season will run from Nov. 22 through Jan. 30.
In the Swan Lake, Southeast and South zones, the limits for Canada geese are two daily and four in possession. In the North (except Swan Lake) and Middle (except Southeast) zones, the limits for Canada geese are three daily and six in possession from Sept. 29 to Oct. 8 and two daily, four in possession thereafter. The limit on brant is two daily and four in possession.
In June, the Conservation Commission approved two changes in zone boundaries for the 2001-2002 through 2005-2006 waterfowl seasons in response to suggestions from duck hunters. Those suggestions came from several working groups that met with Conservation Department officials last year.
One change moves the boundary between the North and Middle zones north so all of St. Louis and St. Charles counties and some small parts of southern Lincoln County are included in the Middle Zone. The other change raises the boundary between the Middle and South zones so that Barton and portions of Vernon and Jasper counties are in the South Zone.
Light goose conservation order
United States and Canadian conservation agencies continue to encourage hunters to harvest snow and blue geese to minimize ecological damage being caused by record numbers of these birds. The hunting season for blue, snow and Ross's geese closes statewide on January 30, 2002. Persons who possess a valid migratory bird permit may take blue, snow and Ross's geese between the hours of one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset from Jan. 31 through April 30, 2002. Any other regulation notwithstanding, method for the taking of blue, snow and Ross's geese includes using shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, and with the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds. A daily bag limit will not be in effect from Jan. 31 through April 30.
A falconry season for ducks, coots and mergansers
Falconry season for waterfowl is split. The federal framework allows 107 days for taking ducks by falconry. In the North Zone, the falconry season runs from Sept. 8 through 23 and Sept. 26 through Dec. 25. In the Middle Zone, the season is Sept. 8 through 23 and Oct. 3 through Jan. 1. In the South Zone, the season is Sept. 8 through 23 and Oct. 22 through Jan. 20. The daily and possession limits are three and six birds, respectively.
Full details of waterfowl hunting regulations will be published in the 2001-2002 Migratory Bird Digest. The digest will be available in October wherever hunting permits are sold.
- Jim Low -
Construction work to improve waterfowl habitat is running behind.
PUXICO, Mo. Wet weather is good for ducks, but this year it's bad for duck hunters at Duck Creek Conservation Area. Rainy weather has delayed construction work aimed at improving waterfowl habitat.
The construction involves replacing three old water control and distribution structures and shoring up the west bank of Pool 1. Unseasonable rains, which normally would help flood wetland pools, have hampered the bank stabilization project, forcing cancellation of early teal hunting at the 6,000-acre wetland area in Bollinger County.
Hunting in the timbered pools during the regular duck season won't be affected directly by the construction project. But construction blocked the opportunity to put water from the summer rains into Pool 1. Lower than normal water levels in Pool 1 could restrict flooding.
"The improvements will permit better water management in the long run," said Wildlife Management Biologist Dave Wissehr. "It's going to revitalize the aging green-tree wetland, and that will be good for ducks and duck hunters. We're just paying a little bit of a price for it this fall."
- Jim Low -
3,200 gallons of water allow visitors to get up close and personal with fish.
JEFFERSON CITY Have you ever wished you could see what's going on beneath the water when you feel a tug on your line and battle to reel in the big one? The Show-me Missouri Fish Mobile Aquarium can be your window to the underwater world.
The 40-foot long, 3,200-gallon aquarium recreates a variety of underwater settings to give people a glimpse of fish in their natural surroundings. The Missouri Department of Conservation uses the mobile aquarium for aquatic education seminars and demonstrations at fairs and festivals.
"The aquarium serves as a cutaway slice of the aquatic world that allows onlookers to see what transpires underneath the surface of the water," says Fisheries Biologist Jeff Finley. "Visitors to the aquarium can see anything from how different species relate to habitat to how a fish attacks a lure."
Displays typically include fish from 15 to 25 different species in a natural setting of rocks, logs and plants. The fish include species rarely seen by most people and the most sought-after species of sport and game fish. Programs provide information on fish identification and biology and the threat of exotic species, habitat degradation and other hazards to aquatic ecosystems.
Visitors also can learn how and where to fish. Fisheries biologists and professional anglers use the mobile aquarium to demonstrate fishing techniques and offer advice to increase fishing success. Live-bait demonstrations are among the most popular activities. These demonstrations show how fish react to lures. This helps novice anglers select bait based on the type of fish they want to attract. The fishing demonstrations also include information on fish ecology and how seasonal behavior, distribution and habitat affect recreational fishing.
"We want to accomplish several things with the mobile aquarium," Finley says. "We want to raise public awareness of Missouri's aquatic resources and encourage families to get out and enjoy those resources. A lot of people have never tried fishing, so they don't know how much fun it is. I use the mobile aquarium to show people how enjoyable fishing and nature can be. Often after a program I'll poll the audience for a child who's never fished and give that child the unique opportunity to catch one from the mobile aquarium. Every time a kid catches a fish they jump up and down and squeal with delight. I want every Missourian to have that experience."
The mobile aquarium will be on display Aug. 30 through Sept. 4 at the St. Louis County Fair, Sept. 8 through 16 at Cape Girardeau's Southeast Missouri District Fair and Sept. 21 through 23 at the Liberty Fall Festival.
Requests to schedule the Show-me Fish Mobile Aquarium for events in 2002 must be received by Oct. 1. For information about set-up and security requirements for the mobile aquarium and an application, contact Jeff Finley at finlej@mail.conservation.state.mo.us or call 660/438-4465.
The 2002 schedule for the mobile aquarium will be posted in January on the Conservation Department Web site, www.missouriconservation.org.
- Arleasha Mays -
A toll-free call, your conservation ID number and a touch-tone phone are all you need to register for hunting reservations at 14 wetland areas.
JEFFERSON CITYWaterfowl hunters with touch-tone phones can apply for reservations at 16 managed wetland areas in Missouri 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Sept. 5 through Sept. 23.
Don Martin, wildlife programs supervisor with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said hunters can make their reservations either by calling 800/829-2956 or via the internet at www.missouriconservation.org, keyword: duckhunt. "All you need to make reservations is your conservation identification number from your hunting permit or Conservation Heritage Card," said Martin. Hunters who don't know their conservation identification number can get it from any hunting permit vendor statewide.
Martin said the application process goes more smoothly if you get a copy of the 2000-2001 Migratory Bird Digest from a permit vendor and read through it first. "The digest will help you figure out where all the wetland areas are, season dates in each area and other important details." he said.
Hunters may apply for anyone living in their immediate households. However, reservation holders must be present at the hunt for reservations to be valid. You can apply for reservations at as many as three conservation areas. You can request the first available weekend date, the first available weekday, the first available date, or a specific date.
Requesting the first available date offers the best chance of getting a reservation. Hunters who request a specific date and are not drawn for that date will be assigned the first available date unless they choose not to use this default option.
Applying early is a good idea. Phone lines may be busy as the deadline approaches. The toll-free number is only for applying for reservations. For answers to questions about the reservation system or conditions at a particular hunting area, call the nearest Conservation Department office or the office where you want to hunt.
Following are numbers for information about waterfowl hunting conditions and facilities at the Conservation Department's managed wetland areas: Four Rivers Conservation Area (CA), 417/395-2341; Ten Mile Pond CA, 573/649-2770; Otter Slough CA, 573/624-5821; Eagle Bluffs CA, 573/884-6861; Montrose CA, 660/693-4666; Grand Pass CA 660/646-6122; B.K. Leach CA, 573/248-2530; Fountain Grove CA, 660/646-6122; Ted Shanks CA, 573/248-2530; Duck Creek CA, 573/222-3337; Schell-Osage CA, 417/432-3414; Marais Temps Clair CA, 314/441-4554; Bob Brown CA, 660/646-6122; Nodaway Valley CA, 660/646-6122; Little River CA, 573/624-5821, and Swan Lake Public Hunting Area 573/ 660/856-3343.
Results of the reservation drawing will be available at the same phone number and internet site after Oct. 2. Again, you will need your conservation ID number.
Reservations will be issued for half the hunting opportunities at each area. The remaining hunting slots will be allocated to hunters without reservations on a walk-in basis. Each day, reservation holders and walk-in hunters will take part in early-morning drawings to determine where on the area they hunt.
- Jim Low -
Physically challenged Missourians have access to excellent hunting spots and guides in this annual hunt at Mark Twain Lake.
MONROE CITY, Mo. Physically challenged hunters can apply for opportunities to test their deer hunting skills. Applications are being accepted for a deer hunt Nov. 17 and 18 at Mark Twain Lake and for four other hunts as well.
People with permanent disabilities who require use of wheelchairs, braces, crutches or canes are eligible for the Mark Twain Lake hunt, sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All other applicants are subject to special approval by a selection committee. Completed application forms detailing medical condition and medical requirements must be returned to Corps officials by Aug. 31. The selection committee will meet Sept. 4 to choose 30 applicants to participate in the hunt.
The special hunt will take place at the 1,200-acre Indian Creek Recreation Area. Hunters must have hunter education certification cards, deer hunting permits and hunting gear. Participants may use shotguns, muzzle-loading firearms, longbows or crossbows. Volunteers will help hunters get to and from the field, and with any special medical needs. Each participant must provide his or her lodging and food.
For applications and information, contact Corps of Engineers, Mark Twain Lake Project Office, 20642 Highway J, Monroe City, MO 63456. Phone: 573/735-4097.
Other special hunts on federal lands in Missouri include:
Stockton Lake, Nov. 3 and 4, modern firearms, 12 openings. Call 417/276-3113 for application information.
Truman Reservoir, Nov. 3 and 4, modern firearms, 20 openings. Call 660/438-7317, ext. 1223, for application information.
Smithville Reservoir, Nov. 17 and 18, modern firearms, 55 openings. Call 816/532-0174 for application information.
- Jim Low -
The opportunity to put wild pork on the table is an incentive for hunters to help reduce threats to agriculture, veterinary health and human safety.
JEFFERSON CITY-- Hunters have been an effective force in addressing Missouri's free-ranging hog problem. The Missouri Department of Conservation reports that intense hunting pressure has helped reduce the number of unconfined swine in the Show-Me State.
"There is a lot of good news to report regarding the state's feral hog population," says Tom Hutton, private land field programs supervisor for the Conservation Department. "Hunters and landowners have removed a significant number of feral hogs. That has helped us stop the population from growing as quickly in most counties. In other counties, hunting has actually reduced the wild hog population."
Reducing feral hog numbers isn't easy. A single sow can produce 12 piglets a year. And wild hogs are intelligent. When hunted, they become elusive, making them hard to find and eliminate.
The Missouri departments of Conservation and Agriculture and other partners on Missouri's Feral Hog Task Force have been working to eliminate feral hogs since 1999. The effort is aimed at protecting public safety, natural resources and the agricultural economy.
Hogs can become aggressive when cornered or wounded. They can cause serious injury when they attack humans. Just as serious is wild pigs' ability to transmit a wide range of diseases that can infect humans, livestock and pets. Those diseases include swine brucellosis, foot and mouth disease, trichinosis, pseudorabies, and leptospirosis.
Wild hogs can devastate agricultural enterprises and natural resources. They are efficient predators with an acute sense of smell. They will eat anything they can catch, including livestock, reptiles, amphibians, deer fawns, bird eggs, berries, fruit and acorns. Besides killing wildlife, feral hogs compete with wild animals for food. Their rooting and wallowing damages crops, vineyards and forests and causes soil erosion and stream sedimentation.
The statewide feral hog population is estimated at 1,000 to 3,000 Small, isolated hog populations exist in 26 Missouri counties. That is more than in previous years.
Hutton attributes part of the increase to greater awareness, which leads to increased reporting. However, migration of hogs from surrounding counties or states and deliberate stocking also contribute to the problem. Bringing hogs into Missouri without testing for disease is illegal.
"If the hog stocking is indeed occurring, any county in Missouri could be without feral hogs one day and have them the next," says Hutton. "We need hunters, landowners, farmers, stockmen and conservationists to be on the lookout for hog stocking activity."
Most hunting opportunities are limited to public lands at Fort Leonard Wood, the Mark Twain National Forest, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers properties and White Ranch Conservation Area south of West Plains. In most cases, said Hutton, private landowners and their neighbors are dealing effectively with feral hogs on their land. He said hog hunting is not easy. Missouri's wild hogs are elusive and thinly scattered. They use heavy cover and, consequently, are difficult to find.
Hutton advises hunters to watch for hogs when afield and harvest the animals when possible. When attempting to kill a wild hog hunters should use repeating firearms that would be suitable for deer hunting. People using muzzleloaders or bows and arrows would be wise to hunt from tree stands for extra safety.
The Conservation Department advises successful hog hunters to wear plastic or rubber gloves while dressing wild hogs. They should bury the offal to prevent disease transmission to other animals. Furthermore, Hutton said, hog hunters shouldn't feed raw meat or wild hog organs to pets or livestock. "As with all pork, it's important that wild hogs' meat be thoroughly cooked," said Hutton.
Hunters can be held liable for killing stray domestic hogs. Those who harvest hogs are asked to collect blood samples which the Agriculture Department can test for diseases.
Hutton says hunting is one of several tactics being used to address feral hog problems. State officials will continue efforts to educate the public about the threat the animals pose and to seek legislation to limit the spread of feral hogs in Missouri.
To report wild hog sightings and harvest, call Hutton at 573/751-4115, ext. 3147, or the Missouri State Veterinarian's Office at 573/751-3377.
- Arleasha Mays -
Missouri dove hunters need to keep their eyes open and their wits about them this year, for several reasons.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Dove hunters are likely to find an average number of birds when they don camouflage and load their shotguns Sept. 1. However, not all those birds will be mourning doves, and changes in the season length and bag limits will give dove hunters a greater-than-average incentive to stay alert.
Conservation Department Wildlife Research Biologist John Schulz says dove population surveys show mourning dove numbers slightly below the average of the last 10 years. The decreases are most significant in the Mississippi River lowlands region (down 29 percent) and the western prairie region (down 23 percent). The northern and eastern Ozark border and western Ozark border regions showed decreases of 16 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
Dove numbers decreased in every region compared to last year, when Missouri mourning doves produced a bumper crop of young. Those decreases ranged from 34 percent in the Ozark Plateau to 5 percent in the Mississippi lowlands. Statewide, the dove population decrease is 18 percent.
Schulz says he doesn't expect this year's modest decrease in dove numbers to put a damper in hunting action. He says the amount of time that hunters have spent to bag a given number of doves has remained constant in recent years, despite a steady decline in dove numbers.
The number of doves taken by hunters in Missouri has decreased from about 1.7 million in the mid 1970s to about 700,000 last year. During the same period, the number of dove hunters dropped from about 90,000 to a little more than 40,000. That proportional decrease has allowed the remaining hunters to maintain their success rate.
"When the season opens on Sept. 1, doves really haven't started to migrate yet," said Schulz. "Basically, the only doves in the state are those that arrived here in the spring or were hatched during the summer. Consequently, the quality of hunting on opening day depends entirely on the number of resident birds. By that measure, this should be an average dove season."
Schulz cautioned hunters to pay attention to regulation changes this year. In particular, he noted the decrease in the daily bag limit to 12 mourning doves.
"Harvest data show that the average dove hunter makes something like four dove hunting trips a year and bags about four doves per trip," said Schulz. "A huge majority of those who take part in the managed hunt at James A. Reed Wildlife Area near Kansas City each year bag fewer than eight birds a day. So, for most hunters, a daily limit of 12 is no limit at all."
In return for lowering bag limits, Missouri got extra days of hunting. Last year, the season lasted 60 days, and the bag limits were 15 mourning doves daily and 30 in possession. This year the season is 70 days, with a 12-dove daily limit and a possession limit of 24.
Responding to requests from hunters, the Conservation Department has gone back to a continuous dove hunting season. Last year's split season ran from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 and from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. This year's season will run from Sept. 1 through Nov. 9.
"I think hunters are going to be very happy with the changes," said Schulz. "However, lowering the bag limit creates the possibility that some people will shoot more than the legal limit. A few will forget that they can't take 15 doves per day this year, and a few others might not hear about it."
Schulz said hunters need to be aware of some other changes that they may notice in the field. He said there is an increasing chance of encountering three dove species other than mourning doves.
The Eurasian collared-dove, which has been spreading westward across the United States since the 1980s, now is found in all 114 of Missouri's counties. Though they are bigger on average than mourning doves, Eurasian collared-doves can be mistaken for their more common relatives.
Another species, the ringed turtle-dove, is sold in pet shops. A few of these birds have been released into the wild. While they don't seem to be reproducing and spreading like the Eurasian collared-dove, a few ringed turtle-doves survive in the wild and reproduce in Missouri. This species also can be mistaken for the mourning dove at a distance.
Because of the potential for misidentification, hunters who shoot either of these exotic species won't be cited for shooting nongame birds this year. However, they must include Eurasian collared and ringed turtle-doves in their daily limits.
Such leniency won't be offered to hunters who shoot white-winged doves. This species originally lived only in the southwestern United States and Mexico. However, in recent years it has been extending its range north and east, including Missouri. Bright white wing patches make this species easy to recognize when sitting or in flight.
"Dove hunters are expected to discriminate between mourning doves and other fast-flying nongame species, such as swallows and kestrels," said Schulz. "White-winged doves are just as easy to recognize as those birds, so misidentification is no excuse. Shooting a white-winged dove is asking for a ticket."
- Jim Low -
The continuing slide of mourning dove numbers continent-wide is the focus of attention for North America's best and brightest wildlife experts.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Prolific and ubiquitous, the mourning dove is North America's most plentiful game bird. Americans take for granted the presence of these somber yet handsome birds in backyards and grain fields. Wildlife managers aren't so complacent, however. They're putting the species under a microscope to ferret out the causes of a five-decade population decline.
Biologists who monitor populations of migratory birds have been eyeing the downward trend in mourning dove numbers since the mid 1950s. When first detected, it might have been a natural phenomenon, part of a normal cycle common in many wild species. But with 2001 population surveys showing mourning dove numbers at one quarter of the species' 1955 abundance, wildlife research biologists are sharpening investigative spades to turn up answers.
"The mourning dove is kind of a special case," says John Schulz, a wildlife research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. "With almost any other species, the cause of a population decline can be linked, at least in part, to habitat. With ducks, it has been loss of wetlands, with quail and rabbits, elimination of fence rows and brush piles. But that answer doesn't work with doves."
The mourning dove, said Schulz, is a "habitat generalist." About the only places they don't thrive are wetlands and the forests of the far north. They adapt equally well to row-crop agriculture, cattle ranches, oak-hickory forest and prairie. In the absence of trees, they will even nest on the ground, rearing as many as nine broods per year from February through October. While many species dwindled in the face of intensive agriculture, mourning doves actually flourished.
What, then, could the problem be? Disease is one possibility. Schulz is studying the effects of a disease known as trichomonaisis on dove populations. If the disease is affecting dove numbers, that will raise questions about how the disease spreads and why it is a problem now.
Another possible factor that Schulz is exploring is lead poisoning. Spent pellets from shotgun shells have long been known to harm waterfowl and predators that eat ducks and geese. Water birds pick up lead pellets accidentally while feeding in areas where hunting occurs. But early results of Schulz's research indicate that doves actively look for lead pellets. They may eat them as grit to help grind food in their gizzards, or they may mistake the pellets for seeds.
"Ducks develop chronic lead poisoning from ingesting small numbers of pellets," says Schulz. "We're finding that doves eat so much lead shot that they develop acute poisoning and die. It's too early to know if this is enough of a problem to contribute to population declines, but it's important to find out, one way or the other."
Competition from exotic species is an emerging threat to mourning doves. Eurasian collared-doves, which entered the United States through Florida in the 1980s, have extended their range throughout Missouri. Originally found only in northern Africa, the species colonized Europe in the 1940s and 1950s. If they become plentiful here, they could reduce the availability of food and nest sites for Missouri's native mourning doves.
Meanwhile, the white-winged dove, originally native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, has been extending its range north and east, turning up in Missouri and as far north as Nebraska. And banded turtle-doves, sold in pet shops, also have adapted to the wild in Missouri.
Researchers also are examining the possible effect of hunting on mourning dove numbers. "The assumption has always been that mourning doves' tremendous reproductive potential could offset a carefully regulated harvest," said Schulz. That assumption is being tested in studies so we can adjust regulations if necessary.
"The good news is that doves still are plentiful throughout their range," said Schulz. "By examining the problem early, we hope we can gain an understanding of the situation before it becomes critical."
- Jim Low -
JEFFERSON CITY--The Missouri Conservation Commission will be welcoming two new members. Governor Bob Holden recently appointed Stephen C. Bradford of Cape Girardeau and Cynthia Metcalfe of St. Louis, to six-year terms on the commission. After their appointments are confirmed by the Missouri Senate, they will serve until July 1, 2007.
The Commission oversees the control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of the forest, fish and wildlife resources of the state, as well as the expenditure of conservation sales tax dollars through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
Bradford and Metcalfe succeed Randy Herzog of St. Joseph and Ron Stites of Plattsburg, whose terms expired this year. The outgoing and incoming commissioners are Democrats. Under state constitution, no more than two of the Conservation Commission's four members may belong to the same political party.
Bringing the Commission to full strength, Bradford and Metcalfe will join Republican incumbent members Anita B. Gorman, Chairman and Howard L. Wood, Vice-Chairman in protecting and managing the fish, forest and wildlife resources of the state. Both new appointees have strong personal ties to conservation and public service.
Stephen C. Bradford, 55, has a master's and bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi in Oxford. He is executive vice-president and a co-owner of The Pyramid Group, Inc. of Cape Girardeau, a company that provides skilled nursing and in-home services to the elderly. "I am honored to be appointed by Governor Holden. Serving on the Commission is something that I've wanted for many years; I have great respect for the MDC and the struggles and successes they have had," said Bradford. "I'm proud to be associated with some of the best professionals in state government."
Bradford, an avid outdoorsman, began his love of nature and hunting at an early age. "I can't remember not being interested in nature. My uncles and cousins would let me tag along when I was a boy," said Bradford. "My interest in the outdoors grew and my understanding of the need to preserve our resources developed through my hunting and angling experiences. I also enjoy taking long nature walks. All forms of outdoor recreation are important and meaningful.
Bradford is a member of the Missouri Conservation Federation, former Commissioner of Administration for the State of Missouri and operates several farms. "I have been fortunate to work with MDC in the past and I am impressed by their professionalism," said Bradford. "Even with my experience, I have a lot to learn about the complexities of sound conservation. I am eager to learn and I am looking forward to developing strong working relationships within the Commission and MDC."
Bradford was raised rurally but has also resided in urban settings. He intends to keep an open mind on issues facing the Commission. "I plan to focus on the complete mission of the Commission and I feel an obligation to both the rural and urban needs of the state," said Bradford. "All citizens of Missouri need to enjoy natural areas and promote conservation in all its aspects. The more people--especially children--who come into contact with nature through MDC programs will become better stewards of our resources."
Cynthia Metcalfe, 60, is a graduate of Smith College. She is a freelance writer, Master Gardener, volunteer for the Missouri Botanical Garden, former University City Council Member and state task force member to the Parks and Recreation Committee of Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Task Force of Missouri.
"I'm excited about my appointment and I'm committed to sharing the Commission's goals with the citizens of Missouri--especially our children," said Metcalfe. "Missouri is truly an absolutely beautiful state and I feel a great responsibility as Governor Holden's appointee. I plan to help MDC engage our citizens in the conservation, enjoyment and maintenance of our resources."
Metcalfe has written a series of articles on exploring the St. Louis region by bicycle for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "As I began to explore the region, I was moved by the beauty of nature found in metropolitan St. Louis. I wanted to share those experiences with others," said Metcalfe, who plans to continue the series of articles. Metcalfe has grown her interest in nature, which began with family outings as a child growing up in St. Louis County, through continuing education, exploration of area parks and becoming involved in nature-oriented organizations.
Metcalfe is also associated with Trailnet and Gateway Parks and Trails 2004. "I am eager to help the Commission fulfill its mission to reach all citizens of the state, especially those in our urban areas. Our citizens need to clearly understand the full conservation system, which includes non-consumptive recreation like hiking and trails and management through hunting and fishing."
The strategic goals of the Commission and the MDC are to improve business management systems; preserve and restore the state's bio-diversity; inform and educate the public about fish, forest, and wildlife conservation; help landowners manage their land for sustainable resources; develop and maintain public land that invites public use; integrate conservation principles and urban lifestyles; create effective conservation partnerships; retain public support; and recruit new participants.
"I look forward to working with Mr. Bradford and Ms. Metcalfe to reach our goals for conservation in Missouri," said Gorman. "Their enthusiasm to serve the needs of Missouri's resources, to gain further insight into the mission of MDC and to promote the conservation cause is inspiring."
For more information about the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Commission, please visit our website at www.conservation.state.mo.us.
A little knowledge, some advance preparation and common courtesy make for successful dove hunting on public land.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Thousands of dove hunters find fun and excitement on land managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Hunting doves on a conservation area (CA) isn't a sure thing, however. Getting the most out of public-land dove hunts requires a little work and some basic knowledge.
A few conservation areas host specially managed hunts for doves each year. Rules for these hunts vary. Some are very formal, assigning hunters to designated shooting stations by random drawing. Others only require hunters to sign themselves in and out. Some are only half-day hunts, while others last all day.
To learn more about managed dove hunts on conservation areas, contact: James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Jackson County, 816/524-4394; Eagle Bluffs CA in Boone County, 573/445-3882; Columbia Bottom CA in St. Louis County and August A. Busch Memorial CA in St. Charles County, 636/441-4554; Bois D' Arc CA in Greene County, 417/7513856; Pony Express CA in DeKalb County, 816/675-2205.
The Conservation Department also manages fields at dozens of other conservation areas to appeal to mourning doves' appetite for high-energy foods, such as wheat, sorghum and sunflower seeds. There are no sign-in requirements or special rules at these areas. A list of areas with active dove habitat management is available online at www.conservation.state.mo.us/hunt/gamebird/dove/index.htm.
Preseason scouting is critical. Visiting the area ahead of time allows you to pinpoint the location of dove food plantings and the nearest parking lot. This alone is no guarantee of success, however. Arriving early for the hunt is critical on heavily used areas. Latecomers get the least productive spots. At some areas you must arrive well before daylight to get the best locations.
Don't let crowding ruin your hunt or create unsafe conditions. The first rule of etiquette for public dove fields is not to crowd your neighbors. Leave at least 50 yards between yourself and the nearest hunter to minimize the chance of injury from stray shotgun pellets.
If a hunter takes up a position inside your comfort zone, don't just cuss under your breath. The interloper might a beginner who doesn't recognize the importance of minimum spacing for safety. Leave your shotgun to hold your position and go have a friendly chat to explain your concern. Then ask the new arrival to find a spot that affords safety for both of you.
Helpfulness and courtesy go a long way toward ensuring a pleasant public dove hunting experience. Alert other hunters in the field when doves approach in their blind spots. If you see a bird coming in too low for a safe shot, calling "Low bird, no shot!" will alert inexperienced shooters to your location and the fact that they should let the low-flier pass.
To protect your eyes, wear safety glasses with shatterproof lenses, even if you don't need glasses for vision correction.
Mark the location of birds downed by other hunters so you can help direct their search if a bird proves hard to find. If a hunter drops a bird near you, pick it up and meet him halfway to make the job of retrieving his game easier.
Retrieve each bird as soon as you shoot it. Finding one bird that you carefully mark down is hard enough, even in sparse cover. Shooting more than one at a time leads to lost birds.
Before retrieving a bird, check for approaching doves. Stepping into the open causes approaching birds to shy away, depriving your hunting companions of their chance at a shot.
When retrieving birds, leave your shotgun at your shooting position. Chasing crippled doves with a gun in hand is dangerous. Furthermore, shooting from locations other than your carefully chosen position increases the chances of accidentally injuring another hunter.
Make a mental note of areas where your field of fire overlaps those of neighboring hunters. Let others take shots for which they are better positioned. On birds that are toss-ups, take turns. You can let your neighbor know you don't plan to shoot by calling "Your bird."
A good retrieving dog can add to the enjoyment of a dove hunt, but a crowded dove field is no place for an inexperienced puppy or a poorly trained dog. Keeping your retriever under control is critical to his safety and others' enjoyment of the hunt. Bring enough water to ensure that both you and your dog are protected from heat stroke.
Hot weather can cause doves to spoil rapidly. Bring a cooler with plenty of ice to chill birds as soon as possible. If the cooler isn't camouflaged or is too large to carry into the field, make periodic trips back to your vehicle to ice down game. Slipping each dove into a sealable plastic sandwich bag will prevent them from getting soaked by melting ice and keep cold beverages and food clean.
Hunting should be safe and fun. If crowding or careless field mates make either of these two impossible, you can probably find a better place to hunt or something better to do. If you see other hunters taking more than the limit (12 doves daily) or violating other game laws, report this immediately to the nearest conservation agent, Conservation Department office or sheriff's department. Being neighborly doesn't mean you have to tolerate slob hunters.
- Jim Low -
MDC will provide a $20,000 grant for the state's first Missouri River cleanup.
JEFFERSON CITY -- A man clad in mud-caked clothes, sloshing in the murky Mississippi River or commanding a garbage barge would not be a source of inspiration for most people. But for Missouri River Relief project organizer Jim Karpowicz there could be no better muse than Chad Pregracke.
Pregracke's successful cleanup of hundreds of miles of the Mississippi River encouraged Karpowicz to organize Missouri's largest Missouri River cleanup project. Missouri River Relief seeks to remove trash from a 30-mile segment of the river and shoreline between Rocheport and Hartsburg Oct. 6.
Missouri River Relief is sponsored by the Missouri River Communities Network (MRCN), the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Conservation, which is providing a $20,000 grant for the cleanup. MRCN is a nonprofit environmental organization created in 1993 to increase awareness of Missouri River issues and citizen involvement in the river's management. It is one of dozens of conservation organizations statewide that participate in the Missouri Stream Team program.
Prior to his work with MRCN, Karpowicz' most notable environmental stewardship activities were in conservation education. Through his award-winning video productions he has helped educate Missourians about natural history and the environment.
"The Missouri River Communities Network has conducted many environmental projects, but none as big as Missouri River Relief," Karpowicz said. "I heard about what Chad Pregracke has done on the Mississippi and felt we could do the same thing on the Missouri. So I started planning and working to get him to help us."
When it comes to river cleanups, Pregracke definitely is one to emulate. By age 26 the East Moline, Ill., native had accomplished his most ambitious dream by making the 435-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Guttenberg, Iowa, a much cleaner place. That dream began when he was 17. A life along the river and jobs as a diver and commercial fisherman showed Pregracke there was much more than aquatic life lurking beneath the muddy Mississippi.
"I crawled a 150-mile stretch of the Mississippi River when I was a diver," Pregracke said. "I would literally bump into tires, old refrigerators and other garbage. Then when I worked as a commercial fisherman and lived along many of the islands in the river I saw garbage all over and thought something needed to be done about it. I decided I would do something."
At age 17, Pregracke was not taken seriously by most of the business and government officials he approached for help to fund his river cleanup plan. After four years of unsuccessful attempts to convince others the project could work, he decided it was time to do it on his own. Three days of the week Pregracke was a full time college student, the rest of the week was spent hauling trash from the river. Within a year he pulled 45,000 pounds of trash from the river shoreline.
In addition to putting him on the road to accomplishing his dream, Pregracke's initial cleanup helped him get the funding he had been seeking. His project has grown into Living Lands and Waters Inc., a five-person operation that conducts cleanups and environmental education projects in communities on the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio rivers.
Karpowicz has proven to be Pregracke's match in his dedication to cleaning up the Missouri.
"Once the word gets out about what you're doing, people from all over call to ask for help in their communities " Pregracke said. "Because we still have a lot of projects to complete we have to turn some projects down. Jim Karpowicz would not take "no" for an answer. The guy was constantly calling, looking for help on his project. After he didn't get what he wanted by calling, he drove to my house. I was impressed by his dedication and we've agreed to help him out."
Pregracke will station his cleanup equipment near Easley for the Oct. 6 trash collection event. While crews on boats work on the river, bicycle crews will clean the adjacent Katy trail. Harvested debris will be hauled to a barge, where sorting crews will separate the material for recycling.
Karpowicz says volunteers are key to the success of the Missouri River Relief project. He expects about 300 volunteers to participate. Beginning Sept. 1 Missourians can sign up for the event at the Missouri River Relief website, www.riverrelief.org, or by calling 573/442-5699.
A Missouri River Environmental expo and celebration will follow the cleanup. The event will include speakers, live musical performances, informational booths and displays to help raise awareness about water quality and stream stewardship.
- Arleasha Mays -
Proceeds from the annual Endangered Species Walk/Run go to imperilled critters.
JEFFERSON CITY –Recreational walkers and runners from all over the state will converge on Jefferson City Sept. 29 to give endangered species a boost at the 2001 Endangered Species Walk/Run.
The event features 5- and 10-kilometer competitive runs and a 5-kilometer fun walk. Headquarters for the event will be the North Jefferson City pavilion at the junction of Highways 63 and 54.
Participants will receive long-sleeved T-shirts with artwork created by Conservation Department artist Mark Raithel featuring forest species of conservation concern.
Proceeds from the walk/run will benefit endangered species. Registration costs $15 for participants 15 and older and $10 for those 14 and younger. Entry forms are available from Endangered Species Walk/Run, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Phone 573/751-4115, ext. 3807. You can download registration forms at www.missouriconservation.org,keyword "walkrun."
If you can't participate, but would like to make a donation of $18 or more, you can receive a T-shirt. Just send in a registration form expressing this preference.
Sponsors of the Endangered Species Walk/Run are the Columbia Audubon Society, the Grasslands Coalition, the Jefferson City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Missouri Prairie Foundation, the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Jim Low -
Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery and Missouri prairie are the subjects of the Conservation Department's latest video releases.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Nature lovers, history buffs and those who love a good story will want to check out the newest video tapes from the Missouri Department of Conservation. "Missouri 1804," "Lewis & Clark" and "Missouri's Tallgrass Prairie" are available at Conservation Department nature centers and regional offices statewide.
"Missouri 1804" explores the Missouri River as it is today and as it was when the Corps of Discovery set out from St. Louis nearly 200 years ago. Retracing the steps of the famed explorers, the 27-minute video compares conditions then and now.
"Lewis & Clark" traces the Corps of Discovery's journey through Missouri in detail, with readings from the original journals of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and other members of their party. This 27-minute video features historic images of the men who opened the west to American settlement.
The 49-minute prairie video traces the origins and history of the state's most fertile landscape from its presettlement grandeur to current restoration efforts. The tape, with narration by James Earl Jones, features an original music score and stunning video of the plants and animals that define the prairie ecosystem. Archival film footage of early prairie history and video of prairie fires provide added dimensions of interest.
All three tapes are closed captioned. Each sells for $10. Missouri residents pay 62 cents sales tax and $4.95 shipping on mailed orders. Out-of-state residents save the sales tax, but pay $6.95 shipping. The two-tape "Lewis & Clark" and "Missouri 1804" video set is available for $15 plus 93 cents tax for Missouri residents. Shipping is $4.95 in state, $6.95 out of state.
Credit card orders can be placed by calling, toll-free, 877/521-8632. Or you can order online at www.mdcnatureshop.com. Send mail orders with check or money order to Nature Shop, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.
Springfield Conservation Nature Center (CNC) will host a showing of the prairie video at 2 and 4 p.m. Sept. 16. Third-generation prairie owners Dorothy and John Snadon will be on hand to answer questions about land featured in the video. The Folks Like Us Music Society will provide live music, and food will be available from vendors. Call 417/888-4237 for more information about this program.
Runge CNC in Jefferson City will host a prairie video premier party with showings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sept. 15. While you are there, visit a living prairie on a guided nature hike at 10 a.m. or noon. Prairie exhibits, crafts, an Indian tipi display and pioneer games for kids also are part of the day's festivities. Call 573/526-5544 for more information.
Rockwoods Reservation at Glencoe will offer a naturalist-guided prairie walk and show the prairie video. The program will run from 7 until 9 p.m. Sept. 21. Call 636/458-2236 for more information.
Powder Valley CNC in Kirkwood will premier the prairie video at 7 p.m. Sept. 28. Visit with naturalists to find out what lives on a prairie and enjoy a prairie snack. On Sept. 29, nature center visitors can learn about prairies, tour a prairie garden and take part in prairie games and crafts. For more information, call 314/301-1500.
- Jim Low -
Conservation leaders nationwide urge constituents to express their support for what they say could be the most significant conservation legislation in decades.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The bipartisan Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA, H.R. 701) passed a major milestone July 25 when the U.S. House of Representatives' Resources Committee voted 29-12 to report the conservation legislation to the full House for consideration. CARA proposes to reinvest $3.1 billion into state-based wildlife conservation, coastal conservation and impact assistance, historic preservation, urban parks and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The money is part of revenues from leases on federal offshore oil and gas drilling rights. It would not increase taxes or federal revenues.
"CARA is the most important wildlife conservation funding legislation in decades," said Robert McDowell, president, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. "CARA will provide state fish and wildlife agencies the financial resources to get ahead of the curve and prevent species from becoming endangered. For this reason, CARA is the top legislative priority of every state and territorial fish and wildlife agency."
CARA has 239 cosponsors. Supporters of the legislation cite this as evidence of a groundswell of grassroots support. An unprecedented coalition of more than 6,000 organizations, businesses and elected officials, including governors mayors, and county officials, has generated support for CARA across the nation.
R. Max Peterson, Executive Vice President of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA), said "Passage by the House of CARA this fall would move this vital legislation to the Senate and CARA's much needed wildlife funding could be available as soon as next year."
CARA passed the House by a three-to-one majority last year. Then, in spite of a letter signed by 63 Senators urging Senate action, CARA did not reach the Senate floor before the end of the Congressional session.
"Passage of CARA in the House last year signified an unprecedented commitment by the Congress to the conservation and restoration of our precious wildlife, lands, and coastal areas," said Peterson. "We expect Congress to uphold their commitment and give us another victory this fall. State wildlife agencies have the expertise, the will and, with CARA's assured funding, the resources to build on successes which have made our system of fish and wildlife conservation the model other countries seek to emulate," said McDowell.
CARA is especially important for nongame wildlife conservation efforts that lack an adequate and reliable funding source in most states. CARA will annually provide $350 million dedicated to state wildlife programs. States sorely need this funding to reverse alarming declines in wildlife species before they become endangered. These funds will save taxpayers money by avoiding the high costs of recovery efforts as well as assuring an economic future for nature-based tourism and the outdoor recreation industry.
"CARA is a bipartisan, consensus-built, common sense approach to conservation that makes good economic sense good ecological sense, and good political sense," McDowell said.
CARA gives states more flexibility and control of how public lands are acquired and used. State and local officials will decide whether funds are used for improving wetlands, enhancing recreational areas or building city parks and playgrounds.
In addition, CARA prohibits the federal government from using adverse condemnation to acquire new lands. CARA funds will not be used to acquire property unless the owner willingly agrees to sell or if the acquisition receives express Congressional approval.
House Resources Chairman James V. Hansen called his committee's action "a victory for property owners, recreationists, conservationists and local and state governments. With this bill, property owners will see their rights strengthened. Conservationists and recreationists will see more recreational opportunities and the preservation of green space."
CARA fully funds the Payment In-Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program so local communities are not punished for their proximity and support of public lands. Many states use this program to fund vital programs such as education. This addresses the concerns of western states, where a large percentage of total acreage is owned by the federal government.
The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, founded in 1902, is a nonprofit organization serving all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies in the conservation and management of North America's fish and wildlife.
For additional information on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, visit www.iafwa.org or www.teaming.com, www.house.gov/resources/ocs or contact the IAFWA at 202/624-7890.
The sale bill includes boats and motors, automobiles of all kinds, office and farm equipment, video and camera gear, lawn mowers, fish locators and much more.
BROOKFIELD, Mo. -- Equipment ranging from all-terrain vehicles to electric letter openers will go on sale Aug. 18 at the Missouri Department of Conservation surplus property auction at Brookfield.
The Conservation Department will sell 25 half-ton, four-wheel-drive trucks and 13 Jeep Cherokees, pus pickup truck bed liners, sedans, vans, camper shells and tool boxes. Boats to be sold include 23 flat-bottom and one Lund semi-V bottom. To power these boats, buyers will have their pick of 10 outboard motors, ranging from 15 to 115 horsepower.
Brush hogs, tractors, ATVs, trailers, front-end loaders, lawn mowers, electric motors, chainsaws, power trimmers, a winch, a generator and miscellaneous other goods fill out the outdoor equipment selection.
Office equipment in the auction includes a light fixture, printing equipment, an electric typewriter, a calculator, a copier, cabinets, shelves, chairs, desks, filing cabinets, tables, radio equipment, a camera, a film processor, a movie projector, video cassette recorder, an air conditioner, a refrigerator and a microwave oven.
Auction items will be on display from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Aug. 17 and at 8 a.m. Aug. 18 at the Conservation Department maintenance center at 115 Pershing Road in Brookfield. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 18. Items may be added or deleted before the sale. A complete listing and terms of sale will be available at the registration desk the day of the sale.
All property must be paid for on the day of the sale and before removal. The Conservation Department will accept cash, MasterCard or Visa credit cards or personal checks with proper identification. For a list of sale items, call the Conservation Department General Services Division at 573/751-4115, ext 3279 or 3283.
- Jim Low -
Hunting areas will be reserved for their exclusive use.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Hunters with mobility impairments will get a special shot at dove hunting at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area. The Conservation Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) are sponsoring a special hunt for hunters with disabilities at the conservation area in Mississippi County on Sept. 8.
The Conservation Department will reserve hunting areas for their exclusive use, and NWTF volunteers will serve as guides, helping hunters get to and from the field and retrieving downed birds.
Participants will need to arrive at Ten Mile Pond CA headquarters by 5 a.m. and must leave the fields by 1 p.m. They must have small-game and migratory bird hunting permits and hunter education certification cards. For reservations, contact L.L. Neal between 6 and 8 p.m. at 573/334-4942.
- Jim Low -
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