(Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)
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| The leading cause of injuries sustained by deer hunters is falling from a tree stand. Wearing a snug-fitting safety harness prevents hunters from falling. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
Practical environmentalism is a life-long passion for this two-term conservation commissioner.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Anita Gorman, a two term Missouri Conservation Commissioner and long time Kansas City-area civic leader, has received the prestigious ChevronTexaco Conservation Award.
Mrs. Gorman received the award in a ceremony Sept. 26 in Houston, Texas. Besides the honor of receiving one of the nation's most prestigious conservation honors, recipients receive a $10,000 award.
Among the accomplishments and contributions that earned Mrs. Gorman the award are:
--Raised nearly $4 million for construction of the Discovery Center in downtown Kansas City.
--Helped to negotiate the purchase of 4,468 acre Columbia Bottom Conservation Area at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
--Promoted efforts to set aside flood damaged land in the Missouri River flood plain for fish, wildlife and recreation.
--Helped found the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, adding a critical element to financial support of conservation work in the state.
--Numerous successes bringing diverse and often divided partners together in conservation projects.
--Visionary support of education programs to ensure the future of conservation.
--Preservation of a historic Indian site from proposed development.
--Preservation of urban green space.
Joining in Mrs. Gorman's nomination were Gov. Bob Holden, U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Steve Mahfood, then Conservation Department Director Jerry Conley, Former Conservation Department Director Jerry J. Presley, and R. Max Peterson, Executive Vice President of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Ms. McCarthy said Mrs. Gorman's "tireless passion to preserve our precious wildlife and natural resources for our future generations is unsurpassed in the state of Missouri."
Gov. Holden said Mrs. Gorman "is a determined individual who has spent her time and energy raising awareness of conservation issues among the public. She has directly influenced the conservation of Missouri's invaluable fish, forest and wildlife resources. And, she has elevated conservation education to a level that sets the standard for the nation."
"Perhaps Anita Gorman's greatest contribution to conservation is her ability to project enthusiasm that inspires others to achieve remarkable goals," said Conley. "As a devoted mother and grandmother, she may not fit the image of a cheerleader, but I consider Anita Gorman to be just that. She is Missouri's conservation cheerleader, whipping up enthusiasm in the fans and players, leading her team on to victory for the people of Missouri."
- Jim Low -
Shaping up before hunting season offers a variety of benefits, from reduced risk of injuries to improved chances of taking game.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Injuries related to being out of shape probably are the most under-reported hunting accidents. Last year, the Missouri Department of Conservation recorded six firearms-related accidents during the November firearms deer season. Considering that the Conservation Department sells about half a million firearms deer hunting permits each year, this represents a relatively small risk to hunters. Much greater is the risk of an injury resulting from poor physical conditioning. Injuries related to being out of shape probably are the most under-reported hunting accidents.
The Conservation Department only records hunting accidents involving firearms, so Staton has no statistics about other types of accidents. However, he said he hears stories every year about hunters who have heart attacks while dragging deer out of the woods. More common are reports of back and joint injuries that occur when once-a-year hunters push themselves to the limits of their endurance.
It stands to reason that these kinds of injuries would outnumber all others. Hiking up steep hills with heavy backpacks, loading and unloading camping gear, hanging tree stands and other outdoor activities can be extremely strenuous. Launching into them without some physical training is like running a marathon without any preparation.
At the very least, out-of-shape outdoors people are likely to find themselves seriously fatigued, with blistered feet and unable to enjoy their time outdoors to the fullest. Many a hunter has discovered that aiming a rifle effectively at a deer is impossible while panting for air and trying to calm a racing pulse. At worst, being out of shape can contribute to falls, broken bones and other serious problems.
If you are worried about your ability to take on challenging activities, start with a visit to your doctor. Ask for the same kind of check-over your mechanic gives your automobile before an extended trip. Physicians can point out potential trouble spots and help you prepare for them.
It's best to start conditioning six to eight weeks before anticipated outdoor activities, but don't neglect training just because it's late. Even a few days or weeks of exercise can help ward off the fatigue, blisters, aches and pains that can ruin a trip.
Tailor your conditioning to the activities you plan. You use different muscles when going up and down steep hills than you do on flat terrain. Day-hikers can build stamina with daily runs or treadmill workouts. If you plan to hike in rugged terrain, choose hilly areas for training or use step aerobics exercises to prepare properly.
Is backpacking in your future? Then you will need to carry a loaded pack during training sessions to ensure that your back and shoulders are as ready as your legs. This is also the time to break in boots. Starting a trip with new footwear is inviting blisters or more serious foot problems. Oiling or moistening boots with water before workouts to soften the leather can speed up the breaking-in process.
Look for opportunities for workouts throughout the day. If you have to take a file from the first to the third floor of your office, use the stairs. Use lunch hours to walk, run or hit the gym. Instead of walking the dog, give him - and yourself - a run. Now also might be a good time to tackle those physically taxing home repair and landscaping projects you've been putting off.
Whenever possible, perform your workouts in the footwear you will be using outdoors. You may think you are in terrific shape when training in featherweight running shoes, only to discover that the dynamics of performing in heavy hiking boots is completely different.
You may not realize how much you are accomplishing until you are afield and notice how much trouble less-fit friends have keeping up. That's the payoff for pre-season preparation.
- Jim Low -
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| Missouri's 2002-2003 archery deer season runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15 and from Nov. 27 through Jan. 15. Show-Me State archers harvest more than 20,000 deer annually. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
The Show-Me State's population of resident giant Canada geese is higher than last year, and the season is longer.
JEFFERSON CITY -- "More birds to hunt, more days to hunt and an earlier opening day" sums up the situation for hunters who take part in Missouri's early Canada goose season this year.
Annual population surveys show that approximately 64,200 Canada geese called Missouri home this year. That is up from approximately 50,500 last year, promising improved hunting for those who take time to learn the big birds' haunts and habits.
Also good news is the announcement that Missouri's early goose season will run for a total of 16 days in the North and Middle zones, one week longer than last year. The extra days have been tacked on the front end of the season, overlapping the last two days of teal season.
The early goose season runs from Sept. 21 through Oct. 6 in the North and Middle zones. This year, the early Canada goose season has been reinstated in the South and Southeast zones. The season there runs from Sept. 28 through Oct. 6.
Hunters need three permits to hunt ducks, geese and other waterfowl - a Missouri Small Game Hunting Permit ($9 resident, $65 nonresident), a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit ($6) and a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation (Duck) Stamp ($15).
During the early season, the daily limit is three birds, and the possession limit is six. Although brant are seldom seen in Missouri, these Canada goose mimics do occasionally turn up, and are included in the early and regular Canada goose seasons. The limits on brant are two daily and four in possession.
The Missouri Department of Conservation instituted the early season on an experimental basis in 1992. The idea was to develop a way of selectively harvesting giant Canada geese, Branta canadensis maxima, a subspecies that lives here year-round.
Large numbers of the big birds were building up in some areas, following a successful restoration effort that began in the 1960s. In some areas, they were so numerous that they began causing problems for property owners. Their droppings sometimes foul residential lawns and parks, and their grazing on succulent grass can cause extensive damage to golf courses.
At the same time, however, numbers of some other Canada goose subspecies were declining or remaining stable due to inconsistent production in their arctic nesting areas. The early season was an effort to crop only the booming giant Canada goose population by letting hunters take them before migratory Canada goose subspecies arrived in Missouri in significant numbers.
The strategy worked, and federal officials gave their approval to make the early Canada goose season a regular feature of Missouri's waterfowl hunting season.
Giant Canada geese are likely to gather wherever they find lakes or large ponds adjacent to an open, grassy landscape. Mowed lawns, parks and golf courses provide tender, sprouting grass for the geese to eat and a clear view of approaching predators.
Giant Canada geese also frequent islands and sand bars on Missouri's big rivers. Such flat, open terrain surrounded by water is ideal for roosting overnight, secure from predators. During the day, or on moonlit nights, giant Canada geese often can be found scavenging waste grain in harvested crop fields.
Hunters who discover a giant Canada goose feeding and resting spot and get permission to hunt there can put a Christmas goose in the freezer with relative ease. Geese have excellent memories, however, and quickly desert places where they are disturbed. This requires hunters to remain alert for new hunting areas.
- Jim Low -
Timely rains could improve the outlook, but Missouri's season of splendor will suffer as a result of drought conditions in July and August.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Where there has been plenty of rain, there will be good fall color. Missouri Department of Conservation foresters predict that the fall color season will be a mixed bag of brilliant and blah due to late summer drought conditions.
Look in the Ozarks, St. Louis, northeast and southwest Missouri for the best show of color. Recent rains in those areas helped reduced stress on trees. Well-distributed rainfall throughout summer and fall is one of the factors that contribute to good fall color.
Drabber fall colors are expected for Kansas City, west central, northwest, central and southeast Missouri where drought conditions persisted throughout the summer. Hot, dry weather stresses trees, causing them to drop their leaves early without a display of fall color. But even in drought-affected areas there will be individual trees that show brilliant colors.
The drab fall color prediction for drought-affected areas could change with significant rainfall in the coming weeks. Rains could ease drought stress and send trees into fall in good shape.
The change of seasons also affects leaf color. Cooler temperatures stop the production of chlorophyll, the green substance in leaves. As chlorophyll fades, underlying yellow and orange pigments become visible. Cooler temperatures also prevent the food produced in leaves from moving into the rest of the tree. The trapped sugars turn leaves red or purple.
The MDC free poster, "Missouri's Season of Splendor," explains in-depth why leaves change color and has information on where to see fall color.
Woodlands along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers are among the best spots for viewing fall color. A wide variety of trees and shrubs set those areas aglow with golden yellows, deep oranges, and rich reds and purples.
The Conservation Department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintain hundreds of miles of hiking trails that offer close up views of nature's splendor. Staff at the two agencies have compiled lists of the best locations for viewing fall color. The MDC lands chosen are:
--Bluffwoods Conservation Area (CA) in St. Joseph.
--Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center (CNC), Blue Springs.
--Caney Mountain CA, Gainesville, driving route only.
--Lon Sanders Canyon CA, Piedmont.
--Millstream Gardens CA, Fredericktown.
--Meramec CA, Sullivan.
--Painted Rock CA, Westphalia.
--Powder Valley CNC, Kirkwood.
--Springfield CNC.
--Three Creeks CA, Columbia.
The DNR top picks for viewing fall color include:
--Aquatic trail, Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Kaiser.
--Eagle's Nest Trail and Deer Leap Trail at Roaring River State Park, Cassville.
--Lone Spring Trail at Cuivre River State Park, Troy.
--Mina Sauk Falls Trail, Johnson Shut-in's State Park, Middlebrook.
--Peewah and Sheppard Point Trails, Trail of Tears State Park, Jackson.
--Turkey Pen Hollow Trail, Ha Ha Tonka Park, Camdenton.
--Whispering Pine Trail and Pickle Creek Trail, Hawn State Park, Ste. Genevieve.
The peak of fall color is expected around Oct. 10 in north Missouri. Central
Missouri will see peak color in mid-October and colors will peak in southern Missouri toward the end of next month.
- Arleasha Mays -
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| Leaving nectar feeders out late into the fall won't hurt hummingbirds. In fact, the supplement to natural foods helps them make their long migration across the Gulf of Mexico. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
The program that removed tons of trash from the Missouri River last year has expanded to encompass central Missouri and the St. Charles area.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri River Relief, a volunteer effort to remove trash from the state's namesake river, will branch out this year, expanding the cleanup effort to two sites.
This year, Missouri River Relief will tackle a 25-mile stretch of river from Easley down stream to Jefferson City and the area around St. Charles. The event will last from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sept. 28, with headquarters at Busch's Landing near Hartsburg. A program of speakers and live music will follow the work.
The St. Charles event will run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Frontier Park. Music and speakers will be on hand all day to entertain visitors while volunteers pick up and haul trash.
More than 550 volunteers took part in last year's cleanup between Rocheport and Hartsburg. They removed enough trash to fill a barge. The haul included more than 200 55-gallon garbage bags of miscellaneous trash, 173 rubber tires, dozens of major appliances and four truck bodies. Eighty-five percent of the material was recycled.
"With two events, there's no doubt we are going to collect more trash than we did last year," said Charlotte Overby, one of the event's organizers. "I expect a tremendous turnout in central Missouri, building on the excitement that last year's cleanup generated. Getting people out on the river, which most of them have only seen as they go over it on bridges at 70 miles per hour, is a transforming experience. People can't believe what an awe-inspiring place it is. Those who were there last year are talking it up and interest is growing."
Last year's participants included students and teachers from grade school to college, business executives and people with all levels of ability and from all walks of life. Only those 18 and older went out in boats, but younger participants found plenty of work where Katy Trail State Park fronts the river.
Sponsors of this year's events include Bass Pro Shops, Anheuser-Busch Co., Ameristar Casino, the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Conservation Department and other sponsors will provide boats and work gloves for volunteers in this year's events. To sign up, call 573/442-5699 or send e-mail to riverrelief@riverrelief.org.
- Jim Low -
Captive turtles stand little chance of surviving winter in your home. Free them now, so they can find winter hibernating sites.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Probably less than one percent of Missourians know the dietary and habitat needs of three-toed box turtles. Unfortunately lack of knowledge about the animals does not prevent people from attempting to make pets of box turtles, an action that can lead to the deaths of turtles.
Three-toed box turtles are a challenge to care for because their food and habitat needs change throughout the year. During the summer, a captive turtle turned loose in a fenced back yard will find its own food. When autumn turns chilly, the turtles must find suitable places to overwinter if they are to survive. For most, this means a burrow deep in leaf litter or another sheltered location.
"It's very difficult for the average person to meet a captive turtle's dietary needs through the winter," said Jeff Briggler, herpetologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. "Another problem is temperature. Most homes are too cool for box turtles to remain active and keep eating during the winter, but too warm to allow them to become dormant for the winter. The result is slow starvation."
Three-toed box turtles are a forest species, although they also may be found along forest edges and brushy fields. Earthworms, insects, mushrooms and berries are among the foods that meet their dietary needs, but they can be fussy eaters. Some turtles may eat only berries, some may eat only insects, and others may eat a variety of plants, insects and worms.
Briggler said it isn't too late to release box turtles now. It is very important to return them to the exact location where they were taken, since familiarity with their home area makes it easier for them to survive. If that isn't possible, however, turtles can be released in any suitable wooded area.
"Please don't release turtles far from where they were taken," Briggler asked. Turtles from southern Missouri don't belong in northern Missouri, and vice versa. Moving turtles around could spread diseases and parasites. Besides that, dumping non-native turtles can change the turtle gene pool by introducing animals that aren't well adapted to local conditions. That's why it's best to leave turtles in the wild where they can provide for their own needs and mate to keep the population stable."
- Arleasha Mays -
The hunt is designed to regulate quail numbers.
WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation is trying something new in an effort to provide more quail hunting opportunities. It is opening the Dan and Maureen Cover Conservation Prairie Conservation Area to an unusual quail hunt this season.
Permits for the hunt will be issued by lottery. Successful applicants will be given one day permits to hunt on the area during an assigned week. Each successful applicant will be allowed to take three other hunters. Each party will be allowed to take four quail.
To apply for the special hunt, contact: Missouri Department of Conservation, Cover Area Hunt, 551 Joe Jones Blvd., West Plains, MO 65775. All applications must include the applicant's name, permanent mailing address, phone number, and the names of no more than three additional people who will be in the hunting party. No person's name may be listed on more than two permits. Applications must be received by Sept. 30. Successful applicants will be notified by mail by Oct. 15.
- Amy Smith -
With a little rain before Sept. 14, Missouri hunters could enjoy a good early teal season.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri's 2002 early teal season is a week shorter than last year, but favorable weather has set the stage for what could be very good hunting opportunities.
A good early teal season depends on duck numbers and long- and short-term weather patterns. This year, the weather part of the picture looks bright, and that could mean good hunting, even though teal numbers are down.
This year's early teal season runs from Sept. 14 through Sept. 22. That's seven days shorter than the last few years, when burgeoning teal populations prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to allow a 16-day season. The bag limit remains four birds daily and eight in possession. Shooting hours are from sunrise until sunset.
Early teal hunting in Missouri is all about blue-winged teal. Hunters see a few greenwings in September, but most of these hardy little birds migrate much later than their blue-winged cousins.
The first early teal season was offered in 1965. The FWS closed the season from 1988 through 1991, when numbers of breeding blue-winged teal fell as low as 2.8 million continent-wide.
Bluewing numbers peaked at a historic high level of 7.4 million in 2000, following a period of wet weather in northern prairies. The population also responded to intensive habitat restoration efforts in the 1980s and 90s. Last year, their numbers fell back to 5.8 million and, this year, surveys showed only 4.2 million. This prompted the FWS to shorten the early hunting season to nine days.
Missouri hunters could still find good numbers of teal in Missouri on opening day. Exactly how the season plays out depends heavily on weather.
Spring weather is important because it sets the table for teal and other waterfowl. This year, wet weather late in the spring, followed by slow drying, encouraged good growth of millet, smartweed and other seed-producing plants in low-lying areas. Recent rains left shallow water standing among these food plants in many areas. With a little more rain between now and Sept. 14, Missouri could be a smorgasbord made to order for teal.
The final piece of the puzzle is weather close to teal season. Ducks move south in response to cooling fall weather. Bluewings are among the first waterfowl to head south. Even a mild cold front can push thousands of them into Missouri in a matter of days.
Blue-winged teal began trickling into Show-Me State streams and ponds when daytime high temperatures dropped from the mid-90s to the mid-80s in August. When the weather turns significantly cooler, the southward flow of teal will increase.
State and federal wildlife managers set teal season to coincide with the average peak of teal migration. Longer seasons, like those of recent years, increase the likelihood that the hunting season will coincide with weather conditions that trigger migration.
"Predicting the teal season is like trying to predict the weather in a few weeks," said Dale Humburg, a wildlife research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. "We probably will have sunshine, but nobody knows when. Similarly, teal undoubtedly will migrate into Missouri from mid-August through early October. Hopefully, the timing of migration will correspond to the timing of the season, and wetland habitat will be attractive for these early-season migrants."
Humburg noted that teal aren't the only ducks in Missouri in September. He said significant numbers of shovelers, wood ducks, pintails and wigeon also arrive ahead of the main duck migration, and these species are not legal game during teal season.
"The ability to identify ducks is particularly important during teal season," said Humburg. "If you aren't 100 percent sure that a duck is a teal, you would be wise not to pull the trigger."
- Jim Low -
Missourians in need are benefiting from the generosity of deer hunters who donate venison to food banks.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Some Missouri hunters are using guns and bows and arrows to fight hunger. They are sharing the deer they bag with Missouri's needy.
During the 2001/2002 deer season, 1,623 hunters who participated in the Share the Harvest program provided more than 76,171 pounds of venison to hungry families across Missouri.
Share the Harvest was established in 1992 to give hunters an easy way to donate deer meat to the needy. A hunter who wants to participate in the program simply takes his deer to an approved processing plant and tells the processors how much venison he wants to donate. The processor packages and stores the meat for pickup by a sponsoring group, which delivers the venison to a local food bank or other organization for distribution to the needy.
Although Share the Harvest is a statewide program, it is organized and operated at the local level by a civic club or sporting group. The first step in setting up a Share the Harvest program is to find at least one deer processor and one charitable agency to participate in the program.
The organizing group then contacts the local conservation agent. The agent provides information and advice and ensures that both the packing house and charitable organization are reliable.
To learn if your area has a Share the Harvest program, or to create one, contact the nearest Conservation Department regional office.
- Arleasha Mays -
JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Conservation Commission will meet Oct. 16 and 17 in northeast Missouri.
The Commission will meet in closed session at Ted Shanks Conservation Area Oct. 16 and in open session at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 17 at Fiddlestiks Restaurant, 8945 Highway 36 in Hannibal.
Commission meetings are open to the public. Items to be placed on the agenda for presentations or other business should be sent in writing to: Director, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180; fax 573/751-4467.
Requests must be received by Oct. 3. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements at the same address, or by phone at 573/751-4115.
Commission officers are: Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre, chairman, Stephen C. Bradford, Cape Girardeau, vice-chairman; Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis, secretary, and Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City, member.
- Jim Low -
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