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Missouri deer hunters can look forward to another great season, assuming the weather cooperates and they know a red oak from a white oak.
JEFFERSON CITY--An abundance of deer, a plethora of acorns and last year's mild November weather all will play roles in determining Missouri's 2000-2001 deer harvest. On balance, say experts, the outlook is good.
Jeff Beringer, a wildlife research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, predicts that Missouri hunters will bag about 200,000 white-tailed deer in the deer season's three segments, which total 24 days. Firearms season runs from Nov. 11 through 21. Muzzleloader season runs from Dec. 2 through 10, and the January Extension runs from Jan. 6 through 9.
"About 90 percent of the annual deer harvest typically takes place in the November portion of the season," says Beringer, "and 50 or 60 percent of the November harvest happens on the opening weekend."
Weather is the biggest factor in determining how many deer are killed, so good hunting weather on opening weekend is critical to a good harvest.
Deer hunters' definition of "good" weather is slightly different than you might expect. They would rather be shivering in the cold than basking in the sun, because they know that deer move more under chilly conditions. Warm weather on opening weekend means fewer deer killed.
That's what happened last year, when high temperatures hovered in the 70s and 80s, not just opening weekend, but throughout the 11-day season. The 1999 opening weekend deer harvest fell 18,745 short of the previous year's figure. After the muzzleloader and January Extension hunts were tallied the season total still came 10,591 (5 percent) short of the 1998-99 total.
On the other hand, warm weather encourages hunters to stay in the woods longer. And hunters who aren't shivering are more likely to pass up shots at does in hopes of shooting an antlered deer later on. That also happened last year, when the antlered deer harvest jumped 8 percent compared to 1998.
Beringer says that figure has a bearing on what hunters will find when they go afield this year. "Expect fewer 2¿-year-old bucks," he says. "The season is early this year, and it should coincide with the peak of rutting activity, but this is not likely to be a good year to find adult bucks."
The state's overall deer population remains high, however. Beringer says deer numbers are still increasing in northeastern Missouri and stable in most other parts of the state. The exception is the eastern Ozarks, where deer numbers are stable or decreasing slightly.
Beringer says a few isolated outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease have occurred in the southern Ozarks, but nothing that would significantly affect the statewide harvest.
The availability of acorns also affects deer hunters' success, because it determines where deer will be found. When the acorn crop is good, deer are spread out, making them harder to find. A sparse crop tends to concentrate deer around limited food supplies.
Beringer says this year's acorn crop is plentiful throughout most of the state. But he said experienced, observant hunters still can discern feeding patterns to help them locate deer.
"Deer often will bed down on the same ridges where they feed, and they are selective about what oak species' acorns they eat first. They go for chinquapin and bur oaks early. They also hit white oaks pretty hard, but white oak acorns tend to sprout in the fall, and deer don't seem to feed on sprouted acorns as much. Red oak acorns aren't as prone to sprout in the fall, so deer feed on them on through the winter and spring."
The best strategy, says Beringer, is to find fresh signs of deer feeding and be alert for changes in feeding locations.
Beringer noted that the deadline for buying any-deer and bonus-deer permits has been eliminated this year. "You can buy these permits for zones with open quotas through Jan. 9," he says, "but you could end up standing in line if you wait until the day before the season opens. I'd recommend buying at least a week ahead of time."
This is the second year that hunters have been able to take part in both the November firearms deer hunt and the December muzzleloader hunt with the same permit. It's also is the second year that hunters under age 12 can buy Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permits. This permit allows youngsters to hunt in the immediate presence of a licensed adult hunter who has a valid hunter education card. The permit allows holders to take one deer.
Additional details of deer hunting regulations are outlined in the 2000 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information booklet, available wherever hunting permits are sold.
- Jim Low -
Computerized records make it easier to identify and punish game thieves.
JEFFERSON CITY--The perennial poacher's assumptionthat their misdeeds probably will go unnoticedjust got a little weaker. The Missouri Department of Conservation has a new tool to help make sure convicted game law violators can't just change venues.
The Missouri Conservation Commission can revoke the hunting and fishing privileges of chronic poachers. But until recently, records of violations in one part of the state might never be connected with convictions in another area. This made it possible for a repeat offender to escape notice.
But the hope of going undetected is evaporating as game law enforcement enters the computer age in Missouri. The Conservation Department has a new computer database system that documents game law violations and alerts wildlife officials to illegal activities that warrant revocation of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges.
The new system improves the agency's ability to enforce penalties for game law violations by reducing chances that violations will be overlooked. The system database contains records of all game law convictions made in the state.
Each month, the Conservation Department conducts a search of the database to identify people who have committed numerous or severe game law violations in the past five years. The names provided by the computer are reviewed by a committee of Conservation Department staff who investigate whether revocation of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges is appropriate.
While having your name appear on the computer-generated list does not mean automatic loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges, it does make chances of keeping those privileges less likely, according to Protection Field Chief Dave Beffa.
"We review each case to make sure we are not recommending suspension of privileges based on inaccurate information," says Beffa. "A letter is then sent to the violator saying the department will make a recommendation to the commission to suspend privileges and that the person is being afforded an opportunity for an informal hearing. The violator can give us any information he or she feels applies to the case. "
Suspension recommendations are given to the Conservation Commission, which decides whether a violator loses hunting, fishing and trapping privileges. A person whose privileges are revoked may not hunt, fish or trap at any time during the suspension. Heavy fines and jail terms can be given to those who go afield during the permit revocation period.
"In the past, a court action in distant parts of the state could be unknown to local conservation agents, so a violator could avoid complying with a revocation order," Beffa says. "The new system stops that. It's going to help us be a lot more effective in protecting wildlife. This is meant to be the next step to making people aware that we take violations seriously and we're going to do a better job of getting violators to stop."
Loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in Missouri also can cost violators their privileges in other states. Missouri is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. Members of that organization honor restrictions on hunting, fishing and trapping privileges ordered by other states. Other members of the compact are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Several other states are in the process of joining the compact.
The old saying, "You can run, but you can't hide," is more true for poachers now than ever," says Beffa. "It's an increasingly small world for game-law violators. Getting caught breaking the law doesn't just ruin your reputation where you fouled up. Your misdeeds are going to follow you wherever you go."
- Arleasha Mays -
Turtles are unlikely to survive the winter indoors, and they need time to find hibernating sites now, before the weather turns dangerously cold.
JEFFERSON CITY--Of all Missouri's wildlife, three-toed box turtles probably are taken as pets more often than any other species. They're interesting, harmless and easy to please. Turn one loose in a fenced back yard, and it will find its own food. The "keeper" can concentrate on the fun of tracking the animal's movements and activities.
There comes a time, though, when a turtle needs to get on with more important business. When autumn weather turns chilly, turtles must find suitable places to overwinter if they are to survive the winter.
"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."
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. It's better to keep a turtle through the year than to release it where it doesn't belong. Even better yet is not to remove it from its home area in the first place."
- Jim Low -
Hunters who observe the golden rule get the best hunting spots.
JEFFERSON CITY--American poet Robert Frost said "Good fences make good neighbors." Bob Staton acknowledges the importance of fences in maintaining neighborly relations. But he said fences alone aren't enough to keep hunters and landowners on friendly terms. That requires responsibility and courtesy.
"Missouri hunters have a wealth of public land where they can hunt," said Staton, protection program supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. "However, even in Missouri nine-tenths of the land is privately owned. That makes good relations with landowners indispensable to hunters."
Even hunters who use public land need to be considerate of private landowners, according to Staton. When pursuing game, it is easy to cross boundaries and trespass unwittingly. That is no excuse in the eyes of the law.
"Hunters need to learn the boundaries of the areas where they hunt," said Staton. "Property lines aren't always clearly marked, and there's nothing worse than walking in unexpectedly on another hunter or a landowner at work. It makes everybody nervous."
Staton said unintentional trespassing exposes hunters to several experiences that can ruin the enjoyment of hunting. No one needs a chewing-out from a farmer, legal hassles or the increased chance of a hunting accident.
To avoid those unpleasantries, Staton suggests studying the boundaries of your hunting area on a map before heading out. "Make this a part of your preseason scouting routine," he says.
Fence lines are a help, too. When you encounter a fence, it is a good idea to consider whose land lies on the other side. When in doubt, check ownership before crossing the fence.
"There are times when you might need to go on someone else's property," said Staton. "If you shoot a deer and track it to a property line, you've got conflicting obligations. You have an ethical obligation to find the deer, but you are legally obligated to get permission before going on private property. Most landowners are glad to give permission to go after a wounded deer, but they don't like finding someone with a gun roaming around their back 40 unannounced."
Staton acknowledged that most hunters would find it difficult to leave a hot deer trail to hunt up a landowner. That's why he suggests spending time before deer season visiting the owners of land around your hunting spot. Most landowners will appreciate your obvious respect for their property rights and give you prior permission to trespass if the need arises.
If you work things right, you even might get permission to hunt some extra land. That's a much more pleasant way to meet the lord of the manor than having him investigate a rifle shot and find you field-dressing a deer in his backyard.
Landowners also can tell you if anyone will be hunting on their property. This can help you better plan your hunt and make for a safer situation.
"A lot of needless friction between hunters and landowners arises because people were in too much of a hurry to show common courtesy," said Staton. "Hunting season should be fun. Why chance getting into a squabble that will make you tense and waste precious hunting time? It's just easier and more pleasant to be a good neighbor."
- Jim Low -
Life-threatening deer-vehicle collisions are avoidable.
JEFFERSON CITY--Conservation agents see just about everything in the course of their work, so they aren't easily shocked. But Clay County Conservation Agent Brian Bartlett reports being absolutely amazed at what he found when he reached the scene of a deer-vehicle accident last November.
"I stopped to assist a motorist," Bartlett recalls. "She seemed stunned and her kids were panicking. She had hit a deer. I asked where the accident occurred and if the deer was still alive. She directed me to look in the back seat, where I saw the head of a ten-point buck."
The driver had seen the deer stop by the side of the road ahead of her, but when she drove by, the deer ran into the side of her vehicle. Its head came though the rear side window, and the deer was decapitated.
No one was hurt in the accident, but the driver and her three children, two of whom were in the back seat at the time of the accident, were emotionally shaken. The accident might have been avoided had the driver slowed down when she first saw the deer.
Deer-vehicle collisions are more common this time of year because of changes in deer behavior during the mating season. The "rut," which peaks in November, causes deer to move more and to be less cautious. Defensive driving can help you avoid accidents.
Deer are most active during the evening and early morning hours. When possible, avoid or limit driving at those times. If you must drive during these periods, reduce your speed and watch for deer, especially near wooded areas or where deer crossing signs are posted. The sooner you see a deer, the more time you have to react to its movements.
Slow down immediately when you see a deer, if you can do so without causing a traffic hazard. Do this even if the deer already has crossed the road. The animal could turn back into your path. Also, deer often travel in groups, and others may follow.
A few minor adjustments in your traveling habits can reduce your risk of being involved in a deer-vehicle collision. Tips that may help you avoid a deer-related accident include:
--Deer are often dazed or confused by vehicle headlights. Try to scare the deer away from the roadside by flashing your lights or sounding your horn. Use emergency flashers or tap your brakes to alert vehicles behind you to the danger ahead.
--Some deer-auto collisions are unavoidable, occurring when a deer runs into the side of a moving vehicle or leaps out in front of a car. If this happens and you cannot stop, slow down but don't swerve wildly to avoid the animal. Some of the most severe deer-related accidents result when drivers lose control of their vehicles while trying to avoid deer. It's better to steer straight than to risk losing control and colliding with oncoming traffic or hitting trees or other objects along the side of the road.
--Watch for deer year-round. Deer-vehicle collisions can happen any time and any place.
--Report deer-vehicle accidents to local law enforcement officials. Your report will help the Missouri Department of Conservation track the incidence of deer-vehicle accidents.
--To keep a road-killed deer for its meat, you must first get written authorization from a conservation agent.
- Arleasha Mays -
The future's so bright, they have to wear shades
JEFFERSON CITY--Looking around a room full of hunters today, it's easy to spot the duck hunters. They're the ones wearing sunglasses. With duck populations hovering at near-record levels, their future is so bright, as singer/songwriter Huey Lewis put it, they have to wear shades.
Don't call them lucky ducks, though. Waterfowl hunters stuck out a decade of dwindling duck numbers and decreasing bag limits. Throughout the ordeal, they poured hundreds of millions of dollars and countless hours of volunteer work into solving the problem. Their partnership with state and federal conservation agencies preserved hundreds of thousands of acres of existing waterfowl habitat and created new wetlands where ducks could nest, rest during migration and spend the winter. This coincided with extensive conservation programs under federal farm bills.
These efforts, along with the return of above normal rainfall to the northern United States and Canada, are paying off now. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that North American duck numbers now stand at about 41.8 million. That's just 4 percent below last year's record figure of 43.4 million ducks.
Each year, the Fish and Wildlife Service gathers information on the number of ducks of different species on their nesting grounds. Green-winged teal showed the biggest increase. Numbers of these small, colorful ducks increased 21 percent from the 1999 figure of 2.6 million to 3.2 million. Since 1998, the increase in green-winged teal numbers amounts to an astonishing 56 percent.
Blue-winged teal increased about 4 percent from 7.2 million to 7.4 million. However, most duck species showed small population decreases from 1999. Leading these declines were mallards, which decreased by 12 percent. Northern shoveler and scaup numbers dropped 9 percent, and wigeon fell by 6 percent. Redhead and pintail numbers decreased by 5 percent each. Gadwalls declined by 2 percent and canvasbacks by 1 percent.
Pintails and scaup remain species of concern to waterfowl biologists. They are the only two duck species that remain below goals set under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Pintails are 33 percent and scaup 25 percent below long-term averages.
Rains in northern Missouri and parts of central Missouri during July and August replenished some wetlands and encouraged a good growth of seed-bearing plants that provide food for migrating ducks. Additional rainfall will be needed, however, if Missouri is to be attractive to migrant ducks.
DUCK AND COOT SEASONS
Missouri's 2000-2001 duck season will run for 60 days in each zone. Hunting in the North Zone will open Oct. 26 and continue through Dec. 24. In the Middle Zone the season will run from Nov. 2 through Dec. 31. In the South Zone duck season will open Nov. 16 and run through Jan. 14.
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; one canvasback. 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.
YOUTH HUNTING DAYS
Two youth hunting days for waterfowl will precede regular duck season openings in each zone. Youth hunting day will be Oct. 21 and 22 in the North Zone, Oct. 28 and 29 in the Middle Zone and Nov. 11 and 12 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.
GOOSE SEASONS
The season for blue, snow and Ross' geese will be Oct. 26 through Jan. 31 in the North Zone, Nov. 2 through Jan. 31 in the Middle Zone and Nov. 16 through Jan. 31 in the South and Southeast zones. This is in contrast to last year's season on "light" geese, which was split in some zones.
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. 30 through Oct. 8, Oct. 26 through Nov. 26 and Dec. 23 through Jan. 31.
In the Swan Lake Zone white-fronted goose season will be in two segments, Oct. 26 through Nov. 26 and Dec. 16 through Jan. 31.
The Middle Zone (except the Southeast Zone) will have a three-segment white-fronted goose season, Sept. 30 through Oct. 8, Nov. 2 through Nov. 26 and Dec. 23 through Jan. 31.
The South and Southeast zones' white-fronted goose season will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 8 and from Nov. 16 through Jan. 31.
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. 30 through Oct. 8, from Oct. 26 through Nov. 26 and from Dec. 23 through Jan. 20.
In the Swan Lake Zone, Canada goose and brant season will run from Oct. 26 through Nov. 26 and Dec. 16 through Jan. 14. No hunter is allowed to fire more than ten shells at Canada geese daily in this zone.
In the Middle Zone (except the Southeast Zone) Canada goose season will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 8, from Nov. 2 through Nov. 26 and from Dec. 23 through Jan. 20.
In the South and Southeast zones, Canada goose season will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 8, from Nov. 16 through Nov. 26 and from Dec. 16 through Jan. 31.
In the Swan Lake Zone, the limits for Canada geese are two daily and four in possession. In the remainder of the state, the limits for Canada geese are three daily and six in possession from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 and two daily thereafter.
OTHER REGULATIONS
Falconry season for waterfowl is splitSept. 9 through Sept. 24 and Oct. 16 through Jan. 14. The daily bag and possession limits are three and six birds respectively.
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. "We have seen increases in the blue and snow goose harvest for the past two years," says Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Research Biologist Dave Graber. "We need to continue increasing the number of birds taken by hunters if we are to stabilize or reduce light goose numbers. The damage these birds are doing to their own habitat is undeniable, and it is continuing."
The hunting season for blue, snow and Ross' geese is closed statewide beginning Feb. 1, 2001, in order to implement the light goose conservation order. During the light goose conservation order, persons who possess a valid migratory bird permit may chase, pursue and take blue, snow and Ross' geese between the hours of one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset from Feb. 1 through April 30, 2001. Any other regulation notwithstanding, methods for the taking of blue, snow and Ross' geese include 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 electronically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds. A daily bag limit will not be in effect between Feb. 1, and April 30, 2001.
"In summary, waterfowl numbers and hunting seasons set the stage for a good season," says Humburg. "With timely migration and rainfall, prospects might be even brighter."
- Jim Low -
Clean Water Act provides guidelines to address water quality problems
JEFFERSON CITY--Missourians are encouraged to dive into water quality improvement efforts. Citizens can help address water pollution by learning about water pollution issues and doing their part to minimize effects on waterways. Officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) say having concerned, educated citizens is more important than ever, due to a long-overlooked part of a federal law that is getting national attention.
Section 303 of the Clean Water Act of 1972 established water quality standards and measures to address water pollution. Those measures include identifying waters for which effective pollution control measures are not in place and creating and implementing plans to cleanse those waters.
This is accomplished by determining a stream or lake's "total maximum daily load," or TMDL. This is the maximum amount of a pollution that a body of water can receive and still meet water quality standards.
The DNR evaluates state waters every four years. The agency must conduct tests to determine the types, amounts and sources of contaminants entering each stream or lake analyzed. Polluted waters that cannot be cleaned with standard water treatment methods are listed as impaired. Placement on the impaired waters list designates a stream or lake as a priority water pollution problem. States must create and implement plans to help each body of water on the impaired waters list meet minimum state water quality standards.
Sharon Clifford, who tracks TMDLs for the DNR, says solving water pollution problems is the responsibility of all Missourians.
"There is a lot of concern that we're going to issue stiff fines and penalties as a way to address water quality problems," says Clifford. "Yes, if you are contributing to the problem, you must contribute to the solution, but we aren't looking to punish people. We're going to sit down with folks, explain the problems and provide technical and financial assistance to the local people to help solve the problems."
Clifford says Missourians will have opportunities to participate in water quality improvement planning in 2002. That is when an updated impaired waters list is scheduled to be released. Meetings detailing pollution problems and the process for addressing those problems will be held in areas with streams or lakes listed on the final 1998 impaired waters list.
Missouri has 174 bodies of water on its current impaired waters list. Plans to clean up those waters are awaiting approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For a copy of the impaired waters list, or to alert the DNR about water pollution problems, write to: Department of Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Quality, Water Pollution Control Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City MO 65102. Information on water pollution programs also is available at the DNR web state at: www.dnr.state.mo.us.
-Arleasha Mays -
The Missouri/Arkansas state line will no longer be a barrier to fishing opportunities on White River lakes
JEFFERSON CITY--Some of the barriers that limit fishing opportunities on Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes soon will be a thing of the past. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AG&FC) have established a special permit and new regulations to help anglers avoid wildlife code violations and save money.
The White River Border Lakes Permit will end the requirement for anglers to buy both Missouri and Arkansas fishing permits to legally fish all of Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes. Beginning March 1, 2001, anyone possessing a valid Missouri or Arkansas fishing permit may buy a White River Border Lakes permit to fish the other state's portion of the three lakes. The cost of the new permit is $10. Buying the border permit will save Missouri residents $22 and Arkansas residents $25, compared to what they would pay for nonresident fishing permits.
The MDC and AG&FC also have taken steps to standardize fishing regulations on the lakes. The states have adopted identical length and creel limits for many species of game fish. The walleye length limit on all three lakes is 18 inches, with a daily limit of four. Likewise, the daily limit on catfish has been set at 10 and the minimum length limit for crappie is 10 inches, with a daily limit of 15 fish.
On Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes, regulations for black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) are identical in both states. The largemouth and smallmouth length limit is 15 inches, and the spotted bass length limit is 12 inches. The daily limit for black bass is six fish in the aggregate.
Table Rock's black bass regulations, on the other hand, differ between the two states. On the Missouri side, the length limit for all black bass is 15 inches. On the Arkansas side, the smallmouth and largemouth length limit is 15 inches, but the spotted bass length limit is 12 inches.
The White River Border Lakes permit may be used only on Bull Shoals, Table Rock and Norfork Lakes. Purchase of a nonresident fishing permit still is required for Missouri or Arkansas residents who want to fish other waters in the neighboring state.
-Arleasha Mays -
If you checked the web to see whether you were drawn for waterfowl reservations prior to 4pm on October 6th, you should check the system a second time.
Prior to this date, the web system did show whether you were drawn for any hunt. However, in some cases, the web page may not have given you all information related to your waterfowl reservation.
The phone-in (IVR) system did not have this problem.
Even if you believe you did get all the information you need for your waterfowl reservation, you should check with the system again now that the problem with the web site has been corrected. You will still get the same information you got prior to October 6th. In a few rare cases, however, you may get additional information as well.
Click here to check your waterfowl reservation results
Hewing a 28-foot canoe from a five-ton log got these conservation workers in touch with their pioneer forebears.
JEFFERSON CITYThe Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) hopes its dugout canoe will encourage Missourians to explore our state's natural history. The boat was created to help commemorate the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. It is being used to educate Missourians about the first exploration of the state and the value of the Missouri River.
The MDC boat is patterned after canoes commonly used 200 years ago to carry cargo. From the type of wood selected to the way the boat was crafted, the MDC boat crew attempted to follow canoe making techniques used by early explorers and traders says Outreach Services Section Chief Shannon Cave.
"We found no good instructions or guidebooks, so our best guide was really the tools themselves," Cave says. "The real work of hewing fell to axe, adze, chisel, drawknife and other tools common at the beginning of the nineteenth century."
The 3,000-pound, 28.5-foot canoe was carved from a 10,000-pound cottonwood tree taken from the Dupont Reservation Conservation Area near Hannibal. Cottonwoods were favored for dugouts for their size. The trees' large, straight trucks with few limbs made them easy to mold into canoes. And because cottonwoods grow along the riverbank, traders could avoid having to haul large trees to the river.
Working full-time, pioneers usually could build a dugout in two to three days. Working off-hours, evenings and weekends, it took MDC boat builders five days to get their canoe river-ready.
Upon completion, the canoe was put into the Missouri River to assure that it would float. The canoe remained upright and stable. A flaw in the log, called a ring shake, raised concerns about leaks, but all cracks quickly swelled shut when the boat was put into the water.
Keeping the boat in good condition is the next challenge the boat makers must overcome. Unlike most dugouts which once put into service were never removed from water, the replica will spend most of its time on land, making it susceptible to drying and cracking. During the summer months, water in the bottom of the boat helped keep the wood moist. The boat crew is still searching for a way to keep the boat from drying out this winter.
Cave says the hard work to create and maintain the dugout canoe has paid off in the opportunities it has provided the MDC to educate Missourians about the state's outdoor resources.
"We've taken the canoe to a few Department events and the St. Charles Lewis and Clark Rendezvous as a way to draw attention to our outdoor resources," says Cave. "We want to make people aware of the historical and environmental significance of the Missouri River and our state's wildlife and forestry resources. Hopefully the canoe will encourage more Missourians to take a new look at our big rivers, and then take advantage of the fishing, nature viewing and other outdoor recreational opportunities they provide."
- Arleasha Mays -
These days, even when the news about bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse and pheasants is good, it's no call for rejoicing.
JEFFERSON CITYFavorable weather conditions allowed bobwhite quail to stage a meager comeback in some parts of Missouri this year, but ruffed grouse and pheasant numbers continue to slide downward. Public and private conservationists have partial explanations for the popular game birds' declines, and are working hard to find more answers and implement solutions.
Above average temperatures and below-average rainfall and snowfall allowed quail to come through the winter of 1999-2000 in good numbers, setting the stage for a modest recovery. Continued mild, dry weather through June gave bobwhite hatchlings a good start. However, some of those gains disappeared in July and August, when hot weather and locally heavy rains cut into brood survival rates.
Quail numbers seen in roadside surveys in August were up 34 percent from 1999 figures statewide. An annual survey of quail broods showed 70 percent more than last year.
But Tom Dailey, wildlife research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, says quail numbers only look good this year because they were so low in 1999. Compared to the average over the past 17 years, Missouri's bobwhite population has decreased by 45 percent.
"Despite the increase in quail numbers over the last year, quail are still doing poorly in Missouri," says Dailey.
The news about ruffed grouse is worse. Wildlife Research Biologist Mike Hubbard says surveys of male birds drumming on logs, their spring mating ritual, turned up the lowest numbers since the Conservation Department began reintroducing grouse to the state in the 1950s.
"The continued low grouse numbers may be cause for concern, not only for grouse, but for numerous wildlife species that rely on early successional forest habitat during some or all of their life history stages," says Hubbard.
The news about pheasants is bad, too. Research Biologist John Schulz's report on ring-necked pheasants shows a 37 percent decrease in the annual pheasant population index. That is only a 1.2 percent decrease from 1999, but this year's numbers are down 50 percent from the five-year average and 60 percent from the 10-year average.
Dailey calls the quail hunting outlook "fair at best." However, he says good numbers of quail still can be found in places that have good habitat and that had favorable nesting-season weather. Hunters in the northern part of the state will find slightly improved opportunities compared to last year.
Total quail numbers were highest in western and northeastern Missouri and lowest in the Ozarks and Mississippi Lowlands of southeastern Missouri. Counties reporting more than 15 quail per 30-mile survey route were Benton, Johnson, Ray, Carrol, Clark, Ralls, Monroe, Audrain, Lincoln and Warren.
Schulz says he expects the 2000 pheasant harvest to be about the same as last year's, with fair to good hunting in northern Missouri. Pheasants were most plentiful in the northwest. Only Nodaway and Livingston counties reported sightings of more than two pheasants per 100 miles of survey route driven. Mercer, Harrison, Gentry, Worth and Andrew counties were the next best areas, reporting 1 to 1.9 pheasant sightings per 100 miles.
The grouse survey tracks populations on only a few areas, so comparative population indices for different parts of the state are not available.
Quail season runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. Pheasant season runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 in the North Zone and from Dec. 1 through Dec. 12 in the South Zone. Grouse season runs from Oct. 15 through Jan. 15 in 18 counties. Bag limits, areas open to grouse and pheasant hunting and other bird hunting regulations are listed in "2000 Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations," a booklet available wherever hunting permits are sold.
Schulz says pheasants, which were imported from Asia, have never been especially successful in adapting to conditions in Missouri. Having them here gives hunters the chance to shoot a novelty species occasionally while hunting quail, but Missouri probably never will have the kind of pheasant numbers that draw thousands of hunters to Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota each fall.
Quail and grouse are different matters. Both these species are native to Missouri, and quail have been abundant here in the recent past. Grouse once were common in the Show-Me State, but unregulated hunting, coupled with wholesale clearing of Missouri's forests around the turn of the 20th century, wiped out our "partridge" population.
The decline in quail numbers has paralleled changes in farming practices that reduce nesting and feeding cover used by quail, rabbits and a wide variety of other wildlife. "About 93 percent of Missouri's land is in private ownership," says Dailey. "The Conservation Department owns or manages a little less than 2 percent of the state's land, so what we do on our land isn't going to have a noticeable effect on overall quail numbers. Private land is the key to our quail quandary."
With this in mind, the Conservation Department launched the Open Lands Initiative in 1997. This initiative brings together state and federal incentives and technical assistance programs to help private landowners manage their property in more wildlife-friendly ways.
In 1999, the Conservation Department created a new Private Land Services Division with a field staff of 70 full-time resource-management professionals in MDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture offices throughout the state. These private land biologists are responsible for ensuring that private landowners get help managing their land. To consult with the private land conservationist in your area contact the nearest Conservation Department office or log on to the MDC web site: www.missouriconservation.org.
"The Private Land Services Division has tremendous potential to help quail and other wildlife species that formerly thrived in our agricultural areas," says Dailey. "The single most important thing we can do to bring back quail numbers is to encourage farmers and other rural landowners to take advantage of the expertise and assistance available to them."
Whereas quail thrive on open lands, grouse are creatures of the woodland edge. They need mature forest for mating and nesting, brushy second-growth woods for escape cover and lush open areas where they can find nutritious seeds and insects.
This last essential component of grouse habitatsmall forest openingshas grown increasingly scarce over the past 30 years as forests have grown to maturity on vast expanses logged early in the last century.
"Mature forest is one critical component of grouse habitat," says Hubbard, "but what grouse need that is lacking in Missouri forests today is five- to 10-acre patches of early successional woody growth within large stands of mature forest. Anything that creates an opening, whether it's a tornado or a logging crew, gives grouse a better chance in Missouri.
Ted Cooper, with the Missouri Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS), says other factors probably have contributed to the difficulty of reestablishing ruffed grouse here. A 30-year restoration effort that ended in 1996 brought more than 5,000 wild grouse to Missouri from other states. These birds were released at 72 sites throughout the state to serve as core populations that would repopulate the state.
"Grouse are subject to population fluctuations from extremes in weather during their nesting and brood-rearing period," says Cooper. "A bad spring can wipe out virtually all of that year's reproduction, leaving isolated populations like the ones Missouri had in the 1990s very vulnerable. Just when our grouse were beginning to take off, we hit the flood years of 1993 and 1995. Those years were devastating."
Cooper says it's possible Missouri's ruffed grouse seed populations weren't large enough to weather the storm, and several perished. That, he says, makes it critical to ensure that the remaining population centers have adequate habitat. He says the RGS is working with the Conservation Department's Private Land Services Division to educate landowners about grouse habitat needs and encourage them to create forest clearings. And he says the group also is working to increase public awareness of the importance of forest clearings for balanced wildlife management.
"Old-growth timber is extremely important," says Cooper. "There's no question that we need it. But grouse and a variety of other wildlife need more than mature trees to survive. Several songbirds that use young forests like those that grouse need are in serious decline because of lack of habitat. Today, virtually the only thing that creates that young forest is a chainsaw."
Cooper says the RGS has to contend with strong public sentiment against cutting trees. He says society members don't want to see Missouris' forest decimated as they were 100 years ago. "That would be as bad for grouse and endangered songbirds as letting every acre of southern Missouri grow up in mature oak-hickory woods," he says. "What we advocate is a balanced approach that favors biological diversity by providing diverse habitat."
- Jim Low -
Scientists urge setting objective standards for restoring wetlands.
JEFFERSON CITYWetlands can look good on paper; they can even look good on the ground. But wetland experts say all wetlands are not created equal, and they are urging lawmakers, government agencies and private citizens to set standards for what is and isn't acceptable when restoring wetlands.
The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) recently issued a peer-reviewed position paper recommending standards for wetland restoration. The group, comprising over 4,000 academic, public- and private-sector wetland professionals, says adoption of these standards is critical to future conservation efforts.
The United States' current wetland acreage represents about 50 percent of historic wetlands. In Missouri, drainage and clearing of bottomland hardwood in the bootheel and channelization of the state's two great rivers have diminished wetland acreage to about 10 percent of what it was when Lewis and Clark led their expedition of discovery west across the Show-Me State.
Growing awareness of wetlands' value to fish, wildlife and flood control have led government agencies and private conservation groups to launch wetland conservation efforts in recent years. The goal of organizations and agencies ranging from Ducks Unlimited to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is halting or reversing wetland loss.
As a result, conservation groups, developers and government agencies now routinely restore or create wetlands. In some cases, the efforts are voluntary and aimed at increasing wildlife habitat. In others, developers are required to "mitigate" the destruction of wetlands in one area by creating or preserving wetlands elsewhere. But SWS says such efforts have been haphazard, due to the absence of standards for what constitutes a functioning wetland.
"Governments and the private sector spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually to restore damaged or degraded wetlands with limited and inconsistent scientific guidance for what actually constitutes wetland restoration," says Jane Epperson, SWS Wetland Concerns Committee chair. "As a result, many projects are inappropriately called restored wetlands based largely on the eye of the beholder."
SWS says wetland restoration shouldn't be in the eye of the beholder, and instead offers a set of standards for wetland restoration. Key elements of those standards include:
Reinstatement of driving ecological processes. The structure, water conditions and physical and biological processes that maintain naturally occurring wetlands must be duplicated.
Integration with the landscape. In order to be self-sustaining, wetlands must be compatible with surrounding land and its processes
Creation of persistent, resilient systems. Restored wetlands must be able to respond to disturbances and maintain themselves without continuing human intervention.
Recreation of historic wetland types, as far as possible. Restored wetlands should resemble those present before human disturbance. It is important to recognize, however, that recreating historic hydrological and physical conditions and processes will not always result in wetlands identical to the original.
Inclusion of structural and functional objectives in restoration planning. It is not enough to construct a physical setting and call it a wetland. Restored wetlands must meet performance standards for biological as well as structural objectives. This is the only way to ensure the dynamic processes that define a self-sustaining wetland.
SWS says restored wetlands that meet these criteria will have seasonal water level changes, nutrient cycling, sediment movement and plant and animal populations interacting to perform the ecological functions of natural wetland ecosystems.
"SWS drafted this position paper to call attention to the need for a clearer understanding and use of the elements that should constitute wetland restorations," says Epperson. "We hope it will serve as a starting point for discussion and eventually allow developers, private conservation groups and government agencies to use scientifically based standards for wetland restoration."
The complete SWS position paper is available at the Society of Wetland Scientists web site: www.sws.org.
- Jim Low -
Results of the drawing for waterfowl reservations are now available online. You can find them at the waterfowl reservation system results page.
You will need to enter your Conservation ID number to find whether you have been drawn for a waterfowl reservation.
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