Reflections

Riding Along

June's Vantage Point column, in which John Hoskins talked about Chet Barnes, brought back special memories to me. I remember when Chet was the refuge manager at Big Springs State Park. My father, Charles Baker, had the same position at Sam A.Baker State Park.

When the deer trapping was in full swing, Chet and my dad would meet to consolidate their load for transporting to a release site, and I would ride along. Growing up in a game refuge was a unique experience that I will always treasure.

Don E. Baker, Branson

Lure-Struck

I stared at your August cover for half an hour before even opening the magazine. Congratulations to Cliff White for an outstanding photo.

Rick Ehrhard

Your cover photo of the old fishing lures brought back memories for me of what was in my father's tackle box when I was learning to use a casting rod. This was the summer after Eisenhower's second inaugural.We were floating a river in southern Missouri, probably the Jack's Fork, and he snapped a big Dowagiac Minnow onto his line. These are shown in the bottom row, third and fifth from the left. I don't have any, but a lot of the other lures are in my tackle box, which might be worth a fortune if I could just find it.

Jim Caplan, Columbia

I want to compliment your publication on the wonderful cover picture and inside story. I'm not a fisherman (yet), but I am an antique dealer. The pictures were so attractive I read the whole article.

Bernice Dickson, Sunrise Beach

I would like to identify someone in one of your old pictures.My uncle's brother, Ernest Houseworth, is in the photo on page 27, in the "License to Fish" article. He was born and raised around Versailles and farmed and died there. I was greatly surprised to see him and told all of his family about the picture.

Shirley Simmons,Warrensburg

Eat Squeat!

In one of your articles about squirrels, the author mentioned that there are some people who won't eat furry creatures. I think it would be good marketing to create a name for the meat like we have with beef, pork and venison. I propose calling squirrel meat "squeat."

Felicia Williams, New York,NY

Home-Grown Worms

This works for worms. Dig a 4-foot square hole 1 foot deep in your backyard. Place of layer of leaves 2 inches deep.Pour three cans of corn,green beans and mixed vegetables over the leaves and cover with 2 inches of dirt mixed with leaves.

Every day for about a week, throw in all garbage and coffee grounds covering them with leaves and dirt. When the hole is full, cover it with leaves and give it a good watering down, then sprinkle it good three times a week.

In about three weeks, you will have the best nightcrawlers, earthworms and red wrigglers you've ever seen. I know, I've had them for years.

Jack Besenger, Farmington

Stop the Music

In your June issue, you told how to clean frog legs, but you didn't tell the cook how to keep them from dancing in the skillet or pan. If you pull out the heavy cord, they will not dance in the pan.

Mary Lynch, Mack's Creek

Picture Poor

The Conservationist must have run out of pictures because the deer on the back cover of the August issue is the poorest condition deer you have ever published.

Larry Schuster,Harrisonville

Editor's note: The deer isn't in poor condition. Instead, the deer is in transition between its summer coat and winter coat. This usually occurs in August. By now, the deer's coat almost certainly is lustrous and thick.

Framed

I have read your magazine for years, and the August issue that arrived today is the very best ever! I am an avid collector of old things , so the cover was awesome. In fact I may frame it.

Peggy King, Republic

Turkey Finder

I didn't see a turkey creek in Cedar County on the map in John Lewis' article. We lived south of Turkey Creek Conservation Area in Cedar County.

Charles Hutchins,Marshfield

Editor's note: We goofed. The graphic should have shown a triangle in St. Clair County, designating a Turkey Creek originating in Carter county.

Pearl Makers

Your "Making Mussels" article was interesting. While living in Japan during the occupation days, my wife and I visited a pearl farm. Our guide was very happy to tell us that the seed pearls planted in their oysters were small pieces of shell obtained from mussels from the Mississippi River.

Zell and Alberta Goodwin, Bolivar

Ask the Ombudsman

Q: I don't understand why I have to declare a unit for my bonus permits during the November and muzzleloading portions of the deer season. If you can use a permit with any unit number during the December portion, why can’t you do that the rest of the season?

A: The past several years we've been seeing regulation liberalizations, but our management also must allow for future regulation changes that may result due to a drop in deer numbers.The system in place now can be adjusted to limit the take of antlerless deer should that become necessary.The Conservation Department believes that keeping this system is a simpler solution than doing away with it and then trying to put it back in place at a later time.

During the earlier portions of the season, hunters are required to opt for specific units.This spreads out hunter pressure and results in a more even harvest of does. However, due to a regulation change,many units have unlimited second bonus permits which will allow those wanting to hunt multiple units an opportunity to do so prior to the December portion of the season.

During the December antlerless portion of the season hunters have the opportunity to fill unused any-deer and/or bonus permits in any unit that's open (units 1-27, 33-38, 58 and 59) regardless of the unit number on their permits. Lower hunter numbers during this part of the season make this possible.

Please note that some conservation areas have regulations more restrictive than the unit in which they are located.Many allow hunting for antlered deer only, some only allow archery methods, others are closed to deer hunting. For details on conservation area regulations, contact the appropriate Conservation Department regional office or online.

Please buy your deer hunting permits early.

Ombudsman Ken Drenon will respond to your questions, suggestions or complaints concerning Conservation Department programs. Write him at P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, call him at (573) 751-4115, ext. 3848, or e-mail him at <Ken.Drenon@mdc.mo.gov>