Letters

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From Missouri Conservationist: Apr 2008
Body

Gobble guides

I just finished reading a wonderful story by Nichole LeClair [Here for the Gobble; February]. It revolved around her spring turkey hunt with the Missouri Outdoor Women. If there is ever a need for additional qualified guides, I would enjoy the opportunity to offer my services.

-Clint Chandler, Shelbina

Editor’s note: Volunteers are the secret to much of the Department’s success with outdoor skills courses. To learn more about volunteering for courses offered through the Missouri Outdoor Women’s program, contact your Regional Office (see phone numbers on Page 3). MOW offers courses covering a variety of outdoor skills, including fishing, hunting, hiking, nature viewing, dutch-oven cooking, shooting sports and safety, archery, using maps, compasses and GPS, and more. For upcoming events, you can also visit their Web site as listed below.

Not Hunting Heavy

I just received my March issue and it is as great as always. I am troubled by the letter to the editor entitled “Hunting Heavy.” I find that your magazine represents the essence of your mission statement: “To protect and manage the fish, forest and wildlife resources of the state; to serve the public and facilitate their participation in resource management activities; and to provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about fish, forest and wildlife resources.”

A reasonable person understands that we all have different interests and viewpoints. To take a stab at your well-balanced magazine for the sake of forcing an individual viewpoint or opinion is shameful. I take my three girls hunting and fishing; besides enjoying the time with my daughters I hope to instill patience, persistence and pride in them. Be proud of yourself and let others be proud of themselves.

- Andrew Hoffman, Warrenton

I am writing in response to a letter to the editor in the March issue [“Hunting Heavy”] that disagreed with the number of hunting articles in the February issue. Though I respect the other reader’s difference of opinion, I would like to say thank you for your many hunting-related stories.

There are many new hunters in the woods every year, young and old. You do a great job of educating those new hunters, improving safety for us all. These new hunters need to know how to hunt safely and process their meat after the hunt. Keep up the good work.

- Travis Peterson, Jasper

Hawks on the highway

I picked up my January issue and noticed Hawks on Parade [Page 5]. Traveling home on Hwy 24 from spending New Year’s in Nashville, I saw a great number of hawks dead on the side of the road. As we came up from Sikeston I noticed the same thing on Hwy. 55. Is there an explanation?

- Dave Crowley, Oakville

Editor’s note: According to Brad Jacobs, Department ornithologist, “The region you were traveling through is a major wintering area for hawks due to the large rodent populations associated with the waste grains from agriculture. Rodents usually live in burrows in grasslands; so, the median and roadside grassland are about the only places to forage. Most of the hawks are red-tailed hawks, which hunt from a perch and catch their prey by stooping or dropping off the perch, gliding down to catch their prey. They are so focused on the prey that they don’t watch the vehicles that are whizzing by and get hit. It is a fairly significant loss over time, but the solution to it is probably with drivers being more vigilant.”

Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity.

This Issue's Staff

Editor in Chief - Ara Clark
Managing Editor - Nichole LeClair
Art Director - Cliff White
Writer/editor - Tom Cwynar
Staff Writer - Bonnie Chasteen
Staff Writer - Jim Low
Staff Writer - Arleasha Mays
Photographer - Noppadol Paothong
Photographer - David Stonner
Designer - Stephanie Ruby
Artist - Dave Besenger
Artist - Mark Raithel
Circulation - Laura Scheuler