Up Front With Sara Parker Pauley

What a glorious spring it was with tales of successful turkey hunts and the haunting memories of birds that got away! More important was the time afield, gazing at the night sky and listening to the whippoorwills before first light painted a contrasting picture of the woods.

Perhaps the most treasured of spring memories was time in turkey camp with dear friends, where turkey tales and savored meals were shared. One night, even poetry was recited. My selection was The Man from Snowy River by Banjo Patterson, one of my favorites. One line in the poem aptly describes the end of my turkey season. As the rancher sees the wild horses go out of site, he claims to the other riders, “We may bid themob good day!” On the last day of the season, as the bird I’d been chasing preferred the neighbor’s green pastures to the woods on my side of the fence, I uttered, “We may bid the gobbler good day!”

There is always next year, and, until then, there is much to do now that summer is upon us. Our Missouri lakes are alive with bass, blue gill, catfish, and more. The woods and fields are full of melodies and colors for our bird-watchers. And let’s not forget that squirrel hunting opened on May 25.

Dishes and laundry can wait, my conservation friends. Outdoor summer memories are yours for the making.

Sara Parker Pauley, Director
Sara.pauley@mdc.mo.gov