STORY INDEX
Ad Index................. 18 Books................. 10 Calendar................... 2 Classified........... 21-22 Editorial.................... 5 Humor................ 16 Hunting.3, 4, 6, 7, 8,9, 15, 16, 17, 18
Indians.................... 18 Nature...11, 12, 13, 14, 23 Photography.... 12-13 Outdoor news..7, 9, 11 Recipes................... 17 SunMoon................ 16
Traveler River Hills
OUR
Annual
DEER HUNT EDITION
ISSN 87501899
Deer hunters challenged by EHD, CWD VOL. 41, NO. 5
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
MDC: Drought, disease create uneven densities within small areas
By JIM LOW MDC News Writer Missouri has an abundance of deer, according to Emily Flinn, a resource scientist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. She says the key to understanding this year’s deer forecast is regional and even local differences in deer number. Flinn specializes in managing Missouri’s economically valuable whitetailed deer herd. She says the state’s deer harvest has been stable for the past 10 years. However, she expects a below-average harvest this year. She says the past 10 years have seen short-term and long-term changes in deer abundance across the state. For example, changes in hunting regulations have achieved the long-term goal of reducing deer numbers in parts of northern, western, and central Missouri. During the same period, less liberal harvest regulations have Continued on Page 6
ST. CLAIR, MO 63077
Last year’s hunt went quickly for one Helgenberg brother
M BELOW AVERAGE HARVEST EXPECTED — Missouri deer are plentiful but the Missouri Department of Conservation expects a below average harvest for firearms season Nov. 16-26, due to a drought-driven lower acorn crop and population losses from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). Due to the existence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in northern Missouri, hunters also face new regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses. Howard Helgenberg photo.
By HOWARD HELGENBERG y brother and I pulled into deer camp a little later then we had hoped. It was about 11:30 Friday night and the season would open early the next morning. Everyone else was already in bed but we still had a lot to do.The first thing would be to get the tent set up. It didn’t help that the wind was blowing hard. With no moon, it was very dark. There wasn’t time to get real organized. As soon as we had the tent set up and our sleeping bags spread out we set the alarm and hit the sack. I don’t think I got a minute of sleep that night. My mind was going a hundred miles an hour. I never really warmed up either. The alarm went off all too soon and although I was tired I was ready to get up and get out in the woods. A quick breakfast and a brief Continued on Page 21
60-year-old veteran has harvested well over 100 deer with bow, rifle and muzzleloader! Pounds deer hunts exclusively in Phelps and Pulaski counties. Over the decades he has developed a personal tradition of hunting on U.S. Forest Service lands.There are 90,000-acres of USFS lands in Phelps County alone. Clearcuts are deer magnets “I spend a lot of time in the woods all year round,” Dave noted as the most important factor contributing to his incredible success. “I hunt all the available deer seasons; I scout well before the first season; I spend time after the season to discover new patterns that deer develop either because of a new food source or increased competition in the herd. I also love to look for shed antlers. They often put me on to the presence of a buck I have never seen.” Pounds indicated that clearcut areas provide prime deer habitat.“Clearcuts grow up in very thick vegetation-
and the resulting new vegetation become deer magnets.” Pounds quickly pointed out that in spite of the clearcuts being so attractive to deer, that the downside is that the areas are difficult to hunt. The difficulties associated with the dense vegetation removed another deer hunting tradition for Pounds and his hunting buddies. “We sometimes get several guys together to form a deer drive. The cuts are so thick though, that it is real tough to tromp through them. Too, it is impossible to cover all the escape routes deer have coming out of the cuts.” Regardless, Pounds spoke emphatically about his results from hunting clearcuts. “Three of my biggest bucks came from clearcut areas,” he said. Pounds developed a personal hunting method by regularly hunting clearcuts then locating trails leading in and out of the heaviest cover in a clearcut. Sign such as rubs, scrapes, droppings and tracks are other indicaContinued on Page 20
Experience, tradition breed hunting success
D
By BILL COOPER eer hunting is now spectacular in most areas of Missouri. Even the soilpoor Ozarks boasts a healthy deer herd. Despite the fact that deer hunting is great in the Ozarks and everyone hunting has a good chance of taking a deer, there are those individuals who consistently harvest respectable deer season after season. They have a perfect deer Dave Pounds hunting plan, which has been honed by many years of deer hunting tradition. Dave Pounds, of Flat, an unincorporated community in southern Phelps County, has hunted whitetail deer for over almost a half century. The
MORE DEER STORIES INSIDE Deer outlook by region Albino deer a memorable kill MDC seeks hunters’ help to contain CWD Seasons come and go; how much did we really notice? Hi, ho, Silver, away? Wild horse adds wrinkle to deer hunt Eating venison smacks of elitism quickly after an area has been cut over,” Pounds commented. “Phelps and Pulaski are typical Ozark counties with lots of vast stands of big timber. The openings that clearcuts provide
We know Batteries! Any Battery...From Car to Flashlight. www.ellisbatteries.com We Have Batteries for : • Trucks and Cars • Household Electronics • Power Tools • Lawn & Garden • Agricultural • Marine • ATVs and more!
We rebuild hard-to-replace batteries.
We Carry : • Power Wheels • Cables and Supplies • Custom Cables • Flashlights • Jumper Packs • Solar Panels • Dual Pro Chargers
1023 S. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 Ph: 573-727-9860 4041 W. Outer Road, Arnold, MO 63010 Ph: 636-464-8688 1477 N Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 Ph: 573-332-8336
6764 Hwy. 67, Fredericktown, MO 63645 Ph: 573-783-7963 1960 Boat St. Ozark MO 65721 Ph: 417-485-3082 45 Hudson St. Camdenton MO 65020 Ph: 573-346-6963
Quick In & Out-We Install Car Batteries! Same price or less than competitors!
November 2013
RIVER HILLS TRAVELER -- PAGE 2
We have 1,463 ‘likes.’ Please help us get to 1,500 Like our River Hills Traveler Facebook page to get headlines and links to statewide outdoor news
You asked for it...We’ve got it! New! Revised! Expanded!
A Paddler’s Guide to Missouri It’s Oz Hawksley’s original book from 1965 plus a whole lot more: • 9 x 11 inches, gorgeous color phots, lay-flat spiral binding. Put it inside a sealable, clear bag and read while you float without flipping pages. • Maps & details of popular float streams plus lesser-known streams & tributaries. • Along with updated, easy-to-read maps, descriptions of access points, camping, state parks and conservation areas. ONLY plus tax & shipping
$895
To order send $13.70 to River Hills Traveler, P.O. Box 245, St. Clair, MO 63077 or phone Jo at 800-874-8423, ext. 2 with your credit card in hand.
TRAVELER CALENDAR Exploring Missouri Waters. Nov. 8 Missouri State Museum. Resource Hall, Jefferson City. 6-9 p.m. Three hours of presentations on the natural waters of Missouri. Project Wet and Project Learning Tree Workshop. Nov. 8. Twin Pines CEC. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For educatiors and naturalists. Snacks provided; please bring lunch. If you have questions or need to register, you may contact Erica Cox at 417-836-4337 or EricaCox@MissouriState.edu. Theresa Johnson at TheresaJohnson@MissouriState. edu is also available to answer questions. Traveler Bookstore Open Saturday. Nov. 9. 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Have an outdoor book and CD shopping list for your family and friends? We’re open SATURDAY. Save $$ on shipping, other specials inhouse. 800-874-8423 x 2. Nature Trivia. Nov. 14. Cape Girardeau CNC. 5-8 p.m. Nature trivia for all ages. No registration needed. Do you have what it takes to be a naturalist? Off-Trail Navigation. Nov. 16. Howell Island CA, Chesterfield. 12:30 – 4 p.m. Learn to use a compass, area map, and functions of a GPS, then get turned loose on a flat, vegetated, but mostly featureless island. Bring your own equipment or use ours. For families. Reserve. 636-441-4554 starting Nov. 1. Missouri Firearms Deer Season. Nov. 16-26 statewide. Of Zygodactyl Feet and Retractable Tongues. Woodpeckers at Arrow Rock. Nov. 23. Arrow Rock State Historic Site. 8 -11 a.m. Members of the Missouri River Bird Observatory will tell you everything you ever thought you needed to know about woodpeckers. Nature Journal on a Lunch Bag. Nov. 23. Cape Girardeau CNC. 2-3:30 p.m. Join as MDC naturalists turn lunch bags into nature journals good for an entire year. Reserve at 573-290-5218. Wappapello Lake Festival of Lights. Nov. 29 – December 29. 6-9 p.m.. Redman Creek Recreation Area. Weekends until Dec. 14. Then every night until close. 573222-8562. Traveler Holiday Open Houae. Dec. 1. 780 N. Commercial, St. Clair. Noon4:30 p.m. Stop by our annual holiday party for chat, refreshment to set the stage for Christmas. RSVP to 800-874-8423 x 2 for planning purposes. If you forget to call, come by anyway!
Traveler welcomes brief event submissions for the Calendar. We’re especially interested in outdoors or history-related, low-cost community or charitable events open to all. Info needs to reach us by the 15th of the month before the event. Call Toll-free to 800-874-8423 ext. 2 or email to jschaper@rhtrav.com for consideration. We promise to read them all and to print as space permits or place the most interesting on the blog.
Solve the gift puzzle early this year Traveler gift subscriptions are:
1. Long-lasting 2. Appreciated 3. Affordable 4. Easy to order 5. Require no wrapping 6. Never the wrong size q Start q Renew a Traveler Subscription for Name _____________________________________________ Address____________________________________________ City____________________________State______Zip ______ Email___________________________Phone ______________ Select term q1 year - $19 q 2 years - $33 Enclose check or list credit card information Credit Card #__________________________Exp Date ______ Giver’s Name________________________________________ Giver’s Address ______________________________________ City____________________________State______Zip ______ Email___________________________Phone ______________ Send to Traveler, P.O. Box 245, St. Clair, MO 63077
BONUS: Get a 5% Discount Coupon back for every gift subscription you start or renew. Use your coupon on Traveler books or your own subscription renewal.
Just fill out the form at left and send it to us with your check or credit card information. We’ll email back a Discount Coupon equal to 5% of your total order. You can use the coupon on your own subscription renewal or any book purchase from River Hills Traveler. We’ll also return a gift card for you to sign and give to your giftee. For multiple gift subscriptions, send us your giftee information on a separate sheet of paper.
Don’t like to fill out forms? Call 800-874-8423, ext 2
River Hills Traveler 780 N. Commercial• P.O. Box 245 • St. Clair, MO 63077
November 2013
One deer season is just like the last...or is it?
RIVER HILLS TRAVELER -- PAGE 3
I
By GREG “RUDI” RUDROFF deer and both of us nearly froze to hunt from the same deer stands death. on the same farm each deer My friend didn’t stay with deer season. The place looks much the hunting but my dad took his place. He same year after year. The results and I did not yet know what we were mirror each other, too, year after year. doing and we both went home empty A deer or maybe two are taken. Same- handed but we began an enduring old, same-old. Or is it? tradition that first year. By my third It’s funny how our minds can season, Dad and I started to know become so set on what we were doing patterns that we fail to and we started taking see the larger picture. It’s funny how our home meat. CONSTANT CHANGE — Rudi Rudroff began hunting eight years before his son and Maybe we do not Dad no longer minds can become so set daughter Sarah, above, were born. Now he hunts with them. During that time, his want to admit that the hunts with me. He dad and uncle have aged out of hunting. Rudi Rudroff photo. on patterns that we fail years are flying by. still goes out for to see the larger picture. opening weekend Maybe the approach of my 50th birthday but he has turned Maybe we do not want in a couple of weeks his stand and his was the stimulus that to admit that the years deer rifle over to are flying by. I needed to take a his grandson. Dad closer look and see recently turned how much things have 80, so he stays in actually changed. the farmhouse and For example, last year my daughter ventures out towards the woods once took her first deer in her second season or twice only during the weekend. of deer hunting. My son took his What a change the recent seasons have third deer last year in four seasons of thrown my way yet still I did not see it hunting. clearly. How different just these last four My uncle still owns the farm we seasons have been! I’m now out here hunt on. Age has caught up with Generation 3, Selected Models hunting with my children! I began him and in a big way. Sadly, he is no deer hunting eight years before either longer the ever-strong and independent of them was born and now they have farmer. taken one or more deer. We’ve been together these many My deer hunting began with a friend, years of deer hunting but things have both of us fresh out of college. Neither changed. Early on, he hardly spoke a of us had any idea what we were doing hundred words to me in a week’s Expires 12-21-13 Expires 12-21-13 or proper gear. Neither of us shot a Continued on Page 20
You are invited to
Traveler’s 4th Annual
Holiday Open House
Sunday, Dec. 1 • Noon-5 p.m. •Refreshments•Door Prizes •Holiday Book Bargains • Subscription Specials Enjoy a visit with Traveler Editor & Publisher Emery Styron, Ass’t Editor Jo Schaper and other Traveler writers, readers and friends
Our bookshelves are bulging with more titles and bargains than ever. Here’s your chance to stock up for Christmas giving and save on shipping.
All Traveler writers are invited though we can’t promise who will be here, as they are an independent bunch. Please stop by for a hot or cold drink and a cookie or two. Let us get to know you better.
GETTING HERE — We are located on Missouri 47 and Old U.S. 66 in St. Clair, Mo., 36 miles west of the I-44-I-270 interchange in St. Louis. From I-44, take Exit 240. Go south on 47 across overpass to first light. Turn right on 47 (N. Commercial) and look for our banner on your left, just past Bulldog Donuts.
You’ll enjoy seeing our authentic Route 66 office building, built of native sandstone and chock full of interesting photos, paintings, rocks and books, CDS and DVDs about our region.
River Hills Traveler
c
780 N. Commercial • St. Clair, MO 63077 Phone 800-874-8423
Serving the Missouri Outdoors Since 1973
November 2013
RIVER HILLS TRAVELER -- PAGE 4
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TRAVELER & TRAVTALK “Please send me the email newsletter. We love RHT!”— Linda S. Jager
To get TravTalk, our free weekly e-newsletter, send first and last name, email and zip code to estyron@rhtrav.com. Archery
Guns in Sto 0 0 ck Ammunition 9 In 1 Stock
Pro Shop
alls th C Mou Box Calls
gs
Strin Arro
ws
es
Scop
ts
Shel
Scen Broa
ls
dhea
s
Blind
ds
222 Pine St. Arcadia, Mo. 63621
1-573-546-7616
Open
7 Days a Week
ALBINO BUCK — Steve Parsons, Marble Hill, shared this photo of an albino buck his brother, Louis, killed in November 1995. At that time, their parents rented a farm in the Horseshoe Bend area of Osage County. Louis shot the buck where a corn field merged into a woodlot adjoining the Gasconade River.
Trav’s Specially Selected
BOOKS & DVDS FOR HUNTERS SAVE ON SHIPPING! SHOP IN PERSON AT OUR OFFICE
Open 10-5 Thursdays & Fridays Other times by chance or appointment. Call 800-874-8423, ext. 2 We're at 780 N. Commercial (Hwy. 47) in St. Clair, MO Take I-44 west 36 miles from I-270 & I-44. Take exit 240, turn left on MO 47, then right on Commercial.
For fishing, Missouri history and Ozarks culture titles, shop online at riverhillstraveler.com/ travelerbooks.php
Ray Eye’s Turkey Hunter’s Bible
Everything you need to know to bring down the wily birds, spring or fall. Scouting turkey, the best calls, hunting techniques honed to the season and sex of the bird. Includes information on habitat, habits, times of the day, hunting positions, and how to outwit turkeys. Illustrated w/ 200 color photographs,. 224 pages, softcover. $24.95.
Ray Eye’s Practical Turkey Hunting Strategies Basic guide covers turkey life cycle and habits, hunting calls, gear, scouting, outsmarting this wily bird and the differences in spring and fall hunting plus tales of the turkey woods. Over 50 photos. Softcover, 258 pgs. $24.95.
Deer Hunting in the Missouri Ozarks by Howard Helgenberg
Helgenberg thinks about deer hunting all the time - while fishing, while teaching his girls to build a fire - all the time. The total experience is part of the hunt, especially the camping, the friendships, coping with weather conditions. This broad outlook on deer hunting is why Howard found space in the magazine I edited." - Bob Todd, former owner/ editor, River Hills Traveler. 140 pgs. Softcover.
$20.95
Get all of Ray’s Turkey DVDs
• Boys of Autumn: How to call and kill Fall Turkeys • Eye on the Wild Turkey, • Volume III: the Final Chapter • Chasing Spring, Volume 1 • Chasing Spring, Volume 2
$19.99 ea. Get all 5 for only $95
"Honey, He Shrunk My Head!"
by John Meacham Meacham’s cast of recurring smalltown characters resides in or around ONLY mythical Kickapoo County. Meet $10 Ferguson “Two-By” Foreman and Tobias Oarknott of the Reddy-Oarknott Funeral Home and many others. The Red Green Show doesn't have a thing on Meacham's brand of outdoors humor. 192 pages, paperback. $10
SHIPPING, HANDLING & SALES TAX
Please add thse charges for shipping and handling: $4 for 1 book plus $1.25 each per additional book or DVD. For DVDs only, $2 for 1 DVD plus $1.25 per add’l DVD. Missouri residents, include 8.975% sales tax and shipping charges with your payment. If you have questions figuring these amounts, please call Jo Schaper at 800-8748423, ext. 2
To order, send list of items and payment to River Hills Traveler, P.O. Box 245, St. Clair, MO 63077 or phone Jo Schaper, 800-874-8423, ext. 2 with your credit card in hand
Like what you’ve been reading? Subscribe: $19 one year; S33 for two www.riverhillstraveler.com/printsub.php OR Online only: www.rhetraveler.com for $8.95/ 6 months/ $14.95 /year One-time INTRODUCTORY RATE FOR BOTH: $5 for 6 months.