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VOL. 45, NO. 6
DECEMBER 2017
Great gift ideas for that special outdoors person
I Field Notes notebooks.
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By Michelle Turner t’s December. If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping, it’s time to decide what to do for the special people in your life. Christmas shopping was stressful for me until I learned that I needed to avoid crowded malls and retail stores. When I realized that local businesses and online shops offer both unique and special options, Christmas shopping be-
came much more enjoyable! So, my River Hills Traveler friends, for all of you who love the state of Missouri and the great outdoors, I have a few ideas that could help take your giftgiving experience to a better level for all parties involved! 1. Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Nature Shop at mdcnaPlease see GIFTS, 18
A card created by Kim Carr.
National Christmas Tree features ornaments handcrafted by an Eminence woman By MATTIE LINK
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mattie@sextonmediagroup.com _____________
minence artist Jennifer Dodson has handcrafted 12 Christmas ornaments that represent Missouri on the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., as part of the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 30. Dodson is a retired school teacher and works part-time at the post office in Fremont, Mo. She also paints Christmas ornaments in her free time. She volunteers at Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) and does several crafty and artistic things for the park, which is why the ONSR nominated her to design the ornaments. “When they first asked me, I thought I wasn’t good enough. I looked at myself as a teacher first instead of an artist,” said Dodson. “I actually made a C in my painting class and I shoved my work under my bed. I now realize it wasn’t that they were bad, it was just personal preference. Because mine didn’t look like theirs I thought it was trashed, but it was good.” Dodson designed the ornaments to showcase historic structures from national parks and historic sites in Missouri, with an emphasis on the ONSR. “Historic structures have always fascinated me,” said Dodson. When she first started making ornaments, she was taking over for her daughter who made personalized snowmen for people. “I took it over for her when she went to school. In the second year I did one of
Local artist Jennifer Dodson handcrafted 12 ornaments to accompany the National Christmas Tree, featuring Missouri's six national parks and Mark Twain National Forest.
Alley Spring and that’s when I started doing other things,” said Dodson. Dodson creates ornaments of snowmen, historic structures, homesteads, and housewarming ornaments of a fam-
ily home. The 12 ornaments will be on one of the 56 trees representing each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia from Dec. 1 through Jan. 1, 2018, in
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Washington, D.C. “It is such an honor to decorate my home state tree and help the nation celebrate the holidays in one of our most recPlease see TREE, 19
Page 2 • December 2017
Gear helps hunters bag Christmas geese T he 2016 Christmas weekend was a good one. The weather was near perfect, my whole family was home, and the hunting was outstanding. Now do not get me wrong. I did not spend the entire holiday weekend in the field. However, on Saturday morning I did manage to sneak down for a goose hunt with my good friend and waterfowlhunting expert, Kevin Brunstein. Our purpose for this hunt was twofold. First, Kevin had just recently gotten permission to goose hunt a cornfield very near his home. When I say “very near,” I mean it. We actually drove our ATVs, pulling trailers filled with fullbodied decoys, right from his house. We Mike Roux hunted within sight ———— of his yard. The other purpose for this hunt was to field test some new duck and goose calls from Mountain Screamer Game Calls. Needless to say, these new calls were awesome and I will tell you much more about them in subsequent articles. Let’s just say, for now, that they performed brilliantly. Kevin and I got there early and sat up on a rise in the middle of the field. I was shooting some new waterfowl loads from WINCHESTER called, “Xtended Range Hi Density.” I was shooting “B” sized shot. There were lots of geese in the air, even before first light. Kevin always has his geese patterned pretty well. He watches them closely and knows where they are likely to feed and at about what times. He hunts different fields in the morning than he does in the evening. His prediction for this holiday hunt was for things to heat up a bit after 8 a.m. He nailed it again. The geese were roosting on three different bodies of water within a couple of miles of this field. We really only needed one flock to decide to come to us for breakfast. We had the vast majority of the geese to our north, but the geese that came
from the south were the ones that wanted to play our game. We do not have a fancy setup for these hunts. Kevin has the birds scouted. We put out about six dozen full-bodied goose decoys and then just lay down between rows of cut corn. Kevin wears some kind of cornfield camo and I wear the grassland pattern made by SHAMAN CAMOUFLAGE, out of Wichita, Kansas. Brunstein is also a firm believer in flagging geese. He is very successful with his technique and gets the attention of most of the geese we kill. When we get two flags flapping, we really get them to notice us. The first shots came from my gun and came way too quickly. I got excited and shot too soon on a single goose that, in retrospect, would probably have landed in the decoys. After Kevin’s sermon I agreed that he was right and that I should have been more patient. The next birds in were much more “reachable.” We both stopped flagging as the eight huge birds set their wings and began their approach. A single goose peeled off to my side as the flock swung over Kevin. Two big Canada geese hit the deck among cheers from happy hunters. “Now that’s the way it’s supposed to work!” Kevin yelled as he pumped his fist in victory. “These new calls are great!” “They pulled ‘em right in,” I replied. Before long another group of six geese hit the same glide path. This time we did no flagging. We wanted to see if we could use just the calls to coax the small flock into range. When Kevin said “take ‘em,” the geese were at less than 20 yards and only two shots rang out as the lead pair folded in mid-air. With two limits down in two hours, it was time for us to return to our families and to our holiday festivities. But this short trip afield was the icing on our cake and the calls, the camo, and the new shells all did their jobs amazingly well. (Mike Roux is the Midwest Regional Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Outdoor Ministry.!To become a Home Team Member of this new ministry, call him at 217257-7895.)
RiverHillsTraveler.com
In Shaman camo and blowing Mountain Screamer calls, Mike Roux brought home the Christmas geese.
RiverHillsTraveler.com
December 2017 • Page 3
Savoring the last fishing trip of the season
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he alarm was set for 5 a.m. and it did its job without fail. We got up and began getting ready. The car was packed the night before with all the fishing gear and clothes, so the only thing that needed to be taken to the car this morning was the cooler after we got the ice and other stuff out of the fridge. The car had a full tank of gas and was also raring to go. It was the 23rd of October and we were headed for Montauk State Park for our last trip of the trout season, which ends at the end of the month. It is a tradition for us to close out the fishing season in this way and we normally do it at the very end of the month, but this year the 23rd was working best for us. We live in Crystal City, Mo., so our route to Montauk entails traveling south on Highway 21 to Highway 32, and then west to Salem and Montauk shortly afterward. The drive is three hours but I don’t Bill Oder mind it. ———— We’ve tried the Interstate 44 route, which involves getting off at Rolla and then heading south, and it still takes three hours but you don’t experience the nice drive through the countryside and as an extra bonus at this time of year, there’s all the impressive fall colors. Also, the Interstate 44 route involves getting into the middle of a lot of rush hour St. Louis traffic, especially at the time of morning that we like to leave. I have always been a fan of small towns so I also particularly like all the small towns through which we pass, some of which are Hillsboro, DeSoto, Old Mines, Potosi, Caledonia, Bixby, Boss, and Salem. On our first leg of the trip, going south on Highway 21, we met a lot of cars heading north to St. Louis taking their drivers and passengers to work. We were reminded of how nice it is to be retired and heading toward a fishing hole instead of off to work. Our first stop along the way, a tradition for us, was at the Hardee’s at Potosi. My wife likes their biscuits and gravy and I, with my sweet tooth, like their cinnamon and raisin biscuits. We got fresh coffee for our travel mugs and we were off again. The next interesting small town is Caledonia, population 130. This town was laid out in 1819 and features a lot of old, historic homes that have been restored. Every time we go through this town, I think that it would be a good place to retire. The speed limit is 30mph through the town and I always slow down, not only
out of respect for the law but also out of respect for the town itself. It is a neat town. After Caledonia, the turnoff on Highway 32 is not too far away. The first sight after turning onto 32 is a school on the right. We see several country schools on our trip. Country schools always seemed to me to have more personality than those in the city. I’ve often wondered what it was like to attend one of those one-room schoolhouses of the past. I’m sure those teachers earned every cent they were paid. The leg of the trip along Highway 32 is the longest part of the trip. It is a very curvy road and we often comment that if it was straightened out, it would knock at least an hour off the trip, maybe more. Several small towns dot this leg of the trip. If fall colors are to your liking, then this route is an ideal place for you to be at this time of year. Salem finally fell into view and it seemed like a big city compared to the small towns we had seen. Sometimes we stop at the McDonald’s there and sometimes not. It depends on how large our coffee intake has been. Leaving Salem, we continued on Highway 32. We could go all the way to Highway 119 which takes you all the way to the entrance of the park, but my son worked out a shorter route and we turned off onto Highway F, just a few miles out of Salem, which ends at Highway E. Turn right and we end at Highway 119. Turn left and its only 5 miles or so to the park. We arrived at the park and our first stop was at the lodge to get our daily trout tags. I have one of those plastic see-through tag holders that is attached to the back of my vest. I never throw away the previous tags so they accumulate during the year. This way I can count them to see how many days I have spent fishing. We then made it to the parking lot near our favorite spot and commenced getting the rods ready and donning our waders. My wife started with an orange mop fly and I started with an olive mohair leech. I enjoy this ritual of getting ready to fish as much as I enjoy the drive here. I have had a great day thus far and we haven’t even got into the water yet. The fish weren’t exactly jumping into our arms that morning but we did manage to catch and release a few before breaking for lunch. We usually pack a picnic lunch on these trips but since we were just going to be here for the day, we thought we’d enjoy lunch at the lodge. The special of the day was sloppy joes and they were tasty and very large. You always get big servings at the lodge dining room. After lunch, I fished a while longer and before leaving, I got some nice photos of the stream and some of the fall colors. We had a great time. The
temperature was a little chilly, forcing us to keep our sweat shirts on all day, but it was certainly not unbearable. It was sunny. The sky a brilliant blue. All the fall colors made it a great day to be outside and when you toss in a few feisty trout to boot, you have all the makings of a good day. Before we left, I thumbed through the trout tags that had accumulated in my vest. A lot of those days, it was just my wife and I but in May, we were here with my son and his family, and our daughter, which was a great time. In July, it was an all-guys trip with just myself, my son, and two grandsons
for three days… also a great time. A lot of memories have been made this past year and over the many years that we have been coming to this place… fifty years and counting to be exact. At first, it was when the kids were little and we were into tent camping. The kids loved it. Tent camping is no longer an option for my wife and I as we enjoy the comfortable accommodations of a room at the lodge. Nevertheless, my wife and I are big fans of this place and definitely plan to keep coming here for many more years to come. I’ll probably make some trips down here this winter for the catch and release season. My wife always bows out of those trips. She’s a very good fishing buddy but doesn’t like fishing in the cold weather. Come springtime, though, another year of fishing will begin and without a doubt there will be more wonderful memories made at this wonderful trout fishing haven. (Bill Oder can be reached at oderbill@yahoo.com.)
RiverHillsTraveler.com
Page 4 • December 2017
Answering reader email about hunting deer
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sionally, a fawn can be seen still nursing as late summer transitions to early fall, but that’s more from habit than from nutritional need. Fawns may still be hanging around their mother in the fall, but most are foraging on their own. Notice I said “usually”… deer, like every other animal species, have exceptions and, yes, sometimes fawns are born later than usual in the year and are not as far in the development stage. A good rule of thumb… if the fawn still has spots – even though that is a legal harvest if you have the permits for it – if you are concerned about the age of that deer, let it go. But again, that’s entirely the choice of the hunter.
very fall my office gets lots of calls and emails from new deer hunters asking about Missouri law, as well as some general "do's and don'ts" as it relates to deer hunting. I decided to take a few of those questions to Francis Skalicky, the media specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) southwest region, out of Springfield. Here are the questions posed by our readers, followed by his answers:
Q: If I see a deer that is limping, or otherwise appears sick or unhealthy for some reason, what should I do? Should I leave it alone and just reJimmy Sexton port the location, ———— or shoot it dead Journey On and then call and report it, or go ahead and shoot it and try to harvest it for myself if I think the meat looks OK? A: In answer to your first question, if someone sees a sick deer, they can report it to their nearest MDC office or to their county conservation agent. If you don’t have the phone number of your county’s conservation agent, you can either call your nearest Missouri Department of Conservation office or you can go to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website – mdc.mo.gov – and along the top of the home page there is a “Contact and Engage” tab. (It’s the farthest right tab at the top of the page). That’ll get you a drop-down menu of the counties of Missouri. Go to your county and your county’s conservation agent’s phone number will be listed there. But back to your question... if you don’t want to harvest that deer for
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yourself, call your nearest MDC contact (office or agent) and yes, provide location and time of day when you saw it. If you shoot the deer, you need to have a permit for it because that will count as a deer you harvested. And, no, you can’t shoot it, call an MDC agent or staff person and then let the deer lay where it is… that would very likely be a classified as a “wanton waste” wildlife violation and you would be ticketed for it. And as far as your question about “putting down a deer, if they don’t want to harvest it,” again, the answer is no. Only shoot a deer if you have a permit to harvest that deer. If there’s a concern about the deer, but you don’t want to kill it for yourself, call a conservation agent and let our staff take it from there. Q: If a deer is killed and on the side of the road, hit by a car, who should someone call to report it? A: You can either call your nearest MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) office or your county conservation agent.
When we get this question from the public (“What do we do if we see a dead deer on the side of the highway?”), we tell people to call MoDOT because those are the people who pick up the deer in most cases. But if, for whatever reason, calling MoDOT is not a viable option, you can call your local conservation agent, too. Q: What are the ethics of killing young deer? Meaning, how young is too young to be killed and harvested? A: All deer are legal harvests in Missouri’s deer seasons as long as you have the permits for that type of harvest (i.e., if you have an any-deer or antlerless permits). But, to go a little deeper into this answer, there’s biological reasoning behind our regulations. Missouri’s deer seasons (as is the case with the deer seasons of all other states) are set up so that by the time the archery – and then the firearms – seasons commence, young deer are usually weaned from their mothers. Fawns are usually weaned somewhere around 10 weeks of age. Occa-
Dreams had meaning in the old Ozarks
don’t believe dreams mean a darn thing. However, I think psychiatrists and old-time Ozarkers had/have one thing in common in that they did/do put a lot of stock in dreams, albeit for different reasons and from very different perspectives. While psychiatrists look inward, Ozarkers looked outward when it comes to dreams. To quote directly from folklorist Vance Randolph’s 1947 book, “Ozark Superstitions”: “To dream of Wes Franklin muddy water means ———— trouble, to dream of Native Ozarker snakes presages a battle with one’s enemies, to dream of money means that the dreamer will be poorer than ever before. “A dream of white horses is unlucky, and may mean sickness or death in the family. A dream of death is good luck if the dream comes at night and usually signifies a wedding, but to fall asleep in the daytime and dream of death is very unfortunate. “A dream of childbirth is always welcome, a sign of a happy and prosperous marriage. The man who dreams repeat-
edly of fishes will attain great wealth. To dream of chickens is bad luck, and the vision of a black boat means an early death.” It is also supposedly bad luck to dream about cattle; dreaming about a hoe or a rake is a sign of a happy marriage; girls who always dream about storms and floods will marry into money; and it is good luck to dream about pigeons or doves and, of course, signifies future romance. To continue directly from Mr. Randolph: “The first dream that one has in a new house, or when sleeping under a new quilt, will nearly always come true – many mountain girls are anxious to ‘dream out’ a new quilt or coverlet. The same may be said of a dream related before breakfast, or of one dreamed on Friday and told on Saturday.” You can stop bad dreams by stuffing a cloth in the keyhole of your bedroom door, or by having someone place a knife under your pillow (not sure if it works if you place it there yourself). If you’re single and curious about who your future mate might be, look at the new moon over your right shoulder and say these words: “New moon, new moon, do tell me who my own true lover will be, the color of his (or her) hair, the clothes that he/she will wear, and the happy day he/she will wed
me.” You’ll dream of your special someone to be that night. You can also count nine stars every night for nine consecutive nights, and on the ninth night you will dream of your future spouse. “A simpler method,” wrote Randolph, “is to stare very hard at the brightest star in sight and wink three times; this produces the dream on the first night and gets the same result with much less expenditure of time and energy.” Like most Ozark superstitions, these can probably trace their origins to the British Isles, though I suspect the rugged and mysterious Ozarks created its own variations. So, what old Ozark superstitions do you know about? Feel free to write me at the email or mailing address posted below. (Wes Franklin!can be reached by email at cato.uticensis46@gmail.com, or by USPS mail at 12161 Norway Road, Neosho, MO 64850.)
On the Cover
Eminence artist Jennifer Dodson looks forward to attending the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 30. (courtesy photo)
Q: A doe is running around and playing with her young deer. When is it considered “OK” to shoot the mother, so the young deer can go off on their own? In other words, how long do the young need to be with their mother before they can go off? A: It is legal for you to harvest either deer, as long as the hunter has the proper permits for that harvest. If this is a situation where the hunter deems he or she would rather wait for a single deer or group of larger deer, that’s a fine… if he wants to harvest and can do so legally, that’s good, too. It’s the choice of the hunter. ——— (Jimmy Sexton is owner and publisher of the River Hills Traveler. He can be reached at (800) 874-8423, ext. 1, or jimmy@riverhillstraveler.com.)
River Hills Traveler 212 E. Main St., Neosho, MO 64850 Phone & Fax: 800-874-8423
www.riverhillstraveler.com Email: jimmy@riverhillstraveler. com Owner & Publisher Jimmy Sexton Managing Editor Madeleine Link Circulation Manager Amanda Harvel Staff Writers Chuck Smick, Wes Franklin, Mike Roux, Bill Wakefield, Bill Oder, Tom Boydston, Bill Cooper, Michelle Turner & Dana Sturgeon Advertising All of us River Hills Traveler, established in 1973, is published monthly by Sexton Media Group and Traveler Publishing Company at 212 E. Main St., Neosho, MO 64850. Postmaster: Send change of address notices to: River Hills Traveler, 212 E. Main St., Neosho, MO 64850. Subscription prices: $22 per year; 2 years, $40. Back issues available up to one year from publication, $5 plus sales tax & shipping. COPYRIGHT © 2017 No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher of the River Hills Traveler or his duly appointed agent. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising or editorial submission for any reason.
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VINTAGE OZARKS:
December 2017 • Page 5
Camp on White River — George E. Hall vintage photograph
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e think this uncommon George Hall postcard shows a portrait of Hall himself (on the left) holding a very fine postcard camera. Most of his river photographs were of the James River around Galena, but he did obviously make the classic float from Galena on the James to Branson on the White. We used this image in our new book, "James Fork of the White: Transformation of an Ozark River." This image is reproduced, but not credited to Hall, in a 1920 Ozark Playgrounds Association Annual. The Playgrounds Association was organized in Joplin in 1919, so the issue is either the first or second annual edition they put out. That makes it one of the earliest publications of the tourism cooperative that promoted the region as a vacation destination. Their motto, “Land of a Million Smiles,” was ‘borrowed’ by numerous businesses and civic organizations. George Hall’s photographs are an invaluable record of life in the BransonGalena area during the early decades of the 1900s. In an article on the Hall Photo Collection for the Winter 1995!White River Valley Historical Quarterly, historians Linda Myers-Phinney and Lynn Morrow said of Hall: “… photographer
George Edward Hall created perhaps the single most important body of historic images documenting the beginnings of southwest Missouri’s commercial tourism.” (This feature is courtesy of Leland
From the December archives of the River Hills Traveler: 10 years ago • The feeble light of the dawning late December morning filtered through the only window in the room. The old woman hobbled around the old oak table placing plates, silverware, cups and saucers for two. She shuffled slowly on arthritic legs, her white hair pulled severely back into a bun, reflecting the soft glow of the kerosene lamp in the center of the table. Her stooped shadow circled the walls as she went about her work. (Jim and Donna Featherston) • If you build it, will they come? You bet! And here they came. A couple dozen or so smaller ducks, circling our blinds at a lower level while perhaps half that number of big ducks circled higher up, in the other direction. And another group of small ducks roared in from somewhere. The sky above and around us was alive with ducks, gradually getting down into identifiable and shootable range. (Bob Todd) 15 years ago • I would not have imagined that the wind roaring through the trees at night would be a highlight of a trip to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. But it was. Awakened by the sound of leaves scurrying across the roof of the camper, I lay awake for a few minutes and listened as the wind pushed northward overhead. I reflected on the fact that this old, old mountain is still here, a rounded off knob of it former self. That’s what a couple of billion years will do to you, I said to myself. (Bob Todd) • Have you ever wondered, when driving through the Ozarks, what is going on when you see a sign that says “fox pen’’? Even those who know that these are fences placed where hounds chase foxes or coyotes, often don’t know much about them — like how they get the animals to chase, for instance. A story crossed our desk recently titled, “Trapping Coyotes for the Live Market.” We wondered what kind of live market there night be for coyotes.
and Crystal Payton at Lens & Pen Press, publishers of all-color books on the Ozarks. Their new book, "James Fork of the White: Transformation of an Ozark River," 354 all-color pages, has been published and is available at
REMEMBER WHEN
Well, it is the fox pens. Chasing foxes with hounds is an old, old tradition in the Ozarks, dating back to a time when everyone was appreciative of anyone who would rid the world of varmints — foxes in particular. (Bob Todd) 20 years ago • I was partly in the duck blind, my body pressed against it, with camouflage breaking up my pattern. I held my head down as a good duck hunter must, hiding under the brim of my cap. I’d held this position without moving for perhaps 30 minutes, but snow was blowing in my right ear, and as it melted and trickled on in, I could stand it no longer. As I moved my arm and head to rub the unbearable tickle, there he was…. a green-headed mallard careening down through the air toward the decoys. The dumb duck was landing WITH the wind instead of INTO the wind, the way he was supposed to — the way I’d been watching. (Bob Todd) • I watched Cousin Gary deal the cards. As pictures of a small log cabin nestled among snow-covered hills slid across Grandma’s kitchen table, I stared at the score sheet. Three-ninety to three-eighty-five. I was finally in the lead in the 500 point rummy game. “Big boy for ya,” Gary said, lacing an ace of of diamonds beside the rest of the deck. “I need that,” I lied, jamming the ace in my hand. I had no idea how it was to fit with my three spades, three clubs, and king of heats. I discarded a four of clubs. (Ryan Thornsberry) 35 years ago • When old-timers meet on Christmas morning in Jake’s Prairie, they greet each other with a cordial, “You got the beans on cooking yet?”
www.beautifulozarks.com ($35,postage paid) and on amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Their earlier river book, "Damming the Osage," can be at seen www.dammingtheosage.com.)
Yes, here many folk keep to the old custom of having beans on Christmas Day, to bring good luck to the household for the coming year. No matter how sumptuous the holiday feast, they say, on your dining table you should always find room for that humble brown pot of beans cooked with a hambone or bacon rind — just for luck. (A.E. Lucas) • Not much chance to get a nap — it was the most exciting deer hunt I’ve ever had, even if my feet didn’t move for a couple hours. We didn’t know what the temperature was opening morning, only that it was cold. (Learned later it was between 10 and 20.) At any rate, we were dressed with most of the warm clothes we possess — except on the feet. I’d just put on a pair of wool socks and leather boots, figuring I could move my feet and wiggle my toes and stand up enough to keep them warm. We arrived and eased into the woods — Pat going about a quarter-mile, me about an eighth further. The strong winds of the night before were now dead, but the air still had a definite direction to it and I faced into it. (Bob Todd) 40 years ago • When you think of fish gigging, you probably think of Current River. That’s where the sport is really visible. Huge jon boats with powerful motors. On-board generators for a row of high-powered lights. Or a row of gasoline lanterns with specially built reflectors. Fish gigs are prominently displayed wherever sporting goods are sold. There is even a gigger’s association along the Current and lately, there have been gigging tournaments. (Bob Todd) • Progress, morality, politics, and even a sense of humanity were given as excuses by the Americans when they took land from the Indians. It seemed the Americans must satisfy their conscience that what they were doing was just before they could act. (Bob Todd) (compiled by MyraGale Sexton)
RiverHillsTraveler.com
Page 6 • December 2017
Age nor weather will keep me from tent camping
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By Tom Boydston ent camping is my favorite sport. My family and I spent many days and nights tent camping and we always used the primitive sites. We enjoyed meeting new people and exchanging ideas on camping. I have also been backpack camping several times. I started while living in Kansas City in the mid-70s. That’s when I started deer hunting. I had to drive sixty miles to a hunting area and had no tent at that time. I backpacked in, cleared a spot, laid down a sheet of plastic and slept on the ground. More than once I woke up with two to four inches of snow on top me. After that I purchased a nylon pop tent. Boy was that better! One year my wife, two sons (ages 11
and 13 at the time), father, mother, brother, and myself backpacked in the Arapaho National Forest in Colorado. We spent three days up in the mountain and back. The view and wildlife was great. I no longer go backpack camping. I leave that to others. After our sons left home we moved back to the Neosho area. I still wanted to camp, but my wife couldn’t sleep on the cold, hard ground anymore. I thought I would have to go by myself, which I did for some time. Then I met Charlie, a neighbor and now best friend, who also enjoyed camping. We planned a trip and went to Mark Twain National Forest. We found a spot we liked, cleared it and set up camp.
We both liked the way each other camped, and we have been camping twice a year for about 15 years now. Most of the time we camp in the spring and fall, because summer is just too hot. In dry times it is best to check at the Forest headquarters to see if fires are a problem. Most of the time we cooked dutch oven and over fires; when not allowed, we used a camp stove. We spent our time hiking. It was rugged country but very beautiful. There are so many stories I could tell from these trips. For instance, if you needed rain, just ask us to go camping. Seventy percent of our trips had either rain or storms. We became used to it and were wellprepared.
As we headed for one area, we came across someone who warned us about recent sitings of black bears in that area. We didn’t care, we would have loved to see a bear, but no luck. Charlie and I have not stopped yet. We talk about that when we get to where we can’t get around very well, we will get us a couple of 4x4 wheelchairs and have the OATS bus take us to our campsite. People camp in so many different ways nowadays, but no matter how you prefer to camp, don’t quit. Enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer. (Tom Boydston lives in Neosho, Mo., and can be reached by phone or text at 417-439-6048.)
that is tied, glued, or otherwise permanently attached to the hook. To be double-sure, anglers can check at the park office to be certain their lure is legal. You should also check at the park office to make sure you know the boundaries and specific regulations of fishing zones at the park where you intend to fish. The winter catch-and-release season doesn’t draw as many anglers as the summer park trout season, which runs from March 1 through Oct. 31 and, for some, that’s part of the winter seasons’ attraction. In addition to supplying anglers with their occasional “fishing fix” to get them through the winter, this season is also a good chance to get out and enjoy the winter scenery at the trout parks. All four trout parks have their own distinctive wildlife and topographic features that can be viewed much better in the winter because of the lack of foliage. Keep in mind that during the winter
season, you don’t need to buy a daily trout park tag when you fish. You will need a trout permit and, if you are age 16 through 64, you will also need a Missouri fishing permit. (If you are exempt from needing a Missouri fishing permit because of age or other conditions, you will still need to purchase a trout permit to fish the winter catchand-release season at the trout parks.) Trout permits can be purchased at any location that sells fishing permits. In addition to the catch-and-release opportunities at trout parks, the trout permit allows you to fish at Missouri’s other managed trout areas. Of course, trout parks aren’t the only places trout anglers can go in winter. Lake Taneycomo offers good trout fishing opportunities, as do a number of streams in southern Missouri that have designated trout management zones. (Francis Skalicky works for the Missouri Department of Conservation in southwest Missouri. He can be reached at 417-895-6880.)
Winter trout season underway in Missouri, so give it a try
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ow is the time when many outdoor enthusiasts still have deer hunting on their minds. However, if you’re not ready to put your fishing gear away yet, look no further than your nearest trout park for some angling enjoyment. The winter catch-and-release season at Missouri’s four trout parks has become something of a winter tradition for some local anglers. The trout parks this season applies to are Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Francis Montauk State Park Skalicky near Salem, and ———— Maramec Spring Park near St. James. This year, the season opened Nov. 10 and runs through Feb. 12. The season, as its name states, is for catch-and-release fishing only – no trout may be kept. This is not a throughout-the-week fishing opportunity at all the trout parks like the trout parks’ summer season is. During the winter season, the three state parks (Bennett Spring, Roaring River, and Montauk) are open for fishing on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Maramec Spring Park is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Flies are the only type of lures permitted during the winter season, but
don’t interpret this to mean that you need a fly rod to fish for trout at the parks. You can use spin casting or baitcasting equipment as long as you have a fly-type lure on your hook. Flies are defined as artificial lures constructed on single-point hooks using any material except soft plastic bait and natural or scented bait (as defined in the Wildlife Code of Missouri)
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RiverHillsTraveler.com
December 2017 • Page 7
Forest service maintaining Glade Top Trail, scenic byway
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ark Twain National Forest has initiated a project to repair Forest Service Road 147, also known as Glade Top Trail, located on the Ava Unit of the Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs (ACW) Ranger District.! Interruptions in traffic may result as workers haul gravel and make necessary repairs. No long-term closures are planned during construction; but short closures of a day or less may occur along sections of the road over the next few months. The first few miles of Glade Top Trail were improved in early 2016 with ERFO (Emergency Relief for Federally-Owned Roads Program) funding, after storms in 2015 damaged the road.! This year’s project will bring improvements to the rest of Forest Service Road 147 through funding from the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP). Glade Top Trail was selected as a Nature Watch “Top Site” by the Forest Service’s Washington Office earlier this
outcroppings, indicative of the glade ecosystem. The Glade Top Trail Interpretive Tour!(found under the “Special
Places” tab online at! www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf) allows visitors to use a smart phone or tablet to scan QR codes on signposts along the route to learn more about the area and how the Forest Service has managed it to restore the glade ecosystem.! The contract for current repairs to this 14-mile-long section of Glade Top Trail has been awarded to William C. Shertz.! The Mark Twain National Forest will spend approximately $880,000 to upgrade, repair, and maintain this National Scenic Byway through the awarded contract. Upgrades will modernize the road’s drainage system and broaden the narrow sections to a standardized width.! For those with questions about Glade Top Trail or other sites on the ACW Ranger District, please stop by the Ava Ranger Station, located at 1103 S. Jefferson Ave. in Ava, Mo.! The office is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office can be reached by phone at (417) 683-4428.
box full of tackle, fishing rods and reels, guided trips, and much more. “The show buzzes with excitement with unique products, awesome services,
live demonstrations, interactive activities, and educational displays,” said Lane. “Friends new and old spend time talking fishing, stocking up for the season, sharing a drink, and enjoying lots of delicious food in the Sports Lounge and Beer Garden.” All activities are included with admission, except the food and drinks. Tickets will be available at the door with regular prices $7 for adults; $3.50 for children ages 6-12; children 5 and under are free. On Friday, seniors age 60 and above will be admitted for only $5. Parking is free. Hours are: Friday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call (800) 289238 or visit letsgoshows.com.
View of Caney Tower from Glade Top Trail.
year.!The road’s status as a National Scenic Byway comes from the beautiful vistas of the rolling hills and dolomite
Over 10,000 expected to attend Jan. 5-7 fishing show
F
gives people a chance to meet and learn from their mentors.” For those ready to plan their next fishing adventure, there will be representatives from resorts and destinations to help plan fishing trips to a local or regional lake, a retreat in the Ozarks, a charter fishing trip or even a Canadian resort. Kids can experience the outdoors inside by fishing in the Cabela’s Fishing Pond, pet live animal exhibits from Treehouse Wildlife Center, and enjoy children’s activities and games including a fishing simulator from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Gateway Center offers a “buy one child’s admission ticket, get one child’s admission ticket for free coupon” on the website at letsgoshows.com. Show attendees can also enter to win prizes all weekend long. The big prize is a free Canadian fishing trip to Zup’s Fishing Resort & Canoe Outfitters. The smaller prizes include gadgets, a tackle
Ozarks books by Rick Mansfield make wonderful gifts for your outdoorsman! Starting at $5, titles include: • A Riverman’s Legacy • Ozark Sayings, Doings... • The Elk Killings • Kids, Crafts & Christ • D’Ya Want a Possum? order online at www.riverhillstraveler.com or call Rick Mansfield at 573-663-2269
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or 25 years, thousands of people have gathered at Gateway Center in Collinsville, Ill., to attend the Let’s Go Fishing Show held annually in early January. This family-friendly expo for fishing enthusiasts has grown to be one of the best and largest events of its kind in the midwest. Positioned as “The Show for Fisherman,” the next Let’s Go Fishing Show will take place on Jan. 5-7, 2018. This event has earned a strong reputation of consistently attracting large crowds. Last year’s show drew the largest attendance in show history with approximately 10,000 people over three show days. Visitors at the show will be able to shop for unique, cutting edge products and services at great prices from over 120 exhibitors, from fishing bait, tackle, rods, reels, and electronics to a variety of fishing boats from local dealers. Fans will meet the pros at 30 free seminars from a variety of professionals and experts that will give helpful tips on fishing for bass, crappie, catfish, trout, muskie, and other species. “This year, we have the 2017 Bassmaster Angler of the Year’Brandon Palaniuk speaking at the show,” said Jamie Lane, Let’s Go Fishing Show producer for Gateway Center. “And, we also have the 2016 Bass Pro Shop Crappie Masters Angler Team of the Year Kevin Rogers. “These pros are as funny and nice as they are talented. Our seminar lineup is going to be excellent. These free seminars are always very popular because it
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RiverHillsTraveler.com
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December 2017 • Page 9
A special trip for a very special person
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By Chuck Smick hat do you do for that special someone in your life to celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary? How about a guided fishing trip or hunting trip! Avid outdoors persons may have all the gear and equipment they need to pursue their chosen sport, but a guided fishing or hunting trip for that special someone adds special memories that last forever. For a special occasion, a trip such as this adds a truly blessed moment in your lives that will burn in your memory for years to come. Granted, this person needs to have a love of fishing or hunting (or both) as much as you do, but is well worth the time and expense. My favorite fishing partner, who is my beautiful wife Kathy, loves to fish as much as I do! I wanted to give her an unusual gift that I knew she would enjoy and cherish for a long time. We were celebrating her 60th birthday, and decided that a guided fishing trip would be just the ticket for this occasion. We decided to fish our home reservoir with our good friend, Capt. Doug Wynn, of crappie-gills-n-more guide service. Our hectic work schedules and Doug’s schedule worked out so we could book a trip with him in the early fall. Doug is an outstanding and gracious guide, and is also a very gifted taxidermist. We both enjoyed Doug’s company and our time on the water with him during this trip. The late September morning proved to be a chilly ride across the lake. A strong east wind made the lake choppy, and Kathy and I both regretted not having a jacket! We arrived at one of Doug’s favorite bays on the lake and started putting out baits with the rods and reels, which Doug provided for the trip. We were fishing with small (1.5 to 2 inch) medium and deep-diving crank baits that mimicked the forage fish that the crappie ate in the lake. In less than a minute after the baits were in the water, Kathy had a nice big slab-sided crappie on the line! The fish was netted and placed in the live well for a fish fry to come. A short time later, we both lost a nice crappie... and learned a valuable lesson that served us well for the rest of the trip. We had been instructed to steadily reel the fish in, and lift the rod so the fish would “skid” across the top of the water into the waiting net that Doug held in his hand. In our excitement, we both forgot, and lost a couple of nice fish! DANG! (Even mature fishermen get excited!) Oh well, that’s fishing. Doug’s chosen method to catch these fall crappie was trolling small crankbaits behind the boat. We had two 6-1/2 foot rods directly in the back of the boat, and a 14-16 foot rod on each side of the boat to thoroughly cover the water column and as much water as possible. Each rod had a baitcasting reel, with a line counter on it. Different lengths of line, from 40-60 feet were let off the reel. Each rod also had a different color crankbait, and there was a mix of deep and medium running baits on the lines, too. The reels were spooled with 12-
Kathy and Chuck Smick with a pair of fall slabs caught on crankbaits while on a special trip to celebrate Kathy’s birthday.
pound Trilene Big Game line, and the terminal end had a barrel snap swivel to allow the baits to have the maximum action in the water. There was no current on the lake that day to position the fish on structure or cover, so we zig-zagged across the bay, and up and down the bay throughout the early morning. After the short flurry of activity, the fishing got slow. We eventually moved back into the bay where we first caught fish, and the action heated up again. Once we started catching fish, Kathy and I very often each had a fish on and that kept Doug busy netting crappie and placing them in the live well… a pleasant and happy occasion!
We were both anticipating a fish fry later in the year, and the taste of those delicious crappie in the late fall during the holiday season. Kathy and I had never done any trolling during our numerous trips on Kentucky and Barkley lakes, so this was a great educational trip for both of us. Kathy loves catching bluegill, redears and crappie. I am an avid bass fisherman, as well. Our love of fishing brought us together early in our courtship, and we have enjoyed over 19 years of happy marriage, especially when we had fishing rods in our hands on our home lake! After Doug instructed us on the
methods of trolling and what we would need to do to be successful, Kathy and I can now take our newfound knowledge and apply it on our fishing trips as well. Doug uses these trolling methods throughout the year, for a variety of fish. Trolling will allow you to catch crappie, largemouth bass, white and yellow bass, bluegills, redears, sauger, yellow perch, and catfish. We caught a variety of fish during the trip, but our target fish were crappie on this trip, with an occasional yellow bass, catfish and a largemouth bass to add to the excitement for the day. Trolling appeared to catch the bigger crappie, also… a real benefit for the freezer. Kathy has endured my hunting and trapping exploits over the years, and has learned to prepare venison for us. She enjoys the taste of it, too, in chili and stew, along with a roast prepared in the crockpot. As long as I bring home tender does or young bucks for the freezer, she doesn’t mind, but a big mature buck gets donated to the food bank! She chooses not to hunt, but does enjoy an occasional trip to the woods for a walk with me. A guided fishing (or hunting) trip can be a welcome surprise for that special someone in your life, if they enjoy the outdoors, too. This is a great way to experience the outdoors together, and build a lifetime of pleasant and wonderful memories together, that you both will cherish. Take your special someone on a guided trip soon! (Chuck Smick lives in Paducah, Ky., and can be reached at csmickpaducah@yahoo.com.)
AROUND the WORLD with the River Hills Traveler
Dave Mccord and his wife, Karen, who live in St. Augustine, Fla., traveled to Letchworth State Park in upstate New York over the summer. It is known as the "Grand Canyon of the East." Dave is originally from Park Hills, Mo., and he said he loves reading the Traveler! ——— If you're going on a trip or vacation, please take the River Hills Traveler with you and have someone photograph you and the magazine in front of a landmark or particular setting. Then email the picture to us at jimmy@riverhillstraveler.com and we will publish it an upcoming issue. You can also text photos & info to (417) 451-3798 or send them to us via our Facebook page. Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing your family’s adventures!
RiverHillsTraveler.com
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RiverHillsTraveler.com
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Fishing • Kayaking • RV camping • Cabins • And more! 84 Cat Hollow Trail, Lebanon, MO • (417) 532-4377 www.FORTNIANGUA.com
AmeriCorps St. Louis teams up with Mark Twain National Forest
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From staff reports ackling deferred maintenance on Forest Service buildings may not be a typical job for the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team.! However, this team looks for any opportunity to help out America.! In this instance, they are saving taxpayer money for maintenance on federal facilities while practicing with tools and techniques they may use in future emergency assignments.!! Five members of this crew were in Rolla, Mo., last month, giving a facelift to storage buildings around the Mark Twain National Forest Supervisor’s Office (SO).!!!! Although only five members are on this project, the entire AmeriCorps St. Louis team consists of 35 people.!They respond to natural disasters and other emergencies across the United States, and they perform natural resource management work, such as trail maintenance.! When not actively working in disaster recovery, team members take on other assignments that benefit the nation and train them to be ready to respond whenever the need arises. The five-person crew working in Rolla was led by Brittany Merriman.!Other members of the team include:! Jane Kersch (from Iowa), Stephen Strack (from upstate New York), Colleen Cole (from St. Louis), and Matthew Farrington (from Virginia). This is Merriman’s third year working with
(L-r) Matthew Farrington, Brittany Merriman, Stephen Strack, Jane Kersch, and Colleen Cole.
AmeriCorps, and she is now plans and leads projects as a Fellow — the Eli Segal Fellowship is a highly competitive and prestigious fellowship for AmeriCorps alumni.! She found AmeriCorps when she decided she wanted to take on a new direction in her life.!When searching online for a way to satisfy her adventurous spirit, she found the AmeriCorps St. Louis website.! Being from St. Louis, and finding the disas-
ter relief aspect very exciting, she knew it would be a perfect fit — and she has proven it through her many accomplishments within the program.! This Missouri AmeriCorps team does national response, but also local response.!Although they have to be requested to respond to an incident, they are always ready to assist.!This year, the team had one local assignment where they helped with tornado response
efforts in Goodman, Mo.! The interactions with people in need are what keeps Merriman and other crew members so motivated to continue their service work.! “The people I meet through the program are amazing — both in AmeriCorps and the people we help through disasters and tough times,” said Merriman.!“We don’t ever stay in the same spot.” They move every week to work with different partners. Many assignments involve the Forest Service and its mission.!! Merriman said that the crew performs wildland fire response associated with Forest Service land.! They have worked out of Ava, Doniphan, Potosi, Salem, and many other places on the Mark Twain National Forest in Merriman’s time on the crew.! She said, “Working with the Forest Service, we learn so much and there are so many opportunities for people to gain experiences that can lead to potential careers.”! Crew members often become certified in chainsaw use to facilitate the natural resource and disaster recovery work to which they respond. Many members end up going into wildland firefighting, with some joining hotshot crews. Others have gone on to work for FEMA and states’ departments of natural resources. Members of the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team are all volunteers and serve the public.!Aside from the opportunity to serve and gaining on-the-job training,
the program allows participants to receive a Siegal Education Award.!This award helps pay for college, allowing participants to further their education.! According to the Corporation of National and Community Service website, the education award may be used to pay educational costs at eligible post-secondary educational institutions (including many technical schools and GI-Bill approved educational programs), as well as to repay qualified student loans. The dollar amount of a full-time education award is tied to the maximum amount of the U.S. Department of Education’s Pell Grant. “You never know where your time in AmeriCorps will lead,” said Merriman. “I know one person that went on to become a neurosurgeon after completing the program.” Anyone interested in joining the team can visit www.AmeriCorps-stl.org.! “It is a big commitment for a year, but it includes a housing and food stipend,” Merriman said.! There is no upward age range on this crew, but joining is very competitive.!Merriman also promised the program can help anyone improve their critical thinking skills by responding to such a variety of challenges.! The Mark Twain National Forest is excited that this year the team branched out to do facilities work to help train for disaster repair.! Follow the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmeriCorpsSTL.
Critter of the Month: Red fox
• Species: Red fox. • Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes. • Nicknames: Red foxes have no common nicknames, but the Spanish word for “fox” is a familiar word to many – zorro. • Claim to fame: Red foxes are well-known furbearing mammals of Missouri and are included in the state’s furbearer trapping season which runs November 15 through January 31. There are an increasing number of foxes seen in urban areas. Whereas gray foxes live in brushy, swampy or timbered areas and show a high aversion to humans, red foxes seem less bothered by people. • Species status: Red foxes are found throughout the state. They’re more abundant in Missouri than their cousin, the gray fox, which is also found throughout the state. Although less numerous, gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargentus) are a much older species. Based on fossil records, it’s theorized gray foxes pre-date their red cousins by several million years. • First discovered: The first scientific description of the red fox was written by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Based on
early journals, it’s presumed the bulk of North America’s red fox population was originally north of Missouri. As the eastern U.S. was being colonized, the European red fox was introduced between 1650 and 1750 for fox hunting. At this time, the dense forest was being opened to colonial development, which created more habitat for North America’s native red fox. It is not known whether the descendants of matings between the North American and European red fox populated Missouri or whether the continent’s native red fox moved into newly created habitat in Missouri. It makes little difference whether Missouri’s red foxes have a European or North American ancestry, though, since both are members of the same species. • Family matters: The red fox is a member of the family Canidae, which includes all species of wolves, dogs and foxes. More than 20 species of foxes can be found in the world. • Length: One foot to four feet in length. • Diet: Foxes have long been portrayed as predators of poultry, but studies have shown domestic fowl make up only a small portion of most foxes’ diets.
Foxes are opportunistic predators, so chickens may be taken if the opportunity presents itself, but studies show that rabbits, field mice, other small mammals, birds and carrion make up the bulk of a fox’s diet. • Weight: Seven to 15 pounds. • Distinguishing characteristics: A fox’s physical features are well-known. It has a dog-like appearance with an elongated, pointed muzzle; large, pointed ears, moderately long legs and a heavily furred tail. Red foxes are reddish-brown to reddish-yellow. They are extremely vocal. They commonly give short yaps or barks, followed by a single squall. They also emit long yells, yowls and screeches. During the mating season (which is usually January and February in Missouri), females give a shrill squall. Males answer with two or three short barks. • Life span: In the wild, most red foxes live six to 10 years. • Habitat: Red foxes prefer the borders of forested areas and adjacent open lands for their range, avoiding dense and extensive forests. Except for when they are using a den to raise young,
foxes have no special site they call home and often sleep on the open ground. • Life cycle: Fox pups (also called kits) are born in March or April. The female fox (vixen) stays in the den with her pups for the first few days after their birth and the male brings food to her. Fox pups stay in their den until four to five weeks of age. At 8-10 weeks, fox pups are weaned and begin to accompany their parents on hunting trips. (source: MDC)
Washington State Park Thunderbird Lodge 13041 St. Hwy. 104 (south of DeSoto on MO 21)
(636) 586-2995
3 & 7 mile floats • Cabins • Camping Swimming pool • Kayaking/Tubing open April thru November!
Page 12 • December 2017
RiverHillsTraveler.com
Food plots to hold deer late in the season
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unting whitetailed deer in the last portion of the firearms seasons and the end of the archery season allows the hunter to manage his property while adding some valuable meat to the freezer. These seasons are for antlerless deer only and great care should be taken to make as sure as possible that you are, in fact, harvesting female deer and not bucks that have lost their antlers earlier than usual. Sometimes, however, finding a doe in the late season can be a huge challenge. As most of us know, food becomes the primary instinctive driver after the rut phases run their course. Hardwood Mike Roux ridges and uncut ———— grain fields provide the best sources of winter food and will likely hold many deer close. However, in the absence of these places, sometimes a hunter must take matters into his own hands. In the past few decades hunters and landowners have been supplementing the natural food sources on their property with specially formulated plants that give deer maximum nutrition the year round. This not only adds to the birth weight of newborn fawns by giving gestating does the nutrition they need, but also holds deer on the property through the winter months. There are many food plot seed companies out there and many theories about what to plant and when. The most important aspect of food plots is to get started with them and
Mike Roux and Bob Cowman show the success possible in the late season over a good food plot.
stick with it. Experiment a little and find out exactly what your deer like. A year ago I was able to take advantage of just such a spot here in the Midwest. I have good friends who will remain nameless as will the location of their property. They have been managing several hundred acres for several years and are without a doubt true food plot experts. They invited me and great friend and hunting partner Bob Cowman to help them manage their herd during the last firearm season. We would be hunting opposite ends of the same 12-acre food plot. The plot contained a mixture of turnips, soy beans, and winter wheat. The tracks in and around the field were
impressive as Bob and I took our stands about 1:30 p.m. that afternoon. We could not see each other due to the topography of the farm. We were totally safe. As usual in the doe season the first two deer I saw were bucks. They were both very young and not shooters anyway, but it was a bit frustrating. The first doe I saw was at about 3:45. It came from the timber and was heading in Bob’s general direction. I shot him a text to give him a heads-up. There was no shot, but no text back either. Maybe he did not have his phone on. About a half-hour later two deer came from a cedar thicket toward the field. Their path would take them to a
trail crossing a ditch right under me. I watched them for a time through my binocs and saw that they were both female deer and the lead doe was the largest. I shoot a THOMPSON/CENTER .50-caliber Pro Hunter muzzleloader topped with an ALPEN OPTICS scope. I cocked the hammer and put the crosshair on her shoulder at about 40 yards. When the smoke cleared it was obvious that she was dead when she hit the ground. I did not even reload. So as not to interrupt Bob’s hunt anymore than necessary, I just stayed put in my stand. I saw a few deer moving toward the food. Bob’s shot startled me so much I almost jumped out of my stand. I guess my shot probably scared him, as well. It was not long until I got a text telling me he thought he hit the doe but that she ran off. I told him to come down that I was on my way. When I got to him he was excited. He had been watching this doe since my text a couple of hours ago. She had been very slowly feeding in the field and it took that long for her to present him with a good shot. We tracked the deer about 60 yards and recovered her just before dark. I went for the four-wheeler as Bob got both deer into the field. After some high-fives and photos we discussed the value of food plots in the late season and how it made this hunt possible. Use food plots on your farm and you, too, can hold deer there throughout the season, even the late season. (Mike Roux is the Midwest Regional Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Outdoor Ministry.!To become a Home Team Member of this new ministry, call him at 217257-7895.)
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RiverHillsTraveler.com
December 2017 • Page 13
Keeping a wooden structure standing in the woods
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hat kind of maintenance do you need on a log cabin? You don’t need much if you are only looking to keep the structure for a generation. If a wooden structure is left to the elements for 25 years (one generation), nature will rot the logs in places and start the slow process of rotting the wood, especially in the areas where water is allowed to seep into the grain of the wood. Some of the most vulnerable areas for water seepage and rot are the ends of the wood and logs. The grain that is exposed at the end will suck up any moisture through Bob Brennecke capillary action and ———— suck into cells deep inside the wood. Water and organic material in the wood cells creates a perfect place for aerobic and anaerobic action that will rot wood cells. Other sets of problems that can destroy wood products are: worms, beetles, bores, birds, and mammals all can also degrade wood products. As you inspect the wood products on your walls of your home, check for damage such as holes, sawdust on the floor or ground, or gnaw marks on the exterior and interior of structure. Holes as small as 1/8th-inch or as large as 4 inches can appear in the wood quicker than expected if not inspected frequently. Bores are tiny, beetle-like insects that chew into wood products and are about
This is a view of bore damage after power washing.
1/8th-inch in diameter. These beetles leave piles of sawdust behind from the holes they drill. Most of the bores will enter coniferous logs through the bark or on cut lumber even without bark, but the bark seems to invite the bores. As the bores enter the wood they leave small piles of sawdust under their little tunnels. The beatles or bores that make the holes will continue to damage the wood if there is nothing done to stop them. The product that was found by the forestry department is called “BORITE” (brand name) and it did
Red-winged blackbirds are known to sing in slow, fluttering flight
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By Peg Craft stake-out requires being inconspicuous, but not so for redwinged blackbirds.!Showing off and making noise is the main objective of their stake-out. Male red-winged blackbirds have already staked-out their territories in wetlands and around ponds and lakes.! Their red-and-yellow shoulder patches add glints of color to the landscape. Male red-wings won’t hesitate to pump up their color and volume.!When other birds invade the red-wing’s territory, he spreads his tail,!fluffs his feathers, and belts!out the gurgling song — konk-laree — about twice as loud as any other bird song.! In February and March, male redwings!travel north from their southern wintering grounds and find good spots for nesting and feeding.!They eat seeds at this time, and can endure a cold snap, unlike insect-eaters whose food source is wiped out by a freeze.! Before long, the pairs build nests of grasses and mud, weaving them in cattails or shrubs.!They lay speckled, palegreen eggs which hatch in eleven days.! Red-winged blackbirds nest from the southern Yukon to the Bahamas.! Although their populations have declined about 30 percent since the late 1960’s, they are still an abundant songbird with an estimated population of 130 million. You can usually see them perching on cattails near water.! The red-winged blackbird’s liquid tunes fill the air and signal a stake-out for survival.
Seeing red-wings (Audubon) • The red-winged blackbird is notorious for being aggressive. Several will often attack a larger bird, such as a hawk or crow, that flies over their nesting area. • To defend his territory and attract a mate, the male red-winged blackbird perches on a high stalk with feathers fluffed out and tail partly spread. He lifts the leading edge of his wing so his red shoulder patches are prominent, and sings. • When they are being territorial, it is recommended to stay away from the area for safety. • Red-winged blackbirds are known to sing in slow, fluttering flight. • Outside the nesting season, redwings sometimes roost in huge concentrations.
stop the bore problem in the pine logs. There are probably other products that work as well but BORITE worked. The next thing that needs to be addressed is the moisture. As discussed earlier, it is important to keep the water out of the cells of the wood to deter the rot in wood. The logs were powerwashed, knocking the bark off the logs before the pesticide is applied. Forest Products Laboratories,!in Madison, Wisc., has been doing research on wood and wood products for many years. They have tested everything that might protect wood and keep it from deteriorating (paint, oils, and polymers), and have developed and revised a formula to protect wood products. The materials that are used are environmentally safe, easy to obtain, and easy to mix and use. Forest Products’s original formula was published in a pamphlet I since lost years ago but when they were contacted they were happy to help with the problem. The materials used to keep water in check are: mineral spirits, paraffin, turpentine, and oil-based varnish. The mineral spirits, turpentine and the varnish are heated in a double boiler and the paraffin is then added. The exact formula needs to be researched but I know after applying, the water beads on the wood for years. A garden sprayer works well for applying the waterproofing. Concentrate on the end grain of the logs and observe how the product sucks onto the ends of the wood. The original formula was made with boiled linseed oil. After about 5 years, the waterproofing started to darken or turn black from mildew. Mark Knaebe,
a natural resources specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, said!TWP 100 series (Total Wood Preservative) is also a good product. “If you have linseed oil without a good mildewcide, you will always get mold, even if you don’t use any next time,” said Knaebe. “Mildew will mine for the oil deeper down forever. If you had used a gloss varnish (as an ingredient, 20%) instead of linseed or other natural oil, there would be much less mildew. ! “Pigments, in addition to adding some color and protecting the wood, they also protect the mildewcide so even 3-Iodo-2-propynyl N-butylcarbamate will have a short life without pigments. I’d add black pigment and a charcoal color. You may never have to coat again.!If you don’t like charcoal grey or black, use TWP 101.” The change to an oil-based varnish from linseed oil is supposed to keep the darkening from happening. A bleach solution was applied to the darkened logs to kill mildew, then flushed with water and allowed to dry before the solution of (paraffin, mineral spirits and oil based varnish) was applied. A reapplication of waterproofing might be necessary every 5 to 8 years but if so, it sprays on quickly and is relatively cheap. (Bob Brennecke lives in Ballwin, Mo., and can be reached at robertbrennecke@hotmail.com.)
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RiverHillsTraveler.com
Page 14 • December 2017
Suggestions to increase your deer calling success
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By Gary Sefton ou’re not going to believe this,” the excited deer hunter exclaimed.!“I hadn’t seen anything all morning, so I let my bow down and started to unfasten my safety belt.! “I remembered my brand new, neverused deer call and thought what the heck. I let go with a couple of parting shots on the call before beginning to climb down, and the buck of a lifetime came boiling out of the brush like his tail was on fire.! “He stopped broadside, 20 yards from my stand, and I’m holding 25 feet of rope with my bow tied on the other end. He was huge.” I had this conversation at one of the early Deer Classics and have had many more like it since.!I believed him. This hunter’s experience was not that unusual, especially for first-time callers or callers trying a new technique.!With no confidence in the call or the technique, he’s thinking, “I never heard a deer make a sound like that” or “This will probably run off anything within hearing.” He has no idea what he is saying when he makes the call.!He has no clue what it should sound like, and/or he has never had a deer respond to calling, so he has no real reason to believe his deer call will work. So he sets himself up for failure by making a call and not expecting anything to show up. I began working with game call companies in 1986, doing field testing and research on every aspect of deer calling, including interpreting and dissecting unusual and possibly significant vocalizations.! There’s not much you can do or say to a deer that I haven’t tried for experiments’ sake and/or in hunting situations, and there aren’t many reactions to calls that I haven’t seen. I can’t begin to tell you how many tales of woe I’ve heard from seasoned deer hunters who missed out on golden opportunities because their brains were on pause when a buck showed up.! If you believe in something enough to buy it and haul it to the woods with you, then you should believe something is going to happen when you use it. You want the deer to come into the area to investigate the deer making the call.!He may come in hard and fast or he may slip in and be gone before you know he was there. Make the call, then wait for him! Look for him!!Stay on “red alert” for 15 to 20 minutes after you make the
call.!Expect a response and anticipate success. You will still get caught with your guard down from time to time, but you won’t feel so dumb about it. Consistently successful callers (deer, elk, turkey, etc.) always anticipate success and prepare for a response.!This anticipation is what I call the confidence factor, and it usually comes from experience and a working knowledge of the language of the game you’re hunting.! You don’t have to learn the hard way.!Learn the language, and when you make a deer call expect a deer to show up. When you see a deer Deer have big ears.!They are good at pinpointing the precise location of a sound’s origin, so my rule is: if you can see a deer coming toward you, let it come, even if it is dawdling and taking its time. You are in good shape as long as it is headed your way.!If you make a sound while it is en route, you will call its attention to your location and increase the possibility of getting picked off. If the deer veers off in another direction, a soft doe or buck grunt could be the right invitation to bring it back on course. You don’t have anything to lose in those situations. When I’m in this situation (the deer is not heading my way), I’ll call to any deer I see wandering around, but I keep it soft and passive unless I see or hear a buck trailing a doe.! When that happens, I’m going to get more aggressive, with some heavy breathing doe bleats to try to turn his head.!I have called several bucks to me that were trailing does. They thought the bleating doe was the same one they were trailing. When you are doing blind calling, always take a hard look around before you make a call, to be sure the immedi-
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ate area is clear of deer that could bust you. If you get busted, let him go.!There’s no reason to call to a deer that you know you have spooked. He won’t come back once he has you pegged, and he might very well associate the call to human presence.!What do you think he will do the next time he hears a call? Learn the language Before your start blowing on your deer call, make sure you know what you are saying so you don’t say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Deer can’t change their language, so just be sure you are familiar with the basics. Beyond that, you have to be the judge of what is right for you.! Knowing the right sound to make to trigger a specific response gets you in the game.!Making the proper sound in the correct sequence gives you a chance to score.
Set up to call An important but often overlooked aspect of calling success is in the caller’s location and set-up. Do your calling in a high-deer-use area where deer are comfortable making and responding to calls.!You are not going to call many deer when they are alarmed or distressed. “What do you do when a buck comes almost close enough to shoot and won’t come any closer?” I wish I had a quarter for every time I’ve been asked that question. The reason he won’t come any closer is because he can’t see the deer he’s been hearing.!He wants visual reinforcement to the audio signals he’s been getting. A warning – if you call to him while he’s looking in your direction (he usually will be if he’s responding to a call), he’ll most likely look you right in the eye and the hunt will be over. Your best bet is to let him walk, then try to call him back when he gets out of sight. If you plan to call, try to position your stand on a rise or in thick cover so the deer will be in range when he comes into view.! If you can keep a buck from scentchecking your position when responding to your calling, your chances for success are much better, especially with older, smarter deer. (Gary Sefton is an expert caller of deer and turkeys and won the 1993 and 1994 World Deer Calling Championship.”
RiverHillsTraveler.com
December 2017 • Page 15
My advice to new bowhunters? Just relax T By John Merideith here are several components to getting the perfect shot. Shooting, stance, hand placement, how to hold the bow, shoulder and arm placement, string release, followthrough, and aiming. Here are some suggestions about how to perfect shooting with a bow that I’ve come up with after many years of bowhunting. The best way to shoot well is to get out of the way of your bow, and to do that you must relax. The more relaxed you remain during the shooting process, the more or less influence you will have on the bow. Your bow hand is the key to better shots. Keep your bow hand relaxed, and the rest of your body will respond with less tension. Make sure your overall posture is natural and comfortable — face, arms, shoulders, etc. — while holding the bow, and the full draw should be relaxed. If you have a solid stance, you have steady sights; wobbly stance, wobbly sights. You should stand 90 degrees to the target, feet shoulder width apart, with about a half-step back with your left foot to open your stance toward your target, keeping weight even on both feet. Turn your head to look at the target, keeping your neck and head in a comfortable position, maintaining position throughout the shot. When you draw your bow, bring the string to meet your face, do not move your face to meet the string.
Always keep your bow hand natural (point at something with your hand, notice that your hand is angled diagonally). That is the position your hand should be when holding and shooting your bow. If you let your hand stay natural, especially your bow hand, it will be torque-free and not twist your bow after the shot. The grip of your bow should be pressing on the meaty part of your thumb in a low wrist position. Keep your bow hand fingers relaxed and loose, and don’t stick your fingers out straight like the spokes on a wheel; then grip the bow. Remember to be relaxed as you shoot your bow, even after the shot. A good archer will drop his or her bow after the shot. If you are keeping your bow hand relaxed and limp throughout the shot, you should drop
your bow after every shot. That’s why you use a wrist sling. As you raise and draw your bow, keep your bow shoulder pulled low (it’s the most stable position). If you cannot hold your shoulder down as you draw, your draw weight is too heavy. You should be able to allow your bow arm to remain sightly bent throughout the shot. When holding the bow at shoulder level to draw, the elbow on your drawing arm needs to be held a little above your shoulder level, then draw your elbow down and around behind your head using the large muscles of your upper back. Then when at full draw, find a solid anchor point. It’s very important to develop a solid anchor point that you learn and always use when shooting. Your anchor point is like the rear sight on a rifle, and should become a solid
post with the road number on it and underneath the road number there is another number that tells the length of the road (example: road 2319 is 0.7 miles). Using this road as an example, I explained to the man and his son that they can park their camper at the end of road 2319 and set up their hunting camp, as 0.7 miles in on this road was as far as this road legally goes and as far as he could drive a motorized vehicle. We also talked about how he would need to take home any and all of his trash (leave no trace). That he was free to use any “dead and downed” wood
for a campfire (but please remember that our fire danger is still high). And, if they were fortunate enough to bag a deer, to please leave the gut pile in the woods where the coyotes and vultures would gladly clean it up for him. (Please don’t leave gut piles along the roadway). As he left the office with his son, I thought how wonderful it is that this man can enjoy his hunting experience with his son and family. And this opportunity is free! (Thomas Haines is district ranger for the Mark Twain National Forest, Salem Ranger District. He can be reached at 573-729-6656 or tehaines@fs.fed.us.)
FS road posts can provide helpful information
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By Thomas Haines ell, we are well into hunting season and it is a joy to meet and see people enjoying the opportunities and pleasures their National Forest offers. One gentlemen and his son came by the office and was inquiring about parking their camper off the end of a Forest Service (FS) road and setting up their hunting camp. We gave him a copy of the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUP), which is free, and explained that he is welcome to camp anywhere on the National Forest. And this map will show him how far he can drive a motorized vehicle on signed FS Roads. I pointed out to him that at the beginning of a FS road, he will see a plastic
point for a good shot. The best way to release the string is surprise. Don’t anticipate the release. Just remember as you aim, the string should suddenly be gone. Don’t pull your release trigger; just squeeze it like a rifle trigger and stay relaxed during the shot. After the shot, keep doing what you were doing before you released the string – keep your bow arm up and continue to aim at your target, don’t drop your arm to watch the arrow fly. Your bow arm may drop some from the weight of your bow, but only a little. Continue to hold the followthrough position until the arrow hits your target. You may not see your arrow in flight or when it hits the target if you are shooting properly, but you should hear the impact. Remember, you will never hold your pin steady on the target, it will always float around on the target. Practice, develop your strength, form, and always relax to reduce the movement as much as possible. Stay relaxed and don’t tense your muscles. The way to accuracy is to be relaxed. As you are aiming, slowly begin to release, relax your fingers, squeeze the trigger until the string lets go. Never try to time the shot or try to start over, just execute the shot as you aim and let the arrow go. With practice it will fall where you want it to. (John Merideith lives in Neosho, Mo.)
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Page 16 • December 2017
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December 2017 • Page 17
The amazing eccentricity of Bothwell Lodge
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By Tom Uhlenbrock ohn Homer Bothwell would have approved of the Radiant Trail, which rambles for three miles through the fields and forests of Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site. “He would hike great distances on a whim, get out in the woods and start walking and who knows where he would end up,” said Charles Wise, who guides visitors through Bothwell’s castle-like home. “People would think he was a hitchhiker and try to pick him up – they felt sorry he was walking, he felt sorry because they had to drive. The trail goes through such a natural part of the property, places he himself would have been out walking with his friends.” Motorists on Interstate 65 north of Sedalia can’t miss the turreted stone lodge, which sits 120 feet high on a bluff looking down on the countryside. The lodge is open to tours on winter weekends and can be combined with a stay in the renovated Hotel Bothwell, a historic landmark in downtown Sedalia, for a short trip into the distant past. Bothwell’s story is a fascinating blend of tragedy and a life well lived, and it is told through the personal belongings lovingly preserved throughout the 31room, multi-level mansion. Born in 1848 in Maysville, Ill., Bothwell came to Sedalia, a bustling rail hub, as a young lawyer in 1871. He married Hattie Jaynes, the sister of his law partner, but the marriage was just two years old when misfortune struck. Hattie gave birth to a stillborn child,
and was believed to have died of complications from the pregnancy. Bothwell never remarried, never had children. Although schooled in law, he made his fortune with the West St. Louis Water & Light Co., which supplied water to St. Louis County and Kirksville on the other side of the state. He served as president of the company until 1926. Enthralled with nature, Bothwell discovered a picturesque wooded bluff outside Sedalia and decided it would be perfect for a weekend retreat. Using native stone, he began construction of the house in 1897, and built it in four phases, the last completed in 1928. The 12,000-square-foot estate became his personal home, and he lived there until his death at the age of 80. But Bothwell was by no means a recluse. The home had 10 guest bedrooms that often were filled, and he was a surrogate father to two nieces and a second cousin who had their own quarters in the lodge. Bothwell was a generous citizen. He gave the city of Sedalia $150,000, which helped finance the building of the Hotel Bothwell and a hospital that is still in use after several additions. In his 22-page
Bothwell eagerly adopted the latest technology. An air tank and pump provided water pressure. The house had a top-of-the-line steam heating system with radiators. A generator and bank of batteries provided electricity. He even tried to provide air conditioning by venting cool air from a cave in the bluff up a stairwell into the house, a venture somewhat successful. The Gothic tower contains some surprises. Bee hives, which still produce honey, were concealed behind wall panels. Bothwell’s office was in the top floor of the tower, where a ladder leads up to the roof for a sweeping view of the landscape. “He had a habit of flying his homemade house flag and the American flag outside to show he was home and accepting guests,” Wise said. “We get a lot of visitors who love old houses; they come to see the woodwork, the furniture – they like history. We also get a lot of people who drive by and just want to see that big house on the hill.” Tours of the house are $4 for adults, $2.50 for children six through 12. Tours are available during the winter from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the hour on Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. The Radiant Trail is open to hiking and biking. The three-quarter-mile Stoneyridge Trail leads to a stone gazebo and shelter. The grounds have picnic tables, a playground and a reservable pavilion. Call (660) 827-0510 or visit mostateparks.com. (Tom Uhlenbrock is a writer for Missouri State Parks.)
will, he left the lodge to a group of 38 friends and relatives for the creation of the Bothwell Lodge Club. When the original 38 fell to below five in number, the will stipulated that the land go to the state for charitable and educational purposes. Missouri got the property in 1974, and opened the house for tours as a state historic site in 1991, administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The original land has been expanded to 247 acres and the Radiant Trail makes a loop around the grounds, showing off the natural beauty that first attracted Bothwell. Bees in the wall The home is decorated in the arts and crafts style, and most of the furniture is original. Without a feminine touch, the interior resembles a gentleman’s hunting lodge. “The house ended up with five-and-ahalf bathrooms – that was a time when houses out in the country still had outhouses,” Wise said during a tour. “The last bathroom was put in in 1926 and had a shower, which is something you didn’t see in private homes.”
CATCH A SMILE
Jim Owen’s hillbilly humor One of my smart friends has invented a sprinkling can without any holes in the spout. He says it’s for people who have artificial flowers. I had a friend who had been doctoring Grilling Out? Come See Us
himself for twenty years from Capper’s Weekly. Last week he died of a typographical error. Fishing stories Waldo agreed to take his little brother, Wally, fishing while their parents went shopping. When the parents came home, Waldo said, “I’ll never take Wally fishing again. I didn’t get a single bite.” “I’m sure he’ll be quiet next time,” said his father. “Just explain to him that noise will scare the fish and they’ll swim away.” “It wasn’t that,” said Waldo. “He ate my bait.” ——— A couple of fishermen are talking. One says to the other, “I just love this sport. Man against nature. Fisherman versus fish. The fresh air. The solitude. Everything’s great. And why do you fish?” The second guy says, “Because my son’s learning the trumpet.” ——— Two Texans went on an ice-fishing expedition in Minnesota. They gave up after only one day and returned home. When they were asked why they had come home so soon, one of them replied, “Heck, it took us six hours just to get the boat in the water!”
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Missouri trivia 1. What Indian tribe, whose name means “one who has dugout canoes,” lived near the confluence of the Grand and Missouri rivers in central Missouri? 2. Five Missouri volunteers were among the hundreds of Americans killed during what famous Mexican-American War battle in 1836? 3. What famous explorer acted as the governor of the Missouri Territory from 1813 to 1820? 4. Which Old West gunfighter from Memphis, Missouri, was portrayed by one-time Slater resident Steve McQueen in a 1980 movie bearing his name? 5. Old West legend Belle Starr was born in February 1848 in what southwestern Missouri town?
6.Hannibal native William Lear, who founded the Lear Jet Corporation, helped developed what popular audio device of the 1960s and 1970s? Answers 1. The Missouri (or Missouria) tribe 2. The Alamo 3. William Clark 4. Tom Horn 5. Carthage 6. The 8-track tape (If you have an amusing story, a funny joke or a quotation or saying that you have enjoyed and would like to share, please send it to: Bill Wakefield, Traveler St. Louis Branch, 9707 Pauline Place, Affton MO 63123; or email me at w3@charter.net.)
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Between two fires Two men went out hunting in the West, and had the misfortune to have used up all their ammunition when they ran across a big, stray bison bull. He was a vicious animal, and he charged the two men, chasing one of them into a nearby cave and the other up a tree. There the animal kept them, charging first against the tree and then against the mouth of the cave, so that the man in the tree had no chance to climb down and run, and the fellow in the cave also had no chance to get away. But he kept popping in and out of the mouth of the cave, each time attracting the attention of the bull and getting chased back. “Hey, you darn fool!” yelled the man in the tree, “why don’t you stay in that cave, and maybe this fool animal will get tired and go away.” “Darn fool yourself!” yelled back the other man. “There’s a grizzly bear in this cave!”
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Page 18 • December 2017
GIFTS from 1 tureshop.com to see a variety of amazing gifts you can purchase this holiday season. I personally enjoy the CD “Voices of the Hills” that recounts the history and music of Shannon County. There are also books, such as “Cooking Wild in Missouri” and “A Paddler’s Guide to Missouri.” If you don’t like to order items online, they can often be purchased at Missouri Department of Conservation nature centers, like Powder Valley and Runge. ——— 2. You can send Christmas cards featuring photos taken in Missouri. Kim Carr, a talented photographer from New Florence, Missouri, has a wide variety of greeting cards and notecards that can be purchased online or at local shops in Hermann, Columbia, St. Charles, etc. She can also be contacted at kimcarrphotography.com. ——— 3. Wayfarer has fun products and apparel for those who love the outdoors. Simply visit wayfarerapparel.co and browse the site. I am a huge fan of my “Respect Nature” T-shirt I ordered a few months ago and I’ve been tempted to order it as a sweatshirt. Their products are a modern and fun twist on the outdoors lifestyle. From a basic stainless steel camping mug to an ultralight sleeping bag, they have you covered for your next outdoors adventure. Nature lovers of all ages can appreciate a gift from Wayfarer. ——— 4. Speaking of camping, did you know
A gift card from Missouri State Parks.
“Respect Nature” T-shirt from Wayfarer.
that you could purchase gift cards from Missouri State Parks? The last time I checked, a gift card fits perfectly in any Christmas stocking! So give the gift of camping, by calling 877-422-6766 to purchase a Missouri State Parks gift card. When you order a gift card by telephone using a credit or debit card, a $25 minimum purchase is required. ——— 5. Do you know someone who could use a pocket notebook? For the people who like paper and prefer to jot down ideas, measurements, telephone numbers, and more – Field Notes is the perfect gift. Visit fieldnotesbrand.com to learn more. Or, if you find yourself in down-
town Washington, Missouri, anytime soon, swing by Fern and Sycamore. They carry Field Notes and other unique items in their shop. ——— 6. Give the gift of trees. By going to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) website at nationalforests.org, you can click the “donate” button and then proceed to the “give a gift” area. By donating online, you can have trees planted where they are most-needed in our National Forests in someone’s name. The NFF can mail a card to the individual(s) you honor with this gift. Gifts starting at $35 include the tree planting option. This past year I had 10 trees planted for my parents. It felt pretty good when my dad pointed out it was a “neat” and “thoughtful” present. ——— 7. One way to support our National Parks is by shopping at Parks Project. Located at www.parksproject.us, the Parks Project gives back a portion of all purchases to one of 30 different American conservancies that provide financial support for the ongoing care of our national parks.
If one of our readers wants to buy me the Vintage Conservation Corps sticker and a “Leave it Better Than You Found it” lapel pin, I wouldn’t stop you. All jokes aside, this site has amazing gift items for any National Park fan on your shopping list. ——— #8. Last, but certainly not least, you love reading the River Hills Traveler, right? Why not share your love of this publication with someone else? Visit www.riverhillstraveler.com, and click the “shop” link to place an order. You can also subscribe by calling (800) 874-8423, ext. 1. This is a gift that guarantees at least 12 good mail days a year for the recipient! ——— I hope that these suggestions make your holiday gift-giving experience a bit more enjoyable, unique, and stress-free. Too often in the hustle and bustle of the season, we forget to slow down and enjoy the process of giving gifts to those we love. May your Christmas be peaceful this year, my River Hills Traveler friends! (Michelle Turner lives in Union, Mo.)
‘Legends of the Outdoors’media waterfowl hunt held in SEMO
G
By Bill Cooper arry Mason leaned into a stiff wind to pick up a duck decoy. Thirty-five mile an hour winds during the night had toppled dozens of decoys. Mason, the owner of the Outdoor Legends Hall of Fame, was hosting his first “Legends of the Outdoors” Media Waterfowl Hunt in southeast Missouri near Kennett. Attendees included Ray Eye of “Eye on the Outdoors Radio,” 590 The Fan, out of St. Louis; Jerry Antley owner of Cedar Hills Game Calls, from Louisiana; Tommy Garner, Legends board member, of northwest Arkansas; Scott Davis, of “The Urban Sportsman TV Show,” out of Nashville; and Bill Cooper, host of “Outside Again Adventures TV - Online,” from St. James, Mo. Unusual weather for December, 70 degrees and high winds greeted our hunting party as we rode through the flooded rice fields on Mason’s UTV in the dark. Mason delivered us to the blind and we quickly unloaded our mountain of waterfowl hunting gear and camera gear. Our party had convened to enjoy a duck hunt together and to promote Mason’s “Outdoor Legends Hall of Fame.” Mason established the “Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame” to recognize those outdoorsmen and sportswomen who, through countless hours of hard work and devotion to the outdoors, in both hunting and fishing, have played an integral part in setting the standards and guidelines for the rest of the world to follow. Bill Dance, Rowland Martin, Jimmy Holt, Harold Knight, David Hale, Eli Haydel, Earl Bentz, and Charlie Brewer were the first inductees in 2002. Inductees for 2016 included Lucy Mize, Fred Bear, W.R. Sauey, Mark and Terry Drury, George Thornton, Fred Bear, and Colorado Buck. The chatter of tens of thousands of ducks and snow geese filled the dark skies as we maneuvered to get set up in the pit blind before legal shooting hours began. Although temperatures hovered in the 70s, an arctic blast bore down us pushing waterfowl southward by the thousands. Temperatures would plummet to single
Garry Mason founder of the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame held a waterfowl hunt near Kennett last December.
digits by the next morning. Hundreds of thousands of ducks had staged in the area over the previous few weeks. Southeast Missouri has become a mecca for waterfowl over the last 30-40 years as agricultural practices have changed. Rice was an unheard of agricultural commodity in the Missouri bootheel when I grew up in nearby Mississippi County in the 1950’s and 60’s. Currently, waterfowl stop over to feed on the abundant supply of waste grain in the thousands of acres of rice fields available. Local farmers quickly recognized the growing waterfowl populations as an additional opportunity to generate additional farm income. Waterfowl leases, lodges, and guide services are now available in the rice country of southeast Missouri. Garry Mason leases a pit from one such operation. The landowner has the ability to pump more water into the area around the pit, if needed. Mason finished his decoy-straightening chores and climbed into the blind with us. His yellow Lab sat next to him. Mason immediately began warming up on his Cedar Hills duck call. It was obvious that this was not his first time in a duck blind. Although he had been involved in competition calling at one time, Mason knew how to communicate with ducks. The occasional rain drop kept our crew honest about flashing faces toward the lightning sky. Ominous-look-
ing clouds streaming by in high tail fashion, combined with a loud cacophony of fast flying birds, with beaks pointed to the south, created an unusual scene in the wide open rice county of the Mississippi River delta. “Ducks dropping in from your side, Scott,” Mason instructed. “Shoot em!” Scott Davis is a big boy. He struggled up through the overhanging rice stubble and grass covering the lid of the blind. “Where are they?” he yelled. Jerry Antley fired to the front of the blind redirecting Davis’s attention. A mallard hen crumbled at the report of Antley’s shotgun. Davis fired twice, but had fallen behind the action. Laughter filled the blind as Davis offered up his best excuses for the misses. Mason blew his duck call with all the wind he could muster. “I’m sure those ducks are not hearing me,” he mumbled. “They are so high and the wind is gruesome.” Despite the wind and high-flying birds, Mason continued to coax birds into the set. Two mallards broke into view over Davis’s shoulder. On his third shot, a fat green head tumbled to the choppy water. Mason’s Lab mesmerized us all as he danced through the frigid water on the retrieve. Ducks and dogs hold a special place in a water-fowler’s heart. Ray Eye, Tommy Garner, and I wielded cameras while the other trio of Mason, Antley, and Davis brandished shotguns. I felt fortunate after watching those guys trying to hit ducks with the fierce tail wind behind them. Plans called for us to enjoy two days of hunting in the Missouri bootheel, then travel to Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee for a repeat performance. The 70 degree temperatures began clashing with the rapidly dropping temperatures closing in from the north. Tornado warnings were being issued. We voted unanimously to abandon the blind and regroup at another time. Our party gathered enough material for articles, videos and TV shows. Garry Mason is an unusual outdoor talent. My initial hunt with him proved a huge success. I can’t wait until we meet again in January to pick up where we left off.
RiverHillsTraveler.com
December 2017 • Page 19
TREE from 1 ognizable national parks. This is a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Dodson. Dodson said she chose to paint historic structures because they have stood the test of time and have great cultural significance, each with its own story. The Eminence area was devastated by record flooding in April and Dodson wanted to bring awareness to the recovery the community has made. “I wanted to celebrate the spirit of recovery and resilience that has been demonstrated by the people of our area and convey the message that although we have been bruised a bit, we are alive and ready for visitors,” said Dodson. The ornaments depict snow scenes, representing serenity and peace, which encompass many of the parks in the winter months. The ornaments that feature the ONSR are Alley Spring Mill, Storys Creek Schoolhouse, Klepzig Mill, the Chilton House, Welch Hospital, and Big Spring Lodge. The rest of the ornaments represent Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch), Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site (White Haven), Harry S. Truman National Historic Site (Truman Home), George Washington Carver National Monument (Moses Carver House), Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield (Ray House), and Mark Twain National Forest (Falling Spring Mill). “When I started painting these I was overwhelmed with all the sites I had to choose from. How fortunate are we to have all these places to visit in our state?” said Dodson.
of America’s oldest holiday traditions. The first lighting took place 95 years ago on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse. Since 1923, each succeeding president has carried on the tradition.
On the back of each ornament, the state of Missouri is painted and there is a dot on the state showing the location of each featured site. Dodson painted these sites on six-inch ornaments, and each ornament took approximately four hours to complete from start to finish. “I work part-time, and this is my second job. I paint from the moment I get home until about 10 p.m. It is quite the undertaking,” said Dodson. She has received several orders for ornaments and is currently backlogged up until May on orders, if not longer. “People can order the whole set of the 12 ornaments I made or they can order individual ones,” said Dodson. The six-inch ornaments are $55 each and the four-inch ornaments will be slightly less expensive. As of right now, Dodson said she will not be getting the original ornaments back from Washington. “We are told that they are archived and saved for future use, but we are trying to get them back to use on the ONSR headquarters tree,” said Dodson.
“I would love to get them back and then go and present the other ornaments to the parks that I painted.” Dodson also has her work displayed on a mural of Alley Spring and Rocky Falls in the Shannon County Courthouse, in a children’s waiting room at the courthouse, and also at a convenience store in the area. Presented by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation, the National Christmas Tree Lighting is one
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