September 1, 2012
Ad Index................... 22 Book review............. 18 Calendar.2-5, 23,26-27 Editorial...................... 6 Fishing..................... 11 Floating.................... 12 History......... 10, 19, 20 Hunting.............. 7, 8, 9 Indians...................... 15
Nature................. 14, 17 Outdoor News.7, 21, 25 Real Estate............... 24 Recipes..................... 22 Seasons..................... 21 Sun/Moon................. 21 Trading Post........22-23 Years Ago................. 24
Traveler River Hills
Volume 40, No. 3
ISSN 87501899
MAPS IN THIS ISSUE
Clearwater Lake........................................... 13 Lower Current & Eleven Point River. ....... 14 Lower Meramec River................................. 12 Upper Meramec, Huzzah, Courtois............. 16 Parkland Region........................................... 18 Upper Current & Jacks Fork Rivers............. 15 Wappapello Lake......................................... 17
Is lower Meramec River ‘deadly?’
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By Jo Schaper hen I was 10, my best girlfriend’s brother, then 16, drowned in the Big River near Eureka.
Every time I hear of someone drowning in the lower Meramec watershed, my heart drops for a second as I relive hearing that news. Each time it happens, there comes a flood of accusations against the Meramec River as a “river of death.” But is that true? “The lower Meramec is a placid Class I stream. A Class I stream cannot be referred to as dangerous because poor or weak swimmers drown there,” says Richard Orr, Meramec River enthusiast. “I’d like some of those people to see an actual treacherous river, like the Colorado in
the Grand Canyon.” “Is the Meramec potentially dangerous? Yes. But so is a bathtub. The Meramec has a current, and that can be a problem to weak, exhausted or drunk swimmers. The press keeps talking about this dangerous undertow. They don’t know what an undertow is, and there isn’t one on the
Meramec,” he said. Traveler set out to find some answers, found a few and a lot of stonewalling. The Army Corps of Engineers said they didn’t know lower Meramec conditions. Neither did the
NOT AS SAFE AS IT LOOKS — The lower Meramec, though placid, has a current and a disturbed, uneven bottom. Ten drownings in as many years at the Castlewood State Park have led to the posting of signs warning of a “Deadly River. Traveler’s Jo Schaper enlisted the help of a friend with a boat and fishfinder to learn what lurks beneath this stretch of river. Jo Schaper photos, USGS map. Department of Natural Resources burning than at Castlewood State Water Resources Division. Paul Park, near Ballwin. The park contains Rydlund of USGS Water Resources the remnants of Lincoln Beach, a furnished some helpful hydrology historic swimming beach between background, but said they had no 1915 and the 1945, as well as another expert on that section of the stream. section of river slightly downstream Nowhere is this question more Continued on Page 25
Birds of autumn
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By Bill Cooper even the best shooters with their aerial acrobatics. utumn is that all-too-short season be Mourning doves are the most populous game bird tween late summer and fall. Dear to the in the United States and most states have a season, hearts of shotgunners, autumn is a magi- which usually begins around the first of Septemcal time in the field. It is a time of harber. And the good news for hunters is that doves vest for farmers and hunters alike. are holding their own in most Slightly cooler mornings create an regions of the country. t is a great experience excitement among those who purare found in a variety to get away from the of Doves sue the birds of autumn, those first habitats from city parks to cares of everyday life, open farm regions. They are flights of blue-winged teal, stirred to migration by northern breezes ground feeders, eating weed take the dog out and and those gray ghosts of the fields, and waste grains. Howattempt to down a few seeds the mourning dove. ever, doves have very weak feet doves or teal. These “I look forward to early Septemand do not scratch to find food. ber every year,” said avid shotThey must have bare ground to birds dupe even the gunner Rick Ply, from Missouri. for their food sources. Unbest shooters with their look “Dove and teal seasons are a ton of derstanding this factor is key to aerial acrobatics. fun, but serve as the introduction to looking for a pace to hunt doves. more hunting seasons to come.” Cut grain fields such as corn, The early seasons never last long enough, but are milo and soybeans are prime dove hunting spots. a much welcomed beginning. It is a great experiThe crops are harvested and tall stalks are chopped ence to get away from the cares of everyday life, up and scattered on the ground. Even the modern take the dog out and attempt to down a few doves farm machinery of today still spills a good amount or teal. Both are extremely fast flyers and unless of grain on the ground, making it available to doves you are an expert shot, will soon have you laughand other animals. ing at yourself and your buddies. These birds dupe Continued on Page 13
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KEEP IT LIGHT — Lightweight shotguns and light loads help a hunter stay with dove hunting longer. Bill Cooper photo.
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