July 2020 vol 81 no 4 by Conservation Federation

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

The Voice for Missouri Outdoors JULY 2020 - VOL 81 | NO. 4

Director’s Message

Remembering Ron

osing a conservationist, friend and CFM Past President in Ron Coleman has been heartbreaking for many of us. He fought a courageous battle with cancer right up until the very end. You may recall seeing his smiling face at our convention in March. Ron was the ultimate outdoors guy, being involved in parks, recreation, conservation, and natural resources. You will never find a more dedicated person to so many aspects of the outdoors than Ron. Ron’s leadership and involvement with CFM spanned many decades and culminated with his Presidential term ending in 2018. He was also our long time representative to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). He engaged counterparts on conservation and natural resource issues and always stood up for what he thought was right. When Missouri hosted the NWF meeting last year in St. Louis, Ron was the star of the show and proudly shared with other states the many abundant resources that Missouri has to offer. Sadly, at this year’s Annual Meeting, a moment of silence was held in his honor. During his career, he worked for the City of Ellisville as Director of Parks & Recreation, Ozark Greenways Executive Director, the City of Chesterfield as Director of Parks & Recreation and Open Space Council’s Executive Director. Not only was he Director in all these positions, but he was also the first person in each of them as well. Ron knew how to start, lead, finish, and bring parties together for the greater good. In February, he was inducted into the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association’s Hall of Fame. Ron was President in 2016-2018 when I came to work for CFM, and I have many fond memories during his term at the helm. I have a couple of handwritten notes from Ron that I will always cherish. One in particular, he sent me was when I became Executive Director last year. In his letter, he encouraged me to be my own person and my own leader. That is the way Ron was, and that is the way he led. He was a legend in time that shaped the way our organization and others will forever be better off. We have so many legends like Ron here in Missouri. But what makes a legend or a conservation hero? I guess it depends on who you ask and what they are remembered for. I have many mentors and legends that I look up to. Yet to some, they just might be another friend, neighbor, or person down the street. But to us, they are so much more, and will be remembered for how they change our lives.

Tyler and Ron at NWF Annual Convention in St. Louis last year. (Photo: NWF)

Ron’s amazing wife Rhonda shared with CFM some of Ron’s books from his library. A special bookmark will be placed in each of these so that when you see them, you can enjoy a special remembrance of him. I was amazed as he had every important book in Missouri’s conservation and outdoors history. Many of these books were signed and personalized to him. He knew so many people and cared so much for our incredible natural resources. She also shared an envelope that he kept in his desk with my name on it. It was the notes that I had sent thanking him for various volunteer efforts he did for us over the years. I was certainly touched by that. Ron gave us many moments to remember him by, and he left us the way he lived. By living every day to the fullest and embracing each day until his last. His smile, emotion and passion could be seen far from across the river bank or any trail that he was on. Missouri’s streams, rivers, communities and parks are a better place because of Ron, and he will forever be missed. Our organization is better because of his unselfish leadership, and I am a better leader because of him. May God bless him, his family and those that will miss him.

Yours in Conservation, Tyler Schwartze CFM Executive Director

JULY - 2020

CONTENTS

Conservation Federation July 2020 - V81 No. 4

Features

OFFICERS Mossie Schallon - President Richard Mendenhall - 1st Vice President Zach Morris - 2nd Vice President Ginny Wallace - Secretary Randy Washburn - Treasurer

STAFF Tyler Schwartze - Executive Director, Editor Micaela Haymaker - Director of Operations Michelle Gabelsberger - Membership Development Coordinator Colton Zirkle - Education and

Communications Coordinator Joan VanderFeltz - Administrative Assistance Emma Kessinger - Creative Director

Immerse Yourself in the Outdoors

First Fishing License

Frog Season is Open

Missouri's Ground Squirrels

Sandbar Archeology

The Outdoors are Open

Exploring the Ozarks with Paddle MO

How I Survived a Copperhead Snakebite

The Eagle Sees the Round Rainbow

Fun in the Sun with Sticks and Strings

Departments 3 8 11 13 14 36

Director's Message President's Message New Members Gear Guide Affiliate Spotlight Agency News

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE

Highlights 16 18 21 30 45 61

CFM Events Schedule Where Will You Go with CLC? Columbia Event Flyer What is CFM? Finding a Place to Hunt What's New with the Katy Trail?

CFM Mission: To ensure conservation of Missouri’s wildlife and natural resources, and preservation of our state’s rich outdoor heritage through advocacy, education and partnerships. Conservation Federation is the publication of the Conservation Federation of Missouri (ISSN 1082-8591). Conservation Federation (USPS 012868) is published bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, September and November for subscribers and members. Of each member’s dues, $10 shall be for a year’s subscription to Conservation Federation. Periodical postage paid in Jefferson City, MO and additional mailing offices. Send address changes to: Postmaster Conservation Federation of Missouri 728 West Main Jefferson City, MO 65101

FRONT COVER Two boys fishing together at sunset.

Business Alliance

Thank you to all of our Business Alliance members. Platinum

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G3 Boats MidwayUSA Pure Air Natives Redneck Blinds

Riley Chevrolet Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery Mitico Simmons Sun Solar

Starline, Inc. St. James Winery Trailerman Trailers

Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc. HMI Fireplace Shop Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. Missouri Wine & Grape Board NE Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.

NW Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. Ozark Bait and Tackle POET Powder Horn Gun & Archery

Custom Screen Printing and Embroidery Dickerson Park Zoo Explore St. Louis Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Association Gascosage Electric Cooperative GREDELL Engineering Resources, Inc. Grundy Electric Coop. Hulett Heating & Air Conditioning Lewis County Rural Electric Coop.

Missouri Native Seed Association Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. REMAX Boone Realty Say Insurance Shady Lanes Cabins and Motel Tabor Plastics Company Truman’s Bar & Grill United Electric Cooperative, Inc. White River Valley Electric Cooperative

Silver Custom Metal Products Forrest Keeling Nursery Learfield Communication, Inc. Lilley’s Landing Resort & Marina

Bronze Association of Missouri Electric Coop. Black Widow Custom Bows, Inc. Burgers’ Smokehouse Central Electric Power Cooperative Drury Hotels

Iron Bass Pro Shops (Independence) Bee Rock Outdoor Adventures Blue Springs Park and Recreation Boone Electric Co-op Brockmeier Financial Services Brown Printing Cap America Central Bank Community State Bank of Bowling Green

Your business can benefit by supporting conservation. For all sponsorship opportunities, call (573) 634-2322. JULY - 2020

Feature Story

Immerse Yourself in the Outdoors

issourians and the nation have been dealing with unprecedented challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The OAKs Committee is an advocate for the outdoors and the principles of how important natural places are for emotional and physical wellbeing. It’s hard, during times of uncertainty and stress to find a silver lining in this crisis, but a few things come to mind: more time together as a family, creative ways to keep kids entertained and engaged while continuing to learn and have fun. Throughout the spring, typical activities slowed in Missouri enabling us to observe and see things maybe we hadn’t for some time due to busy and often complicated life styles. Things like a spider building a web, a song bird we never saw or heard before, a night sky filled with stars and the slow transition out of the cold of winter. The virus may be around for a while, which means we need to adjust to a new normal to keep ourselves and those around us safe.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

The OAKs Committee’s Education sub-committee wanted to point out some real benefits of being outdoors that will contribute to your health and wellness and also provides some resources to help maintain safe distances, engage your mind, and fun ways to discover nature no matter if you are a novice or a veteran naturalist. For adults, did you know: studies have shown that walking in the woods can improve blood pressure, boosts mental health and immune systems, and decreases cancer risk. Walking in nature could improve your short-term memory. Spending time outside reduces inflammation and sunlight mitigates pain as well as provides vitamin D. Outdoor experiences can help fight depression and anxiety. Being outdoors can eliminate fatigue and give you more energy, may improve eyesight, can help you stay focused and increases creativity. Read more about it: www. businessinsider.com/why-spending-more-timeoutside-is-healthy-2017-7 and www.mentalfloss.com/ article/70548/11-scientific-benefits-being-outdoors.

Feature Story For children, did you know: science has shown being in nature builds confidence, promotes creativity and imagination, teaches responsibility, and provides different stimulation centered on seeing, touching, hearing, and smelling. Getting outside gets kids moving and thinking, they lose weight and stay more focused and as they discover more, they ask more questions which can be especially positive for kids with Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD). Experiencing the outdoors also reduces stress and reduces fatigue. Read more about it: www.childmind. org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/ and www.nwf.org/Home/Kids-and-Family/Connecting-Kidsand-Nature/Health-Benefits-and-Tips. Simply put, being outdoors heals the mind, body and spirit www.nwf.org/Home/Kids-and-Family/ConnectingKids-and-Nature/Health-Benefits-and-Tips. Reaping the benefits of being outdoors does not have to be structured like organized sports or an exercise regimen. The Oaks Education Sub-Committee has explored ways to help during trying times you have a guide on how to get kids and yourselves to absorb the magic of nature in ways that can be fun and involve the entire family. Richard Louv, esteemed author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder,” recently wrote of ways to deal with the virus and our isolation by getting outside, whether you live in the city, a small town or in the country. One idea: pick a “sit spot” where you know it both in day and night and in all kinds of weather, where you can identify/observe birds, small mammals, and the vegetation. This can be in the back yard or at a nearby park. Visit that spot frequently with an activity to get you immersed. Find your inner artist, poet, biologist, writer, teacher, etc., and take advantage of the things you see while interpreting that sense of wonder through an activity. Visit www.childrenandnature. org/2020/03/16/10-nature-activities-to-help-get-yourfamily-through-the-pandemic/. Take a hike along a trail in the forest/grassland of a Missouri Department of Conservation Management Area, a Department of Natural Resources State Park, a U.S. Forest Service National Forest, a National Wildlife Refuge, or a local city park. Make the hike fun by turning it into a scavenger hunt to find 10 critters or signs of critters (foot prints, scat), 10 tree leaves/ flowers, etc. Let kids use imaginations by bringing along some props/costumes.

Take pictures of the flowers and identify them when you get home or have a flower art contest. For hot summer days visit a stream and explore the water’s edge and make a log of what you see. Make sure you are maintaining social distances while on public lands for the safety of everyone. Plant a native pollinator garden in the backyard to attract monarch butterflies, remember to plant native milkweed like common, swamp, and butterfly. Visit www.moprairie.org/ GrowNative for excellent advice. Welcome the birds by putting out a bird feeder near a window, then visit Audubon.org for information on the birds you see or download Merlin Bird ID to your smart phone and have an interactive opportunity to learn about birds, their songs and where they live. There are some valuable resources that you can take advantage of to help you and your family connect with nature. Take advantage of time to nurture yourself and others by being outdoors. Here are some additional resources to help you: • • • • • • • •

nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/teacher-portal dnr.mo.gov/education/hkfc.html www.nwf.org/Kids-and-Family/Connecting-Kidsand-Nature outdoorclassroomday.com/resources/ activeforlife.com/18-ways-to-get-kids-outside/ healthpoweredkids.org/lessons/get-out-and-enjoynature/ davidsuzuki.org/take-action/act-locally/ connecting-youth-with-nature/ www.fws.gov/refuges/features/health-and-nature. html

For more information on the science of the healing power of the outdoors visit: • •

positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/ naturemed.org/contact-with-nature-is-good-foryour-health/

While there is uncertainty in what lies ahead related to the pandemic and Covid-19, we can find ways to deal with that in a positive way helping each other connect to nature in valuable ways for our wellbeing. Be safe, stay healthy and immerse yourself in nature.

Kelly Srigley Werner and Kathy Craig (Photo: Courtesy of USFWS)

JULY - 2020

President’s Message

CFM Remains Committed to Our Mission

oses are my favorite flower and are especially comforting these days. Many of us still worry about the health and economic welfare impacting our families, friends and neighbors due to COVID-19. Rest assured, CFM is committed more than ever to our mission: To ensure conservation of Missouri’s wildlife and natural resources, and preservation of our state’s rich outdoor heritage through advocacy, education and partnerships. Prior to the COVID-19, CFM was tracking 80 bills that would impact Missouri conservation and environmental statutes. While the normal schedule of sessions was disrupted for several weeks, legislators were successful in getting several priority bills across the finish line. The House and Senate gave approval to 50+ pieces of legislation. •

Shelf-Stable Legislation – House Bill 1711 – Rep. Tim Remole, and Senator Mike Bernskoetter, championed CFM’s priority legislation to passage. HB1711 passed to allow shelf-stable meats like snack sticks to be processed for the children’s buddy backpack program.

CFM advocates’ grassroots call to action was successful in defeating the following legislation via face to face testimony as well as the new Legislative Action Center: •

•

Missouri Department of Conservation – House Joint Resolution (HJR) 100 - The House Special Committee on Government Oversight heard Rep. Robert Ross’ HJR 100. Conservationists and environmentalists from across the state packed the House Hearing Room to show their opposition to the legislation. Sale of Eleven Point State Park – House Bill 2635 Rep. Jeff Pogue, sponsored House Bill 2635, and fought all session to amend other legislation to require the state to sell the Eleven Point River State Park. CFM, Missouri Parks Association and partners were successful in defeating Rep. Pogue’s proposed amendment. MDC Commission restructure – HJR 108 - Rep. Chris Dinkins, introduced this which would require voter approval. It would have increased the membership on the commission to nine nonpartisan members, one elected from each of the MDC regions and one appointed by the Governor. A coalition of conservation supporters was successful in killing this bill.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

CFM remains relevant in what we do to support and defend Missouri conservation and its outdoor heritage. September 10th, marks CFM’s 85th Anniversary! Our staff, who worked remotely during the stay at home order, has returned to the office so feel free to call upon them at any time. CFM Officers, Board, members and friends of conservation continue to volunteer their time and talents, meeting via ZOOM and or conference call. While all regular CFM committees are functioning business as usual, I’ve appointed ad hoc committees to ensure we are thinking outside the box and making appropriate changes to be ready in the “New Normal.” CFM has implemented several cost savings initiatives, but has also had to cancel or postpone several revenue-generating and networking events, negatively impacting our 2020 bottom line. I realize you have many choices for the causes that you are passionate about. I hope that CFM is at the top of your giving list, whether it be monitory or as a volunteer. Remember, we are all in this together! Stay well and get outdoors whenever you can! On a personal note on the recent loss of past president, Ron Coleman, I appreciated his friendship and support through the many years we worked together in service to CFM. Like so many others, I benefited greatly from the examples he set as a conservation enthusiast and volunteer. We miss you, Ron!

Yours in Conservation, Mossie Schallon President, CFM

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my sense put in order.” — John Burroughs

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Member News

Why I Became a Life Member of CFM: Lee Vogel

have been listening and telling stories about Missouri’s outdoors ever since my childhood. My stepfather, an avid waterfowl hunter, introduced me to duck hunting when I was 11 years old. Together, we developed a bond around the stories we shared in the duck blind. Little did I know that those early mornings afield would be so influential in my appreciation for the efforts of the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM). This private organization is singularly focused on making certain the wildlife and natural resources that serve those who love the outdoors are preserved for all to enjoy. I met fellow volunteer hunter education instructor, Allan Hoover, at a CFM Annual Meeting. We became good friends and discovered we shared a concern about the declining number of new hunters. Our classes were full, but very few of our graduates experienced a first hunt.

This ultimately led to our creation of the Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation, Inc. (MHHF), a notfor-profit that provides free weekend hunter education clinics to youth. At our first board of directors meeting, we unanimously voted to join CFM as an affiliate member. Since then, our volunteers have introduced more than 500 families to Missouri’s hunting tradition. As a lifetime member, I am a proud partner – along with thousands of other Missourians – of a team that is actively involved in state and national issues that relate to conservation. This type of advocacy assures that the Missouri outdoors I love and appreciate will continue to provide me and others, a refuge to hunt, fish, camp, boat and enjoy wildlife.

Become a CFM Life Member When you purchase a Life Membership with CFM, your money is added to an endowment supporting the administration of the organization in perpetuity. Each year, we draw earnings from the endowment, so your contribution will truly be supporting the CFM for the rest of your life and beyond. This is an important funding source for our Federation. We hope you will consider joining the over 280 dedicated conservationists who have already made a life commitment to the Conservation Federation of Missouri by becoming a Life Member today.

Contact CFM at (573) 634-2322 or email info@confedmo.org.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Member News

WELCOME NEW CFM MEMBERS Dwayne Abbott, Linn

Kevin Haney, Saint Louis

Mark Nettles, Chesterfield

Tom Beckmann, Beaufort

Dave Hasenfratz, Saint Louis

John Noe, Butler

Molly Bindel, Blue Springs

Michael Hevesy, Saint Louis

Marc Robertson, Hale

L. P. Brammer, Kansas City

Katy Holmer, Hermann

Cory Schaefer, Kirkwood

Tom Cox, Saint James

Sue Holst, Jefferson City

Sue Ann Schaefer, Columbia

Richard Davis, Excello

Teresa Ittner, Jefferson City

Joe Sheals, Columbia

Gerald Dippold, Sedgewickville

Allyson Joggerst, Arnold

Joseph Shost, Kansas City

Jeremy Dixon, Eldon

Mark Kross, Jefferson City

Marion Smith, Saint Louis

Quintus Drennan, Saint Louis

Julie Lawson, Hazelwood

Amber Steele, Rolla

Frederick Felix, Platte City

Geneva Lenox, Marshfield

Conchita Stuhl, Saint Louis

Barbara Fluchel, Kansas City

Susan Love, Wildwood

Joseph Szydlowski, Arnold

Clark Fobian, Sedalia

James Lundsted, Jefferson City

Nichole Turner, High Ridge

Marissa Forbis, Mexico

Wayne Lyons, Villa Ridge

Peter VanLinn, Saint Charles

John Forderhase, Fayette

Roy Maupin, Sullivan

Cliff Wilkinson, Kansas City

Eric Fuchs, Mill Spring

Jerry Medling Marble Hill

Jacob Wilson, Eldon

David Giesel, Columbia

Bryon Minor, Columbia

Patricia Wilson, Raytown

William Goehe, Lake Saint Louis

Larry Morrison, Independence

James Winn, Prairie Village KS

Mac Gum, Willow Springs

Debra Morton, Redford

Sasha Wood, Hannibal

W. J. Haag, Hermann

Anthony Nebuloni, Saint Louis

Brian Hammons, Stockton

Robert Neporadny, Florissant

CFM thanks the 250 members that renewed since our last publication.

In Memory In Honor of Ron Coleman Albert and Jan Phillips National Wildlife Federation Ketra Mayer Tom Russell

Jack Meinzenbach Susan Flader Kerry McGill Dan & Connie Burkhardt Randy Washburn

Mike & Mossie Schallon Richard Mendenhall In Honor of Kurt Surber Tom Russell

JULY - 2020

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Tru-Turn Panfish Hooks Be sure you have the right hook to catch summertime panfish. Tru-Turn hooks are a staple to be had in all tackle boxes. The hook is designed to rotate towards the pressure to hook more fish. In addition to the shape, another advantage of this hook is the Blood Red color. The flash of the red mimics the “gill flash” in a feeding frenzy and draws more attention to your bait. www.ttiblakemore.com

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JULY - 2020

Affiliate Highlights

Wild Bird Rehabilitation

ince 1970, roughly three billion birds have vanished across the North American continent. Species such as the Piping Plover, Masked Bobwhite, and Red-Cockaded Woodpecker have been added to the list of endangered species. Wild Bird Rehabilitation Inc. (WBR) began in 1993 with our mission of saving under-served native birds. Within the first year, we helped over 500 birds. Of the 390 species of birds found in Missouri, WBR is the only group that cares for 300 of those species when they are injured. WBR’s mission is to ensure the survival of native birds through professional medical care and education. This mission in carried out in two ways: providing medical care for injured birds, and raising abandoned young ones. When a bird needing help is found, WBR can be called for instructions on what to do. If the bird requires medical attention, it can be brought in for further examination and treatment. Additionally, a volunteer avian veterinarian advises our medical team and provides clinical diagnoses. Wild Bird Rehabilitation Inc. also cares for and raises hatchlings. Songbird nesting takes place between April and September, and during this time, we admit hundreds of injured or abandoned hatchlings. Caring for young birds requires feeding every 20-45 minutes depending on age, with diverse diets prepared daily. Young birds also need clean and stimulating spaces in which to learn and grow. As a non-profit organization, Wild Bird Rehabilitation Inc. relies heavily on donations, volunteers, interns, and community involvement. In the past year, we admitted over 2,500 songbirds. Although we have moved to a larger facility in Overland, we are still cramped. Volunteers can help with tasks such as feeding/providing basic care for baby birds, preparing various diets, cleaning, and much more.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

(Photo: Courtesy of Wild Bird Rehab)

Under the guidance of the new Executive Director Joe Hoffmann, WBR recently acquired a large plot of land in Foley, Missouri with plans to carry out population research and endangered species breeding programs. Volunteers could also help answer phones and provide transportation. Since our phone system uses remote access, you can answer phones from anywhere in the world. As the only licensed songbird care facility in the state of Missouri, we help birds brought in from all over the state of Missouri and Illinois. Wild Bird Rehabilitation Inc. also offers projects such as constructing bird boxes, aviaries, and garden design to Boy or Girls Scouts and Eagle Scouts. WBR also accepts summer interns, teaching them medical procedures and basic songbird care. Interns also participate in bird releases and undertake an individualized project based on their interests surrounding environmental preservation. The earth is made up of a web of interconnected ecosystems. Each strand relies on and supports another in a perfect balance. Not one single person can do everything to save songbirds, but every person can do something. Wild Bird Rehabilitation Inc. exists as an extension of the community, coming together towards the preservation of the remaining songbirds of America. Join our mission by visiting our website wildbirdrehab.org or call 314-426-6400.

Affiliate Highlights

Affiliate Organizations Anglers of Missouri

Missouri Caves & Karst Conservancy

Archery Big Bucks of Missouri

Missouri Chapter of the American

Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives

Fisheries Society

Missouri State Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Missouri Taxidermist Association

Missouri Chapter of the Wildlife Society

Missouri Trappers Association

Audubon Society of Missouri

Missouri Coalition for the Environment

Missouri Trout Fishermen's Association

Bass Slammer Tackle

Missouri Community Forestry Council

Missouri Whitetails Unlimited

Big Game Hunters

Missouri Conservation Agents Association

MU Wildlife & Fisheries Science

Burroughs Audubon Society

Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation

of Greater Kansas City

Graduate Student Organization

Missouri Conservation Pioneers

Northside Conservation Federation

Capital City Fly Fishers

Missouri Consulting Foresters Association

Open Space Council of the St. Louis Region

Chesterfield Citizens Committee

Missouri Ducks Unlimited- State Council

Osage Paddle Sports

Missouri Forest Products Association

Ozark Chinquapin Foundation

Columbia Audubon Society

for the Environment

Missouri Grouse Chapter of QUWF

Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc.

Conservation Foundation of

Missouri Hunter Education

Ozark Land Trust

Missouri Charitable Trust

Instructor's Association

Ozark Trail Association

Deer Creek Sportsman Club

Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation

Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club

Festus-Crystal City Conservation Club

Missouri Master Naturalist -

Perry County Sportsman Club

Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri Forest Releaf of Missouri Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Gateway Chapter Trout Unlimited Greater Ozarks Audubon Society Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri Greenway Network, Inc. Heartland Conservation Alliance

Hi Lonesome Chapter Missouri Master Naturalist Miramiguoa Chapter Missouri Master Naturalist Osage Trails Chapter Missouri Master Naturalist Boone's Lick Chapter Missouri Master Naturalist Springfield Plateau Chapter

Pomme De Terre Chapter Muskies Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc. Quail Forever & Pheasants Forever River Bluffs Audubon Society Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Roubidoux Fly Fishers Association South Side Division CFM Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers St. Louis Audubon Society

James River Basin Partnership

Missouri National Wild Turkey Federation

Stream Teams United

L-A-D Foundation

Missouri Native Seed Association

Student Air Rifle Program

Land Learning Foundation

Missouri Outdoor Communicators

The Fallen Outdoors-Team MO

Legends of Conservation

Missouri Park & Recreation Association

Tipton Farmers & Sportsman's Club

Little Blue River Watershed Coalition

Missouri Parks Association

Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers

Magnificent Missouri

Missouri Prairie Foundation

Troutbusters of Missouri

Mid-Missouri Outdoor Dream

Missouri River Bird Observatory

United Bow Hunters of Missouri

Mid-Missouri Trout Unlimited

Missouri River Relief

Wild Bird Rehabilitation

Midwest Diving Council

Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc.

Wonders of Wildlife

Mississippi Valley Duck

Missouri Rural Water Association

Young Outdoorsmen United

Hunters Association

Missouri Smallmouth Alliance

Missouri Association of Meat Processors

Missouri Society of American Foresters

Missouri Atlatl Association

Missouri Soil & Water Conservation

Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation

Society-Show-Me Chapter

Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative

Missouri Sport Shooting Association

Missouri Bow Hunters Association

Missouri State Campers Association

JULY - 2020

2020 Events Schedule CFM Media Camp- February 3 - 6 6th Annual CFM Media Camp at Lilleys' Landing

84th Annual Convention- March 6 - 8 Let your voice be heard at the Annual Convention, Capitol !laza otel in Jefferson City

Conservation Day at the Capitol- April 1 Join CFM and over 30 affiliate organizations at the Capitol for a day of promoting and supporting conservation

Conservation Federation Banquet: Springfield- June 18 Meet fellow conservationists and support CFM at the 0hite %iver Conference Center

Conservation Federation Banquet: Columbia- July 23 Fish or kayak then eat a fantastic meal while supporting CFM at ass !ro Shops- Columbia

Pull for Conservation: Central- August 29 Take your best shot at the 14th annual central clay shoot at !rairie Grove Shotgun Sports

Affiliate Summit- September 10 & 11 CFM affiliate organizations are invited to network and learn in Jefferson City

Pull for Conservation: Southwest- September 19 Enjoy the scenic course at Ozark Shooters Sports Complex

Conservation Federation Banquet: Kansas City- October 8 Enjoy a fun evening of games, auctions, raffles, dinner, and more at ass !ro Shops in ndependance

Pull for Conservation: Northwest- October 10 Join CFM for the fifth northwest clay shoot at oot ill Shooting Ground in amilton

Conservation Federation Banquet: St. Louis- October 29 Gather for a spirited event with friends in St. Louis, Location to be announced

Event dates are subject to change. Please visit www.confedmo.org or follow us on social media for the most up to date schedule.

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Member News

Where will you go with CLC?

ince its inception in 2002, the Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) has been an evolving program. Originally, it was a way the Conservation Federation of Missouri could engage young people in conservation issues. Today, CLC serves as an opportunity for students to develop the skills they need to become the future leaders of conservation in Missouri, or wherever life takes them. Successful students don’t always have to become conservation professionals to remain active in our natural resources and outdoor heritage. You can take conservation everywhere you go. Jake Swafford was a CLC student from 2005-2011. He came to CLC during high school after participating in MU’s Conservation Honors Program. While at CLC, he met conservation professionals that were dedicated to helping him grow into an engaged conservation leader. Through these relationships, he learned about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (PF/QF) and was selected for a private lands position working for the organization in New Mexico, but his homestate and friends were calling him back. In 2016, QF moved Jake back to Missouri where he quickly took on the role of Coordinating Wildlife Biologist. He now coordinates with conservation partners like the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to deliver conservation programs to local landowners. Jake’s work focuses on improving monarch, pollinator, and quail habitat on private lands. He said, “While working on private lands, I get to see lots of things that others don’t get to. Interacting with landowners and learning their vision for restoration of their lands is very rewarding.” Jake’s current position has him behind a desk more often than in the field, but he’s learned to appreciate the impact that program coordination and policy development can have on improving wildlife habitat. Jake is just 1 of 20 Missouri Quail Forever staff with boots-on-the ground, “In my work, monarch habitat is the primary focus and that does good things for all other wildlife. We’ve got a great team making a difference across the whole state.”

Jake Swafford meets with a local landowner at a Quail Forever workshop. (Photo: Quail Forever)

Many of the networking and communication skills he uses today, he was first exposed to in CLC. He said what he most enjoyed about CLC was that students were given room to make the program their own. Many of the policies and experiences Jake helped establish as a student are still alive and well in the CLC program today. That freedom he received in CLC has been invaluable to his career. We all strive to ‘move the needle of conservation’ toward a better future. Jake is still very much involved in CLC. He serves on the YCA Committee and helps lead activities with the students. He reminds current students, “Make the program your own! Where does conservation need us to go in the future? Take a leadership role in conservation now.” He added, “I would encourage anyone interested in CLC or anyone who knows a promising student that this is absolutely a great program, you gain insight into the conservation field by being involved in the organization. You start building relationships with conservation professionals that are already doing what you hope to do. Getting that experience and recognition gives you an edge when applying for jobs. CLC helped me find my interests and figure out where I wanted to go moving forward. That experience, is invaluable.” CLC applications close on July 10th, 2020. Apply at confedmo.org/clc. Colton Zirkle

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

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Shotgun Raffle - Games and Activities - Silent and Live Auction - Dinner

Thursday, July 23, 2020 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Bass Pro Shops Columbia, MO Please pay online or mail check to the Conservation Federation of Missouri, 728 W. Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101 Names of Guests:_________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________ Phone: (____)_______-_________ E-mail:_____________________________________

___$45- Individual

___$80- Couple

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Member News

Pull for Conservation: Central, Aiming at a New Location

his summer’s event is scheduled to take place at the Prairie Grove Shooting facility northeast of Columbia on August 29th.

The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) is excited to announce that we are exploring a partnership between our “Pull For Conservation” activities and two organizations that are focused primarily on introducing youth to the shooting sports. They are the 4-H Shooting Sports Program and the Missouri Youth Sport Shooting Alliance (MYSSA). Both organizations are statewide in scope and are on a mission that dovetails perfectly with that of the Conservation Federation – assuring that the next generation and its leadership are passionately committed to the conservation cause. The shooting sports are perfect activities that position participants to gain an appreciation for how conservation and outdoor activities add to one’s quality of life. Committee members Norm Stucky and Tom Russell, have met with Dr. David Vaught, Executive Director of MYSSA and Jim Sappington, Executive Director of the Missouri 4-H program to begin exploring how a partnership could be a win-win for everyone. The meetings have been very productive, and all participants are enthusiastic about what the future may hold for such a partnership. For many years, CFM has given high priority to passing the “Conservation Baton” down to the next generation. The Conservation Leadership Corps and support for the National Archery in Schools Program are two prime examples. We believe that now is the time to expand our scope and support MYSSA and the 4-H shooting sports program. Lending a hand at our “Pull for Conservation” events is an obvious way that youth from these organizations could make a positive contribution to CFM. One way to express appreciation for such help would be to utilize CFMs media contacts to promote these two organizations and their shooting sports programs.

This years Pull for Conservation will be engaging more youth at the new location at Prairie Grove Shooting Sports near Columbia. (Photo: Courtesy of CFM)

Helping the young people understand CFM’s role of being a “Voice for Missouri Outdoors” would be another important goal. In particular, working with our elected officials and gaining an understanding of how the “stroke of a pen” legislatively can have a profound impact on the conservation cause. We further believe that acquainting these youth with our Conservation Leadership Corps could yield major dividends. Very likely some would be inspired and choose to become part of a program that focuses on developing tomorrow’s conservation leaders. Other ideas will no doubt emerge as discussions continue. The key point being that in this day of electronics, young people are spending untold hours on e-devices. We must look for and seize every opportunity to encourage them to get outdoors and understand the importance of conservation. CFM Leadership and staff are hopeful that the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rear-view mirror by August 29th when this emerging partnership could be on display at the 14th annual Central Missouri “Pull for Conservation” event. Please make plans to spend the day with us at this one-of-a-kind shooting facility. Norm Stucky

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Member News

2020 Legislative Report: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

o say this year’s legislative session was exciting, would be an understatement. The 2020 session of the Missouri Legislature ended on Friday, May 15th. Although the state closed for several weeks, the Senate and House of Representatives managed to pass around fifty pieces of legislation including the state budget. If you have been following our Legislative Action Center (LAC), we sent out several calls to action to oppose or support key conservation legislation this session. Together we defeated over 75 bills that were on our radar this session, so we have a lot to be proud of. The Good House Bill 1711, affectionately labeled “The Snack Stick Bill,” was one of the few pieces of legislation to pass out of the Missouri Legislature this session. This bill ultimately changed one word from CFM’s previous Share the Harvest (STH) bill to include shelf-stable venison to be utilized as protein in weekend meal programs at public schools like Buddy Packs. It passed the House unanimously 159-0 and passed the Senate 29-1. Through an amazing showing of united Missouri conservationists, House Joint Resolution 100 (HJR 100), was defeated. The plan of this resolution would be to reign in the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and place its rule making authority under the House Joint Committee on Administrative rules or JCAR. For the last 85 years, Missourians have repeatedly voiced their stance that politics should stay out of conservation. Because of that, the Missouri Model of Conservation continues to be the template for the rest of the Nation. Thank you to the all dedicated outdoorsmen and women who opposed HJR 100 by testifying at the capitol, contacting their representatives, and communicating the importance of this piece of legislation to their friends and family. Multiple attempts to sell off the Eleven Point River State Park were halted. Even though House Bill 2635 was defeated, further attempts were made to add the intentions of the bill as amendments to other pieces of legislation. Those too were defeated by CFM, our affiliates, and our allies.

Citizens packed the room to oppose HJR 100 this past legislative session to oppose this bill, which was defeated. (Photo: Courtesy of CFM)

The Bad CFM supported House Bill 1547 and Senate Bill 661 relating to laws surrounding prescribed burning. These bills would have specified that any landowner or their agent would not be liable for damage caused by a prescribed burn unless the landowner was shown to be negligent. After discussions with other groups, language in the bill needed to be rewritten and failed to make final passage. We will continue to work on getting this one passed next session. The Ugly For nearly thirty years, CFM has administered the Share the Harvest program assisting hunters in donating thousands of pounds of venison to Missourians in need. An amendment was filed by Rep. Robert Ross to the MDC budget to remove the funding for Operation Game Thief and an attempt to divert STH funds from coming to CFM from MDC. At the time of this writing, many of the details of this line-item are yet to be determined. One thing is certain, Share the Harvest is CFM’s program, and it is not going anywhere. Thank you to our Members, Affiliates, Board of Directors, and to everyone who contacted their legislators through the Legislative Action Center or otherwise. Our wildlife, natural resources, and outdoor heritage need you as their primary line of defense. We are grateful to all of you for your continued commitment to conservation in Missouri. Kyna Iman & CFM Staff JULY - 2020

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JULY - 2020

Feature Story

First Fishing License T

he rain was coming down hard and I was at work staring at the computer. My new boat was in the garage dry and comfortable because everything else that used to be in the garage was now outside getting wet. I suppose boats are designed to get wet, but I liked to keep mine out of the rain since it was only a few months old. I knew the rain was going to make the Missouri River rise, and the catfish should be biting. There I was stuck at work while perfect fishing conditions were developing outside.

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With all these thoughts swirling in my mind, I again checked the weather forecast on my computer at work and saw a short dry spell between significant storms. I could not stand it anymore and abandoned my office, taking the rest of the day off for a higher purpose. When I got home, Mrs. Urich was watching the TV weather radar. It looked terrible, but there was a small clear spot over central Missouri, so I decided to chance it.

Feature Story Then she announced that she was going with me. I couldn’t believe it. She had never gone fishing with me, had never been in the new boat or any boat for that matter, and doesn’t like to be outside in bad weather. She insisted because she wanted to keep me safe. This was strange because she had watched unconcerned for years as I disappeared into atrocious weather without concern, especially if I was going outside to feed her horses. Maybe I should have been pleased that she was concerned about my well-being. I quickly rounded up some rain gear and we headed to the bait shop to purchase the first fishing license of her life. We launched the boat into the Missouri River just as the rain intensified. Mrs. Urich had to face the back of the boat because the wind was driving the raindrops into her skin and eyeballs. It felt like pinpricks as the boat gained speed. Her first Missouri River boating adventure was rapidly turning to the dark side.

She was impressed with their size and the almost prehistoric appearance of the flathead. Although she was getting pretty good at handling the boat, she declined lessons on cleaning fish. She felt her skills would be better utilized sitting in the boat’s command chair, supervising the effort.

I wanted to get down the river and back to the boat access before the lightning started. I don’t mind being in a boat during the rain, but there is something uncomfortable about sitting in a metal boat in the water with lightning flashing overhead.

Since then, we have gone fishing together many times on the Missouri River. Mrs. Urich always drives the boat and she is very good at it now. She naturally gravitates to a position of command and authority no matter where she is, so driving the boat suited her. Even when I take my new-boat-mooching friends out, they all know that Mrs. Urich will drive and respectfully defer to her.

The rain suddenly stopped, and we had a breather. There were more looming, dark storm clouds coming from the west. There was no way I could get out five trotlines before the next round of storms would catch us. It was apparent that Mrs. Urich had to step up and be helpful by driving the boat and her duties as Safety Officer even though this was her first boating experience. I reminded her that she was with me to keep me safe, and now was her chance. I gave her a 90-second Cliff Notes boat driving lesson. Then she got one practice session nosing the boat carefully up to a rock wing dike without crushing the boat or flipping me off the bow. She passed and took the controls. Less than an hour later we were loading the boat back onto the trailer just as the rain, hail, and lightning began in earnest. She had succeeded in keeping me safe. Good wife. Mrs. Urich was curious enough about the trotlines that she went with me the next morning to see what we caught. The weather was much improved. Plus, she wanted to drive the boat again since she thought it was fun, and she felt safer handling the controls herself. We managed to catch some nice catfish and it was the first time she had seen a bluecat or flathead catfish.

Most importantly, she has learned to back the truck and boat down the boat ramp, if I have it positioned for her at the top of the ramp. This is very convenient and makes launching the boat much easier. However, Mrs. Urich has more trouble backing the empty trailer down the ramp. We practiced several times in a parking lot, but I realized that our long and mostly happy marriage was not going to withstand too many trailer backing lessons. We will have to work on this skill slowly. My little voice, who resides in the back of my mind and tries desperately to save me from myself, was on high alert during these practice sessions urging patience and calmness and suggested the go-slow approach. My little voice reminded me that I had a good thing going here, no sense in blowing it. David Urich (Left) David and Mrs. Urich on the deck of the new boat with a successful morning catfish harvest. (Photo: Courtesy of David Urich) (Right) Mrs. Urich, as an experienced River Rat and boat operator, driving the new boat on the Missouri River. (Photo: Courtesy of David Urich)

JULY - 2020

Feature Story

Frog Season is Open

have never met a frog I didn't like. Besides, how would you know? Frogs have a limited guttural vocabulary and very little facial recognition. They are certainly not cuddly creatures, although some consider them cuteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not sure why.

I once busted out laughing in class while envisioning her flicking a long tongue at a passing fly. The principal was not amused, and I truthfully would have been better off not to admit why I laughed.

I had a teacher in high school that reminded me of an old bullfrog on a pond bank. She gave us challenging assignments and then sat at her desk and stared with a pie face and big, round eyes, never blinking or changing expression, like a frog. Her mouth was shaped like a frog too, big and wide with narrow lips.

Bullfrogs, unlike that teacher, frogs are interesting creatures. Their very design is a miracle of God. They are opportunistic survivalists that occasionally fall to a predator, including raccoons, big birds, snakes or bass and larger frogs return the favor. Their diet might surprise you.

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Feature Story Frogs are carnivores. Small to medium-sized frogs eat insects such as flies, mosquitoes, moths and dragonflies. Larger frogs will eat larger insects like grasshoppers and worms. Some large frogs will even eat small snakes, mice, baby turtles, and even smaller frogs, which is why they are seldom invited to family dinners. Bullfrogs typically hibernate underwater. A common misconception is that they spend the winter dug into the mud at the bottom of a pond or lake like turtles. Hibernating frogs would suffocate if they dug into the mud for an extended period. A hibernating turtle's metabolism slows down so drastically that it can get by on the mud's meager oxygen supply. Hibernating frogs must be near oxygen-rich water and spend a good portion of the winter just lying on top of the mud or only partially buried. They may even slowly swim on occasion, but not far or for very long in icy conditions. Frogs hide in cover on shorelines and would likely live a lot longer if not for their legs. Visit an expensive restaurant and look at the price of frog legs. There are frog farms where the poor amphibians are raised for their legs. In their society, being weak and sickly may be the chance to survive longer. Healthy frogs with muscular legs are the first to go. But I have always wondered who was hungry enough to try frog legs for the first time. Sure, I know that frog legs taste good, but so-called civilized people didn't always know that. Besides, the wealthy may think that skunk is remarkable cuisine and only sold in expensive restaurants in 100 years. I wonder who will be the first to try it. Well, someone once tried frog the first time. Can you imagine what the neighbors said? "Don't look Mary, that idiot is eating a frog again. "Oh, good grief, that ghoul is eating the legs. Turn your head honey, don't look." That adventurous fellow discovered how good frog legs tasted when fried like chicken or fish. Still, many turn their nose up at the very thought of making a frog dinner. Several decades ago, my brother and I took a batch of frog legs to my employment place. A friend volunteered to bring in a cooker with grease to fry the succulent meat. Almost everyone in the room swore they would never touch anything so disgusting. I finally talked every man into taking just one bite, and that was it. The platter of frog legs disappeared minutes later and every man wanted more. Frog season starts on sunset June 30th and there are several good methods to harvesting frogs, including grabbing, stabbing or nabbing old Kermit.

So, where do you find frog legs? Why attached to the frog, of course, and finding enough to make a good meal may be challenging. Those that prefer to avoid expensive restaurants can try the following methods: Shooting: I highly recommend that you don't shoot frogs. The problem is, bullets reflect off the water the same as shooting at a rock. I saw a guy's bullet hit his brother in the leg off a ricochet. We were lucky that boy did not get killed. Stabbing: Buy a trident gig, attach it to an old broom handle and go frog hunting. You can use the flashlight method at night or sneak around in the daytime. Frogs spook easily but sometimes they sit still for easy impalement. I didn't say they were the smartest critters in the pond. Most frog hunters stab them in the back, certainly a dirty deed from any frog's prospective, but a productive way to catch old Kermit. Grabbing: You won't grab many frogs in the daylight, they are not that dumb. But you can get your legal limit at night, especially when the water is low and mud banks are exposed. Otherwise, frogs stay in the grass making them easy prey for all predators except humans. Shine your flashlight bean directly into the frog's eyes for a hypnotizing effect. Then quietly paddle up and grab the frog while making sure your hand does not break the light bean, even for a split second. Should your flashlight beam pick up red eyes shining close to the frog, pass up the grab. That is likely a big snake slipping up to eat the same frog. Taking food from a hungry snake makes them angry and happy to deliver a painful bite on your hand or arm. Red Rags: All country kids know that a frog will bite anything red dangled in front of their face. They will do the same for a well-placed popping bug when you are bluegill or bass fishing with a flyrod. Many simply place a small piece of red material on a hook and go frog hunting. This does require a bit of stealth, so approach your frog haven slowly, and quietly. There are dozens of ways to prepare frog legs. Google "cooking frog legs" and you will find numerous recipes. We just bread and deep fry frog legsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and that is darned good eating! Frogging season opens June 30, 2020 and ends October 31, 2020. The bullfrog and green frog limit are eight daily combining both species and a possession of 16 combined species. You are required to have a resident or nonresident fishing permit. Good luck and happy frogging!

Kenneth L. Kieser JULY - 2020

Feature Story

Missouri’s Ground Squirrels

ost people have an opinion on squirrels. From setting out corn to attract them or actively discouraging their presence, it doesn’t seem squirrels enjoy much middle ground. Luckily for Missouri’s ground squirrels, they spend most of the year under the ground rather than above it. Two species of ground squirrels are found in the state—the thirteen-lined ground squirrel and Franklin’s ground squirrel. Both hibernate from late summer or very early fall until March. Ground squirrels will give a clear, sharp whistle when alarmed.

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The thirteen-lined ground squirrel is named for seven light and six dark stripes on its back, although in reality, the number of stripes can vary with individual squirrels. Adding to its distinctive look, it sports diminutive ears and large claws for digging. These are small squirrels, about chipmunk-sized, maxing out at a little over 6 inches in body length with a tail that can reach the same length. Habitat for thirteen-lined ground squirrels is open areas with short grass or vegetation that allows them to see over the top when they stand on their hind legs. Historically present in prairies with short vegetation, they are now also attracted to yards and golf courses, indicating their adaptability to land changes that humans have caused.

Feature Story Thirteen-lined ground squirrels build underground tunnels up to 20 ft in depth. They move around the mounded, dug up soil at the entrance and pat it down with their feet. During the day the main entrance to the burrow will stay open, but at night the squirrels plug it with soil and vegetation. While they may live in loose, small colonies, they are solitary beings. The diet of these easily identifiable rodents is seeds, plant vegetation, and insects such as grasshoppers and cicadas. Food with stability will be carried back to the nesting cavity underground and stored for later use. If food becomes scarce in summer, the squirrels are known to return to their nests and become inactive for a week or more. In late summer, they will gorge, adding significant body weight to prepare for hibernation. Hibernation begins at the end of summer, thus ending these rodents’ short three to four months above ground. The entrance to the burrow is plugged, and they return to their den below the frost line where they remain until spring. Body temperature will drop close to that of the cavity and their heartbeat slows from 200 to 300 beats per minute to as slow as 15 beats per minute. Respiration will drop from 150 breaths per minute to just three to four per minute. They will wake for a very short time every two to three weeks to urinate. The fat they have gained by gorging is needed as they will lose one-third to a half of their body weight. The Franklin’s ground squirrel is a bit larger than the thirteen-lined ground squirrel and even more secretive. Spending only about 10% of its life aboveground, the Franklin’s is very difficult to spot and highly secretive. The site of the burrow is near thicker vegetation, and the most frequent sightings are out along roadsides or railroad tracks. You will find a mound of dirt at the Franklin’s ground squirrel entrance to its burrow. Also nesting in small colonies—with little social interaction—these squirrels excavate an extensive underground series of tunnels. They may also spend the hot part of the summer in dormancy in their burrow and tunnels. They are known to sometimes move locations of their colonies, but due to their secretive nature, much is not known about this behavior.

The diet of the Franklin’s ground squirrel is largely much same as the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, including vegetation, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates. Amphibians, young rabbits, mice and other ground squirrels make up 25% of their diet. Northern Missouri is the southern boundary of the range of this elusive ground squirrel. In 2003 the Missouri Department of Conservation requested that any Franklin’s ground squirrel sightings be reported to the department. A study from the preceding two years resulted in 44 sightings in 11 counties. While often favoring roadsides for their burrows, only six road-kills were collected in during the two-year study. Both ground squirrel species were captured in splendid fashion by the artist John James Audubon in his book The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. Of special interest is the plate of the Franklin’s ground squirrel with a background depicting a Native American village and a war party. The thirteen-lined ground squirrel plate has the charming rodent set on the once vast prairies of the Midwest that had been their home for thousands of years. As previously discussed, the status of the Franklin’s ground squirrel in Missouri is unknown. The thirteenlined ground squirrel is a species of conservation concern in Missouri. Grow Native! is a native plant education and marketing program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, an affiliate member of CFM. Plant species that make up the prairies where Missouri ground squirrels historically made their homes are great additions to the home landscape. For more information on the native prairie plants of Missouri visit www. grownative.org. Mary Nemececk President of Burroughs Audubon The thirteen-lined ground squirrel is a species of conservation concern in Missouri. (Photo: Courtesy of MDC)

JULY - 2020

Feature Story

Sandbar Archaeology

wetter-than-average spring has the Missouri River bank-full today, but it’s only a matter of time until it falls to summer levels, exposing hundreds of sandbars or, as I like to think of them, time machines. During spring floods, the Missouri and its thousands of tributaries carve away at geological deposits between the Rocky Mountains and St. Louis. It digs out bones of long-extinct animals, collects artifacts from Indian camps and unearths shark teeth that fell to the bottom of the inland sea that once divided our continent in two. Along the way, it also plucks trade goods from the rotting hulls of wrecked steam ships and objects whose origins and functions are mysteries.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Discovering an arrowhead or a huge leg bone triggers a welter of questions and speculation. Was the animal killed by a hunter or a saber-toothed tiger Who made the arrowhead? How did he or she lose it? Was it carried to this spot in the vitals of a deer… or perhaps a mastodon?? The result is a pleasant sort of temporal vertigo. One moment you have both feet planted firmly in the present. Then, in an instant, the currents of time are tugging you back to the Pleistocene period and beyond. This year’s natural exhibit of historical artifacts is being arranged right now beneath the mochacolored waters of the Big Muddy. When it opens, admission will be free to anyone with a kayak, canoe or motorboat.

Feature Story The Missouri Department of Conservation maintains dozens of river accesses at convenient intervals, making it easy to plan an expedition. The exhibit changes every time the river overtops sandbars and islands, and the first explorers get their pick of newly deposited prizes. Sandbar archaeology has a small but dedicated following in Missouri. The holy grail of this group is a skull of a Bison antiquus. These huge grazers were 25 percent larger than modern bison and had horns a yard across. Every few years, a photo of a proud beachcomber displaying such a treasure appears in a river town’s newspaper. My own personal best find was the topmost 1/3 of an elk antler. I nearly walked past it, because only one eroded tine poked a few inches above the level surface of the sandbar. At first, I thought it was a stick of wood. Then I noticed that it had a hollow core and looked as if it had been gnawed by a rodent, which made me think of antlers. Imagine my awe when I pulled on it and a massive, 2-foot end portion of an enormous antler emerged from the sand. The whole antler likely would have had 7 points. Lee Lyman, then a professor of archaeology at the University of Missouri, identified my antler fragment as coming from an elk. North American elk are descended from Eurasian red deer that crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America during the last ice age. The pattern of forking and slightly webbed junctions are intermediate between the typical antler shape of ancient red deer and modernday elk. Based on the degree of divergence from red deer, he estimated that my specimen was 7,000 to 8,000 years old. Aside from Bison antiquus skulls – which are, let’s face it, unbeatable – the coolest thing I ever saw rescued from a sandbar was an intricately carved piece of personal ornamentation. Lyman identified it as a robe fastener. It was made from half of a turkey wing bone split lengthwise. It was jet black with age. The carving was exquisite in its detail and symmetry. What I wouldn’t give to know the story of this piece of art!

Pillaging artifacts and fossils from archaeological sites would be both unethical and illegal. However, once the river washes objects away from their original locations, they lose their geologic and geographic contexts, greatly reducing their usefulness in unraveling the history they represent. For this reason, items found on sandbars are fair game for collectors. If no one picks them up, they will only be washed downstream – and probably reburied forever – by the next flood. The exception is human remains, which must be reported to law-enforcement officials, even if they appear to be very old. Artifacts found on the river are not entirely without scientific value, and professional archaeologists take a lively interest in amateur finds. If you make an interesting discovery, contact the archaeology faculty at the nearest university or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Office. They can provide fascinating insights about their identity and origins. Then you can legitimately say you have added to the body of archaeological knowledge. Jim Low (Left) Sometimes the biggest finds barely show above the surface. (Photo: Jim Low) (Right) This vertebra from a 10,000-year-old Bison antiquus turned up on a sandbar across from Jefferson City. (Photo: Jim Low) (Top) Take your sandbar finds to a museum or university archaeology department to learn more about them. (Photo: Jim Low)

JULY - 2020

Agency News

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION MDC Reminds People to Celebrate Safely!

s people celebrate this summer, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds everyone to be careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. Fireworks: Don’t light fireworks in any areas where the sparks could ignite dry grass, leaves, or other potential fire fuel. Always have an approved fire extinguisher and an available water supply to douse sparks or flames. Wet the area around where fireworks are being discharged. Check with local ordinances and authorities for bans on fireworks and open burning. Fireworks are prohibited on MDC areas. Outdoor Burning: Don’t burn during wrong conditions. Dry grass, high temperatures, low humidity, and wind make fire nearly impossible to control. Check with local fire departments regarding burn bans that may be in place. A person who starts a fire for any reason is responsible for any damage it may cause. Driving Off the Road: Wildfires can start when dry fuel, such as grass, comes in contact with catalytic converters. Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field. Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle. When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact and no oil leaks are apparent. Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road. Check for the presence of spark arresters on ATV exhausts. Making a Campfire: Clear a generous zone around fire rings. Store unused firewood a good distance from a campfire.

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MDC reminds people to celebrate safely. Be careful with campfires, fireworks, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. (Photo: Courtesy of MDC)

Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquid to start a fire. Keep campfires small and controllable. Keep fire-extinguishing materials, such as a rake, shovel, and bucket of water, close. Extinguish campfires each night and before leaving camp, even if it’s just for a few moments. Call for Help: Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control. Report Forest Arson: Wildfires are sometimes set by vandals. Help stop arson by calling 800-392-1111 and reporting any potential arson activities. Callers will remain anonymous and rewards are possible. Prescribed Fire: Fire used in the wrong way can create disasters. Used in the right way, fire can help create habitat for wildlife. For more information on using prescribed fire as a land-management tool, visit mdc.mo.gov/prescribedfire.

Agency News

MDC Reports Final CWD Results for 2019-2020 Season

he Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports it has completed its monitoring and testing efforts for the 20192020 chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance year. From those efforts, MDC reports it has confirmed 46 new cases of the deadly deer disease. These new findings bring the total number of CWD cases in the state to 162. MDC has tested more than 137,000 deer since the first cases of CWD were found in free-ranging deer in Missouri in 2012. The 46 new cases were found in the following counties: 3 in Adair, 6 in Franklin, 1 in Jefferson, 8 in Linn, 8 in Macon, 2 in Oregon, 2 in Perry, 1 in Polk, 10 in Ste Genevieve, 2 in Stone, and 3 in Taney. Previously this season, MDC confirmed 25 of the 46 new cases of CWD in Missouri from nearly 29,000 tissue samples collected from white-tailed deer and submitted for disease testing. Most of the tissue samples were taken from hunter-harvested deer. MDC has also confirmed an additional 21 of the 46 new cases of CWD through its post-season targeted culling efforts in January, February, and early March in areas where previous cases of CWD have been found. MDC thanks the 1,390 participating landowners who helped MDC staff remove nearly 2,400 deer in those areas to manage CWD. All deer harvested through targeted culling that did not test positive for the disease were either returned to the landowner or donated to local food pantries through the Share the Harvest venison-donation program.

MDC has confirmed 46 new cases of chronic wasting disease found through its monitoring and testing efforts for the 2019-2020 CWD surveillance year. (Photo: Courtesy of MDC)

According to MDC, post-season targeted culling can help decrease CWD transmission by reducing the number of potentially infected deer within infected areas. Missouri and other states, such as Illinois, have successfully limited the percent of deer infected with CWD by sustaining a long-term, targeted-culling management program. For more information on MDC targeted culling efforts, visit mdc.mo.gov/cwd under “Post Season Targeted Culling.” CWD is a deadly disease in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family. The purpose of MDC’s CWD sampling and testing efforts is to find cases early so the Department can limit the spread of the disease by implementing management actions such as targeted culling. Learn more about CWD at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

JULY - 2020

Agency News

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION MDC Reports Spring Turkey Season Ended with 41,454 Birds Harvested

reliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that turkey hunters checked 38,730 birds during Missouri’s 2020 regular spring turkey season, April 20 through May 10. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 899 birds harvested, Callaway with 699, and Laclede with 651. Young turkey hunters also harvested 2,724 birds during the 2020 spring youth season, April 4 and 5, bringing the overall 2020 spring turkey harvest to 41,454. Last year, young turkey hunters harvested 2,546 birds during the spring youth season and hunters harvested 36,249 during the regular spring season for a 2019 spring season total harvest of 38,795 birds. “Even though nonresident permit sales were down this year, there were about 9,600 more spring turkey hunters overall than in 2019 due to an increase in resident permit sales,” said MDC Turkey Biologist Reina Tyl. “When turkey hunting participation increases, we expect to see a subsequent increase in turkey harvest. It’s great to see that more Missourians were able to get out into the turkey woods this year.” Get more information on this year’s spring turkey harvest numbers by county at extra.mdc.mo.gov/ widgets/harvest_table/. Get more information on turkey harvest numbers for past seasons at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/huntingtrapping/species/turkey/turkey-reports/turkey-harvestsummaries-past-seasons.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Preliminary data shows that turkey hunters checked 38,730 birds during the 2020 season. (Photo: Courtesy of MDC)

MDC had one report of a non-fatal hunting incident during the 2020 spring turkey season. It involved one hunter mistakenly shooting another hunter. For more information about turkey hunting in Missouri, visit MDC online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/ hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

Agency News

MISSOURI STATE PARKS State Historic Preservation Office Receives ACHP Chairman’s Achievement Award

he Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) was recently recognized by the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) with the Chairman’s Achievement Award for its involvement in the rehabilitation of the Black Officer’s Club, located in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Amanda Burke and Toni Prawl of the State Historic Preservation Office facilitated consultation for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, resulting in the rehabilitation of one of only two remaining World War II-era black officer clubs in the nation. The award was presented during a ceremony at the ACHP’s business meeting at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. The rehabilitation of Building 2101, now dedicated as Staff Sergeant Samuel A. Countee Hall, was completed in 2019 after a successful Section 106 historic preservation review that involved the ACHP, U.S. Army, Missouri State Historic Preservation Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Pulaski County and Rolla NAACP, Missouri Preservation, and Sammie Whiting Ellis, SSG Countee’s niece. Through this collaboration, a compatible long-term use was found for the building. “Having the opportunity to meet so many people and being able to assist in the restoration of this national treasure has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life,” said program facilitator and SHPO historic preservation specialist, Amanda Burke. “This project brought together people and agencies from across the nation and has resulted in taking a once littleknown World War II temporary building at Fort Leonard Wood, only exceptional for containing a mural by Samuel Countee, and made it the most sought after venue on the base.” This project began when the building was declared excess property in the late-2000s. Without a use for the historic building, the plan was to demolish the building and move the mural to a museum.

From left to right in the photo: Toni Prawl, director and deputy state historic preservation officer; Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler; Amanda Burke, historic preservation specialist; Sammie Whiting-Ellis, niece of Samuel Countee; Katharine Kerr, ACHP program analyst; Aimee Jorjani, ACHP chairman; and Charlie Neel, environmental division chief, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Public Works. (Photo: Courtesy of Missouri State Parks)

However, it became clear that the building itself was significant to American history, being only one of two World War II black officer clubs remaining in the nation. In 2010, a use as a training facility was identified for the building and consultation began on how to rehabilitate the building. With years of careful consultation, selective demolition and construction, a nationally significant building was saved and part of nation’s history preserved. For more information about the project, visit achp.gov/ sites/default/files/2019-04/Ft.%20Leonard%20Wood.pdf. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks is responsible, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service and local governments, in carrying out the mandates of the National Historic Preservation Act (P.L. 89-665, as amended) in Missouri. The SHPO is supported in part by the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and works with citizens and groups throughout the state to identify, evaluate and protect Missouri's diverse range of historic, architectural and archaeological resources.

JULY - 2020

NATURE is Healthy

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Get healthy in nature this year.

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JULY - 2020

Feature Story

The Outdoors are Open I

am not going to inundate you with all the lines you have heard too much already. "We're all in this together," "social distancing," and the like. Instead, I'm going to accentuate the positive: the outdoors are open! When I'm writing this, I have spent the past two months doing all kinds of things I've never done before. Week one, I cooked last year's spring turkey. I sliced it to between the size of a chicken nugget and a chicken tender and breaded and fried. Dare I say, its quality was not unlike that of Chick-fil-a. I pan-fried whole trout that I caught during CFM's Media Camp on Lake Taneycomo in February. I started a video series for CFM called the Missouri Nature Minute. I'm telling you this, not to "toot my own horn," but to encourage you to get outside and try something new! To quote John Muir, "Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." If you are familiar with the story of Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife ecology, he was a lifelong conservationist. He wrote the book,Â A Sand County Almanac, which if you have not read, I highly recommend it. Many people consider it a "conservationist's bible."Â When he wrote that book, he was a professor at the University of Madison, Wisconsin. At the same time, he had purchased a small farm outside Baraboo, Wisconsin. His daughter Estella remembered her childhood fondly, "It was a restorative exercise. We restored the land, and every weekend, it restored us." Every kid needs those experiences, and every adult needs the restoration that the great outdoors provides.

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Feature Story For myself, early mornings in the woods is a peaceful time to quiet my mind and talk to God. The world's worries melt away, and there's only me and the possibility of an approaching gobbler. Spring is a special time of year. So much is happening that doesn't happen for the rest of the year. Everything comes back to life. Clear water flows freely from a severed grapevine, sassafras root is ready to harvest to make tea, and sap is flowing in the tree bark. The flow of sap in a tree allows a unique opportunity for the bark to slip. What does that mean? If you are like me, I had no clue what it meant when some of the Ozarkians would say, "The bark's slippin'!" Perhaps this phrase is nearly extinct because all the uses for tree bark have also fallen by the wayside. There are few people that still note this part of the season on their yearly timeline. Slipping bark occurs in the late spring in early summer when the sap begins to flow in the tree again after the winter shutdown. This literally allows the wood to "slip" right out of the bark! It's definitely a sight to behold. It creates hazards for loggers and great opportunity for crafters. Bark has a variety of uses. It can be made into cordage, woven as seats, fashioned into baskets, built into a shelter, or even crafted into a boat! I have been itching to see if I could peel the bark off a tree after I learned about this phenomenon two years ago. Occasionally, the Department of Conservation offers classes on bark basket making. I was not lucky enough to get into one of their courses, but I knew some of the volunteers that help teach them. They were very willing to help me get started. After a couple phone calls and some YouTube research, I was ready to dive in. Many tree species lend themselves to these techniques. Each species has its own valuable and undesirable qualities. I chose two accessible species to experiment upon: cedar and hickory. Cedar bark is very thin and easy to remove, but it is sticky and more fragile.

After the drawknife is used to remove the outer bark, a razor blade can be used to cut the inner bark to allow it to be easily peeled from the tree. (Photo: Colton Zirkle)

Hickory bark is very thick and must be shaved down with a drawknife before it is removed from the log, but when it dries, the bark is as hard as the wood itself. Some of you at this point may be wondering about the health of the tree. Taking the bark off of a tree removes all its vascular tissue, effectively girdling it, meaning, the tree will die. As conservationists, we accept those consequences. The trees I harvested were both used completely. Cedars are considered native invasives in many habitats because of the removal of fire from the landscape. My tree was cut and used for bank stabilization along a creek. The hickory log will dry for the next six months and will hopefully be turned into a longbow or two, just in time for deer season. Anyway, back to basket making. We selected a hickory tree to cut that was about eight inches in diameter. It was cut into manageable eight-foot lengths and taken to the barn to be processed. We set it up to a workable height, and I began to strip off the outer bark with a drawknife. This was fairly laborious work, it probably would have been less so with a sharper knife. After the outer bark was stripped off, the remaining inner bark was perhaps a quarter-inch thick. I cut around the stripped bark with a razor blade about 20 inches up from the base of the log and then cut another line longitudinally down that section of the bark. JULY - 2020

Feature Story I was then able to slip a somewhat dull hatchet under the edges and very easily peel the bark back off the tree, it was like magic. I then had a rectangular piece of bark that had the consistency of rawhide. I cut a quarter-inch strip of the bark off the edge of the piece, rolled up the sheet like a poster, and tied it with that strip to be stored for a couple weeks until I could make the basket. I thought it would be an excellent project for my mom and me for Mother's Day as she likes experiences better than store-bought gifts. This experience would have a bonus gift: her very own bark basket! When I brought the bark home, it had to be soaked in the bathtub as it had completely dried out. After it had soaked overnight, the water (and the tub) were stained like tea, but the bark was ready to use. We took the bark rectangle and laid it so that the outer part of the bark faced up.Â We used the razor blade to score the bark with two crescent shapes perpendicular to the grain so that it looked like we had traced a football across the sheet. These scores allowed us to fold the bark toward the inner sides without breaking it and formed the bottom of the basket. Opposing sides of the bark now met along the sides of the forming basket and were laced together with fresh strips cut from a separate piece of bark. Holes for the lace were made from bone awls I had sourced from my fall archery deer's leg.Â At the top of the basket, we placed two more strips of bark about a half-inch wide to form the basket's inner and outer rim. Those were lashed on with more thin strips of bark. We recycled an old belt to make the strap for the basket looped over the outer rim before it was lashed down. And there you have a basket. We stuffed the basket with a brick to weigh it down and newspaper to help it maintain its shape and prevent cracking while the bark dried over 4-5 days. We called these baskets Ozark berry buckets, and we're excited to go pick blackberries and raspberries at our favorite orchard later this summer. I hope you all will use this crazy time to try something new. Maybe try to make a bark bucket, catch some fish to fry, learn new plants to forage for, or take up nature journaling and photography.

Rather than focusing all our the time on things that stress us, let's get back to nature and enjoy the outdoors. Shoot me an email or tag us on Facebook or Instagram @confedmo and let us know what you try. We encourage you to introduce someone new to your favorite outdoor pastime. Don't let old skills pass away. Stay social! Colton Zirkle Education and Communications Coordinator of CFM (Cover) Colton and his mother proudly display their handcrafted Ozark berry buckets on Mother's Day. (Photo: Colton Zirkle) (Top) A completed hickory bark basket ready for use. (Photo: Colton Zirkle)

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Outdoor News

Finding a Place to Hunt Before it’s Too Late

urkey season just ended and deer season is just around the corner. This is the window of time you have to find your next great piece of hunting property. It may not happen the first time you ask. You may have to earn it. Free hunting permission is nowhere near as easy to acquire as it once was. A lot of the big parcels and best parcels are being leased these days. That doesn’t mean you still can’t find a great piece of property to hunt that produces quality deer and turkey every year. You just have to adjust your thinking. First of all, there are many great public lands to hunt in Missouri. So if you want to skip the process of obtaining permission altogether, you can do that. You can use these next five months as your opportunity to locate and scout a few places to hunt this fall. You can spend a lot of time hiking these public lands right now, to figure out where you’ll hang treestands in a few months. Most of Missouri is private land. You can get permission to hunt good spots even if you don’t have family or friends with land, but you’re going to have to work hard if you hope to gain and keep permission on someone else’s land. Obtaining permission to deer hunt a quality of piece of private property is no easy task. In fact, it can be down right out painful. Rejection after rejection, with reasons as diverse as, “I don’t allow any hunting,” or “sorry, but there are already others hunting here,” to perhaps the worst, “I just leased it to a couple of guys from the city.” Ouch. A friend of mine has been hunting the same piece of private property since he was a kid. Every year, he cuts firewood for the landowner. He does it before the landowner needs it, and always cuts more than enough to last the entire winter. He drops by in the summer to ask if there are any additional projects he can help with and never oversteps his bounds during the hunting season. Because of the location, the landowner often gets asked if he’d be willing to lease his land. He says no, and continues to let my friend hunt for free. Why? Because he earns it.

Deer hunting in Missouri is a favorite pastime. (Photo: Courtesy of MDC)

It takes time to establish a relationship like this, but you can talk about your desire to do so up front. When you are making your ask, be sure to acknowledge you are more than willing to help the landowner in some way to compensate for their generosity. Landowners appreciate the gesture. They may or may not take you up on the offer, but they appreciate it nonetheless. This is a great way to establish a long lasting relationship with a landowner. If you already have a good piece of private property to hunt, you’re lucky. A lot of people don’t. If you’re on the hunt for your next great place to hunt, here are a few tips on where to look. Start close to town. I’ve taken a lot of deer out of woodlots in the back of subdivisions. You don’t need to acquire permission on a 500 acre farm. Use aerial maps, like onX or HuntStand, to locate pinch points or funnels. Look along rivers and creeks, and don’t overlook small acreages bordering parks. Develop a list of properties you’re interested in hunting then devise a plan to obtain permission to hunt at least one, or hopefully, two. If you’re lucky enough to obtain permission, plan to do more for the landowner than they ask. Drop them pie at Thanksgiving, or maybe a small Christmas gift with a card. Start providing a service. Make yourself valuable, so you’re not expendable. Brandon Butler

JULY - 2020

Feature Story

Exploring the Ozarks with Paddle MO W

hether you've paddled the Current River too many times to count or you've never paddled it at all, you won't want to miss Paddle MO Ozarks, October 17 to 19. "Paddle MO programs are unique in that they are much more than just a float trip," says Mary Culler, executive director of Stream Teams United (STU) and an affiliate member of CFM. "Along the route, scientific and historical experts share about the ecology, history and culture of the river and its nearby communities."

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Paddle MO trips also help break down barriers that people might have regarding a multi-day river trip, says Mary. "By providing the coordination of logistics, transportation, food, river guides and fellow paddlers, Paddle MO provides the resources for paddlers to complete multi-day journeys that might otherwise be challenging to plan on your own." While the original Paddle MO, launched in 2016, focuses on the final 100 miles of the Missouri River from Hermann to the confluence with the Mississippi River (see pg 48), Paddle MO Ozarks highlights Missouri's Ozark streams.

Feature Story "After hosting Paddle MO on the Missouri River for three years, we were ready to expand the program to additional rivers in the state," explains Mary. "After scouting a few possible rivers, we chose the Current River for the first Paddle MO Ozarks adventure in 2019. The Current and Jacks Forks rivers in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) are world-class streams in Missouri. We wanted Missourians and visitors to not only have a way to paddle these rivers on multi-day trips but also to learn about the ecology and history of these rivers." Paddle MO Ozarks 2020 Paddlers on this year's trip will explore 25 miles of the Current River, from Cedar Grove to the upper landing at Round Spring. "Current River State Park (CRSP) was a wonderful setting for the inaugural Paddle MO Ozarks trip," says Mary. "Because of uncertainties with the septic system at the lodge at CRSP, we have moved the lodging and camping to Montauk State Park for this year." Friday arrivals will enjoy a group dinner. The trip officially begins on Saturday, with check-in at Montauk and a safety briefing at Cedar Grove before putting in and floating 7.7 miles to Akers Ferry. The Sunday float is 9.5 miles from Akers Ferry to Pulltite. On Monday, the float is 7.8 miles from Pulltite to Round Spring. In addition to educational stops on the river, guest speakers join the group at various points to talk about cultural and historical highlights along the route. Last year, for example, Mark Van Patten, whose wife, Regina, is a direct descendant of the family who once owned Welch Spring, talked about the history of the spring and the hospital ruins. Siblings Judy Maggard Stewart and Eugene Maggard recalled growing up at Akers Ferry, which the family still operates, and their deep family roots in the area. Neal Humke, with the L-A-D Foundation, explained forest management techniques and the foundation's role in conserving the Current River watershed. ONSR interpreter Dave Tobey described the cabin and spring at Pulltite. Evening entertainment included music, campfires, and a variety of speakers. Rick Mansfield, historian, storyteller and author from Ellington, regaled listeners with the tale of his re-creation of the 900 miles in 90 days exploration of the Ozarks by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, 200 years to the day after the original.

Alan Banks, historian and author from Eminence, brought books, photos, arrowheads and other artifacts to illustrate his natural history talk. Current River State Park representatives David Savage and Connie Weber discussed the Native American history of the area while Connie prepared Indian fry bread and Three Sisters (corn, squash and beans) stew. The historic lodge at CRSP was full of life and laughter as it must have been back in the early days when it was a private hunting and fishing club for the Alton Box Board Company. When Friends Pickin', a bluegrass group from Ellington, started playing, the fun really began. Similar types of speakers and entertainment will be offered this fall at Montauk. On-water education On the river, the educational programming is led by Bill and Jody Miles, co-directors of Earth's Classroom, a non-profit based in Rosebud. Since 2016, they've served as lead river guides and on-water educators for the annual Paddle MO trips on the Missouri River. "I would put the Current River up against any river in the world for its amazing beauty, springs and biodiversity," says Bill. "Paddling on one of the most spectacular float streams in the world is always filled with new adventures and discoveries." JULY - 2020

Feature Story One of the highlights last year was the discovery by Bill and Jody of a blind cavefish, the Southern Cavefish (Typhlichthys subterraneus), in a small cave spring in the Pulltite to Round Spring section of the river. "To the best of our knowledge, the cavefish had never been recorded for that location until our finding," says Jody. There are three species of cavefish in the Missouri Ozarks. "Wow. Blind cavefish. Who knew?" marveled long-time "river rat" and 29-year Stream Team veteran Ted Haviland, of Arroll, as he gazed at the small, white cavefish in the palm of Bill's hand. No ordinary float trip fare If you think you'll lose a couple of pounds on Paddle MO because of all the outdoor exercise, you might want to rethink that. "The food on these Stream Team expeditions is always top-notch," says Ted. Some meals will be cooked by Stream Team volunteers and some by Chef Chris Feaster, chef/owner of Feasters Route 66 Bistro and head chef for Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity in Rolla. Chef Feaster also cooked for last year's trip. Parting thoughts When paddlers were asked to describe Paddle MO Ozarks in one word, these were some of the responses: User-friendly, educational, eye-opening, exciting, relaxing, challenging, amazing.

100 Miles on the Missouri River Paddlers from 15 states have participated in Paddle MO on the Missouri River since it was first held in 2016. The 100-mile trip from Hermann to the confluence with the Mississippi River will be September 23 to 27, with the shuttle day on September 22. Paddlers can join the full five-day trip or the two-day weekend option. Fees for Paddle MO vary depending on the length of the trip and whether you book a shuttle, opt for the multi-person canoe, or rent cabins instead of tent camping. For information or to register, visit paddlemo.org.

Sarah Wright, an environmental specialist with the Department of Natural Resources in Jefferson City, has fly-fished the Current often, but had only floated it once prior to last fall's trip. "So many people know this river and this area for floating and fishing, but to get such an up-close look (on Paddle MO) is priceless," says Sarah. "It will make every trip back there more enjoyable because I was given a peek at so many deeper parts." "Being on the river for days with folks is a natural bonding that can't be duplicated anywhere else," says Jody. "When you add in good food and drink, campfires and fabulous evenings of foot-stomping music along the river, you get magic -- memories to last the rest of your life." Perhaps Mary sums it up best: "Paddle MO is a once-in-a-lifetime type of adventure -- that you can participate in more than once!" The nitty-gritty The registration fee for Paddle MO Ozarks is $300 for the three-day trip. It includes nine meals, transportation of boats and participants each day (with the exception of moving your vehicle to the take-out point on Day 3), river guides, education, entertainment, river maps and journals. It does not include camping/lodging, which must be booked with Montauk State Park. It does not include canoe or kayak rental. For more information or to register, visit paddlemo.org and click on the Ozarks link on the upper right. All funds raised on Paddle MO support Missouri waterways. Paddle MO Ozarks is supported by L-A-D Foundation, Missouri Humanities Council, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust, Bass Pro Shops, Piney River Brewing Company and Missouri Wine and Grape Board. The Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri State Parks and the National Park Service at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways assist with programming. Note: If the Current River or Missouri River event is canceled due to COVID-19, flooding, or natural disaster, participants will receive a full refund of their registration costs.

Barbara Gibbs Ostmann A sunbeam points to the bluffs dotted with caves, plants and wildlife. (Photo: Barbara Gibbs Ostmann)

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Outdoor News

Conservation Organizations Launch Responsible Recreation Pledge

tate by state, different rules have been implemented regarding outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. These rules have led to confusion at best and anger at worst. Many have argued against closures of parks and open spaces, limits on boating, and changes to hunting and fishing opportunities. Thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel. So many of us who live an outdoor lifestyle have maintained the mindset that the outdoors is the best place to be during these unprecedented times. Yet, we still need to take precautions. There is now a large consortium of conservation organizations coming together to collectively call for responsible recreation. “The Responsible Recreation campaign seeks to engage all who are enjoying the outdoors safely and responsibly, “said Ron Regan, Executive Director for the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “We encourage everyone to recreate locally, be safe, be prepared, and be respectful.” It is great to see organizations of different specific missions, like hunting, fishing, and general outdoors coming together in support of #ResponsibleRecreation. Some of the big names you might recognize, or even better belong to, are National Wild Turkey Federation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Whether participating in hunting, fishing, shooting sports, or numerous other outdoor activities, individuals and families are getting outside as a means of coping with the challenges of this health crisis,” said Whit Fosburgh, TRCP’s president and CEO. “The conservation community recognizes that this is a privilege, one that sportsmen and women take very seriously. Just as we’ve stepped up to fund conservation efforts and recover at-risk species, hunters and anglers have yet another opportunity to lead by example and ensure that outdoor recreation can continue to delight and facilitate healing for anyone who ventures outside.”

Social distancing outdoors is easy, but precautions should be taken to ensure for #ResponsibleRecreation. (Photo: Courtesy of Brandon Butler)

All of these groups want to see citizens of every state enjoying the outdoors across our nation’s public lands and waters. They are just trying to encourage everyone to use social distancing guidelines while adhering to other best practices in line with recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Now more than ever, Americans want to recreate outdoors for the health, physical, and social benefits,” says Jessica Wahl Turner, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “As our country begins to reopen, we encourage outdoor enthusiasts to continue practicing social distancing, respect the communities you visit, and follow the health guidelines applicable to your activities. If we work together to steward the outdoors and keep safety top of mind, we can help our public lands and waters remain open and get our recreation economy and jobs back on track.” Here is a list of guidelines from the #ResponsibleRecreation website: • • • • • •

Plan ahead; purchase licenses and park passes online, if available. Recreate close to home Adhere to best practices for avoiding COVID-19 Follow state and federal guidelines Pack out your trash as a courtesy to others and to avoid the appearance of overuse Share your adventures in a respectful way on social outlets

If you would like to learn more or sign the #ResponsibleRecreation pledge, visit www.responsiblerecreation.org.

Brandon Butler JULY - 2020

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Road trip. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t choose the perfect playlist. Or program the GPS. But we did fuel the car that made you realize there are no wrong turns, only new adventures. When the energy you invest in life meets the energy we fuel it with, amazing journeys happen.

JULY - 2020

Feature Story

How I Survived a Copperhead Snakebite

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Feature Story

n late May, while doing scientific research on bird populations near Branson, MO, I was bitten by a copperhead. I was walking along a well-beaten footpath where I had walked countless times. I stopped to clear a few plants and had been standing in the same place for over a minute when I shifted a bit and felt a stinging on my left foot.

It is important to note that snakes are venomous, not poisonous. Venoms and poisons differ mainly in their use and form of delivery. Poisonous organisms often use their toxins for defense, affecting the aggressor through touch, ingestion, or inhalation (e.g. poison ivy). Venomous organisms more often use their toxins for immobilizing or killing prey by injection (e.g. wasps, spiders, and scorpions). Venoms are only I looked around for the wasp I had disturbed but saw dangerous if injected. While a few species of snakes nothing flying. I looked down at my foot in my Chaco can emit chemicals that cause skin irritation (so, sandal, expecting to see the mark of a wasp sting, but technically poisonous), snakes are almost exclusively instead, a tiny drop of blood had formed on my second venomous. little toe. My confusion changed to slight panic as I noticed the orange and brown patterned snake coiled The venom of snakes in Missouri, including the under some leaves. copperhead that bit me, is mostly hemotoxic, meaning it damages the red blood cells--often interrupting The Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is blood clotting and damaging tissue near the injection the most common venomous snake in Missouri. They site. These snakes use their venom, not to kill are timid, preferring to stay hidden and hopefully necessarily, but to immobilize prey, allowing them to unnoticed, relying on their leafeasily capture and kill their preypattern camouflage for protection. -usually small rodents, fish, or The pain was a dull, They prefer rocky areas and forest amphibians. edges and hunt almost exclusively pulsing throb. I could small rodents. Unlike other venomous snakes with feel the blood pressure venom that attacks the nervous Missouri is home to five species system, hemotoxic venom is slower in my foot increasing of snakes considered potentially to react. Often hemotoxic snakes as the tissues swelled, must follow their prey's scent trail dangerous to humans due to their venom: Eastern Copperhead, to find the immobilized animal. In constricting blood Northern Cottonmouth, Massasauga humans, the venom is rarely fatal, vessels. Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, but complications can arise, and and Timber Rattlesnake. Despite medical attention should always be this fear-evoking label of "venomous", there have sought if you suspect a venomous snake has bitten you. only been five reported deaths attributed to snake bites in Missouri, while lightning (47 cases) and dogs The bite itself had not felt like I had expected. The (32 cases) have killed many more. In most, if not all, immediate sting was like a wasp, but my surge of the instances where death resulted, other underlying adrenaline almost instantly masked the pain before medical conditions also existed. I was driven to Cox Medical Center in Branson. The snake had bitten me on the second smallest toe of my All five species of snake belong to the subfamily left foot. The three smallest toes began swelling within Crotalinae, a group of about 150 snake species minutes, as did the body of my foot. commonly referred to as pit vipers. This taxonomic group is distinguished by the presence of a heatThe pain was a dull, pulsing throb. I could feel the sensing organ located between the snake's eye and blood pressure in my foot increasing as the tissues nostril. This organ is especially valuable for the swelled, constricting blood vessels. As my bloodstream snake as it allows them to more easily detect both carried the venom, a wave of tingling sensation—that prey and potential predators, as well as allowing for I liken to a leg falling asleep—slowly rose up my calf, nocturnal hunting. The genus Agkistrodon, to which through my thigh, and into my hip. the copperhead and cottonmouth belong, roughly translates as fishhook-tooth, referring to the shape of Copperhead have a beautiful pattern that is often described as Hershey the fangs. Kiss brown on copper orange. This camouflaging pattern allows them to stay hidden in leaf litter. (Photo: Kendell Lloyd) JULY - 2020

Feature Story I was admitted into the ER and remained in a private room for 6 hours of observation. My foot was elevated, and the swelling was monitored and marked by writing directly on my leg. The pain increased throughout the day and transformed into a sharp pulsing sting, for which I was given medication. The swelling at its highest extent, went to my lower thigh. In the following days, I had to stay seated with my foot above my waist or the pain would become unbearable. Two days after the incident, I could readily walk using crutches, and four days after, I could begin putting weight back on the foot. It has been a week since the snake bite and I can now walk, but I have a limp. My foot and ankle are still swollen, but I can now make out my big toe's extensor tendon. Certain areas of my calf, foot, and toes are still sensitive to touch. Many of my toes and part of my foot are still a purple-blue from bruising. It will take more time, but the damage will be temporary. I should make a full recovery. I was not given antivenom for several reasons. Firstly, Copperheads do not have very potent venom. Overall, they are small snakes that consume small prey, meaning they never need to kill human-sized animals and thus do not possess venom readily strong enough for this. Amazingly, studies show that snakes can calculate the amount of venom they need to inject: injecting more for larger prey and less for smaller prey. This is beneficial for the snake because the venom is energetically expensive for the snake to make. In a defensive situation, like my snake was in, a small, painful dose typically does the trick, and I received the message loud and clear. In almost all cases of copperhead bites, the body can clear the venom and recover all on its own. Secondly, antivenom is incredibly expensive, usually costing several thousand dollars per dose, and snakebite cases can require as many as six to eight doses. The price can be attributed to the complicated method of harvesting antibodies from other animals. Due to the pharmaceutical market in the United States and the tiny demand, antivenom can cost 100 times what it costs in other countries.

Snakes are an important part of a healthy ecosystem too. They are great predators and play a crucial part in controlling populations of rodents and insects, many of which negatively impact crops and livestock. In Missouri, all snakes are protected by law and it is illegal to kill a snake that is not directly endangering a person. By that definition, I had the right to kill the copperhead that bit me, but I chose not to. I chose to respect the wildlife in its habitat, and the snake had done nothing wrong by biting me. It was a poor coincidence that our paths crossed, but it was me that intruded into its territory, not the other way around. Despite the pain and discomfort the snake inflicted on me, I was the guest in the forest that day, and unfortunately, I was reminded of it. The animal only acted when it felt that its life was in danger. When going outside this season, keep in mind that you are stepping into hundreds of organisms' homes, some of which can cause harm. It is up to you to be proactive, so you do not have to be reactive. Keeping an eye out for snakes and other potentially harmful organisms, doing some basic internet studies on snake identification, and giving the animal its space may help keep you safe and avoid a trip to the hospital. If you see a snake, keep your distance and never make it decide between defending itself and surviving. Never try to pick up snakes. Most snake bites occur because the snake was intentionally provoked. Also, please wear appropriate footwear: a lesson I learned the hard way. The outdoors are wonderful and exciting, but it is up to you to be safe, respect wildlife, and make decisions that benefit yourself and nature.

Kendell Lloyd

Lastly, there can be many adverse reactions to antivenom that are impossible to predict. Reactions are typically mild but can be life-threatening, so antivenom is given only when necessary. Some people asked me if I killed the snake, and I did not. I left the snake where I found it—or where it found me, rather. Snakes invoke fear in many people. They are depicted as evil in many cultural stories, and having no legs makes many people uncomfortable with their appearance. I have heard people say: "The only good snake is a dead snake", and it is really a shame because snakes can be quite beautiful.

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Outdoor News

New Tricks For Your Tackle Box

sk any tournament bass fisherman if they throw a shakey-head worm? I am confident every one of them will tell you, "Yes I do." As usual, I had to learn the hard way about the effectiveness of this technique. Fishing the Louisiana BassMaster Invitational on the Red River near Shreveport in the early 1990s, I was hitting one last spot, a rip rap wing dam near the weigh-in checkpoint, trying to catch just one more fish before the end of the day. A friend and Arkansas Pro Scott Rook, working the same thing, pulled in on the other side of the wing dam, the one I had just fished down without a bite. He caught one then another. What the heck was he throwing? The shakey-head worm technique was brand new, and by today's standards pretty crude. It was a homemade lead jig head with a small plastic worm, cast on light line and hopped or shaken along the bottom. Almost every jig company now makes a shakey-head, and every tackle retailer stocks them on their shelves. The Zoom Trick Worm is the staple for the trailer but there are many other brands that copy the slim worms design. My system is a green pumpkin 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worm rigged on a Âź ounce Jewel Squirrel head, 10 # fluorocarbon line, medium-heavy graphite rod, and a baitcasting reel. Others prefer to fish it on a spinning tackle with even lighter line. Any method will work, throw it out, wait for the lure to fall to the bottom. Keep your rod tip high in about the 11 o'clock position, very slowly hop or shake the worm in place, then slowly work it back towards you. Often a bite is very subtle. As you pick up the worm or as you are shaking it, the lure will feel heavy or mushy like you have moss on the lure. You may see your line move off as a fish swims slowly away with the bait. Reel up some slack and set the hook. Want another "trick" for your tackle box, rig the trick worm weightless, its very buoyant and easily fished in shallow ponds, around brush and vegetation. The weight of the hook lets the worm sink slowly. Lower your rod tip to 3 o'clock, make short twitches to the side, causing the worm to walk back and forth.

I get the most bites when I let the worm sink just out of sight, but another technique is to allow the worm to slow fall (called dead sticking) to the bottom. Bass can't stand to let the worm settle to the bottom, so the bites happen just before the worm gets there. When fishing weightless, I use a Texas rigged Mustad Grip-Pin Edge 1/0 hook. My worm color choices are; bubblegum for ultra-clear water, green pumpkin for everyday use and merthiolate, yellow or limetreuse when the water has a little more color, or on a cloudy or rainy day. I have caught bass over 6 pounds on these finesse techniques. Set your drag light enough to allow for the lighter line and be patient when fighting and landing the fish. Have questions? You are always welcome to email me at www.mofishing@aol.com. Scott Pauley Scott Pauley with a Lake Show Me bass (Photo: Sara Pauley)

JULY - 2020

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Feature Story

The Eagle Sees the Round Rainbow 58

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Feature Story

ndependence Day is a federal holiday in America commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject to the monarch of Britain and were now united, free, and independent states. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and ceremonies. Our flag flies proudly during these celebrations, and we salute it and sing songs about it. Maybe it should also be a time we honor another symbol of America – the bald eagle. The bald eagle’s role as our nations symbol goes back to 1782 when it was added to the Great Seal of the United States. The eagle was selected because of its great strength, stately looks, long life, and because it is native to North America. The design appeared on official documents, currency, flags, public buildings and other government-related items. The bald eagle became an American icon. To us as Americans, along with our flag, the bald eagle represents freedom and all that freedom stands for and is worth fighting for. Eagles figure prominently in the mythology of nearly every Native American tribe. In most Native cultures, eagles are considered medicine birds with impressive magical powers, and play a significant role in their religious ceremonies. The bald eagle was an important clan crest for some tribes. Eagle designs can often be found carved on totem poles, ceremonial staffs, and other traditional art. Eagle feathers were earned by Plains Indians as war honors and worn in their feathered headdresses. In some tribes today, eagle feathers are still given to soldiers returning from war or people who have achieved a great accomplishment. In the wild, a Bald Eagle will live 30-35 years. A full-grown Bald Eagle has a wingspan up to 7 feet. They can fly up to 30 miles an hour and dive at 100 miles an hour! Eagles feed primarily on fish, supplemented by small mammals, waterfowl and carrion. Bald Eagles mate for life, and an established pair will use the same nest for many years. Over time some nests become enormous; they can reach a diameter of 9 feet and weigh as much as 2 tons!

The female lays 2 or 3 eggs and both parents share incubation and guard them diligently against predators. While the chicks are small, the parents move about the nest with their talons balled up into fists to avoid harming them. For such a powerful bird, the Bald Eagle emits surprisingly weak-sounding calls that are usually a series of highpitched whistling or piping notes. The female may repeat a single, soft, high-pitched note that is said to be unlike any other calls in nature. Fishermen who recognize the sound of an eagle usually stop fishing just to watch this majestic bird soaring in a bright blue sky. The bonus is when they dive from the sky to the water to do a little fishing themselves. Campers, hikers, canoers and kayakers are sometimes also treated to the sights and sounds of the eagle. It’s a memory that stays with them forever. The Missouri Department of Conservation holds many eagle watching events across the state during winter. If you can’t make it to one of these events, search online for locations to enjoy eagle-viewing on your own. From late December through early February, watch for eagles perched in large trees along the water’s edge. Get out early in the morning to see the eagles flying and fishing. Many years ago, I was flying back home to Springfield from Chicago in an old prop airplane. The plane flew very low coming back. As I watched out the window, I thought to myself, “this must be what an eagle sees as he flies around.” I pulled out a piece of paper, started writing the below poem, and finished it before landing. The line about the round rainbow was added later and the title was changed after my wife and I were flying back from Florida. When we looked out the window of the plane, we were amazed to see a round rainbow with the shadow of the airplane right in the middle of it. Rainbows are created when the sun reflects off raindrops reflecting a multitude of colors. Most people don’t realize that a rainbow gets its traditional semicircle shape from the horizon because we are only seeing half of it. When the same atmospheric conditions that create a rainbow are observed from an airplane or by an eagle, a rainbow is a full circle. A round rainbow is called a glory, which NASA defines as an optical phenomenon. To us, this glory was a sign that God was watching over us that day. He still is!

Larry Whiteley JULY - 2020

Feature Story

If We Could See Through An Eagle's Eyes by Larry Whiteley What must it be like to perch on a limb in a tree on a mountain high? Then look above and spread your wings and fly into the sky.

The patchwork quilt of the fields below, the prairies, the deserts, the plains. How could you ever get tired of looking when your view is never the same?

The eagle sees the round rainbow that has no beginning or end. He sees the flatlands, hills and valleys and places I’ve never been.

What must it be like to fly over rows of houses, giant factories, malls and other stuff? For a majestic bird so used to nature’s beauty, neon lights, billboards and concrete must be tough.

What must it be like to look below at cloud shadows on the trees? It must be wonderful to be so wild and free.

I wonder if tears come to an eagle’s eyes and they fall to the ground. When he sees streams filled with trash instead of fish and pollution all around.

The traffic on the roads must appear like ants continually on the go. Following straight and winding roads to places only they know.

What must it be like to fly above when the seasons come and go? To see the landscape turn from green to gold and red to the white of a winter snow.

What must it be like to fly along the rivers carving out the land? Over ponds, lakes and oceans All created by God’s mighty hand.

What must it be like to be an eagle and soar way up high? Oh the sights we would behold if we could see through an eagle’s eyes.

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Outdoor News

What’s New with Katy Trail State Park – The 30th Anniversary, Flood Recovery and the New Trail Advisory Map

his year marks a milestone year for Katy Trail State Park, the big 3-0! From its inception and throughout its 30-year history, Katy Trail State Park has provided recreation, and opportunities to explore natural and cultural resources for up to 400,000 annual visitors. The Katy Trail is the longest developed rail-trail in the United States and is in the national Railto-Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame. Along its route, the trail hugs steep bluffs, wanders close to the Missouri River, cuts through thick forest and crosses gently rolling prairies and fields. The recreational corridor allows hikers and bicyclists to pass through many communities and explore a slice of rural Missouri history. Due to last year’s wet spring and summer, many areas of the trail were closed along the Missouri River from flooding and for trail recovery, requiring special attention from Missouri State Parks’ construction crews and maintenance staff.

Katy Trail State Park. (Photo: Courtesy of Missouri State Parks)

Numerous projects along the trail have already been completed through the winter months in preparation for the Katy’s on-season; however, continuous efforts are being made to improve surfacing, bridges and washed out areas. In addition to the team’s hard work, volunteers from local areas along the trail have provided tremendous assistance cleaning up trash and debris from the flooding. As you plan for your Katy Trail rides this year, be sure to check the current status of the trail using the online Katy Trail State Park Advisory Map at mostateparks.com. The map will help you know what to expect before you hit the trail, highlighting any advisories or closures due to flooding and repairs. Although the trail is open, rough areas can occur at any time due to weather variations. Travel with caution and view the map in advance so you can safely enjoy the views and wildlife, history and cultural and natural resources that the Katy Trail has to offer!

JULY - 2020

Feature Story

Fun in the Sun With Sticks and Strings

ummertime is undoubtedly upon us. Most folks look forward to this time of year more than any other season. Missouri is home to one giant outdoor toybox for people of this persuasion with a plethora of lakes, cool crystal-clear rivers, and an abundance of public land to hike and camp on. For me, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a waste of three good months until bow season opens up again in September. I grudgingly pass the time feeding hungry ticks and cussing various yard maintenance tools. The only respite I enjoy during this hot, humid prison sentence is when I spend slinging arrows at fish and squirrels.

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If you have never had the pleasure of going bowfishing, you owe it to yourself to try. The equipment youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need is minimal: a bow, a fish arrow, some bowfishing line, and something that attaches to your bow that you can wrap that line around. While the pros have a bunch of money tied up in boats and motors, you can get by with a pair of waders or just shooting from the bank. And the best thing about bowfishing is that you generally have a lot of targets to shoot at. There have been several times when I quit a good day on the water because my fingers were too sore from pulling the bowstring.

Feature Story Missouri allows its citizens to take any non-game species of fish by this method any time of the day, any day of the year. The bag limits are liberal, and for some invasive species, like Asian Carp, you can shoot as many as you want. Some people balk at eating these types of fish, but I think gar nuggets are pretty tasty, and big fillet of redhorse sucker fried right up on the riverbank is hard to beat. Another delicacy that my good friend, Brian Peterson, turned me onto are his fantastic carp balls. These are made from carp that he has pressure canned like the canned mackerel and salmon you buy. Eat a dozen of these, and wash them down with a cold adult beverage, and soon all your summertime troubles will be nothing but a distance bitter memory. Bowfishing is a great way to get your shooting tuned up for fall because of the sheer amount of shooting that you will be doing in all sorts of light conditions, water conditions, at many different angles and different target sizes. But if you want to hone your shooting skills, grab a bunch of arrows that you don’t care about losing and start sending them at our state’s abundant squirrel population. If you can consistently hit a squirrel in the head with an arrow, you are more than ready to take on whitetails when the fall season rolls around. Missouri has one of the longest squirrel seasons in the country with a large daily bag limit of 10 squirrels and a possession limit of 20. I look forward to Memorial Day weekend each year because that Saturday is when the season opens, and you can bet your bacon grease that I am out there trying to thin the herd. My usual weapon of choice is my trusty 12-gauge flintlock, Ole Betsy, but I also kill a fair amount of squirrels around the house with a longbow or recurve. Like bowfishing, I get a lot of shooting practice in, but I am a bit more particular about my shot selection because the only way to retrieve my arrows is to find them. The heads on my squirrel arrows are either steel blunts of some kind or a bodkin point. Bushytails are the toughest critters I have ever hunted and I have knocked many of them clean off a tree limb only for them to get up and run off. A bodkin point is just a small broadhead (I make my own), and I prefer its penetration powers because I think that lessens the chance that your squirrel will get away. Another point that I have used on squirrels

with success is a judo point. These points have little spring-loaded arms around the head that will catch in the grass, so your arrow doesn’t travel as far. They will also catch on tree bark and stay there, so think twice before you shoot at a squirrel in a tree with this type of point. For tree squirrels, I usually use a flu-flu arrow with a blunt head. The large feathers on a flu-flu keep it from traveling too far if you miss. For a squirrel on the ground, I use an arrow with normal fletching tipped with either a bodkin or judo point. So there you have it, my plans for Summer 2020. I’ll probably throw in some meat smoking and beekeeping for good measure and try to keep yard mowing to a bare minimum. September will be here before you know it, so make sure to keep your archery skills sharp. Shooting 30-pound buffalo carp and 10-ounce gray squirrels are both fun, both provide excellent table fare, and both will get you ready for the season to come. Darren Haverstick (Left) This big buffalo made a lot of carp balls. (Photo: Darren Haverstick) (Right) First squirrel of the 2020 season. (Photo: Darren Haverstick)

Peterson’s Carp Balls 1 pint canned carp, drained 1/2 sleeve saltine crackers, crushed (about 8-10 crackers) 1 large egg 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp dried parsley 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp garlic powder Salt/pepper to taste Mix all ingredients thoroughly, form into patties or balls. Fry in 375° oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with a wedge of lemon and/or tartar sauce. Feel free to add/remove/adjust ingredients to preference. It's just a starting point.

JULY - 2020

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July 2020 vol 81 no 4

Articles inside

Finding a Place to Hunt

What's New with the Katy Trail?

Agency News

What is CFM?

Columbia Event Flyer

New Members

Gear Guide

Where Will You Go with CLC?

CFM Events Schedule

Affiliate Spotlight

President's Message

Director's Message