For more than eighty-eight years, the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) has served as “The Voice for Missouri Outdoors.” Join in our efforts to secure our stronghold as advocates for our state’s wildlife and natural resources by becoming a dedicated member of our Founders Circle.
Your contribution will play an influential role in preserving Missouri’s rich outdoor legacy.
Each year, earnings from the endowment will be used to support CFM’s education and advocacy efforts. Special recognition will be given to those who reach each level of giving. Additionally, memberships will be recognized at our annual Convention.
Make your contribution today, to preserving our state’s conservation legacy.
Congratulations to the entire CFM Family for receiving the Affiliate of the Year from the National Wildlife Federation!
What a historic honor it is to have received the award in June on behalf of such a storied organization. It truly has taken a team approach and everyone is working and communicating together to achieve this success. If you are reading this, you have somehow contributed to that success, and for that I say, thank you. Also, our staff work hard day in and day out, and I hope they know how much I appreciate them, and how much they have contributed to our success.
Here are a few excerpts from the acceptance speech I gave in Washington, D.C., the night of the Awards Banquet. It was a magical moment to stand in front of conservation leaders from across the nation, with our team on the stage to deliver these remarks.
“… This award is about the passion, pride and perseverance of many conservationists working tirelessly alongside us in the Show-Me state. It’s about being inclusive of all citizens and allowing everyone to recreate and have life-changing experiences in the outdoors like we all have. The outdoors are for everyone.
Last year, in Missouri, we helped win two major court battles—one of which ended up in the Missouri Supreme Court. We work really hard to protect the Missouri Model of Conservation and have a strong history of winning.
You see, we have not one but two citizen-imposed dedicated sales taxes that benefit Conservation and Natural Resources. The last time we voted to renew the Parks and Soils Tax, over 80 percent of people said yes. We had a majority of yes votes in every single county in our state. In a day and age when people can’t agree on anything, Missourians support our public spaces. It’s because our agencies are responsible stewards of these precious resources.
…You all have your unique battles in your states, too. You must keep grinding and fighting at all costs. That is why we exist. We all know that a stroke of the pen can be mightier and have a bigger impact on our resources than we dare to fathom. That is why we must be persistent to get RAWA, the Farm Bill, and other initiatives passed. These things matter greatly, so let’s keep our eye on the prize!
As the old saying goes, “It’s our turn to carry the water”. We must carry that water as hard, and fast, and long as possible - because it gives life to us, and the plants and animals we care about and fight for each and every day. When we get tired from doing that critical work, we should rest, and lean on our neighbors, co-workers and friends, and then go again. We do that work not to get rich, but because we know our cause is worthy and just, and the future is squarely on our shoulders.
…To my fellow leaders and Directors and staff – I ask you - What are you going to do, so that your team is up here on this stage next year?
…One thing I have found is that there is no replacing good old-fashioned hard work—rolling up your sleeves and grinding it out—long days, nights, and weekends. I know you all pour your hearts and souls into your jobs, am I right?!
Lastly, I challenge you to share your outdoor talents and never stop giving back. Because together, with hard work, passion, and perseverance, our conservation legacy will continue together forever, together. Thank you so much for this wonderful award.”
From the bottom of my heart, thank you again for your support of CFM. Let’s work to win this award again real soon!
Yours in Conservation,
Tyler Schwartze CFM Executive Director, Editor
The CFM team receives the Award at the NWF Annual Convention in Washington D.C. (Photo: Courtesy of NWF)
Features
Homegrown National Park
The Power That's In Your Hands
Catch My Drift: Cardiac Mountain Outfitters
Hobby Beekeeping Provides Family Fun
The Adventures of Frank & Ed: Bobbers, Bluegill & Bass
St. Hubertus
A River Shrouded in Mystery
Prairie Royalty: The Regal Fritillary Butterfly
Learn Fly-Fishing From an Expert
Fishing During the Civil War
My Defeats
Catching Fall Smallmouth on Rivers
Auto Tour Features Fire-Managed Pine Woodlands
STAFF
Tyler Schwartze - Executive Director, Editor
Micaela Haymaker - Director of Operations
Michelle Gabelsberger - Membership Manager
Nick Darling - Education and Communications Coordinator
Trisha Ely - Development & Events Coordinator
Joan VanderFeltz - Administrative Assistant
Emma Kessinger - Creative Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee:
Bill Kirgan, President
Ginny Wallace, President-Elect
Steve Jones, Vice President
Benjamin Runge, Secretary
Bill Lockwood, Treasurer
Board Members:
Richard Ash
Mossie Schallon
Gary Van De Velde
Dick Wood
Nathan McLeod
Jake Swafford
Emily Tracy-Smith
Jim Low
Ryan Verkamp
Ralph Duren
Katherine Brookshire
Leanne Tippett-Mosby
Adam Sapp
Emily Schrader
Jennifer Battson-Warren
Kyle Carroll
Bill Cooper
Dana Ripper Zach Morris
Bill McGuire
Lisa Allen
Tom Westhoff
Mike Schallon
Katie Marsh
Governor Jay Nixon
Wes Swee
David Urich
Shirley Wolverson
Susan Wrasmann
Jeff Meshach
Kathie Brennan
Laurie Wilson
William Hall
Michael Meredith
Alexander Scott
Ryan Coovert
April Hoffman
Jean Nock
Eric Rahm
Dave Murphy
Troy Beilsmith
ABOUT THE MAGAZINE
Conservation Federation (ISSN 1082-8591), Copyright 1938, is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September, and November by the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM), 728 West Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Of each member’s dues, $10 shall be for a year’s subscription to Conservation Federation. Call (573) 634-2322 to become a member. Periodicals Postage paid at Jefferson City, MO.
Send address changes to:
Conservation Federation 728 West Main Jefferson City, MO 65101
FRONT COVER
Taken by Dan Bernskoetter at Binder Lake in Cole County using a Canon R5 camera and a Canon RF100-500mm lens at 500mm, 1/2500 second, f/8.0, ISO 1600.
Thank you to all of our Business Partners.
Platinum
Gold
Doolittle Trailer
Enbridge, Inc.
G3 Boats
Silver
Forrest Keeling Nursery
Lilley’s Landing Resort & Marina
Missouri Wildflowers Nursery
Bronze
Association of Missouri Electric Coop.
Black Widow Custom Bows, Inc.
Burgers’ Smokehouse
Central Electric Power Cooperative
Drury Hotels
Iron
AJ's Automotive & Air Conditioning Bass
Pro Shops (Independence)
Bee Rock Outdoor Adventures
Big Bear Butcher Shop
Brockmeier Financial Services
ModernLitho Jefferson City
Cap America
Central Bank
Community State Bank of Bowling Green
Custom Promotional Branding
Pure Air Natives
Redneck Blinds
Rusty Drewing Chevrolet
Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC
Mitico Quaker Windows
Starline, Inc.
St. James Winery
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 Woods Smoked Meats
Dickerson Park Zoo
Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Association
FCS Financial
Gascosage Electric Cooperative
General Printing Service
GREDELL Engineering Resources, Inc.
Heartland Seed of Missouri LLC
Hulett Heating & Air Conditioning
Independent Stave Company
Joe Machens Ford
Lewis County Rural Electric Coop.
Marble Graphics II LLC
Missouri Native Seed Association
Moneta Group
On Time Toner and Supplies LLC
Scobee Powerline Construction
Truman’s Bar & Grill
United Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Your business can benefit by supporting conservation. For all sponsorship opportunities, call (573) 634-2322.
CFM Announced as The National Wildlife Federation Affiliate of the Year
The Conservation Federation of Missouri has been named the National Wildlife Federation's Affiliate of the Year. CFM received the award on Thursday, June 27 in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the NWF annual meeting. This marks CFM's third time winning this honor since the award was first given out in 1966.
CFM earned this award thanks to their unique programs such as Share the Harvest, Operation Game Thief, Conservation Leadership Corps, as well as their advocacy efforts.
"CFM’s recent track record has been truly spectacular,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Thanks to relentless advocacy and coalition building, they’ve played a leading role in several major statewide successes. And they haven’t stopped there — by championing the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, CFM has gotten us closer to securing a generational victory for wildlife on a federal level.”
Last year, CFM also received victorious decisions in two major court case battles where they filed Amicus Curiae briefs. The first, was a decision handed down from the Missouri Supreme Court that says the Conservation Commission has constitutional authority to spend their own money to acquire land for conservation. The second was a victorious verdict in a multi-year court battle preserving Eleven Point State Park, where legislators tried to file legislation selling off the park. The park which includes the Pigman Ranch, a historic place where the Beatles once vacationed, and is now in the conceptual development phase to be preserved for citizens to enjoy for future generations.
“Over the past year and beyond, our team has worked tremendously hard to deliver victories for wildlife and people across Missouri,” said Tyler Schwartze, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri.
“This honorable recognition is a testament to the incredible group of individuals working together in our Federation family. But our work is far from done, and we look forward to continuing and advancing these strong efforts even further in the coming year,” Schwartze continued.
CFM's strengths are collaboration, diversity, balance, and the power of being together. Our wide range of accomplishments has all come about thanks to extraordinary citizens working together to achieve remarkable results. The establishment of the CFM Board Relevancy Committee in 2022 has allowed them to continue discussions on ways to provide DEIJ learning opportunities for the board. In 2024, they will continue these efforts by using data-gathering tools to gather insights from citizens and members about how they can be more relevant to all communities in Missouri.
Their Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) develops the next generation of conservation leaders and advocates. The CLC develops students into the next generation of citizen conservation leaders. CLC students participate in conservation advocacy. They learn our process of resolution development and implementation. The National Wildlife Federation has selected the CLC program as a model of excellence for youth development.
CFM Would like to thank all of our staff, board members, affiliates, business partners, and volunteers that have helped make this possible.
CFM Board Members and staff celebrated the NWF Affiliate of the Year Award at their recent Board Meeting on Saturday, June 22nd.
(Photo: Courtesy of CFM)
Completing the Circle
Since the founding of the United States through the early 1900s, Americans have looked upon wildlife and natural resources as endless resources to be taken at will. Fish were plentiful, fowl darkened the sky during migration and deer and buffalo were there for the taking. We’ve all seen pictures of piles of geese, ducks, buffalo and fish taken during that period.
However, with the advent of the Great Depression in 1929 game became a crucial part of many diets, especially in rural areas. A 95-year-old friend of mine recalls trapping rabbits for food and to sell for $0.10 each. There are not many with us today who are old enough to remember actually living through those times, but many of us are the children of those who did and were taught to use everything and especially “not to waste food”.
It was in 1935, six years into the Great Depression, when our wildlife had been overhunted and fished, that a group got together at the Tiger Hotel in Columbia and formed the Conservation Federation of Missouri. The Federation’s purpose was to begin managing our natural resources and rebuilding them with professionals who were not driven by greed, ignorance or politics. In 1936, this group established the non-political Conservation Commission.
By 1940 the State had a wildlife and forestry code, and in 1944, Missouri had its first deer season since 1937. The Conservation’s regulations and wildlife management were bringing back our deer as well as turkeys and other game that were once in such abundance. Missourians still enjoyed being outdoors hunting and fishing and enjoying eating their harvest but most were not doing so out of necessity as they were during the depression.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to hunt and fish and many still experience food insecurity and need support. With that in mind, in 1992, CFM established the Share the Harvest program in which hunters who choose not to keep their deer can donate them to feed the less fortunate and get help with the processing fees.
Last year, 247,575 pounds of venison were donated from 5,394 deer that were processed. This, along with ground venison distributed through food banks, and 19,416 Snack Sticks sent home with students in need, is a testament to the generosity of our major donors. We are deeply grateful to Shelter Insurance, Bass Pro Shops, Feeding Missouri, the NRA, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and numerous local organizations and individuals. Your contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of many Missourians in need. This year, we aim to process 5,000 deer with a contribution to processing of $95 each. If you or your organization would like to join us in this noble cause, please contact confedmo.org/donate and select: Share the Harvest.
So through the establishment of the Department of Conservation and their success in providing an abundance of deer in Missouri, Missouri hunters can enjoy their sport as well as help their fellow Missourians in need for the foreseeable future. This is just one of the programs established by the CFM that earned it the prestigious honor of being named Affiliate of the Year by the National Wildlife Federation.
Bill Kirgan President, CFM
2024 Events Schedule
88 Annual Convention - March 1-3
Let your voice be heard at the Annual Convention. The event will include meetings, awards, auctions, and so much more. Held at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark.
Conservation Day at the Capitol - April 3
Join conservationists from across Missouri on the radio for a day of celebrating and supporting conservation and natural resources. The broadcast will air from 6 am to 10 am on 96.7 FM or KCMQ.com.
Wild & Wonderful Duck Race - April 13
Join us for a wild and wonderful day of family fun and learning about Conservation Federation of Missouri with some outdoor activities and an exciting duck race.
CFM Life Member Event - June
CFM will be hosting its 4th annual life member only event.
Conservation Federation Banquet: Columbia - July 11
Fish or kayak then eat a fantastic meal while supporting CFM at Bass Pro Shops in Columbia.
Pull for Conservation: Central - August 10
Take your best shot at the 18th annual Central clay shoot at Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports.
Affiliate Summit - September 5
CFM affiliate organizations are invited to network and learn with fellow professionals.
Conservation Federation Online Auction - September 9-20
Enjoy a fun and interactive online auction with many great trips and prizes.
Conservation Federation Banquet: St. Louis - October 17
Join us for a fantastic meal while networking and supporting CFM.
Holiday Online Auction - December 2-13
Bid on many exciting items just in the time for the holidays.
CFM MISSION:
To ensure conservation of Missouri's wildlife and natural resources, and preservation of our state's rich outdoor legacy through advocacy, education and partnerships.
Why I Became a Life Member of CFM: Justin McGuire
While I’m not a native Missourian, my earliest memories coincide with my family’s move from Kentucky to Missouri in 1984. It was at that impressionable age that the Missouri outdoors began to imprint on me. My family and I hunted, fished, camped, hiked, boated, explored, and truly fell in love with the resources that Missouri had to offer.
In the four decades since my introduction to those natural resources, I have transitioned from simply a user of them to a champion for them. In 2017 I was blessed with the opportunity to join the ranks of professional conservationists, serving in the Education Branch of the Missouri Department of Conservation. I learned how to teach Missouri’s conservation story, and that served to further cultivate my passion for it.
Becoming a life member of CFM allows me to not only tell the story, but to be a part of the history of natural resource management and protection in this state in perpetuity. It provides me an opportunity to give back to something that has been influential in shaping who I am, and to work with like-minded partners to ensure that it exists for generations to come. I’m excited for this journey and look forward to what lies ahead.
BobWilson
Mr and Mrs Bill Kirgan
Brian James
Mr and Mrs Bill Kirgan
In Memory & Honor
Terry Lynn Crawford
Mr Ricky Gonzalez
Herbert Ardell
Mr Ricky Gonzalez
LIFE MEMBERS OF CFM
Charles Abele
* R. Philip Acuff
* Duane Addleman
* Nancy Addleman
Tom Addleman
Nancy Addleman
* Michael Duane Addleman
James Agnew
Carol Albenesius
Craig Alderman
* Allan Appell
Victor Arnold
Bernie Arnold
Richard Ash
Judy Kay Ash
Carolyn Auckley
Doug Audiffred
Ken Babcock
Bernie Bahr
Michael Baker
* James Baker
Dane Balsman
Timothy Barksdale
Lynn Barnickol
Jamie Barton
Michael Bass
Robert Bass
Don Bedell
Thomas Bell
David F. Bender
Rodger Benson
Leonard Berkel
Barbi Berrong
Jim Blair
John Blankenbeker
Andy Blunt
Jeff Blystone
Kim Blystone
Glenn Boettcher
Arthur Booth
* Dale Linda Bourg
Stephen Bradford
Marilynn Bradford
Robin Brandenburg
Mark Brandly
Kathie Brennan
Robert Brinkmann
Katherine Brookshire
* Scott Brundage
Bill Bryan
Alan Buchanan
Connie Burkhardt
Dan Burkhardt
Charles Burwick
Brandon Butler
Randy Campbell
Brian Canaday
Dale Carpentier
* Glenn Chambers
Bryan Chilcutt
Ed Clausen
* Edward Clayton
* Ron Coleman
Denny Coleman
Rhonda Coleman
Liz Cook
Bill Cooper
Elizabeth Copeland
Mark Corio
* Bill Crawford
Andy Dalton
DeeCee Darrow
Ryan Diener
Joe Dillard
Randy Doman
Tim Donnelly
Cheryl Donnelly
Ron Douglas
Chuck Drury
* Charlie Drury
Tom Drury
Ethan Duke
Mike Dunning
William Eddleman
John Enderle
Theresa Enderle
Joe Engeln
Marlin Fiola
* Mary Louise Fisher
Howard Fisher
Andrew Fleming
Matt Fleming
Howard Fleming
Sara Fleming
Lori Fleming
Paula Fleming
* Charles Fleming
Bob Fry
Manley Fuller
David Galat
Gene Gardner
Matt Gaunt
Jason Gibbs
Timothy Gordon
Blake Gornick
David Graber
Tim Grace
Jody Graff
Richard & Sally Graham
* Joseph Gray
Tyler Green
Jason Green
Gery Gremmelsbacher
Debbie Gremmelsbacher
Jason Gremmelsbacher
Bernie Grice Jr.
Mark & Kathy Haas
Tom & Margaret Hall
Christopher Hamon
* Deanna Hamon
J. Jeff Hancock
Herman Hanley
Keith Hannaman
Elizabeth Hannaman
Lonnie Hansen
John Harmon
* Milt Harper
Jack Harris
David Haubein
Jessica Hayes
* Susan Hazelwood
Mickey Heitmeyer
Loring Helfrich
* LeRoy Heman
* Randy Herzog
Bill Hilgeman
Jim Hill
April Hoffman
Mike Holley
Rick Holton
CW Hook
* Allan Hoover
John Hoskins
Todd Houf
* Mike Huffman
Wilson Hughes
Larry Hummel
* Patricia Hurster
Kyna Iman
Jason Isabelle
Jim Jacobi
Aaron Jeffries
Robert Jernigan
Jerry Jerome
Roger & Debbie Johnson
* Don Johnson
* Malcolm Johnson
* Pat Jones
Steve Jones
John Karel
Thomas Karl
Jim Keeven
* Duane Kelly
Cosette Kelly
Junior Kerns
Todd Keske
Robert Kilo
* Martin King
Bill Kirgan
* Judd Kirkham
* Ed Kissinger
Sarah Knight
TJ Kohler
Jeff Kolb
Chris Kossmeyer
Chris Koster
Dan Kreher
Carl Kurz
* Ann Kutscher
Larry Lackamp
Kyle Lairmore
* Jay Law
Michael Leach
* Gerald Lee
Debra Lee
Mark Lee
Randy Leible
Wade Leible
* Joel LeMaster
* Norman Leppo
* John Lewis
Bill Lockwood
Leroy Logan
Christine Logan - Hollis
Bob Lorance
Ike Lovan
Wayne Lovelace
Kimberley Lovelace-
Hainsfurther
Jim Low
Mark Loyd
Emily Lute-Wilbers
Martin MacDonald
Michael Mansell
Steve Maritz
Danny Marshall
Edward Martin
John Mauzey
Bill McCully
Chip McGeehan
Teresa McGeehan
Justin McGuire
Nathan "Shags" McLeod
Jon McRoberts
Richard Mendenhall
Tom Mendenhall
Donna Menown
John "Mitch" Mertens
Cynthia Metcalfe
Walter Metcalfe
Larry Meyer
Stephanie Michels
Brooks Miller
Mitchell Mills
Joshua Millspaugh
Davis Minton
Lowell Mohler
John Moore, Jr.
Gary Moreau
Johnny Morris
Mary Morris
Zachary Morris
John Mort
Leanne Mosby
Steve Mowry
Diana Mulick
David Murphy
* Dean Murphy
Richard Mygatt
* Steve Nagle
Rehan Nana
Robert Naumann
J. Roger Nelson
Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon
Gary Novinger
Frank & Judy Oberle
Larry O'Reilly
Charlie & Mary O’Reilly
Beth O'Reilly
Anya O'Reilly
Jeff Owens
Austin Owens
Sara Parker Pauley
Scott Pauley
Randy Persons
Edward Petersheim
Albert Phillips
Jan Phillips
Glenn & Ilayana Pickett
Jessica Plaggenberg
Becky Plattner
Zach Pollock
Jerry Presley
Albert Price
Nick Prough
Kirk Rahm
Kurtis Reeg
John Rehagen
David & Janice Reynolds
Carey Riley
Kevin Riley
Mike Riley
Dana Ripper
John Risberg
Mary Risberg
Ann Ritter
Charles Rock
Derrick Roeslein
Rudy Roeslein
Charles Rogers
Kayla Rosen
Gerald Ross
Pete Rucker
Benjamin Runge Tyler Ruoff William Ruppert Tom Russell Jacob Sampsell Bruce Sassmann Jan Sassmann Frederick Saylor Michael Schallon Mossie Schallon * Evelyn Schallon Thomas Schlafly Pamela Schnebelen Don Schultehenich Deb Schultehenrich Tyler Schwartze * Ronald Schwartzmeyer Timothy Schwent Travis W. Scott George Seek Arlene Segal * E. Sy Seidler * Sara Seidler Joshua Shadwick Anita Siegmund
Emily Sinnott Douglas Smentkowski Gary & Susanna Smith Zachary Smith * M.W. Sorenson * Ed Stegner Jeff Stegner Everett Stokes William Stork Jr. Winifred Stribling Norm Stucky Mary Stuppy * Mark Sullivan Jacob Swafford Jim Talbert Norman Tanner Travis Taylor Richard Thom Don Thomas Tim Thompson * Jeff Tillman Robert Tompson Mike Torres Matt Tucker David Urich Jennifer Urich
Alex Uskokovich Gary Van De Velde Barbara vanBenschoten Lee Vogel Albert Vogt Frank Wagner Ray Wagner * Julius Wall Ginny Wallace Mervin Wallace
Randy Washburn Mary Waters
* Henry Waters, III. Daniel Weinrich Michael Weir Robert Werges Evelyn Werges Bennish Tom Westhoff Gary Wheeler Georganne Wheeler Nixon Rayburn Whitener
Mark Williams Dennis Williams
Dr. Jane Williams Stephen Wilson Michael Wilson Laurie Wilson
Jonathan Wingo Jon R. Wingo Michael Wiseman Daniel Witter
Brenda Witter * Addie Witter Owen Witter Dick Wood Howard Wood Joyce Wood Nicole Wood
Charles M. Wormek Brad Wright Evan Wright Suzanne Wright David Young Judy Young Dan Zekor Daniel Zerr Jim Zieger Robert Ziehmer Emily Ziehmer Lauren Ziehmer Colton Zirkle Ethan Zuck Guy Zuck Mark Zurbrick *Deceased
It’s time to Share the Harvest
Istepped out on the porch this morning and was treated to the sounds of squirrels whittling on acorns in the loaded white oaks surrounding the house. That “music” signals to my internal clock that fall is not too far away, and I found my trigger finger spasming involuntarily while a bit of drool ran down my chin.
That sound also reminded me that it was time for my annual pitch to you about the CFM Share the Harvest program. This program has been a success since its inception over 30 years ago and continues to be something that everyone who participates in can be proud of.
When I started chairing the CFM STH committee in 2017, I was completely ignorant about everything done behind the scenes to make Share the Harvest work. The only part I knew about was taking a deer to a participating meat processor and donating it to the program. I was under the very naïve impression that hunters were the folks who did the “heavy lifting” because without them, there would be no meat to share with anyone. It only took one committee meeting to learn that there were many more pieces in this successful endeavor than just hunters! I learned about the MDC agents who liaise with the meat processors, help distribute the donated meat, and act as STH boots on the ground. I also learned about the meat processors and what they sacrifice to participate in the program. Trust me when I tell you that none of them are getting rich by taking care of the donated deer.
The other thing I learned about was the enormous amount of money it takes to operate Share the Harvest yearly. Back in 2017, that cost was steep but manageable. That is not the case anymore. Processors have seen their operating costs go through the roof and are having difficulty recruiting and retaining a quality workforce. Through additional funding from MDC, we increased our reimbursement amount to $95 for each deer donated to the program. This will help ease the financial burden the participating processors incur, but it will not eliminate it. Also, to balance the checkbook, we had to cap the number of deer STH could accept for the season at 5000.
Since 1992,
What is extra frustrating about all this is our money crunch is taking place when the Missouri Department of Conservation is actively trying to get hunters to harvest more deer. Extra seasons and increased bag limits mean more deer could be donated to the program and feed folks in your area – if we could figure out a way to pay for it all.
So here’s what I’m asking each of you to think about. Would your church or civic organization be interested in making a monetary contribution to Share the Harvest to help feed more people in your community? Are you a member of a group like the Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus, or the VFW? Would your club be interested in donating to the cause? There is no such thing as an insignificant amount because every little bit helps.
I guess I’m finished yammering now. I’ve made my pitch and hope it has gotten your attention. We are fortunate to live in a state with abundant natural resources. We just need some help getting those resources onto the plates of your neighbors in need.
Darren Haverstick Share the Harvest Chairperson
Missourians have generously been donating thousands of pounds of venison to the Share the Harvest program.
(Photo: CFM)
Duckhorn Outdoors: “Getting People Unplugged and Outdoors”
Duckhorn Outdoors’ (DO) vision is to provide an environment for anyone, young, mature, inexperienced, or experienced, to learn and enjoy the outdoors through DO activities, properties, equipment, and facilities. DO’s mission is to provide life-changing experiences for veterans, first responders, youth, women, civic or corporate organizations, and individuals in our region through a healthy and safe outdoor environment. Our purpose is summed up with our motto, “Get people unplugged and outdoors” to experience new or re-engage in outdoor activities.
Many DO activities are held in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF) at the Duckhorn Lodge in Urich, MO. The 4,000 sq. ft. lodge, which sleeps 15-20 people, overlooks 220 prime acres with creeks, groomed fields and a 12-acre lake. In addition to the Lodge, DO has access to 450 acres of wetlands and 2-3 miles of the South Grand River.
DO accomplishes these life-changing experiences in collaboration with other organizations that share DO’s vision through unplugged outdoor activities, conservation programs, DO events, and meaningful volunteer opportunities. Specifically, through DO programming and facilities we:
• Educate and engage individuals in safe, meaningful, and fun outdoor activities.
• Provide opportunities for all people to enjoy nature.
• Thank and honor individuals who risk their lives for our safety, military, police, EMT’s.
• Collaborate with schools, community groups, military organizations, companies, and other nonprofit organizations to provide programming that is rewarding.
• Provide access for physically disabled individuals to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.
The first year of programming, 2013, was focused on youth with 22 participants. DO’s focus has broadened to include women, first responders, military, physicallydisabled, corporate groups and families. Last year DO had over 600 participants in events on the Duckhorn properties. Typical events include:
• School and organization-based fishing events: ages 4-18 (many have never fished).
• David Risberg Memorial Waterfowl Clinic: instruction includes decoy setup, duck calling and identification, shooting.
• Organization based camping/outdoors weekends: i.e. Scouts use the lake and facilities to bring the troops together and enhance their ability to obtain badges.
• Controlled pheasant/dove hunts: youth, women, first-responders, veterans, disabled- individuals, and other organizations. Each hunt begins with gun safety instruction with individual instructors.
• Retreats, commemorative ceremonies, outdoor exhibitions: organizational and family retreats, military ceremonies, field trials, etc.
DO is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, to learn more about DO go to www.duckhornoutdoors.com.
MO Disabled Sportsman Pheasant Hunt (Photo: Courtesy of Duckhorn Outdoors)
Affiliate Organizations
Anglers of Missouri
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives
Bass Slammer Tackle
Burroughs Audubon
Society of Greater Kansas City
Capital City Fly Fishers
Chesterfield Citizens Committee for the Environment
Columbia Audubon Society
Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust
Dark Sky Missouri
Deer Creek Sportsman Club
Duckhorn Outdoors Adventures
Festus-Crystal City Conservation Club
Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri
Forest Releaf of Missouri
Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
Greater Ozarks Audubon Society
Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri
Greenway Network, Inc.
James River Basin Partnership
L-A-D Foundation
Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance
Land Learning Foundation
Legends of Conservation
Magnificent Missouri
Mid Mo Prescribed Burn Assn.
Mid-Missouri Outdoor Dream
Mid-Missouri Trout Unlimited
Midwest Diving Council
Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters Association
Missouri Association of Meat Processors
Missouri Atlatl Association
Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation
Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative
Missouri Birding Society
Missouri Bluebird Society
Missouri Bow Hunters Association
Missouri Caves & Karst Conservancy
Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Missouri Chapter of the Wildlife Society
Missouri Coalition for the Environment
Missouri Conservation Corps
Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation
Missouri Conservation Pioneers
Missouri Consulting Foresters Association
Missouri Disabled Sportsmen
Missouri Ducks Unlimited- State Council
Missouri Environmental Education Association
Missouri Environmental Education Projects
Missouri Forest Products Association
Missouri Grouse Chapter of QUWF
Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation
Missouri Master Naturalist
- Great Rivers Chapter
Missouri Master Naturalist
- Hi Lonesome Chapter
Missouri Master Naturalist
- Meramec Hills Chapter
Missouri Master Naturalist
- Osage Trails Chapter
Missouri Master Naturalist
- Springfield Plateau Chapter
Missouri National Wild Turkey Federation
Missouri Native Seed Association
Missouri Outdoor Communicators
Missouri Park & Recreation Association
Missouri Parks Association
Missouri Prairie Foundation
Missouri River Bird Observatory
Missouri River Relief
Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc.
Missouri Rural Water Association
Missouri Smallmouth Alliance
Missouri Society of American Foresters
Missouri Soil & Water Conservation Society-Show-Me Chapter
Missouri Sport Shooting Association
Missouri State Campers Association
Missouri State Parks Foundation
Missouri Taxidermist Association
Missouri Trappers Association
Missouri Trout Fishermen's Association
Northside Conservation Federation
Open Space Council of the St. Louis Region
Outdoor Skills of America, Inc.
Ozark Chinquapin Foundation
Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc.
Ozark Land Trust
Ozark Riverways Foundation
Ozark Trail Association
Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club
Perry County Sportsman Club
Pomme De Terre Chapter Muskies
Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc.
Quail Forever & Pheasants Forever
Renew Missouri
River Access Coalition
River Bluffs Audubon Society
River City Foundation
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership (SRISP)
South Side Division CFM
Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers
St. Louis Audubon Society
Stream Teams United
Student Air Rifle Program
Tipton Farmers & Sportsman's Club
Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers
Turtle Conservation Group
United Bowhunters of Missouri
Wild Bird Rehabilitation
Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue Rehabilitation
WildHERness
Wonders of Wildlife
World Bird Sanctuary
Young Outdoorsmen United
Columbia Banquet: Celebrating Sara Paker Pauley and a Remarkable Career in Conservation
On July 11, The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) hosted a special banquet at Bass Pro Shops in Columbia. The event was more than just a gathering—it was a celebration of an extraordinary career, heartfelt connections, and an unwavering commitment to conservation. Attendees enjoyed a delightful meal provided by CFM President Bill Kirgan and his wife, Mary Ellen. CFM Executive Director Tyler Schwartze was the emcee and auctioneer for the evening.
The highlight of the night was honoring Sara Parker Pauley, who recently retired as the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Director. Sara’s journey in public service spans three decades. She started as a policy coordinator at MDC and eventually became the agency’s first female director in November 2016. Her impact extends beyond Missouri; it resonates nationally. As a lifelong Missourian, conservationist, and hunter, she dedicated herself to advancing conservation efforts.
Sara led MDC’s transformation during her tenure, ensuring its relevance in a rapidly changing world. She tackled new conservation challenges head-on and strengthened her connections to nature. Notably, she championed the creation of the Boone County Nature School, providing fifth graders with place-based learning experiences in nature. Additionally, Sara helped establish the Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands & Aquatic Systems in partnership with the University of Missouri and other key players. This institute prepares the next generation of conservation professionals through real-world coursework.
At the banquet, heartfelt stories flowed from Leanne Tippett Mosby, Ginny Wallace, Dave Murphy, and former Governor Jay Nixon. They emphasized Sara’s dedication, vision, and collaborative spirit. Personally, Sara leads by example, and listened attentively to her team.
In her own words, Sara expressed immense gratitude for serving alongside a talented team of staff, partners, commissioners, and CFM. Her impact on Missouri’s natural resources will resonate for years to come.
Amidst the celebration at the CFM banquet, the spirit of community and generosity shone brightly. Tom Westhoff’s donation of home-grown sweet corn exemplified the local support for conservation efforts. His contribution not only added flavor to the event but also underscored the importance of community involvement.
Equally remarkable was the Board President, Bill Kirgan’s involvement. Not content with overseeing proceedings from the sidelines, Bill rolled up his sleeves – quite literally – to cook a meal for the attendees. And that wasn’t all: a case of ribs was donated for a raffle, further emphasizing the commitment of CFM’s leadership to the cause.
Several other board members and community businesses donated their time, experiences, and products to ensure that our evening was well-equipped with valuable items for our raffles and auctions.
These acts of kindness and dedication remind us that conservation is a collective effort. When individuals, community members, and board leaders come together, the impact is profound. The proceeds from the banquet, fueled by these donations, will continue to support Missouri’s natural resources for years to come.
Sara Parker Pauley speaks at the CFM Banquet. (Photo: CFM)
Trisha Ely
Homegrown National Park
Homegrown National Park - that is not just a catchy title for a book chapter or a magazine article. It is a term coined by University of Delaware biology professor and author Douglas Tallamy.
The idea behind the phrase is that thousands of individual private landowners, whether on a private lot, can restore native plants and habitats in small places across the country. The number of acres restored could add up to an area the size of one of our national parks, hence, a “homegrown” national park. If this park-sized addition of native habitat became a reality, the long-term benefits to wildlife would be tremendous. Drastic population declines and habitat fragmentation similar to what has impacted the Monarch butterfly could be avoided. We could begin to reverse the downward trend of many wildlife populations and reverse the slide towards extinction of others without any government agency involved.
Tallamy founded the movement officially in 2021 by copyrighting the name and making it a 501 (c) (3) organization. “Homegrown National Park® (HNP) raises awareness and urgently inspires everyone to address the biodiversity crisis by adding native plants and removing invasive ones where we live, work, learn, pray, and play.” (HNP website.) His Book, Nature's Best Hope, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and launched the idea of a national park-sized native plant restoration effort that can take place in our own backyards.
The book is worth reading. Among other things, it might make you rethink mowing your right of ways and maintaining acres of turf grass.
In many places around our state, recreational mowing has become increasingly prevalent. Miles of the right of way are mowed off to the height of two or three inches to achieve a manicured appearance and because large zero-turn mowers have taken the drudgery out of mowing. Tallamy points out that our quest to grow the perfect lawn (not to mention grooming roadside ditches) in the United States requires 30 percent of all the water used in the East and 60 percent in the West. According to Audubon, each week we mow 45 million acres of lawns, an area larger than Florida. We also use a lot of chemicals on our grass. “40% of the chemicals used by the lawn-care industry are banned in other countries….” (Tallamy, page 48)
I like the appearance of a well-maintained lawn as well as anyone, but we should remember, lawns are the least productive habitats that we own, yet it is the default mode for most homeowners. All this mowed landscape comes with an ecological cost in biological diversity and efficiency. For example, lawns don’t produce near the oxygen that the original plant community existing there before it was converted would have. A lawn does not sequester carbon and pump it into the soil like native plants do. Maintaining a mowed lawn also means habitat for dozens of species including native bees that pollinate flowers and other crops is eliminated as well. The good news is lawns are the easiest parts of our property to convert to something beneficial for wildlife.
Fall is a wonderful time to re-establish native plants on your property. Trees planted in the fall do better than trees planted in the spring, and converting cool-season grasses to a small native flower plot or larger-scale native grass and pollinator plantings do well when planned and installed as the weather cools. Control of invasives that compete with native species can often best be accomplished in the fall as well.
You can always start small and add additional plantings later. First go to the Home-Grown National Park website® (www.homegrownnationalpark.org) and sign up. It is easy and your signing will help inspire others to do the same. You can find a list of Keystone species there, so you can maximize your efforts. You may want to check out the National Wildlife Federation’s backyard habitat program as well. (www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife)
If you plant a tree, plant a white oak. Another good first step is to consult with the MDC Private Lands Biologist assigned to your area. (mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/local-mdc-contacts) They can suggest plantings, help you locate seed sources and guide you to financial assistance on larger projects.
The excitement you get from a patch of habitat on your place might not be the same as walking to the edge of the Grand Canyon, but the pleasure you get from seeing a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on the Phlox that you didn’t mow is real, and in your backyard, you get to do that every day.
Our National Parks, no matter how grand in scale, are too small and separated from one another to preserve (native) species to the levels needed. Thus, the concept for Homegrown National Park, a bottom-up call-to-action to restore habitat where we live and work, and to a lesser extent where we farm and graze, extending national parks to our yards and communities.” (HNP website.)
Mow around that milkweed and let’s get started.
Kyle Carroll
Left - Native plants provide year round benefits to wildlife, require less water, remove more carbon from the atmosphere and produce more oxygen than mowed lawns. (Photo: Kyle Carroll) Top - Even small wildflower beds can provide nectar and overwintering places for pollinators. (Photo: Kyle Carroll)
Business Partner Spotlight
Shelter Insurance
Shelter Insurance® is a property casualty insurance company offering auto and home insurance in addition to several other insurance products sold by agents in 15 states. We believe integrity and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential, and we make customer service one of our top priorities. Our primary goal is to be a benefit to our customers, communities, employees and our nearly 1,400 licensed agents as we find ways to maintain our strong financial position and protect our policyholders. Our partnership with CFM is important to us as it reaffirms our commitment to the communities in which we do business and supporting initiatives that are important to our policyholders.
It’s hard to believe that an idea which began in a rural schoolhouse would grow into a group of companies providing services to millions around the world, yet that is where the roots of the Shelter Insurance Companies began. The replica of the Newcomer Schoolhouse is located in Shelter Gardens and stands as a tribute to Shelter’s roots and a reminder of a meeting where seven Missouri farmers came together with an idea which would grow beyond their wildest dreams.
Midway USA
Located in Columbia, MO, MidwayUSA started as a small gun shop in 1977 and has grown into an industry-leading internet retailer of nearly 200,000 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor products. Our 400,000 sq ft, state of the art, distribution center provides fast, accurate, secure, lowcost shipping for our Customers. We are a fast-paced, continually improving, family-owned business with instilled family values like honesty, integrity, and respect for others. Our partnership with CFM is important to MidwayUSA as they provide leadership in the area of stewardship of our game and land resources, as well as fight to protect our hunting rights. We’ve always believed in giving back to our communities and our industry.
Today, the Shelter Insurance group of companies has more than 4,200 agents and employees providing insurance protection for consumers in several states. The Group of Companies includes Shelter Life Insurance Company, Shelter Reinsurance® and AmShield Insurance®. Shelter’s strength has enabled us to weather many catastrophic storms through the years through which we have held steady and strong. We help customers and communities rebuild and thrive after disasters because at the core of the Shelter brand is the willingness to do the right thing – a promise which continues today and into the future. With more than $6 billion in assets under management, we are well positioned for continued success in the years to come. We recognize that none of our success could have been achieved without our dedicated agents and employees. With their support, we can achieve our vision to redefine value in the insurance industry and our mission to be a leader in our communities by providing daily value while we SHELTER what matters most.
Located in Columbia, MO, MidwayUSA started as a small gun shop in 1977 and has grown into an industryleading internet retailer of nearly 200,000 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor products. Our 400,000 sq ft, state of the art, distribution center provides fast, accurate, secure, low-cost shipping for our Customers. We are a fast-paced, continually improving, family-owned business with instilled family values like honesty, integrity, and respect for others.
• midwayusa.com
• facebook.com/OfficialMidwayUSA
• instagram.com/midwayusa
• linkedin.com/company/midwayusa/
• x.com/MidwayUSA
• youtube.com/@midwayusa
• tiktok.com/@midwayusa
Committed to Community & Conservation
Owned by the members they serve, Missouri’s electric cooperatives do more than provide reliable and affordable electricity. They are active in their communities, concerned for the wellbeing of their neighbors and devoted to the rural way of life that makes the Show-Me State a special place to live, work and play. Missouri’s electric cooperatives are dedicated to protecting the land, air and water resources important to you and your quality of life. Learn more at www.amec.coop.
The Power That's In Your Hands
Irecently read a story titled Grandpa’s Hands. It reminded me of my Grandpa and Grandma’s hands. Old and wrinkled, like in the story I read. They used them to survive and raise their family on the farm where I was born and spent my early years. Their hands guided me into being the man I would become. I learned by watching them go about their daily lives on that farm.
Grandma’s hands changed and washed my diapers, showed me how to tie my shoes or put on my boots when I was young, combed my hair for a trip to town, held my face when she told me that she loved me, taught me how to fold my hands in prayer, and laid me down to sleep. Her hands showed me how to feed the chickens, get eggs from their nests, and butcher them to feed us.
Those same hands taught me how to gather vegetables from the garden to can and cook. She also taught me how to use my hands to haul water from the spring for cooking, washing dishes, and washing hands.
The hands of Grandpa were sometimes sticky or wet. Other times, they were dry and raw or bent and broken. It was from all the work he had to do around the farm for us to survive. He took my hands in his hands and showed me how to milk the cows and feed the pigs. His hands spanked me when needed.
He used his hands to pass down his old fishing equipment and squirrel rifle to me. Those same hands taught me how to use them. Doing that formed the foundation for my love of the great outdoors and what I would do with my life.
Grandpa and Grandma have been gone for many years. I am now older than they were when they went home to heaven. I still remember their wrinkled hands. I look down at my hands as I write this. They are now wrinkled like theirs were. Not from doing work like they did. It is from years of trying to take care of my family and enjoying and writing about the great outdoors that God blessed us all with.
My hands helped teach my kids and grandkids to fish and hunt. They have reeled in and helped them and other kids reel in numerous fish. I have placed my hands on deer and turkey as I thanked them for giving their life to feed my family. These hands have taken many pictures of kids and grandkids with their first squirrel, deer, turkey, or fish.
These hands held my son Daron close as he cried when his dog died. They hugged our son Kelly when he got his first deer as a grown man. My hands wiped away my tears at the weddings of Daron and his wife, Lavay, and Kelly and his wife, Lexi.
My hands held my granddaughter Anna close when she missed her mom and dad. My hands held her hands as I wiped away her tears and told her grandma and I love her to God and back. When our grandson Hunter won a basketball game, baseball game, or fishing tournament, my hands gave him a high five and hugged him.
Maybe the most important thing I have ever done with my hands was when Kelly and Lexi, who live in Wisconsin, adopted a little boy from Guatemala. They named him Ty. A year later, they adopted his brother and named him Sam. I would tell them I loved them, but I felt like I needed to do something different than say the words so they would better understand.
One day, I took their hands and squeezed them three times. I told them it meant I love you, without saying the words. That simple gesture became our special thing throughout their years of growing up. When we would see eachother, they would squeeze my hand three times. I would squeeze their hand back three times with no words spoken. They would smile. So would I.
As they got older, we would text back and forth and put three hand-squeeze emojis at the end of our texts. When they became teenagers, my son told me, “Do not expect the boys to do that hand-squeeze thing with you anymore. We cannot even get hugs from them.”
Not long after he told me that, my wife and I drove to Kansas for our grandson Hunter’s wedding. When the boys, excuse me, the teenagers saw us they ran across the room and jumped on me. Then they reached down and grabbed my hand and squeezed it three times. They are now eighteen and nineteen. Most of the time, the threehand squeeze emojis are still at the bottom of their text for me.
Kelly is battling cancer. When I first heard about it, I called him. He said, “Dad, we are going to take this one day at a time and put it in God’s hands.” His positive attitude has helped us and everyone that knows him.
Later, I got on my computer to find whose quote he was using when he said that. No one had ever said it like he did. It was his quote. We had wooden plaques of his quote made up to sell at a fundraiser in Wisconsin and at our church to help with all their expenses. I also have his quote on the rear window of my truck. I will never know how many people were driving behind me in traffic or saw it in a parking lot who read his quote. I hope it helped them with something they were going through.
A few months ago, Kelly called and said, “Dad, do you still get your retiree discount from Bass Pro?” My wife and our sons also had the privilege of working for Johnny Morris. I replied, “Yes, I do. Why do you ask?” He answered, “Lexi and I enjoy going kayak fishing together. We want to get new ones. I will pay for them.” I smiled and said, “No, you won’t. Mom and I will get them for you.”
After a few weeks of enjoying their new kayaks, he called again. “I hate to ask this,” he said. “Lexi’s sister and husband have a condo on a beach in Florida. We go down by ourselves and with them quite often to get away. Could I get two more kayaks and saltwater fishing gear to leave there and use when we go down? I will pay for them.” I smiled again. Mom and I would not let him.
Feature Story
Later, Ty was getting ready to graduate high school and start college. Kelly called again and told me they had asked Ty what he wanted for a graduation present. He wanted him, his brother Sam, and his Mom and Dad to go on a Colorado hiking and fishing adventure together. A tear rolled down my cheek. Kelly asked if I could use my discount again to get pack fishing rods and some fishing gear. He knew better than to tell me he would pay for them.
Johnny Morris knew what our son was going through. He is the most down-to-earth, loving, caring person I have ever known. When he heard what my wife and I were doing for our son, he would not let us pay for all the outdoor things we had bought for Kelly and his family. Johnny Morris has a heart as big as the outdoors that he loves and does so much for. More ways than anyone will ever know.
The point of all this is that Kelly is not sitting around feeling sorry for himself. He is remaining positive and enjoying the outdoors with his family. He is putting this in God’s hands and trusting Him through it all. He is a powerful witness to those who know his story. His battle with cancer continues. We do not know how the story will end but we will do as our Kelly does. Take it one day at a time and put it in God’s hands.
Sundays at our church, I stand before everyone to give announcements and what I call “Something to Think About.” It is usually a short story that I hope will touch the hearts and minds of people there and prepare them to hear the message our pastor is about to preach.
After I lead them in prayer, I look out at the crowd and say, “Whatever you are facing in your life, as our son says, take it one day at a time and put it in God’s hands.” I then raise my right hand and squeeze it together three times.
They also know the story of our grandsons and the three-hand squeezes. They raise their hand and squeeze it three times back to me. Many have also told me they now do the three-hand squeezes with their family. It has come to mean more to them than the words.
Our services are also on YouTube and Facebook. I am always amazed at the number of people from all over America who find a way to contact me and tell me how the story of our son and his quote and the story of our grandsons and the three-hand squeezes have touched and made a difference in their lives. I thank God for that.
As life goes on and my body starts to wear down, my hands still hold me up and lay me down. My old wrinkled hands continue to fold in prayer. When my time comes, my hands are what God will take to lead me home. I like to think my grandmother will be there to put my face in her hands and tell me she loves me.
Until then, my old wrinkled hands continue to help me get out and enjoy nature. My old wrinkled hands help me write stories encouraging others to get out in God’s great outdoors. These hands of mine will continue to shake the hands of as many people as possible to welcome them to church until I am no longer there to do that.
Hopefully, your family will always have good memories of what you did with your hands, and they will continue to pass on the great outdoors to future generations of your family.
Whatever you face, take it one day at a time and put it in God’s hands. I hope you also discover the power that is in your hands.
Cover - A family memory from a special place we all loved Right - Two special boys that still give 3 hand squeezes Left - Our son keeps positive as he fights his battle (Photos: Courtesy of Larry Whiteley) Larry Whiteley
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Catch My Drift
Cardiac Mountain Outfitters Offers Unique Way to Fish Missouri’s Ozark Streams
The blue heron stood low on a branch jutting out from the shoreline. It had been following the boat for the last quarter-mile, keeping a safe distance, preening occasionally and taking flight almost inaudibly every 75 yards or so. Now, it craned its neck and looked on with curiosity as the oars stirred circles in the springfed waters pushing the boat ever onward downstream, slowly and with purpose.
With every stroke, the sunburned tattoo of a trout on the outside of guide Damon Spurgeon’s right forearm would become animated - its fins flexing as Spurgeon moved the oars to and fro - swimming in permanent display just below the cuff of his rolled-up shirt sleeve.
The sun was over the ridge and the oars had been in the water for a little over an hour. Spurgeon leaned back to rest the oars in their locks, droplets falling from the worn wooden blades and rejoining the river. He released the chain link anchor to hold the drift boat in place, suspended two yards from the seam of the confluence of where the cold water of Meramec Spring feeds into the larger Meramec River. The mist rising off the water carried a hint of magic and mystery.
“This has been a great spot for some excellent browns and some really nice rainbows,” Spurgeon says. “We’ve been catching a lot of them right in this pocket along the bluff face.”
It wasn’t long before his promise proved to be true. A 15-inch rainbow trout sucked down a half-inch, copperheaded fly – pulling and thrashing against the pressure on the line once it realized its mistake. The mighty trout put up an admirable fight but soon found its way into Spurgeon’s net and then the successful client’s hands for a few photos before being placed back in the river and swimming off.
“This has been a tremendous year for trout fishing,” Spurgeon says. “It’s so nice to just be able to be out on the water and get people on some really good fish.”
Spurgeon, who lives in Rolla but works as a pipe-fitter in St. Louis during the week, has been guiding fishing trips on the Meramec under the umbrella of Cardiac Mountain Outfitters since 2018. Spurgeon grew up in the St. James area, spending much of his youth fishing the Meramec with his father and his grandfather. So, in many ways, this venture was a lot like coming home.
Cardiac Mountain Outfitters gets its name from “Cardiac Hill,” the imposing Ozark bluffside that lines the northeastern side of the Meramec River Valley. Spurgeon became intimately acquainted with this valley while fishing with his grandfather when he was a boy.
“It’s called Cardiac Hill because going down the hill is easy but going back up will really test your cardiovascular health,” Spurgeon said with a laugh. “The other side is known as ‘Suicide Hill,’ so I thought Cardiac Mountain had a better ring to it.”
Spurgeon paused a moment before continuing.
“Jokes aside, my grandfather was instrumental in instilling my love of flyfishing, and fishing in general, so I wanted to honor him in the naming of my guiding service,” Spurgeon says.
What makes Spurgeon unique among fishing guides in the Show-Me State is that instead of guiding trips in a traditional motorized boat such as a bass boat, Jon boat or jet boat, Spurgeon navigates the Ozark streams in a Clackacraft drift boat that he manually rows downriver. Piloting a vessel more akin to something you would see on the Western rivers of Colorado, Montana or Wyoming than in the heartland, Spurgeon received quite a few raised eyebrows when he first started out. However, after a brief learning curve, it wasn’t long until he knew he was on to something.
“With a drift boat, you get a really smooth ride and plenty of room in the boat to fish compared with a canoe or kayak,” Spurgeon says. Additionally, with the smaller, man-powered vessel, anglers are able to access different streams and parts of the river that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach in a traditional fishing boat.
“Drift boats are still relatively scarce in this area,” Spurgeon says, “so it provides a unique experience that most anglers haven’t been able to enjoy in Missouri.”
Most of Spurgeon’s trips begin at Meramec Spring Park just outside of St. James before drifting roughly 10 miles downriver to the Scotts Ford conservation access near Steelville. With the Meramec’s reputation for being one of the most biologically diverse rivers in the country, fishing trips with Spurgeon typically begin with targeting rainbow and brown trout throughout the first half of the day before targeting smallmouth in the latter part of the journey.
With a drift boat, you get a smooth ride and plenty of room in the boat to fish compared with a canoe or kayak. (Photo: Kyle Wayne Steward)
Although Spurgeon has guided fishing trips for a number of different species all over the state, his favorite species to target is Missouri’s trout population. “Trout tend to live and do well in beautiful places and these habitats often make fishing more personal,” Spurgeon says. “More times than not, you can see the fish in the clear water and it becomes a process of diagnosing which applications work or don’t work. It’s a lot like a game of chess when you’re fishing for trout.”
While the guiding business is not Sprugeon’s main occupation, it has become his way of sharing the splendors of the state with others, whether they live nearby or in far flung states across the country.
“Missouri, as whole, provides opportunities for any type of fishing you can imagine,” Spurgeon says. “Throughout the state, we have incredible opportunities to catch world-class native fish and even rainbow and brown trout, which have traditionally always been thought to only be available in the Western states. My goal is to spread the word that fishing in Missouri can be just as good, if not better, than anywhere else in the country.”
Spurgeons favorite species to target is trout in Missouri.
Pioneer Forest is proud to announce its longstanding land management practices are now Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) certified. Pioneer Forest’s land management plays a critical role in supporting the economy, protecting ecology, and promoting education.
SFI is a nonprofit whose core principle is to encourage sustainable forestry in a manner that enables future generations to benefit from the products of our forest while incentivizing a land stewardship ethic for the conservation of soil, air and water quality, biological diversity, recreation, and aesthetics. A rigorous program, SFI consists of 3 Principles, 17 Objectives, 41 Performance Measures and 114 Indicators necessary to align and track to receive the certification.
“SFI validates our longstanding management across Pioneer Forest lands, ties the work back to the local communities and economies, and reinforces our purpose as a demonstration forest,” said Jason Green, Director of Forestry & Stewardship with Pioneer Forest. “I’m excited about the new opportunities before us and how it will benefit the Ozarks.”
Pioneer Forest is the largest seller of white oak to Independent Stave Company’s Salem, Missouri stave mill, which received SFI-certification in 2022. Pioneer Forest joining Independent Stave as SFI-certified is a critical part of developing a sustainable supply-chain that will result in premium prices for our forest products. For example, the United States Green Building Council has recognized SFI products through its Legal Wood path, making Pioneer Forest products attractive for LEED-certified construction projects.
“With the addition of Pioneer Forest among the ranks of SFI certified organizations, Missouri now has an everstrengthening Chain of Custody infrastructure in place that landowners and loggers can leverage for additional economical value in their timber,” said Dominic Stelzer, Sustainability Manager with Independent Stave Company.
“Demand is growing for products that are not actively damaging or degrading our environment, enabling Independent Stave Company to create a program that offers a premium on white oak logs that are harvested from a certified source like Pioneer Forest and we strive to ensure this system benefits both loggers and landowners for their sustainable forestry practices,” Stelzer continued.
Beyond the economics, Pioneer Forest is working collaboratively with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) on SFI, in part, to encourage its adoption on other private lands in the Ozarks. The ecological benefits of Pioneer Forest’s management of shortleaf pine, for example, enables diverse groundcover that supports a variety of wildlife and pollinators. Research indicates that the resulting structure of this habitat will likely benefit the declining Eastern Whippoor-will.
“The addition of Pioneer Forest lands into the SFI certification program is an enormous step towards further advancing sustainable forest management in Missouri,” said Michael Bill, State Forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation. The sustainably managed forest products that originate from Pioneer Forest lands will help to further encourage demand for certified forest products across Missouri.”
Pioneer Forest is a new member of Missouri’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee, which is focused on expanding the program by assisting landowners interested in certification. Missouri landowners who are interested in SFI can learn more by visiting www.forests.org. Learn more about Pioneer Forest or find our materials for sale on SFI’s product page.
Hobby Beekeeping Provides Family Fun
Learning to raise bees as a hobby is easy and fun. Setting up a backyard hive helps bolster a shrinking bee population, provide pollination for your garden plants and flowers, and produces honey for the table.
Raising bees is not as labor intensive as having livestock, but they do require periodic care and maintenance. You will need to consider a few things before you purchase your first hive.
First, is it legal to keep bees where you live? Some municipalities have ordinances against it, so you may not be able to own honeybees unless you own ground out of town, or have a friend with rural property that will let you keep them there.
If you are allowed to keep bees where you live, then determine whether you have a good location for them. You will need several feet of open space in front of the hive for the bees to have unrestricted access when flying in and out of the hive. It is best to have a quiet sunny spot in your yard with the back of the hive against a fence or wall. While honeybees are considered nonaggressive, it is best to locate them away from foot traffic and activity.
Once you have determined you can have bees and a good location for them, it is time to get started. There are plenty of books available, as well as informative websites for beginners. Look for a beekeeping 101 seminar in your area and plan to attend. The Missouri State Beekeepers Association (www.mostatebeekeepers.org) and Show Me Beekeepers (www.showmebeekeepers.org) can provide plenty of advice on getting started and maintaining your bees.
The easiest way to get started with the equipment you need is to purchase a beginner beekeeping kit. The basic necessities include a bee hive, frames, bee smoker (to calm the bees when working with the hive), hive tool, bee hive brush, bee gloves, beekeeping suit and a queen excluder. You will also need a sugar water feeder. Once you have your hive set up, the next step is to obtain bees. Obtain bees locally if possible. You can purchase a nucleus hive, which is a box of bees with the queen in a separate small box, or a full hive, which contains more bees, but is more expensive.
The supplier will generally provide instructions for adding the bees to the hive, but they are also available online. You should receive a pollen cake with the bees for them to feed on once you have them in the hive. You may also need to provide sugar water from a feeder for a time until the bees are able to start producing enough food for themselves.
Bees will forage as much as three miles from the hive, so having plants and flowers nearby isn’t a necessity. For most people though, this is where having a garden or orchard on your property allows you to enjoy the benefits of better pollination for crops. Planting native plants is also a great way to enjoy watching the bees work.
Maintaining a bee hive requires you to keep a check on its health, including that of the queen. Monitor the amount of honey being produced. Some hives are better producers than others. If the frames are getting full, you may need to add a “super,” which is an extension to the top of the hive with more frames. Make sure there are healthy larvae and that the queen is producing eggs. Learn to monitor for diseases that can affect the hive.
Beekeeping is a great way to teach kids and adults about the balance of nature and the importance of pollinators in the environment. Honeybees have been on the decline over the last few years and need our help.
Top - Maintaining a bee hive requires you to keep a check on its health, including that of the queen. Left - While honeybees are considered nonaggressive, it is best to locate them away from foot traffic and activity. (Photos: Mike Capps)
Mike Capps
The Adventures of Frank & Ed: Bobbers, Bluegill & Bass
Hello, it’s time for another episode of The Adventures of Frank & Ed. And this time, we're focused on bobbers, bluegill, and bass.
Few things in the fishing world are as captivating and magical as watching a bobber being pulled under by a fish. The anticipation you feel while staring at your bobber, hoping to see it disappear into the depths, and the excitement of reeling in the fish that pulled it under are what memories are made of.
September and October are great months to bobber fish at your local lake or pond. It’s not as crowded as springtime and the fish are usually eager to bite. Just pick a nice day, pack some lunch, snacks, & drinks to go along with your fishing gear. As for bait, you can’t go wrong with earthworms, crickets, or grasshoppers.
The first assignment I tell the boys is to secure our bait. WORMS! Ed yells out. Wow, Ed, what happened to your hair? “I got a haircut.” Now that’s a big deal because Ed is almost three and a half but has never given in to a haircut. That’s great, Ed, because now I don’t have to worry about fish slime in your hair.
Frank is way ahead of us, turning over old boards and doormats and collecting what he finds. “Papa, I got a big one,” Franks says as he holds up the earthworm he found under the front door mat. We all head to the garden to dig a little, and soon enough, we have plenty of worms for bait. Alright boys, “hit the truck”, so Frank literally runs into my truck – Wham! What are you doing? "Papa, you said to hit the truck so that’s what I did" he says with a mischievous grin on his face. Just get in your SEATPETE, I say. “His name is not PETE it’s Frank”, yells Ed.
We’re headed to Uncle Casey’s Pond. It has a dock we can fish from, and we can drive right up to it. It’s a small pond that is deep and holds lots of bluegill and small bass. Our fishing poles are rigged with a small gold hook, some split shot, and a bobber. The bobber is attached to the line only about two feet above the hook. It doesn’t take long before the hooks are baited up with our worms and the bright bobbers are floating on the water.
Frank’s bobber goes down first but pops right back up. A few seconds later, it goes all the way under, and Frank is hooked up with a nice bluegill. I got him, I got him! Reel, reel, reel I yell, and the fight is on. That’s a nice ‘gil’ Frank. Can we keep him, Papa? Let’s just put the fish in the bucket for a little while and then let’em go. We are “catch & release” fishing today. “What’s catch & release fishing,” Ed asks. We don’t always have to eat the fish we catch; we can enjoy catching and admiring them, and then we let them go so we can catch them again. The next time we catch them they will be even bigger.
Over the next 30 minutes or so, the boys caught several more Bluegill and some small Largemouth Bass from the pond. Each is put in the bucket for a few minutes while we admire and try to describe the beautiful colors of each fish. Moss green, sunset orange, turquoise blue, vanilla creme, lime green, fire engine red, and midnight black. Then Frank & Ed take turns letting the fish swim away to grow some more.
Frank’s getting pretty good at casting a spin cast rod and decides that he wants to try a “real big bass lure,” as he calls it. You gotta let’em try, right? So, I tie on a floating Rapala Minnow. You know, it’s the one with two big treble hooks on it! I warned Frank that the hooks were sharp and there were lots of them, but you and I know there is only one sure way to learn that. Franks makes about three casts and is doing well but hasn’t gotten a bite yet, as he swings the Rapala in for another cast it wraps around the end of the pole. Frank lowers the rod tip and starts unwrapping the tangle when the rod falls from his hand. YYEEEEEOOOOWWWWW!!!!
One of the treble hooks sticks into Frank’s finger. Luckily, it’s not very deep and falls right out but it stings and starts bleeding. I check out the damage and try to console Frank without laughing too much. Frank doesn’t think it’s funny and tells me so. Lesson learned for today as we get the first aid kit out to apply antiseptic and a Band-Aid. We are done experimenting with that lure for today.
Well, it’s time to take these worm dirt, fish smelling, bloody boys home to their Momma. That’s one of the best benefits of being a grandparent, you get to take em back to their house and leave!
Stay tuned for more Adventures of Frank & Ed, we can’t wait for the next one.
Jeff “Papa” Blystone
(Photo: Courtesy of Jeff Blystone)
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
MDC Names Laura Conlee and Andrew Bond as Deputy Directors
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces the appointments of Laura Conlee of Ashland as Deputy Director of Resource Management and Andrew Bond of Jefferson City as Deputy Director of Business and Operations, both effective July 1.
“While these two leadership positions are quite varied in their work and responsibilities, they are both critical to carrying out our conservation mission and executing our strategic priorities as a department,” said Sumners. “Laura and Andrew each bring their unique expertise, years of experience, and abilities to adapt to conservation and business challenges on the horizon. We are thrilled to have them on our leadership team!”
More on Laura Conlee
Conlee has been with MDC since 2016. She joined the department as a furbearer and black bear biologist. She was then named chief of the Terrestrial Section and then chief of the Science Branch before being named deputy director.
“I am incredibly excited to move into this new role with MDC and am looking forward to engaging with all aspects of managing our state’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources,” Conlee said. “I am also very grateful to serve the citizens of Missouri and to be able to both protect and enjoy Missouri’s rich natural resources.”
As Deputy Director of Resource Management for MDC, Conlee will direct the statewide management and research to conserve Missouri’s fish, forest and wildlife resources by providing executive leadership, direction, and counsel to MDC branch chiefs over Statewide Resource Management, Regional Resource Management, Science, and Protection branches..
Prior to joining MDC, Conlee was the Furbearer and Black Bear Project Leader and then Assistant Director of Wildlife for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Conlee grew up in Roselle, Illinois, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Science degree in Zoology from Southern Illinois University.She currently lives in Ashland with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, and gardening.
More on Andrew Bond
Bond has been with MDC for more than seven years with his most previous position being Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining MDC, Bond spent more than 20 years working for the Missouri Department of Social Services with his last position being Chief Financial Officer for the MO HealthNet Division, Missouri’s Medicaid program.
As Deputy Director of Business and Operations, Bond will provide executive leadership, supervisory oversight, and counsel to four branch chiefs and one section chief over Business Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Infrastructure Management branches, and the Budget section.
He will also provide operational insight and collaboratively guides strategic plan development to ensure timely implementation, resource allocation, and delivery of Department priority programs, and develop and maintain effective relationships with state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations to advance state, regional, and national conservation priorities.
Originally from Port Huron, Michigan, Bond received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Northwood University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He currently lives in Jefferson City.
MDC protects and manages the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state, and provides opportunities for citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov
Regulation Updates
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters of regulation changes for the upcoming fall deer and turkey hunting seasons.
Turkey Changes
• Turkey permits will no longer be included with an archery permit.
• A new fall turkey-hunting permit has been created. Both fall firearms turkey hunters and fall archery turkey hunters must purchase this permit to be able to take turkeys during fall.
• The fall turkey season is now divided into archery and firearms portions, and the harvest limit has been reduced from four to two birds of either sex (both portions combined).
CWD Updates
• Audrain, Boone, Cole, Dent, Douglas, Howard, Lewis, Maries, Monroe, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Randolph, Saline, Scotland, Shannon, Shelby, and Webster counties have been added to the chronicwasting-disease (CWD) Management Zone.
• As with all counties in the CWD Management Zone, grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer are prohibited year-round. Hunters must also follow carcass transportation regulations. All counties in the CWD Management Zone are open during the CWD portion of firearms deer season.
• During Nov. 16–17, hunters who harvest a deer in designated CWD Management Zone counties must take the deer (or its head) on the day of harvest to a mandatory CWD sampling station.
Other Updates
• The antler-point restriction has been removed from Audrain, Boone, Cole, Howard, Lewis, Maries, Monroe, Osage, Phelps, Randolph, Saline, Scotland, and Shelby counties.
• Deer hunters may now fill four firearms antlerless permits in Dent, Douglas, Maries, Newton, and Phelps counties.
• Hunters may now use archery antlerless permits in Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot counties.
• New managed deer hunts have been added, and others have been removed or modified.
• Deer hunting regulations have changed for some conservation areas.
• Hunters may now use aerial drones to track wounded deer and turkeys.
• Prices for deer and turkey hunting permits have increased.
Get more information from the MDC 2024 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available starting in July where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov.
Fall Events Abound at Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites MISSOURI STATE PARKS
While many people only think of visiting state parks for a vacation in the summer, there’s plenty to do throughout the year.
“Our parks and historic sites stay busy year-round,” said David Kelly, director of Missouri State Parks. “We provide events for our guests throughout the year. A lot of people only think of visiting parks in the summer, but we have a lot of events going on all year.”
Visitation does slow down when school starts back up, Kelly said, but the parks and historic sites do continue to remain active throughout the fall months. Halloween activities have become very popular with many campers who make these into an annual event. More and more parks throughout the state are joining in the “spooktacular” fun, including costume contests, campsite-decorating contests and of course, trick or treating.
Families enjoy these types of events, Kelly said. Several parks and historic sites are incorporating them into their yearly calendar.
While some events are not held every year, this year seems to have a plethora of exciting activities, Kelly said.
“We have several things going on this fall,” he said. “Some of our biggest ones include the Battle of Pilot Knob Reenactment Sept. 28 and 29. Sept. 28 is also the date for our Prairie Jubilee. Then the following weekend is the 100th anniversary celebration for Bennett Spring State Park.”
The Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site will host the 160th anniversary reenactment of the historic Civil War battle that took place at the site in September 1864. Twelve thousand Confederate troops under Gen. Sterling Price, former governor of Missouri, attacked Fort Davidson in Pilot Knob, which was defended by Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing and a combined force of 1,500 civilian volunteers and enlisted Army and Missouri Home Guard personnel. The public is invited to visit the Union and Confederate encampments and learn about the life of a Civil War soldier from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 and 8-11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. There will be periodic demonstrations of military tactics and marching throughout the day on Saturday and in the morning on Sunday, with the main battle reenactment starting at 1:30 p.m. daily. At approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the fort powder magazine explosion will be reenacted. The site is located at 118 E. Maple in Pilot Knob, Missouri.
On Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., come out to Prairie State Park to celebrate the tallgrass prairie during the biennial Prairie Jubilee. Guests can take part in activities such as a living history loop where you can interact with interpreters and others to learn what it was like to live on the prairie; learn to use and atlatl; observe 19th-century cooking; see horses and wagons; and listen to the sounds of the prairie. Also, take a ride out to see the bison while you’re there. All traffic is required to enter from the north, as there will be one-way traffic on Northwest 150th Lane, via Liberal, Missouri.
Help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bennett Spring State Park on Saturday, Oct. 5! The day will feature live music, storytelling, food trucks, vendors and a car show. Historical exhibits at Shelter B and the nature center, as well as Civilian Conservation Corps reenactors between Shelter B and the spring branch, will highlight the history of the park since its birth in 1924. The celebration ends with a movie on the lawn starting at 6:30 p.m. Bennett Spring State Park is located at 26250 Highway 64A, Lebanon, Missouri.
For detailed information on these events and others, visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
St. Hubertus
Not long ago, if you asked me who is the patron saint of hunters, I would’ve shrugged my shoulders and consulted the all-knowing wizard – Google (forgive me Sister Thomasella, there were too many to remember). There’s a patron saint for everything, right?
St. Hubertus or Hubert (c. 656 – 727 A.D.) is the saint in question. His official advocacy duties include hunting and huntsmen, archers, trappers, foresters, hunting dogs, and oddly, opticians, chicken roasters, mathematicians, and metal workers. The latter four I’m guessing fall into the category of other duties as assigned. His feast day is November 3rd, so if you’re looking for a reason to celebrate the arrival of the hunting season or any of the aforementioned, this would be a good time.
Normally, I wouldn’t dwell on such matters for very long. I’d just store away the information for a future episode of Jeopardy and move on. But in this case, I was motivated to learn a little more.
The legend and story of St. Hubertus is interesting. A tragedy, the death of his wife during childbirth, plunged him into grief. Seeking solace, he immersed himself in his passion, hunting. Deciding to forego Good Friday worship in favor of the hunt, Hubertus would encounter a stag with a glowing crucifix between its antlers. Hearing a voice telling to give himself to God, Hubertus reordered his life priorities and would go on to become a priest, bishop, an eventually a saint.
The legend goes on to say the spiritual voice also instructed Hubertus on the treatment of animals and the ethics of hunting (must’ve been a lengthy vision), and this would be a message he would go on to impart to his future congregation. Subsequently, Hubertus is recognized as the first to promote ethical hunting, and his influence can be seen in the hunting methods and traditions of Germany and other parts of Europe.
A Catholic website states: “Hubert is honored among sport hunters as the originator of ethical hunting behavior. In some versions of the story, the stag is said to have lectured Hubert to hold animals in higher regard and have compassion for them as God's creatures with value in their own right. For example, the hunter ought to only shoot when a clean, quick, and therefore humane kill is assured. He ought to shoot only old stags which are past their prime breeding years and forego a much-anticipated shot on a trophy to instead euthanize a sick or injured animal that might appear on the scene. Further, one ought never to shoot a female with young in tow, to assure the young deer have a mother to guide them to food during the winter.”
It's also worth noting here that a Roman general named Placidus, aka St. Eustachius, also had a similar encounter with stag and crucifix over 500 years earlier. As a result, St. Eustachius apparently shares some patron saint duties (hunting, hunters, and trappers) with Hubertus. His feast day is September 20.
If this story of the influence of St. Hubertus is not impressive enough, take note then of the International Order of Saint Hubertus (IOSH), motto: Deum Diligite Animalia Diligentes - Honoring God by Honoring His Creatures.
Founded in 1695 and a somewhat mysterious organization, membership to IOSH seems to be limited only to men who live a little higher lifestyle than your average North American hunter; you can’t join, you get invited. Membership is about 1,000, with over 600 members in the U.S., according to their website. And once you get your imagination past the sashes, capes, crosses, and titles like grand master, grand priors, and squires, you’ll read a striking set of principles committed to hunting and conservation, although the not-so-secretive nature of this enigmatic fraternity makes it a little difficult to pinpoint its actual work, operating a little differently than the hunting and fishing organizations most of us join.
In a more definitive and modern way of gauging influence, the marketing division of St. Hubertus seems to be doing quite well. Social media presence is solid, as is its presence on Pinterest and Etsy. A quick web search sampling reveals a so-named resort (Iowa), a German American cultural nonprofit (Chicago), churches and shrines (several locations), restaurant and resort (Italy), winery (Canada), beer (Belgium), medals, rosaries, and T-shirts (multiple sources), and handcrafted dog food (Texas), to name a few.
And I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t mention the well-known green bottled German digestif liqueur Jägermeister (take a look at the label).
On a more personal note, a sojourn to northern Wisconsin, a land known for its sacred devotion to Odocoileus virginianus, brought me to the Shrine of St. Hubertus. A good friend, a pious man of character and former Missouri deer biologist, discovered this unusual place tucked into the woods near the town of Goodman while scouting for future turkey hunting locations.
As we took the rough narrow drive down the appropriately named Shrine Road, northern hardwoods showed colorful signs of autumn and we were greeted by deer and turkeys, ruffed grouse, and a concerned black bear that darted across our path. A short turn off the main trail brought us to a small opening in the forest. The shrine was built in 1954 by local deer hunters who gathered at the site to say a prayer before hunting. Still in use and a little worse for wear, the shrine includes a carving of St. Hubertus, an altar, crosses, benches, a large brass bell, a small soldiers memorial, a setup for cookouts, a tidy privy for bucks and does, and a large granite bench memorial for a deceased outdoorsman who frequented the area. And if should you forget the reason you are there, a large log-framed sign will remind you:
Prayer of the Woods
I am the heat of your hearth on cold winter nights, the friendly shade screening you from the sun, and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on.
I am the beam that holds your house, the board of your table, the bed on which you lie, and the timber that builds your boat.
I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin.
I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty. Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer: Harm Me Not. So, this November 3rd as you prepare and participate in the hunting season, you may want to take a moment to reflect and offer a word of thanks to St. Hubertus (or St. Eustachius if you prefer). Personally, I’ll be looking for the Belgium beer. Waidmannsheil!
Left - St. Hubert Shrine, Wisconsin. (Photo: Dan Zekor)
Right - St. Hubert (Franz Mayer & Co., St. Patrick's Basilica, Ottawa, Canada). (Photo: Wojciech Dittwald) Dan Zekor
A River Shrouded in Mystery
Ifirst heard stories of the Eleven Point River while attending forestry school at he University of Missouri. Dr. Ken Chilman taught outdoor recreation and happened to be very fond of our Ozark rivers and streams. Dr. Chilman had visited and floated many of them. He often told intriguing stories in class, which made class time pass a lot quicker.
Anytime Dr. Chilman mentioned the Eleven Point River, his demeanor shifted to that of a suspect teenage boy. The Eleven Point held special appeal to him, and for good reason. He loved a good story, especially those involving mystery or an element of the unknown.
Dr. Chilman reigned supreme as an outdoor photographer and often entertained us with astounding slide presentations set to concert piano music. He obviously spent a great deal of time assembling his slide lectures, which were intended to not only educate us about the incredible outdoor recreation opportunities found in the bowels of the Ozarks but also inspire us to become involved in protecting those resources so that future generations could enjoy them as well.
I distinctly remember the first time Dr. Chilman made mention of the Irish Wilderness, a 17,000-acre block of wild, rugged lands bordering the eastern flank of the Eleven Point River. It seemed that, according to Chilman, local people still spoke about individuals venturing into the Irish Wilderness, never to be seen or heard from again.
I guess those of us who cannot live without wild things in our lives are uniquely intrigued by the possibilities of unheard-of dangers that await in the wildest and remotest regions of the Missouri Ozarks.
Dr. Chilman spoke of a Father Hogan, of the St. Louis diocese, who led over 200 poor Irish immigrants into the Irish Wilderness to escape persecution and to establish a colony prior to the Civil War. As the story goes, there is no record of what became of the Irish immigrants.
However, Father Hogan turned up later in the Kansas City region. Much speculation has arisen about what actually happened to the colony. Some suspect that bushwhackers from the Civil War preyed on them for livestock and other supplies. Chilman claimed that many of those who have hunted or camped overnight in the Irish Wilderness have heard the screams of persons under attack. The taller tales relating to the demise of the colony residents also refer to later explorers who disappeared as well.
Regardless, the attraction of a wild and scenic region, complete with yarns of persecution, war, treachery, mysticism and adventure, became more than my inquisitive mind could withstand.
I explored the Eleven Point River for the first time in the early 1970’s. The river almost ate my traveling partner and I at Mary Decker Shoals, a mile or so below the Greer Access near the Highway 19 bridge. Had it not been for the sage advice of a local canoe livery outfitter, our canoe, supplies and perhaps us, may still be at the bottom of the Eleven Point. The river divides at Mary Decker Shoals. The deceit lies in the fact that it appears to be a better route to the left channel.
However, it sports a waterfall just out of sight, complete with big boulders and logjams. The right channel isn’t much better. To negotiate the run safely, one must hug tight to a huge boulder in the center of the river. The churning water plunges over a two-foot drop, swirling and crashing into a house-sized boulder scarcely a canoe length away. Serious maneuvering, involving back two back 90-degree turns, rocked our nerves before we shot downstream through a quarter mile boulder-strewn course.
“That was spooky,” my partner squealed. “I bet a lot of early settlers cracked up there.” A few miles down river, we came upon the Turner Mill Spring Branch. We had to investigate. After a short hike up the spring branch, an enormous waterwheel, perhaps 30 feet high, stood stoically in the branch, any signs of a building having long been consumed by the epic powers of nature.
We stood in the eeriness of this gargantuan iron structure that seemed so out of place. Perhaps the real story is that the wheel is the remains of some alien spaceship.
In the 1890s, about 50 homesteaders resided here in the wilderness along the Eleven Point River. They had a small school and general store. They were shocked when the government approved their application for a post office. Therefore, they named their settlement Surprise.
Turner Spring spurts 1.5 million gallons of water per day from underneath a limestone bluff. We dipped our hands into the cold waters and splashed our faces. A chill ran up my spine, partially from the freezing water and partially from the feeling of being observed by ancient spirits. A presence accompanied us as we walked cautiously back to the river.
Our next stop came several miles downriver at Boze Mill Spring. A short walk brought us to the azure waters of the spring bubbling up in a pond. I immediately dove into the spring to get a bit of relief from the heat. The spring pond was only 30 yards across. Halfway across both of my calves cramped rendering me virtually helpless in the cold water. As I struggled to dog paddle to shore, I was certain that the mystical powers of the Eleven Point that consumes humans, body and soul, had indeed clamped down on my legs.
My stories continue to support the mysterious environs of the Eleven Point; a bear encounter while cooking trout on shore and a giant buck that suffered serious ground shrinkage after I shot it are only a couple of other instances of mystery.
However, what should one expect from a river with a name of suspect origin…an 11-point buck was killed on its banks, 11 prominent pointes within a short distance, and an explorer's compass pointed 11 different directions. It's all so mysterious…
Cover - Turner Mill water wheel still stands in the Irish Wilderness, a stark reminder of the hardships in a wilderness frontier.
Left - Many mysterious happenings are said to have taken place within the Irish Wilderness, including the ground shrinkage of monster bucks.
(Photos: Bill Cooper) Bill Cooper
Prairie Royalty: The Regal Fritillary Butterfly
In August and September, precious eggs are being laid on remnant prairies in Missouri. They aren’t the eggs of grassland birds, but of the regal fritillary butterfly (Argynnis [Speyeria] idalia)
A species of conversation concern in Missouri, ranked as vulnerable, and proposedby the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for listing as federally endangered, the regal fritillary depends on intact, unplowed, old-growth prairies with species of prairie violets to complete its life cycle. After adults mate earlier in the summer, females lay their eggs, usually in August and September. The tiny larvae hatch and overwinter as caterpillars in prairie thatch.
In spring, the caterpillars feed on the foliage of prairie violet species, including bird's foot violet (Viola pedata), prairie violet (Viola peditifida), and arrow-leaved violet (Viola sagittata). The caterpillars then pupate in late spring. Adult males emerge from chrysalises in late may or early June, and females emerge one to two weeks later.
Often, males fly slowly back and forth across prairies in search of emerging females. After mating, the males die in mid-summer. Eggs develop slowly in the females before they are laid in late summer, and the cycle continues.
The historic range of the regal fritillary includes Maine to North Carolina, west to Colorado and north to Montana. However, due to conversion of prairie and other regal fritillary habitat, this species’ current range has been greatly diminished. According to NatureServe analysis, Missouri has one of the best chances of having prairie of sufficient quantity and quality to maintain this species in perpetuity. However, due to a lack of population information in the state, in 2016, biologists including Missouri Department of Conservation Natural History Biologist Steve Buback began surveying regal fritillaries in partnership with the Missouri Prairie Foundation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Master Naturalists, and other groups.
In Missouri, the adult regal fritillary (Argynnis [Speyeria] idalia) is confined almost exclusively to unplowed, old-growth prairie remnants.
The great spangled fritillary (Argynnis [Speyeria] cybele) is in the same genus as the regal fritillary, but is much more common and often seen in many habitats and home gardens throughout Missouri. (Photo: www. HenryDomke.com)
The initial surveys included 71 sites across Missouri, with regal fritillaries found at 49 of them. Surveys continue, as well as efforts to propagate prairie violets from seed— painstakingly collected from remnants—to add to prairie plantings adjacent to remnants to increase larval food sources for the butterfly.
Well managed remnant prairies are critically important for this species. Stewardship to benefit regal fritillaries, as well as many other prairie- and grassland-restricted plants and animals, includes control of woody plants, spot treatment of invasive plants like sericea lespedeza, and rotational burning, leaving a portion unburned each burn season to provide refuge for the overwintering caterpillars.
To learn more about the conservation of this beautiful, iconic prairie species, watch the regal fritillary conservation webinar at the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s YouTube channel.
Carol Davit
Cover - Remnant prairies provide critical habitat for the regal fritillary butterfly, a species of conservation concern in Missouri that requires abundant nectar sources for adults and prairie violet plants for larval host food. (Photo: Linda Williams)
The chance to learn fly-fishing with a nationally recognized expert doesn’t come along every day -- and it especially doesn’t come along for free. This golden opportunity is being offered this fall on the Current River in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways for youth and adults of any skill level.
Mark Van Patten, park ranger and local fly-fishing legend, will lead the day-long fly-fishing clinics, which will include fly-rod casting techniques, proper catch-andrelease techniques, and strategies for fly presentation. The workshops will cover aquatic entomology (fish food), recommended equipment, reading the water, and understanding flies.
The primary focus of the clinics is to introduce youth to the sport. A parent or guardian is required to attend and encouraged to participate. The goal is for the duo to continue fly-fishing after this introductory course. The youth clinics are open to ages 12 to 16, with a parent or guardian. Sessions are Sept. 8, 15 and Oct. 6. There also will be an adults-only clinic on Oct. 13.
Classes are limited to 10 participants (plus parents/ guardians) and registration is required. To register, call the ranger station at 573-858-3397. For more information or any questions, email mark_vanpatten@nps.gov or call the above number. There is no fee to participate.
Participants age 16 or older must have a Missouri fishing permit. If you want to keep trout, you must also have a trout permit. Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) permit page at https://mdc. mo.gov/permits/fishing-permits for pricing and purchase information.
Class Schedule and Equipment: The day-long (seven to eight hours) workshops begin with classroom instruction in the historic Mt. Zion Church, just north of Akers. Then participants practice fly-fishing casts in the field in front of Akers Ferry Canoe Rental (the former Akers Ranger Station). Later, the class moves to the water’s edge to practice casting into the Current River. Afterward, there will be optional fishing on the upper Current River. (Note: The park does not provide transportation, so afternoon fishing may require a self-shuttle.)
The park provides fly rods, reels, flies and stockingfoot hip waders for the classes. Attendees should bring: suitable clothing, wading boots or shoes, hat (wide brim recommended), sunglasses (polarized recommended), lunch, drinking water, sunscreen, bug spray.
This fly-fishing program began in 2023, with funding obtained by the Ozark Riverways Foundation through a grant from the National Park Foundation to purchase equipment for the classes.
Learning from an Expert: Mark has been teaching flyfishing for more than 35 years. His PBS show, The Tying Bench, about tying flies, ran for 200 episodes over 13 seasons. Mark is a life-time member of the Federation of Fly-Fishers (FFF) and past president of the Southern Council of FFF and was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in 2023.
After he retired as a fisheries biologist with MDC, Mark and his wife, Regina, moved back home to the Current River valley, where he established the Feather Cutter Farm School of Fly-Fishing. He soon found himself working as an interpretive ranger for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Mark is the author of "Fly-Fishing A-Z, A Practical Introduction to Fly-Fishing in Missouri" and “Moonshine and Watermelons and Other Ozark Tales” and is working on another book.
Although he has fished all over the country -- “Alaska, fresh water, salt water, warm water, cold water" -- there is no place like home. “This is the best place in the world to fly-fish," said Mark, "right here on the Current River."
Grandfather Knows Best: Mark learned to fly-fish from his grandfather, the late George Van Patten. One lesson he shares with his classes is to never place a rod on the ground -- someone is sure to come along and step on it, breaking it into pieces.
He speaks from experience. After working in the hay fields to earn enough money to buy his first rod, Mark left the rod lying on the ground. His grandfather intentionally stepped on the rod to teach Mark a lesson. It is a lesson he has never forgotten.
The broken rod is just one memory from a lifetime of fishing memories with his grandfather. It seems fitting that Mark has carried on his grandfather's passion for fishing for trout and is now sharing it with a new generation of fly-fishers.
Cover - Park Ranger Mark Van Patten explains the art of the roll cast during a fly-fishing clinic in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Left - Mark Van Patten is a nationally recognized fly-fishing expert. (Photos: Ozark National Scenic Riverways)
Barbara Gibbs Ostmann
Barb Ostmann is past president of the Ozark Riverways Foundation and a frequent volunteer at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
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Fishing During the Civil War
Imagine trying to feed thousands of hungry men. During the Civil War, soldiers ate hardtack, a basic wheat biscuit, dried vegetables and dried or jerked meat. But months turned into years and soldiers on both sides had to dream of home cooking.
Union and Confederate camps were close to water whenever possible for drinking, cooking, bathing, a possible swim, and fishing. This made rivers or oxbows perfect choices, especially when visibility was good for a great distance, a common trait of river bottom land.
Wildlife no doubt suffered because thousands of the men owed their survival to hunting before the war and had common knowledge of how to harvest every species. That left fish in rivers, streams or oxbows. Fish provided protein, which in turn gave soldiers energy and tasted good.
Yet fishing for survival was said to be the exception to the rule for soldiers in encampments, the exception being late in the war, especially for the Confederacy. Many of the soldiers, blue and gray, who baited a hook did so as a way to pass spare time and add variety to their boring diets. Fishing helped them take their mind off war’s hardships and kindle memories of quieter days at the town pond or along the stream that ran through their family farm.
Most Civil War soldiers walked, meaning any type of fishing tackle had to be compacted into a small packet. Few fishing lures were available then, although J.T. Buel made the first lure to hold a U.S. Patent in 1852. Most soldiers fished with live bait and basic hooks as they had at home.
The small packet might have included line made of string, gut, heavy thread, or cord. Braided silk horse hair or a combination of both was the preferred commercially sold fishing line from this era.
The International Game Fish Association claims that Ed Jenks of Colebrook, Connecticut, made the first American steel hooks in 1813, so soldiers may have carried them during the Civil War. Other manufactured hooks were likely bent wire, from Dublin or London, but those with international fishing savvy may have purchased the best hooks made of German steel, likely unaffordable for the common Civil War soldier.
Not every soldier owned decent hooks, so most used bent nails or needles that could be shaped as a hook or pushed through cork so the irreplaceable float would be almost impossible to lose. Some may have even used bent bones or pieces of wood as did Native Americans up to 20,000 years before.
A flotation device like the cork from a whiskey bottle would be small enough to pack and on occasion easy to find. Other floats might have included a piece of wood, dried corncob, or even spider web waded together in a ball.
Weights were made from lead mini balls, which were normally used as bullets for shooting at the enemy. The weight was split in the center and crimped around the line like modern-day split shot. The size of the weight could be adjusted by whittling the lead with a sharp knife unless a blacksmith was willing to use his steel chisel and hammer.
Fishing poles varied from hickory or any limb that carved down to be sturdy and somewhat flexible. The line, hook, floats or weights were the important part of this primitive way of catching dinner.
To make a hand-fishing tool, enterprising soldiers used a thin piece of wood shaped like an “hour glass,” about 4- by 1½-inches in size. A slight concave at both ends allowed the hook and line to be wrapped for carrying in a nap sack. A small stick made a suitable substitute for wrapping line.
Bait was simple, fishing worms, minnows or insects. Food gone bad might have been used. One report stated that soldiers spotted a lady carrying a big string of catfish. They unsuccessfully fished with worms in the same area until she returned the following day and told them to only use green cheese. They had none and somehow traded the lady for some of her magic bait or rotten cheese indeed resulted in many catfish caught for the campfires.
Fishing tactics varied from watching a pole while sitting on a quiet bank, hand fishing or fashioning a net from cloth or braided rope and creating a fish trap similar to a seine. This occasionally successful tactic would likely work on a small oxbow or small creek where the fish could be frightened into the shallow end.
Driving fish was accomplished by soldiers wading and making a lot of noise, perhaps even banging on pans. Fish coaxed in the shallows could sometimes be scooped up or even grabbed by hand. Some fortunate soldiers may have found old gill nets at abandoned homesteads, which were quite valuable in those dark days. No doubt dynamite or some type of blackpowder explosive may have been used to kill fish, but never close to enemy concentrations where a blast would give away location.
Cooking fish was likely roasting over a spit or even fried on the rare occasions when any kind of edible grease was available. Some wrapped the fish in creek mud and cooked it on the coals. There, too, were said to be fish boils that may have included a handful of minnows.
Those who had cooked before the war may have even boiled up the fish bones and parts other than intestines to make a fish-flavored roux for the dried vegetables. Imagine having a New Orleans chef in your regiment.
Fish populations no doubt suffered during the Civil War. Unfortunately, I have found no records of fish surveys directly after the Civil War, especially because most fish and game commissions were years away from starting.
The Civil War was a sad time for America in lives lost and property destroyed, but fishing did play a part in many ways. Hopefully, it will never happen again!
Kenneth L. Kieser
During the Civil War many different techniques were used to catch fish. (Photo: Courtesy of Kenny Kieser)
My Defeats
Once our kids had grown up and left home, Mrs. Urich expected me to attend antique shows, claiming these trips would be quality time together. Her interest in antiques is extensive, and the inside of our house almost looks like a museum. When our three sons were young, my excuse for not attending antique shows was the boys were totally uninterested which didn’t help their behavior in the car. Since a successful and rewarding long-term marriage often involves considerable, frequent and often uncomfortable compromise, mostly by me in our case, I agreed to accompany her to one of her favorite antique shows in Greenwood, south of Kansas City. This was an outdoor antique show with dealers exhibiting their antiques in large tents.
As we approached the first tent, I decided to wait outside since there were antique chairs displayed next to the tent where I could pass the time. I knew Mrs. Urich would move through the different booths in the tent at an excruciating slow pace which was hard on my back. There were six antique chairs in a row which looked very familiar and I knew I had seen them before. After some thought, I finally realized these chairs had been around our kitchen table for years. Mrs. Urich sold them and purchased other chairs as part of the constant and expensive upgrading process for antique furniture in our house.
When I sat down, the memories of family activities around the table and in these chairs flooded back. It was in these chairs we had our weekly Sunday morning family meetings. It was in these chairs I reviewed some outstanding report cards and some very disappointing ones. We sat in these chairs and planned our pheasant hunting trips to Kansas, fishing trips to Truman Reservoir and our rabbit hunting trips to the prairies of west-central Missouri.
It was in these chairs I signed conduct slips for bad behavior on the school bus and had some difficult telephone conversations with school principals. I sat in one of these chairs when a county law enforcement officer called to report some disturbing behavior by our teenage sons after they were old enough to drive. But most importantly, it was in these chairs where I had my annual arm-wrestling contests with our sons on their birthdays.
The arm-wrestling contests were major family events and the highlight of our sons’ birthday celebrations. I easily beat our kids when they were young, but it became progressively harder as they got older. All three of our sons had two major life goals while growing up. They wanted to beat me in arm-wrestling and they wanted to be taller than me. They wondered why I continually beat them every year even though they were getting stronger. I told them my victories were due to the old man strength which grew burlier and more tenacious each year.
Consequently, there was no hope of them ever winning. I even answered the phone with the greeting, “Urich residence home of the three weakest sons in the county. How may I direct your call?” Our sons hated this greeting. Phone calls were rarely for me. We also got very few family calls because, at the time, we were on a party line with four other gabby families which made our phone almost worthless.
When our oldest son, Tim, turned 16, he was ready and eager for the annual arm-wrestling contest. He was on the school football and weightlifting teams for the last three years. I knew it was going to be a tough challenge for me because I barely won the previous year. Mrs. Urich, as a physical therapist, was very worried about significant tendon or ligament damage to my arm or possibly a spiral fracture to my lower arm which would be a debilitating injury.
She wanted to call off the arm-wrestling contest for my own protection but there was no way Tim would agree. Apparently, I was the only family member who thought I had a chance of winning. I could smell revenge on his breath. I suggested we put tacks on the table point side up as an added incentive but Mrs. Urich vetoed the suggestion.
David and Tim Urich comparing height after their annual birthday arm wrestling contest. (Photo: Courtesy of David Urich)
Feature Story
When we clasped hands, and I felt him squeeze, I knew winning this time was going to be a tough assignment. Mrs. Urich placed her hand over ours, and when she lifted it up, the back of my hand was instantly and decisively driven into the tabletop with a resounding, painful thud which reverberated through the house. It was shock and awe plus everyone wanted to know what happened to the old man strength. I was sure glad we didn’t put tacks on the table. Tim leaned back in his chair with a huge, satisfying smile on his face. Then the smile disappeared, he leaned forward peering seriously into my eyes and said, “Dad, it’s apparent I’m the dominant male in the family now.” Ouch, I didn’t see that triumphant remark coming.
Each of our sons beat me easily on their 16th birthdays. It wasn’t close and it took them 4 to 6 months to get over the gloating. Occasionally at our Sunday morning family meetings, our sons would reenact my defeats. Mrs. Urich would offer pointers on how they could improve the look of shock and the agony of defeat on my face. These sessions were followed by a chorus of laughter at my expense with Mrs. Urich’s laughter usually the most robust and often followed by disparaging remarks, which I probably deserved.
I was hoping for a little more support and sympathy from my wife and mother of our sons as I worked through my defeats. I’m sure our sons had similar comments in mind concerning my defeats but they wisely chose to remain silent. It took our sons a couple more years before they achieved their second goal as teenagers which was to be taller than me. I had to make certain changes in my parenting strategies following my massive defeats including changing my phone greeting to, “Urich residence home of the strongest sons in the county. How may I direct your call?” Phone calls were still rarely for me.
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Mrs. Urich tapping on my shoulder. She was done browsing through the first tent and wanted me to see her selections. Years ago, I learned my approval was unneeded and unwanted. My role was to confine my remarks to how well her choices would go with the other antiques in the house and to carry the stuff out to the truck. As we approached the tent, I looked back at the chairs. My fondest memory associated with those chairs was having the back of my hand unmercifully and forcefully driven into the table top followed by the look of satisfaction, achievement and triumph on all three of our sons’ faces.
Cover - Aaron and Tim Urich practicing for their annual arm-wrestling contest with dad, David Urich.
Top - Kirk, Mrs. Urich, Tim and Aaron Urich at a Sunday morning Urich family meeting. (Photos: Courtesy of David Urich)
David Urich
Finding Self and Community Through the Outdoors
In today's technologically driven world, many people yearn for a deeper connection with nature. This yearning often leads them outdoors, where they experience transformative journeys of self-discovery. Immersing oneself in nature provides a respite from the chaos of daily life and fosters profound inner peace and clarity.
Connecting with nature involves conscious effort. Activities like hiking, hunting, fishing, or participating in conservation service projects are all ways to connect with the environment. Simply being outdoors, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of nature has multitudes of health benefits. The therapeutic effects of being outdoors ground us, reminding us of our place within the larger ecosystem and instilling a sense of awe and gratitude for the world around us.
Engaging in conservation efforts enhances this journey of self-discovery. Whether cleaning up local public land, improving habitats, or participating in wildlife preservation projects, conservation work provides a sense of purpose. It fosters a deeper understanding of ecosystems' intricate balance, and the critical role humans play in maintaining this balance. Through conservation, individuals often develop a strong environmental ethic and a commitment to sustainable living, which is incredibly fulfilling.
Solo outdoor adventures can be rewarding, but finding a group to explore with can amplify one’s connection to nature. In the pursuit of self-discovery through nature, the importance of community and finding people with similar outdoor ethics cannot be overstated. Connecting with a group that is committed to preserving and respecting the natural world enriches the overall outdoor experience. Companions bring camaraderie and shared purpose, enhancing the feeling of belonging and personal fulfillment of each adventure. These relationships can be deeply enriching, offering emotional support and motivation to continue the journey of selfdiscovery through nature. This collective ethos enhances personal enjoyment and reinforces the significance of conservation efforts, creating a supportive environment where individuals inspire and motivate each other to tread lightly and protect the places they love for future generations.
At wildHERness, we strive to offer a place for women to explore these adventures and friendships. However, we often find the term “like-minded” overused in advertisements for group adventures. Our community is built on the rich tapestry of diversity—the different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that each participant brings. This diversity enriches our collective outdoor experiences, fostering a vibrant and dynamic environment where everyone can learn from each other and grow together. Rather than seeking uniformity, we celebrate each person's unique contributions, knowing that varied voices and viewpoints enhance our understanding, appreciation, and utilization of the natural world.
At wildHERness, the shared passion for the outdoors unites us, while our differences make our community stronger and more resilient. This approach broadens our horizons and deepens our connection to nature and each other, making every adventure more meaningful and transformative.
To learn more about wildHERness, visit wildHERness.org or find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Jess Rice
A love of the outdoors creates long lasting friendships amongst diverse individuals. (Photo: wildHERness)
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Catching Fall Smallmouth on Rivers
The smallmouth were right where he said they would be. During a Missouri Outdoor Communicators outing at Southern Comfort Cabins and RV Campground in Doniphan, MO., I got the chance to fish with Bill Smith of Scenic Rivers Guide Service on the Current River. While talking to Smith before we launched his jet-drive boat, Smith explained the fall smallmouth pattern that was starting on the river. “The bass sometimes will still be in faster water—maybe not as much in the head of the fast chutes—they may be pulled back from there.”
When fall arrives smallmouth bass on Smith’s home waters start to migrate from the head of the faster water towards the lower section of the swift water en route to their winter holes. “They will start moving and transition in pockets or some of the holes getting ready for the wintertime,” Smith said. While scouting the day before our trip, Smith caught smallmouth holding in the middle and lower sections of the fast water, which is where we keyed on the next day and a half.
Smith starts keying on the fast water sections of the river in late summer and by early fall he can still catch smallmouth around logs 1 to 3 feet deep, but the next week the fish could be holding deeper in the channel along the rocks. The river guide tries a variety of lures in the fall because of the fish transitioning from shallow to deep water and different types of cover.
Current River smallmouth in the fall will move to the shallow gravel banks to feed on minnows in the early morning so Smith will tempt these fish with spinnerbaits, Jewel Bait Company Gem Blades 2.0 rigged with swimbaits, Flukes and topwater lures. Later in the day the fish tend to pull back to rocks in deeper water where Smith throws Ned Rigs with Z-Man Finesse TRD worms, 4-inch Senkos or jigs and plastic craws.
“I will have six to eight rods fixed up because one area you can fish a certain bait better in that type of structure or you get into an area with a little faster water that has a lot of logs in it and you want to get in over that stuff,” Smith says. “So that is where you want to throw a spinnerbait or swimbait—something that you can keep up because of the cover.” Smith runs the spinnerbait or swimbait over the logs and lets the lure flutter down with the current once it passes over the cover.
When he finds smallmouth staging in the open channel, Smith favors throwing bottom-bouncing lures such as a tube bait or plastic worm. By late fall, Smith switches to a 1/4-ounce homemade bucktail jig in crawfish colors for probing the deeper holes smallmouth move into for the winter. The river is usually gin clear during this time so Smith throws his bucktail on 6-pound line. After letting the jig fall to the bottom, Smith retrieves the lure by popping it off the river floor and letting it fall to the bottom again.
The spring-fed Current River remains ultra-clear throughout the fall so long and accurate casts are required to prevent spooking smallmouth. During our trip, the gigging season for suckers had started, which Smith claims also makes the smallmouth skittish.
The passage of fall cold fronts can also put a damper on smallmouth fishing in the Current but not always. “Any time you have a front come through the fish shut down on the back side of that front as a general rule,” Smith says. “I have seen times in the fall when a front has come through where the bass have staged up and maybe that day after the front or three days after you can still catch fish even though the barometer is high and there are blue skies.”
The smallmouth were along the current breaks in the fast water the first day Smith, fellow writer Zach Smith and I fished the river. Early in the morning I caught most of my fish on a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90 that I ran at a steady, medium pace. Later in the day, I switched to a 1/4-ounce spinnerbait for throwing along the logs at the tail end of the swift water and caught several smallmouth in the 12- to 14-inch range. When we drifted into eddies near the fast water, I caught brown bass on a watermelon-red flaked Yum Dinger attached to a 1/4-ounce Slider jighead. I would let the Dinger bounce along the bottom occasionally lifting it to prevent the rig from hanging up in the rocks. Our trip on the river produced more than 40 smallmouths, with several around 12 to 13 inches long and a few 14- and 15 inches.
On the last day, the fishing started out slow in the morning, so Smith ran farther up the river, where we keyed in on the lower half of the swift water spots again. The fish were scattered along the gravel flats where we caught several on spinnerbaits and swimbaits. We also caught smallmouth on the same lures in the holes littered with logs. Smith caught the biggest smallmouth of the day, about a 2 1/2-pounder, on a black Whopper Plopper that he chugged over the top of a submerged log.
Summarizing our day and a half of fishing on the river, Smith’s prediction was right on that the smallmouth would be at the tail end of swift water spots.
Cover - Guide Bill Smith catches Current River smallmouth on a variety of lures including topwater baits throughout the fall.
Top - The lower half of fast water holes are favorite spots for Missouri guide Bill Smith to find Current River smallmouth bass in the fall.
(Photos: John Neporadny Jr.)
John Neporadny Jr.
Auto Tour Features Fire-managed Pine Woodlands
Southeast Missouri’s majestic shortleaf pine woodlands have not been seen for a hundred years. Most were cut down, starting in the the1880s.
Before that, towering, widely spaced pines stood for centuries, sheltering tender herbaceous plants and grasses that supported whole communities of wildlife, ranging from migrating songbirds to big game.
It was no coincidence that these open, park-like pine woodlands flourished before 1880. They were cultivated by repeated fires, largely lit by people. The frequent fires suppressed some sensitive plant and animal species while allowing others, like the fire-adapted shortleaf pine, to thrive. Both Native Americans and EuropeanAmerican settlers used fires to promote growth of forage that would feed both wild and domestic grazing animals. Frequent fires were also used to control insects, reduce brush, improve travel, reduce wildfire risk to property, and more.
Between the1880s and 1920s, timber companies harvested the region’s shortleaf pine to supply the demand for lumber created by a growing nation.
Intentional burning of the forest largely ended after fire control policies were implemented around 1930 – think Smokey Bear. This allowed dense oak-hickory forests to grow up. Ozark shortleaf pine woodlands were nearly wiped out by a one-two punch: first, the pine harvest had removed just about any seed source for future pines, and second, without recurring fire the shortleaf pine lost their competitive advantage, and they were almost choked out.
In today’s dense forests, without much sunlight reaching the ground, little forage is produced. Habitat quality is reduced for many birds and large grazers like deer and elk.Other wildlife species, including native pollinators, are also dependent on open woodlands and grassy habitats, and some of these have became rare or are gone altogether.
In recent decades, landowners of tracts big and small have been increasing the use of prescribed fire to reverse these trends. They are doing it for some of the same reasons that historical people had, such as improving forage and habitat for wildlife. Other goals include helping to keep woodlands open, to increase light, and reduce leaf litter on forest floors.
The Current River Pinery is one of the largest forested landscapes in southeastern Missouri where shortleaf pine was historically dominant. Here, within the Current and Eleven Point River watersheds, multiple large-scale efforts are underway to manage and promote shortleaf pine and its habitats, including the use of prescribed burning.
The USDA Forest Service has undertaken a project that encompasses more than 100,000 acres in this pinery. Tracts are burned on rotation, with prescribed fires planned for any given parcel about every three years. Some areas have been burned five or more times since the 1990s. Through this management, the Mark Twain National Forest and neighboring landowners have made tremendous strides in restoring shortleaf pine woodlands and improving associated wildlife habitats.
The Current River Pinery is open for visitors to learn how and why this management occurs, and to see what it looks like in person. Visitors are encouraged to view this transformation and learn more by taking a selfguided auto tour through the Mark Twain National Forest near Van Buren. Driving through, you can enjoy the rolling Ozark hills covered with park-like shortleaf pine woodlands, with vigorous undergrowth to support diverse plants and wildlife. From spring to fall, you can see birds, butterflies, flowering trees and wildflowers. Listen for the rare brown-headed nuthatch, which was reintroduced in 2020!
Interpretive signs along the tour route explain the history, ecology, and societal benefits of these firemanaged pine woodlands. Podcasts accompany each tour stop, in which regional experts tell more about what you are seeing. Visitors can access the podcasts on their cell phones using a QR code posted on each sign.
This tour was developed by the Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium, through funds provided by the Joint Fire Science Program. Learn more about these programs and their missions to support science-informed fire management at www.oakfirescience.com
Here’s a sample of what you’ll find on the Current River Pinery tour:
Stop 1. Overview: Welcome to the Current River Pinery
View tall pines in open woodlands that have been burned many times in recent decades. On the interpretive sign, read about the time before European settlement, when more than six million acres of shortleaf pine and pineoak woodlands spread across the southern Missouri Ozarks. Now, only a small percentage remains. Learn about efforts to restore shortleaf pine – bluestem woodlands, a globally imperiled ecosystem.
Stop 2. History: The Decline of Shortleaf Pine
Here you’ll see scattered pines that are nearing maturity, and you can check out the interpretive sign, which features historical photos, such as the early 1900s giant sawmill at Grandin; it consumed pine at the rate of 70 acres per day. On the podcast, listen to a historian and a fire scientist describe past forests and the long-term impacts of the timber boom.
Stop 3. Ecology: Fire-adapted Ecosystems Falter Without Flames
Come in summer and you can find colorful wildflowers, buzzing pollinators and bird songs near and far. Among them are fire-adapted species that do not fare well when fire is suppressed. See photos of rare species that benefit from fire. On the podcast, wildlife biologists and fire managers tell how the pinery’s restored woodlands are providing homes for fire-adapted birds and plants that have lost habitat elsewhere.
Stop 4. Benefits: Managed Woodlands Benefit Society
Fire-managed oak and pine woodlands like the ones at this stop have provided benefits to people and animals, past and present. On the podcast, hear a naturalist describe how thousands of Missouri State Park visitors find beauty and enjoy nature in fire-managed areas. Also, hear how Native Americans used fire, and how firemanaged woodlands enhance present-day opportunities for hunters, hikers, bird watchers and plant lovers.
Ready to visit? Two optional routes will take you to the beginning of the Current River Pinery self-guided auto tour. At either entrance (west or east, see map), you’ll find an Overview sign. Both of these signs contain a map and directions to the other tour stops.
If you can’t take the tour in person, you can access photos, maps and podcasts for the Current River Pinery tour on the website of the Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium. If you listen to the podcasts online, put yourself on site in your mind by scrolling through the online photos. Be sure to read the interpretive signs, too. Visit the online tour using the QR code or this link: https://oakfirescience. com/current-river-pinery-self-guided-tour/
Cover - An open shortleaf pine woodland in the Current River Pinery, which provides benefits to ecosystems, wildlife, and people.
(Photo: Joe Marschall) Denise Henderson Vaughn
Include the Conservation Federation of Missouri in your estate plans.
Leave a legacy for the natural resources and traditions you have valued throughout your life. Make CFM a beneficiary of your will, trust, life insurance policy, or retirement plan. Any amount helps preserve Missouri’s resources and natural history for generations to come. What will your legacy be? Call 573-634-2322 to find out more information.
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