Whiteley’s book

Larry Whiteley offers a smart and meaningful book of stories

By CARL GREEN Editor

It’s taken our friend Larry Whiteley more than 50 years of writing and broadcasting about the great outdoors – and the difference it’s made in his life – to finally get around to writing his first book, called “Seasons – Stories of Family, God and the Great Outdoors.”

If you’re accustomed to reading Larry’s column in the Outdoor Guide, the voice you will hear in reading this book will be very familiar – warm and welcoming but also both knowledgeable and fun-loving. A guy you could stand to spend some time with, and come away the better for it.

The book is just becoming available this summer, in plenty of time for Christmas gift-giving. Its first appearance was on June 10 on Amazon’s Kindle E-reader for a bargain price of $5.99. On June 20, it was available as an actual paperback book from Amazon and other retailers for $12.95. An audio version was in the works.

HIS GREAT CAREER

The afterword of the book gives a summary of Whiteley’s estimable career as an outdoor writer and broadcaster, including the past 33 years as host of the award-winning, syndicated Bass Pro Shops World Radio.

For 30 years. he has prepared the Outdoor World print items for newspapers across the nation. Not to mention that his column, “Tips and Tricks from the Great Outdoors,” has run in the Outdoor Guide since the magazine was founded.

But for all this success and public exposure, Whiteley’s essence is that of the outdoors and country life – a fall hunting trip, a winter walking expedition, a spring wonderment at the rebirth of life, and a summer reunion of family, with thanks given to the God who makes it

OUTDOOR

July-August 2021

GUIDE

MAGAZINE

HUNTING • FISHING • CAMPING • BOATING • SHOOTING • TRAVEL

Volume 29, No. 4 • Published six times a year Office: 505 S. Ewing, St. Louis, MO 63103 News department — 618-972-3744 www.outdoorguidemagazine.com e-mail: news@outdoor-guide.com

COVER created by Kathy Crowe, graphic designer.

Carl Green, editor – carl@labortribune.com Bob Whitehead, editor emer. – ogmbobw@aol.com Kathy Crowe, graphic designer John Winkelman, associate editor — ogmjohnw@aol.com Lynn Fowler, circulation manager

— Account executives — Dan Braun, marketing director 314-256-4136 Lauren Marshall 314-614-5175

Darrell Taylor Ray Eye Brent Frazee Brandon Butler — Regional and specialty editors —

Curt Hicken Bill Cooper Thayne Smith Steve Jones

Bill Seibel John Neporadny Jr. Rick Story T. J. Mullin Larry Whiteley Ted Nugent Ron Bice

– In Memoriam —

Joel Vance • Ron Henry Strait • Jared Billings • Charlie Farmer • Richard Engelke • Mark Hubbard • Spence Turner • Hank Reifeiss Kay Hively • Bill Harmon • Barbara Perry Lawton • Danny Hicks • Ron Kruger • TJ Stallings • John Sloan

— Staff writers —

Scott Pauley Claudette Roper Kenneth Kieser Don Gasaway Tim Huffman Brad Wiegmann Gerald Scott Terry Wilson John Meacham Mike Roux Russell Hively Bill Keaton Bob Holzhei Craig Alderman Roxanne Wilson Charlie Slovensky Jeannie Farmer Randall Davis Gretchen Steele Michael Wardlaw Jerry Pabst Jo Schaper Larry Potterfield Tyler Mahoney Ryan Miloshewski Jed Nadler Tom Watson Richard Aites possible. Add in a touch of comedy, and that’s Larry.

SEASONS OF LIFE

And that’s this book, too, split into four sections – spring, summer, fall and winter, naturally, with precisely 10 short stories and vignettes per season, ranging from two to five pages each, so nothing takes too long to read, but nothing is left incomplete, either.

The essence of the book – and the man – can be found in Whiteley’s introductory statement:

“I’m lucky to live in an area of the country where we experience the different seasons, and I get to do that with family, friends and those special times alone in God’s great outdoors. Something would be missing in my life without the sounds of the spring peeper frogs, lightning bugs on a summer night, the autumn tapestry, animal tracks in a winter snow, an eagle flying in a bright blue sky or the beauty of a rainbow.

“Changes in the seasons, and all the special things that happen during those times, make up our lives. They add to it just as special times and special places, like seasonings added to a recipe, make life so good.”

He’s lived in Springfield all this time, with his wife Maryann, and near many relatives, plus those in Wisconsin and Kansas. He makes no secret of his belief in and love for God, but readers who quality as religion-phobic need not fear – this is a book of evangelism, but only for the natural world he prefers to inhabit.

In the acknowledgments, he thanks his wife, their three sons, daughter-in-laws, grandchildren, and others including Outdoor Guide founder Bobby Whitehead and one of its fine writers, fishing guru Tim Huffman. He also thanks Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris for helping him get started on radio 30 years ago and being there ever since.

To give an idea of what this book is like, some of the short chapters, among many others, include:

• Sitting on a Big Flat Rock • Deer Camp Characters • Night-time Fishing • The Old Barn • Tracks in the Snow • Grandpa’s Shotgun IN HIS VOICE

One of the vignettes, “Signs of Spring,” covers bats, peeper frogs, buckeye trees and much more in just a few pages. To demonstrate Larry’s writing voice, here’s a quick sample:

“To some, the first sign of spring is a robin in their yard, or leaves starting to bud out, or flowers beginning to bloom. To cabin folks like us, it’s the mating call of the peeper frog.

“I sit down on an old log to pause and enjoy this moment in time. My eyes catch the graceful, rippling flight of a Mourning Cloak butterfly as it emerges from its winter home in a tree cavity. A bee buzzes a wildflower. A spider is spinning his web on a nearby bush. A cricket walks up my pant leg.

“The world is coming to life again and I’m thankful I’m here to enjoy it. All the sights, sounds and activities that are beginning to happen remind me that we humans weren’t the only ones waiting for signs of spring.”

If that sounds poetic, there’s also at least one outright poem that I found in the book.

Tim Huffman, himself an award-winning writer and photographer, has an interesting suggestion for readers of the book.

“Larry tugs at every heart-warming emotion when he details a beautiful morning sunrise from a deer stand, the smells, sounds and visual impact of a crackling campfire and the importance of skipping rocks with grandkids,” he said. “I recommend reading this book one story a night, to enjoy and savor every outdoor memory and moment he shares.”

That about sums it up, folks.

To submit books for Book Corner, send them to Carl Green, Outdoor Guide Magazine, 505 S. Ewing, St. Louis MO 63103 or send email to carl@labortribune.com.

We will still need to conserve ammo

By BRANDON BUTLER

The ammunition shortage is here to stay. Well, at least for a while. Southwick & Associates, a market research and economics firm, specializing in the hunting, shooting, sport fishing and other outdoor recreation markets, released a report that shows demand for ammunition will continue to far outpace supply. With firearms ownEditorial ership on the rise, finding ammunition is a real problem. Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a bit of hunting ammunition. Shooting half of a box during a duck hunt or two turkey loads out of five has left me with a nice stash. But target practice ammunition is a different story. I don’t have enough to shoot without worry of running out.

A lot of my friends feel the same way. We’re unable to practice or recreationally plink targets like we used to. This is a common story these days.

It is an inconvenience for us, but at least most of the people in my circles have experience shooting. It’s the new firearms owners who are in a worse spot. First-time firearms ownership has spiked, and those new to shooting need to practice. The lack of ammunition available seriously hinders their ability to do so.

MARKET TRENDS

Southwick & Associates regularly surveys outdoor industry consumers to gain an understanding of market trends. Back in April, they surveyed more than 1,800 ammunition consumers for a study on the shortage. They found it is continuing post-pandemic.

Their data shows 20 percent of consumers encountered out-of-stock issues while trying to purchase ammunition in 2020. The number has recently dropped to 75 percent, but that means three out of four people trying to buy ammunition can’t – resulting in 79 percent of survey respondents reporting they have either cut back or completely quit target shooting and hunting.

This leaves a lot of individuals out there looking to buy more ammunition, so demand is expected to remain high.

The report found that only 17 percent of shooters and hunters are satisfied with the amount of ammunition they currently have. And nearly two-thirds said their inventory is lower than they would prefer. Most shooters want more ammunition. The data reported 43 percent want “much more” while 38 percent want at least “a little more.” When asked why they desire more ammunition, key reasons included:

• Uncertainty about future ammunition

supplies (72 percent). This is especially true among consumers 45+ years of age. • Uncertainty about future restrictions on ammunition purchases (70 percent).

• Uncertainty about future economic

conditions (54 percent).

• Increased shooting and hunting activity

(26 percent). This was more common among the 25-34 year-old consumers.

“At some point, demand will certainly soften,” reports Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates. “However, frenzied purchasing and empty shelves often fuel further increases in demand. We do not see demand softening in the near future.”

LIKE TOILET PAPER

Remember the run on toilet paper? I can’t imagine any of us will ever forget. It showed us how quickly a common resource can be depleted beyond demand. And it was because many people were hoarding and being ridiculous.

To help us all get through the ammunition shortage, don’t be like the toilet paper people. Buy what you need and maybe a little bit more, but be conscientious of our shooting and hunting community. Leave a box for the next man or woman.

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors. com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

grass, the owls, looking for an easy meal, swoop down and occasionally get entangled in the netting of the goals.

TURNING AN OWL LOOSE

Aware that birds of prey have phenomenal eyesight, I can only guess that they become so pre-occupied with the prey animal that they don’t see the mesh netting before accidentally soaring into it. Then, when the raptors struggle to free themselves, they become increasingly entangled to the point of no escape.

Trust me when I tell you that it is a nerve-racking endeavor to free an agitated owl from the mesh with a pocketknife, especially while trying to avoid that powerful beak and those razor-sharp talons. On the most recent rescue, I probably should have contacted Animal Control, but because the frantic bird had the netting wrapped around his neck (what little bit of neck he had), I was concerned about the possibility of strangulation.

And I did this without benefit of the leather gloves that bird-handlers wear. Due to my foolishness, that encounter led to a small puncture wound to the palm of my right hand.

GETTING AWAY WITH IT

Fortunately, the athletic director wasn’t too upset considering a 3-foot square piece of netting was cut away from the goal to spare an owl. And for me, the satisfaction of saving raptors from injury or death is certainly worth it. On both occasions, the owls quickly recovered and flew away without any apparent signs of injury.

Because most paleontologists agree that modern birds are descendants of dinosaurs, I guess these were my “Jurassic Park” moments. Of course, handling a 6-ton tyrannosaur may have been a little more daunting than dealing with a 5-pound owl. And I’m pretty sure my injuries would have been much more significant.

It’s no Garden of Eden, but it’s nice to have a tiny piece of the natural world on campus. Given the craziness that has been occurring on college campuses recently, the wildlife certainly helps keep things in perspective.

The Life Outdoors

Wildlife on campus is worth risky owl rescue

By RICHARD AITES

I’ve worked for the University of Missouri-St. Louis as a campus policeman for nearly a decade now. It’s a great place to work and go to school. UMSL also has one of the highest-rated criminal justice degree programs in the nation.

Though the campus is located in suburban north St. Louis County, dozens of acres of woods and a shallow creek skirt the university grounds. There’s also a pond on the north end of campus that is teeming with largemouth bass, bluegills and red-eared sliders.

Along with the thousands of students that muster onto campus each semester, wildlife frequent the place, in the form of whitetail deer, turkey and furbearers. For much of the year, the deer keep a low profile, but during the fall and winter months, they are quite common around campus, especially in the early morning and evening hours.

A MAGNIFICENT BUCK

One particular evening last November, while conducting a foot patrol, I spotted a magnificent 10-point buck near the university libraries. I watched him linger in the semi-lit, grassy, commons area for several minutes before he spooked and trotted off into the darkness.

In the spring, tom turkeys can often be seen strutting their stuff along the secluded walking trails, and there’s usually a hen or two in the vicinity. Canadian geese are common tenants of the campus grounds, and though messy, they are usually mild-mannered. That is, until the nesting season, when they can become a bit aggressive, but as long as they’re not approached or startled, they rarely present a problem.

Red-tailed hawks and other raptors circle the skies above the athletic fields and grassy common-areas searching for rodents and other prey animals. On two separate occasions, I’ve had to free great horned owls from the soccer goals at the soccer fields.

At night, the handsome birds usually perch high atop the gymnasium that overlooks the field. When a rabbit or other varmint comes onto the field to feed on the finely manicured

This owl needed a helping hand to get free of the net. – Richard Aites photo

EXPERIENCE ELLINGTON

missouri explorethe& outdoors

ellingtonmo.com

Hike the

ozark trail

~ Only 2 Hours South of St. Louis ~

1Clearwater Lake & Webb Creek Park – Hwy H –Bring the family to camp, boat, fish, and unwind on crystal clear Clearwater Lake. This area of the lake is formed where Webb Creek and Logan Creek empty into Clearwater Lake. The lake is known for its crappie, catfish and bass fishing. Camping is available at Webb Creek Recreation Park; plus a full service marina with boat/wave runner rentals on site. Webb Creek Park features over 40 campsites, swim beach, Webb Creek Marina playground, showers, picnic pavilions, boat launch, and more. Services are limited after mid-September but camping is still permitted. Call Webb Creek Marina at 573-461-2344 for marina, boat rental and campsite information or visit www.recreation.gov to make reservations. If you are interested in all the conveniences of home call Webb Creek Cabins for cabin rentals, 573-461-2244. 2 Black River and K Bridge Recreation Area Hwy – Float, canoe, fish and explore the beautiful – K

Black River. Enjoy swimming, camping and picnicking right on the banks of the Black River. K Bridge Recreation Area and Campground offers playground, showers, electric and comfort station, visit www. recreation.gov to make reservations. Floats (raft or canoe) can be arranged on site by calling Jeff’s Canoe Rental at 573-598-4555. A small Highway K Camping general store is also available on site. 3 Current River & Log Yard Gravel Bar – Hwy 106 to HH Highway- Fish, swim, camp and relax on majestic Current River. Great place to explore Current River.

This area is often referred to as Cardareva by locals and is a favorite summer hangout. Primitive camping is available right on the river bank, camping is also available at the nearby School Yard with picnic tables, lantern hooks and fire pits. These sites are available on a first come basis. Bring your canoes, rafts and kayaks; a perfect day float….Powder Mill to Log Yard. Camp Current River Boat launch available. Powder Mill Recreation Area and Campground re-opened. Camping available with views of the Current River. Picnic table, firepit & lantern hook available at each site, reservations not available. Water/elect not provided.

Current River, Blue Spring & Powder Mill

Recreation Area – Hwy 106 near Current River bridge

Powder Mill reopened summer 2020. Camping is available with views of the river, picnic tables, fire pit and lantern hook. Reservations are not available. Powder Mill is a perfect camp base for day trips to area attractions like Blue Spring, Rocky Falls, Peck Ranch, Johnson Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks and more. Wild horses are often seen in the fields near the bridge. The Ozarks offers countless options for family adventure. 5 Rocky Falls- NN Hwy- A cascading crystal Rocky Creek drops from the Ozark Mountains into a lazy pool which eventually winds through the Ozarks to Current River. A must see if you are in the area and fun for all ages. Wear non-slip shoes and use caution when climbing on the falls. Picnic tables provided.

4Blue Spring Current River Conservation Area –Consists

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of 28,000 acres of state land. Deer, turkey, eagles, elk and a multitude of wildlife can be seen. UTV’s, ATV’s and vehicle traffic are welcome on miles of gravel roads and trails that wind through some 60+ food plots. Buford Pond, Missouri’s first fire tower, a 1926 log cabin and an earthen Fort Barnesville can all be found here. Buford Pond provides fishing and picnicking and is a favorite location of all. For hunting enthusiasts an unstaffed rifle and archery range are provided.

Current River Conservation Area is home to the Missouri Ozark Ecosystem Project, the world’s most comprehensive forest management study. This 100 year project spans over 9,000 acres.

Main park entrance located on South Road in Ellington, other entrances located off Hwy 106 and HH highway. Primitive camping is available. Elk viewing and maps of the area are available at the main park entrance.

Local Flavor – While in town you won’t want to miss the Reynolds

County Museum. This Museum is filled with relicts from days gone by and the rich history of the Ozarks. Volunteers staff the establishment and are happy to answer questions; Open March-November, Tues-Fri, 10-4 or by appointment. Call 573-663-3233 for more information. Want some nostalgia from a couple decades back; how about a drive in movie? One of only a few drive-ins left in the Midwest is located just south of Ellington on highway 21. 21 Drive-In opens in May with summer family favorites and offers movie events into the fall including Halloween and Christmas.

6Reynolds Co Museum

Wild Horses

Scenic Highway 106 - This 26 mile drive between Ellington and

Eminence is known state wide for its scenic views and beauty, and is especially a favorite in the fall. This section of highway is also home to the Trans-America Trail and sees many bicycle travelers from April-October. Bicycle enthusiasts say it’s one of the “toughest sections on the trail” and known for the steep hills & hollers.

Blair Creek- Hwy 106 – This area is a favorite of the local’s spring, summer and fall. For the person who is looking for the unknown, adventure into the wild Ozark hills for the beautiful views, caves, swimming, picnicking. Here riding the back roads in ATV’s, UTV’s and 4-wheel drives is exciting and fun. Entrance located North of Hwy 106 across from Blue Spring entrance.

Ozark Trail- Hwy 106- Blair Creek & Current River section; Hwy 106 – Whether you are looking for a one day hike or want to make a few days of it; hiking these sections of the Ozark Trail is rewarding and adventurous. Such splendid locations as Rocky Falls, Klepzig Mill and Buzzard Mountain Shut-Ins are located right on the trail. For the adventurous visitor this is a must!

Peck Ranch- H Highway, Shannon County- Plan a trip for the fall to ‘Listen for the Bugle’! Elk are roaming the hills of the Ozarks and can be seen in Peck Ranch, Current River Conservation Area and the surrounding region. Thanks to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Elk Restoration Program the herd has expanded to over 200 bulls, cows and calves. Peck Ranch and Current River Conservation Area is open from sunrise/sunset daily and offers a driving tour. Bugling occurs Sept-Nov. Check the MDC website for park closing details. Maps are available at the park entrance. 8

TransAmerica Trail

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Blair Creek

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Klepzig Mill

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July-August 2021 Fly fishing in overlooked hot spots

By TERRY AND ROXANNE WILSON

Dams are often constructed from earth that has been scoured from the area to become the basin in front of the dam. Usually, this will be the deepest portion of the pond or lake.

Clay can be hauled in to help seal the face of the dam, and it may be further reinforced by chunk rock (riprap). Riprap-faced dams offer structure utilized as hiding places for minnows and especially crayfish.

Most ponds and small lakes have dams constructed so that excess water from heavy rainfall and runoff can be diverted. Some are simply equipped with a standing drainpipe so that any excess water will enter the pipe and fall into the pipe’s outlet beneath and to the opposite side of the dam.

Other spillways are constructed with wider mouths designed to whisk away more water at a faster rate. Often a metal rail designed to block large driftwood and other debris from clogging the passageway protects the mechanical spillway.

Older ponds have a silt pile at the base of the spillway that’s caused by repeated rains, which has drawn excess water and silt toward the outlet. Weed growth may occur and debris such as branches is drawn to the area.

Larger specimens of all species will take up residency there, especially when water is passing through the spillway because food such as nymphs, minnows, leeches and more are pulled there also. The area provides a virtual smorgasbord for feeding game fish.

SILT PILE SPECIAL

The most overlooked structure element of most small reservoirs is the dam area and, specifically, the spillway silt pile. The reason for its

Fish the deepest edges of the dam’s corners for big bass.

attraction to game fish is not only the conveyer belt of food brought by high water but also that it provides shallow cover with immediate access to the reservoir’s deepest water.

The best dam fishing is created in an older pond that has a relatively constant source of incoming water in which siltation has created shallow flats at each corner of the dam. The face of the dam is made of riprap that extends into the deepest water at the base of the dam. This ideal dam area creates three distinct areas, each of which must be fished differently: • The spillway – Fan-cast the area thoroughly, from the deepest sides of the silt pile to its top, using a variety of fly patterns or lures. If the primary target is the bass population, leech and worm imitations can be successful, but large streamers or minnow replicating lures produce the most consistent results. Bluegill can be targeted with nymph patterns and small streamers. Once the deep recesses of the silt pile have been probed, a gently manipulated popper or slider right over the top of the pile can supply some exciting fishing. • The face of the dam – However straight the face of the dam appears, there will be areas that protrude into the lake’s basin and indentations that form pockets in the dam wall. This is especially true if the earthen dam is faced with riprap imperfectly scattered along its surface. The fishing method most often used is slowly moving your vessel along the dam while casting randomly, but the method wastes too much time and effort. A far more effective approach is to target only the riprap’s unusual features. Another area to be explored is the apron or transition area at the base of the dam where the riprap ends and soil, gravel or sandy bottom begins. This area is most easily fished from a boat by trolling. A weighted, jig-type lure with plenty of independent action is a good option. • Corners of the dam – The corners of the dam, where bottom composition, vegetation and water depth changes abruptly, is a productive area to explore. Whether the change is from riprap to clay or dirt to gravel or sand, that change provides a prime foraging area for game fish because it attracts different types of prey. Crayfish may be abundant along the riprap facing while insects and minnows may dominate the softer bottom. Often these corners are places of weed growth.

Coontail, bull rushes, pondweed or moss beds in close proximity to deep water provide cover that not only attracts small invertebrates but the small fish that feed on them and, consequently, larger fish. Fish the deepest edges of these corners first with jigs and deep-running streamers before dropping nymphs, worm imitations or surface lures in shallow weed pockets.

To get in on the action, first do a little homework. Find an aging pond or small lake with emergent weeds in its shallows and silted dam corners, plus a riprap-faced dam with a mechanical spillway. Thoroughly fish the spillway silt pile, the dam facing and the dam corners at a variety of depths. It’s a surefire formula for success.

Blackberry cobbler stirs memories

Photo and Text

By RAY MAXWELL

Nothing says summer like picking blackberries in the woods. Many of our childhoods were enhanced by exploring the woods, on our own or with family members, collecting blackberries that our aunts, mothers or grandmothers would bake into blackberry cobblers.

I consider foraging for blackberries to be an adult reliving of my childhood each year, and it also allows me to scout around preparing for fall hunting season. Taking the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts with you will truly enhance the experience.

We believe that you will find our version of blackberry cobbler very simple to make and enjoyable, and that it hopefully will remind you of those fine childhood memories. Blackberry cobbler is also a very enjoyable dish when served chilled, making this a great summer-time dessert.

BASE • 12 ounces or 4 cups blackberries.

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted.

• Half-cup flour. • Half-cup white sugar. • Half-teaspoon baking powder. • Half-teaspoon vanilla extract. • Half- teaspoon cinnamon. • Half-teaspoon nutmeg.

• 1 egg, beaten.

TOPPING • 1/4 cup flour. • 1/4 cup brown sugar. • 1/4 cup oatmeal. • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts.

• 4 tablespoons butter, crumbled or chopped into little pieces, but NOT melted.

BLACKBERRY COBBLER

Place the blackberries into an 8” by 8” Corningware pan or something of similar size.

Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and egg. Once fully mixed, pour and spread over the blackberries. The base should surround the blackberries.

Next, cut the butter into small pieces and mix the entire topping together, then spread it over the top. Spread out the topping but do not smash it down.

Place into preheated oven set at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes. The topping should become a nice brown color.

TRY IT WITH ICEWINE

You will find the Augusta Winery Icewine 2019 to pair wonderfully with your blackberry cobbler. The wine has a wonderful golden color, beau-

Blackberry cobbler is a perfect match for Augusta’s Icewine.

tiful peach, honey and apricot aromas and flavors that linger after each sip.

Serve this wine chilled, and it will provide that perfect pairing to cobbler on those hot summer days. You can find the Augusta icewine for under $16 per bottle, a real bargain when other icewines are above $40 per bottle.

Visit and follow Wild Wine Life on Facebook and Youtube for the video version of this recipe and many other wild game recipes.

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