The Missouri Ozarks is a region of vast beauty, but unfortunately it is burdened by abuse by people who misuse the land in a variety of hideous ways. If you need a list of some of the ways, refer to this June 9, 2015 article about vandalsim in the Pioneer Forest. They include grafiti painted on cliffs, ATV useage in areas not permitted, poaching of wildlife, release of feral hogs, and much more. These examples are particularly heinous as they have been occuring on land owned by the late Leo Drey's foundation - it is private land. My Drey's foundation has permitted public use of his land in the Pioneer Forest, but obviously, that status has been put in jeopardy. I can speak from personal experience, that the misbehavior in the Ozarks comes from locals and non-locals alike. On the rivers, drunken city folks are a common problem. When we hunt during the Fall, a common problem is locals running deer with dogs. ATV's tearing up sensitive land is a problem everywhere in the Ozarks. On the local front, the prevalent sentiment is that they should be able to do whatever the hell they want in "their" area... and apparently they consider all the Ozarks their land. Anyone who owns land in the Ozarks that they visit infrequently has trouble with tresspassers, thieves, and vandals. The law in this part of the state regards violations of these types of private property rights with a wink and a smile. Even worse is the lack of regard locally for public land...Missouri Department of Conservation areas, National Forest, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, etc. In conversations I have had with locals, the feeling is that the government just wants to completely shut things down as far as access goes. Sorry folks, but being told you cannot drive your ATV's through the rivers, or hunt with dogs, or run jet boats with hundred horse motors on the rivers does not mean you do not have access. To insure access for all stakeholders in a manner that is acceptable to all, laws must be enforced. Private citizens must blow the whistle when they observe violations. #pioneerforest #leodrey #vandalism #publicland #conservation #MissouriDepartmentofConservation #ozarknationalscenicriverways

This blog post is written for those of us who hunt public land, primarily for whitetail deer in the midwestern states. There are some takeaways that any hunter can use, and for that matter, this is all pretty commonsense types of stuff. But, if you are like me, sometimes I need someone to point out the obvious to remind me to get going on what need's to be done. Scouting Start figuring out where the spots are you will hunt this Fall if you do not know already. I usually do this in two phases. In phase one, I am using the internet to get ideas on where I might want to go. I use harvest reports from the previous year, usually available from whatever entity manages game in your state. I then try to find public ground where things are looking pretty good. We are fortunate in Missouri because there is tons of quality public land to hunt, between Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri Department of Conservation Areas, and other public options. I am therefore able to find tracts where it will be possible to get a half mile or more off any established trails or roads, and I think that is important. I use Google Earth, along with any KMZ files available for the area (read this article for more info on using GE and KMZ files for scouting). If I like what I see from there, I order topo maps for the area and put my eyeballs on it. Despite the amazing features with Google Earth, sometimes for example it is hard to distinguish between an open field and a clear cut. In phase two, I am on the ground in the area establishing ideas on hunting spots for the Fall. Starting this during the late Spring or early Summer may seem silly, but the better you know the area, the more productive your hunt is likely to be. Having multiple options for stands (we use climbers) allows you to adjust for changing wind and unexpected hunting pressure. Certainly, as the season approaches, you will want to get back to the area. Get in Shape I am not going to suggest an exercise and diet plan for you, along with the required disclaimer that you should see a doctor before starting such an endeavor. I will say that to hunt public land successfully, requires a certain fitness level. Clearly we believe in gun safety, but there are whole lot more hunters who suffer heart attacks hunting each year than get shot. Besides, it is just a whole lot more fun when we feel good out in the field and are not huffing and puffing after we carry our stand a few hundred yards. Practice with your Rifle or Bow Avoid the temptation to leave your hunting rifle or bow stored away all the months you are not hunting. Set it as a goal not just to be competent, but why not become an expert marksman. Practice enough so that in all reasonable and forseeable circumstances when you raaise your weapon you have supreme confidence in your ability to execute an ethical and clean shot. Spend some time on Maintenance and Repair It is easy to ignore little inconveniences during the season with regard to our gear. Having it in tip-top condition just takes one worry off the table, and gives us a better chance to harvest a deer. Use your owner's manuals from your tree stand, rifle, optics, etc., to develop a plan to get everything in perfect working order. If your rifle or bow needs some tuning that is beyond your comfort level, now's the time to get it in to a gunsmith or bowshop - not the week before the season. Get Involved with an Organization that Protects Public Land Hunting Opportunities In recent years, the second amendment has been vigorously defended, and successfully so. For those of us who in major part need those rights protected so we can hunt, we face a new peril. At the state and federal level, well funded efforts are in play to transfer ownership of vast tracts of public lands eventually into private hands. Here in Missouri, at the state level, we have the Conservation Federation of Missouri working to protect our rights. An nationwide organization that works for these rights is Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Make sure that you and your kids and your grandkids have public land to hunt by joining and participating in one of these groups. Besides, you will get to interact and learn from likeminded outdoors men and women from your area and around the country. #deerhunting #hunting #missourideerhunting

Bell Mountain is one of Missouri's eight wilderness areas and is a relatively short drive from St. Louis. It offers some incredible Ozark beauty, although is technically in the St. Francois Mountains, Missorui's closest thing to a true mountain range. At just over 9,000 acres, it is not monstrous in size, but you will not by any means feel confined if you choose to pay this area a visit. Recently, my son and I made a quick trip down to Bell Mountain, a two hour jaunt from our front door. Without much advance knowledge, we went in pretty open minded and found the area to be much more than we could have hoped. There are two main accesses if you plan to hike to the summit of Bell. One is directly off County Road A in Iron County, the other is off a Forest Service Road that spurs off County Road A. We took the Forest Service Road trailhead as our launching point. To the top is almost exactly 3.5 miles along at worst a moderate hiking trail - quite well maintained. The day we went, there were ten or so Americorp workers on the trail doing maintenance. It was apparently their first Spring foray as we encountered quite a few logs over the trail after we passed them up. The trail starts off flat, and even descends quite a bit of the way until you get about a quarter to a half mile from the top, where it turns uphill, but by no means a tough climb. The outlook from the top is magnificent with views of the surrounding St. Francois Mountains. There is much more to explore in this beautiful area. We just scratched the surface, and will certainly be planning a trip again soon. There are a couple of confusing points on the trail, so get a map before you go as in particular, the trail splits at one point, where if you are trying to get to the top, the wrong choice will add several miles (beautiful ones I am certain) to your trip. Use this KMZ file to look at the trail on Google Earth. #hiking #missouricamping #bellmountainwilderness

Enjoy free fishing at Bennett Spring State Park while taking in the Inaugural Trout Fest event. Bennett Springs, Mo | May 21 - The inaugural Trout Fest is being held during Missouri's Free Fishing Weekend (June 6 & 7) at Bennett Spring State Park. The purpose of the event is to celebrate trout fishing opportunities at Missouri State Parks, while highlighting the importance of conservation. The Department of Conservation is tagging 100 trout per day (200 total) and releasing them into the spring creek. Anglers who catch a tagged trout may bring their tag to the CFM booth to collect the prize attributed to that tag. We will have a large board outlining the prizes. Activities, Tents & Events CFM Tent - The CFM tent will host the prizes to be given away for free to the anglers who catch tagged trout. CFM Grill - CFM will be BBQing and selling sandwiches Fly Tying Tent - The fly tying tent will host tiers working throughout the event for attendees to watch. Seminar Stage - A series of seminars will be conducted throughout the weekend. A full seminar schedule will be released next week. Outdoor Cooking Demonstrations - Cooks will be showcasing outdoor cooking techniques. Fly Rod Casting Competition - A sponsored, competitive fly rod casting competition will occur Saturday. Prizes will be awarded to the best casters?? Movie Screening - An inflatable movie screen will show A River Runs Through It. A Trout Unlimited and CFM video will be screened prior to the movie. Mark Van Patten Seminar - Mark Van Patten is offering a special, limited entry seminar. Bluegrass Music - A live string band will be playing music throughout the weekend. There is no cost to participate in any of the events for Trout Fest, including a limited space presentation by famed fly fisherman, Mark Van Patten. Final details, including the seminar schedule, will be released next week. For more information, visit the event page at www.confedmo.org/trout-fest or email Emma atekessinger@confedmo.org. So bring your friends and family and get ready for a weekend of trout fishing, educational opportunities and an all around good time. #conservationfederationofmissouri #troutfest #bennettspring

It's been a little bit since we have done an update. Here is what you need to know to get out and enjoy the outdoors around Missouri as well as conservation, environmental, and fish and wildlife management news MDC uses computer and satellite technology for deer study Biologists for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) are learning more about white-tailed deer survival, reproduction and movement as a five-year study progresses. The new study utilizes computer, telemetry and satellite technology to track deer in partnership with researchers at the University of Missouri at Columbia (UMC). Researchers are currently tracking 90 deer wearing collars using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Crews from January through March trapped deer and placed collars on them. Transmitters on the collars give satellites readings on a deer’s movements, and biologists are able to download that data to computers. They can map each collared deer’s travels in fields and forests, or if movement stops, note mortality. The trapping was done in one focus area in northwest Missouri and another in the Ozarks. Those study areas will provide deer herd trends statewide for both agriculture and forest areas. The information will help MDC manage the state’s deer herd to benefit people and wildlife. “We want to make sure we’re using the most up-to-date information for current conditions,” said Emily Flinn, MDC deer biologist. “This will help us manage for a sustainable, healthy deer population.” Missourians care about wildlife, and deer hold a special place in the hearts of hunters and wildlife watchers. More than 500,000 Missouri citizens enjoy deer hunting. Deer hunting generates more than $1 billion in the state’s economic activity annually. MDC will use information from the current study to help guide decisions on deer herd management. Survival data will include deer harvested by hunters as well as those dying from other causes. Biologists will use information to help guide policy decisions about regulations and permit allocations, such as how many antlerless deer permits are allowed for a specific county. MDC collects and evaluates data on deer annually. But this is the first extensive tracking research project since the early 1990s. “The deer population was different then,” Flinn said, “and even the hunter population was different back then.” The GPS tracking technology is a centerpiece for the study. GPS transmitters have a battery life of three or four years. Biologists can release the collar at any time from a deer via computer. Trapped deer were also given metal ear tags. Biologists also obtained tissue samples for a DNA database. For some trapped deer, they obtained measurements of hind legs, neck girth or antler size. Anyone finding a deer collar or tag is asked to utilize information on devices to contact MDC. A high-tech component is internal transmitting devices that enable biologists to tell if a doe has given birth to a fawn. MDC staff will be able to find fawns shortly after birth and outfit them with special transmitter collars that expand as the deer grows. The study will not affect hunting. Hunters will be asked to harvest deer as they normally would, even if one has a collar. Harvest mortality is valuable to the study. One deer has already surprised biologists. An adult doe given a collar in early March has traveled more than eight miles. Adult deer are normally expected to roam within about a one-mile home range, Flinn said. “Every day we’re getting more information,” she said. The northwest Missouri portion of the study is focused in rural areas of Nodaway, Gentry, Andrew and DeKalb counties. Concurrently, a similar research is underway in Douglass, Howell, Texas and Wright counties in the southern Missouri Ozarks. The deer research project is funded with assistance from Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Funds. Trash Bash event promotes “No MOre Trash” at Onondaga Cave State Park April 18 The public is invited to do their part to keep unsightly litter from building up on roadways at an event at Onondaga Cave State Park in Leasburg on Saturday, April 18. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Transportation, the event is part of the ongoing No MOre Trash statewide litter awareness campaign. Participants should meet at the visitor center at 10 a.m. The day will begin with a short safety video and distribution of safety vests and trash bags. Participants should bring gloves, wear sturdy boot or shoes and dress appropriately for changing weather conditions. Refreshments will be available for those who participate. Onondaga Cave State Park is located seven miles south of Interstate 44 on State Hwy H. For more information about the event, call the park at 573-245-6576. 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. New nature program series offered for toddlers at Knob Noster State Park A new nature series geared toward children ages 3-6 will begin at Knob Noster State Park on Thursday, April 16. The programs, which will begin at 1 p.m., will include a brief talk, hands on activity, and a craft. Session 1 on April 16 will deal with plants. Session 2 on May 14 will deal with animals. Session 3 on June 18 will deal with habitats and the ecosystems. Session 4 on July 16 will deal with the mysteries of nature. Guests are encouraged to come early enough to enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the park’s picnic areas. Parents should be aware that participants may get a little dirty as they discover the natural world. Preregistration is preferred to ensure enough supplies are available. Knob Noster State Park is located approximately 1.5 miles south of Highway 50 on Highway 23. For more information or to register, call the park at 660-563-2463. For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. MDC offers forest and wildlife workshop in Callaway County Want to improve wildlife on your property? Are you looking to increase your timber yields? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting a forest and wildlife workshop for landowners from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at Bill and Margie Haag's property, 8801 Little Tavern Creek Rd. in Portland, Mo. The workshop is free, however registration is required by April 15. MDC staff will discuss managing woodland landscapes, prescribed fire benefits, ruffed grouse habitat requirements, ways to improve timber, conducting a timber sale, available cost-share programs, and wildlife management. “This workshop will give landowners a better understanding about the benefits of managing wooded areas on their property,” said MDC Private Lands Conservationist Jamie Barton. “Whether it's to increase wildlife on their land or to learn about various land management tools such as prescribed fire, participants will hear about practices that will help them achieve their land management goals.” Lunch will be provided by the Missouri Grouse Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF). To register or for more information call Barton at 573-564-3715, ext. 110. For information about how to improve your property, visit mdc.mo.gov. MDC Cape Nature Center event features live raptors, bird fun, facts and tips From hummingbirds that weigh less than a number two pencil, to bald eagles that build nests weighing two tons, Missouri is full of interesting bird species. Fun facts, feeding tips and species differences will be explored at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center’s upcoming event, Flights of Fancy, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 18. According to Jordanya Brostoski, a naturalist with MDC, there’s plenty of important facts to learn from Missouri’s resident and migrant feathered friends. Brostoski said one important thing to pay attention to is the proper way to feed local birds. Although birds can get by without help from us, helping them along their journey is a great way to assist some who might otherwise struggle, she said. “Even the healthiest birds can have difficulty finding food sources when visiting unfamiliar, urbanized areas,” she said. “Providing birds with clean food and water not only brings us the joy of viewing them but allows them a better chance at survival.” Knowing unique details about the different bird species and what they need helps to ensure people help and don’t harm the birds along their journey. One common mistake that’s made in feeding birds is adding red dye to hummingbird feeders. Although hummingbirds are attracted to bright red objects, it’s better to have red features on the feeder so the birds don’t ingest red dye. Tips like this one will be shared at the Flights of Fancy event. Brostoski said some of the most interesting things about birds are how they’re adapted for the varying lifestyles of different species. “Some have long legs for walking in water, some have sharp beaks for eating meat instead of seeds, some have camouflage that let them hide, and some have the ability to copy the songs of other bird species,”Brostoski said. Brostoski said to expect lots of activities at Flights of Fancy such as family friendly crafts and games. Live bird presentations by the World Bird Sanctuary’s Raptor Awareness Program will occur at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. featuring hawks, owls, eagles and vultures, and naturalists and volunteers will lead guided hikes every 30 minutes. The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center is located within Cape County Park North on Kings Highway in Cape Girardeau. For information on this and other events at the center, go online to mdc.mo.gov/CapeNatureCenter. Volunteer to help MDC with breeding bird survey Calling all bird-lovers and nature enthusiasts. Are you someone who can tell the difference between a Baltimore oriole, indigo bunting, and a scissor-tailed flycatcher? Do you know what a cerulean warbler sounds like? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is in need of volunteers to assist with the 2015 North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). The BBS is a long-term, large-scale, international bird monitoring program that started in 1966. According to MDC Resource Scientist Janet Haslerig, the purpose of the BBS is to track the status and trends of North American bird populations. “Bird populations are subjected to numerous, widespread threats including habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, land-use changes, and other chemical contaminants,” said Haslerig. “If significant declines are detected, their causes can then be identified and appropriate actions taken to reverse them before populations reach critically low levels.” Each year during June—the height of the bird breeding season for most of the U.S.—volunteers collect bird population data along roadside survey routes. Each survey route is 24.5 miles long with stops at 0.5-mile intervals. At each stop, a 3-minute point count is conducted. During the count, every bird seen within a 0.25-mile radius or heard is recorded. Surveys start one-half hour before local sunrise and take about 5 hours to complete. There are currently 15 vacant routes in Missouri that need volunteers. Haslerig said to volunteer a person needs access to suitable transportation, good hearing and eyesight, and the ability to identify all breeding birds in the area. She also stressed that knowing bird songs is extremely important. “Most birds counted on these surveys are singing males,” said Haslerig. All new BBS volunteers must also successfully complete an on-line training program before their data can be used in any BBS analysis. Haslerig hopes surveyors will commit to multiple years of collecting data on the same route. “It helps with the consistency in data collection,” Haslerig said. “And, the volunteer(s) get to know the route and have a good feel of what birds they will encounter.” For more information or to volunteer, contact Janet Haslerig at Janet.Haslerig@mdc.mo.gov or 573-522-4115, ext. 3198. MDC offers Discover Nature Women's Spring Fling The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a Discover Nature Women’s Spring Fling May 1-3 at the Lake Doniphan Conference and Retreat Center at Excelsior Springs, Mo. The Spring Fling offers women training in outdoor skills such as archery, canoeing, using GPS gear, map and compass reading and other activities. MDC will provide gear and hands-on training for beginners. The camp setting offers women an opportunity to sharpen outdoor skills, add new ones or simply enjoy an outdoor retreat. Workshop participants can tailor activities to their interests and skills levels. For example, target archery shooting with bow and arrows will be taught. Instructors will also teach how to properly match gear with the archer, practice tips and how to get started in the sport of bow hunting. Basic fishing skills will be taught from catching fish to how to prepare them for the table. In the canoeing segment, participants will be taught various paddle strokes, safety, water rescue and how to plan a canoe trip on a river. A wild edibles session will be offered to teach about identifying, preparing and serving foods found in nature. A backpacking session will include a short hike and overnight campout. Workshop instruction is free. However, Lake Doniphan does charge for lodging arrangements and meals. Lodging fees will cover all meal costs during the workshop. Lake Doniphan offers campsites, cabins and motel-style rooms. To register or for more information about the Women’s Spring Fling activities or lodging, contact Lisa LaCombe at 816-228-3766, or send an e-mail to lisa.lacombe@mdc.mo.gov. #forest #familyoutdoors #MissouriStatePark #deerhunting #nature #MissouriOutdoors #missourideerhunting

Daniel Boone Conservation Area is the largest in Warren County, Missouri at about 3500 acres. It isn't much to brag about if you compare it to the enormous tracts of public land down in the Ozarks, but by the standards of this part of the state it is a big one. It is mostly forested with just a few smaller water bodies and a few intermittent streams running through it. It is in the Missouri River Hills, giving it an almost mountainous feel. There are two other smaller conservation areas in Warren County - Reifschneider and Little Lost Creek. Daniel Boone is the furthest west, almost to the very western edge of the county. Most of Daniel Boone has been logged in the relatively recent past. It is being managed pretty intensively to try to enhance wildlife habitat and restore something close to the natural mix of woodlands. I was out there today, and met some recent graduates of the University of Missouri-Columbia Forestry program who were doing some contract work cutting smaller trees - it appeared to me really trying to thin the cedars and quite a few sugar maples. I figured they were concentrating on making the forest amenable to better tree growth - in fact their focus was on enhancing the area for ruffed grouse. Ruffed grouse at one time in Warren County were plentiful. Their numbers have declined significantly the past few years. They need more cover to thrive, so the management focus where these young people were working, was to leave the brush they had cut in place. This conservation area already supports a very healthy deer population. It is loaded with habitat suited to perfection for a healthy deer herd, and MDC manages it in a fashion to make certain that they are not over-harvested during the Fall firearms season. Regular regs apply during the bow season. Wherever you look you see sign - tracks, trails, rubs, and scrapes. I will caution you that due to its proximity to STL, it gets pretty busy during the firearms season and the regs are restrictive. Just like any public land, one of the main keys to success deer hunting at Daniel Boone, is being willing to put in the work to get where you are unlikely to encounter crowds. Even when I bowhunt the area, I put some serious real estate between my truck and where I put my climber in a tree. Daniel Boone has some pretty awesome trails for hiking. It is a great place to head out to on a warm Spring day, as I had the pleasure to do today. Take your time and look around as you hike. If you don't go too fast, you see some interesting features. At the bottom I have posted a picturee of a standing dead tree I called the "Dinosaur Tree" as well as a very interesting picture of the inside of a log. Okay, dogs are supposed to be leashed if not used for hunting. I might have slipped a little on this one as you can see in the final picture. Daniel Boone is a great place to get man's best friend out for a romp. These areas are sure a blessing to have in our state. I hope we do not take them for granted. I truly appreciate the public's willingness to support our natural resources, and the way MDC has professionally managed areas like Daniel Boone. I sincerely hope our legislature will come to the realization that the money required to manage these lands and the wildlife in our state is worth the money spent. So if you get a chance to pay a visit to Daniel Boone you now have a bit of an idea of what to expect. For a map and directions, visit our Hunting Conservation Atlas and go down to Warren County. You will see Daniel Boone listed with a link and info on species that can be hunted in the area. Very amateur video on Daniel Boone Conservation Area #DanielBooneConservationArea #RuffedGrouse #MissouriOutdoors #missourideerhunting

Perhaps the biggest news from around the state is that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is again rearing its ugly head. It is likely it never went away completely, but the MDC has made good progress towards ridding the state of infected deer. The big issue is that MDC is having to fight the battle with one hand tied behind its back. Last year, as many will recall, the game farm industry through its lobbyists in Jeff City went to war with the MDC. The battle is not over or decided. There are still numerous bills designed to harm the MDC. You cannot blame MDC for being a little gun shy on imposing the kind of regs that would protect out outdoor legacy, when doing so might cripple their funding and thus their ability to do anything. For more information on the current CWD outbreak, visit MDC REPORTS 11 NEW CASES OF CWD IN MISSOURI DEER. On the topic of MDC, an honor was bestowed on one of MDC's fine conservation agents by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Keith Wollard was honored with being named the NWTF Wildlife Officer of the Year. His photo is shown and if you would like to read more on his award visit KEITH WOLLARD, NWTF WILDLIFE OFFICER OF THE YEAR. MDC continues its efforts to elicit comments on management of its conservation areas. In March, the areas they are soliciting comments on are: Canaan Conservation Area Riverbreaks Conservation Area Gist Ranch & Midvale Conservation Areas John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area Wilbur Allen Conservation Area Woodson K. Woods Memorial Conservation Area Visit their page for conservation plans to learn more and/or comment. Gardening season is coming upon us, thankfully, and a great way to enhance the beauty of your garden and support wildlife, is to plant native plants. Runge Nature Center will have a native plant sale on March 28th from 8am-5pm. For more information, call them at 573-526-5544. If that does not work for you, the State Forest Nursery is having an open house on April 4th. It's located near Licking, Missouri. Reservations are requested - call 573-674-3229 Every year, if you pay attention, you will notice MDC awarding state records to anglers for fish caught in Missouri waters. A lot of these fish are ones that are not your typical gamefish species. Still, some of these records are quite impressive. An angler from Crestwood, Missouri caught an enormous Gizzard Shad that weighed in at 1 lb 14 oz, an increase of a half ound from the previous record. Congrats to John Burke on his catch, and the first state record fish caught in 2015. Read more and view photo at article state record gizzard shad. Springtime is the time when wildlife offspring are often seen running around, and often mom is not right beside her offspring. Many well-meaning folks make the mistake of trying to intervene when they believe a baby animal has been abandoned. In fact, it is likely that this person's presence frightened away the mother for just a brief period of time. By intervening, it is entirely possible that the mom and baby will not reunite. Resist the temptation to intervene and let nature take its course. If you plan to use burning as a management tool, learn to do it right by attending an MDC workshop. It can be a great tool for management, but must be done right for a lot of reasons - obviously safety being one. There is a workshop in Independence on March 31st if that works for you. Registration is required and can be done by calling 816-228-3766, where they can give you additional info. In hunting news, the MDC has announced that pheasant hunting will be expanded to statewide starting in the 2015 Fall season. #chronicwastingdisease #mdc #KeithWollard #missouriconservationarea #gardening #nativeplants #missouristaterecordfish #springtime #prescribedburn #pheasanthunting

Mention the Current River to a lot of people around here and you are likely to have them envisioning boom boxes blaring bad music, jello shots, and chubby white skin, burned red on a hot summer day. When I think of the Current, in my mind's eye I see sparkling clear riffles full of energetic rainbows feeding - those riffles filling deep green pools harboring fat browns waiting for a perfect drift of my streamer tumbled just right, down the little channel that feeds its depths. I fish the upper Current mostly with my youngest son, sometimes with both my sons. We are pretty utilitarian, our gear being a hodge podge of stuff that just works. Those times when I come around a bend to see a fellow fisherman that understands the fashion of the sport in a far more elevated manner than do I, briefly I am mildly self-conscious. But that does not last long. The upper Current in comparison to any fashion I could manage to sport, is so much more magnificent that it reminds me of trying to measure up to the perfection of our Creator. Whether the Current cools me with its 50ish degree waters on a hot summer afternoon or warms me as I wade chest deep on a numbingly cold day, it is always one of nature's true beauties. As those familiar with the Ozarks are aware, some of its beauty is often desecrated by a variety of city and hill folk apparently out of tune with any ethic of the outdoors. If numbing your senses with alcohol and recreational drugs is not the way you enjoy the outdoors, let me suggest that In summer months, you get as far upstream as possible, and experience the river on weekdays if you are able. I am not going to engage in the debate on motorized watercraft on the river, but on the upper portions the roar of a boat motor is not really an option anyhow. Lots of camping options are available to you, either at Montauk State Park, somewhere out in the woods in the Ozark Scenic Riverways, or in a few locations you will have to discover on your own, right along side the river. I have no trouble, wih my eyes closed now, hearing the Current River meander by on a brilliant starry night, as the frogs sing their song, and while I sit with a family member by a small fire. Looking into the fire I hear an owl calling and later a pack of coyotes make this place feel truly wild with their own rendition of the song. We never can know when our last trip to such a place might be. We are truly blessed that this place exists and are even more so when we get to personally experience the place. As I end here, I commit to myself to keep places like this closer to the forefront of my mind. #nature #currentriver #ozarknationalscenicriverways #montaukstatepark #missouritroutfishing #currentrivertroutfishing

Being alone. Being absent of manmade distractions. Is this important? Where can it happen? The perspective of the person asking the question is the key to unlocking the answers. Some percent that is probably too great, calls home and work a place that is a bombardment of stimuli that is unnatural in the sense that it is not what our bodies are accustomed to in an evolutionary sense. Nor is it what our minds are equipped to assimilate. I do not mean anything at all about a division between the under 30 crowd versus the over 30 crowd with regard to being adapted to technology. By the standards of the way biology adapts over time it is unlikely we have begun to adapt to the realities of electricity and electric lighting. The idea that younger peoples' bodies and psyches would be better adapted to bombardment of stimuli such as what we see today is highly doubtful. For thousands of years and much longer, human reality has hummed along in a vastly different way than it does today. Hunters and gatherers or farmers spent vast amounts of time either in solitary activity or at least very quietly - by necessity. What's more, because the Earth was simply far less densely populated, it was naturally the case that people were not forced to exist quite so much right on top of each other. Some people say that urban areas are just not natural, and that seemingly is literally the truth. So, what is one to do? I simply cannot function in a healthy manner on any level without replacing some of the time outdoors that would have come naturally up until the last 100 years or so. It does not necessarily have to be much. In fact, during the week, Monday through Friday, I typically am only able to get out an hour or so often as part of an exercise routine. You might say you do not have time for that in your life. But you do - it is just a matter of priorities. What's more, if for example you feel some pangs of guilt if you are desiring to spend time by yourself for a short time without kids or spouses, the tradeoff is a potentially much better quality of life when you are back with them. One of the new things that represents a threat to our times of solitiude in the outdoors is all the electronics and gadgets that are marketed to the outdoorsman. The idea of having a communication device outdoors is certainly a measure that can provide safety in a dangerous situation. But, I constantly see tweets from guys and gals as the hunt, fish, hike, and camp. What is going on there? Does anyone really think it is necessary to provide blow-by-blow information as it happens in real time? It seems to me that this kind of behavior displays an apparent sense of self importance that might be a little unwarranted. There is a lot of "look at me" going on there. Why not take a few pictures,or maybe some video, and then tell us about it after you get back. Our family spends a lot of time in the outdoors...either as family outings or as individuals. It is so important for all of us. Even when we are all "together," just as the natural rythm of the way things turn out when we head out, we get our times of solittude. When we are deer hunting, heaven knows there are long hours sitting alone in a climbing tree stand. When we fish an Ozark or mountain West stream, we spread out and find our own little stretches of water and get back together every so often. When we are camping and hiking, we have our own activities we head off to do and some we do together. For all of these things, I cannot imagine a better time than sitting around a campfire at the end of a long day - dead tired - talking about the day, and inevitably circling around to talking about how iinvaluable these times are for all of us in coping with the daily routines of crazy lives. I won't feel right about ending this until I make a short case for how important preservation of public land is for the general good of all. Even if you are not entirely on board with the importance of what I describe here for you, perhaps to some degree it makes sense to you that it is almost life-or-death for some of us. Much of the outdoor activities done by folks is done on public land of some kind. Perhaps it is a neighborhood park, or it could be something like Missouri's incredible Kaity Trail system, it could be state land, or it could be federal land. This land is NOT unproductive. Land that is designated as wilderness is not failing to fulfill it's potential. Not all potential is directly measurable in dollars and cents. Even if you are at the extreme of not caring to what extent this kind of land preserves the environment, it may be helpful to know that for many, having it available allows those who utilize it for hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking to come back to our regular lives far better able to be productive and pleasant to be around.

New Regulations Out New booklets are out for fishing, hunting, and trapping...there is one specially for Spring turkey hunting. Visit mdc.mo.gov/node/3657 for the hunting and trapping book, mdc.mo.gov/node/6108 for fishing, mdc.mo.gov/node/4066 for Spring turkey for the digital versions, or visit a location that sells permits to get a paper version. SW Missouri News Get the most recent issue of the MDC newsletter for the region here. If you are looking for upcoming outdoor events in the area click here. Management News Many folks would like the opportunity to chime in on conservation management, and the MDC is seeking that input. They really fo listen. Canaan Conservation Area is in mid-MO not far from Columbia. If you'd like to read about current management here, and have an opportunity to make suggestions, click here. Opportunities to Learn Outdoor Skills and about Management Practices or just get Outdoors The MDC is offering a grant workshop for parties interested in tree enhancement and management in Cape Girardeau on March 27th. Get more information here. A whitetail deer management workshop will be held in Jamesport, Missouri on March 7th. MDC staff will discuss how to manage land for trophy deer, urban deer management, disease issues, woodland management for white-tails, early successional plant management to benefit wildlife, technical assistance and cost share programs, and proposed deer hunting regulation changes. Participants are asked to register by March 4. To register, call Scott Roy at 660-359-5685, ext. 114, or Nate Mechlin at 660-663-3703, ext. 3. MDC is offering a "Deer Damage Workshop" down at Cape on March 17th and registration is required by the 13th. This workshop helps landowners balance the benefits of having deer on their property with ways to mitigate and reduce the damage they can do. Call (573) 290-5218 for more info and to register. March 16th the MDC will discuss deer hunting reg change possibilities in Columbia. The meeting is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 16 at the MDC Central Regional Office, 3500 E. Gans Road in Columbia. There will be a guided "Bison Hike" at Prairie State Park on March 7th. This Missouri State Park is located not far northeast of Springfield down in SW Missouri. Call 417-843-6711 for more information. #deerhunting #PrairieStatePark #ConservationArea #MissouriStatePark #MissouriDepartmentofConservation

About a year ago to the day I was weighing in at a trim 273 lbs. Now granted, I am in the 6'3" range and am not a small guy even in perfect shape. But at age 50, even though I was very active, I was checking off about every risk factor I could find for a "pop and drop" - likely to occur on a hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping expedition with people who love me and would be a little aggravated at my unwillingness to make basic lifestyle changes. So I did. I won't bore you with too many details, but I will simply say I made some hard choices on what I eat and added by the end of last summer before having to go back to work teaching, an hour of running per day. I lost 50 pounds. My hunting season was infinitely more pleasant, if not productive. I had not realized my ability to cruise through the woods had deteriorated so vastly until it became so much easier in a relative short period of time. I honestly believe that relative to where I was at the beginning of the process, my body is perhaps 15 years younger. Over the winter I have lost a little ground - that means I have gained a bit of the weight back...5 pounds. So where do I go from here? I decided in the Fall while watching my son David run a half marathon I would join him in 2015. Now that actually means I will see him at the start briefly, and an hour or so after he is done, I will be right behind him. I have now redoubled my efforts and am andeavoring between now and then to lose another 30 pounds. That will put me at the weight I was when I met my wife...a humorous thought. If you are the type that makes resolutions to do things like this, and tell anyone about it, prepare to be ridiculed. I was told at the beginning that I would ruin my joints and given a myriad of other dire warnings. But my doc signed off enthusiastically on the plan, and that was good enough. Today, I was attempting to explain to my coworkers what I was doing - some of them have run multiple half marathons this year. My plan was me with derision. My reaction... I thanked them graciously for the added motivation they had provided me. I assure you, that God willing, I will run every step of my plan to prepare for this Fall's run. The real deal is that I am working hard to make my time in the field with my family, doing the things I love and they love, the best it can be for the longest time possible. I promise you that I have no desire for six pack abs and I will not post before and after pictures. I don't have them to post. That's not what it is all about. #outdoors #running #fitness #family #aging

Maybe it's a bad idea to make comparisons when it comes to the natural world. It all has it's unique qualities and each person experiences a place in their own way. Peck however has meant a great deal to our family personally, and has also played a central role in the conservation of various species of animal and plant life and is set in as beautiful a region as Missouri has to offer. It is very large in size at 20,000 acres plus, and is filled with an abundance of wildlife - some of which either only found in Peck, or at least rarely encountered elsewhere. Part of the cool aspect of Peck Ranch is the part it has played in reintroducing extirpated species to the state of Missouri. Currently, elk have been reintroduced to the wildlife portion of Peck, and their numbers are growing. There is even some talk of an eventual hunting season for elk as a means of controlling their population. Turkeys were once so rare in Missouri that they were rarely encountered. Their return to prominence started in Peck and then distributed throughout the state over time to where now Missouri has an abundant population. It is unlikely in reality that the same plan can take place for elk - it may be the case that their population remains only in th It is not uncommon for black bear to be spotted in Peck. During a youth managed hunt I had brought my son to perhaps 10 years ago, a father and son took some fine video of a black bear in the conservation area. There is abundant deer and all the species you would expect. Many nights we have ben awakened from our tent camping by packs of coyotes singing their songs. The terrain in Peck is incredible. Having grown up in the West, the Ozarks do not really qualify in my mind as mountains. But by "Lower 48" standards, the area is true wilderness. It butts up against tracts of Mark Twain National Forest, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and several other very large conservation areas like Rocky Creek and Current River. Peck faces challenges. I very much respect the locals in the area, but too many times we have encountered illegal hunting such as deer being driven by dogs. In fact, when we hunt the area in the Fall, more often than not, we encounter hounds running deer through the woods, or at least hear the telltale signs. I know it is an Ozark tradition and would not relish the idea of being a conservation agent trying to enforce the rules. Some nights we have seen evidence of what we thought were spotlighters traveling the many illegal roads that have been established by ATV travel which is itself not supposed to occur in the area. Management considerations are constantly in a delicate balance with selective logging and burns. All-in-all, it seems to me that the MDC does a pretty good job doing the best they can. More personally, some of the best outdoor experences I have had with my family have occurred in and around Peck. Camping in the short leaf pine forested campground is something special for sure. Nearby Rocky Falls is about the best swimming hole I have ever seen. It is a short distance to the Jacks Fork River and the Current River. A portion of the Ozark Trail cuts through Peck. The vista form Stegall Mountains firetower is amazing. If you live In Missouri and love the outdoors, plan a trip to Peck. Bring your family and I do believe you too willfind it a magical place. #peckranch #missouriconservationarea #missourielk #missouricamping #shortleafpine #outdoors #missourihunting #missourifishing