SEPTEMBER 2016 - VOL 77 | NO. 5

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

The Voice for Missouri Outdoors SEPTEMBER 2016 - VOL 77 | NO. 5

Director’s Message

CLC Students Put Boots on the Ground and Clean Trash from Current River

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he Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) is a Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) program for engaging high school and college students in conserving Missouri’s natural resources.

The program trains students to become tomorrow’s conservation leaders. This includes boots on the ground efforts, which some CLC students enjoyed this summer at a Stream Team cleanup on the Current River.

The CLC cleanup gathered 14 people including students, staff and volunteers. We were pleased to see very little trash along the river, which made the competition for collecting litter more intense. There were canoe races to the bank for any little piece of garbage and dives into deep holes to scour for old cans.

Our CLC Stream Team floated from Pulltite to Round Spring. Collectively, we didn’t pickup enough trash to fill one of the big green Stream Team sacks carried by each boat.

I think the lack of trash is a testament to Missourians care and appreciation of our gorgeous rivers, resulting from increased efforts by our state agencies and conservation organizations to encourage folks to take more pride in our rivers and not litter.

“The CLC Stream Team Current River float was a blast.

Everyone had tons of fun scanning the water, gravel bars and aquatic plants for litter and seeing beautiful wildlife such as mink, waterthrush and kingfisher along the way,” said CLC president, Ashley Hollis. “Working together students and CFM members enjoyed a little friendly competition, seeing which canoe pairs ended up with the most litter at the end of the float. It was a great day with friends and natural beauty, made even more satisfying knowing we were doing our part to keep one of Missouri’s natural treasures pristine.”

CFM recently added a new full-time position to lead our organization’s youth programs. Jen Sampsell, a former high school science teacher, is now the CFM Education and Outreach Coordinator.

Students enjoyed the CLC Stream Team float this summer to help clean up the Current River. (Photo: Brandon Butler)

“As CLC expands expectations are increasing. It is important to get students engaged and actively involved in their communities. My goal is for the students to develop and lead conservation events of their choosing in their communities. When students create events like the Stream Team cleanup, we are giving them a chance to make a real difference,” Sampsell said.

Facing continued urban sprawl and significant population increases across our country, it is essential to pass on a strong conservation ethic to the next generation. CLC offers students a unique opportunity to influence conservation policy and actions at a young age, that they’ll hopefully continue to do.

“The students who participated in the cleanup already want to come back and do more. We offer students opportunities to help out at CFM events, Prairie Fork Conservation Area work days, and other activities.

CLC is a great learning experience with something for everyone's diverse interests,” Sampsell said.

If you know a student who would benefit by being part of the CLC, encourage them to apply. Students must be juniors in high school through seniors in college.

Applications are available on the CFM website at www.confedmo.org, or by calling CFM at 573-634-2322.

Brandon Butler Executive Director, CFM SEPTEMBER - 2016

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CONTENTS

Conservation Federation September 2016 - V77 No. 5

Features

OFFICERS Ron Coleman

President

Gary Van De Velde

1st Vice President

Mossie Schallon

2nd Vice President

Richard Mendenhall Secretary Randy Washburn

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20 20

40

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The Best Days Nothing compares to teaching a child the joy of fishing.

Those days will last in your memory forever, as the best days.

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Traverse City: Michigan's Outdoor Adventure Capital

Treasurer

STAFF Brandon Butler

Executive Director & Editor

Rehan Nana

Director of Corporate Relations

Micaela Haymaker

Director of Operations

Laurie Coleman

Membership Director

Jennifer Sampsell

Education & Outreach Coordinator

Emma Kessinger

Creative Director

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE

Traverse City has abundant outdoor opportunities for tourists and locals alike. Whatever season it may be, this is the place to visit.

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Leave The Leaves As fall approaches, leaves provide great habitat for numerous wildlife species. Missourians can help by leaving the leaves.

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Rethinking Rubs As hunting season approaches, now is the time to start preparing for your next big hunt. It's never to early to brush up on your scouting tips.

Departments 3 6 8 10

23 32

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Director’s Message Business Alliance Spotlight President's Message Member News Member Memories New Members Gear Guide Calendar Affiliate Spotlight Agency News

CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Highlights 17 26 28 39 44 45

Wildgame Recipe CLC Calls For Applications CFM Event Recap: Boonville & Columbia Parks & Soils Tax Renewal Kyle Lairmore Receives Award From NSSF Missouri Trails To Hike

CFM Mission: To ensure conservation of Missouri’s wildlife and natural resources, and preservation of our state’s rich outdoor heritage through advocacy, education and partnerships.

Conservation Federation is the publication of the Conservation Federation of Missouri (ISSN 1082-8591). Conservation Federation (USPS 012868) is published bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, September and November for subscribers and members.

Of each member’s dues, $10 shall be for a year’s subscription to Conservation Federation.

Periodical postage paid in Jefferson City, MO and additional mailing offices.

Send address changes to: LColeman@confedmo.org | 573-634-2322

FRONT COVER Traditional Longbow Archery Credit: James Wrigley Copyright: JamesWrigleyPhotography

Business Alliance

Thank you to all of our Business Alliance members.

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Alps OutdoorZ Diamond Pet Foods Enbridge, Inc. MidwayUSA Redneck Blinds Riley Chevrolet Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC Weston Products United Country Real Estate

Burgers’ Smokehouse Custom Metal Products CZ-USA Doolittle Trailer Forrest Keeling Nursery G&W Meat & Bavarian Style Sausage Co. G3 Boats Learfield Communication, Inc. Lilley’s Landing Resort & Marina

Logboat Brewing Lowe Boats Missouri Humanities Council Missouri Wildflowers Nursery National Feather-Craft Co. Pure Air Natives, Inc. SportDOG Brand Starline, Inc. Tiger Hotel

Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. Huzzah Valley Resort Inn at Grand Glaize James T. Blair IV Missouri Wine & Grape Board

NW Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. Sierra Bullets, LLC Walter Knoll Florist

General Printing Service Greenbrier Wetland Services Grundy Electric Cooperative, Inc. HMI Fireplace Spot Hulett Heating & Air Conditioning J&B Outdoors Kansas City Parks and Recreation Kleinschmidt’s Western Store Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative Lew’s Fishing Meramec Bison Farm, LLC Midwest Mailing Service Missouri Conservation Pioneers

Missouri Credit Union Missouri Deer Classic Missouri Teardrops MTAR Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. REMAX Boone Realty Shade Tree Service, Inc. St. Joseph Harley Davidson Tabor Plastics Company Tanks Pawn & Gun Truman’s Bar & Grill United Electric Cooperative, Inc. White River Valley Electric Cooperative

Bronze Ameren Missouri Association of Missouri Electric Coop.

Black Widow Custom Bows, Inc. Drury Hotels Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Iron 3 Creeks Outdoor Group Advantage Metals Recycling Bass Pro Shops (Independence) Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Blue Springs School District Blue Springs Park and Recreation Bob McCosh Chevrolet Buick GMC Brown Printing Cap America Central Bank Columbia Daily Tribune Dickerson Park Zoo Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Association

Learn how your business can benefit from supporting conservation by contacting Rehan Nana at 573-634-2322 or RNana@confedmo.org.

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Business Alliance

ALPS Brands – A Homegrown History

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very morning as the sun begins to peak over the treetops in the small, Midwestern town of New Haven, Missouri, the sound of gravel crunching under car tires rings in the start of another day at the headquarters of ALPS Brands.

As employees emerge from the wooded gravel drive they are greeted with the picturesque, Midwestern setting that ALPS Brands calls home. The tan and green buildings that encompass the ALPS compound literally work their way up the hill and through the woods from the original headquarters building, evidence this is a company that started from modest beginnings and added space as their growth required it.

Founded in the early 1990’s by industry veteran Dennis Brune, ALPS Brands (then known by Active Lifestyle Products & Services) was a one man operation run out of the back room of Brune’s home.

Today you can still find ALPS Brands’ corporate headquarters on the same piece of property where it all began. However, the operation has grown quite a bit from those humble beginnings, and now encompasses several office buildings and various warehouses both on the original piece of property, and down the highway in the local township.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Today, ALPS Brands is the parent company of several outdoor brands, all specializing in a particular category of outdoor recreation. The oldest and original brand is ALPS Mountaineering. Other brands ALPS has expanded to include ALPS OutdoorZ, the licensing of Browning Camping and Cedar Ridge. It most recently partnered with Delta Waterfowl.

“I started ALPS Mountaineering with the mission of providing more gear for more people,” said Dennis Brune, president and founder of ALPS Brands, “Our gear is consumer designed, which equates to high quality gear that you can expect to get a lifetime of use out of,” said Brune.

This consumer friendly approach doesn’t stop with ALPS’ pricing strategy. The company takes pride in its business processes from start to finish. ALPS Brands’ four core pillars of corporate philosophy can be defined as follows: Performance Oriented Products with Consumer Designs – The Company firmly believes that their best designs come from consumer feedback, and this has been a key factor in their success. “We never expect our first design to be perfect,” said Zach Scheidegger, ALPS product design manager. “We know there are going to be things that our consumers will have suggestions on to make our products better, and we truly value that consumer feedback.”

Business Alliance Tough Durable Construction – ALPS Brands uses only the highest quality raw materials in their products.

“We send out products with people rafting the Grand Canyon, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and hunting the rough and rugged backcountry of the American west to make sure our products perform in varied environments,” said Adam Brune, ALPS product design manager.

Consumer Friendly Pricing – ALPS Brands’ defining philosophy, that great gear doesn’t have to expensive, has been at the heart of what the company has stood for from the very beginning. “We believe a comfortable pack, chair, tent, sleeping bag or any other piece of outdoor recreational equipment doesn’t need to be expensive,” said Dennis Brune.

Outstanding Customer Service - The company staffs and trains their customer service team with knowledgeable and friendly folks that can quickly and easily help consumers with any questions they may have regarding products they may have already purchased, or products they’re looking to purchase.

In 2016 the company plans to launch the first expansion to the Extreme line, which will include five new items as well as improvements to the 2015 Extreme models. It will extend the Extreme line into several new product categories, including luggage, hunting vests, and optics harnesses.

To learn more about this Missouri based company and to learn more about each of the brands within the company, visit www.alpsbrands.com.

Frank Hemmer Marketing & PR - ALPS Brands

EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

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SEPTEMBER - 2016

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President’s Message

NWF and A Moose on Main Street

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s we enter the “Dog Days of Summer” and begin to reflect on just where the heck our summer has gone, we also find ourselves starting to plan for what the upcoming fall season may hold for us beyond school, work, a good harvest and lots of yard work.

Hopefully, in advance of cooler temperatures, changing foliage colors and shorter days, you will still allow some time to get outside and enjoy our great Missouri Outdoors. It is hard to beat Missouri when it comes to hiking or camping in one of our many beautiful state parks, hunting on one of our well-managed conservation areas or floating a free flowing Ozarks stream.

Reflecting on my own summer I feel most fortunate to have traveled widely this year: statewide, nationally and internationally. I have enjoyed our Ozark mountain rivers and lakes, hiked in the Rockies and trekked through the Alps of Germany with my family. No matter the outdoor pursuit or venue, I always think about Missouri and how fortunate we are to have conserved so much public land for the enjoyment of both people and wildlife. Our conservation and public land practices here in Missouri are a model for many other states and nations.

In addition to serving as CFM president, I have served as one of the affiliate representatives for Missouri to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) for the past decade. My NWF role has allowed me the opportunity to attend the NWF Annual Meeting each year where all 50 of the NWF state affiliate organizations come together to help shape NWF policy through a resolutions process. This year NWF delegates acted on 12 key resolutions to further protect our wildlife and outdoor resources for today and for future generations. Such actions have made me very proud of the important work that CFM addresses each and every day for conservation.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

One of the first such gatherings of conservationists, sportsmen, recreationists and wildlife enthusiasts was held 80 years ago in Washington D.C. 1936 was the same year that CFM was established to help take conservation out of politics and protect our natural resources. In June of this summer the 80th meeting of NWF was held at the YMCA of the Rockies-Estes Park Center.

The YMCA of the Rockies is a wonderful facility situated directly adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to our NWF business meetings, there was some time for a short hike or for observing the hundreds of excited youth taking part in outdoor activities such as archery, fishing, hiking, camping, or rafting. Seeing children and teens so engaged in the outdoors made our work as NWF delegates representing our respective states seem even more relevant.

As we were leaving the conference headed for our next destination on the other side of the mountains, my wife and I drove though a small Colorado lakeside tourist mecca only to find people of all ages gathered on the lake-front directly across from the local Dairy Queen eating ice cream and watching a big bull moose browsing on vegetation along the main street. The crowd, with us included, was elated to view such a magnificent animal so up close and personal.

You could say that it was a great ending to a great conference where CFM was at the table and our collective national focus was on celebrating 80 years of wildlife conservation. I encourage you and your family to celebrate and enjoy our Missouri wildlife and outdoor heritage this fall.

Yours in Conservation, Ron Coleman President, CFM

A LITTLE CHANGE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE A few cents here and there may not seem like much.

But your contributions to The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund really add up.

A tax-exempt organization, the Fund works tirelessly at lobbying and advocacy for conservation and promotion of hunting, fishing, camping, boating and other outdoor activities. Thanks to your donations, children across North America have the opportunity to enjoy their first experiences in the outdoors through hands-on education programs. The valuable skills and principles learned by these young men and women will help ensure a thriving great outdoors for generations to come.

We at Cabela’s truly appreciate your generosity toward a cause dear to us all.

The Outdoor Fund is a tax-exempt organization dedicated to the promotion of conservation and of hunting, fishing, camping, boating and other outdoor sporting and recreational activities. The Fund engages primarily in lobbying and advocacy for these activities. The Fund is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the Fund are not deductible as charitable contributions under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Member News

Member Memories

(Top) Submitted by Ron Coleman: Travis Coleman hikes in the Alps with Ron, Rhonda and Cuddles. Even the smallest critters need to stay hydrated.

(Left) Submitted by Paul Davis: A magnificent Missouri bull elk stands proudly.

(Top) Submitted by Scott Heminger: Big or small, Spring or Fall, you can find me in the outdoors.

(Bottom) Submitted by Nathan McLeod: There’s no better way to spend a summer’s day than catching big browns on the Current River.

(Left) Submitted by Darren Haverstick: An avid black powder hunter, Darren Haverstick shows some young-n-tenders he collected for the frying pan.

Share your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and they could be published in the next issue!

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

ConFedMo

Member News

WELCOME MEMBERS

NEW CFM

John Kelley, Lees Summit

Mark Rowden, Lebanon

Adam Kunkel, Columbia

Kent Rupp, Palmyra

Kale Laughlin, Jefferson City

Richard Rush, Oak Grove

James Behan, Dunnegan

Dan Fessler, Fulton

Jeremy Loy, Kansas City

Jim Schepers, Columbia

Beau Benskin, Paris

Ryan Fessler, Fulton

Michael Marsh, Rolla

Doug Schmid, Holts Summit

AJ Branstetter, Licking

Kenny Finley, Columbia

Tom Martin, Slater

Trent Schroeder, Palmyra

London Brown, Slater

Austin Fonda, Lebanon

Heather McKague, Linn

Ross Smith, Columbia

Zach Bruemmer, Jefferson City

Jim Gerling, Jefferson City

Nathan McLeod, Columbia

Steven Smith, Monroe City

Rick Brunholtz, Columbia

Richard Gerling, Jefferson City

Matt Mehmert, Columbia

Michael Steenbergen, Jefferson City

Richard Bryson, Gilliam

Tim Gibler, Jefferson City

Troy Miller, Columbia

Robert Sullivan, Portland

Patrick Burnett, Sedalia

Douglas Ginter, New Franklin

Russell Moon, Sweet Springs

Lisa Tanner, Springfield

Doug Campbell, Springfield

Renee Hahne, Columbia

Jason Neuman, Saint Louis

Tom Terwilliger, LaMonte

Ryan Cokerham, Columbia

John Haley, Saint Louis

Russell Nichols, Columbia

Charlie Toalson, Columbia

Darlene Davis, Union

Kirk Hansen, Springfield

Cody Nickels, Raymondville

Brian Umbenhower, Nixa

Wayne Deneke, Cape Girardeau

Danny Hartman, Saint Louis

Jeff Pardeck, Branson

Nathan Walls, Ashland

Stu DeVore, Columbia

Ethan Haslag, Versailles

Debby Pearsall, Clark

Steve Weise, Columbia

Vince Donze, Kansas City

Robert Hayden, Sedalia

Jim Peck, Columbia

Brad Werdehausen, Holts Summit

Rich Duffner, Mexico

Jim Hayes, Boonville

Waif Rackley, Sullivan

Tim Werdehausen, New Bloomfield

Evan Egley, Fenton

Blake Hees, Eldon

Harold Reeder, Harrisburg

Adam Winter, Columbia

Troy Eichelberger, California

Preston Hees, Eldon

Dan Ripperger, Mound City

Jim Winter, Columbia

Timothy Eisler, Liberty

Steve Hogan, Mexico

Samuel Roberts, Columbia

Scott Wiser, Jefferson City

Ryan Enliss, Columbia

Matthew Jacobs, Hallsville

Josh Robins, Russellville

Luke Young, Boonville

Eric Falter, Freeburg

Zach Jones, Salisbury

Jerry Rosslan, Jefferson City

Scott Young, Columbia

Thank you to the 253 members who renewed since our last publication.

The importance of your motor running well, especially in tournament fishing, is to get you there quicker. Spend more time fishing instead of more time traveling. That’s why Crappie Masters supports gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol - a fuel made from corn grown in America.

Mike Vallentine, Crappie Masters President

Get the truth about ethanol. www.mocorn.org 2014 Crappie Mag_Half Page.indd 1

11/5/2014 1:00:44 PM

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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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.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Member News

Gear Guide Hunting Bucket Combo Peregrine Field Gear has created the Cadillac of hunting buckets. Featuring three separate pockets capable of holding up to five boxes of shotgun shells, two insulated water bottle holders, a padded back pad and shoulder straps. The kit comes complete with a 5-gallon bucket perfect for storing dove decoys, dog collars, or lunch. The comfortable Big Bear Silent Spin Seat provides excellent range of motion. www.peregrinefieldgear.com

YETI Rambler Series The Rambler series of drink-ware is the first line of Yeti's you can fit in your hand. They are over-engineered to be virtually indestructible and keep your drink as cold (or hot) as science allows. With 18/8 stainless steel construction, double-wall vacuum insulation, and No Sweat™ Design, they’re perfect for the deer lease, cleaning table, or just the times in between your outdoor adventures. www.yeti.com

Rod Vault Pro The Denver Outfitters Rod Vault delivers style, performance and the added convenience of being able to rig up your rods the night before your trip, put them in your DORV-PRO, lock it down, and get on your way as early as possible for the fullest day of fishing. The Rod Vault PRO is the #1 selling fly rod carrier on the market. Built from the highest quality aircraft grade aluminum and high quality Polycarbonate resins, the Rod Vault ensures security and superior protection for your fly fishing rods and reels. The Rod Vault PRO gives you the ability to carry up to three fully assembled and rigged fly rods up to 10.5 feet in length conveniently on the top of any vehicle. www.denveroutfitters.com

Chaco Brio Boots Chaco creates premium footwear and accessories for the outdoor-minded, and believes life is enriched through outdoor adventure, travel and community. Brio Boots are perfect for your next adventure.

The Brio is a mid-height boot with an oiled full-grain leather upper, rolled cuff detailing, and waxy round cotton laces. Built with Chaco’s long-lasting LUVSEAT™ comfort and support, and finished off with a rugged EcoTread™ out sole, the Brio is ready for town or trail. www.chacos.com

GlenDel Targets Standing 37” tall at the shoulders, The GlenDel Full-Rut Buck is the largest 3-D deer target on the market. If you hunt big bucks, this is the archery target you need to practice on. GlenDel’s open layered polyfusion technology provides longer target life and easy arrow removal. Easier arrow removal means less shooter fatigue, so you'll experience higher quality practice sessions. The GlenDel Full-Rut Buck accepts replaceable vital inserts for longer target life. www.glendel.com

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Member News

CALENDAR UPCOMING AFFILIATE EVENTS AUDUBON SOCIETY OF MISSOURI SEP 3: Birding Event - Hummingbird Banding, Onondaga Cave State Park (10am - 12pm) SEP 4: Birding Event - Hummingbird Banding, Montauk State Park (9am - 12pm) SEP 23-25: Fall Meeting, Camp Clover Point - Lake Ozarks State Park, Kaiser BURROUGHS AUDUBON SOCIETY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY SEP 3: Field Trip - Weston Bend State Park (7:30am); Al Schirmacher (763) 257-9121 SEP 6: Great Missouri Birding Trail, Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, Kansas City (6:45pm) SEP 7: Insects and Spiders, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (3pm) SEP 9: Monarchs and Milkweed, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (10am) SEP 10: Fall Native Plant Sale, Backyard Bird Center, Kansas City (9am - 2pm) SEP 15: Insects and Spiders, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (3pm) SEP 17: Monarchs and Milkweed, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (10am) OCT 4: Native Plants of Jerry Smith Park, Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, Kansas City (6:45pm) OCT 5: Owls and Bats, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (3pm) OCT 7: Poisonous Plants, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (3pm) OCT 13: Owls and Bats, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (10am) OCT 15: Poisonous Plants, Burroughs Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary, Blue Springs (10am) GATEWAY CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED OCT 5: Membership Meeting, Mike Duffy's, Kirkwood (6:30pm) GREENWAY NETWORK SEP 12: Board Meeting, St. Peters (7 - 9pm) SEP 18: Great Rivers Paddle & Pedal Series, Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area (10am - 3pm)

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

SEP 24: National Public Lands Day, Riverlands, West Alton (11:30am - 3:30pm) OCT 1: Great Rivers Paddle & Pedal Series, Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area (10am - 3pm) OCT 3: Board Meeting, St. Peters (7 - 9pm) OCT 12: Big Muddy Speaker Series (6 - 8:30pm) OCT 16: Fall Dardenne Creek Monitoring Day (7:30am - 2pm) MID MISSOURI TROUT UNLIMITED SEP 3: George Daniel Presentation, Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building Auditorium - University of Missouri, Columbia (9am - 12pm) MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DUCK HUNTERS ASSOCIATION SEPT 14: Monthly Meeting, American Legion Hall, Brentwood (7:30pm) OCT 12: Monthly Meeting, American Legion Hall, Brentwood (7:30pm) MISSOURI BASS ASSOCIATION SEP 18: 3rd Annual Fall Classic, Pomme De Terre (6am - 3pm) MISSOURI DUCKS UNLIMITED SEP 5: Grand River Give Away, Chillicothe (12 - 10pm); David Hamilton (660) 646-0825 SEP 10: Osage Dinner, Community Center, Loose Creek (5:30 - 10pm); Dale Williams (573) 690-9676 SEP 17: Carthage Dinner, Memorial Hall, Carthage (6 - 9:30pm); Jason Hill (417) 850-5111 SEP 17: Mineral Area Dinner, Bonne Terre (5:30 - 10pm); Justin Raith (573) 783-9784 SEP 22: Saint Louis Sponsor Event, The Coronado, Saint Louis (5:30 - 10pm); Jane Bell (314) 570-1040 SEP 24: Joplin Dinner, Red Door Event Center, Webb City (5:30 - 9:30pm); Andy Queen (417) 392-0547 OCT 1: Parkville Dinner, Athletic Complex, Parkville (6 - 9:30pm); Dan Mason (816) 377-0696 OCT 6: Columbia Dinner, Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia (5:30 - 10pm); Todd Wetton (816) 914-7294 OCT 8: Swampeast Annual Sportsman's Banquet and Auction, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Sikeston (6 - 10pm); Andy Pipenbrok (573) 380-4580

OCT 15: Greenheads Annual Sportsman's Banquet and Auction, Elks Lodge, Dexter (6 - 10pm); Shawn Lloyd (573) 421-7286 OCT 15: Marmaton Valley Dinner, Eagles Lodge, Nevada (6 - 9:30pm); Brian Conroy (417) 321-9186 OCT 22: Saint Joseph Sportsman's Night Out, Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph (6 10pm); Chris Thompson (816) 383-2410 OCT 27: Lake Ozarks Dinner, The Exchange, Camdenton (6 - 10pm); Jodi Moulder (573) 216-1195 MISSOURI HUNTING HERITAGE FEDERATION SEP 10-11: Youth Hunter Education Clinic Dove Hunt, Settle's Ford Conservation Area SEP 24-25: Youth Hunter Education Clinic Chukar Hunt, Baier's Den, Peculiar SEP 29: Sportsman's Gala, Alexander Major's Barn (6 - 9pm) OCT 1: 6th Annual Shoot for the Future, Powder Creek Shooting Park (9 - 10am) MISSOURI NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION SEP 1: Sho-Me Gun Bash, Shrine Mosque, Springfield; Kevin Hess (417) 541-7447 SEP 1: Wheelin' Sportsman's Dove Hunt, Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area, East Prairie; Larry Neal (314) 334-4942 SEP 9: Little Dixie Longbeards, Steinman's Banquet Hall, Mexico; Ben & Alice Doerge (573) 473-7009 SEP 10: St. Louis Sponsor Event, Anheuser Busch Mansion, Saint Louis; Matt Ludwig (314) 853-4424 SEP 10: Woods Event, Lake Wappapello; Tonya Winters (870) 371-8628 SEP 13: Current River Callers Jack Fork Jakes, Rover Gun Club, West Plains; Troy McAfee (573) 325-4475 SEP 17: St. Louis Longbeards Jakes Event, Busch Wildlife Conservation Area, Saint Charles; Mitchell Norris (314) 496-4180 SEP 17: A Day Fishing Wheelin' Sportsman's Event, Park, Rolla; Joseph Malters (573) 364-1550 SEP 17: Jakes Take Aim Carman Springs Longbeards, Fosters Outback, Willow Springs; Terry Newton (417) 469-2881 SEP 24: Walter Buehmer Jakes Event, Busch Wildlife Conservation Area, St. Charles; Jeff Beumer (314) 222-2222 OCT 1: See's Creek Strutters, Knights of Columbus, Monroe City; Chris Kleindienst (573) 735-5406

Member News OCT 1: Clay Howlett Memorial, VFW Post 3168, Richland; Clinton Jarrett (573) 855-1442 OCT 1: Bunt Cumbea Laclede Chapter, Cowan Civic Center, Lebanon; Karen Ray (417) 588-1643 OCT 6: Bootheel Boss Gobblers Gun Blast, Knights of Columbus, Jackson; Timothy Schwent (573) 225-3740 OCT 7: Gasconade River Gobblers, Community Building, Belle; Kyle Lairmore (573) 437-8899 OCT 7: Heartland Gobblers Gun Blast, American Legion Hall, Poplar Bluff; Cordell Stewart (573) 222-7182 OCT 8: Clark County Longbeards, Pioneer Seed Building, Kahoka; Dusty Davis (660) 341-3683 OCT 8: Polk County Hillbilly Longbeards, Smith's Restaurant, Bolivar; Todd Grant (417) 376-2647 OCT 20: River Hills Thunderin' Gun Bash, Knights of Columbus, Bloomsdale; Rob Sulkowski (573) 883-9982 OCT 21: Warren County Strutters, American Legion, Warrenton; Amy Mergelmeyer (636) 221-1538 OCT 22: Shoal Creek Chapter, Casino Building, Monett; Bill House (417) 236-3719

MISSOURI RIVER BIRD OBSERVATORY SEP 17: Wah'Kon- Tah Prairie Day, Wah'KonTah Prairie Conservation Area, El Dorado Springs (11am - 4pm) SEP 22: Children's Craft Festival, Arrow Rock (9am - 2pm) SEP 24: Prairie Jubilee, Prairie State Park, Mindenmines (10am - 4pm)

MISSOURI PARKS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION SEP 9: Board Meeting, Jefferson City OCT 3-4: Aquatic Facility Operators Course, St. Louis OCT 5-8: Annual Conference, St. Louis

MISSOURI WHITETAILS UNLIMITED SEP 10: Boone County Disabled Freedom Hunt Banquet, Knights of Columbus, Columbia SEP 10: Kingdom of Callaway Chapter Banquet, Saint Peters Hall, Fulton SEP 24: Anchor City Chapter Banquet, NicN-Noah's Sports and Event Center, Centralia OCT 1: Mississippi Valley Chapter Banquet, Admiral Coontz Armory, Hannibal OCT 8: Big Piney Whitetails Chapter Banquet, Cabool Schools FEMA Shelter, Cabool OCT 15: Show Me Chapter Banquet, Caldwell Building, Canton OCT 22: Southern Boone Chapter Banquet, Optimist Club, Ashland OCT 22: Davis Creek Chapter Banquet, American Legion, Higginsville

MISSOURI PARKS ASSOCIATION OCT 14-16: Annual Meeting, Echo Bluff State Park MISSOURI PRAIRIE FOUNDATION SEP 1: Dove Hunting Opportunity, Carver Prairie, Marion Township SEP 10-NOV 11: John Cleaveland Missouri Prairie Painting Exhibit, Monsanto Hall Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis SEP 15: Americana and Roots in the Garden, Botanical Garden, Springfield (6:30 - 7:30pm) SEP 17: Native Plant Sale, Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, Kansas City (10am - 2:30pm) SEP 23: Grow Native! Workshop Converting Non-native Landscapes to Prairie Grasses and Wildflowers, Powell Gardens, Kingsville (8:30am - 5pm) SEP 24: Hike to Ava Glades (10am - 4pm)

MISSOURI TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION SEP 15-18: Fall Rendezvous, Hood Park, Cuba SEP 17: General Membership Meeting, Hood Park, Cuba (4pm) MISSOURI TROUT FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATION (SPRINGFIELD) SEP 1: Monthly Meeting, Conservation Nature Center, Springfield (6 - 9pm) SEP 1: Fly Tying Class (6 - 9:50pm) SEP 8: Fly Tying Class (6 - 9:50pm) SEP 15: Fly Tying Class (6 - 9:50pm) SEP 22: Fly Tying Class (6 - 9:50pm) SEP24: Fishing Trip to Roaring River State Park (9am - 4pm) OCT 6: Monthly Meeting, Conservation Nature Center, Springfield (6 - 9pm) OCT 22: Chili Feed and Fly Fishing, Taneycomo Tailwater

OPEN SPACE COUNCIL OCT 15: Operation Wild Lands Native Plating and Seeding, Deer Creek Greenway (9am - 12pm) OZARK FLY FISHERS SEP 15-18: Taneycomo Outing, Lilley's Landing Resort and Marina, Branson; Ed Olander (314) 566-1422 SEP 22: General Membership Meeting, Edgar M. Queeny County Park, Ballwin (7 - 9pm)

SEP 30-OCT 2: Eleven Point Outing, Alton OCT 15: Chili Tie-In, Marlan's Clubhouse, Ballwin (9am - 3pm) OCT 27: General Membership Meeting, Edgar M. Queeny County Park, Ballwin (7 - 9pm) OZARK WILDERNESS WATERWAYS CLUB SEP 3-5: Clean Up Trio SEP 10: Missouri River - Schimmel City Access, Farley (9am) SEP 10: Dutch Oven Cooking, Camp Lake of the Woods Dining Hall (4 - 6pm) SEP 10: Potluck Dinner, Swope Park, Kansas City (6:30 - 7:30pm) SEP 10: Business Meeting, Swope Park, Kansas City (7:30 - 9pm) SEP 16-18: Eleven Point River, Greer Spring, Woodside Township OCT 8: Water Quality Testing, Minor Park, Kansas City (10 - 11am) OCT 8: Potluck Dinner, Swope Park, Kansas City (6:30 - 7:30pm) OCT 8: Business Meeting, Swope Park, Kansas City (7:30 - 9pm) OCT 15-19: Current River - Fall Canoefest, Jadwin OCT 22: Missouri River - Parkville (9am) OCT 29-30: North Fork of White River, Patrick Bridge Access, Caulfield POMME DE TERRE CHAPTER MUSKIES, INC SEP 17: Guide for a Day, Pomme De Terre Lake; Wayne Humphrey (314) 440-2173 SEP 29: Pre-tournament Meeting and Lure Swap, Clearlight Inn, Pomme De Terre Lake; George Donner (816) 678-1623 SEP 30: Friday Fall Muskie Tournament, Pomme De Terre Lake, George Donner (816) 678-1623 OCT 1-2: Saturday/Sunday Fall Muskie Tournament, Pomme De Terre Lake; George Donner (816) 678-1623 ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION SEP 10: Elk Capital Chapter Banquet, High School, Eminence; Clint Dalbom (573) 247-0430 ST. LOUIS AUDUBON SOCIETY SEP 9: Shaw Wildflower Market, Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit (4 - 7:30pm) SEP 24: Native Plant Expo and Sale, Schlafly Bottleworks, Maplewood (9am - 2pm) OCT 1: Beginner Bird Walk, Forest Park, Saint Louis (8:15 - 10:30am) CFM EVENTS OCT 15: Explore the Outdoors: Saint Louis, St. Albans Country Club

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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®

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Wildgame Recipe

Weston Recipe: Smoked Pulled Venison with Blueberry BBQ Sauce Directions: 1. Soak your wood chips (for at least a half hour), fill the smoker's water bowl with hot water, and preheat your smoker to 200°F. 2. Rub the entire outside of the venison with a mixture of cinnamon and chili powder. Place it in an aluminum pan and pour the Bumble Berry into the bottom of the pan. Smoke 8-12 hours in your Weston Smoker, until the venison falls apart and has a full, smoky flavor.

3. If you're making your BBQ sauce at the same time as the venison (we did), simply place a pan of the sauce in the smoker 4 hours before the venison should be done.

Ingredients: 3 lbs venison (We used a lesser cut for this recipe since you're smoking low and slow) 6 oz Fat Head's Bumble Berry Honey Blueberry Ale 1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon chili powder Blueberry Barbecue Sauce recipe from blog.westonproducts.com

4. Once the venison is fork tender, pull it apart with two forks, until completely shredded. Pour the Blueberry BBQ Sauce over top, then sprinkle with blueberries and onions. Serve immediately, hot.

A dozen or so blueberries and 2 chopped sprigs of green onions for garnish

The Weston Smoker is available at WestonSupply.com and select sporting goods retailers. For more recipes like this, visit the Weston Blog at Blog.WestonProducts.com

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Member News

Jensen Park: A New City Park and Landmark

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ensen Point was built in the late 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). It was a scenic overlook and roadside park for travelers on the original Route 66 with a majestic view of the Meramec River Valley.

At the time, it was considered a part of the Missouri State Park System. It stood as a memorial to Lars Peter Jensen, who was the first manager of Shaw Arboretum.

The site was acquired in a partnership between the City of Pacific and the Great Rivers Greenway District with the cooperation of a private landowner.

The landmark was rededicated following its restoration on Memorial Day, May 30, 2006. The landmark is now a Pacific city park. It will be preserved for many future generations to continue to enjoy.

Wayne Winchester

&

Honorariums In memory of Judd Kirkham Gina Carlyle, Warrensburg Stacey Lemke, O'Fallon Thomas Morris, Platte City Jerry & Leslie Roe, Kansas City Eric & Michelle Sharp, Kansas City In memory of John Walther John Bauer, Manchester John & JoAnn Jasin, Lake Saint Louis Joyce Noxon, Lake Saint Louis Kevin & Rebecca Rowe, Lake Saint Louis Terry & Charlotte Walther, Belleville, IL Bev Webber, Mukwonago, WI Kenneth & Carol Ziegler, Troy, IL

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Memorials In memory of Bill Southworth Jennifer Ailor, Ozark Paul Barker, Springfield Keith & Claudia Hartner, Springfield Thomas & Evelyn Mangan, Springfield Karen Colton-Millsap, Mount Vernon Ollis, Akers & Arney, Springfield Paul & Deborah Rollinson, Ozark Anton & Roberta Tasich, Springfield Ryan & Susan Walter, Ozark Joe & Billie White, Ozark Dale & Debbie Wills, Billings

Member News

Why I Became A Life Member

I

have enjoyed a lifetime of outdoor memories; as a kid catching crawdads for trotline bait with my grandpa, a teenager downing my first quail with a single-shot 20 gauge, a gray-haired man watching an otter catch crayfish in the creek behind the house.

For many years, I have gladly paid my annual dues and consider the money well spent, knowing that the CFM remains a steadfast advocate for the unbiased scientific management of our natural resources and an unfaltering defender of the interests of millions of citizens who enjoy hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

Well past the mid-point of my life, I tend to reminisce more about my days afield with rod or gun. I also began reflecting more on the CFM’s contributions to our state’s conservation legacy and it’s impact on my lifetime of outdoor adventures and concluded that I needed to show my appreciation by becoming a lifetime member.

I hope that my relatively small financial contribution will support the CFM, helping to ensure that future generations will have as many fond memories of Missouri’s forests, fields, lakes, and streams, as I have enjoyed.

Mark Zurbrick

Help Create Wildlife Habitat By creating a natural garden with native plants, you are providing essential elements of wildlife habitat: food, water, cover and a place for wildlife to raise their young.

Add a water source – such as a birdbath – and follow sustainable gardening practices, and your garden will not only be wildlife-friendly, but it will qualify as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat®.

Together the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) realize every habitat garden is a step toward replenishing resources for wildlife locally and along migratory corridors.

R

ecognize your commitment to wildlife and certify your yard, balcony container garden, schoolyard, work landscape, or roadside greenspace into a Certified Wildlife Habitat®. It is fun, easy, and makes a big difference for neighborhood wildlife.

In addition, a portion of your application processing fee supports CFM and NWF's programs to inspire others to make a difference and address declining habitat for bees, butterflies, birds, amphibians and other wildlife. The fee is waived for schools Pre-K to Grade 12.

Visit confedmo.org/certified-wildlife-habitat-2 for more information.

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Feature Story

The Best Days Holly, my only child spent most of her life going from place to place with me. The bright-eyed little squirt did not like to be left at home and seldom was except when I left for work, hunting or fishing trips. I waited until she was old enough to enjoy my world in the outdoors where conditions are not always comfortable for a young child.

She was ready.

I bought her a Zebco 33 reel and matching rod the previous fall, the same outfit I used 22-years before. We practiced casting in our backyard that fall, and on winter days when conditions permitted a little girl outdoors.

Practice paid off, and soon she started hitting the coffee can every other cast and eventually every cast.

Holly asked many questions during the 45-minute drive. We finally arrived, and the pond surface looked smooth--perfect for loading a stringer with big panfish.

I cautioned her to watch out for snakes, and we moved down to the pond bank and settled in at my favorite spot.

She insisted on hooking the worm, and I showed her how.

Soon her earth worm and rigging sailed through the air and landed close to an old log. Seconds later the red and white bobber nodded to the right, and rings on the pond surface started appearing. She pulled back on the rod when her bobber disappeared and started reeling her first fish, a decent sized bluegill. Her first fish fought well by pulling and turning sideways in the water. She bit her lower lip while reeling. The determined fish made several impressive runs before turning on its side exhausted and beaten. I watched in amazement as she brought in the bluegill that soon flopped on the shoreline.

W

inter in 1992 had been cold and much too longlike most winters. Our spring fever finally gave way with the warm weather and my 6-year-old daughter asked me to take her fishing. I happily agreed, and the following Saturday we ventured off to a farm pond loaded with big bluegill, green sunfish and crappie.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

We fished that entire morning and caught many fine fish including a couple of green sunfish, bass and crappie.

We released most of them. I explained to Holly the need for catch and release after we caught enough fish for one meal. “Those others would be bigger and slightly smarter the next time we visit the pond,� I explained.

She accepted my explanation and cast to the same spot where a big bluegill engulfed her worm and hook. She wrestled another fish to the shore and I noticed a change.

Feature Story She did not seem to be enjoying fishing like before, and I realized the importance of her quitting for a while. My insisting on her continuing to fish because the fish were biting would have been a huge mistake. After all, this trip was about Holly having fun. Her attention seemed to be drifting towards a nearby shallow cove. Soon she was having fun while trying to catch tadpoles. I watched her splashing in the shallow cove and felt thankful that she had a change of clothing.

Holly lunged at a tadpole, and I started drifting back to my youth in the middle 1950’s when dad took me fishing.

Like Holly, I sought out the mysteries of our pond. I could clearly see him standing on the shoreline, casting a bass lure while occasionally glancing to make sure I was not going to fall in deep water. I glanced back at Holly and suddenly felt like I was looking through my father’s eyes at my child trying to catch the fleeting tadpoles, frogs and minnows. Then I started finding what I wanted her to see, and suddenly I was looking at nature through the eyes of a child.

I was roused out of my day dream by a little girl tugging on my shirt. “Hey daddy, why are the little fish in this shallow water instead of the middle where their big fish buddies stay,” “why does that big frog make such funny noises,” and “why is a snapping turtle’s head so ugly?“ She asked several questions, some that I could not answer. I made a mental note to visit the library with her and research each observation.

We took a lunch break and she sat on her blanket with a sandwich while looking across the pond. I watched her studying the mossy shorelines and old rotten lily pads still floating from the previous fall. I knew she had discovered another world--like I had many years before.

I understood why my father always took me fishing and wished he could be there. Maybe he was.

Soon Holly returned to patrolling the shoreline, her fishing trip had become even more of an adventure. A colony of snails was discovered and her fingers were quickly covered in pond mud, slimy moss and snails. She ran over with a big smile and showed me the little shelled critters she had captured and started naming them.

I started fishing again while watching my amazing daughter. I did not want that day to end.

The little boy is Jeremy, an adult now with a one-year-old baby girl.

(Photo: Kenneth Kieser)

The wind started blowing. I looked to the west and saw dark clouds moving closer. I yelled at Holly to come on, time to go. She looked disappointed and I was happy that she was, knowing she would want to go fishing with daddy again. Soon we sat in my old pickup and watched big raindrops pelt the pond’s surface. She studied the commotion and asked what the fish, frogs, snails, crawfish and tadpoles did during a storm and several other questions. I gave her explanations and soon we were driving home--or at least I was while she slept a deep, peaceful sleep that only a child can know.

I will cherish those days for the rest of my life. We made many more fishing trips until she discovered other distractions in her remarkable teen years. Now Holly is grown up, calls me “Dad” and is a registered nurse and the mother of my first granddaughter. Even so, I will always see that beautiful little smiling girl holding up a big bluegill or lifting a handful of mud, moss and snails to show me what she caught on that warm, spring day.

Consider taking your child fishing and make memories that will last forever.

Kenny Kieser The little girl holding the stringer of fish is the author's daughter, Holly.

She is an adult now but still loves to fish. This is the cover for Kieser's next book "Take That Kid Fishing." (Photo: Kenneth Kieser)

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Affiliate Spotlight

Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri began in 1993 as the Greenbelt Coalition, an advocacy group supporting conservation ideals and the vision of creating a network of "greenbelt" lands in and around Columbia, MO. Working in partnership with the City of Columbia, the Greenbelt Land Trust laid the important groundwork for the public trail in the Hinkson Creek Valley.

A land trust is a nonprofit organization that, as part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by conservation easements, or land acquisition and by its stewardship of such land or easements. Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri protects land through conservation easements or land donations. Greenbelt is responsible for monitoring the property and ensuring compliance with the terms of the conservation easement. Conservation easements allow the land to remain private property on which the landowner and his or her heirs can still farm, hunt, or live.

Mariel Stephenson Conservation Easement property, located in Columbia. (Photo: Gene Gardner)

The mission of the Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri is to conserve the streams, forests, grasslands and farmlands that represent our distinctive landscape for present and future generations.

Greenbelt is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors with representation from landowners and supporters of the conservation community.

Land can also be given to Greenbelt as a donation as part of the landowner's long-term estate planning. Most land is donated to land trusts for its important conservation value and is managed by the land trust and protected in perpetuity.

To learn more about Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri visit www.greenbeltmissouri.org.

Affiliate Organizations Anglers of Missouri, Inc. Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives Audubon Society of Missouri Bass Slammer Tackle Big Game Hunters, Inc. Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City Capital City Fly Fishers Chesterfield Citizens Committee for the Environment Deer Creek Sportsman's Club, Inc. Festus-Crystal City Conservation Club Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Garden Club of St. Louis Gateway Chapter Trout Unlimited Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri Greenway Network, Inc. Jefferson County Coon Hunters, Inc. Katy Land Trust L-A-D Foundation 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 BASS Federation Nation

Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative Missouri Bow Hunters Association Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Missouri Chapter of the Wildlife Society Missouri Chapter Soil & Water Conservation Society Missouri Conservation Agents Association Missouri Conservation Pioneers Missouri Consulting Foresters Association Missouri Ducks Unlimited State Council Missouri Forest Products Association Missouri Grouse Chapter of QUWF Missouri Hunter Education Instructors Association Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation, Inc. Missouri National Wild Turkey Federation Missouri Native Seed Association Missouri Parks & Recreation Association Missouri Parks Association Missouri Prairie Foundation Missouri River Bird Observatory Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Missouri Society of American Foresters Missouri Sport Shooting Association Missouri State Campers Association Missouri State Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association Missouri State University Bull Shoals Field Station

Missouri Taxidermist Association Missouri Trappers Association Missouri Trout Fishermen’s Association Missouri Whitetails Unlimited Mule Deer Foundation North Side Division Conservation Federation Open Space Council of the Saint Louis Region Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc. Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club Ozarks Water Watchers Perry County Sportsman Club Pomme de Terre Chapter Muskies, Inc. Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc. Quail Forever & Pheasants Forever River Bluffs Audubon Society Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation South Side Division Conservation Federation Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers St. Louis Audubon Society Tipton Farmers & Sportsman's Club Troutbusters of Missouri United Bow Hunters of Missouri Walnut Council & Other Fine Hardwoods Wecomo Sportsman's Club Wild Elk Institute of Missouri Windsor Lake Rod & Gun Club

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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MISSOURI-BORN. MISSOURI-BASED. DIAMOND PET FOODS PROUDLY SUPPORTS ALL THOSE WHO HELP KEEP OUR STATE BEAUTIFUL.

©2016 SCHELL & KAMPETER, INC. DIAMOND, DIAMOND & DESIGN, DIAMOND NATURALS, TASTE OF THE WILD AND APPALACHIAN VALLEY ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS AND DIAMOND CARE AND THE TASTE OF THE WILD SEAL ARE TRADEMARKS OF SCHELL & KAMPETER, INC.

View our real estate listings at UnitedCountry.com

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Mackenzie Mountain Signature Extreme PARKA & BIBS

We wanted to create and offer our Customers some of the best hunting garments on the market today at an affordable price. The Mackenzie Mountain Signature lineup includes everything you could want in hunting clothing and then some, including features like: • Waterproof • Windproof • Breathable • YKK Zippers • Primaloft Gold Insulation

Available in Realtree Xtra

Realtree Max-1 XT

Realtree Max-1

Realtree AP Snow

Road trip. We didn’t choose the perfect playlist. Or program the GPS. But we did fuel the car that made you realize there are no wrong turns, only new adventures.

When the energy you invest in life meets the energy we fuel it with, amazing journeys happen.

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Member News

Conservation Leadership Corps Calls For Applications

Join CLC and make a difference in the future of conservation in Missouri.

I

t’s that time of year again and I don’t mean hunting season, although I know many of us are ready for that to begin as well. It’s time for high school juniors and seniors, and college students to apply for CFM’s Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC).

Jen Sampsell, CFM’s Education and Outreach Coordinator said “We are excited to meet our next class of conservationists that want to get involved and make a difference while gaining valuable skills that will be used in a future workplace.“

CLC’s mission is to engage youth in sustaining the conservation of our natural resources while developing the next generation of conservation leaders. CLC provides students the opportunity to learn about conservation advocacy and policy development, leadership and communication skills.

Students can apply online now on CFM's website at www.confedmo.org/clc-application-form or contact Jen Sampsell at jsampsell@confedmo.org or 573-634-2322.

Students have the unique opportunity to interact and network with all levels of resource professionals in the conservation field. The CLC program is highly regarded statewide and, for past participants, has led to internship and job opportunities. By volunteering in conservation events and CLC activities throughout the year, members also create lifetime friendships.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Applicants must demonstrate achievement in organized conservation activities and will be required to submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher, professor, or a current CLC or CFM member. Please share with someone you think would benefit from this program.

A CLC student enjoys a nature walk at Runge Conservation Nature Center. (Photo: Emma Kessinger)

CLC APPLICATION Last Name:  First Name: M.I: Birth Date:

Sex: M / F

ALL STUDENTS: Home Address: (street/box number): City/State/Zip: Email: Phone: Name of School: Year in School (Example: Senior in High School):

Cumulative GPA:

Special Needs? (physical or dietary restrictions, etc.): COLLEGE STUDENTS ONLY: School Address (if different from above): City/State/Zip: Email: Phone: Major/Minor: Anticipated Graduation date: WRITTEN ANSWERS: (limit your responses to two pages total) 1. What is your personal interest in conservation?

2. Why do you think the Conservation Leadership Corps is an important part of CFM? 3. List of conservation activities, achievements, honors and certifications (hunter ed, stream team, etc)?

4. What is your vision for our natural resources as a result of your interest and experience in the outdoors?

5. Will you attend CFM's Annual Convention March 10-12, 2017 and volunteer at another event during the year (yes or no) and attend a Fall Workshop in late September/early October 2017 (yes or no)?

Please supply a letter of recommendation from a teacher, professor, advisor, CLC student, CFM member or affiliate with your application. This letter should indicate what qualities you exhibit that would make you a good candidate for CLC. You may also supply a resume as well. Please call Jen Sampsell (573-634-2322 ext. 103) with any questions.

Applications, preferably electronically, should be submitted by November 15, 2016 to jsampsell@confedmo.org or mailed to: Conservation Federation of Missouri CLC

728 West Main

Jefferson City, MO 65101 YEARLY EXPECTATIONS: 1. Attend Annual Convention - March 10th-12th, 2017 2. Attend Fall Workshop – Late September or early October 3. Attend 1 volunteer event throughout the year

Events include CFM regional events in Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia, CFM’s Pull For Conservation or

other affiliate hosted events like BioBlitz, Stream Team events and Prairie Fork Work days.

4. Re-apply for the program in spring. The 2nd year will include Annual Convention, Fall Workshop and two volunteer events.

Students will be notified of acceptance into the program by January 15th, 2017.

www.confedmo.org | P: 573.634.2322 | F: 573.634.2322 | 728 W. Main Jefferson City, MO 65101

Member News

Pull for Conservation – A Record Event

C

FM held its 10th Annual Pull For Conservation: Boonville event on August 30 at River Hills Sporting Clays. Thank you to all of the shooters, volunteers and generous sponsors for making this event a success. Volunteers included young adults from the local Boonville FFA chapter.

The title sponsor and event co-host was Missouri’s Central Electric Power Cooperative. Approximately 170 individuals from across the state joined CFM to pull the trigger and learn about the organization’s mission.

Throughout the day shooters had the opportunity to participate in individual, two shooter scramble, fivestand, and long-shot competitions.

“Central Electric Power Cooperative was extremely pleased with the event. The number of cooperative employees that participated helped make this a recordbreaking event for CFM. The opportunity to partner with CFM and help make a difference in conservation efforts around the state is what it is really all about. I would say that everyone that participated had a great time and we look forward to working together with CFM to support conservation efforts across Missouri,” said Mark Newbold, Director of Administrative Services for Central Electric Power Cooperative.

Central Electric Power Cooperative’s participation was the second sporting clays event held in partnership with a regional electric cooperative. The next partnership shoot will take place with Sho-Me Power and White River Electric Cooperative in 2017 in Springfield, Mo. “Shooting sports is large part of Missouri’s outdoor heritage, so it is no surprise in its 10th year, the Pull for Conservation: Boonville is as popular as ever. It is wonderful to see so many individuals supporting CFM’s mission while enjoying shooting sports,” said Rehan Nana, CFM’s Director of Corporate Relations. “Central Electric Power Cooperative and the other participating cooperatives are valuable supporters of CFM’s mission and we look forward to continuing this partnership.”

Dale Hopke won the Electric Cooperatives’ Traveling Trophy for the high score from an electric cooperative employee or board member.

Winners of the Two Shooter Scramble Dooskin - Jon Doolittle & Garrett Benskin Near Miss - Clint Munzlinger & Adam Bell The Dowils - Cheryl Dowil & John Dowil Winners of the Individual Shoot Garrett Benskin Skip Miller Nathan Walls

A special thank you to Tom Russell, Glenn Chambers, Norm Stucky, Kirk Powell, and Central Electric Cooperative for committee support.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Member News

Hundreds Attend CFM'S Explore The Outdoors: Columbia

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onservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) hosted its inaugural Explore the Outdoors: Columbia event in partnership with Logboat Brewery on July 29.

Approximately 600 people from across Missouri attended.

Many were introduced to CFM for the first time.

“Working with the folks at CFM is always a pleasure and having more Missourians showing up to support them is fun to witness. I'm really looking forward to working with them for the long haul,” said Andrew Sharp, co-owner of Logboat Brewery.

Logboat generously donated a percentage of all beer sales from the event to CFM. The third event in CFM’s Explore the Outdoors series will be on October 15 at the Country Club of St. Albans in St. Albans. For more information, visit CFM's website at www.confedmo.org, or contact Rehan Nana, director of corporate relations at RNana@confedmo.org.

While enjoying the spacious lawn at Logboat Brewery, attendees enjoyed live music from the Brad Cunningham Band and sampled Logboat’s impressive selection of locally made craft beers. Kevin and Barbara Pickett donated an AKC Labrador retriever puppy to raise funds. CFM's Brandon Butler and his family won the live auction and welcomed a new member of the family.

“CFM is working hard to recruit a younger demographic of Missourians to join in our mission of ensuring conservation of Missouri’s wildlife and natural resources, and preserving of our state’s rich outdoor heritage. In the Columbia area, I don’t know of a better place to reach the right kind of people than Logboat,” said Brandon Butler, executive director of CFM.

KEEP YOUR PADDLE WET

tasting room & brewery • 504 fay st. • columbia, mo

Guests enjoy a beautiful evening at CFM's Explore the Outdoors event.

(Photo: Emma Kessinger)

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Federation Destinations

Traverse City: Michigan's Outdoor Adventure Capital

T

here’s no single place that evokes the spirit and magic of the Great Outdoors quite as perfectly as this relaxed Lake Michigan resort community does. For more than 150 years, Traverse City has been celebrated for its clear lakes and streams, its verdant forests, its golden beaches and magnificent scenery.

That’s why it’s one of America’s top destinations for “silent sports,” the kind of outdoor activities where the only sound you make is the rustle of footprints, the swish of skis or the splash of a paddle cleaving the water. The Grand Traverse area lends itself perfectly to that concept, no matter what season it is. It’s a paradise for outdoor sports of all kinds.

In spring, summer and fall, much of that recreation is centered on Grand Traverse Bay, whose clear sheltered waters attract boaters, kayakers and fishermen. Nearby is the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, one of the few national parks where hunting is permitted.

Hikers can choose from a wide range of trails that follow rushing streams, descend through quiet forests or climb massive sand dunes to breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and its shoreline.

Paddlers are drawn to the region’s many choice rivers, lakes and bays. Some smaller lakes offer intimate glimpses of sandhill cranes, loons, ospreys and eagles, while deer, fox, otters and the occasional bear can be spotted along the water’s edge.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

“Between May and October, there is no consistently better place to be fishing in America than Traverse City, Michigan,” the magazine wrote. “Diversity is the key: Lake Michigan with salmon and steelhead; Grand Traverse Bay with some of the best smallmouth pockets and carp flats in America; and more rivers and natural lakes filled with trout, bass, and panfish than you can begin to touch in one season."

Winter brings a different kind of outdoor fun. Traverse City prides itself on the diversity of its winter experiences, both indoors and outdoors.

The region is probably best known for the quality of its snowshoe hiking and cross-country skiing, thanks to its vast acreage of forest and parkland. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has eight marked trails, some leading up to panoramic overlooks high above the lake.

Other marked trail systems include the Vasa Pathway, one of the finest cross-country ski trails in the nation.

Snowmobilers enjoy twisting and turning through dense hardwood forests, touring over hills, bridges, and waterways, or racing across wide-open spaces. Best of all, some trails are close to Traverse City’s hotels, resorts and restaurants, an important consideration at the end of a long day in the outdoors!

Michael Norton Media Relations Manager, Traverse City Tourism

Federation Destinations

Make Plans to Visit These Incredible Outdoor Destinations Looking for your next family vacation, quiet fishing trip, thrilling hunting experience or outdoor adventure? We encourage you to consider one of the following destinations.

Take the short drive

TO AWESOME.

Greers Ferry Lake

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ARKANSAS.COM

Head SOUTH for the fishing adventure of a lifetime!

“Traverse City has the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet!�

- Kevin and Jonathan VanDam Professional Bass Fishermen

ff Capt. Chris No

WWW.LASALTWATER.COM

sional singer, Profes

an Guide-Fisherm

150+ inland lakes | rivers & streams Lake Michigan charters microbreweries | wineries | distilleries great restaurants | casinos | golf variety of lodging

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Interested in promoting your business or destination? Contact the CFM office at 573-634-2322 to learn more about our Federation Destinations.

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Agency News

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION MDC needs hunters’ help for CWD testing firearms opening weekend Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a deadly deer disease that has been found in northeast, central, and east-central Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) needs the help of deer hunters this fall to find and limit the spread of CWD. “Early detection of chronic wasting disease is critical because once the disease is well established in an area, it is impossible to eradicate,” said MDC Wildlife Division Chief Jason Sumners. “Therefore, our increased testing of hunter-harvested deer in and around counties where the disease has been found will greatly improve our ability to find the disease early and limit its spread to more deer in more areas.”

The increased CWD testing Sumners referenced is the focus of a new regulation by the Conservation Department. Hunters who harvest deer during the opening weekend of the fall firearms deer season (Nov. 12 and 13) in any of the 29 counties of the Department’s CWD Management Zone are now required to present their deer for CWD testing on the day of harvest at one of 75 MDC CWD sampling locations throughout the 29 counties. Hunters also have the option of presenting just the deer head with about six inches of neck attached.

Sampling locations will be open from 7:30 a.m. through 8 p.m The 29 counties of the CWD Management Zone are: Adair, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Putnam, Randolph, St. Charles, St. Louis, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Warren, and Washington.

“We want our kids and grandkids to grow up being able to hunt and watch a healthy and strong deer population in the state,” he said. “The simplest thing hunters can do to help protect our state’s white-tailed deer is to get their harvested deer tested. We cannot do this without the support and participation of deer hunters.”

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

EMPHASIS ON MANDATORY SAMPLING DURING OPENING WEEKEND Mandatory sampling during the opening weekend of fall firearms deer season refocuses the Department’s past CWD sampling efforts in the CWD Management Zone.

“Firearms opening weekend is the most popular hunting time for most deer hunters,” explained Sumners. “Hunters harvest about a third Get a map of the 29 CWD Management of our state’s total Zone counties, a list of the 75 CWD annual deer harvest sampling locations, and sampling during those two instructions online at mdc.mo.gov/CWD days. That’s about and from MDC’s “2016 Fall Deer & Turkey 90,000 out of 270,000 Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet, where hunting permits are sold. deer statewide and about 25,000 out of 77,000 for the 29 counties in the CWD Management Zone. Focusing our efforts on this key weekend gives us the best opportunity to collect the most tissue samples during a very concentrated time period.”

Chronic Wasting Disease infects only deer and other members of the deer family by causing degeneration of the brain. The disease has no vaccine or cure and is 100 percent fatal. A total of 33 free-ranging deer with CWD have been found in northeast, central, and east central Missouri since 2012, with 21 in Macon County, 9 in Adair, one in Cole, one in Franklin, and one in Linn.

For more information on CWD, visit mdc.mo.gov/CWD. Left: MDC is requiring deer hunters who harvest deer in 29 counties of its CWD Management Zone (colored counties) during the opening weekend of the fall firearms season (Nov. 12 and 13) to take their harvested deer to one of 75 CWD sampling locations for testing.

Agency News

Conservation Commission Names Tom Draper MDC Interim Director The Missouri Conservation Commission has named Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Deputy Director Tom Draper as interim director of the state conservation agency effective July 16. The temporary appointment comes after the announcement in early June that MDC Director Robert Ziehmer is stepping down as agency director effective July 15 to continue his conservation career through a new endeavor in the private sector.

“The Commission unanimously and enthusiastically supports Interim Director Draper,” said Commission Chairman Dave Murphy. “The Commission is confident in his abilities to continue to advance this agency and its services to meet the needs of Missourians and to protect and promote the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the Show-Me-State.”

Draper has served the Department as deputy director of Resource Management and as chairman of the Regulations Committee since 2010. Prior to that, he was a regional supervisor in the Department’s Forestry Division.

The Missouri Conservation Commission has named Missouri Department of Conservation Deputy Director Tom Draper as interim director of the state conservation agency. (Photo: MDC)

122 MoNASP Student Archers Compete in 2016 World Archery Tournament The National Archery in the Schools (NASP) World Tournament and 3D Challenge were held June 23-26 at Myrtle Beach, SC. More than 2,100 student archers in grades 4-12 from 271 schools in three countries competed – including 121 Missouri students from 10 schools.

The following Missouri students placed in the top 10 of the NASP World Tournament: Junior Caleb Stillians from Sarcoxie High School took second out of 2,135 archers. Stillians shot almost a perfect score of 299 out of 300. Stillians also showed his skills with a bow placing fifth out of 1,120 student archers competing in the 3D NASP World Challenge.

Senior Sam Stewart from Lee’s Summit West High School took eighth out of 2,000 female archers with a score of 293 out of 300 in the NASP World Tournament.

Sixth grader Max Wangler from Sarcoxie Middle School shot an impressive 294 out of 300 placing him fifth in the middle school males division. Wangler also showed off his skills in the 3D NASP World Challenge by shooting a score of 288 out of 300 to take fourth place.

Fifth grader Michael Kloeppel from St. Joseph Catholic School Westphalia took eighth place out of 644 elementary males in the NASP World Tournament.

NASP promotes education, self-esteem, and physical activity for students in grades 4-12 through participation in the sport of archery. Since NASP's beginnings in 2002, more than ten million students have participated in the program through 10,000 schools in 47 states and 10 countries.

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Agency News

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Come Home to Missouri State Parks “Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.” I couldn’t agree more with these words written by award-winning poet and environmental activist Gary Synder.

I grew up spending time in the natural beauty of the Ozarks with my parents and grandparents. It was on the clear Ozark streams like the Current and Eleven Point Rivers where I learned to float, fish, camp and explore. Those were some of my fondest childhood memories. I guess you could say I’ve always felt as if I were home in the quiet and the beauty of Missouri’s outdoors. The benefits of being in nature, engaging in outdoor recreation and understanding that our natural resources are closely connected to our health and well-being is a deep part of my heritage.

This summer, I had the honor of joining Governor Jay Nixon, and Missouri Parks Director Bill Bryan as we dedicated Missouri’s 88th state park – Echo Bluff State Park in Shannon County. As we celebrated the opening of the park on that hot summer day, it was a coming home again for me while I explored and enjoyed the Ozark scenery and amenities found within this magnificent state park.

Preserving and protecting this incredible land and history was equally important for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri State Parks – as it represents the very essence of our mission.

Echo Bluff State Park provides its visitors 476 acres of unsullied Ozark beauty to explore, and showcases the most beautiful, full-service state park in the Midwest.

The lodge stands at the center of attention and includes 20 stunning lodge rooms and suites, Creekside Grill offering inside and outside dining, Sinkin’ Creek Mercantile General Store, an impressive stone fireplace and lounging area as well, as a spectacular view of Echo Bluff and Sinking Creek from the back deck.

The park’s accommodations also feature 13 amazing cabin units from 2-bedrooms to 4-bedrooms, 60 RV campground sites with water, sewer and electricity and 12 secluded “walk-in” campsites equipped with decks and fire rings. There are picnic and event shelters of various sizes, an amphitheater with tiered seating and a dramatic natural backdrop, and eight miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking adventures including natural and manmade features to challenge all skill levels. And for those who like to stay connected through social media and the internet, the park offers complementary WiFi access.

The Echo Bluff property has a long legacy of providing families with the opportunity to connect with nature and make memories. In 1929, the McMahan and Winkelmeyer families purchased 100 acres and created Camp Zoe. The summer camp owners were teachers from the St. Louis area and understood the importance of teaching children to spend time in the great outdoors.

Camp Zoe provided children with the opportunity to learn canoeing, swimming, horseback riding, tennis, marksmanship, archery, fishing and other training in the life of camping until it closed in 1986.

Gov. Nixon, Sara Parker Pauley and Missouri State Parks staff opened Missouri’s 88th state park, Echo Bluff State Park on July 30.

(Photo: Tom Uhlenbrock/Missouri State Parks)

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Agency News Since 1917, Missouri State Parks have been inviting children and their families to explore and experience nature in Missouri’s beautiful state parks and historic sites. It’s about connecting people with nature, it’s about preserving public areas for everyone to enjoy, it’s about creating family traditions, it’s about tourism and it’s about improving our local economies.

This 100-year old tradition of preserving and interpreting the state’s most outstanding natural landscapes and cultural features while providing recreational opportunities to the public is something all Missourians can take pride in.

The Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax has provided threefourths of the budget for operation and development of our state parks and historic sites. All additional funding comes from revenues generated in the state parks system, as well as some federal funds.

The one-tenth-of-one-percent sales tax was first approved by Missouri voters in 1984 and has been placed on the ballot every 10 years to reaffirm the voter’s support of the park system and soil and water conservation. The sales tax will expire if not renewed this November.

Your 88 state parks and historic sites, located all across the state, provide some of the greatest opportunities to get outdoors and truly appreciate all of the beauty and diversity our state has to offer. Visit mostateparks.com to learn more. I certainly hope you will visit Echo Bluff State Park soon. May it be a homecoming for you as well.

Sara Parker Pauley Director, Department of Natural Resources

Spotlight on Missouri State Parks - Missouri Mines State Historic Site Nestled deep within the eastern Ozarks is an area known as the Old Lead Belt; it is a major part of the great Southeast Missouri lead district, the premier lead mining district of the world. The mining industry in this area has played an important role in Missouri's economic and social fabric. Missouri Mines State Historic Site, located in Park Hills, preserves the historically significant structures and artifacts of the largest mine-mill complex in the Old Lead Belt, and interprets the historic role of mineral resources and the mining industry in Missouri.

Join the historic site staff on Oct. 22 for the Fall Rocks program. This autumn evening of fun and education is a great activity for the entire family. This free event features 10 or 12 educational activities and game stations set up within the three exhibit galleries of the Powerhouse Museum. All activities relate to geology, mineral resources, mining and personal recreational safety and are designed to appeal to elementary-aged children. Learn more about this event and the state historic site by visiting mostateparks.com.

In 1864, St. Joseph Lead Co. purchased nearly 950 acres at Bonne Terre, Mo. The company soon rose to dominance over its competitors because of its innovations in ore-smelting, underground engineering technology and the development and use of mechanical equipment. In 1923, the company purchased the Federal Mill No. 3 lead-concentrating complex and improved the mill to become the largest lead mill in the world. It remained in operation until 1972.

In late 1975, the company donated the Federal minemill complex, along with adjoining lands, to Missouri for use as a state park. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources took possession of the 8,244-acre tract in 1976. In 1980, the 25-acre mine-mill area was designated as Missouri Mines State Historic Site.

Come explore its history in the heart of the Old Lead Belt at Missouri Mines State Historic Site. (Photo: Mo State Parks)

Sara Parker Pauley Director, Department of Natural Resources SEPTEMBER - 2016

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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

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Outdoor News YES on AMENDMENT 1

1983 In the face of park closures and high

rates of soil erosion, Missouri’s General Assembly passed legislation that allowed citizens to vote on a constitutional amendment for a one-tenth-cent sales tax for state parks and soil conservation. In August 1984, voters approved the tax.

In the last 30+ years,

the initiative has been a huge success! State parks rank among the state’s most popular tourist attractions. The rate of Missouri’s soil erosion has dropped more than any other state. Voters renewed the sales tax three separate times on the ballot by consistently high margins!

2016 The parks, soils and water sales tax

will be on the November 8 ballot for another 10-year renewal.

et’s keep a good thing going!

L vote YES on AMENDMENT #1 State Parks

Half of the sales tax proceeds go to the State Park Sales Tax Fund used to operate, repair and improve existing state park and historic site locations.

Missouri’s state parks charge no entry or day-use fees and play a major role in our tourism industry. More than

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18 million people visit

our state parks each year for an economic impact of $1.02 billion annually for Missouri, which supports more than 14,500 jobs.

The other half is applied to Missouri agricultural land through soil and water conservation practices. The tax helped agricultural landowners install 220,000 conservation practices with a cost-share program. Missouri has decreased its soil erosion rates by half since the passage of the sales tax,

saving more than 177 million tons of soil and protecting our streams.

Yet, there is still much work to do.

Let’s keep a good thing going!

vote YES on AMENDMENT #1 NOVEMBER 8, 2016

Paid for by the Citizens Committee for Soil, Water and State Parks. Ron Coleman, Treasurer.

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Feature Story

Leave the Leaves

Across Missouri the first hints of fall will begin with cooler temperatures and colorful leaves. But how about when those leaves start piling up in your yard?

Weekend activities for many will include raking leaves into paper bags that will start to line neighborhood curbs or into barrels for burning. This year, before you clear all of the fallen leaves from your property consider this- that leaf litter can support a thriving natural community.

Y

ou may have heard of the dramatic decline of lightening bugs. Many new subdivisions are completely void of the flying, glowing insects that we spent night after night chasing in our childhood. Our imagination seemed to grow with each blink. One of the reasons for the decline is the lack of leaf litter. The worms that emerge from the eggs are called glow worms. They live in damp leaf litter. If you don't have some areas that support this habitat, you won't have glow worms and hence, you won't have lightening bugs.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Five-lined skinks are often found in urban subdivisions as well as rural properties throughout Missouri. They also depend on leaf litter for raising young. The female lays her eggs midsummer in leaf litter or loose soil, created by the great decomposition process of forest debris. Young five-lined skinks are especially attractive with their neon blue tail.

Tree frogs overwinter under a blanket of leaves in a semi-frozen state.

(Photo: Mary Nemecek)

Feature Story These skinks are listed as threatened in Connecticut, a species of conservation concern in Vermont, Minnesota and New York and has been extirpated from Massachusetts. We are fortunate to have a good population in Missouri. On warm, sunny day between March and October look for five-lined skinks basking in the sun on driveways, sidewalks, rock walls and other warm spots.

Leaf litter also provides winter cover for many species, such as gray tree frogs. The tree frogs will overwinter by burying under the leaf cover and spend the winter in a partially frozen state.

Native bees depend upon fallen leaves to get them through the cold. Bees will overwinter below thick layers of leaf debris and are important for pollinating woodland plants as well as the sun loving native plants.

Birds need leaf litter and the rich, diverse community it supports. The Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Ovenbirds are some that depend on leaf litter for foraging. This dependency includes the calcium provided by snails during nesting season.

Mourning Cloaks and/or Question Mark butterflies overwinter in leaf litter and can be seen flying on warm winter days. (Photo: Mary Nemecek)

There are many other fabulous species that live in leaf litter- among them are slugs, spiders, beetles and millipedes. Mourning Cloak and Question Mark butterflies overwinter as adults in leaf litter and you can often see them flying on warm winter days in search of leaking sap for a mid-winter meal.

Clearwing sphinx moths and to some extent luna moths overwinter in cocoons in leaf litter.

So as fall approaches and the trees start to drop their leaves, know the blanket they deposit becomes a diverse and rich ecosystem that plays a vital role in bringing wildlife to your yard. Find a good spot to let the leaves stay and then enjoy the added diversity they will bring to your yard year round.

For more information on native trees, other plants and where to buy them, visit www.grownative.org.

Mary Nemecek Conservation Chair of Burroughs Audubon Five-lined skinks lay their eggs in a nest in the leaf litter.

(Photo: Linda Williams)

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Outdoor News

Kyle Lairmore Named ‘S.A.F.E. Summer Local Champion’ in Firearm Safety for NSSF’s Project ChildSafe

T

he National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) has recognized Owensville’s Kyle Lairmore, Education/Shooting Range Coordinator for the State of Missouri and Executive Director of the MidMissouri Outdoor Dream, as a “Local Champion” for his efforts to promote firearm safety in his region.

The recognition comes as NSSF launches its fourth annual Project ChildSafe S.A.F.E. Summer campaign to emphasize the importance of responsible firearm storage — particularly while children are home from school and more likely to be unattended.

Kyle Lairmore was selected for his multi-faceted efforts within the community to raise awareness about the safe and responsible handling of firearms and the importance of proper and secure storage.

“It is our responsibility to educate anyone handling a firearm how to do it properly and safely so that we can prevent any future firearm incidents,” says Lairmore.

“It is also important to be aware of how to properly store firearms so that children or individuals without knowledge of firearm safety don’t have access to them.”

S.A.F.E. Summer is an extension of NSSF’s Project ChildSafe campaign. Consistent with Project ChildSafe’s overarching message of “Own It? Respect It. Secure It,” the S.A.F.E. Summer effort is a reminder that proper firearm storage is the #1 way to help prevent firearm accidents, theft and misuse.

“Project ChildSafe has developed the tools needed to spread the firearm safety and storage message,” Lairmore says. “Project ChildSafe helps educate my community about the importance of firearm safety and proper firearm storage which will help reduce firearm accidents.”

“We’re very grateful for the work of people like Kyle Lairmore,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti.

“They are great examples of how the firearms-owning community is committed to safety and personal responsibility, and their work is instrumental in helping reduce firearm accidents.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

About Project ChildSafe NSSF, the trade association of the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (prior to 2003 the program was called Project HomeSafe) as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to gun owners. Since 1999, the program has provided more than 37 million free firearm safety kits that include a gun lock to gun owners in all 50 states and five U.S. territories. Project ChildSafe is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit charitable organization. All donations to the organization are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. More information is available at www.projectchildsafe.org.

About NSSF The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 13,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

Bill Brassard Senior Director of Communications, NSSF

Outdoor News

Five Places to Hike in Missouri This Year

S

ometimes you just need to go for a walk in the woods. A few hours on a nature trail can do wonders for your mental and physical health. You don’t need any special gear to enjoy time outdoors hiking. Just grab a pair of binoculars, throw a couple of bottles of water in a backpack and lace up your favorite boots or gym shoes.

Leave your phone at home. You’ll survive without it for a few hours.

There is somewhere to get outdoors to hike or walk on a nature trail in every Missouri county. State parks, the Mark Twain National Forest, Conservation Areas, nature preserves, wildlife refuges and many other properties offer such trails. Here are five places worth checking out this year.

Ozark Scenic National Riverways The 84,000-acre Ozark Scenic National Riverways (OSNR) is a destination worth the drive from anywhere in Missouri. The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers are the two rivers of the OSNR. The park has numerous hiking trails offering varying degrees of difficulty and length.

The Big Spring Trail System offers the River’s Edge Trail, which is a beautiful 1.8-mile round trip running along Current River. For those wishing to hike further, the Shawnee Loop Trail is 7-miles long, but know you will share this trail with horseback riders. No matter which trail you choose, the OSNR is a premier destination for breathing in nature and recharging your soul.

Ozark Trail While there are many great hiking trails in Missouri, none are longer or more challenging than the Ozark Trail. The Ozark is comprised of 392-miles of trail weaving through the Missouri Ozark Mountains.

Elevation change is challenging, scenery is incredible and the solitude is deafening. Passing through lands of the Ozark Scenic National Riverways, Mark Twain National Forest, Conservation Areas, state parks, and other public properties; the Ozark Trail belongs to all Missourians.

This trail can be hiked in short sections or tackled as one long hike. For those looking for a real challenge, consider a thru-hike. This is hiking the contiguous 230-mile backbone of the Ozark Trail in one trip. The Ozark Trail is a must hike for any serious Missouri outdoor enthusiast.

A backpacker descends down a rugged trail in the solitude of wilderness.

(Photo: Brandon Butler)

Mark Twain National Forest The Mark Twain National Forest encompasses about 1.5-millon acres offering 750-miles of trail. The topography of the Mark Twain varies greatly. From deep ravines, to rolling hills, to river bottoms, you will be able to find a terrain that fits your desired style of hiking. The Cedar Creek Trail offers 36-miles of trail running through hardwoods and prairie. It is located in the 16,000-acre Cedar Creek District just southeast of Columbia. There are many trails in the Mark Twain National Forest, but sometimes no path at all is the best trail to take.

Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge The Missouri River has more than one nickname, but Big Muddy is most fitting. This behemoth waterway gave birth to western exploration. Today, the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge is one of many public properties keeping the flora and fauna of the Missouri River safe from development. Those with wanderlust can find solace in nature by hiking in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark at the river bottoms of the Big Muddy.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park Scenic overlooks, old-growth hardwood forests, a multitude of wildlife species and a trail system to rival any state park in Missouri; Lake of the Ozarks State Park is undoubtedly one of Missouri’s must hike destinations.

There are 12 trails in the park. The Honey Run Trail at 12.75-miles is an all day affair. The 1-mile Coakley Hollow Trail is short but rugged. Lake of the Ozarks State Park is a popular camping destination.

Brandon Butler Executive Director, CFM SEPTEMBER - 2016

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Feature Story

Rethinking Rubs

W

hile walking through a piece of public land I had recently decided to hunt, a gigantic rub caught my eye.

“Hey, look at the size of this,� I shouted to my brother as he walked up the trail behind me.

Our excitement grew when we noticed three more rubs of equal size on the same trail. This was obviously a deer highway with at least one good buck using it, if not more.

We immediately began formulating a plan to hunt the area the coming fall.

Bucks make rubs as a visual and olfactory signpost. When a buck makes a rub, a gland in his forehead rubs against the tree leaving his own unique scent. Then, as other deer travel down the same trail they are able to recognize the exact deer that made the rub by the scent. This is especially important in dense forest cover where visual communication is limited.

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Rubs are important scouting tools. Rub lines are even more important. Tests have proven dominant, older bucks exude more scent from their forehead glands.

Despite what some people believe, very few bucks make rubs to get rid of velvet. The velvet removal process usually takes less than 24 hours. Another common misconception is that only mature bucks make rubs.

Young bucks, mature bucks and even does use rubs.

Bucks will rub pretty much anywhere, including fence posts and powerline poles. Trees with no lower limbs and those with aromatic quality, like cedar, are often used. Bigger bucks prefer bigger trees and will use the same tree year after year. So if you find a large tree that has been rubbed, it is very likely a quality buck is in the area.

A woman examines a deer rub while out hunting. (Photo: Brandon Butler)

Feature Story Bucks start making rubs as soon as they lose their velvet in late August or early September. When bucks start making rubs they usually do so in areas that are close to quality food sources, including woodlands adjacent to crop fields, around acorn trees or food plots. Food creates high deer density, which means more reasons to communicate. This leads to more rubs. Travel corridors are also great places to find rubs. Look at creek crossings, pinch points, saddles, and heavily used travel routes.

When you find many rubs in a small area, you know at least one buck is frequently passing through. This is a great place to set up a trail camera, which will help determine if the trail is being actively used. Knowing where a buck is spending most of his time allows you to better plan your strategy for harvesting him.

Even in areas of the country where deer are not restricted to traveling in small, narrow woodlots finding a rub is important. It indicates that a buck feels comfortable using the area and will likely return.

Pay attention to which direction the rub is facing. This tells you the buck’s direction of travel, which helps you in several ways. First, deer consistently travel from bedding to food, then back to bedding. Mark the rub or rub line on an aerial map. Look at either end of the trail the deer was using. Is there quality bedding or food on the ends? I would be willing to bet there is. Now you can make a better plan, like slipping in a little closer to his bedding area if you don't see the buck during daylight.

Sometimes we find a great looking set of rubs but there is no way to place a stand in the area. Use the aerial map to find where the buck is going and cut him off in another area.

Rubs teach us a lot, so the next time you come across a rub, take the time to consider all the information it has to offer. Because when it comes to whitetail hunting, every piece of information is valuable.

Chance Vorderstrasse Chance Vorderstrasse is an intern at GrowingDeer.tv, which was created by Dr. Grant Woods as a means to share his love for managing and growing white-tailed deer.

Grant’s passions in life are God, family and hunting. Grant has been hunting since the third grade and has degrees from Southwest Missouri State University, University of Georgia, and Clemson University. His goal is to provide current, useful information about deer hunting and deer management in an on-demand video format. A new episode is released each Monday, 52 weeks a year with no repeats. All episodes are available for viewing anytime at www.GrowingDeer.tv

SCOUTING FOR DEER

ACORNS: During the fall, deer abandon other food sources to search for highly prized acorns, especially ones from white oaks.

In years when acorn production is high, deer tend to spread out, and forage with little movement. Look for hoof prints, deer pellets, and broken acorn shells under trees to find active feeding sites. When acorns are on the ground, the area will be used by deer at all times of the day.

CROP FIELDS: Hunting the edge of crop fields can be effective. Deer feel more comfortable feeding in the open when there is cover nearby. Take notice where forested habitats jut out into fields, especially where two points jut out across from each other. If deer are on the move, they will tend to cross a field from point to point.

WATER: During dry years when temperatures are still above 70 degrees, deer may visit secluded water sources often. Check ponds for deer activity and set up trail cameras to help you identify times when deer are actively using them. Keep in mind that during normal years, deer gain much of their water from the food they eat.

TRAILS: Every time hunters see a well-used deer trail, they should ask themselves two questions: Where is the main food source from here and where is the main bedding area or heavy cover from here? Follow deer trails in the off season, especially in late January, and see where they lead.

Make notes of these trails for the next year because they will not be as easy to find in the dense cover of summer. If the food source the trail is going to is a crop field or pasture, take note of what is planted there. Changes in available forages will influence deer movement from year to year.

SEPTEMBER - 2016

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WINE COUNTRY | HIKING/BIKING TRAILS CONSERVATION | GERMAN HERITAGE HISTORY’S LEADERS | GREAT RIVERS

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Expore Missouri’s Treasures

e Air Natives r u P d adjacent states

To learn more, request a digital copy of our MOHumanities magazine at mail@mohumanities.org

www.mohumanities.org 543 Hanley Industrial Court | Suite 201 St. Louis, MO 63144 | 1.800.357.0909

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Specialists in native vegetation including seed and live plants for wetland mitigation, erosion control, green infrastructure, slope stabilization and landscapes comprised of native plants.

co m w.pur e a i r n a t i v e s.

Invest wisely. Hire a guide.

James T. Blair IV, CFP®, AWMA® Coleman Sheehan, CPA, CFP®, MSA John Steffens, CPA, MBA

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

monetagroup.com/blair 314-726-2300

You’ve got it bagged with legendary Hodgdon powders.

Phone 913-362-9455 www.hodgdon.com

Proud to support our outdoor heritage

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TASTE THE FRUIT OF OUR VINES

MISSOURIWINE.ORG

6/13/16 4:30 PM

Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives SEPTEMBER - 2016

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10%

DISCOUNT FOR CFM MEMBERS

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1-800-DRURYINN | DruryHotels.com

Proud to support the Conservation Federation of Missouri.

1400 W. Henry St. Sedalia, MO

800-223-8799

www.sierrabullets.com

Free Tours • Factory Seconds Outlet Store

CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP CORPS A program of the Conservation Federation of Missouri

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CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Explore

Outdoors: ST. LOUIS the

Save the date for our St. Louis Regional Event.

October ͥ͡, 201ͦ ͡ǣͣ͠ Ǧ ͣǣͣ͠ Ǥ Ǥ Ǧ ͣǣͣ͠ Ǧ ͦǣͣ͠ Ǥ Ǥ Ǧ Ǥ

Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ͎͢͡ ȋ ȌǤ ͎ͨ͠ ͎ͥ͡͠ Ǥ ǡ ǡ Ǥ ͂

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www.confedmo.org/st-louis

If there are errors in your name or address, please notify us at: Missouri Wildlife 728 W. Main Jefferson City, MO 65101 or call 573-634-2322.