Vol67 no2 2006

MISSOURI

Wildlife

MARCH 2006 VOL. 67, NO. 2

5 8 12 14

NEWS & ISSUES

Share The Harvest

JOHNSON’S SHUT-INS

Disaster Cleanup And Restoration USE TELECHECK

Save Conservation Dollars TROPICAL CYCLONES

Impact On Missouri

VIEW FROM THE STONE HOUSE

MISSOURI

Wildlife

“March Madness” hings surely seem to heat up this time of year. Fans of college and high school basketball are usually either glued to their television sets or “riding the pines” on some bench, in some gym, somewhere all worked up about how things are going for their favorite team.

The weather shows promise, as well.

Those of us dreaming of gobbling wild turkeys, or rising trout, or ravenous crappie, or a big explosion of spring wildflowers dream best in early spring.

Hey, there are a few green things out there for us glass-half-full folks! Before you know it (certainly before the next issue of Missouri Wildlife) we will be picking morels!

But the icy grip of winter will not relent without putting up a real fight.

Evidence is irrefutable and everywhere.

We got snow last night and will certainly get more before winter’s end. My daughter and son-in-law up in Syracuse, NY, report 10 days in a row of snow in

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their forecast. My daughter in Ft. Worth, TX, reports the coldest days of the year are right now. Wild winds, bitter chill, short days and long nights test the soul, no matter where or when.

This is also an annual time of challenge for our General Assembly. Much is yet uncertain. New bills are filed and many important ones have begun the complicated journey through the process of hearings, amendments, debates, votes and passage. Sometimes it seems there are a thousand steps as challenging to good bills as the proverbial needle’s eye is to a camel. Other times, legislation very bad in the long run may seem to be a good idea on impulse and rocket through the process.

This dichotomy, this feverous intensity with huge consequences of every action is the legislative month of March in a nutshell. All the chips really are on the table. The age-old debate of balance between the needs and the rights of our people is carried out every day. The dis-

March 2006 Vol. 67, No. 2 OFFICERS Judd Kirkham President Don Johnson First Vice President Glenn Chambers Second Vice President Arnold Meysenburg Secretary Randy Washburn Treasurer STAFF Dave Murphy Executive Director/Editor Lynne Jensen Lampe Design & Production Laurie Coleman Admin. Associate/ Membership and Managing Editor Leigh Love Admin. Associate/ Accounting

tance between the poles of “conservation is wise use” and “what’s in it for me?” certainly seems global to me. EVERYTHING is “yet to be determined.” This is the real madness of March. Watch our website.

Dave Murphy Executive Director, CFM

MAILBAG Dear CFM, You honor us with your partnership and your gift of 2,400 pounds of food during the month of December. I have spent the past few days reflecting upon some wonderful things that people like you have allowed us to do.

We have been through an incredible year. We knew as 2005 dawned all shiny and new; that within twelve months we would have weathered some of the greatest natural disasters to ever hit the United States. At every turn we have found ordinary people giving in extraordinary ways.

You are very special to us at the Central Missouri Food Bank and to thousands of people in central and northeast Missouri who so desperately need your help. This year we have seen gasoline prices soar and government benefits cut.

We have seen the food supply through America’s Second Harvest slow to a trickle as nationally food was directed to the disaster sites. Unfortunately, that causes more people to need assistance from a food pantry. You have allowed us to respond to the needs and distribute nearly 18 million pounds of food.

Because of you, we are able to reach out a helping hand to more than 75,000 people each month!

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“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” In the thirteen years I have been with the food bank we have gone through floods, tornadoes, economic downturns and now hurricanes. Never once have I been disappointed in the compassion and generosity of the citizens of this great state. For there lies within each of us a tremendous capacity for good that I see demonstrated on a daily basis. God bless you for reaching out to our neighbors in need!

In gratitude, Peggy Kirkpatrick Executive Director Dear CFM, We as a company appreciate the involvement with the Missouri Conservation Department’s efforts with the Share the Harvest Program. Enclosed you will find the completed Processor Reimbursement Form. We unfortunately had only 3 hunters participate in the Share the Harvest Program this year.

We support your efforts with trying to help the community with this program and we also wish to help the community so therefore we request no reimbursement for the processing of deer. We

completed the form just to inform you of how many were donated.

Thank you for your efforts and we hope to see a better Share the Harvest in 2006.

Sincerely, Dwight Miller Millers’ Meats Dear CFM, Each year, the Ladies of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish at Perryville prepare Christmas food boxes for the needy of Perry County. The contents of the boxes are donated through the Boy Scout Drive, our local schools and individual families who are acquainted with this work. For the past several years, we have benefited through the Share the Harvest Program and have been able to help many families with the generous supply of venison that we receive through this program. We find this to be a real asset in our outreach work. In the name of all the families who have received benefits through your assistance, we offer you appreciation and gratitude. May the Lord prosper your efforts!

Gratefully yours, Ladies of Charity, Perryville, MO

Missouri Wildlife is the official publication of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, Affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

ISSN 1082-8591

728 W. Main Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559 Phone • 573-634-2322 Fax • 573-634-8205 Email • mofed@socket.net Online • http://www.confedmo.org

MISSOURI WILDLIFE (USPS 012868) is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November for subscribers and members of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559. Of each member’s dues ($20 minimum) $2.00 shall be for a year’s subscription to Missouri Wildlife. Periodical postage paid at Jefferson City, MO. and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MISSOURI WILDLIFE, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559.

COVER: MDC unveils new “I Released a Lunker Program” this year at Missouri Trout Parks.

Photo compliments of Missouri Department of Conservation.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Farewell From The Outgoing President t has been a great pleasure serving as president of your organization the past two years. We have made some good progress and I would like to take a minute to review it. When I became the president of CFM in March 2004, I set out the following as some of the goals for CFM under my leadership:

• To continue pursuit of a 501c3 status from the IRS. This was granted on January 1 of this year. Many thanks to Howard Wood and Jack Garrett for their hard work.

• Defense of the Design for Conservation sales tax.

We have done a very good job with this due to the hard work of many of our members and staff. I hope we are as successful this year.

• To continue the growth of our CLC program to involve youth in CFM. This group has doubled in size.

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• To continue our strategic planning process for our future.

This has progressed very well under the leadership of Howard Fisher.

• To continue our membership growth.

At that time we had 29,000 members.

Today we have 58,000 members.

• To keep CFM on a strong financial footing.

• Growth of the Share the Harvest program.

The program has grown substantially due to the hard work of many members.

All of these goals have been met. I didn’t do it by myself. I appointed good people and asked for help from many members. I wish to give a big “Thank

You” to everyone who has helped.

I leave CFM in good hands. We have a great group of officers and board members and an excellent staff. I feel that we have as good of a relationship with the Department of Conservation as we have ever enjoyed.

We still have threats in the legislature to conservation programs and funding. We still need everyone’s help to fight these threats. As long as we can keep hard-working dedicated conservationists involved, this organization will remain strong for another 70 years.

Once again, it has been a great pleasure and an honor to serve as president of Missouri’s largest citizen conservation organization.

Judd Kirkham President, CFM

The Present sage once remarked that the gift of this day is the only one of real significance, in fact that is why today is known as “The Present.” A play on words, to be sure, but a very timely one for CFM. On the very first day of our brand-new IRS 501c3 status, we received an extraordinary gift of $10,000 from one of our own. Tax exemption, however, really was not a consideration of the giver at the time the gift was given.

Now you’ll hear “the rest of the story.”

Throughout his adult life, and I suspect throughout his youth, hunting and fishing were the calendar by which Joe Bixby marked the passage of the seasons. His greatest passion was duck hunting. But his passions carried him and those around him to adventures around the globe. In particular he relished deep-sea fishing in Hawaii and Mexico, salmon fishing near Seattle and hunting big game in Wyoming.

Over three decades, he and his family cruised Lake of the Ozarks. His wife, Margie, reports “we would continue to cruise the lake in September and October after the summer crowds had gone and the foliage was turning. Then, we would pack the condiments out of the

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“[Joe] was proud of his Missouri heritage and swore many times he would never be a resident of any other state.”

— Lee Vogel, Joe’s stepson refrigerator and take them directly up to the duck cabin near Mound City.”

Sounds like living a dream for many of us!

For many, many years Joe was a faithful member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. He recognized the importance of financial resources for the cause of conservation. To honor his passion, the Bixby Family felt this gift at this time was a great investment. His stepson, Lee Vogel (a volunteer Hunter Education Instructor for the Missouri Department of Conservation and a television producer), says “[Joe] was proud of his Missouri heritage and swore many times he would never be a resident of any other state.”

Joe after a good day in the field at "Greenhead 80."

This gift arrived at a time of great financial need for CFM. May our efforts honor Joe’s gift by ensuring a

bright future for Missouri’s forests, fish and wildlife for generations to come.

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SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES

An Update From The Director’s Office t’s been a mild winter and spring is coming! Turkeys are gobbling and the geese in the lake behind my house are setting up territories.

I’m guessing that most of you, like me, are weather watchers. The weather has a huge influence not just on our enjoyment of nature, but directly on nature itself. With hurricanes, tornadoes, and drought so much in the news this past year, the weather has become even more a focus of interest.

I expect that most of the readers of Missouri Wildlife have had opportunities to engage with, or at least recognize, the traditional conservation programs within The School of Natural Resources. But, many of you may be less familiar with another key component of the School’s research and education efforts—our Atmospheric Sciences program. Given how much weather-related stories have predominated in the news this last year, I thought our readers would benefit from knowing more about this aspect of the School.

The Atmospheric Science emphasis area, housed in our Department of Soil, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that will prepare students for a variety of careers. Our Atmospheric Science majors pursue professional opportunities related to weather forecasting, planning for natural disasters, modeling global climate change and its effects, or weather reporting in the media. The program adheres to federal requirements for employment as a meteorologist, yet emphasizes interdisciplinary studies in natural resources leading to specialization in operational meteorology or environmental science.

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Our Atmospheric Science majors pursue professional opportunities related to weather forecasting, planning for natural disasters, modeling global climate change and its effects, or weather reporting in the media.

Although Atmospheric Science joined the School only recently (early 1990’s), the history of this program goes back almost 60 years at MU. In 1947, the then College of Agriculture established a climate project and in 1949 hired Dr. Wayne L. Decker as the first professor of climatology. Much of the early research and extension focus related to assessing climate “risk statistics” which were intended to assist in management of the agricultural enterprise in the state. In 1973, then Governor Kit Bond appointed Dr. Decker as State Climatologist.

In 1994, the Missouri Commission on Global Climate Change and Ozone Depletion recommended to the Missouri Legislature the establishment of a climate center at MU. The Center, now a joint program within the School and MU’s Commercial Agriculture Program, continues the climate service tradition of the state climate programs while adding new dimensions of global and regional climate change research.

The Climate Center’s mission is to advance the use of climate information for the economic and environmental benefit of Missouri and the public safety of its citizens through climate monitoring, research, education, and extension services. Some of the center’s functions include weather database and product development for individual and statewide dissemination and application of research for risk assessment associated with drought or rainfall frequency intervals.

Over the past 10 years, the Missouri Climate Center staff has fulfilled thou-

Save the Date!

CFM Fall Conference September 15–17, 2006 Camp Cloverpoint • Osage Beach 4

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sands of weather and climate data requests for the citizens of Missouri.

They have provided data, guidance, expertise, and outreach to numerous vocations including education, research, agriculture, industry, business, legal, media, local, state and federal agencies. For example, in 2005, over 600 weather and climate related inquiries and requests were fulfilled through e-mails, phone calls, and walkins. Dr. Pat Guinan leads the Climate Center and works closely with the other faculty in Atmospheric Sciences.

The mission of the Climate Center connects directly to the teaching and research mission of the Atmospheric Science program. Currently, we have three regular faculty in Atmospheric Science, plus several adjunct professionals who contribute to the research or teaching functions of the program.

Despite a small faculty, the Atmospheric Science emphasis area has attracted a large student body. There are about 100 undergraduates and 18 graduate students currently pursuing degrees in Atmospheric Science. Introductory courses on meteorology, climates of the world, etc. are very popular with students in SNR and from across MU. Dr. Tony Lupo has a strong research program related to global climate change, El Nino/ La Nina processes and how they affect regional weather patterns. Tony teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses on long-range weather forecasting and atmospheric dynamics. He recently completed a Fulbright Scholarship in Russia. (See his companion article on “The Historical Impact of Tropical

Hurricanes in Missouri” on page 14 of this issue of Missouri Wildlife.)

Dr. Pat Market’s research (funded by the National Science Foundation) focuses on development of non-tropical cyclones, jet streak-frontal interactions, heavy rainfall and snowfall forecasting, and thundersnow events. Pat teaches several courses, including the Fundamental of Meteorology, Daily Weather Forecasting, and SurfaceUpper Air Dynamics.

The third member of our regular faculty in Atmospheric Science, Dr. Neil Fox also has developed a strong research program (also with NSF funding). His work is focused on predicting very short-term (1-2 hour) precipitation events. Improving predictions on this scale could help better pinpoint flood events, etc. Neil offers several courses, including those on remote sensing and radar for atmospheric sciences.

Having this kind of expertise in The School of Natural Resources is important to our overall mission of improving the understanding and appreciation of natural ecosystems.

Climate affects us all; directly through weather events and air quality, as well as via its impacts on plant and animal populations. Having a strong research and teaching component related to Atmospheric Science in the School helps all of our other programs educate young professionals and understand natural ecosystems and the processes that shape them. Just another way the School is giving back to Missouri and its citizens.

Thanks to the Atmospheric Science faculty for help with background material for this column. As always, if readers have questions or comments for me – you can reach me at RyanMR@missouri.edu.

Mark R. Ryan Director, The School of Natural Resource

POWoods Box 133 4509 Road Gray Summit, MO 63072 63039 Robertsville, e-mail: hmeier@onemain.com Visit our website: www.missouribowhunters.org SOUTH COUNTY ARCHERS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT CFM & MBH

NEWS AND ISSUES

A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM AROUND THE STATE

Local Hunters ‘Share the Harvest’ For some people, November in Missouri means only one thing: This is the year they finally bag that 12-point buck.

But thanks to the efforts of a few area sportsmen, for thousands of needy Missourians it also means having meat on the table.

Sponsored by the Central Missouri Chapter of Safari Club International, deer hunters in central Missouri donated almost 19,800 pounds of venison to the Share the Harvest Program during the 2005-06 deer season.

Almost 7,600 pounds of that contribution came from Callaway County.

“We are very thankful for the great support received from hunters, meat processors, charities, major partners and others who have made the program so successful,” Fulton resident Janet Danuser, who serves as president of the CMC Safari Club International, said in a recent release.

The meat will help provide needy central Missouri residents - including families receiving assistance from SERVE, Inc., in Fulton and New Bloomfield’s New Life Evangelistic Center Food Pantry and Oak Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Food Pantry - with an estimated 79,000 meals this winter.

“It’s a really good humanitarian project to get involved in, because there’s such a high need for it,” said Safari Club board member Earl Cannon. “It’s a good way for hunters to give back.”

After going through a rigorous application process with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Central Missouri Chapter was authorized to participate in the program six years ago.

Since then, area hunters have had the option of donating as little as one pound of venison to an entire deer through Share the Harvest.

“They just have to tell the meat

processor how much they want to donate,” Cannon said. “The Conservation Federation of Missouri pays $35 toward the processing cost, and we try to pay the balance. Most processors also will give a discount for donated meat.”

In Callaway County, hunters are able to take their deer to Hartman’s Custom Meat Processing in New Bloomfield which processed 3,565 pounds of donated venison - or to R & R Processing in Auxvasse, which processed and donated 4,020 pounds this year.

Once the meat has been processed, volunteers with Safari Club transport the venison to area charitable organizations.

“They asked me to help, and I was retired and had the time to do it,” said Fulton resident Joel LeMaster, who has been hauling venison for the group for four years. “It’s rewarding knowing what little I’ve done has helped the families that need it.”

Cannon said the amount of venison donated this year was slightly less than in 2004-05, but he attributed the decrease to a statewide drop in the deer harvest. Overall, he said state attempts at controlling the deer population by allowing hunters to harvest more deer and holding special seasons have helped contribute to a growth in the program.

“Now that they are allowed to take home extra deer, it allows the hunters to donate more if they want to,” Cannon said.

LeMaster, who no longer is able to hunt because of leg problems, said the program’s success may be attributed directly to the generosity of local hunters.

“We help because of the amount of people that are hungry and don’t have the means of getting food other than the food pantries,” LeMaster said.“If Share the Harvest wasn’t here, they wouldn’t have meat to put on their tables.

“The people to thank for that are the hunters and the sportsmen that participate.”

2006 Fall Conference

2005 CFM Holiday Gun Drawing Grand Prize Winner Maurice Crowley of Rapid City, South Dakota, was sure surprised when we called! He now proudly owns the Browning Citori Gran Lightning over/under shotgun. Maurice bought his ticket at Bass Pro Shops in Columbia, during our 70th Anniversary Celebration and BBQ Contest Thanks to all who participated in this very successful fund-raiser. We appreciate very much the efforts of those who sold tickets…and the generosity of those who bought tickets!

New MDC ‘I Released A Lunker Program’

The 2006 Conservation Federation Fall Conference will be held September 15, 16, and 17 at Camp Clover Point, Lake Ozark State Park, Osage Beach, Missouri.

The theme will be Folk Crafts, Survival and Outdoor Skills. The program will include fire making, Dutch oven cooking, soap making, archery, trapping, jewelry making, a bird walk, container gardening and building bird houses.

We will have Coleman equipment repair and a shooting simulator all weekend.

There will also be entertainment: bingo, marshmallow roast, story telling, guitar playing, sing-along and square dance.

The happy hour and white elephant sale late Saturday afternoon is always a good time. When you are cleaning out your garage and basement this Spring save some good stuff to donate to the white elephant sale.

The food is always wonderful!

See you there.

Welcome!

CFM’s Newest Affiliate The Missouri State University Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society, formerly known as the Wildlife Conservation Club, became a professional society in 2006. The mission of The Wildlife Society is to enhance the ability of wildlife professionals to conserve diversity, productivity, and sustainability of wildlife resources for the benefit of society.

Consistent with the goals of The Wildlife Society, the goals of the Student Chapter are: • Provide opportunities for improved communication among indi-

To make the most of lunkers, the Conservation Department is introducing I Released a Lunker Program.

Anglers who catch and release big trout can get recognition patches to commemorate their achievement and the fact that they let the fish go for another angler to catch. To recognize anglers who catch and release lunkers at all four trout parks, the Conservation Department has a Grand Slam Patch around which the other four patches can be sewn.

To qualify, you must catch an 18inch or larger trout at one of the four trout parks between March 1 and Oct. 31 and immediately release the fish in good condition. One witness is required to verify the catch and release.

Applications are available at hatchery offices at the parks.

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NEWS AND ISSUES vidual members locally and with other student chapters, the MSU Section, and The Wildlife Society.

• Augment the educational opportunities for students in natural resources at MSU. • Prepare members for careers in wildlife biology, conservation, and management.

• Encourage professionalism and high standards for scholarship.

• Foster campus and community awareness of wildlife issues.

• To aid in the achievement of these goals, the Student Chapter proposes to: •Hold chapter meetings and activities on a regular basis that expand members’ knowledge of wildlife science and natural resources management.

• Participate in activities and conferences sponsored by other student

chapters, chapters, the MSU Section, and The Wildlife Society, as feasible.

• Provide opportunities for Student Chapter members to gain field experience and to develop an understanding of employers’ objectives and needs.

• Conduct educational programs on wildlife issues for the campus and surrounding community.

• Ensure the continuation of the Student Chapter through the ongoing recruitment of new members.

Welcome!

CFM’s New Members Joe Algaier, Belton Richard Ash Jr., Saint Charles David Berger, Saint Louis Shannon Block, Jefferson City Evelyn Blumenthal, Kansas City

Steve Bostic, Wentzville Barbara Boysen, Kansas City Rep. Jason Brown, Platte City Dale Chaney, Warrensburg Lynn Chaney, Lexington C. Gary Cravens, West Plains Rosa Cunningham, Louisiana B.H. Daniels, Fair Grove Kenneth Decker, Saint Louis Joe Demand, O Fallon Richard Dewey, Pleasant Hill, IL Jane Eder, Jefferson City Dean Gann, Waynesville Billie Grim, Saint Charles Rich Haffner, Farmington Avrom Handleman, Webster Groves George Hartman, Prairie Home Darren Haverstick, Fair Grove Vicki Heidy, Columbia Gerlof Homan, Imperial Rick Hoover, Kingsville Michael Huffman, Columbia Larry Jacobson, Shawnee Mission, KS Jason Jenkins, Holts Summit Shirley Jones, Florissant

Alan Koenig, Saint Mary Jeff Koppelman, Columbia Kyle Lairmore, Owensville Tony Legg, New Haven Michael Lustgarten, Wentzville Carl Marshall, Stover Tony Mihalevich, Kirksville Priscilla Moore, Higginsville Chris Morrow, Troy Norman Mosier, Sedalia Brad Nelson, High Ridge Steve North, Barnhart Kurt Parks, Marthasville David Percifull, Saint Louis J. Glenn Phaup, Ashland Lenny Pierce, Union, MS D. Gail Reynolds, Seymour Kenneth Rothman, Saint Louis Ralph Shelton, Imperial Robert Skaggs, Chamois David Thorne, Holts Summit Rick Vance, Bolivar Rex Vaughn, Festus Doug Wells, Kissee Mills Michael Willard, Troy

Will you join today to help us conserve our natural resources for tomorrow?

Check the member category you prefer: ❑ $20–Individual

❑ $15–Student

❑ $30–Family

❑ $100–Corporate

Reduce Reuse Recycle

❑ $1000–Lifetime

Your membership dues include a one-year subscription to Missouri Wildlife, logo sticker, and membership card.

Please mail this application with your membership dues to: Conservation Federation of Missouri 728 West Main Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559 If you have any questions, call us at 1-800-575-2322 or visit us at www.confedmo.com.

Name __________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________ City __________________________________State ____________Zip code __________ Work phone: ____________________________Home phone: ______________________ Fax number: ____________________________E-mail address: ____________________ Please make checks payable to the Conservation Federation of Missouri.* Or you may charge your membership dues to your MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.

Credit card number ________________________________Expiration date __________ Signature of cardholder ____________________________________________________

Conserve Life: SLOW DOWN More than

1,100 people die on Missouri highways each year. Don’t become a statistic.

Conserve life by slowing down and by always making sure your seatbelt is buckled.

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BUCKLE UP

Beautiful CFM Notecards For Sale!

A unique partnership between CFM and Jim Rathert has begun. You can buy fantastic images of Missouri wildlife, caught in the act of living, by renowned photographer Jim Rathert.

Best of all, each of these vivid slices of Missouri wildlife will greatly benefit CFM. The cards are sold only in high-quality sets of 12. There are 3 copies of each of the 4 images in every set (whitetail buck, greater prairie chicken, belted kingfisher, eastern bluebird). Each card is 5 x 7 with a full color photo on the front, a nature note by Jim with our CFM logo, mission statement and contact information on the back and plenty of space for your message on the inside. High quality, matched envelopes accompany each card.

Please order your cards today! We are certain you will enjoy sending them as much as your friends will enjoy receiving them. A dozen cards are yours for only $19. If you order 3 or more sets, you pay only $16 per set. Prices include shipping and handling. To purchase cards, use the form below, call (800) 575-2322 or go to www.confedmo.org Name:_________________________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________ State: ______________ Zipcode:_____________ Quantity (# of sets): _________ Total Price: ________________ ❑ Check

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Johnson’s Shut-Ins D

Restoration and Restitu he wall of flood water that ravaged Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park on December 14, 2005 was a wake-up call to all of us who cherish the natural beauty found in our Missouri State Parks. Not only was it a disaster, it was also a call for vigilance in the conservation community.

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and river frontage on the east fork of the Black River has been part of the state park system since 1955 following a donation by the Desloge Foundation. It is considered one of Missouri’s most scenic and geologically significant sites. It has been an icon of the Missouri Ozarks landscape.

Since the early 1960’s, Ameren UE has managed the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Plant on Proffitt Mountain. The design of the reservoir had been considered an engineering marvel. Just downstream on the Black River was one of nature’s marvels: Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. However, on that fateful December morning, the man-made marvel malfunctioned, causing 1.5 billion gallons of water to gush through the natural landscape. Within a matter of hours, one of Missouri’s most scenic natural areas was transformed into a barren moonscape and the normally crystal clear waters of the Black River turned milky.

Clean-up and restoration work began almost immediately in hopes of preventing

ALL PHOTOS BY RON COLEMAN

T The waters of the Lower Taum Sauk Reservoir are still milky following the breach of the upper dam.

Johnson’s Shut-Ins park office and store suffered much damage from the flood waters.

further damage to the river and the shutins. It will be impossible to restore the park in exactly the way it was before the tragedy.

However, a redevelopment plan is currently being crafted that will ensure that the area will be resurrected as one of Missouri’s finest parks. Furthermore, the plan will be drafted to preserve the well being of the park itself—as well as future park users.

The Department of Natural Resources, the Division of State Parks and numerous other agencies involved in the planning effort will need public support and patience as they work cooperatively to develop and implement a plan.

Once the cause of the reservoir breach is determined, a settlement may be reached regarding the level of financial restitution or other mitigation. In any case, reviving Johnson’s Shut-Ins as one of Missouri’s premier parks and natural landscapes will require considerable restoration assistance from man. Mother Nature herself needs some time and help in healing this deep wound.

Missouri citizens, Conservation Federation members and other conservation groups must be vigilant in their efforts to ensure that the appropriate restoration and proper restitution measures for the renaissance of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and the Black River are achieved.

Ron Coleman Chair of the CFM Parks Committe

Missourians Urged To Watch For Hungry Bears he way to make a stray animal your pet is to feed it. Black bears are no exception to this rule.

After a long winter of hibernating bears need food that is high in nutrition and quantity and obtained with little expenditure of energy. That can turn birdfeeders or any other food sources around your home into a black bear smorgasbord.

Without enticements there is very little risk of bears foraging near your home.

Missouri has a small bear population, mostly in the east-central Ozarks and southwestern corner of the state. Forests in those areas supply the food bears need to survive and enough space to steer clear of people. Bears are naturally afraid of

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humans and in most cases avoid them.

However, the prospect of regularly supplied meals can make some bears ignore their fear of humans.

Bears are very easily habituated to human feeding. Problems often occur when bears are conditioned to expect food from humans. It’s up to us to prevent those problems by removing anything that can attract bears to our homes: • Take down, clean and put away bird feeders, and clean up any seeds that may have fallen to the ground.

• Feed pets indoors. If you must feed them outdoors, clean up spilled food and place food dishes inside after each meal.

• Store pet food in airtight containers in locked storage areas.

• Clean up outdoor grills after each use and store them indoors.

• Put garbage out the morning of collection. Double bagging and use of ammonia will reduce odors that can attract bears.

• Do not place meat or sweet food scraps in your compost pile.

• Never intentionally feed bears.

Campers also should be watchful this time of year, because bears sometimes learn to associate campgrounds with an easy meal. Rules for bear-safe camping include never cooking, eating or storing food in tents or sleeping areas and keeping

food locked inside vehicles when not in use. If a bear enters your campsite, get inside your vehicle and stay there.

If a bear wanders into your yard while you are outside, make your presence known by making lots of noise and get inside as quickly as possible.

There’s an old saying that ‘a fed bear is a dead bear. Bears that lose their natural fear of humans can become aggressive. At that point they are a danger to property and in rare cases to people. Almost always when that happens the only solution to the problem is killing the bear.

Missourians who suspect a bear is foraging at, or near their homes should call the nearest Conservation Department office.

s Disaster:

stitution

Top photos, from left: (1) An aerial photo shows the scoured park area and difference in water clarity just south of highway N on the park boundary. (2) A State Park sign stands in stark contrast to park damage in the background. Bottom photos, from left: (1) The entrance to the park caught the edge of the floods force. (2) Massive tree damage was experienced from the powerful wall of water moving swiftly through the park. (3) The sun sets over the St. Francois Mountains looking from Mina Sauk Falls on the Ozark Trail.

Cell Phones Can Help Turkey Hunters echnology is no substitute for good hunting habits, but it can be useful when emergencies arise or when poachers appear. Even hunters who go to the woods to escape modern technology might want to take a cellular phone with them.

Spring turkey hunting season is busy for conservation agents, who must patrol hundreds of square miles in pursuit of the small number of people who take more than their fair share of turkeys, hunt illegally over bait or hunt without valid permits.

Being spread thin is part of the job and agents are used to it, but they welcome help from ethical hunters who see illegal activities. That kind of help increasingly comes

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from hunters carrying cell phones. Tips delivered from the field while violations are occurring—instead of hours later—are much more likely to lead to convictions.

To avoid the distraction of incoming calls, carry your cell phone without turning it on. It might come in handy if you need help or if you see someone breaking the law. All you have to do to turn in poachers is dial the Operation Game Thief (OGT) hotline, (800) 392-1111. Sometimes an agent gets there within minutes.

To stay safe while turkey hunting, follow these tips: • Make sure you have a clear field of view. Choose a hunting spot that enables you to see an approaching hunter.

• Sit with your back against a tree at least as broad as your shoulders to provide protection from behind.

• Don’t wear or carry anything colored red, white, blue or black. These colors are associated with turkey gobblers.

• Camouflage your entire body and head. An exposed hand or face can be mistaken for part of a turkey.

• When you kill a turkey, tag it immediately and cover it completely with a bag or wrap it in a hunter-orange cloth before carrying it out of the woods.

• Never hunt in areas that you know others are using. They could mistake you for game or unknowingly catch you in their line of fire. Never assume you are the

only hunter in the area.

• If you see another hunter, shout to identify yourself. Never wave. The movement of your camouflaged form could draw fire from a careless shooter.

• Exercise extreme caution in placing turkey decoys. These may draw fire.

• Don’t try to stalk a turkey.You could be stalking another hunter, who could shoot you by mistake. It is virtually impossible to sneak up on a turkey. Sitting still as a stone is the only effective way to get close to a turkey.

• Never run with a firearm. When you shoot a turkey, return your gun’s safety to the “safe” position before running to subdue the downed gobbler.

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CFM Participates In Corp Restoration In South Florida n early January of this year Ron Coleman represented the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) at the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) sponsored Corp of Engineers, Katrina Restoration Meeting held in West Palm Beach Florida.

CFM over the past few years has been following the practices and policies of the Corp of Engineers in how their work is impacting our natural resources up and down the length of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Many Corp projects have a connection to Missouri and how they affect our natural resources and our downstream neighbors. CFM and NWF are working with a larger network to reform Corp practices that may have a negative impact on precious habitat for water-dependent fish and wildlife.

While attending the conference Coleman got a chance to view some of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” projects of the Corp including the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge, the Kissimmee River Restoration project and the $8 billion comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project. There were also many important sessions on coastal restoration which highlighted the need Corp reform in the aftermath of last years hurricane season.

We know that “we all live down stream.” Hurricane Katrina demonstrated vividly the need for the proper management of mighty rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi.” The meeting was indeed a step into the eye of the storm,”

ALL PHOTOS BY RON COLEMAN, CFM BOARD MEMBER

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The Corp project in South Florida seeks to restore 43 miles of meandering river and 27,000 acres of wetlands.

Alligators in the Everglades can teach us about water habitat and wildlife.

said Coleman. We must not ignore the need for protecting and restoring our water resources in this huge watershed.

NWF Regional Representative Lisa Madry and CFM Affiliate Representative Ron Coleman on the Kissimmee River.

NWF Regional Rep. Lisa Madry listens intently to a presentation by a Loxahatchee biologist about wetland restoration: Everglades “River of Grass, Gators and Wildlife.”

detected by predators that scent the doe.

Adopting wildlife can expose humans to undreamed-of perils. The danger may be direct, from a scratching, biting wild animal. Less obvious dangers from wild animals include contracting dangerous parasites.

If your child brings home a baby bird or rabbit, forget the popular myth that human scent will prevent the parent from taking it back. Return the animal as quickly as possible to the place where it was found.

It is true that a young bird on the ground can be easy prey for a cat or other predator. But that is how it is supposed to

be—if every robin that hatched lived to maturity, the world would be overwhelmed with robins. If you have a flightless bird in your backyard, the best thing to do is keep your pets indoors and chase away cats and dogs that come snooping around. The parent birds will continue to care for the little one until it can fly. If you find the bird dead in spite of your efforts, don’t be sad. Conservation and the natural world turn on populations and processes. Life and death drive the natural world. Becoming comfortable with that process is a difficult but valuable lesson to learn.

There would be no spring without it.

Leave Wildlife In The Wild hat is the best thing you can do for wildlife you think has been abandoned?

Nothing. Attempting to rescue baby animals believed to be orphaned often causes the animals’ demise.

The Conservation Department receives hundreds of calls each spring from people who find birds, raccoons, opossums and a variety of other juvenile wildlife “abandoned.” MDC biologists say that in most cases nothing is wrong, and human intervention is inappropriate.

Birds often grow too large for their nests before they are able to fly. They fall or jump out, and parents continue to bring

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food to them on the ground. “Rescuing” a young animal from this situation is likely to result in its death. Most people aren’t equipped to supply young animals’ dietary needs. And removing an animal from the wild—even if you return it later—increases the chances its parents won’t be able to find it.

Similarly, people who report “orphaned” fawns may not understand that white-tailed deer don’t stay with their young 24 hours a day. Fawns spend most of their time alone until they are old enough to keep up with their mothers.

This protects fawns—which have practically no odor of their own—from being

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

What To Do About E-Waste -waste. The term is becoming more familiar everyday. With the electronic industry changing what seems like almost every minute, where does the old, outdated equipment go? The Department of Natural Resources wanted to create a plan for disposing, reusing and recycling electronic waste in Missouri in an economically sustainable fashion without threatening the environment. To get the best results, the department put together a group of interested stakeholders to help decide how to put in place the framework for dealing with E-waste.

The first E-waste Stakeholder Workgroup met Feb. 24, 2006. The department invited representatives from all sides of the issue. Those included manufacturers, vendors, recyclers, environmental groups, waste haulers and processors, several Missouri state agencies, federal agencies, local governments and interested parties. The discussion centered on several elements of the problem.

Nationwide, E-waste is a growing problem. E-waste can be described as any unwanted consumer product containing a printed circuit board and its associated peripherals. Currently, E-waste makes up between one to four percent of the waste stream, according to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the European Union believes E-waste is growing three times faster than any other waste category.

Computers are becoming obsolete

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faster and many televisions will need to be modified or replaced in the coming decade when television broadcasting switches from analog to digital. This will only make the E-waste problem worse. Cathode ray tubes, referred to as CRTs, found in color computer monitors and televisions are of particular concern because they contain large amounts of lead. Computers and other electronic equipment may also contain mercury, cadmium and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. Right now, especially in Missouri, there are few opportunities for households to recycle residential E-waste. Some recycling businesses will only accept computers on a large scale from organizations and governments. Some businesses do not accept televisions or computer monitors at all. The majority of refurbishers or recyclers are located in larger metropolitan areas. The only option remaining for those not in a metropolitan area is to send the electronics and CRTs to the landfill or pay to ship them to a distant processor.

Businesses and organizations are not permitted to dispose of E-waste in landfills. They must find a legitimate source to manage this waste under the hazardous rules and regulations.

There are very few standards concerning the management of E-waste. E-waste may be categorized, defined, transported and stored differently in each state, city and business. The department recognizes that the ideal solution would be a nationwide standard, but for now, the depart-

ment is taking the initiative in Missouri to ensure the E-waste issue is addressed.

The E-waste stakeholders discussed best management practices possible for improving collection, transportation and storage, processing and disposition of Ewaste. They also considered the related topics of barriers, incentives, economics, education needs and regulatory/policy issues within each category. The workgroup meeting focused on televisions and computers, including computer monitors and peripherals, such as printers.

The first meeting was a good starting point for discussion of these issues. The workgroup hopes to have a better under-

standing of the path that E-waste management will undergo in Missouri by the end of 2006.

For more information on E-waste or other waste issues, please contact Mike Menneke of department’s Hazardous Waste Program at (573) 751-9189, or Dennis Hansen of department’s Solid Waste Management Program at (573) 751-5401.

Hearing and speech-impaired persons may reach either contact through Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966. Additional information is also available on the department’s Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/homeswmp.htm.

CFM Fall Conference It’s not too early to mark your calendar for this special weekend! Exciting program,wonderful food, white elephant sale, great fellowship—and a great price. $70.00 per person or $135.00 per couple for the entire weekend. This includes everything!!

September 15–17, 2006 Camp Cloverpoint • Osage Beach M I S S O U R I

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AGENCY NEWS

Telecheck Saving Conservation Dollars, Protecting Missouri’s Resources issouri’s new automated wildlife checking system gives Conservation Agents and Biologists up to the minute harvest information during deer and turkey seasons. Sportsmen utilized the new system this fall during the archery deer and turkey season, firearms deer seasons and the fall firearms turkey season. This instant access to harvest data gives the Conservation Department another tool to protect and manage Missouri’s deer and turkey resource. Conservation Agents utilized the new system very effectively for enforcement during the deer and turkey hunting seasons.

The telecheck system allows hunters to check their deer or turkey by telephone or over the internet on a computer. The system is set up to be user friendly for sportsmen while saving hunters’ time and money by not having to drive to a check station. The new computerized system also saves Missouri taxpayers money because the new telecheck system is much less costly than the old deer and turkey check system. Moving to the telecheck system was the fiscally prudent thing to do for Missouri citizens.

Under the old check station system of checking animals, Conservation Agents spent a lot of time locating businesses to check deer and turkey, setting up check stations and then monitoring those check stations throughout the hunting seasons.

The new telecheck registration gives Conservation Agents the opportunity to more efficiently utilize their time. The telecheck system allowed Agents to focus on field contacts and violation investiga-

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tions during the hunting seasons.

This new efficiency and focus allowed Conservation Agents to apprehend wildlife violators utilizing the new telecheck information and technology. What often began as a telecheck investigation uncovered numerous other violations such as spotlighting, road hunting, illegal buck deer, over-limits of deer and permit violations such as non-residents hunting on resident deer permits. People who are inclined to violate checking regulations often violate other wildlife regulations.

The Conservation Department views tagging and checking violations seriously.

These regulations are designed to help ensure a fair and equitable harvest among Missouri sportsmen.

There were numerous examples statewide of Conservation Agents using the telecheck system to investigate violations. For example, in Northwest Missouri Conservation Agents Vince Crawford and Marc Bagley started an investigation off the telecheck records that uncovered multiple deer violations including shooting deer from a public roadway, take deer without permits, fraudulently securing permits and an illegal deer from South Dakota. In another case in Jasper County, Conservation Agent Willie Carr cited two individuals for taking over their limit of deer and four other wildlife violators for taking

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men) to be ethical and to do the right thing. After all, mandatory checking of most species of wildlife is not required at all, yet we know the vast majority of people Agents contact follow the fish and wildlife rules. And Conservation Agents will be there to apprehend and investigate those unethical people who don’t follow the law.

Sportsmen can help by reporting wildlife violations and programming the Operation Game Thief number into their telephones. The OGT telephone number is (800) 392-1111.

Ultimately the credibility and success of the telecheck system will rest with Missouri’s Sportsmen. If they perceive the system is working and credible for checking wildlife we will march into the future with a high tech checking system. The Conservation Department will review, monitor and evaluate the system to ensure an accurate, reliable and credible harvest checking system.

The Department of Conservation is looking to improve the telecheck system for 2006. Our goal is to provide simple, clear regulations with a convenient, credible checking system that accurately reflects deer and turkey harvest while continuing to serve as a deterrent to wildlife violators. We are entering a new era of wildlife management by using telephones and computers to check harvested wildlife. We are confident this convenient, less costly checking system can be a successful component for the future of wildlife management in Missouri.

Tim D. Ripperger Protection Field Chief, MDC

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illegal deer and trying to have someone else check the deer. Telecheck investigations often lead Conservation Agents to other serious wildlife violations.

There were some glitches with the first year system that needed attention.

The voice recognition system couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always capture the correct county of harvest and some hunters could not complete the checking procedure due to poor telephone connections. The Conservation Department had anticipated some of these problems and operated a Telecheck Help Center manned by Department employees throughout the firearms deer season. Any hunter who had trouble with the voice recognition system immediately had a live person on the line to help them finish the checking procedure.

Although the new telecheck system is convenient and saves considerable money there is some concern among Missouri Sportsmen that the system is easy for poachers to abuse. As with any system there is room for abuse by wildlife violators. Under the old physical system of checking deer at check stations there was abuse and wildlife violations taking place by unethical violators.

Some people will obviously try to get away with breaking the law with the telecheck system. The Department relies on the majority of hunters (and fisher-

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AGENCY NEWS

Johnson’s Shut-Ins Recovery: Balancing Speed And Quality Significant Work Needed to Repair River, State Park n the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2005, a failure of the Taum Sauk Reservoir sent 1.3 billion gallons of water rushing through Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and nearby property.

Significant damage was done to the park, forcing it to close.

Damaged areas include the campground, boardwalk, trails, park store and picnic area. The Goggin’s Mountain hiking and equestrian trail and trailhead were not affected and are still accessible to the public. A portion of the Taum Sauk Section of the Ozark Trail was damaged between Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and Taum Sauk Mountain State Park; this portion is temporarily closed.

The state of Missouri has no regulatory oversight of the reservoir, which is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but has been, and continues to be, involved in oversight of recovery efforts. The Department of

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Natural Resources, in conjunction with other agencies, worked quickly to begin recovery for the park. Crews have already begun cleanup of debris and sediment, which covers much of the affected area of the park. Once immediate environmental issues are addressed, we will begin working on long-term strategies for recovery.

The main area of the park remains closed while cleanup and recovery continues. The department hopes to have some services available by the summer season but it is too soon to say exactly what those will be. The goal is to move as quickly as possible but not so fast that the future of the park is jeopardized.

The December reservoir breach also affected water quality along the Black River. In January the Department of Natural Resources approved a plan submitted by AmerenUE to remove suspended clay from the river. The company also provided an implementation plan for the use of flocculents, a type of chemical that causes suspended particles to settle out of water. Flocculents are

2006 Natural Events Calendar $5.00 plus shipping & handling

commonly used in situations where the cleanup of suspended sediment is needed.

The department is trying to prevent more sediment from flushing downstream of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park.

Suspended sediment and clay are environmental concerns because of potential impacts on water quality. They can change the environment of the stream, which can affect aquatic life. Protecting this aquatic life is an important part of the department’s mission and studies will continue on potential impacts. A plan is being developed for the restoration of the East Fork of the Black River that flows through the park. This plan will provide maximum stabilization for the stream and address other issues.

One area of concern is the park’s fen, which has been designated as a state natural area because of its significance. This wetland natural community was covered in sediment and debris, which is being carefully removed. Staff will monitor the fen to see any long-term impact and the status of recovery.

This beautiful calendar keeps you in touch with the year's seasonal changes.

Thanks to the splendid talents of MDC nature photographers, you'll be able to enjoy wild Missouri indoors when you can't experience it firsthand. You'll find monthly reminders of the state's natural treasures.

Daily notes keep you posted on what's blooming or nesting and myriad other natural phenomena.

The department is keeping the surrounding communities informed through regular public meetings. Water quality along the Black River has been one of the top concerns voiced by meeting attendees.

Keep watching the department’s Web site, www.dnr.mo.gov, for news about these meetings and about other progress, including updated photographs. For regular electronic updates about Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and all state parks and historic sites, you can sign up for Missouri State Park eFriends at our Web site under “Join the Fun” or by contacting us at mostateparks@dnr.mo.gov.

For thousands of Missourians, mentioning Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park sparks memories of time spent splashing in waterslides with their families, cooking out with friends over an open fire or spending a balmy July night under the stars. Those with special memories are encouraged to share them on our Web site.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the public interest and concern we’ve received for the well-being of our staff, the welfare of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and the health of this region’s natural resources.

Those who are interested in supporting these continuing efforts may visit us online at mostateparks@dnr.mo.gov to learn more about volunteering.

Doyle Childers Director, DNR

Calendar measures 10 X 14 Mail payment to...

Conservation Federation of Missouri 728 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 M I S S O U R I

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The Historical Impact Of Tropical Cyclones On Missouri n January 26, 2005, the National Hurricane Center upgraded Tropical Storm Cindy to a hurricane nearly seven months after the fact. They did this after re-analyzing the RADAR and Satellite data, and finding evidence of hurricane force winds and the tell-tale hurricane “eye.” This storm hit Louisiana near New Orleans in early July, 2005, almost two months before a much more infamous storm would. It would be natural for one to imagine that it seemed like the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season just wouldn’t end, but it would also make one wonder what this has to do with weather in Missouri.

During the busy 2005 season, four tropical cyclones directly impacted Missouri weather, two of these crossing into the state even though Missouri is about 500 miles from the Gulf of Mexico at its closest point. Arlene, Dennis, Katrina, and Rita all dropped rain in the state and Dennis and Rita (Fig. 1) brought some gusty winds as well. Although these were all only tropical depressions (the weakest classification for a tropical cyclone), such storms can still bring devastating flooding when they stall over an area.

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t is not unusual for dying hurricanes to track over Missouri, this has happened 33 times since 1890 (or about once every three years).

What made 2005 unusual was the number of storms that impacted Missouri.

Only two other years before 2005 saw two storms track across the state, but both of these years were during the early part of the 20th century, 1923 and 1950.

None of the storms that impacted Missouri in 2005 were classified as tropical storms, that is, storms carrying sustained winds of 40 miles per hour or more. Storms carrying these kind of winds have crossed into Missouri only six times in the past, 1900, 1902, 1906, 1932, 1941, and the last in 1949 (Fig. 2).

For a tropical storm to get all the way to Missouri carrying such strong winds, the storm would have to move either very quickly over land or take a very direct path from the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 3). Such a perfect set of events is quite unusual. Perhaps the most unusual of the tropical storms to strike Missouri, however, occurred in 1900.

The infamous Galveston hurricane, the one that brought the greatest natu-

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Figure 1. The path of Hurricane Rita obtained from (http://weather.unisys.com) hurricane archive. The green, yellow, and reds are tropical depression, tropical storm, and hurricane strengths, respectively.

Figure 2. Same as in Figure 1, except for the 1949 storm (September–October).

ral disaster the United States have ever seen, did not stop there. The storm took a path deep into Texas, Oklahoma, and even into Kansas. While most tropical cyclones that hit Missouri move in from the south or southeast, this tropical storm moved in from Kansas to the west as it struck Kansas City. The storm caused heavy damage throughout the city, and wind gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour were common, and some were likely hurricane force (greater than 75 mph).

While there is some disagreement over the classification of the storm by the time it reached Kansas City, there is little doubt about the destruction it caused. And even though the storm had done heavy damage in Kansas City, then later brought 80 mile per hour winds to Chicago and even Toronto, Canada, the tragedy of Galveston understandably overshadowed the further antics from this storm. This storm ranks still as one of the strongest tropical storms to strike the Show Me State.

Much later in the 20th century, another devastating storm nearly crossed into Missouri rated as a tropical storm. Camille brought heavy rains to much of Southeast Missouri, but the storm never crossed into Missouri and was downgraded to a tropical

Figure 3. As in Figure 1, except for the 1906 storm (September).

depression in Tennessee. Since 1950, only 11 tropical depressions crossed into Missouri. There is no magic predictor for which years would be more favorable for tropical cyclones to cross into our state, other than Missouri storms seem to favor more active hurricane seasons, especially when the Gulf of Mexico is more active. This is just plain common sense, as more storms mean better odds.

However, it is not common knowledge that the remnants of land-falling hurricanes are usually good news for our state. Typically, these events move into the state during the height of summer and frequently bring life-giving rains for areas that are parched.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Grace during Labor Day weekend in 2003 brought relief across a swath from Springfield up through Columbia and into Moberly on the heels of a very dry August. Hurricane Dennis in July 2005 arguably prevented the worst of the 2005 dryness from burning southeast and eastern Missouri. Rita later provided some relief of dry conditions across southern Missouri. So while these storms are undoubtedly bad news for other parts of the nation, some good does eventually come from their demise in our state. ill more of these storms impact Missouri in the future because of climate change or global warming? It is not likely. First, there is no evidence that climate change will mean more hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean basin. Research at the University of Missouri and elsewhere suggests that hurricane numbers in the Atlantic are modulated by processes that are quite natural.

Large-scale changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures impact Atlantic hurricane occurrences indirectly through the jet stream. In the year 2000, it was apparent

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that these naturally occurring cycles were turning toward a more active 20 30 year period for Atlantic Ocean basin hurricanes. Then, the busy 2005 season, while unusual, is certainly not out of line with the historical records.

Could 2006 bring more tropical cyclones across Missouri? Don’t be surprised. Only three other periods in the last century, 1900-1902, 1940 1942, and 1960 - 1961 were associated with tropical cyclones visiting Missouri during consecutive seasons. But this year is expected to be another very active year in the tropical Atlantic.

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CALENDAR MISSOURI FESTIVALS AND AFFILIATE EVENTS

AFFILIATE EVENTS CAPITAL CITY FLY FISHERS MAR 1: Opening Day, Missouri Trout Season MAR 2: Fly Tying, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (6:00pm-8:00pm) MAR 9: Fly Tying, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (6:00pm-8:00pm) MAR 11: Fly Fishing Class, Veteran’s Park, Fulton MAR 14: Club Banquet MAR 16: Fly Tying, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (6:00pm-8:00pm) MAR 16-18: Sowbug Roundup, Mountain Home, Arkansas MAR 29: Hooked on Fly Fishing Not Drugs, South Callaway R-II Middle School (3:15pm-4:30pm) APR 11: Club Meeting, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (7:00pm) APR 21-23: Spring Quarterly Outing, Spring River, Mammoth Springs, Arkansas APR 26: Hooked on Fly Fishing Not Drugs, South Callaway R-II Middle School (3:15pm-4:30pm) CENTRAL MISSOURI CHAPTER SAFARI CLUB MAR 11: Sensory Safari Trailer, Day with Wildlife Program, Owensville (10:00am-4:00pm) MAR 12-17: Sensory Safari Trailer, Spring Classic – Bass Pro Shops, Columbia APR 15: 2nd Annual Sporting Clay Shoot, Cedar Creek Rod & Gun Club (9:00am-3:00pm); Janet Danuser (573) 642-3225 or Glenn Danuser (573) 642-2246 FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK MAR 5: Friends Gathering, Anniversary Luncheon MAR 18: Explore Rock Bridge, Tug-A-Suckle (1:00pm-3:00pm) HEAVENS ANGLERS MAR 4: Lake Ozarks Tournament, Lake Ozark APR 8: Lake Thomas Hill Tournament KANSAS CITY WOODCARVERS MAR 24-25: 32nd Annual Woodcarving Show & Sale, Lees Summit; Ed Zinger (913) 397-6992 or Ted Richmond (913) 422-9447 MISSOURI ASSOCIATION OF MEAT PROCESSORS MAR 2: Pre-Convention Workshop, MU Campus, Columbia (9:00am); Eric Berg (573) 882-3176 MAR 3-5: MAMP Convention & Trade Show, Holiday Inn Select, Columbia (417) 237-0410 MAR 31-APR 2: Quad State Best of the Midwest, KMPA Convention & Trade Show, Topeka, Kansas (785) 539-7842 MISSOURI BASS FEDERATION MAR 1: Newspaper Deadline, Spring Edition APR 1: Directors Meeting, Pomme de Terre Shrine Club, Hermitage (9:00am-12:00pm) APR 1: President’s Rodeo, Pomme de Terre Lake APR 2: Spring Fling, Pomme de Terre Lake MISSOURI DUCKS UNLIMITED MAR 2: Chillicothe Dinner, Chillicothe Country Club, Chillicothe; Scott Englert (660) 6460740 MAR 3: Fenton Chapter Inaugural Event, Anheuser-Busch Conference Center; Brian Kalkbrenner (636) 795-1006 MAR 4: Cameron Dinner, Cameron Community Center, Cameron; Keith Mathews (816) 6324193 MAR 4: Callaway County Dinner, Saint Peters Parish Center; Chuck Baker (573) 592-7165 MAR 4: Carthage Dinner, Carthage; Bryce Morris (417) 359-4083

MAR 4: Higginsville Banquet, American Legion Hall, Higginsville; Shawn Davenport (660) 5847376 MAR 4: Washington Dinner, Knights of Columbus Hall, Washington; Don Elbert (636) 2396603 MAR 11: Mid-East Chapter Festus/Crystal City Dinner, Festus National Guard Armory, Festus; Kerry Portell (636) 933-3611 MAR 11: Platte City Dinner, Platte County Fairgrounds, Tracy; Rod Howard (816) 420-8669 MAR 11: Wentzville Dinner, Saint Theodore’s Parish, Flint Hill; Charlie Thomas (636) 7452766 MAR 18: Independence Dinner, Independence; Chris Kramer (816) 229-9484 MAR 24: MODU State Convention, Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark; Jane Bell (314) 8719012 MAR 30: Cape County Dinner, New Orleans Restaurant; Don McQuay (573) 243-8695 APR 8: Golden Valley Dinner, Rotary Building, Clinton; Eric Finks (660) 885-3990 APR 8: Ladies Wine Tasting, Peachtree Banquet Center, Columbia; Jennifer Baskett (573) 4451973 APR 8: Neosho Dinner, Neosho; Kevin Bartley (417) 592-1405 APR 22: Schuman Tribute Dinner, Knights of Columbus Hall, Saint Paul; Don Molitor (636) 970-1114 or (314) 486-1423 MISSOURI NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION FUND-RAISING BANQUETS MAR 3: Lake of the Ozarks NWTF Chapter, Tri County Convention Center, Versailles; Mark Stafford (573) 378-5596 MAR 3: Dry Fork Strutters, Elks Lodge, Rolla; Barbara Baird (573) 364-6320 MAR 4: Heartland Gobblers, Elks Lodge, Poplar Bluff; Timothy Placher (573) 222-6365 MAR 4: Hickory County Jakes & Jennies, Hickory County Senior Center, Wheatland; David Wright (417) 722-4488 MAR 4: Kirksville Ridge Runners, NEMO Fairgrounds, Kirksville; Martin Burns (660) 6651376 MAR 4: NEMO Chapter, American Legion Hall, Hannibal; Dan Minor (573) 231-0364 MAR 10: Stealth Gobblers, Johnson County Fairgrounds, Warrensburg; Philip Woods (660) 7478415 MAR 10: Booger County Gobblers, Ava High School, Ava; Stan Lovan (417) 683-5218 MAR 10: Carroll County Longbeards, Rupe Center, Carrollton; Rob Casner (660) 542-1733 MAR 11: Capitol City Strutters, Lions Club, Wardsville; Lee Wilbers (573) 893-7770 MAR 11: Salt River Sharp Spurs, Father Buhman Center, Shelbina; Chris Coe (573) 5884060 MAR 11: Sho-Me Chapter, Bass Pro Outdoor World, Springfield; Matthew Kramer (417) 8396366 MAR 16: Marshfield Full Strutters, Sheila’s Place, Marshfield; Dale Broesder (417) 8596129 MAR 17: Muddy Creek Gobblers, Memorial Hall, Lamar; Judd Chestnut (417) 682-3767 MAR 17: Hocomo Big Beards, Saint Joseph’s Hall, Fayette; Gene Smith (660) 248-5191 MAR 17: Nolan R. Hutcheson Memorial, Golden Hills Trail Rides, Raymond; Mike O’Brien (573) 674-4044 MAR 18: Fabius River Fantails, Knights of

Columbus Hall, Edina; Jeff Morrow (660) 3972610 MAR 18: River Hills Thunderin’ Longbeards, Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomsdale; Dave Palmer (573) 883-2315 MAR 18: Jacomo Strutters, American Legion Hall, Blue Springs; Norbert Kurok (816) 5403669 MAR 24: Twain’s Roaring Gobblers, Family Life Center, Cassville; Richard Murphy (417) 8474272 MAR 24: Marais-des Cygnes River Gobblers, Butler Youth Center at Butler Fairgrounds, Butler; Jesse Schowengerdt (660) 679-6555 MAR 24: Fountain City Strutters, Knights of Columbus Hall, DeSoto; Jeremy Gilbert (636) 586-2276 MAR 24: Osage Prairie Thunderin’ Toms, Elks Lodge, Nevada; Bruce Rogers (417) 876-2521 MAR 25: North Central Local, Elks Lodge, Chillicothe; Bill Wehrle (660) 646-4362 MAR 25: Big River Gobblers, Knights of Columbus Hall, House Springs; Richard Christopher (636) 274-2574 MAR 25: Moniteau Monarchs, Jamestown Community Building, Jamestown; Philip Rockers (573) 796-4847 MAR 25: Southern Ozark Longbeards, First Baptist Church, Doniphan; Alan Slayton (573) 8572119 MAR 31: Pike County Twin Rivers, Elks Lodge, Louisiana; Timothy Brooks (573) 324-3201 MAR 31: Blackwater Longbeards, Odessa Community Center, Odessa; Sean Croucher (816) 230-5460 APR 1: Randolph County Longbeards, Saint Pius X Gymnasium, Moberly; Jason Shannon (660) 291-4724 APR 1: Four Rivers, Immaculate Conception Church, Union; Dave Douglas (636) 583-7740 APR 1: Brickyard Hill Drummers, Tarkio Community Building, Tarkio; Charles Bolin (660) 7364789 APR 4: Mid-America Chapter, Ararat Shrine Temple, Kansas City; John Shene (816) 741-6234 APR 7: Sedalia Chapter, Best Western State Fair Inn, Sedalia; Barry Barnes (660) 826-9365 APR 7: Spring Creek Toms, Memorial Hall, Carthage; Larry Glaze (417) 358-0753 APR 8: Twin Lakes Longspurs, Smith’s Restaurant, Bolivar; Ron Scurlock (417) 326-4693 APR 15: Green Hills, The Rock Barn, Trenton; Scott Roy (660) 359-3399 APR 21: Osage Gobblers, Loose Creek Community Center, Loose Creek; Dave Brooks (573) 7289901 APR 22: Lake Area Longbeards, Knights of Columbus Hall, Camdenton; Charles McElyea (573) 346-7231

MAR 25: Grow Native Day, Anita Gorman Discovery Center, Kansas City (10:00am-3:00pm) (816) 759-7300

CALLING CONTESTS APR 1: 26th Annual El Kadir Wild Turkey Calling Contest, Shrine Club, Kirksville; Chris Coy (660) 665-5311

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION MAR 25: Elk Prairie Chapter Fundraising Banquet, Elks Lodge, Rolla; Ed Carmack (573) 729-5113

JAKES EVENTS MAR 25: Rhine Valley Chapter, Hermann Rod & Gun Club, Hermann; Donnie Viehmann (573) 486-0545

US FISH AND WILDLIFE EVENTS

WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS EVENTS MAR 25: Yellow Creek, Heartland Wildlife Ranch, Ethel; Angela Shoultz (660) 534-7412 MAR 31: Platte Purchase, Camp Gieger, Saint Joseph; Tami Brown (816) 567-2224 APR 8: Mid-State, Bass Pro Shops, Columbia; Scott Rubinstein (573) 446-8325 APR 22: Ladies Day, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Forrest City; Kathy Kunkel (660) 442-3923 MISSOURI PARKS ASSOCIATION MAR 2: Landscaping & Planting to Attract Birds, Anita Gorman Discovery Center, Kansas City (7:00pm-9:00pm) (816) 759-7300

MISSOURI SMALLMOUTH ALLIANCE MAR 11: Annual Bronzeback Banquet; Dennis Schuetz (314) 838-2789 MAR 15: Regular Membership Meeting; Norman Leppo (314) 647-1616 APR 10: Board of Directors Meeting; Steve White (636) 532-6096 APR 19: Regular Membership Meeting; Norman Leppo (314) 647-1616 APR 23: Fishing Clinic, Rockwood Summit High School; Mike Hoffmeyer (636) 529-9272 MISSOURI WHITETAILS UNLIMITED MAR 11: Monroe City Area Banquet, Knights of Columbus Hall, Monroe City MAR 18: Ten Mile Pond Area Banquet, Big Book Club, East Prairie MAR 31: Mid-Missouri Area Banquet, Ramada Inn Conference Center, Columbia APR 15: Long Branch Area Banquet, Macon County Expo Center, Macon OZARK FLY FISHERS MAR 23: Monthly Membership Meeting (7:00pm) APR 22: Annual All-Day Program OZARK MOUNTAIN PADDLERS MAR 5: Roll Class, Boys & Girls Club (1:00pm3:00pm) (3:00pm-5:00pm); Curtis Claybaker (417) 881-0455 MAR 9: Monthly Meeting, Jordan Creek Underground Tour MAR 12: Roll Class, Boys & Girls Club (1:00pm3:00pm) (3:00pm-5:00pm); Curtis Claybaker (417) 881-0455 MAR 19: Roll Class, Boys & Girls Club (1:00pm3:00pm) (3:00pm-5:00pm); Curtis Claybaker (417) 881-0455 MAR (TBA): Saint Paddy’s Float, Buffalo River MAR 26: Roll Class, Boys & Girls Club (3:00pm5:00pm) (5:00pm-7:00pm) APR 1-2: Spring Whitewater Clinic, Turner’s Bend Campground, Mulberry River, Arkansas (9:00am) POMME DE TERRE CHAPTER MUSKIES MAR 18: Muskie/Bass Outing, State Park Marina (8:00am-4:00pm) MAR 18: Lake Meeting/Drawing APR 1-2: Spring Fling Tournament APR 1: Lake Meeting, Community Center, Pittsburg (8:00pm) APR 6-8: Cabin Fever Tournament, Kentucky APR (TBA): Spring Board Meeting, Bloomington, Illinois RIVER RELIEF APR 21-22: Great River Clean-up and Learning Festival

SQUAW CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MAR 11: Prairie Restoration (9:00am-3:00pm) (816) 383-0034 MAR 18: Refuge Headquarters – Spring Weekend (660) 442-3187 MAR 25: Prairie Restoration (9:00am-3:00pm) (816) 383-0034 APR 8: Annual Spring Work Day (660) 4423187 APR 29: Prairie Restoration (9:00am-3:00pm) (816) 383-0034

CFM EVENTS SEP 15-17: CFM Fall Conference, Camp Clover Point, Lake Ozark (800) 575-2322 MAR 16-18, 2007: CFM Annual Convention, Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark (800) 5752322

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There’s so much happening, we needed more room! See page 15 for event listings.

Purple Paint Provision Makes Posting Land Easy Watch For “No Trespassing” Signs Without Words unters and anglers gearing up for outdoor activities this spring should take a refresher course on trespassing laws. Even birders need to be aware that putting purple paint on trees and fence posts is one way landowners can legally identify private property where trespassing is prohibited.

Missouri’s Purple Paint Statute of 1993 was designed as a simple way for landowners to protect their property rights. The law recognizes purple paint

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on trees and fence posts as a means of marking private property against trespass. It enables property owners to clearly identify the boundaries of their land without the expense and problems of erecting and maintaining fences and signs.

Landowners using paint to mark their property must place paint between three and five feet off the ground on trees and fence posts no more than 100 feet apart. The paint stains must be vertical lines at least eight inches long.

The bright purple stains can help prevent outdoors persons from unknowingly breaking the law. Often it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine where land you have permission to explore ends.

When you find purple markings you will know to go no further without the permission of the landowner.

Trespass in the first degree is punishable by fines and jail sentences. This charge is filed in cases where land has been adequately marked or fenced to prevent trespass. However, land does not

have to be marked for trespassing laws to be enforced. A charge of trespass in the second degree can be filed in cases where land is not marked. Fines also are possible in such cases. It is the responsibility of each individual to determine ownership of a parcel of land and acquire permission before entering.

Landowners deserve the courtesy and respect any homeowner would expect to receive in their own yard. Look for and get permission before stepping onto property marked with purple paint.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION OF MISSOURI AFFILIATES Anglers of Missouri Archery Big Bucks of Missouri Big Game Hunters Bridlespur Hunt Club Capital City Fly Fishers Central Missouri Chapter Safari Club Coldwater Outing & Game Preserve Eastern MO Chapter Pheasants Forever Festus/Crystal City Conservation Club Forest Releaf of Missouri Franklin County Wildlife Club Friends of Rockbridge Memorial State Park Greenway Network Heaven’s Anglers Jefferson County Coonhunters Kansas City Chapter Safari Club Kansas City Woodcarvers Lambert Field Rod & Gun Club

If there are any errors in your name and address, if you’ve moved from this address, or if you plan to move, please notify us at Missouri Wildlife, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101 or call (800) 575-2322.

Mark Twain Area Quail Unlimited Mid Missouri Trout Unlimited Midwest Diving Council Mississippi County Conservation Society Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters Mississippi Valley Gun Club Missouri Association of Meat Processors Missouri Bass Federation Missouri Bow Hunters Missouri Conservation Agents Association Missouri Consulting Foresters Association Missouri Ducks Unlimited State Council Missouri Forest Products Association Missouri Parks & Recreation Association Missouri Parks Association Missouri Prairie Foundation Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Missouri Sport Shooting Association

Missouri State Campers Association Missouri State Council Quail Unlimited Missouri Taxidermist Association Missouri Trappers Association Missouri Trout Fisherman’s Association Missouri Waterfowl Association Missouri Whitetails Unlimited Missouri Wild Turkey Federation Missourians Outdoors MO Chapter American Fisheries Society MO Chapter Soil & Water Conservation MO Hunter Education Instructor’s Association Monett Sportsman League Northeast Missouri Coonhunters Northside Conservation Federation Open Space Council Owensville HS Hunting & Fishing Club Ozark Fly Fishers

Ozark Mountain Paddlers Ozark Wilderness Waterways Perry County Sportsman Club Pomme De Terre Chapter Muskies River Relief, Inc. Saint James Civic Club Show-Me Clean Streams Show-Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen South Side Division Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers Tipton Farmers & Sportsman Club United Bow Hunters of Missouri Wecomo Sportsman Club Wild Elk Institute of Missouri Windsor Lake Rod & Gun Club

Visit our website: www.confedmo.org