Vol68 no2 2007

MISSOURI

Wildlife

MARCH 2007 VOL. 68, NO. 2

5 8 10 14

NEWS & ISSUES

Fall Conference DNR & AUDUBON

Education Initiative RESEARCH PROJECT

Feral Dogs CFM ANNUAL CONVENTION Register Now

VIEW FROM THE STONE HOUSE

MISSOURI

Wildlife

A Cold Day... aybe it was because of the many, many important meetings. Maybe it was because of the constant phone calls, emails and visits drawing at my attention. Maybe it was more a product of the healing and renewal that comes with the first moment of solitude…but I noticed. Sort of like a severely stretched rubber band snapping back to normal, I guess.

In the car, all alone, no radio, no cell service, nobody but myself to give or take of my attention and time. Processing time. The time needed for reflection, for analysis, for consideration, for decision, for dreaming, for planning, for strategy.

Catch as catch can.

The opportunity of this day was to give the past 30 years a run through. For two reasons of absolutely no connection beyond coincidence, but of surpassing significance: the passage of the Design for Conservation Sales Tax initiative in November, 1976, along with the first revenues generated by the tax coming to MDC in January 1977…AND also in January 1977, my bride and I married.

The first decade was formative. We

M

March 2007 Vol. 68, No. 2 finished our formal educations and began our careers…MDC bought land, added personnel and prepared for growth.

The second decade brought accolades and prosperity. We improved our lots with our best professional performances, earned increased responsibilities at work, with volunteer time and with continued commitment to each other and to our daughters. MDC rose to global prominence as success after success resulted from the synergistic combination of great staff, room to excel and resources to empower.

The third decade brought distinction.

Too few are those on our path, though an encouraging majority of our friends and associates nurture their own enduring marriages. MDC at the pinnacle of natural resource agencies by no accident, continues to improve itself, with the support and encouragement of our citizens. It gets better because it tries to. It runs its own race. It serves us all with excellence.

On this day of windshield philosophizing, I know that some things really are worth the effort. We are only here for a little while; we must make our choices

OFFICERS Don Johnson President Glenn Chambers First Vice President Mike Schallon Second Vice President Duane Addleman 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

carefully, investing our resources wisely and in those things of lasting value. It will indeed be “a cold day” when we can afford to settle for less. I look optimistically and enthusiastically ahead to the fourth decade…and beyond. What do you see ahead? Come to our Annual Convention; share your ideas, concerns and best thinking with our resource committees. See you at The Lake!

Dave Murphy Executive Director, CFM

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Conserve Life

Missouri’s Seasonal Shift Winter, Legislative, Spring, and Summer e are in the midst of our winter season in Missouri.

Many of our seasons have come to a close. This gives us the opportunity to plan for the upcoming Spring and Summer seasons that will soon be here.

The Missouri Legislature is now in session. The conservation community in Missouri has many friends represented in this body who are working hard to make sure conservation remains a top priority here in this great state. We thank them for this representation and stand ever ready to defend conservation wherever we may be needed.

Good luck in the upcoming months.

We will endeavor to keep you abreast of any important conservation news that may develop during this session.

W

2

M A R C H

2 0 0 7

SLOWDOWN 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.

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 R WILDLIFE, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559.

COVER: Pass on the legacy of the world's finest turkey hunting … take a kid during Missouri's Youth Spring Turkey Hunting Season! Photo compliments of Missouri Department of Conservation.

BUCKLE UP

Your friend in conservation, Don Johnson President, CFM

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

2007 Missouri Master Wildlifer Program Wildlife Conservation on Private Lands A Shortcourse for Private Landowners and Wildlife Enthusiasts The Missouri Master Wildlifer Program is designed for landowners and wildlife enthusiasts who are interested in learning about the biology and management of Missouri's wildlife. Participants will find the course valuable in highlighting management approaches for wildlife in forest, grassland and farm settings. The 8-session course will provide information on the biology and life history for a variety of wildlife species as well as on the habitats for which they depend. In addition, special emphasis will be placed on managing habitats for wildlife species that provide landowners with recreational opportunities on their property. Participants will obtain the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance habitat for wildlife that can be enjoyed by themselves, family and friends, and outdoor enthusiasts. Curriculum will include a Student Manual and supplemental materials.

The Missouri Master Wildlifer Program will be conducted live through videoconferencing using Interactive TV and delivered to 10 MU Extension Centers and/or cooperating locations on the following Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. The program will provide participants with approximately 24 hours of instruction. Short course sessions include: February 27 March 1 March 6 March 8 March 13 March 15 March 20 March 22

Basic Ecological Principles and Introduction to Wildlife Management Ecology & Management of Bobwhite Quail Managing Missouri’s Grasslands for Wildlife Ecology & Management of White-tailed Deer in Missouri Wild Mammals of Missouri Wildlife Damage Management Ecology and Management of Missouri’s Wetlands and Waterfowl Managing Aquatic Habitats on Your Property: Ponds and Streams Ecology and Management of Eastern Wild Turkey Managing Missouri’s Forests for Wildlife Bringing It All Together: Managing Your Property for Biodiversity Developing a Wildlife Management Plan

For more information about the 2007 Missouri Master Wildlifer Program, contact: Bob Pierce, Extension Wildlife Specialist at (573) 882-4337, piercer@missouri.edu Matt Seek, Missouri Department of Conservation at (573) 751-4115, Matt.Seek@mdc.mo.gov or contact your MU Extension Center (see below) for additional details.

Missouri Master Wildlifer is a cooperative educational program sponsored by University of Missouri Extension, MU School of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Conservation

2007 Missouri Master Wildlifer Locations Albany (Gentry County Extension Center, Hundley Whaley Farm) • Contact: Merideth Berry, 816/279-1691 or BerryM@missouri.edu Brookfield (Brookfield Career Center) • Contact: Kevin Hansen, 660/646-0811 or HansenK@missouri.edu Palmyra (Conference room of a local bank) • Contact: Ruth Jeffries, 573/769-2071 or JeffriesR@missouri.edu Blue Springs (Jackson County Extension Center) • Contact: Mary Ethington, 816/252-5051 or EthingtonML@missouri.edu Nevada TeleCenter • Contact: Mary Reinert, 417/448-1212 or ReinertM@missouri.edu Columbia (Heinkel Building on the MU Campus) • Contact: Don Day, 573/445-9792 or DayDR@missouri.edu St. Charles (St. Charles Community College) • Contact: Scott Killpack, 636/970-3000 or KillpackS@missouri.edu Washington (East Central Community College) • Contact: Matt Herring, 636/583-5141 or HerringM@missouri.edu Granby (East Newton High School) • Contact: John Hobbs, 417/223-4775 or HobbsJC@missouri.edu Salem (Salem TCRC) • Contact: Ray Walden, 573/729-8163 or Rwalden@missouri.edu

M I S S O U R I

W I L D L I F E

3

Statewide Ladies Day at the Range Sponsored by Missouri Ducks Unlimited Women

August 11, 2007 • 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cedar Creek Rod & Gun Club 4251 N. Glendale Drive • Columbia, MO 65202 Events and Activities

Fee Includes

Handgun Shoot and Safety Shotgun Shoot and Safety Shooting Competition (all levels) Sporting Clays Awards • Raffles

DU Membership Lunch Ammunition • Targets Gun will be provided, but we encourage you to bring your own.

Women are a big part of the future of Ducks Unlimited. At this event you will receive expert instruction.

Ladies of all ages and skill level are welcome. Please join us for a fun-filled day with Handguns, Shotguns, and instructional sessions, along with a little fun competition for all skill levels.

This is a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and spend time with family and friends.

The growth of women in DU means we are reaching more women and providing them with a venue to learn not just outdoor skills, but also more about themselves and wetlands conservation.

For more information, contact Renee Martin, MO DU State Ladies Chair, at (573) 268-3477 or rmartin@aesolutionsmo.com

The cost is $50 for this event Registration Form First Name________________________________ Last Name ________________________________________

Address ________________________________________City ________________________________________

State ______________ZIP code ____________ Phone ( ) ________________________________________ Make checks payable to: Ducks Unlimited. Registration Deadline is August 6, 2007. Send registration form with your check to: Renee Martin—MO DU States Ladies Chair, 1123 Wilkes Blvd., Ste 300, Columbia, MO 65201

4

M A R C H

2 0 0 7

NEWS

sented to the Board of the Federation.

When this has been done, this set of goals will be published in Missouri Wildlife.

AND ISSUES

A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM AROUND THE STATE

2007 Fall Conference The 2007 Conservation Federation of Missouri Fall Conference will be held September 14–16, 2007 at Camp Clover Point, Lake Ozark State Park, Osage Beach, Missouri.

Programs planned so far are: • Coleman Repair • Spear Throwing • Archery • Cooking • Earthquakes • Crafts More programs will be added in the next issue of Missouri Wildlife.

Entertainment will be: • Games • Bingo • Square Dancing • Marshmallow Roast • Campfire • Story Telling • Guitar Playing The Happy Hour and White Elephant Sale Saturday afternoon is always a good time. When you are cleaning out your garages and basements this Spring save some stuff to donate to the White Elephant Sale. This sale helps to defray the expenses of the Fall Conference.

The food is always wonderful!!

Be sure to mark your calendars for September 14–16, 2007, and plan to attend this relaxing weekend.

NWF Honors Couple’s Lifetime Contribution

ity of chairman for this inaugural event. He will be assisted by long time friend and new CFM Board Member Tom Russell. They are building a strong committee to ensure maximum success for the shoot. So be ready to say “YES” when they come calling for your help with the event. We will need shooters, station sponsors, folks to help with registration, and shooters, shooters, shooters! There will be something for everyone at the shoot…beginners and experienced shooters alike.

Very exciting news! Our friends and conservation partners at Bass Pro Shops have answered our call for conservation again! The Columbia store has agreed to be title event sponsor for the shoot! Next time you stop by the store, offer a word of thanks to Store Manager David Smith and Promotions Manager Trip Moynihan…and take the opportunity to make a purchase while you’re there. We should always make the choice to invest in those who so generously invest in us.

CFM Strategic Plan Update CFM Clay Shoot Saturday, October 13 Mark your calendars today for the very first CFM sporting clays shoot!

Our event will be held at the first class River Hills Sporting Clays course near Boonville. The big day will be Saturday, October 13. Look for details in upcoming issues of Missouri Wildlife, and on our CFM webpage at www.confedmo.org.

Our First Vice President Glenn Chambers has accepted the responsibil-

The strategic planning committee that had been focusing its effort on the position of the Conservation Federation five or more years down the road has suspended that effort for the immediate future. This occurred as a result of a meeting with Marya Fowler, Area Representative and Facilitator of the National Wildlife Federation and the officer group of the Federation.

As a result of this meeting, the committee has refocused its effort on some short-term goals that must be discussed with the executive committee and pre-

In November 2006, Leo and Kay Drey of University City, MO, were honored in Washington, DC, at the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Annual Meeting. In recognition of their outstanding lifetime contribution to conservation and the environment, Leo and Kay received the prestigious NWF Conservation Special Achievement Award.

Although Leo was unable to attend the ceremony, Kay accepted the beautiful trophy and brought it back to their home . In the photo above, Kay and Leo (center and right) show the trophy to CFM board member Ron Coleman.

Welcome CFM New Members!

Tom Arens, Saint Louis Don Aubuchon, Dexter Alan Baker, Kansas City S.D. Baker, Jackson Helen Ballard, Kirkwood Lawson Barlow, Smithville Martin Bates, Bowling Green James Baxter, Imperial Wiley Bearls, Neosho Walter Been, Saint Louis Edward Bennett, Lake Forest, IL Charles Benz, Saint Louis Anthony Bergkoetter, Neosho JoAnn Berwanger, Carrollton Jerry Binkholder, Gerald Karl & Debbie Blaue, Independence Robert Bloomfield, Florissant Harold Booker, Hannibal Stephen Bost, Poplar Bluff Thomas Bottini, Saint Louis Arthur Bowling, Waynesville Wenzel Bradley, Saint Peters Thomas Braloski, Florissant Bill Breshears, La Monte Brewer Chainsaw Sales, Perryville Justina Bricka, Saint Louis Linda Kae Brockman, Saint Louis Harold Brown, Wappapello

Harold Browning, Mound City Bryant’s Barbeque, Kansas City Patrick Bulfin, Saint Louis Richard Bybee, Oak Grove Dwain Campbell, Versailles George Carr, Annapolis Don Cleaver, Macon Royce Closterman, Kansas City Glenn Coleman, Peculiar Richard Conway, Clifton Hill Clay Cooper, Columbia Joel Cummings, Festus Joe Daleo, Saint Peters Craig Davis, Strafford Richard Dean, Sedalia Ronald Denney, Doniphan D.S. Detchemendy, Saint Charles Rick Dobson, Kansas City Joseph Droege, Saint Louis William Duffe, Saint Louis Byron Eaton, Kansas City Ellison-Auxier Architects, Saint Joseph Scott Faiman, Columbia Lewis Fansher, Saint Joseph Ted Fellows, Greenwood Ernest Floyd, Lake Saint Louis Jim Franklin, Harrisonville Dennis Frieda, Springfield James Gaunt, Sedalia J.D. Gillenwaters, Chestnutridge Jim Goers, Defiance Emily Grieshaber, Farmington Eric Grindel, Park Hills Chester Grohs, Imperial Wilfred Grover, Beulah Mae Guilford, Columbia William Jerry Gustin, Lone Jack Lars Erik Hagen, Saint Louis Keith Hale, Poplar Bluff Virginia Hamilton, Cabool Gerald Harms, Eldon Jack Hascall, Arnold Galen & Grace Hasler, Springfield James Hayes, Lees Summit Robert Higgins, Eureka Ron Highley, Harrisonville Bob Hodge, Harrisonville Jef Hodges, Clinton Tom & Joanne Holman, Plattsburg Donald Hug, Jefferson City G.L. Humphries, Lake Ozark J.W. Githens Company, Poplar Bluff Carl Jackson, Ridgeway Allen Jett, Saint Louis Bonnie Johnson, Saint Joseph Kenneth Jones, Nixa Gary Kappler, Festus John Karel, Saint Louis Carl Keckley, Bonne Terre John Kehrman, Vandalia Harold King, Lees Summit David Knott, Saint Louis Robert Komotos, Saint Louis Cas Koziatek, Florissant John Laird, Saint Louis Robert Lamberg, Saint Louis Larry Lammert, Florissant Larry Lamonica, Saint Louis

M I S S O U R I

W I L D L I F E

5

NEWS AND ISSUES Tom Lampe, Harrisonville George Landre, Cape Girardeau Thomas Lasker, Saint Louis William Laudel, Kirkwood Janis Lauridsen, Saint Louis Keith Lawson, Kirksville Darwin Lewis, Hamilton K. Cramer Lewis, Kirkwood Frank Lexa, Imperial Robert Littlejohn, Prairie Village, KS Katy Markus, Saint Louis Gregory Martell, Kansas City Marianne Marti, California R.F. Maughan, Kansas City Charles May, Saint Louis Ron McCullough, Lebanon Ray McKowen, Springfield Dominic Meldi, Springfield William Melton, O’Fallon Herbert Menges, Saint Louis Vernell Merkel, Saint Louis Paul Meyers, Granite City, IL Midwest Special Surgery, Saint Louis Mike Saville & Jerri Stroud, Saint Louis Galen Miller, Parkville Marie Miller, Florissant Mitchell Mills, Clinton Jay Milne, Springfield Robert Minor, Lees Summit Bill Mollenhour, Harrisonville

Terry Monroe, Saint Ann Cecil Moore, Hallsville Jim Moore, Higginsville Anthony Mosley, Steelville Trip Moynihan, Columbia Arthur Mueller, Saint Louis Bill & Patsy Murphy, Williamstown John Mutrux, Saint Louis E. Fern Null, Warrensburg Osborne Office Equipment & Supplies, Cape Girardeau Jim Overstreet, Hannibal Bill Patterson, Saint Joseph Gary Perry, Nixa Brad Peterson, Lexington Joe Pleser, Kansas City Lisa Potter, Paris, Promatic, Smithville R.L. Mueller National Distributing, Saint Louis Andrew & Maurine Raedeke, Columbia Richard Reese, Saint Louis D.A. Renn, El Dorado Springs Tim & Patricia Rielly, Jefferson City Fred Riley, Raymore Donald Roberts, Eureka Charles Robertson, Rolla Marvin Roesch, Crystal City James Roussey, Kansas City Richard Rovin, Florissant John Rowe, Kirksville

Pete & Nancy Rucker, Excelsior Springs Susan Ruecker, Saint Louis S. Samples, Osage Beach Luke Scavuzzo, Harrisonville Sharon Schlueter, Bellflower Michael Schmieder, Saint Louis Lee Schwartz, Sainte Genevieve N.C. Schweder, Kansas City Lee Scott, Centralia John Sedej, Glencoe Joseph Sedlock, Washington Joan Sessel, Saint Louis Richard Shields, Saint Charles Charles Shoenhair, Dearborn Allen Smith, Climax Springs Anna Smith, Saint Charles Barry Smith, Saint Louis David Smith, Columbia Jane Smith, Ballwin Mark Smith, Lexington Sallie Smith, Kansas City Travis Smith, Lexington David Sorrell, Myrtle Archie Spencer, Augusta Juanita Spilker, Columbia Aaron Spor, Liberty Paul Steele, Chillicothe Thomas Stegmann, Saint Louis Charles Stephens, Raytown Al Storms, Garden City Jacob Stuart, Imperial Thomas Suttles, New Bloomfield Lloyd Sutton, Park Hills Theron Swigart, Harrisonville

Tracy Taylor, Saint Louis Jere Tenkhoff, Oran Kat Tenney, Jamestown Harold Thieman, Carthage Jack Thomas, Saint Clair Terry Thomure, House Springs Tree Trails Farm, Augusta Raymond Tripp, Springfield David Tritz, Saint Charles John Virant, Chesterfield Patricia Vogt, Saint Louis Kenneth Voss, Saint Ann Margery Wade, Centerville, IA Joe Wall, Houston Marie Walther, Blackwell Jack Walton, Forsyth Ronald Warren, Park Hills James Washabaugh, Jefferson City Stephen Welker, Ballwin Roger Wellman, Bridgeton Edwin Wenberg, Warsaw Christopher Werkmeister, Saint Louis Glennon Werner, Bloomsdale James Westbury, Pacific James Whitworth, Rosebud Harry Williams, Indio, CA James Wilson, Edgerton Robert Wilson, Eolia Richard Wisland, Saint Louis Martin Wnek, Dittmer Richard Wolters, Saint Louis Wonneman’s Flowers & Gifts, Mexico Lois Woods, Springfield

2007 Natural Events Calendar from the Missouri Department of Conservation MDC's ever-popular calendar keeps you in touch with the year's seasonal changes. Thanks to the splendid talents of MDC contributing nature photographers, you'll be able to enjoy wild Missouri indoors when you can't get outdoors. 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.

10 x 14 inches $5.00 (plus shipping and handling)

Call (800) 575-2322 to order 6

M A R C H

2 0 0 7

SAVE THE DATE

Take Part In September River Basin Summit t was approximately 40 years ago that a small group of civic leaders, conservationist and environmentalist gathered on a small gravel bar near what is today Castlewood State Park in St. Louis County to share their vision for a better Meramec River. A river on the brink of decay due to benign neglect. In 1967 river restoration work on the lower Meramec River began in earnest with the first Annual Operation Clean Stream event which helped to initiate a much bolder collaborative effort on the part many public and private partners.

Since that time the Meramec River and its tributaries have enjoyed a ren-

I

aissance. Over the past 40 years mountains trash and debris have been removed from the banks of the Meramec River and its tributaries by Operation Clean Stream and Missouri Stream Team volunteers. Thousands of derelict flood prone clubhouses have been removed and raw sewage is no longer pouring into the river from the many failing septic tanks. Water quality has improved as has fish and wildlife habitat.

Today the public can enjoy the conservation and outdoor recreation benefit of nearly 36,000 acres of public land on the lower 108 miles just an hour’s drive from the doorsteps of millions of

people. Each day new land is being acquired, new trails are being built and people are once again enjoying the river.

Just as early leaders had a vision for reversing the trend of a degraded river 4 decades ago conservationist, community leaders, landowners, river users and others with a love for the Meramec River and its tributaries gather again September 20-22, 2007, to share a new vision for the river. If you are interested in learning more about the Summit and how you can play a role, you can call 636-451-6090.

Ron Coleman Operation Clean Stream

Mark your calendar today for the 3rd Annual Missouri Wildlife Art Festival

Historic Downtown St. Charles, Missouri • November 3–4, 2007

Conservationists For Life Charles Abele, Saint Louis Duane and Nancy Addleman, Springfield Richard Ash, Saint Charles Dane Balsman, Perryville Jim Tom Blair, Saint Louis Ron Coleman, Saint Albans Mark Corio, Columbia Dave Kolb Grading, Saint Charles John Enderle, Kelso Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Fleming, Columbia Howard & Sara Fleming, Moberly Mr. & Mrs. Matt Fleming, Moberly Allan Hoover, Pleasant Hill Don Johnson, Festus Roger & Debbie Johnson, Humansville Duane & Cosette Kelly, Independence Sara Knight, Charlotte, NC Carl Kurz, Leawood, KS Jay Law, Saint James

Gerald Lee, Kansas City Joel LeMaster, Fulton Leroy Logan, Arnold Chip McGeehan, Marshfield Cynthia Metcalfe, Saint Louis David Murphy, Columbia Abe Phillips, Saint Louis Gerald Ross, Jefferson City Mike Schallon, Ballwin Timothy Schwent, Jackson Charles & Winnie Stribling, Mexico Barbara VanBenschoten, Kansas City Al Vogt, Columbia Randy Washburn, Jefferson City Stephen Wilson, Hartsburg Dick Wood, Saint Louis Howard Wood, Bonne Terre Robert Ziehmer, California

Your #1 State

U.S. & Any Indoor Set

Patriotic Decorations

219 N. Jefferson St. James, MO 65559

Phone: _______________________Email:_____________________________

Credit Card _______________________________ Exp. Date:__________

Memorial Cases

Leo Cardetti’s Distributing Company

Address: __________________________________________________________

Check

Service Banners

Send Us Your Old Worn Flags...

We Will Dispose of Them Properly

Name: _____________________________________________________________

Cash

POW-MIA

Foreign

When will you add your name to the list?

CFM Life Membership Application

Payment Method (circle one):

Flag Store

Home & Commercial Poles

800-532-3524 www.leocardettisflags.com

M I S S O U R I

W I L D L I F E

7

AGENCY NEWS

New Partnership SPARKS Interest Of Bird Lovers Department Of Natural Resources, Audubon Society Of Missouri Launch Educational Initiative ositive environmental partnerships benefit everyone, especially the general public. That is the case with a new partnership between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and The Audubon Society of Missouri.

This partnership between the department and ASM will help Missourians become more familiar with birds through the State Parks Checklist Project. Through the SPARKS program, The Audubon Society of Missouri volunteers will collect bird data for state parks and historic sites and enter the data into the ASM Bird Database. The data will then be available as checklists for bird watchers, nature lovers and park users through the Missouri state parks or Audubon

P

Society of Missouri Web sites.

Bird watching is one of the most popular recreational activities in Missouri.

That is one reason I am so pleased by the opportunity presented by the SPARKS project. Schools and visitors to our state parks can access a bird checklist for a state park or historic site and be able to view photos and other information. This will be a great educational resource that will expand the use of state parks and historic sites for bird watching.

Although the SPARKS project is new, The Audubon Society of Missouri has had a long relationship with the department and state parks. ASM members have been involved for many years in conducting Christmas Counts and Breeding Bird Surveys. Many Missourians are avid bird-watchers. More than 1.3 million people participate in bird watching near their homes; more than

642,000 watch birds on trips throughout the state; and more than 90 percent say they are interested in observing birds in the outdoors. Now they will have access to bird lists for state parks and historic sites in a user friendly format.

While SPARKS will undoubtedly heighten interest in Missouri’s bird species, it will also contribute to the national effort to track bird population trends. Missouri supports 167 species of breeding birds or 22 percent of the national total. The data collected through the SPARKS program will be shared with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the organization that manages national bird data. The work accomplished in Missouri will contribute to developing a better understanding of bird populations and contribute to national conservation efforts.

Some information on birds in state

parks has already been developed but this new effort will enhance that information. For 2007, the focus will be on the following parks: Castlewood, Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones-Confluence Point, Hawn, Prairie, Cuivre River, Roaring River, Rock Bridge Memorial, Thousand Hills, Van Meter and Weston Bend state parks.

I hope that users of these new checklists will be as pleased as we are with this new partnership and the department looks forward to continued cooperation in the future.

To access the SPARKS data online, go to www.mostateparks.com/sparks.htm or www.mobirds.org. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit www.mostateparks.com.

Doyle Childers Director, DNR

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 buy cards, use the form below, call (800) 5752322 or go to www.confedmo.org. Mail your payment to 728 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Name:_________________________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________ State: ______________ Zipcode:_____________ Quantity (# of sets): _________ Total Price: ________________ ❑ Check

❑ Cash

❑ Credit Card ~ Card #: ________________________________________ Exp. Date: ______________

8

M A R C H

2 0 0 7

AGENCY NEWS

Now Therefore Let It Be Resolved...

Many Department Of Conservation Accomplishments Mirror CFM Resolutions he start of a New Year brings to mind the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions. Promises often made only unto ourselves that set forth a course of action, or describe a desired outcome. The New Year is also a time to reflect on the accomplishments of the last 12 months.

The staff of the Department of Conservation and our many partners, including CFM, had much to be proud of during the 12 months of 2006.

• The Share the Harvest program saw more than one-quarter million pounds of venison donated to needy Missourians; • The fully implemented Telecheck system allowed biologists to have summarized harvest data instantly, allowed conservation agents to employ new, innovative ways to investigate violations and saved hunters more than 200,00 gallons of costly gasoline; • The 3,000th Stream Team was added, making this program one of the most successful volunteer citizen conservation efforts in our state; • Missouri’s Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy was approved and implementation was initiated; • Deer hunting regulation changes expanded antlerless deer harvest opportunity and improved our ability to manage deer numbers; • Catch and release trout fishing opportunities were expanded; • Improved habitat for quail and grassland songbirds was put in place on over 10,700 acres of private land;

T

• And, with the help of more than 2,200 volunteer instructors Missouri Hunter Education celebrated its 50th Anniversary and graduated the one millionth student!

You might be wondering what’s the tie-in with resolutions? Well, each accomplishment described above was, at some time, supported by a resolution—a CFM resolution that is.

Each year the Conservation Federation uses the resolutions process to provide input on conservation programs and potential actions. The Department of Conservation receives, and formally responds to, resolutions passed by CFM members at their annual spring meeting.

The CFM resolution process is a critical communication tool. The many CFM committees, such as the Archery Committee or the Natural History and Wetlands Committee, provide a link for citizen-conservationists to convey their priorities to the Department of Conservation. It is equally as critical a tool for MDC, as we learn what is on the minds of the many conservation organizations that form the CFM umbrella.

And often the resolution serves as the spark that initiates action.

Ultimately it may be the Department of Conservation that receives credit for the action or program. MDC once received a resolution passed by the Missouri Legislature applauding the establishment of the youth deer and turkey

River Hills

• Examine Traveler in your home.

We’ll send the outdoor magazine of the Ozarks to your home FREE FOR THREE MONTHS. Then we’ll send a bill ($17).

If you want to keep getting Traveler, pay the bill. If you don’t, you won’t. It’s that simple.

Go to www.riverhillstraveler.com/8news.html.

Click on FREE TRIAL, Or call 1-800-874-8423 and ask for a free sample subscription.

seasons. And MDC had a LOT to do with putting these seasons in place.

But guess where the concept got its legs—through CFM committees.

So this March, at the CFM annual meeting, we anticipate the committees will continue to provide MDC with their vision for conservation action. By working in partnership we can always make far greater strides than working alone.

LENDING HELPING HANDS The ice storms that plagued Missouri the middle of January wreaked havoc on both wildlife and people. Governor Blunt declared a state emergency in several Missouri Counties. MDC had 30+ staff assisting with cleanup in Greene, Dallas and Laclede Counties in the first two days after the storm hit. Additional requests for assistance in other parts of Missouri were quick to follow.

MDC coordinated our response through the State Emergency Management Agency. In total 148 MDC staff responded to SEMA requests. Staff who helped during this emergency were given the following guidance; “Be prepared to be self contained for a two day assignment, with adequate fuel, food, clothes and a sleeping bag. We will try to arrange for hotel rooms, but no guarantees, so you may be sleeping in a fire house.” Despite the less than ideal conditions MDC staff were more than will-

ing to pitch in to help those citizens in need.

The primary role MDC staff played was opening up rural roads that had numerous trees across them. The fallen trees both blocked traffic and entangled power lines. Utility companies could not get “in” to restore power and people could not get “out”. The power outages and blocked roads not only threatened people but also livestock. With power out to the pumps that run the wells watering systems not functioning and many livestock producers were facing serious problems.

While most Missourians have now recovered from the storm, trees, especially those in urban areas, have not.

Caring for damaged tress requires professional advice. The MDC web site www.mdc.mo.gov is featuring information, developed by MDC foresters that guide you through proper tree care.

Remember, safety should be your first concern as damaged tress are often a tangled mess of stored energy. Also on the web site you can find tree planting and seedling care tips along with the MDC seedling order form.

The George O. White state nursery produces millions of seedlings, and offers Missouri residents a variety of seedlings bundles for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, as well as wildlife food and cover. Consider making tree planting a family event, then years from now you can all recall and enjoy the many memories.

John Hoskins Director, MDC

OutdooR magazine

Guide

HUNTING

FISHING

CAMPING

BOATING

For a FREE Copy of the Magazine Call 1-800-706-2444 or Visit our Web site at www.outdoorguidemagazine.com M I S S O U R I

W I L D L I F E

9

SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Research Without Borders nternational experiences are not limited to study abroad programs for students in the School of Natural Resources. Research sends faculty around the globe, as well.

Associate Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife, Dr. Matthew Gompper took advantage of international research opportunities and established a project in India.

“I have a research program that seeks to better understand the ecology and conservation issues of carnivores that are found worldwide,” said Gompper. “In particular, we know very little about the carnivores of Indo-Asia, so this has been one of my central research foci for the past several years.”

This project seeks to improve understanding of the spread of diseases among diverse carnivore species, as well as the ecology, evolution and conservation of those species. Gompper and Ph. D. student Abi Tamim Vanak are most interested in the relationship between the foxes and larger canines, especially domestic dogs, which are extremely abundant throughout India. “We’re interested in how the dogs are relating to other wildlife,” said Gompper. They have already determined that the feral dogs are out-competing the foxes for some resources and contribute to the spread of diseases.

“Foxes get the same diseases dogs get,” he said. “Diseases moving from one population to the next can have a huge impact.”

Populations of feral dogs are only

Bison Meat America’s Original Red Meat.

Low in fat, cholesterol and calories.

Steaks, Roast, Burger. State Inspected.

Salem

(800) 827-3403 www.meramecbison.com

M AT T G O M P P E R

I

Researchers collect data in the field with assistance from a wildlife veterinarian.

increasing in India. “Their only predators are leopards, and possibly wolves,” Gompper said.

This research should provide some insight on the impact of feral dogs on wildlife and provide the necessary

baseline data for future population management practices to control feral dogs. The later scenario will be difficult, however, as feral dogs are used to being around humans, he said. “Many of these are working dogs that were bred to assist pastoralists. They are not deliberately released, but rather were never fully constrained and thus range throughout protected areas that are adjacent to areas where livestock are grazed.”

Much of this research occurs in and around the Great Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra. It is the largest protected habitat area in India. Gompper is optimistic about the future of this research as well as additional projects, possibly incorporating wolves. “I have wonderful Indian collaborators, and there are so many other interesting species in the park,” he said.

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

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: ____________________

Credit card number ________________________________Expiration date __________

1 0

M A R C H

2 0 0 7

❑ $1000–Lifetime

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

Please make checks payable to the Conservation Federation of Missouri.* Or you may charge your membership dues to your MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.

Reduce • Reuse • Recycle

Christine Tew

Signature of cardholder ____________________________________________________

SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Nominating Committee Reports Candidates

Executive Committee Richard Ash, Jr., Saint Charles Stephen Bradford, Cape Girardeau Matt Morgan, Springfield National Wildlife Federation Albert Phillips, Saint Louis, delegate Don Johnson, Festus, alternate At-Large Elected Board of Directors Marvin Behnke, Saint Louis Jim Blair, Saint Louis Gerry Boehm, Saint Charles Stephen Bradford, Cape Girardeau Orlin Browning, Aurora Ron Coleman, Saint Albans Jim Crews, Saint Louis Allan Hoover, Pleasant Hill Tom Karl, Farmington Duane Kelly, Independence Marty King, University City John Knudsen, Hermann Arnold Meysenburg, Lee's Summit Matt Morgan, Springfield Charley Ponciroli, Brentwood Winnie Runge Stribling, Mexico Dennis Stubbs, Festus

Workshop attendees visited the Beijing Botanical Garden and Chinese Academy of Forestry.

International Collaboration SNR Faculty Share Data, Technology With Researchers Across The Globe he National Natural Science Foundation of China and International Association for Landscape Ecology sponsored a comprehensive workshop on Forest Landscape Models (www.usiale.org) in Beijing, China. More than 70 scientists and students attended the workshop from June 20-24, 2006. The event was hosted by Hong He of the University of Missouri and researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The workshop brought together world experts to evaluate the history and development of forest landscape models, application of forest landscape models, and new analytical methods that are needed. New challenges, particularly for Asian forestry, were also an important topic. This workshop allowed forest landscape modelers in Asia to demonstrate achievements and discuss the challenges they face. Bringing together model developers and users with diverse social and cultural backgrounds facilitated the exchange of ideas and worked

T

HONG HE

The Nominating Committee’s slate of candidates, to be up for election at the Annual Convention in March, is as follows:

HONG HE

The Nominating Committee of the Conservation Federation of Missouri recently convened to consider candidates for vacancies on the Executive Committee, AtLarge Elected Board of Directors and as delegates and alternate delegate to the National Wildlife Federation.

Informal exchanges among participants were frequent during workshop tea breaks.

to advance the science of forest landscape models. The workshop also allowed world experts to share their expertise and understand the forest management questions unique to Asia.

Dr. David Larsen from the School of Natural Resources and Drs. Steve Shifley and Frank Thompson from U.S. Forest Service North Central Research Station were heavily involved in the planning

and organizing of this workshop. The School of Natural Resources Department of Forestry at the University of Missouri had strong representation at this workshop. Dr. Richard Guyette, research professor, Dr. Jian Yang, postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Zhaofei Fan, research associate, and Mike Stambaugh, research specialist presented at the workshop.

M I S S O U R I

W I L D L I F E

1 1

Out On A Limb An Enthusiast And The Tree He’s Trying To Save f there’s such a thing as reincarnation, Steve Bost will come back as a tree. Not any old tree. But an Ozark Chinquapin (pronounced and also spelled chinkapin).

Never heard of it? Neither has anyone else, according to Bost.

“It’s part of the largest mass extinction of trees in American history. And nobody knows anything about it.”

We’re at Bost’s country home on the outskirts of Poplar Bluff. It’s his day off as naturalist at Montauk State Park. But after an hour or two or three with him, you know Bost is probably never off if the topic is the Ozark Chinquapin.

“The reason I’m interested is, it’s something we have nearly lost. These trees are teetering on the edge right now. And if somebody doesn’t do something about it, we’re going to lose what few surviving trees we have.”

It’s early fall. A low sun ricochets orange and russet off a nearby patch of oaks and hickories.

Bost leads us to a clearing in his backyard. Fenced and tagged with identification ribbons, a few chinquapin seedlings and transplanted saplings grind photons and minerals into cellulose. Waking the afternoon air, Bost unleashes a mighty wind of facts about the state-imperiled species.

“The chestnut blight jumped species and killed off most of the chinquapins by the 1960s... Probably the sweetest nut you’ll ever eat…It’s incredible how long the wood will last...The chinquapin was a dominant species in its range.”

For the last two years, Bost has roamed that range on his own dime.

He’s tracked down blight-resistant trees in Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Like a proud father, Bost shows off one of seven lucky survivors that continues to beat the odds.

I

1 2

M A R C H

2 0 0 7

“There’s a state champion chinquapin in Arkansas. It’s the grand national surviving champion. It was the daddy, or momma, of this little tree you’re lookin at here.”

To find other daddies and mommas, Bost researched the chinquapin’s historical range. He dusted off old tree books in libraries at State Universities in Alabama, Texas and Missouri and pestered librarians, quietly, in county libraries for historic articles, documents and topo maps.

“Some of the books were so old they were in vaults,” Bost says.

Not in a vault was the brain of Tim Smith, Resource Scientist at the Missouri Department of Conservation. Smith gave Bost a tip where chinquapins might still be hiding in Missouri. Bost also looked up champion chinquapins in other states. Locations in mind, hope in hand, he hit the road. He found more than resistant trees on his journeys.

“I met and became friends with some exceptional people along the way. Something I hadn’t counted on.”

Something he did count on was the science of botany as it relates to the spread of pathogens.

Resistance Is Mostly Futile Seventy five years ago, nearly one out of four trees east of the Mississippi was an American Chestnut. In the late 19th century, a visitor from Asia landed in New York and changed all that.

No one knows who imported the first Chinese Chestnut to the U.S. Whoever it was, also filled out a green card for the fungus it carried—the Chestnut blight. The Chinese Chestnut was resistant to the fungus. Unfortunately its cousin, the American Chestnut, was not.

By the 1950s, the blight had about finished its work decimating the eastern forests. It killed 99% of American Chestnuts— almost 4 billion trees. Bost estimates the blight then killed about the same percentage of Ozark Chinquapins.

“It attacks the bark with a growth sort of like a tumor. Once it completely girdles the tree, that’s it.”

The Ozark Chinquapin though resists the blight more than the American Chestnut. A blighted chinquapin can hang on for four to six years. Then the trunk falls over, leaving a stump.

Sprouts often grow from the stump. But they’re blighted too, shooting up then dying back before they produce nuts. No nuts, no seeds for the next generation.

Bost says he was told by many folks that he was wasting his time looking for live, blight-resistant trees. As far as nuts, he was beginning to think maybe he was.

“Everyone told me all those trees are all gone.” However, like Billy Crystal says of the dead hero in The Princess Bride, he’s only mostly gone. The key point is most.

“It’s very rare in the natural world for a disease to kill everything. If you can find a tree that isn’t a stump sprout, that grew up from a seed, it’s not a die-back sprout. To get to that size, it has to have some kind of inherent resistance. I’m trying to find those resistors.”

Bost has found a handful of trees so far he believes are resistors. He determines their resistance by asking himself…” one of two things: Is this tree this size because it has natural resistance to the blight or is it this size because it has been isolated from the blight?”

If a tree is close to a blighted chinquapin, it answers the first part of the question yes.

Resistance is then graded using the American Chestnut Foundation’s protocol: trees are given a one to five number, (five being most resistant) reflecting

their resistance to the blight.

He estimates there are maybe seventy of these lonesome brethren scattered around a four-state range. Leaving those few trees, their seed, and a spin of the wheel as keepers of the species genome.

Unless, Bost says, people pitch in to help.

Stepping Up To The Plate Bost has sprouted sixty resistant seeds. When they grow to seedlings, he’s giving them to a dozen landowners—including Missouri’s largest private landowner, Pioneer Forest— willing to provide test plots.

“Without the help of these folks, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. All kinds of individuals have stepped forward to help save this tree.”

Some of the techniques and strategies that Bost and his volunteers will look at are: • Growing trees with varying degrees of resistance at different locations. This will help determine what level of resistant tree grows best on a specific land type.

• Applying mudpacks. This is a technique which stops the blight on American Chestnuts. A mudpack application can heal a tumor in about a year and half and allow a tree to start growing again. Bost says there are two downsides to mudpacks. “The blight can re-infect the tree at another site on the tree and mudpacks are really not practical for a whole forest.”

• Hypo-virulence. There’s another

Check out Bost and the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation online at http://www.ozarkchinquapin.com

Others “Root” For Ozark Chinquapin The American Chestnut Foundation is another player in this story. Their Ozark Initiative is being coordinated by Skip Mourglia, Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development, Republic, MO, and Gerry Cormier, Cabot, AR. The Initiative’s goal is to breed resistance into the Ozark Chinquapin by crossing it with the Chinese Chestnut to create a blight-resistant

fungus which feeds on the blight fungus. While it doesn’t kill the blight completely, it does keep it in check, allowing an infected tree to grow. Bost says this happens to some trees in the wild. “We’re going to experiment with this hypo-virulent fungus on some of our test plots. It’s already in nature so we don’t have to worry about it escaping.”

Growing resistant trees is one thing.

Nursing blighted trees is another.

Sharpening genetically resistant traits, and conferring them to future generations, is a third tactic, possibly one with the best long-term chance of success.

Way before Mendel started fooling around with peas, folks have fiddled with selective breeding. Many varieties of dogs, horses and apples, not to mention bottles of cabernet, are the result of selective breeding. The purposeful tree grafter follows a wellworn path. Bost and his volunteers are trailing two leads.

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut Get a nut from a resistant tree. Let it sprout. Cut off the sprouting root.

Slice a little part off the nut where the

hybrid. This is the same process used to breed resistance genes into the American Chestnut.

Mourglia, a forester with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), also owns a Barry County tree farm where the official Missouri state champion Ozark Chinquapin resides.

She gave seeds she gathered from this tree, as well as another Chinquapin she

found on the Mark Twain National Forest, to Forest Keeling nursery in 2005.

The nursery in turn is growing seedlings using a root development system known as RPM (Root Production Method). This system produces container trees with a well-developed root system.

Mourglia and researchers with the

root was. Snip a twig—10” or so— from another resistant tree, preferably from another location. Graft twig to notch you just cut into nut. Plant.

A third of the time, this combo can produce pollen in one year. Not the 46 years it takes for seedlings to naturally mature and produce pollen. Tree grafters say this procedure— nut grafting—works about three-fourths of the time.

The pollen produced by this assemblage will be blight resistant. The question then is, how to branch out and find an attractive, blight resistant, mate, with a solid pedigree.

But isn’t that always the case?

“You shake pollen from male flowers into a bag, find female flowers from another tree, place the bag over the flower, tie it with a twistie. Next fall, you go back to the bag. The nuts there will both have resistant parents.”

Bost smiles for a moment. He’s thinking about his other passion, baseball.

“Next thing you know, you’re sliding into home.”

Bag Man As you’ll undoubtedly remember from high school biology class, half of your genes come from your mom, half from your dad. Trees are no different.

If a flower on a resistant tree hooks up with pollen from a non-resistant tree, the blight-resistance of the progeny of that union could be as much as half of that as the original resistant tree. Over time, in the wild, this process repeats until the resistant gene is dilute as cheap beer. That’s why guys like Bost invest in plastic bags and twist ties.

Full Circle Seven years ago, Bost knew nothing about chinquapins. Then he made the acquaintance of Harold Adams. The two met when they camped next to each other on the Current River one summer. Adams, 87, told him about this tree that used to be a staple of the Ozarks. Said he had not seen one since the 1940s. But he remembered them like it was yesterday.

“The nuts were so plentiful we scooped em up with blade shovels and loaded them into wagons” Adams recalls. “But in the ’50s and ’60s all of the trees started dying and now they are all gone.”

Bost and Adams bumped into each other at the same spot every year.

Every year, the conversation turned to the disappeared trees. Like a piece of

University of Missouri, and Missouri State University recently landed a grant from the Northern Nut Growers Association to set up three research plantings of RPM trees. Two of these plantings will test grafting Ozark Chinquapins onto Chinese Chestnuts.

Mourglia can be reached at 417-7326485.

driftwood caught up in a Mississippi whirlpool, Bost slowly got sucked into a vortex of all things chinquapin.

Watching Bost thumb through a huge notebook of maps, facts and photos at his kitchen table, it’s easy to conclude that ideas can be like trees. They both can grow big from a tiny seed.

Harold Adams planted a seed in his friend’s head.

The seed grew. Bost can now tell his friend that all the chinquapins aren’t gone. In fact, some may be coming soon to the place where the original idea germinated.

“Pioneer Forest is making test plots available near where we still camp on the Current River,” Bost says, “And there, right by where Harold hunts, there will be some chinquapins.”

Reincarnation. It’s not just for people anymore.

Phil Helfrich Community Outreach Specialist, MDC All drawings by A.J. Henderschott, MDC Outreach & Education Regional Supervisor

M I S S O U R I

W I L D L I F E

1 3

Come Home To Conservation 71st CFM Annual Conference - REGISTER NOW! CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS Annual Conservation Awards Ceremony Hear Natural Resource Committee Reports Teaming With Wildlife Rally

Policy Discussions Meet Conservation & Natural Resource Leaders Banquet Auction

CONFERENCE-AT-A-GLANCE FRIDAY, MARCH 16

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

SUNDAY, MARCH 18

1:00 - 7:00 pm Registration Open

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch break (on your own)

7:30 - 8:30 am Breakfast (on your own)

3:00 - 5:00 pm Board Meeting

1:30 - 2:30 pm Resolutions Committee Meeting

8:30 am

Resolutions General Session

3:00 - 7:00 pm Exhibits Open

1:30 - 2:30 pm

12:00 pm

Adjourn

5:00 - 7:30 pm Dinner Break (on your own) Annual Conservation Awards 7:30 - 9:00 pm Ceremony

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 7:00 - 8:00 am Breakfast (on your own)

Missouri Legislative Sportsman's Caucus Panel Discussion Operation Game Thief Committee 2:30 - 3:30 pm Meeting Missouri Outdoors Communication 2:30 - 4:00 pm Meeting Annual Business Meeting of 4:00 - 5:00 pm Delegates 5:30 - 7:00 pm Social Hour & Silent Auction

8:00 - 8:45 am Plenary Session

7:00 - 8:00 pm Banquet

9:00 - 12:30 pm Resource Committee Meetings

8:30 pm

Subject to change

Mail Registration To: CFM 728 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101

Live Auction

10:00 - 5:00 pm Exhibits Open

REGISTRATION FORM (clip & mail) (#1) Member Pkg - All sessions, Awards Ceremony, Access to exhibits/silent auction. (#2) One-day Member Pkg - All Daily Sessions, Access to exhibits/silent auction. (#3) Non Member Pkg - All sessions, Awards Ceremony, Access to exhibits/silent auction, Oneyear CFM Membership. (#4) Non Member One-Day Pkg All Daily Sessions, Access to exhibits/silent auction, and One-year CFM Membership.

Name:

ACCOMMODATIONS Lodging arrangements must be made directly with the Lodge of Four Seasons (573) 365-3000 or (800) 843-5253.

Room rates are $70/night for single or double occupancy while room block lasts.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON FAMILY PROGRAMS

________________________________________

Address:

2007 Awards Ceremony is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops Registration Packages

______________________________________

Pre-Registration (by February 11)

Registration Fee

(#1) Member

$20.00/person

$

(#2) One-day Member

$10.00/person

$

Credit Card #: __________________________________

(#3) Non Member

$40.00/person

$

Expiration Date: ________________________________

(#4) One-day Non Member

$30.00/person

$

Signature: ______________________________________

Banquet

$40.00/person

$

Total Registration:

$

______________________________________________ Telephone:

____________________________________

Special Needs (i.e. access, dietary): ________________ 1 4

M A R C H

2 0 0 7

CALENDAR MISSOURI FESTIVALS AND AFFILIATE EVENTS

AFFILIATE EVENTS CAPITAL CITY FLY FISHERS MAR 1: Teach a Vet to Tie, Veterans Hospital – Conference Room C201, Columbia (3:00pm) MAR 1: Winter Fly Tying, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (6:00pm-8:00pm) MAR 1: Trout Season Opens MAR 8: Winter Fly Trying, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (6:00pm-8:00pm) MAR 13: Club Meeting, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (7:00pm) MAR 15: Teach a Vet to Tie, Veterans Hospital – Conference Room C201, Columbia (3:00pm) MAR 15: Winter Fly Tying, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (6:00pm-8:00pm) MAR 22: Winter Fly Tying, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (6:00pm-8:00pm) MAR 24: Spring Banquet, Donita’s Catering, Jefferson City (6:00pm) MAR 28: Hooked on Fly Fishing Not Drugs, South Callaway R-II Middle School, Mokane (3:00pm) APR 5: Teach a Vet to Tie, Veterans Hospital – Conference Room C201, Columbia (3:00pm) APR 10: Club Meeting, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (7:00pm) APR 13-14: Women in the Outdoors Workshop, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Area APR 14: Stream Team 760 Outing, Saline Valley Wildlife Area APR 19: Teach a Vet to Tie, Veterans Hospital – Conference Room C201, Columbia (3:00pm) APR 25: Hooked on Fly Fishing Not Drugs, South Callaway R-II Middle School, Mokane (3:00pm) MISSOURI BASS FEDERATION MAR 1: Spring Newsletter Deadline MAR 31: Federation Directors Meeting, Shrine Club, Hermitage APR 1: Spring Fling Tournament, Pomme de Terre Lake APR 1: State Tournament Eligibility Deadline MISSOURI DUCKS UNLIMITED MAR 2: Fenton Chapter 2nd Annual Dinner, Fenton; Brian Kalkbrenner (636) 7951006 MAR 3: Higginsville Dinner, American Legion Hall, Higginsville; Shawn Davenport (660) 584-7376 MAR 3: Christian County Dinner; Brad Watson (417) 761-4552 MAR 3: Centralia Dinner; Tim Carpenter (573) 696-3012 MAR 3: Mideast Missouri Chapter Dinner, Festus National Guard Armory, Festus; Kerry Portell (636) 933-3611 MAR 3: Washington Dinner, Knights of Columbus Hall, Washington; Kevin Krause (636) 239-4768 MAR 3: Ten Mile Pond Chapter Event, East Prairie; Craig Owens (573) 683-1284 MAR 9: Parsons Creek Fun Night, Meadville Community Center, Meadville; Darrell Clark (660) 938-4331 MAR 9: Callaway County, Saint Peters Church Multipurpose Building; Bruce Carpenter (573) 642-9513

MAR 10: Rolla Dinner, Elks Lodge, Rolla; Stephen Turner (573) 364-3755 MAR 10: Yellow Creek Texas Hold’em Tournament, Eagles Lodge, Brookfield; Jeff Hill (660) 258-2391 MAR 10: Platte City Dinner; Rod Howard (816) 420-8669 MAR 15: Chillicothe Dinner; Scott Englert (660) 646-0740 MAR 17: Cameron Dinner; Keith Mathews (816) 724-1357 MAR 17: Independence Dinner, The Community Room – Country Meadows Antique Mall; Bob Cole (816) 478-8395 MAR 17: Greenheads Dinner, Hidden Trails Country Club, Dexter; Mark Reed (573) 568-4433 MAR 23-25: MODU State Convention, Lodge of the Four Seasons, Lake Ozark; Ginny Zinck (660) 460-0031 MAR 31: Golden Valley Dinner, Rotary Building, Clinton; Eric Finks (660) 8853990 MAR 31: Bluff City Mallards Dinner, Holiday Inn, Poplar Bluff; Bill Paxton (573) 429-5193 APR 7: Ray County Dinner, Ray County Memorial Veterans Building; Scott Anderson (660) 229-0695 APR 14: Monroe City Dinner; David Willis (573) 672-3389 APR 14: Excelsior Springs Dinner; Rick deFlon (816) 750-4497 APR 14: Neosho Dinner; Kevin Bartley (417) 451-1501 APR 21: Mexico Dinner, Knights of Columbus Hall, Mexico; Carolyn Dragoo (573) 581-4614 MISSOURI NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION FUNDRAISING BANQUETS MAR 2: Lake of the Ozarks NWTF Chapter, Tri County Conversion Center, Versailles; Mark Stafford (573) 378-0435 MAR 2: Rocky Top Limbhangers, West Plains Armory, West Plains; Brad McKee (417) 778-6862 MAR 3: Heartland Gobblers, Elks Lodge, Poplar Bluff; Timothy Placher (573) 2226365 MAR 3: Hickory County Jakes and Jennies, Hickory County Senior Center, Wheatland; David Wright (417) 722-4488 MAR 3: Kirksville Ridge Runners, NEMO Fairgrounds, Kirksville; Tim Findling (660) 488-6657 MAR 3: Osage Prairie Thunderin’ Toms, Eagles Lodge, Nevada; Bruce Rogers (417) 876-2521 MAR 3: Platte Purchase, American Legion Hall, Saint Joseph; Martin Marks (660) 442-5332 MAR 8: Current River Longbeards, Van Buren Community Center, Van Buren; Dale Kipp (573) 945-2472 MAR 9: Booger County Gobblers, Ava Community Building, Ava; Stan Lovan (417) 683-5218 MAR 9: Cedar Creek Gobblers, Orleans Trail Resort, Stockton; Walter Meeker (417) 276-3241 MAR 9: Hocomo Big Beards, Saint Joseph Hall, Fayette; Gene Smith (660) 2485191

MAR 9: Marais-des Cygnes River Gobblers, Butler Youth Center, Butler; Jesse Schowengerdt (660) 679-6555 MAR 10: Capitol City Strutters, Wardsville Lion s Club, Wardsville; Lee Wilbers (573) 893-7770 MAR 10: Carroll County Longbeards, Rupe Center, Carrollton; Rob Casner (660) 5421733 MAR 10: Mark Twain Forest Longspurs, Potosi Lions Club, Potosi; Johnny LaGrand (573) 438-6880 MAR 10: Sho-Me Chapter, Bass Pro Outdoor World, Springfield; Matthew Kramer (417) 839-6366 MAR 16: Muddy Creek Gobblers, Thiebaud Auditorium, Lamar; Judd Chestnut (417) 682-3767 MAR 16: Nolan R. Hutcheson Memorial; Golden Hills Trail Rides, Raymondville; Mike O’Brien (573) 674-4044 MAR 16: Stealth Gobblers, Johnson County Fairgrounds, Warrensburg; Philip Woods (660) 747-8415 MAR 16: Yellow Creek Gobblers, Walsworth Community Building, Marceline; Ken Polley (660) 258-5340 MAR 17: Fabius River Fantails, Knights of Columbus Hall, Edina; April Bruegenhemke (660) 423-5327 MAR 17: Jacomo Strutters, American Legion Hall, Blue Springs; Norbert Kurok (816) 540-3669 MAR 17: Moniteau Monarchs, Jamestown Community Building, Jamestown; Michael Hubbard (573) 796-8696 MAR 17: River Hills Thunderin’ Longbeards, Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomsdale; Dave Palmer (573) 8832315 MAR 23: Fountain City Strutters, Elks Lodge, DeSoto; Jeremy Gilbert (636) 5862276 MAR 23: Reynolds County Struttin’ Gobblers, VFW Hall, Ellington; Gary Black (573) 637-9344 MAR 23: Twain’s Roaring Gobblers, Family Life Center, Cassville; Richard Murphy (417) 817-4272 MAR 24: Big River Gobblers, Knights of Columbus Hall, House Springs; Richard Christopher (636) 861-5418 MAR 24: Boonslick Trial Gobblers, Jonesburg Community Building, Jonesburg; Dan Robb (800) 811-0991 MAR 24: Lead Belt Longbeards, Saint Paul Luthern Church, Farmington; John Spurgin (573) 431-5865 MAR 24: NEMO Chapter, American Legion Hall, Palmyra; Dan Minor (573) 8224779 MAR 24: Salt River Sharp Spurs, Father Buhman Center; Shelbina; Chris Coe (573) 588-4060 MAR 30: Marshfield Full Strutters, Sheila’s Place, Marshfield; Dale Broesder (417) 859-6129 MAR 30: Pike County Twin Rivers, Elks Lodge, Louisiana; Timothy Brooks (573) 324-3201 MAR 31: Four Rivers, Immaculate Conception, Union; David Douglas (636) 5837740 MAR 31: North Central Mo Local, Elks Lodge, Chillicothe; Bill Wehrle (660) 6464362 MAR 31: Randolph County Longbeards, Moberly Municipal Auditorium, Moberly; Jason Shannon (660) 291-4724 APR 3: Mid-America Chapter, Ararat Shrine Temple, Kansas City; John Shene (816)

741-6234 APR 6: Twin Lake Longspurs, Smith’s Restaurant, Bolivar; Justin Hunt (417) 282-5298 APR 7: Saline County Strutters, Saline County Fairgrounds, Marshall; Brent Vandeloecht (660) 375-1109 APR 7: Turkey Creek Longbeards, Elks Lodge, Joplin; Chuck Forest (417) 7814720 APR 7: Weldon River Broken Spurs, Seimer Banquet Hall, Mercer; Jason Siemer (660) 748-4710 APR 13: Liberty Limbhangers, VFW Hall, Liberty; Clint Schmitter (816) 222-4056 APR 13: Osage Gobblers, Loose Creek Community Center, Loose Creek; Jennifer Batson (573) 897-3797 APR 14: Green Hills, The Rock Barn, Trenton; Scott Roy (660) 359-3399 APR 14: Lake Area Longbeards, Knights of Columbus Hall, Camdenton; Charles McElyea (573) 346-7231 APR 14: State Fair Strutters, M.E.C. Building, Sedalia; Charles Mattingly (660) 8270758 APR 21: Gentry County Gobblers, Stanberry Community Center, Stanberry; Tim Runde (660) 937-2580 APR 28: Lake Show-Me Longbeards, VFW Hall, Memphis; Dorsey Swearingen (660) 892-4596 JAKES EVENTS MAR 24: Rhine Valley, Hermann Rod and Gun Club, Hermann; Donnie Viehmann (573) 486-0545 WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS EVENTS MAR 24: Grindstone Boss Hens Event, Pony Express Conservation Area, Osborn; Wendy Cochran (816) 449-5427 MAR 30: Platte County Event, Camp Gieger, Saint Joseph; Sherry Hill (816) 992-3650 MAR 31: Bass Pro Mid-State Event, Bass Pro Shops, Columbia; Tammy Ballew (573) 864-3014 APR 14: Squaw Creek National Event, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Forrest City; Kathy Kunkel (660) 4423923 MISSOURI PARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION MAR 6-9: MPRA Annual Conference, Springfield MAR 27-29: National Playground Safety Institute, Saint Charles; Maria Cauwenbergh (573) 636-3828 MISSOURI SMALLMOUTH ALLIANCE MAR 10: 3rd Annual Bronzeback Banquet OZARK MOUNTAIN PADDLERS MAR 8: Monthly Meeting, Springfield Nature Center (7:00pm) Monthly Meeting, Springfield Nature Center (7:00pm)

FESTIVAL EVENTS MAR 29-31: Great Lake of the Ozarks Gospel Sing, Osage Beach (800) 3865253

CFM EVENTS JAN 6: CFM Board Meeting, Bass Pro Shops, Columbia; (800) 575-2322 MAR 16-18, 2007: CFM Annual Convention, Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark (800) 575-2322

M I S S O U R I

W I L D L I F E

1 5

CALENDAR

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

Do You Have Hundreds Of Tires On Your Property?

Get Them Cleaned Up For Free! ast November, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced the Tire Dump Roundup program. Since then, 48 sites, containing more than 103,000 tires, have qualified to be cleaned up at no charge to the property owners.

The department is offering all Missouri private property owners the opportunity to report illegal scrap tire dumps on their property, so they can be removed. In order to qualify for the program, the scrap tire dump must contain more than 500, but less than

L

10,000 tires. The owner must also sign a property access agreement. This agreement also requires that if the property owner violates the solid waste management law in the future, the department can proceed with assessing penalties and cost recovery for the incident.

Active businesses and property owners who have participated in prior cleanup initiatives are not eligible for the program.

“I’m very encouraged by the response we’ve received over the past three months,” said Department Director

Doyle Childers. “By removing the obstacle of cost recovery, we can get these sites cleaned up and rid Missouri’s environment of these tires.”

The department will continue to work with solid waste districts and notfor-profit citizens groups in cleaning up dumps that contain less than 500 tires.

The Tire Dump Roundup is funded from the state’s 50-cent-per-tire tire fee.

More than 14 million tires across Missouri have been cleaned up with the funds from this fee. DNR estimates that around 350,000 tires remain scattered

across the state in known dumpsites.

Illegal scrap tire dumps pose serious environmental and health threats.

Insects and rodents that grow and breed in these dumps can transmit diseases, such as the West Nile Virus. Fires at tire dumps can release hazardous substances to the air, soil and water sources.

For more information, or to sign up for the program, contact the department’s scrap tire unit at 1-800-361-4827 or (573) 526-3909 or visit the department’s Web site www.dnr.mo.gov/env/ swmp/tires/roundup.htm.

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 Department of Agriculture 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 MO State University Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society 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