Vol74 no6 2013

November 2013 VOL. 74, NO. 6

Inside This Issue:

MISSOURI

Wildlife

Featured articles

November 2013 Vol. 74, No. 6

Holiday Gift Grab Tickets ........................................................................................ 5 Passion for the Outdoors .......................................................................................... 7 Mule Deer Foundation Donates to Increase Involvement in Shooting Sports . . ......................................................................... 8 Natural Resource Scholarship Program Growing Applications Due By End of Year ............................................................................... 9

Officers President Richard Ash 1st Vice President Al Vogt 2nd Vice President Ron Coleman Mossie Schallon Secretary Randy Washburn Treasurer

Staff

Holiday Wreath Order Form ......................................................................................... 13

Travis Scott

CFM at 2013 Harvest Fest - Sunshine, Turkeys, Tattoos and Fun!!! . . ................... 18

Debra Lee

CFM’s 3rd Annual Cabin Fever Clay Shoot The Mid-winter Tradition Continues .. ........................................................................ 20

news, updates and columns President’s Message..............................................................................................2 Calendar.................................................................................................................12

Director of Development

Teaming With Wildlife Coordinator Micaela Haymaker Office Manager Laurie Coleman Membership Associate/ Managing Editor Joe Pendergrass Design & Production Mission Statement: Missourians for Conservation of Natural Resources and Protection of Our Outdoor Heritage.

Teaming With Wildlife

National Sign-on Letter Supporting Conservation Delivered in Mid-September ..............................................................................14

Federal Government Lapse in Appropiations Causes USFWS to Suspend Operations in Missouri ........................................................15

Agency News

Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri’s Deer-Season Outlook Varies by Location ...........................................22

MDC Named “4-H Bridge Builder” ................................................................24

Missouri Waterfowl Hunting Forecast: Loads of Ducks! .....................................25

Department of Natural Resources Exploring Missouri Resources ..........................................................................28

Spotlight on Missouri State Parks – Big Oak Tree State Park ...........................29

Member Information

Business Alliance Members....................................................................................3 New Members......................................................................................................4 Honorariums & Memorials.................................................................................12 Affiliates of the Federation..................................................................................27 Conservationists For Life.....................................................................................32

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 • mhaymaker@confedmo.org Online • http://www.confedmo.org MISSOURI WILDLIFE (USPS 012868) is published bi­ monthly in January, March, May, July, Sept­ ember 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 ($25 minimum) $10.00 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: “First snow, 1961.” © Glenn D. Chambers 2013. www:glenndchambers.com

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president’s message

Woolly Worms and Persimmon Seeds

When this article makes publication, fall’s color and edging into winter will be in the past. With this seasonal transformation, many of us will be found enjoying Missouri Outdoors.

For me, I’m still in active mode prepping for the 2013 Firearms Deer Season. As the crisp morning air stimulates the soul and the dawn paints the eastern sky, it’s hard to slump into a passive state of being. Most likely, any October and early November day finds me afield, or “out there amongst them” I like to say.

By the time you read this, I’ve made more than a few stealthy treks along critter trails seeking signs that’ll give me a glimpse of the farm’s wildlife activity this year. Rubs, scrapes, “smart pills”, dustings, feathers and tracks paint part of the picture – trails, browsing, punch marks, scratching, beds and roost trees are sought too.

Early, I carry my trusty old 22 looking to harvest a few bushy tails. Hunting tree rats helps discern where prime acorn crops are to be found – a key factor when it comes to deer or turkey hunts.

But back to the squirrels, I’ll take a big red or mid-sized gray if need be; but my choice will always be the young and dumb tree rats. They’re typically naïve (or easy pick’ns), and without question, more “tender”.

About mid-morning a hearty breakfast hits the spot. One of squirrel slow cooked in an iron skillet along with fried ‘tators’ and onions - both smothered in gravy – now that’s just hard to beat!

I must admit though, that’s my opinion. My better-half, Judy Kay, prefers crisp bacon and scramble eggs with a bit of cheese after our scouting jaunts early in the day. Yes, she does accompany me on many of my outings, the non-hunting ones. Too, if I’m hunting, she does her own “critter 2

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checking”. And the truth be known, often she sees more signs and “live” action than I do. For the life of me, I just can’t figure that one out.

Then again, while I enjoy my hunts

among the hardwoods for fox and gray squirrels, I do equally relish my time bow hunting in one of the strategically placed stands on the farm.

Over time, several locations have become known to hold deer whether or not there’s an acorn crop nearby.

There we’ve harvested several whitetails from permanent perches 15-20 feet above the forest floor. And yet, over time we’ve seemingly educated a few mature deer. They not only look up at the platform but they also test the wind.

Once we discerned this reaction, we procured a few ladder stands intending to place them upwind from the common wildlife approaches to permanent stand areas. Without a doubt, such tactics work and we occasionally do still set our ladder stands as mentioned. However, now-a-days placement of the portable stands is dependent on our scouting info. To

be sure, by now these sites should be known for this season and our stands in place.

And maybe, just maybe – all those hours outdoors will have been worth it. Perhaps this value will be measured by way of harvesting a mess of squirrels or two, some venison and/or even a “Thanksgiving Day” turkey. Better yet, I’ve added more pleasant memories for those days that I can’t be spending quality time at the farm or in the Missouri Outdoors.

Oh well, day dreams aside – let me get back to reality.

By print time, a new chapter for CFM will have begun with a person employed to fill the vacancy for our Executive Director position.

The Search Committee, led by Don Johnson as Chair and Al Vogt as Vice Chair, completed their work and recommended three (3) viable candidates to be considered by CFM’s Executive Committee. At their September 21, 2013 meeting, the Executive Committee conducted interviews and after considerable deliberation chose a candidate to be recommended to CFM’s Board. Subsequently, the Executive Committee met to determine a compensation package to accompany an offer of employment to the selected person. Then, a Special Board Meeting was set for Saturday October 26, 2013 so the Board can broach the recommendations. Accordingly, “if all goes according to Hoyle” – CFM’s new Executive Director will be formally introduced and working at the December 14, 2013 Winter Board Meeting.

Additionally, Missouri’s Interim House Committee per CWD likely will bring forth their findings and report as the 2013-2014 Legislative Session commences in December.

Also, the outcome of MDC’s public meetings and surveys relative to Missouri’s Deer Health should become

known. Such likely will include proposed regulatory changes which could affect hunters and operators of captive deer facilities. In any case, we can be sure more information will be forthcoming in CFM’s Missouri Wildlife and MDC’s Missouri Conservationist.

In addition, further discussions will be held at CFM’s December Board meeting (December 14, 2013) and the Annual Conference (March 21-23, 2014). If you’re interested – be there; you’re always welcome.

Oh, and what did the woolly worms and persimmon seeds tell you about winter weather?

Experience Missouri’s Outdoors, Share It & Support It! Richard L. Ash, Jr. President, CFM

Operation Wild Lands Event November 16th at Bluebird Park 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Located at 225 Kiefer Creek Rd Ellisville, Missouri 63021 Removal of Invasive Bush Honeysuckle Volunteers are welcome.

Register at: www.2013owls.eventbrite.com The purpose of the event is to remove the invasive plants and restore the local forests to their natural condition. This project will also enhance the quality of bird habitat in St. Louis County.

Thank You!

Business Alliance Members Our sincere thanks to all of our Business Alliance members. Your support of CFM is making a difference for Missouri outdoors!

Platinum Associated Missouri Electric Cooperatives Bass Pro Shops Drury Hotels Shelter Insurance Company Gold MidwayUSA Silver Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc. NW Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. Pyramid Home Health Services

Basic Bee Rock Outdoor Adventures, LLC Brown Printing Cap America Citizens Telephone Company Consolidated Electric Cooperative Cooper’s Oak Winery and A & K Cooperage, LLC Dickerson Park Zoo Farm Management Service (Dan & Cheri Erdel) Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Association Forrest Keeling Nursery Friends of Ryan McKenna Full Care Inc. General Printing Service Goodwin Brothers Construction Company

Greenbrier Wetland Services Grundy Electric Cooperative, Inc. Heartland Restoration, Inc. Hulett Heating & Air Conditioning Hunting Works For Missouri Joe Machens Dealerships Land & Water Partners, Inc. Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative McRoberts Farm, Inc. Meramec Bison Farm, LLC Mid America Mortgage Services, Inc. Middle River Bluffs Midwest Mailing Services Osage Canoes, LLC Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. Quality Forest Management, LLC

REMAX Boone Realty R. L.’s Swimming Pools, LLC Sapaugh Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc. Sierra Bullets, LLC Socket Internet Services, LLC Sport & Spine Rehabilitation Tabor Plastics Company The Bank of Missouri Thirty 3 Bar & Grill Thomas Industrial Coatings, Inc. Trumans Bar & Grill, Inc. United Electric Cooperative, Inc. White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

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WELCOME C F M N E W member s

Barry Koenemann, Saint Louis

John Relles, Columbia

Jim Koetting, Columbia

Fred Robinson, Jefferson City

Alexander LaBrunerie, Columbia

Keith Roever, Robertsville

Paul Langewisch, Fulton

Mark Rowden, Fulton

Jacob & Kale Laughlin, Jefferson City

Pete & Nancy Rucker, Excelsior Springs

Bob Lawrence, Columbia

Dale Ruether, Marthasville

Jim Ledbetter, Warrenton

Zach Sandner, Rocheport

Curt Lichty, Columbia

Mike Schmitz, Columbia

Brad Lindsey, Columbia

Eddie Schultz, Centralia

Mike Loyd, Columbia

Lee Scott, Centralia

Harold Mabrey, Columbia

Scott Shaw, Columbia

Aaron Madrid, Columbia

Mark & Doris Shedd, Columbia

Randy Adams, Columbia

David Diehl, Trimble

ArdPark Cabins, Florissant

Eric Edwards, Hermann

The Ash-Piccinni Family, Ballwin

Peter Eiberger, Columbia

James Ashby, Saint James

Steve Elliott, Lees Summit

Garry Banks, Columbia

Karl Finke, Jonesburg

Ken Bean, Kansas City

Ken Finley, Columbia

Adam Bell, Blue Springs

John Forderhase, Fayette

Nathan Bias, Rocheport

Scott Maloney, Rocheport

Nancy Simmons, Cedar Hill

Jake Frink, Columbia

William Blakey, Clarksville

Jude Markway, Jefferson City

Theodore Slinkard, Marble Hill

Freddy Furlong, Sturgeon

Kevin Borisenko, Ashland

Levi Markway, Jefferson City

Lonnie Smith, Crystal City

Mike Glidewell, Savannah

Tom Brengle, Warrenton

Vern McGaffic, Jefferson City

Roy Smith, Festus

Dillan Graber, Neosho

Chris Brooke, Savannah

Joe Miller, Franklin

Wesley Stegmann, Eureka

Jeremy Haase, Fayette

Robin Mingo, Covington, LA

Jeremy Stephens, New Franklin

Kurt Brooke, Saint Joseph

James Hamilton, Kansas City

Eddie Mongler, Mexico

Rob Stover, Jackson

Mike Brooke, Boonville

Stan Harris, Dixon

Michael Moore, Saint Louis

Joe Sunderland, Fayette

Tom Brooke, Saint Joseph

Scott Hays, O’Fallon

Russell Moore, Sweet Springs

Andy Supple, Kirksville

Brian Bruemmer, Jefferson City

Will Hemeyer, Columbia

Pat Moreth, O’Fallon

Dave Swarthout, Vienna

Nick Bryson, Columbia

Zachary Morris, Nixa

Jamie Thoenen, Jefferson City

Karl Burkett, Harrisburg

Tim & Debbie Hendershott, Cape Girardeau

Spencer Turner, Columbia

Penney Bush-Boyce, Saint Louis

Michael Hicks, Blue Springs

David Munoz, Centralia Tyler Munoz, Centralia

Ron Utterback, Columbia

Brandon & Melissa Butler, Fayette

Rusty Hogue, Columbia

Lee Myers, Kenna, WV

Dave Verkamp, Rolla

Steve Caldwell, Florissant

Kenny & Sophie Hood, Rocheport

Michael Nuzum, Fulton

Randy Verkamp, Saint James

Jim Choate, Holts Summit

Mike Hopper, New Franklin

Byron Ollendike, Columbia

Ryan Verkamp, Columbia

Don Clever, Jr., Hannibal

George Hulett, Columbia

Danny & Kristy Olson, Ashland

Jerry Wade, Columbia

Jim Cook, Hallsville

Shane Hulett, Camdenton

Earl Otto, Ava

Paul Waldt, Hillsboro

Wes Craig, Marshall

Nathan & Holly Iven, Columbia

Jason Paris, Rocheport

Ryan Weis, Millstadt, IL

Richard Crigler, Centralia

David Jankowski, Union

Aaron Pashia, Festus

Dale Westerhold, Saint Louis

Jacob Crismon, Holts Summit

Jeff Jones, Columbia

Richard Pedroley, Fulton

Jack Whittle, Saint Louis

Elizabeth Czeschin, Fenton

Randy Jones, Columbia

Nathaniel Peters, Colorado Springs, CO

Brad Wiedlocher, Saint Louis

Avera Daniels, Columbia

Jerry Kemple, Jefferson City

Rick Pirtle, Sedalia

John Wilson, Saint James

Andrew Day, Columbia

James Kerpash, Fulton

Terry Potter, Saint Louis

Nick Wiseman, Saint Louis

Kyle Day, Boonville

Kendall Kircher, New Franklin

Joe Powell, Rocheport

Chris Wolf, Columbia

Joe Demand, Lake Saint Louis

Keith Kirkpatrick, Columbia

Elmo Reams, Hallsville

Larry Wright, Warrensburg

James Reid, Sedalia

Chris Zeller, Columbia

Tom & Mark DeWall, New Franklin Jerome Kleekamp, Washington

CFM would like to thank the 345 members that renewed since our last publication.

Would you like to be added to our electronic newsletter list?

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Please email your name and email address to lcoleman@confedmo.org or call us toll free at 800-575-2322

Holiday Gift Grab Tickets

Want more tickets? Copy these, contact us at lcoleman@confedmo.org or call us at (800) 575-2322 Mail to: 728 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101

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CFM Would Like To Thank the Donors And Contributors Who Have Made Our 2013 Holiday Gift Grab Possible Farmers CO-OP Elevator - St. Peters, MO (636) 278-3544 Randy Washburn Walker’s Taxidermy - Mexico, MO (573) 473-2400 Missouri State Parks - www.mostateparks.com Turkey Roost Taxidermy Studio - Kirksville, MO (660) 665-8109 - www.theturkeyroost.com Drury Hotels (800) 378-7946 - www.druryhotels.com Big Cedar Lodge - Ridgedale, MO (800) 225-6343 - www.big-cedar.com Bass Pro Shops - Springfield, MO (800) 227-7776 - www.basspro.com Webb’s Guide Service (417) 425-7513 - www.webbsguideservice.com (Mike Webb - find us on Facebook) Powder Horn Guns & Sporting Goods - Columbia, MO

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A

s we walked through the woods on that pitch black morning, I remember being more excited than I had ever been. I was going deer hunting for the first time. My father and I had practiced shooting and hunting techniques every weekend leading up to that day.

The first thing I did when we got to the ground blind, which we built prior to that morning, was pour some hot chocolate from the thermos and get my hot hands ready.

It was a cold, wet October morning but there was nothing that would stop me from killing my first deer that day.

We quietly sat there for what seemed like hours. Then out of nowhere, a doe came running across the field. My dad helped me get the gun up, but the rest was up to me. I put the crosshairs right behind her shoulder like I was taught and squeezed that trigger.

Within just seconds, this became one of my greatest memories.

I was 10 years old when I killed the doe. That first shot would be the beginning of my many hunting experience. Since then I have been hooked. I grew up going to school with some of the other children calling me a killer and asking why I would want to shoot poor, innocent animals. At a very young age I was taught to stand up for myself and explain the definition of conservation. I would tell those other kids, “If I did not go hunting the deer population would take over! They would eat all of

Passion for the Outdoors

Emily Wilbers, Conservation Leadership Corps student and past Conservation Federation of Missouri intern.

Emily Wilbers and Michael Herbst pose with their muddy friends.

Photo credits: Emily Wilbers.

our food then what are we going to have left to eat?�

But, there were also those children that grew up like I did, and we would bet a soda on who would kill the bigger deer. When I look back and see that I understood the

concept of conservation at 10, I understand that it is my job to continue teaching kids of its importance.

I continued advocating conservation through high school and even now that I am in college. Hunting is not for the thrill of the kill like most people think. It is a way of conservation and population control. I do what I do because I love it. I will not take the first thing that walks in front of me. I was taught to only take the mature animals and let the little ones have a chance to grow up.

I was taught about ethical and non-ethical shots. If I, or anyone else, would happen to make a bad shot, we would not give up looking until the animal was found.

I am very passionate about wildlife and the outdoors. I love deer hunting although, I also enjoy hunting turkey, frogs, various birds, squirrels, and rabbit as well. I have chosen to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation and Management at Missouri State University and take part in many organizations such as Quail Forever, Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC), Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM), as well as work with the Missouri Department of Conservation. I want to be a voice for the outdoors and CFM and the CLC helped provide me that opportunity.

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Mule Deer Foundation Donates to Increase Involvement in Shooting Sports

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he Mule Deer Foundation recently made a donation to the Scholastic Shooting Trust in Missouri for the amount of $10,000. It is a direct attempt to support local shooting clubs to help pass on the shooting sports tradition. This year, Holden, Warsaw, Eldon, and Linn High Schools as well as Linn State Technical College all received $2,000. Nationally, MDF donated over $250,000 this year to the SST established by the MidwayUSA Foundation to help support youth shooting clubs across the country.

Mule Deer Foundation Chapters utilize special commemorative M.U.L.E.Y. rifles to raise funds for local shooting programs in their Chapter’s immediate areas. This program is called “Adopt-a-Team” and is a great partnership between the shooting teams and our local MDF Chapters.

The thought behind it was to have the shooting teams offer assistance with MDF Chapter activities such as banquets, conservation projects or sport shows and in return the shooting team would benefit by a donation to their endowment account and also learn about MDF and gain fundraising skills for their teams. Mule Deer Foundation’s President and CEO, Miles Moretti said “With this being the third year of the Adopt-a-Team program many MDF

The MidwayUSA Foundation, a nonprofit charity founded

by Larry & Brenda Potterfield, helps communities and organizations raise funds to support their high school, college and club shooting team through our Scholastic Shooting Trust (SST).

We want to see team accounts grow and we offer fundraising opportunities to help that happen. Teams can now register for our 2014 promotion, which includes a Browning Silver Sporting Micro 12 gauge shotgun, a prototype available only with this promotion!

The shotgun has an adjustable comb and an adjustable length of pull…perfect for youth shooters. The promotion can also come with 96 Browning fixed blade knifes.

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Chapters have begun to build great working relationships with the shooting teams and the teams and the chapters continue to support each other.”

In addition, shooting teams are invited to local M.U.L.E.Y. (Mindful, Understanding, Legal, and Ethical Youth) Events which are designed to recruit new shooters and hunters. By having the local shooting teams present at those events provides great peer support to those new shooters and even their families. There have been many lasting friendships built from introductions at these shooting events and even some new shooters joining the teams to continue their new passion of shooting! MDF looks forward to continuing this effort in the future.

For more information on the M.U.L.E.Y. program, MDF’s Adopt-a-Team, other youth programs or how to get involved with the Mule Deer Foundation locally please contact MDF Missouri State Chair, Kevin Zielke at 660909-1224 or mostatechair.mdf@gmail.com.

Kevin Zielke Missouri State Chair

When teams participate in our fundraisers, we give them the items to conduct the fundraisers any way they wish.

Their efforts can result in large contributions to their SST endowment account, as well as instant operating cash. Larry & Brenda Potterfield generously match each donation made to their account too. If your community or school has a shooting team, ensure their SST account is active & learn how you can register for our 2014 promotion. Visit www.midwayusafoundation.org.

Natural Resource Scholarship Program Growing Applications Due By End of Year

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onservation Federation of Missouri members should be aware of the growing scholarship program available to Missouri high school and college students who plan to attend a Missouri college or university.

With the cost of college spiraling upward, it may pay a student whose interest lies in conservation to investigate all scholarship opportunities.

The Conservation Foundation now offers fourteen scholarships and ten of these are $1,000 each and are statewide in nature.

The first of the scholarship programs to be established was the Ed Stegner Natural Resource Scholarships. Funded by the Foundation, these scholarships seek to encourage and assist undergraduate students in five areas of natural resource management: fisheries, forestry, wildlife, parks and recreation, and soil and water. The Missouri chapters of the Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society, Society of American Foresters, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association are joint partners and respectively judge the applicants in their area. These scholarships are $1,000 each.

Initial funding for this endowed program was provided by former Conservation Federation Executive Director, Ed Stegner, of Pilot Grove. Stegner was the longest serving CFM Executive Director and is a Master Conservationist.

He continues to contribute to the endowment annually.

Information and applications may be downloaded from the Foundation’s website at www.conservemo.org or you can request an application from the Federation or the Conservation Foundation, 212 S. Rock Creek, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Based on the success of this program, the Foundation has added the Carl Morrow Graduate Scholarship program. It too provides $1,000 scholarships in the same five areas and is also a partnership with the professional societies. The only real difference is that applicants must have already ended their undergraduate degree and be working on advanced studies. Information is similarly available from the Federation and Foundation.

Carl Morrow, whose memory this program honors, was a distinguished conservationist who served in many volunteer positions with the Conservation Federation and was the first Chairman of the Conservation Foundation.

Through the efforts of this former vice-president of Missouri Power and Light the Conservation Foundation took root and became a financially-viable public trust.

This year the Morrow family put forth the idea that they would like to financially match the recipient of the Carl Morrow Scholarship in Parks and Recreation and the Foundation agreed, making this particular scholarship worth $2,000. We thank Rev. Greg Morrow and the rest of the family for their generosity (they intend to do this annually) and we challenge others to consider matching the scholarship of most interest to them. This could become a great way to increase the value of already existing scholarships and help young students in the conservation fields.

For more information on other scholarships and Foundation programs contact Charlie Davidson, Secretary/ Treasurer, Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust, 212 S. Rock Creek, Jefferson City, MO 65101 (email: cdfound@socket.net).

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. BUCKLE UP MIS S OURI

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Please join CFM today to conserve our natural resources for tomorrow!

Check the membership category you prefer: q $25—Individual q $15—Student q $30—Family q $100—Sustaining q $1000—Lifetime Your dues include a 1-year subscription to Missouri Wildlife, a logo sticker and a 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 questions, call us at 1-800-575-2322 or visit us at www.confedmo.org Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: __________________________________________________________ State: _____________________ ZIP code: ________________________ Work phone: ____________________________________________ Home phone: ________________________________________________________ E-mail address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Credit card number: ______________________________________________________________ Expiration date: ______________________________ Signature of cardholder:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*Note: CFM is an IRS-approved tax-exempt not-for-profit, so your donations are tax deductible.

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Join the CFM Business Alliance today!

Check the annual member category you prefer: q $250—Basic q $1,000—Silver q $5,000—Gold q $10,000—Platinum CFM Business Alliance members will receive a one-year subscription to Missouri Wildlife, recognition in each issue of Missouri Wildlife and a CFM Business Alliance sticker.

Please mail this form with your gift supporting CFM to:

Conservation Federation of Missouri 728 West Main Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559 The Conservation Federation of Missouri is a 501(c)(3) organization. If you have questions, call us at 1-800-575-2322 or visit us at www. confedmo.org to sign up online

Business Name:_______________________________________________ Contact 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. We also accept MasterCard, Visa, or Discover below or online at www.confedmo.org Credit card number:___________________________________________ Expiration date:______________________________________________ Signature of cardholder:_______________________________________

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CALENDAR M I SS O U R I F E S T I V A L S A N D A F F I L I A T E E V E N T S

AFFILIATE EVENTS AUDUBON SOCIETY OF MISSOURI NOV 2: Public Field Trip, Runge Conservation Center and Binder Lake, Jefferson City; Kevin Wehner (573) 815-0352 NOV 16: Public Field Trip, Fayette Lakes, Fayette; Edge Wade (573) 268-3714 DEC 14: Ozark Rivers Audubon MOMS CBC Meramec Springs Circle; Larry Wood (573) 578-1951 DEC 19: Organizational Meeting, Saint Joseph (7:00pm) DEC 21: Midland Empire Audubon Society CBC; Larry Wade (816) 2326125 CAPITAL CITY FLY FISHERS NOV 7: Teach a Vet to Tie, Veterans Hospital - Conference Room C201, Columbia (3:00pm) NOV 12: Club Meeting, First Baptist Church - Room 101 NOV 21: Teach a Vet to Tie, Veterans Hospital - Conference Room C201, Columbia (3:00pm) GREENWAY NETWORK NOV 4: Annual Members Meeting, Lewis & Clark Restaurant (6:30pm 9:00pm); (636) 498-0772 NOV 6: River Soundings Symposium, Forest Park Visitors Center, Saint Louis (8:30am - 5:30pm) DEC 2: Regular Chapter Meeting, Saint Peters (7:00pm - 9:00pm) MID MISSOURI TROUT UNLIMITED NOV 5: Regular Chapter Meeting, Jack’s Gourmet Restaurant, Columbia DEC 3: Regular Chapter Meeting, Jack’s Gourmet Restaurant, Columbia

&

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DUCK HUNTERS ASSOCIATION NOV 13: Dr. Brian Reiter - Dog First Aid in the Field NOV 25: Monthly Board Meeting, American Legion DEC 11: Annual Christmas Party DEC 23: Monthly Board Meeting, American Legion MISSOURI DUCKS UNLIMITED NOV 2: Corks for Conservation, Spazio’s Westport, Saint Louis (6:30pm - 9:30pm); Vanessa Thomlinson (314) 369-1351, Sharon Koch (314) 707-4993 or Jane Bell (314) 570-1040 NOV 2: Lincoln County Dinner, American Legion, Elsberry (6:00pm - 11:30pm); Tony Martin (573) 8985139 or Scott Mills (636) 322-8558 NOV 2: Clinton - Golden Valley Membership Dinner, Benson Center, Clinton (5:30pm - 9:30pm); Trevor Hickman (660) 221-0417 or Parker Mills (660) 885-3368 NOV 2: Joplin Membership Dinner, Elks Lodge, Joplin (6:00pm - 9:30pm); Jim Pashia (417) 392-199 NOV 2: Squaw Creek Membership Dinner, The Klub, Mount City (5:30pm - 10:00pm); Bill Beasley (660) 5720186 NOV 7: Sweet Springs Membership Dinner, Community Building, Sweet Springs (6:00pm - 9:30pm); Tonya Winfrey (660) 238-2708 or Brian Vogelsmeier (660) 641-4939 NOV 16: Carroll County Dinner, Rupe Community Center, Carrollton (5:30pm - 9:30pm); Lee Metcalf (660) 329-0574 NOV 30: Louisiana Dinner, American Legion, Louisiana (5:30pm -

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11:30pm); Rick Henry (573) 754-5907 MISSOURI HUNTING HERITAGE FEDERATION DEC 13-15: Hunter Education Clinic, Henry County; Lee Vogel (816) 5109127 MISSOURI NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION JAKES FIELD DAYS NOV 2-3: Rogersville Strutters, Thornfield; Cody Wilson (417) 8382451 WHEELIN SPORTSMAN EVENTS NOV 2: Dream Hunt, Pigg Hollow Farm, Owensville; Kyle Lairmore (573) 437-8899 WOMAN IN THE OUTDOORS EVENTS NOV 27: Ladies Duck Hunt BBQ, Cato Slough, Zalma; Sara Bradshaw (573) 579-7859 MISSOURI RIVER BIRD OBSERVATORY NOV 16: Winter Banding Demonstrations, Burroughs Audubon Library, Blue Springs (10:00am - 1:00pm) NOV 23: Presentation on Missouri’s Woodpeckers, Arrow Rock State Historic Site (10:00am - 12:00pm) MISSOURI TROUT FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION KANSAS CITY EVENTS NOV 26: November - December Meeting/Christmas Party SAINT LOUIS EVENTS DEC 7-8: Montauk “Holiday Fish for Fun” Raffle SPRINGFIELD EVENTS

NOV 7: Monthly Meeting, Conservation Nature Center, Springfield (6:00pm - 9:00pm) DEC 5: Christmas Party (5:30pm 8:00pm) MISSOURI WHITETAILS UNLIMITED NOV 23: Milan Area Chapter Banquet, Community Center, Milan DEC 7: Moniteau County Special Sportsman Banquet, Community Center, Jamestown OZARK FLY FISHERS NOV 4: Board Meeting DEC 2: Board Meeting DEC 12: General Membership Meeting, Greensfelder Recreation Complex, Queeny Park (7:00pm) OZARK WILDERNESS WATERWAYS CLUB NOV 9: Potluck Dinner, Swope Park, Kansas City (6:30pm - 7:30pm) NOV 9: Business Meeting, Swope Park, Kansas City (7:30pm – 9:00pm) NOV 10: Hike Lake Vista Trail, Blue Springs Lake, Blue Springs (10:00am - 2:00pm) DEC 7: Lawrence Horse Drawn Christmas Parade, Lawrence, KS (11:00am - 1:00pm) DEC 14: Decorate the Dining Hall (9:00am - 10:30am) DEC 14: Potluck Dinner, Swope Park, Kansas City (6:30pm – 7:30pm) DEC 14: Business Meeting, Swope Park, Kansas City (7:30pm – 9:00pm) DEC 28-30: All Day New Years Trip Niangua River, Sand Spring Resort POMME DE TERRE CHAPTER MUSKIES, INC. NOV 9: Pick 3 Outing - Dinner & Nominations Meeting; George Donner (816) 678-1623 DEC 7: Annual & Planning Meeting (10:00am); George Donner (816) 678-1623 CFM EVENTS DEC 14: Board Meeting, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City MAR 21-23: Annual Convention, Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City

Andrew Csernyik, board member and active member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, passed away on September 23, 2012 at the age of 82. Andrew lived most of his life in the Kansas City area. He is survived by his wife Dorothy of Higginsville.

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National Sign-on Letter Supporting Conservation Delivered in Mid-September

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ore than 1,600 organizations representing tens of millions of birders, hikers, hunters, anglers, boaters and other conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts delivered a collective letter to congressional appropriators urging them to restore funding to popular and effective fish and wildlife conservation grant programs. The letter is in response to efforts in the U.S. House of Representatives to zero out funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, Forest Legacy Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund next fiscal year.

These grant-based programs have restored and protected millions of acres of habitat and supported thousands of projects to combat threats to fish and wildlife survival, including invasive species. By eliminating program funding, appropriators would significantly impact collaborative, on-the-ground conservation, resulting in new federal endangered species listings, fewer restored wetlands, more imperiled migratory birds, less protection for forests and other key habitats and diminished outdoor recreation opportunities. The nation could see more endangered species listings and lose opportunities to experience the great outdoors if Congress eliminates funding for conservation grant programs.

“It’s a matter of invest now or U.S. taxpayers will pay even more later,” said Dan Forster, president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and director of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. “It can cost millions of dollars to recover one single endangered species. The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program is the only federal program providing funding to states and their partners to conserve the more than 12,000 fish and wildlife species that are at risk of landing on the endangered species list.”

Investments in natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation total less than one percent of all discretionary federal spending. However, over the last several fiscal years, the conservation programs that appropriators propose to defund have already been reduced by more than 25 percent.

“The conservation grant programs we’re concerned about represent an even smaller percentage of this total spending, but they are unique in that they leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in additional state, local and private matching funds,” said Naomi Edelson, director of State and Federal Wildlife Partnerships for the National Wildlife Federation. “The multiplier effect of the conservation grants affects the scope of work we can accomplish to ensure cleaner and healthier environments that are good for wildlife and for people.”

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Mark Humpert -Wildlife Diversity Director, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

“A bipartisan, nationwide poll found that four-in-five American voters believe that conservation of natural resources is patriotic and a value that they share, and 87 percent agree that our state and national parks, forests, monuments and wildlife areas are an essential part of the quality of life in their state,” said Kameran Onley, acting director of U.S. government relations at The Nature Conservancy. “Furthermore, three-quarters say that even with federal budget problems, funding for conservation should not be cut.”

“These popular conservation programs provide public lands to hunt and hike, habitat for the birds many of us enjoy, working forests instead of housing tracts, and rare funding for managing non-game wildlife,” said Mike Leahy, conservation director for the Izaak Walton League of America. “With more people and less nature in our lives, Congress should be continuing conservation programs, not pilfering scarce conservation dollars.”

The Teaming With Wildlife Coalition coordinated the letter to Congressional appropriators on behalf of the 800+ signatory groups and coalitions that represent more than 1,600 organizations. The letter and the full list of supporting organizations are available at www.teaming.com. Thank you Missouri Teaming With Wildlife Coalition! Missouri had 60 organizations to sign the letter of support. An addendum to signatures was added the next week. Other than Idaho, Missouri had over 20 signatures more than any other state!

Missouri Provided 60 Organizations to the Sign-on Letter!!!

Over 45 more signers than the average!!!

Thank you Missouri TWW Coalition!

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Federal Government Lapse in Appropriations Causes USFWS to Suspend Operations in Missouri

ctober brought with it a lapse in appropriations causing a federal government shutdown.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facilities closed their gates and doors to the public suspending use for activities nationwide. The shutdown included all National Wildlife Refuges, Waterfowl Production Areas, National Fish Hatcheries, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Offices and Ecological Services Offices.

In Missouri the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed nine national wildlife refuges, one ecological services office, one national fish hatchery and one fish and wildlife coordination office totaling more than 61,000 acres of land.

Squaw Creek, Swan Lake, Great River, Clarence Cannon, Big Muddy, Middle Mississippi, Pilot Knob, Mingo and Ozark Cavefish national wildlife refuges and Neosho National Fish Hatchery were all closed to public access. Any events scheduled at these facilities were cancelled. In addition, the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Coordination Office, Ecological Services Office and Private Lands Office were also closed. Wildlife-related recreational activities on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands, such as hunting, fish-

Snow Geese in Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge. Photo credit: Noppadol Paothong, MDC

ing, environmental education or other public events scheduled at any of these facilities were cancelled.

Many tourists and visitors had to change their fall travel plans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked the public to delay their plans to visit any of these locations until U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and facilities were re-opened. The economic impact to some of the surrounding areas near these public places will ripple for months to come. The seasonal dollars that a hunting community loses with the Limited time in a season disappear without any opportunity to recover.

In the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin) more than 800 employees were placed in unpaid furlough status and 55 national wildlife refuges, 12 wetland management districts, six national fish hatcheries and more than 1.2 million acres of federal public lands were closed.

As private citizens, it is our duty to be aware of the situation as it affects our public lands, conservation services and the economy surrounding the outdoor industry.

Contacting our Congressional leaders to express our concern is step one. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees should not be forgotten either. The USFWS

is vital to our outdoor legacy.

The employs work diligently with partners to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. The continual benefit the American people receive from their work is sometimes taken for granted.

During this difficult time, when you see any of our good friends from USFWS, please thank them for being trusted leaders who provide land stewardship, excellent scientific contributions and professional commitment to public service. The people who want to work and the public wanting to enjoy the fruits of their labor both feel a loss.

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Neighborhood Assistance (NAP) Tax Credits Available!

CFM is helping to facilitate Missouri’s State Parks Youth Corps (SPYC) program through the sale of Missouri NAP Tax Credits once again this summer. The sale of these 70% Missouri State Tax Credits will positively impact not only the landscape of many of our Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites but the lives of the youth who are being employed to conduct the work. If you or someone you know enjoys our Missouri State Parks, please consider contributing to this valuable program and feel good about the profound difference you are making for CFM and our State Parks and you’ll receive the added tax benefit in doing so.

These credits are available on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in participating in this program or know someone who might be, please contact Travis Scott at 800-575-2322 or at tscott@confedmo.org for more information.

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Applications Now Being Accepted For The Charles P. Bell Conservation Scholarship The Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust and the Conservation Federation of Missouri are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Charles Bell Conservation Scholarships.

applicants must have 60 credit hours or more and should have enrolled in an area related to conservation. Preference in all cases will be given to applicants enrolled in Missouri schools.

In the 2014 Bell Scholarship Program, eight scholarships will be awarded: one graduate ($600), one undergraduate ($500) and six for elementary, high school or youth groups ($250 each). In this later category, CFM members who work with Boy Scouts, 4-H, environmental clubs or youth chapters of their affiliate are eligible and encouraged to apply.

The deadline for applications is January 15, 2014.

Graduate applicants must be enrolled in a field of study related to conservation, natural science or earth resources at an accredited college or university. Undergraduate

These scholarships are named in memory of CFM past president Charles P. Bell, whose family provided major funding for this program.

For an application form write to: Conservation Federation of Missouri, Bell Scholarships, 728 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101 or call (573) 634-2322 or (800) 575-2322 or visit or website at www.confedmo.org.

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CFM at 2013 Harvest Fest Sunshine, Turkeys, Tattoos and Fun!!!

utumn is the perfect time for families to discover their Missouri heritage at a fall festival. Saturday, October 12th was a beautiful day for visiting Jefferson City and the Governor’s Mansion for the 2013 Harvest Fest.

Held annually to celebrate autumn harvest season, this spectacular array of foods, crafts, music, wildlife, and many other outdoor exhibits is a showcase of Missouri products and activities for friends and families to enjoy.

This year, more than 3,100 visitors came to the Governor’s Mansion for the event.

Tents were set up on the grounds of the mansion by Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM), Missouri Department of Conservation, AgriMissouri, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and many more vendors. Tours of the mansion were held from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm where you could learn about some of the history behind the residence of Missouri’s Governor and

Photo credit: Debra Lee

his family. If the tour made you thirsty and hungry, there were free samples of kettle corn and sips of cider outside the mansion doors!

Conservation Federation of Missouri and National Wild Turkey Federation spent the day talking with kids and their families about Missouri’s rich outdoor heritage while assembling turkey hats

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Photo credit: Debra Lee 2013

and sharing fun temporary tattoos. The live entertainers were the two very talkative wild turkeys in the pen beside CFM’s table. John Burk and Travis Scott demonstrated the way to call turkeys and allowed guests to attempt their hand at a variety of calls displayed on the table. It was a great success and a very fun day!

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CFM’s 3rd Annual Cabin Fever Clay Shoot The Mid-winter Tradition Continues

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he date for CFM’s 3rd annual Cabin Fever Clays event has been set for Saturday, January 25, 2014 and will be held once again at Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports just east of Columbia.

Last year, 112 shooters donned their warmest outdoor gear and came out to participate and we want to make this year’s event even bigger. We’ll have terrific prizes, plenty of warm food and lots of fun games to partici-

pate in so bring a friend or two along and make a day of it.

What better way to spend a Saturday during the cabin fever months than out of doors shooting with a few of your friends? This is a fun shoot and you don’t need to be a competitive shooter to have a chance at winning. If you would like to warm up before shooting in the main event, we’ll have games for multiple shooters like our 2 and 4 man flurry and

individual games like our long bird competition and cotton ball drop.

We hope you will make plans early to start the New Year off with a bang!

CFM is grateful to the members and friends who offered donations of items and of their time to ensure our success in the 2nd annual event.

A very special thank you to Marilee Knerr and family, Grayson Strodtman and the Hallsville Baptist Church for their help with our meal!

A BIG THANKS TO OUR 2013 CABIN FEVER CLAY SHOOT SPONSORS!

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Thank you to our 2013 Cabin Fever donors: Abe & Jan Phillips Bass Pro Shop Columbia Cathy Ergovich Family Pawn, Columbia– Paris Road Hallsville Baptist Church Marilee Knerr and Family Mid-America Mortgage

Midwest Gun Works Norman Stucky George Clark Missouri State NWTF Glenn Chambers Grayson Strodtman Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports Renee Martin

Scott & Sara Pauley Sierra Bullets What-Ya-Say / Cathy Ergovich Winchester Zach Knerr Zoom Bait Company

And to our volunteers: Richard Ash Mike Baker Nathan Bias Jim Choate Alexis Cook

Judy Dixon Jerry Kemple Seth Klein Caleb Knerr Delbert Knerr

road# CR 276

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Prairie Grove Shooting Sports

Jared Knerr Jenna Knerr Marilee Knerr Zachary Knerr Zachary Morris

Tom Russell Mike Schallon Mossie Schallon Garrett Strodtman Grayson Strodtman

Levi Strodtman Norman Stucky David Urich

.5 miles

1.7 miles Exit 137

Columbia, MO

I-70

St. Louis, MO Millersburg

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agency news - department of conservation

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Missouri’s Deer-Season Outlook Varies by Location

issouri has an abundance of deer, according to Emily Flinn, a resource scientist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. She says the key to understanding this year’s deer forecast is regional and even local differences in deer number.

Flinn specializes in managing Missouri’s economically valuable white-tailed deer herd. She says the state’s deer harvest has been stable for the past 10 years. However, she expects a belowaverage harvest this year.

She says the past 10 years have seen short-term and long-term changes in deer abundance across the state.

For example, changes in hunting regulations have achieved the long-term goal of reducing deer numbers in parts of northern, western, and central Missouri.

During the same period, less liberal harvest regulations have allowed deer numbers in the Ozarks, southwest, and southeast regions of the state to increase slowly but steadily.

Flinn says differences in how Missouri’s estimated 1.4 million deer are distributed across the state also occur at much smaller scales than regions. The most dramatic differences often occur in surprisingly small areas.

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Photo credit: David Stonner, MDC

that resulted from last year’s unusually severe outbreak of hemorrhagic diseases, commonly called blue tongue or EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease). These diseases occur annually, but they are more prevalent in drought years. The extraordinarily severe drought of 2012 led to the worst hemorrhagic disease outbreak ever recorded in Missouri.

Reports of deer deaths come to the Conservation Department from its field staff and from citizens. Last year, the number of reports topped 10,000. Regions with the highest prevalence of deer deaths from hemorrhagic disease were

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northwest, west-central, and east-central Missouri. Southeast Missouri had relatively low rates of hemorrhagic disease reports. A map showing county-by-county hemorrhagic-disease reports is available at mdc.mo.gov/ node/16479.

Even within counties and regions, the distribution of hemorrhagic disease losses was uneven.

“That is the nature of hemorrhagic diseases,” says Flinn. “You can have significant losses in a particular locality, and almost none in another part of the same county. This is one case where hunters and landowners are in the best position to

know how deer populations in their areas are doing.”

That, says Flinn, brings up an important point about the challenge of managing deer in the wake of a severe hemorrhagic-disease outbreak. Past experience shows that deer numbers often continue to decline in a particular area for as much as three years after an outbreak. That is because hunters continue to harvest about the same number of deer – including does – even though they are not seeing as many deer.

“Most hunters don’t shoot more than one deer a year,” says Flinn. “If deer numbers are down in a particular

agency news - department of conservation area, and everyone in the area continues to shoot as many does as they have in the past, what starts out as a moderate reduction in deer numbers can turn into a big reduction. By the time hunters realize what has happened, deer numbers are down so much that it may take a few years to get back to where they were.”

The lesson here is that hunters who noticed lots of deer dying from hemorrhagic disease in their area last year should consider the numbers of deer they are seeing this year and potentially pass up shots at does to allow local populations to recover.

Flinn says Missouri’s deer harvest also is significantly affected by acorn abundance.

This is most important in southern Missouri, where the landscape is heavily forested, and acorns outweigh all other deer food sources in the fall. When acorns are scarce, deer must move around to find food, and that makes them more visible to hunters. Deer behavior and deer harvest are much less dependent on acorn availability in northern Missouri, where

acorns make up a smaller percentage of their diet.

The severe shortage of acorns last year due to drought is part of the reason that southern Missouri had a larger-than-usual deer harvest in 2012. Southern Missouri should have higher acorn production this year, so hunters will need to be more active to find deer.

The combined effects of reduced deer movement, a strong deer harvest in 2012, and losses to hemorrhagic diseases in a few Ozarks counties are likely to result in lower harvest totals this year.

The long-term downward trend in deer numbers in some counties prompted the Conservation Commission to reduce availability of antlerless-only deer tags this year in Atchison, Bates, Caldwell, Callaway, Carroll, Dallas, Howard, Laclede, Ray, and Vernon counties, and parts of Boone and Cass counties. Details are explained on page 28 of the 2013 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations & Information booklet, which is available wherever hunting permits

are sold, at MDC offices and online at mdc.mo.gov/ node/3656.

Flinn said an important point for hunters to remember this year is the fact that chronic wasting disease (CWD) now exists in northcentral Missouri. There is no evidence that CWD can affect humans or domestic animals, but it is a threat to Missouri’s deer-hunting traditions. It also threatens the $1 billion in economic activity and 12,000 Missouri jobs that depend on a thriving deer herd.

To minimize the risk of spreading this and other deer diseases, hunters are urged to properly dispose of deer carcasses and take other precautions. These are outlined

on page 4 of the 2013 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations & Information booklet.

“The long-term health of our deer herd depends on carefully managing CWD,” says Flinn. “I can’t overemphasize the importance of hunters’ role in this effort.

We can’t do it without their active help, especially with proper disposal of deer carcasses.”

For more information, go online to mdc.mo.gov and search Chronic Wasting Disease.

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Jim Low News Services Coordinator, MDC

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MDC Named “4‐H Bridge Builder”

he Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) was honored with the Missouri 4‐H Foundation Nelson Trickey Bridge Builder Award Sept. 20 in Columbia. The Conservation Department has been a dedicated Missouri 4‐H partner for more than 50 years.

“We value the strong, long-standing partnership between 4‐H and the Department of Conservation, and are honored to receive the Nelson Trickey Bridge Builder award,” said MDC Outreach and Education Division Chief Michael R. Huffman. “The focus of 4‐H on youth and families is helping develop future generations of Missouri leaders. The partnership between the Department and 4‐H is helping develop the next generation of citizen conservationists.”

The Conservation Department’s work with Missouri youth began in 1939 with “Missouri Nature Knights,” an education initiative adopted by 4‐H clubs, which promoted activities to restore wildlife habitat. In 1958 MDC began leading 4‐H programs covering youth hunter safety training, wildlife education, water facts, fishing skills, and boat safety.

Overall, MDC has contributed thousands of hours of outdoor education to Missouri 4‐H. For contributions to out-

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Missouri 4‐H Foundation Honorary Trustee Nelson Trickey (left) presents the Bridge Builder Award to Mike Huffman, MDC Outreach & Education division chief. Photo credit: Amanda Stapp, MDC

door education and safety development, Missouri 4‐H honored MDC with the Friend of 4‐H award in 1977. The Department’s support continues today in all 4‐H outdoor education and natural resource programs.

“The Missouri Department of Conservation is committed to the continued growth of Missouri 4‐H programs,” said Missouri

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4‐H Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Reams.

“We are very grateful for this extraordinary partnership that makes possible so many opportunities for Missouri’s young people, and MDC is very deserving of this honor.”

The Missouri 4‐H Foundation Nelson Trickey Bridge Builder award is presented to individuals or organizations for their

exceptional service bridging youth and community.

Rachel Augustine Missouri 4-H Foundation

agency news - department of conservation

Missouri Waterfowl Hunting Forecast: Loads of Ducks!

With favorable weather, the 2013-14 season could be one of the best in recent memory.

Ducks are abundant. The table is set for them at many state-managed wetland areas. If the weather cooperates, duck hunting could be excellent in the Show-Me State this year. That’s the word from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates this year’s total number of breeding ducks at 45.6 million. That is down 6 percent from last year’s record number, but still 33 percent above the long-term average. Mallard numbers were estimated to be 10.4 million, down 2 percent from 2012 but up 36 percent long-term. Long-term trends for other popular duck populations in this year’s survey include: • Northern shoveler +96 percent • Gadwalls +80 percent • Redheads +76 percent • Blue-winged teal +60 percent • Green-winged teal +51 percent • Canvasback +37 percent • Widgeon +2 percent • Northern pintail and scaup -17 percent each.

With numbers like that, you might think good hunting is assured. But without quality habitat and favorable weather, a boom year for waterfowl numbers still can turn into a bust for hunters.

The habitat picture at state-managed wetland areas is generally good, with plenty of water and fair to good crops and moist-soil vegetation available at most areas.

Exceptions include:

TED SHANKS CONSERVATION AREA (CA), where flooding damaged levees and will prevent flooding the southernmost part of the area. The area has no row crops, but millet and moist-soil vegetation have done fairly well.

COLUMBIA BOTTOM CA also sustained significant flood damage.

Row crops will be scarce, but moistsoil vegetation has done well since floodwaters receded in June, and water levels should be normal.

MARAIS TEMPS CLAIR CA, where extended high water wiped out row crops, but moist soil plants are in good shape, and water levels are expected to be normal.

EAGLE BLUFFS CA lost early crops to flooding, but there was time to replant and they are expected to provide fair to good food for ducks. Sparse natural cover will make layout boats or blinds the best way to hunt some pools.

FOUR RIVERS and SCHELL-OSAGE CAs lost all their row crops and most of the moist-soil vegetation to flooding. Late plantings of buckwheat and Sudan grass in Draw Units 1 and 2 at Four Rivers fared poorly due to lack of rainfall. The 16 to 18 parties that go out on opening day will find little food or cover, and shallow water may limit accessibility with larger boats.

Four Rivers’ Draw Unit 4 will have the worst conditions, due to extended and repeated flooding that drastically limited plant growth and damaged levees

Photo credit: MDC

used to hold water in wetland pools.

There will be some walk-in hunting opportunities in Pools 17,18, 19, and 20. Draw Unit 3 will offer some of the area’s best hunting this year. Moist-soil vegetation growth was good in this unit, and it currently is holding 250 to 300 acres of water, with more possible with favorable weather.

The overall picture at Grand Pass CA is good. The area has good crop growth and good moist-soil vegetation. Summer flooding wiped out crops at Coon Island, but it still has fair to good moist-soil vegetation.

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Ten Mile Pond, and Little River CAs also should generally have good hunting this fall. On the other hand, although Fountain Grove, Nodaway Valley, Bob Brown, and Settles Ford CAs have fairly good habitat conditions, drought could affect the ability to pump enough water to flood wetland pools at these areas.

Hunters headed for Duck Creek CA will need to buy permits ahead of time this year. Due to ongoing renovation work, daily drawings will be held in a tent in front of the headquarters building. Only duck stamps will be available on site.

All of Duck Creek CA’s wetland pools will be hunted this year. Pools A and B will be flooded by opening day, and Pools 2 and 3 will be flooded later, to protect the health of trees in those pools.

“We expect to enter the season with Units A and B flooded and Pool 2 partially flooded,” Bowyer said. “We expect Duck Creek will be a great place to hunt ducks this year.” He said moist-soil plants showed excellent growth this year, and the acorn crop is average. Unfavorable weather limited production of row crops.

Updated information about hunting conditions at the Conservation Department’s managed wetlands is available at mdc.mo.gov/node/9627.

Weather is the final factor – and always a wild card – in determining waterfowl hunting success. The best waterfowl seasons have a series of cold fronts that push waves of new ducks into Missouri from farther north throughout the hunting season. The worst-case scenario is a strong, earlyseason cold front that pushes the ducks into Arkansas before Missouri hunters have much chance at them. Another less-than-ideal possibility is a late fall, when ducks arrive late in one or more of Missouri’s three hunting zones and leave soon after.

Missouri’s waterfowl seasons are set to coincide with the average peak of migration in previous years. This year’s season dates are listed in the box below.

North Zone: Middle Zone: South Zone:

CFM Travel Mug • A 15-oz tumbler/mug with double-wall construction and a stainless steel interior and exterior.

• Has a screw-on, lock-top lid and a curved, easy-pour spout.

• Easily fits most auto cup holders.

Only $20.00 (includes shipping/handling)

Order yours today! Just call CFM toll-free at (800) 575-2322.

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Whether these dates coincide with peak migrations and how long ducks and geese linger in the Show-Me State this year won’t be known until the season is history.

Details of duck and goose hunting regulations are available in the 20132014 Waterfowl Hunting Digest, which is available wherever hunting permits are sold, at Conservation Department offices and nature centers, or online at www.mdc.mo.gov/node/5646/.

More detailed information about hunting conditions at state-owned wetlands is available at mdc.mo.gov/ node/9627. For information about this year’s duck and goose population surveys, see http://bit.ly/12AgOjx. Jim Low News Services Coordinator, MDC

Regular season - Oct. 26- Dec. 24 Regular season - Nov. 2-Dec. 31 Youth season – Nov. 23-24 Regular season - Nov. 28-Jan. 26

Notice: Flanagan South Pipeline Construction during Hunting Seasons Enbridge is constructing segments of the Flanagan South pipeline in Missouri.

This work will continue throughout small and big game hunting seasons. The Flanagan South pipeline crosses eleven counties in Missouri including Lewis, Marion, Shelby, Macon, Randolph, Chariton, Saline, Lafayette, Johnson, Cass and Bates.

The pipeline right-ofway is private property and should not be entered. Those who lease hunting land should check with their lessors to see if their property

is subject to construction.

Caution signs, flaggers, slow traffic and workers will be present on a regular basis.

Workers typically wear white or other similar colored hard hat(s) and a yellow or orange safety vest. Enbridge asks that hunters this season have added vigilance and patience for pipeline workers and their work activities.

For questions or to obtain information about the Flanagan South Pipeline Project, visit www.enbridge.com/ flanagansouthpipeline, email Flanagansouth@enbridge. com or call 877-797-2650.

C o n s e r v a t i o n F e d e r a t i o n o f M i s s o u r i A F F I L IATES Anglers of Missouri, Inc. Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives Audubon Society of Missouri Bass-Hole Bassmasters of Missouri, Inc. Big Game Hunters, Inc. Bobwhite Quail Restoration Association Bridlespur Hunt Club Capital City Fly Fishers Central Missouri Chapter Safari Club International Chesterfield Citizens Committee for the Environment Deer Creek Sportsman Club, Inc. Festus-Crystal City Conservation Club Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Greenway Network, Inc. Heaven’s Anglers Jefferson County Coon Hunters, Inc. Meramec Area Sportsman Association Mid Missouri Outdoor Dream Mid Missouri Trout Unlimited Midwest Diving Council Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters Association Missouri Association of Meat Processors Missouri Atlatl Association Missouri BASS Federation Nation

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

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

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Exploring Missouri Resources

is’ the season to be thankful and to share gifts with others. I simply adore the months of October through December. It’s the time of year we spend memorable evenings with our family and friends gathered around a campfire or a dinner table feasting on the most delicious meals and celebrating holiday traditions. It’s picking out the perfect Christmas tree and adorning it with favorite vintage and handcrafted ornaments. And, yes, while shopping is not my most favorite way to pass the time, it’s thrilling to find the ideal gifts to share with loved ones. It’s difficult for me to not find gratitude during this time of year.

However, the months of October, November and December are not just recognized in my family as the holiday season. Like many of you, we celebrate favorite times afield this time of year as well. It provides inspiring moments like watching the steam rise off the water and the rays of sun as it paints dazzling streaks of color across the lake, pond or river during the quiet, early mornings. The soft rustlings of pre-dawn are broken intermittently by the hoot of an owl; and then, the busy bustling of waking wildlife begins with the first peeks of the sun. Sitting in a duck blind or leaning against a tall oak tree at dawn is both a magical and 2 8

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Stay informed on Missouri’s natural resources and explore Missouri state parks and historic sites by subscribing to the Department of Natural Resources’ Missouri Resources magazine at dnr.mo.gov/magazine. Photo credit: DNR.

humbling experience.

Whether its turkey, deer, or quail season that takes you afield—or hiking, camping or canoeing—

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spending time outdoors this time of year helps sooth our souls, improves our overall well-being and encourages us to continue to enjoy and

explore Missouri’s most precious natural resources.

This time of year represents both transition of seasons and the ultimate splendor

agency news - department of natural resources of Missouri’s rich natural landscapes. In similar fashion, the Department of Natural Resources’ Missouri Resources magazine, which is dedicated to the protection and conservation of our natural and cultural resources and encourages Missourians to explore the outdoors through its state parks and historic sites, is also undergoing transition.

Our magazine is relatively young compared to Missouri Wildlife. This year marks Missouri Resources magazine’s 30th anniversary. We have even more to celebrate, as we will once again issue the magazine quarterly following the seasons beginning with the winter 2014 issue. During the last 10 years, the magazine was delivered three times a year due to budget constraints. But with technological advances and other belt-tightening measures, we are controlling mailing costs and becoming more efficient with our efforts and your dollars.

Now that we will return to a quarterly magazine, we

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felt it was also time to reevaluate our content. During the last year or so, we’ve been asking our subscribers what they want to see in our magazine. And so, we will be expanding some content, reducing others and tweaking our “look.”

Missourians value clean air, water, soil and a healthy outdoors in which to recreate. This message was made clear as we read over our subscribers comments from the online survey. Exploring Missouri state parks, historic sites, trails and natural areas were at the top of the list with protecting Missouri’s water quality and geologic wonders not far behind.

Beginning with the winter issue, which will mail in mid-December, two additional parks entries will be added, along with regular feature stories from state parks. Explore Missouri will replace Resources to Explore, and in lieu of focusing on one park or historic site, multiple parks events normally entered as news briefs will be ex-

panded in this section. In addition, two new entries – Tops Spots and Trails Highlight – will include best spots in Missouri State Parks to camp, fish and myriad other topics. The new trails page will feature a different trail each issue and include details and photos that space didn’t previously allow.

We’ve also increased the pages devoted to feature stories, and have reduced the text to allow for more and larger photos. Obviously, with the same number of pages, some of the regular sections of the magazine had to be reduced or eliminated. Using the survey as our guide, our template has been revised accordingly.

We also plan to expand our education efforts and plan to include links where additional information about a story or topic can be found on our DNR education pages at dnr.mo.gov/ education.

In the spirit of giving, I’m proud we’ve been able to continue to offer the magazine to Missouri

residents for free so that our feature articles and content may encourage readers to explore and protect Missouri’s natural resources.

Our out-of-state subscription costs are minimal at $4.50 per year and $8 for two years. Of course, if you prefer to help us save some printing and postage costs because you prefer to read the magazine online – that’s always an option for you.

Become an online Missouri Resources subscriber and we’ll send you an electronic notice when the most recent issue is available on the Web. You may learn more about Missouri Resources magazine and subscribe on the Web by visiting dnr. mo.gov/magazine or by calling 800-361-4827 or by sending an email to moresdnr@dnr.mo.gov. So, if you are currently not a subscriber to our magazine – what are you waiting for – sign up today and begin exploring Missouri Resources.

Sara Parker Pauley Director, DNR

Spotlight on Missouri State Parks – Big Oak Tree State Park

arly explorers to the “Bootheel” region of southeast Missouri discovered a unique landscape where the Ozark hills dropped off abruptly into flat flood plains covered with giant trees. The forest

trees that took root here grew to enormous proportions in the fertile earth.

Today, nature-seekers to “swampeast” Missouri will find a forested island, known as Big Oak Tree State Park, in the midst of a vast agricultural area.

The park features the state park system’s only cypress swamp.

Regular flooding in the area over millions of years caused many of the rich Bootheel forests to convert to swampland, providing temporary protection for

many of the giant trees.

In 1811, a series of earthquakes known as the New Madrid earthquake altered the topography of the southeast lowlands. Beginning in the late 1800s, the continued on page 30

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giant timber and fertile soil of the lowlands began to attract timbermen and farmers. More than two million acres were converted from forest to cropland.

In the 1930s, citizens of southeast Missouri began to realize that their magnificent lowland forests were about to disappear forever.

A campaign to save a large oak tree and 80 acres surrounding it attracted statewide attention. In response, Gov. Lloyd Stark asked the Mississippi Valley Hardwood Co. to spare the tree and surrounding land.

Due to the Great Depression, the state, however, could not afford to purchase the land. Despite the depression, businessmen and local citizens began donating money while area school children gave their nickels and dimes. In 1938, about 1,007 acres were purchased and dedicated as Big Oak Tree State Park.

Today, trees in the park are unsurpassed in the state for their size, with a canopy averaging 120 feet and with several trees more than 130 feet tall. Four trees qualify as state champions in their

species; with one ranking as a national champion.

Ninety percent of the park is designated as a Missouri natural area because of its rarity and value in preserving this significant representation of Missouri’s natural heritage.

In addition to the towering hickories and majestic oaks, the rich soils provide habitat for green ash, swamp cottonwood, American elm, black willow, persimmon, baldcypress and patches of giant cane.

An undergrowth of woody vines, such as poison ivy, Virginia creeper, wild grape and peppervine, covers much of the area.

Many swamp plants live in the water-soaked soil, including swamp privet, buttonbush, lizard’s tail, swamp leather flower and ladies’ eardrop while aquatic liverworts and duckweed float on the surface of the water. The park protects 12 species of rare plants and animals, 250 kinds of plants and 25 mammal, 31 reptile and seven amphibian species.

A boardwalk winds its way through the park past

An interpretive center along the boardwalk explains the forest and swamp ecosystem in Big Oak Tree State Park. Photo credit: DNR. 3 0

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These shade trees have seen centuries of history back to when southeast Missouri was dubbed “Swampeast Missouri.” Photo credit: DNR.

some of the park’s largest trees. A walk on the boardwalk also gives visitors a chance to view many common mammals, such as deer, raccoons, squirrels and opossums that call the park home, along with the rare swamp rabbit. Amid the lofty trees live more than 150 species of birds, giving the park a national reputation among bird watchers. Several of the birds are considered rare in the state, including the prothonotory warbler, cerulean warbler, red-shouldered

hawk, Mississippi kite and fish crow.

An interpretive center along the boardwalk explains the forest and swamp ecosystem in the park. Picnic sites, a picnic shelter and a playground, all nestled under towering trees, make the park a great place for a family to spend the day.

Learn more about Big Oak Tree State Park by visiting the Web at mostateparks. com.

Sara Parker Pauley Director, DNR

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Charles Abele, Saint Louis R. Philip Acuff, Saint Joseph Duane Addleman, Springfield Michael Duane Addleman † Nancy Addleman † Nancy Carol Addleman, Springfield Tom Addleman, Harrisonville James Agnew, Arnold Craig Alderman, Buffalo Allen Appell, Calhoun Richard Ash, Ozark Carolyn Auckley, Ballwin J. Douglas Audiffred, Ballwin Michael Baker, DeSoto Dane Balsman, Frankfort, KY Don Bedell, Sikeston Jim Tom Blair, Saint Louis Jeff Blystone, Independence Glenn Boettcher, Owensville Dale & Linda Bourg, Ozark Marilynn Bradford, Cape Girardeau Stephen Bradford, Cape Girardeau Mark Brandly, New Baden, IL Scott Brundage, Columbia Glenn Chambers, Columbia Bryan Chilcutt, Columbia Ed Clausen, Jefferson City Edward Clayton, Clayton Ron Coleman, Saint Albans Mark Corio, Arnold Bill Crawford, Columbia Andy Dalton, Springfield Ryan Diener, Marthasville Joe G. Dillard, Columbia Ron Douglas, Springfield Charlie Drury, Saint Louis Chuck Drury, Saint Louis Tom Drury, Saint Louis John Enderle, Kelso

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Roger Johnson, Humansville Pat Jones, Williamsburg Tom Karl, Farmington Cosette Kelly, Kansas City Duane Kelly, Kansas City Marty King, University City Judd Kirkham, Climax Springs Elizabeth Knight, Charlotte, NC Jeff Kolb, Weldon Spring Chris Koster, Jefferson City Carl Kurz, Leawood, KS Ann Kutscher, Jefferson City Larry Lackamp, Bates City Kyle Lairmore, Owensville Jay Law † Gerald Lee, Kansas City Joel LeMaster, Fulton Norman Leppo, Saint Louis John Lewis, Columbia Leroy Logan, Arnold Christine Logan-Hollis, Blackwell Bob Lorance, Stover Ike Lovan, Steelville Wayne Lovelace, Elsberry Chip McGeehan, Marshfield Teresa McGeehan, Marshfield Richard Mendenhall, Columbia Tom Mendenhall, Columbia Cynthia Metcalfe, Clayton Walter Metcalfe, Clayton Davis Minton, Dexter Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City John Moore, Jr., Gelena Johnny Morris, Springfield John & Patricia Mort, Smithville David Murphy, Columbia Dean Murphy, Jefferson City First Lady Georganne Wheeler Nixon, Jefferson City Governor Jay Nixon, Jefferson City

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Mark Sullivan † Jacob Swafford, Portales, NM Jim Talbert, Jefferson City Norman Tanner, Cape Girardeau Travis Taylor, Lawson Tim Thompson, Lake Saint Louis Jeff “J. T.” Tillman † Robert Tompson, Moberly Alex Uskokovich, Glendale Gary Van De Velde, Jefferson City Barbara vanBenschoten, Kansas City Lee Vogel, Kansas City Al Vogt, Columbia Julius Wall, Clinton Ginny Wallace, Jefferson City Randy Washburn, Versailles Henry J. Waters, III, Columbia Mary Waters, Columbia Robert O. Werges, Arnold Mark Williams, Lawson Michael Wilson, Saint Louis Stephen Wilson, Hartsburg Addie Witter, Annville, PA Brenda Witter, Holts Summit Daniel Witter, Holts Summit Owen Witter, Columbia Dick Wood, Saint Louis Howard Wood, Bonne Terre Joyce Wood, Bonne Terre Nicole Wood, Bonne Terre David Young, Windsor Dan Zerr, O’Fallon Jim Zieger, Blue Springs Emily Ziehmer, California Lauren Ziehmer, California Robert Ziehmer, California Ethan Zuck, Strafford Guy Zuck, Strafford † Deceased

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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.

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