Outdoor Guide Magazine December 2017

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Outdoor ag Guide M

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HUNTING FISHING CAMPING SHOOTING OUTDOOR TRAVEL

Late Season Geese..............Page 6

Dogs and Cold.................Page 14

Fine Cheese Sauce...........Page 18

Missouri Elk.....................Page 22

Lake of the Ozarks..............Page 29

Photo Gallery..........Pages 42&43

Southern Trout................Page 45

Missouri - Illinois - And Other Exciting Outdoor Destinations

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Outdoor Guide

December 2017

25 Years – and Counting

More than 25 years ago, we started Outdoor Guide Magazine. I have been lucky and fortunate enough to watch it grow into what it is today, and as I reflect, a few things come to mind.

Our first magazine was a 32-page publication, with mostly black and white photos and graphics. In recent years, we have averaged more than 50 pages per issue, with color on every page.

We started with a couple of writers, one editor and a small sales staff. Today, we can boast of more than 100 content contributors, and our loyal list of advertisers continues to grow.

Now we deal every two months with public issues such as chronic wasting disease, outdoors education and conservation.

We provide great advice in columns such as Claudette’s Kitchen, ferocious humor in Randall Davis’ tales of removing animal pests, and detailed techniques for outdoor sports such as those provided by fishing expert John Naporadny. Five of our writers have been inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (see list on page 37).

It’s a magazine with a lot of news and features, but it’s also got a soul.

THE WRITERS Some of you may have noticed we have a section in the staff box on page 8 called “In Memoriam.” We established that years ago to honor our passed writers and editors.

Jared Billings, a classmate of mine at Crystal City High School,

was the first to be recognized in that manner and, inevitably, others have joined the list.

I spent many hours floating Ozarks rivers and camping on gravel bars with Jared. Without his early guidance, the magazine would not be what it is today. He was our first Outdoor Gallery editor, and he took pride in gathering photos and supplying rich and informative captions.

Most recently, Ron Kruger passed, and the number in our Memoriam box grew again. Ron was the first editor of Outdoor Guide Magazine and had a regular column with us for many years.

He had perhaps the most influence on my writing, and when it came to photography, many say he was the best. A more talented outdoors journalist, I may never meet.

While Billings and Kruger were my early outdoor mentors, legendary fly fisherman and our original Gravel Bar Gourmet, Henry Reifeiss, was a huge influence on the magazine in its middle years, and a real throwback to Jack Kerouac. I miss Henry’s prose as well as his great friendship.

We’re sad to report two additions to the Memoriam box just this year – Barbara Perry Lawton, the writer of wonderful nature columns, and Spence Turner, who knew so much about the outdoors that he couldn’t help being a teacher. I miss the others, too – Mark Hubbard, Bill Harmon, cartoonist Richard Engelke and good friend Danny Hicks – miss them all greatly. But each year, our staff grows, including such recent additions as Brent Frazee and John L. Sloan.

With the new writers and our many favorite regulars, we continue to be informative and entertaining.

ALONG THE WAY As a small and somewhat inexperienced staff in the beginning, we made many mistakes. Once, I wrote this lead to a story: “The pallbearers carried the caskets one by one from the alter.”

Just days later, I got an unsigned post card saying, “What kind of an editor are you? You can’t even spell altar.”

I had much to learn.

Typos plagued us most in those early years. One time, we got the year wrong on the cover. How could that happen? I laugh now at those missteps, but there were many along the way. In 25 years, never has there been a perfect issue, and we know there never will.

For more than 20 years, we participated in outdoor consumer

Ron Kruger, the first editor of Outdoor Guide Magazine, takes a walk on a snowy day.

shows such as the St. Louis Boat Show and the Let’s Go Fishing Show in Collinsville. We hired models to sell subscriptions. We were on a roll.

Many of you may remember signing up for the magazine and getting a free gift. Each year, we added thousands of new readers that way.

We no longer do that, as we cannot print enough magazines to meet the demand.

Today, the question is, “What do the next few years hold?”

But for now, enjoy your Outdoor Guide, and be safe while enjoying the great outdoors.

(Editor’s Note: We’ve made a change to our publication dates for next year, so you will want to look for your first magazine of 2018, the January/February issue, to be delivered the first week in January. The March/April issue will arrive the first week of March. If you would like to subscribe and make sure you don’t miss any issues, go online to outdoorguidemagazine.com)

Outdoor Guide

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Outdoor Guide

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December 2017

Kansas Has a Great Fishing Ambassador Photo and Text

By BRENT FRAZEE As other children at Camp Alexander in east-central Kansas scrambled to get their fishing rods, Xavier Ayala sat in the background, content to just be a spectator.

Volunteer instructor Phil

Taunton paused as he baited hooks and noticed the shy youngster.

“Aren’t you fishing with us?” Taunton asked.

The boy shook his head and answered, “I don’t know how.

I’ve never been fishing before.”

Taunton smiled broadly and led the 7-year-old to the line of

rods and reels that were already set up.

“Well, we’re going to change that,” he said. “You’re gonna catch a big one today.”

Minutes later, Taunton showed the youngster how to put dip bait on a hook, then how to cast it into the water.

As the gooey bait drifted to the bottom, Ayala felt a tug on his fishing rod and he began reeling. Moments later, he had

a small channel catfish flopping on the bank, and he was wearing a smile that was bigger than his catch.

“How big do you think that one is?” Taunton asked.

“That one has to be 10 pounds,” the boy answered.

Taunton laughed heartily and said, “You’re going to make a good fisherman.

You already know how to tell stories.”

Volunteer instructor Phil Taunton enjoys helping young Xavier Ayala catch a catfish.

ON A MISSION Welcome to Phil’s world.

The 70-year-old resident of Emporia, Kan., is on a mission: to bring fishing into the life of every child he meets.

And he is doing a good job of it.

Few fishermen have greater passion for passing down their love of fishing. As a volunteer instructor for Fish Kansas, a program of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, he is tireless in his efforts to bring the joys of fishing to the next generation.

His friends jokingly refer to him as “the Energizer Bunny.” His batteries never wear down.

Take a look at his day planner. Few businessmen lead such a busy lifestyle.

As a representative of Fish Kansas and its partner, Fishing’s Future, a national non-profit devoted to getting children involved in fishing, Taunton stays on the go. He brings fishing to schools, sports shows, youth fishing derbies, summer camps, county and state fairs, even to Kinder Care.

“I want kids to get back to nature,” he said. “And fishing is a great way to do that.

“In a lot of families, the kids don’t talk about the first video game they played. They talk about their first fish, the time they followed a bird dog through a field, the time they went deer hunting for the first time.

“Those are things you don’t forget.”

HANDED DOWN Taunton certainly hasn’t forgotten. He was brought up in the outdoors. His father had a passion for fishing and hunting and he passed it down to his son.

“My dad always made time to take us fishing,” Taunton said. “He’d load the neighborhood kids into our station wagon and off we’d go. As a family, we didn’t have a lot. But we didn’t know we

were poor.

“We spent a lot of time in the outdoors, and we had a great time.”

Taunton is dedicated to seeing that today’s children have the same opportunity. And his work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

He has received numerous awards, including being named the national Volunteer of the Year by the National Wildlife Federation in 2012, and the Conservationist of the Year by the Kansas Wildlife Federation in 2005.

He hosts a weekly radio show on the outdoors in his hometown of Emporia, Kan., and he is a longtime instructor for hunter education. He was inducted into the Kansas Hunter Education Hall of Fame in 2014.

But these days, most of his time and efforts go to working to ensure fishing’s future.

“Phil is just amazing,” said David Breth, who runs the Fish Kansas program. “His passion and his energy are just hard to believe.

“He is constantly on the go, working with fishing programs throughout Kansas.

We have over 400 people who are certified as aquatic education instructors, but no one has put in as much time as Phil has the last couple years.”

BACK TO FISHING It’s paying off in Kansas.

Take it from Mandy Sterling of Andover, Kan, who has watched Taunton’s work with children spark family involvement.

“I’m from Minnesota, where you either fish or you get kicked out,” she joked.

“When we moved to Kansas, I got away from that.

“But when my 5-year-old daughter, Izzy, was in one of Phil’s classes, it sparked new interest, and we took a family fishing trip. My husband caught his first fish, and so did his little sister and her friend.

“Now we’re a fishing family, and Phil played a big part in that.”

December 2017

Outdoor Guide

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Outdoor Guide

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December 2017

Six Steps for Late-Season Geese

Photos and Text

By COLIN MOORE

The season’s almost over, and where are all the Canada geese? They’re still around, but in late winter, they have a way of making themselves seem scarce, especially if the weather has been brutally cold.

Steve Demaster of Peoria, IL, has seen the late-season goose blues play out before.

In his area, nasty weather along river bottoms and fields adjoining the Peoria

River often puts hunting on a temporary hold.

A waterfowler has to be prepared to be in his pit when any warmup occurs – and then rejigger his decoy setup to make it more appealing to wary geese that are on constant guard.

Demaster and his friends hunt several cornfield pits of varying sizes, including one they call the “Taj Mahal.”

It’s seven feet deep and 28 feet long, and has a stove, which provides some level of comfort on brutally cold

D e c e m b e r

days when geese are scarce, or at least not moving around much. The winter of 20162017 was such a season.

“We had a huge migration around Christmas time – more geese than I’ve seen in years.

It reminded me of the times I came up here and hunted during high school,” said Demaster, who grew up in St. Charles, MO, and hunted the Mississippi River bottoms before his family moved to Illinois.

“And it was the first time in many years that the weather

got really cold early and pretty much stayed that way,” he added. “It was a good season, although some days we had to work for it.”

SIX SURE STEPS Huge decoy spreads and picked crop fields with two or more pits in them characterize the hunting setups in the heart of Illinois goose country, but Demaster has learned that the size and number of the spreads don’t necessarily make them irresistible to the birds. Rather, it’s how the

Steve Demaster and a hunting buddy with proof that judicious use of decoys in late season will bring in more Canadas.

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Outdoor agazine Guide M H U N T I N G F I S H I N G C A M P I N G S H O O T I N G OUTDOO R TRAV EL

Volume Twenty Five, Number Six Published Six Times A Year Office: 505 S. Ewing, St. Louis, MO 63103 Office/News Department — 314-535-9786 www.outdoorguidemagazine.com e-mail: ogmbobw@aol.com

Cover Photo By: Melissa Miller, courtesy of Purina Stella is a 7-week-old German Shorthaired Pointer puppy owned by Keith Schopp, Purina vice president of corporate public relations.

Bobby Whitehead, Editor/Co-Publisher Theresa McFadin, Graphic Designer Kathy Crowe, Graphic Designer Maria Murphy, Production Coordinator

John Winkelman, Associate Editor — ogmjohnw@aol.com Marvin Naftolin, General Manager Lynn Fowler, Circulation Manager Carl Green, Copy Editor

— Account Executives — Dan Braun, Assistant Marketing Director Lauren Marshall — Regional and Specialty Editors — Joel Vance Darrell Taylor Ray Eye Brent Frazee Brandon Butler

Curt Hicken Bill Cooper Thayne Smith Steve Jones Larry Dablemont

Bill Seibel John Neporadny Jr. Rick Story T. J. Mullin Ron Henry Strait

Larry Whiteley Ted Nugent Ron Bice Colin Moore Jim Cassada John Sloan

decoys are positioned that is the key element.

Here are Demaster’s six sure steps to success in late season when geese are really tough: 1. Hunt the Warmups – Make sure to hunt when the weather prediction is for a big warmup after a really cold spell. It brings in all those birds that haven’t seen the spread before or at least in a while. They’ve been on open water, and a warmup makes them want to roam around and feed. If a sharp drop in the temperature is predicted, forget about it, unless snow is also in the forecast. If snow is coming, they’re going to get up and feed.

2. Use More Sleepers – When it gets really frigid, Demaster takes the decoys off their bases or stakes and sets them down on the ground or snow. He runs Avery Greenhead Gear Pro Grade as well as the Greenhead Gear commercial grade. He wants passing geese to see a lot of resting birds. That’s what they do when it’s exceptionally cold – say, 10 degrees or in the low teens. When the birds fly at all, it’s usually in the afternoon, the peak time being the warmest part of the day. But Demaster has seen times when the geese might sit for two or three days waiting out a polar express. Once the temperature reaches about 23 degrees, the birds become more active and gradually resume more regular behavior.

3. Less Is Better – Usually geese get decoy-shy

when it’s really cold, so you want to reduce the number of decoys around the pit and tighten them up. Don’t make a pronounced “kill hole” either. Also, change up the general shape of the spread and how far apart you’ve got the decoys.

4. Make Flight Lanes – Demaster has had more success with U-shaped spreads in late winter. His advice: Don’t run it out more than about 15 yards, and maybe make one of the arms of the spread reach out a little farther. Keep the decoys fairly close together, but spread them out more when it gets warmer.

5. Don’t Be Too Aggressive – Use minimal calling and flagging. It’s similar to hunting late-season ducks.

Call on your corners and flag on your corners when the flight is off to that side. Use feeding murmurs, clucks and moans. If they go away, get on them a little harder with the call and the flag. Keep coaxing them, and any time they turn a little, do what you have to to keep their attention on you.

6. Be Ready To Experiment – Sometimes you have to think like a goose; you’ve got to see things the way they see them and why they react to your setup the way they do. Change something up; the more changes you make, sometimes, the better off you are. There’s always a reason why geese do something or don’t do something. If you can figure it out and make adjustments, it’s to your advantage.

In Memoriam — Jared Billings • Charlie Farmer • Richard Engelke • Mark Hubbard Spence Turner • Hank Reifeiss • Bill Harmon • Barbara Perry Lawton • Danny Hicks • Ron Kruger

Scott Pauley Tim Huffman John Meacham Bob Holzhei Tom Uhlenbrock Michael Wardlaw Larry Potterfield

— Staff Writers —

Claudette Roper Brad Wiegmann Mike Roux Craig Alderman Jeannie Farmer Kay Hively Tyler Mahoney

Kenneth Kieser Gerald Scott Russell Hively Alan & Dianna Garbers Randall Davis Jerry Pabst Ryan Miloshewski

Don Gasaway Terry Wilson Barbara Gibbs Ostmann Roxanne Wilson Gretchen Steele Jo Schaper Jed Nadler

The size of a spread isn’t so important as the type of decoys used and how they’re arranged in the field.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 7

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Outdoor Guide

Squirrel, Dove Seasons Should Be Reconsidered

By LARRY DABLEMONT In late January, we cut a dead white-oak tree at Panther Creek because we were worried it might fall on one of the cabins, and a hollow limb had a litter of baby gray squirrels in it.

The mother squirrel came out of it like a streak of gray lightning, but we strapped the limb up high on a nearby tree and left it. Sure enough, she came back and moved the four babies to another hollow tree nearby.

When you consider that squirrel season does not end until the middle of February, you see what might happen any time you bag a squirrel in February. It is exactly why no one should hunt squirrels after mid-January!

The rule-makers in Jefferson City seldom have ever been around squirrel hunters or woodcutters. The reason country people had so many pet squirrels when we were youngsters is that, so often when our folks were cutting trees for firewood in late January or early February, there were squirrels with young ones inside those trees.

Since it is a time when so many squirrels are bearing young, why allow squirrel hunting then? You can argue that it makes no difference if a small number of baby squirrels starve to death in a hollow tree, but why permit it to happen at all? Squirrel seasons should not ever run into February, and I do not know of one competent or knowledgeable outdoorsman who would

Guest Editorial

hunt them at that time of the year. Only a greenhorn would do that.

DOVES, TOO The same thing could be said about the “first of September” opening of dove season. Few dove hunters today know that there are still fledging doves in scattered nests in early September who will die because the adults are killed. I have seen young doves being fed in a nest on the first day of September here on Lightnin’ Ridge.

I know, there aren’t many times you will see that, but still, it would be eliminated completely if the season were set back to Sept. 20. It makes common sense, but common sense hasn’t been prevalent in our conservation departments for many, many years.

The truth is that young doves dying in a nest don’t make a significant change in the overall surviving numbers the next spring. But who can feel good about such a thing? Can anyone be so indifferent that they do not feel bad when they see a young fawn dead along the highway, or a baby rabbit being eaten by a housecat?

I was taught a “reverence for life” as a boy, introduced to hunting at a very young age. I see no reason why anything in the wild must die without a purpose to it.

The thing about dove hunting is that it is always too green and hot and dry in early September for hunting. I am not going to be out there with a retriever that I think so much of and put him through the misery of those early September days.

Early September is the best time of year to be fishing for bass with topwater lures anyway, and the best of the dove migrations will likely be at the coming of October.

Cleanse Thy Soul, Now More Than Ever

By TED NUGENT

Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY! As the human experience continues to throttle on a never-ending, erratic course of ups and downs and wild, unpredictable twists and turns, we can only wish that lions and tigers and bears were all we had to worry about.

As I smash the keys on my abused laptop to hammer out this here blog on this beautiful, refreshing October day in the magical, mythical swamps of Michigan, all giddy and thrilled to enter my 69th fall hunting season, I think it more than appropriate that we, the hunting families of America, take a deep breath, exhale gently and give a sincere moment of heartfelt silence, not only for the innocent victims and families of the horrific human slaughter by an evil madman in Las Vegas, but maybe more importantly than ever, to thank God Almighty that we are blessed, fortunate and tuned in enough to celebrate our annual season of harvest as the ultimate get-away from such tragic heartbreak and hurt.

It has been recommended to me, on more than one occasion, that I try to steer clear of politics in my writings of the hunting lifestyle, but surely more and more Americans are beginning to realize that to do so would not only be cowardly and ir-

Guest Editorial

responsible, but downright un-American.

For after all, what could possibly be more fundamentally political than performing our We the People duties in this sacred experiment in self-government.

PURE POLITICS Hunting rights are 100 percent pure Americana politics. Second Amendment rights, along with private property rights and all American, individual, God-given rights and freedoms are as pure of politics as have ever existed in the history of the world.

The irresponsible denial of this basic self-evident truth can be traced back to the cultural deprivation that got us into the ugly swamp of political correctness in the first place.

No thank you.

With 59 deaths so far and more than See CLEANSE page 10

December 2017

— Random Shots — Fishing for Winter Walleye Can Get Silly

By JOEL M. VANCE It was 6 a.m. The cabin was chilly.

Outside, the temperature was dropping like a concrete parachute. The wind rattled everything that could be rattled, including my composure.

The lake had whitecaps that looked like the climactic scene of The Perfect Storm, and we were getting ready to go onto this maelstrom in a boat that increasingly resembled Charlie Allnut’s wheezing old tub in The African Queen. We got ready to launch and I checked to make sure the name on the boat was not “Andrea Gale.”

“We” was me, my son Andy, and son-inlaw Ron DeValk, and we were in northern Minnesota, lair of the wily walleye. It was late October, that brief Minnesota interval between summer fishing and more ice than you can chop through with a double-bitted ax in a month.

Andy had spent the evening before fussing with rods and reels, tuning, checking line, sorting through a myriad of jigs and never-fail walleye lures. I did what I do best – sprawl on the couch like a poleaxed boar. I’ve found that all the fussing in the world is not appreciated any more by walleyes than is slack-jawed sprawling, so I choose to sprawl. It’s what I do.

Walleyes are alleged to be on the prowl for pre-winter chow this time of year and we intended to check that thesis. Either that or, given the weather, huddle in the cabin like Inuits in an ice block hut during a whiteout.

ANNIE UNWANTED Low clouds spat rain against the cabin windows and the sound seemed to say, “Sleet is on the way.” Thinking to bring a bit of levity into the dire outlook, I sang, “Tomorrow, tomorrow, the sun will come out tomorrow!”

“Somebody oughta knock Little Orphan Annie in the head,” grumbled Ron sourly.

“Rain, rain go away,” I said. “Come again some other day.”

“You don’t shut up, I’m gonna knock YOU in the head!” Ron snarled.

I visited what the resort euphemistically calls “The Biffy” and saw a can labeled “T.P.” and figured that stood for “tip” so I left a nickel beside the roll of toilet paper in the can and prepared to challenge Minnesota in the pre-winter. Ron was draining water from our boat and it ran through the drain hole like water from a fire hose. Not a good sign. At least it’s going out and not coming in. So far ...

We clambered into the rocking boat and I remembered scenes from the Normandy Invasion. At least no one was shooting at us. I remembered that some of the landing craft went aground a hundred yards from shore and the soldiers had to wade or swim to the beach.

“A couple of guys down in southern Minnesota swamped their boat last week,” Ron said. “They had to tread water for 30 minutes before they got rescued.”

I gulped and checked the snaps on my life jacket. Ron put the spurs to his 30 horses and the boat leaped into the waves and I remembered how I got the lower back spasms that now make me walk like Groucho Marx. It was with a Cree guide in Canada who drove his fishing boat like Dale Earnhardt and, I was beginning to fear, with the same end

results. He hit the tops of the waves with hammer blows that translated directly up my spine, and I went from the pride of the In Shape Crowd to the pride of the Orthopedic Group.

THE SPINAL TRAP Finally we reached the lee shore and my spine clattered back to semi-normal. I’m sure an X-ray would have looked like a map of the Appalachian Trail, but at least the water was relatively quiet and I could enjoy my agony secure in the knowledge that we weren’t going to be swamped by the proverbial seventh wave.

All the fish, of course, had migrated to the far shore, reveling in the piscatorial equivalent of the Aqua Ride at Disneyland. “We’re going to have to go back to the windy side,” Ron said grimly. “That’s where the map said to fish.” Goodbye lee side, hello lower back pain.

The map in question had been provided by our host, who drew circles around what he said were the hot spots. The circles were the approximate size of Rhode Island, so we narrowed our search to an area of approximately 100,000 acres.

Ron turned on his fish finder and we found no fish. We did find the depth, though, and a nice drop-off which is alleged to be where walleye hang out like guys in front of Starbucks, waiting for the good-looking secretaries to come by for their lattes.

I threaded a reluctant minnow on a jig and sent it to the bottom and there was an instant tug, tug, tug.

“Fish on!” I screamed like Zane Grey, fast to a 1,000-pound billfish. After an epic fight, not described since Ernest Hemingway wrote about that old man, I brought my fish to gaff.

I guess a six-inch lake perch doesn’t exactly qualify as a literary icon, but you gotta write about what you know.

So ... look for it in your bookstores: “The Old Man and the Piddly Perch.”

It ain’t much, but it’s all I got.

Joel Vance is the author of Down Home Missouri (When Girls Were Scary and Basketball Was King) ($25), Billy Barnstorm the Birch Lake Bomber ($15.95 softcover), Tails I Lose ($25), Grandma and the Buck Deer ($12 softcover), and Autumn Shadows (limited edition outdoor ghost stories $45), from joelvance.com.

December 2017

Outdoor Guide

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Outdoor Guide

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December 2017

Outdoor Guide to the Internet

By ALAN and DIANNA GARBERS

Merry Christmas from the 47 West Trailers family

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HOT LEAD EXPRESS youtube.com/user/FortuneCookie45LC – “Thank you for boarding the Hot Lead Zone Express.” With 25,000 subscribers and over 1,000 videos, I know there’s something each and every one of you will enjoy.

ART IN ROCK travelblog.org/NorthAmerica/United-States/ Colorado/Rangely/blog703047.html – The Canyon Pintado National Historic District in northwestern Colorado is rich in prehistoric rock art. Along with the wonder of who and why the artwork came to be is how and when it was seen through history. We know that the artwork was seen by Spanish explorers in 1776 and then again by cowboys in the late 1800s.

BENT’S OLD FORT nps.gov/beol/index.htm – Relive the western fur trade era when you visit this National Historic Site in Colorado. Visitors truly feels as though they have stepped back in time, to the point that the National Park

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Service personnel roam the fort in period dress.

VTI GUN PARTS VTI Gun Parts.com – VTI says it “is the largest supplier of Uberti spare parts and accessories in the United States.

We sell factory production spare parts and accessories for antique reproduction firearms

by Pietta and Pedersoli also.”

BLACK BEARS moblackbears.org – The website of the Missouri Black Bear Foundation; few animals inspire excitement more than seeing a black bear roaming free. Help achieve that goal in Missouri by joining the foundation.

MINI CANNONS minicannontech.com – Mini Cannon Tech says its black powder miniature cannons are the real deal.

“Our mini cannons are built to fire with real gunpowder and cannon balls. Every mini cannon is hand-built and hand-finished, making our models the highest quality and most authentic mini cannons available.”

RV PARK REVIEWS rvparkreviews.com – Few things can be more distressing when vacationing than

staying at a ramshackle RV park. Avoid that problem by reading their reviews before booking a stay.

ROAD TRIPS roadtripusa.com – While Route 66 is the most famous road trip, there are other less known but equally historical routes through the U.S. Start your trip planning here.

LOST WEAPONS Forgottenweapons.com – This site covers interesting but often forgotten weapons including various designs of now-popular weapons.

Videos and photos support the text. Many seen here were lost in time, or prototypes were never produced on a large scale. They cover weapons from wheel locks to the present.

BASS RESOURCES bassresource.com – If you love bass fishing as much as I do, you’ll enjoy learning more about the sport here. Learn new techniques to expand your abilities. Find out if a new bait is hot or not. Locate the best lakes to fish.

from page 8

527 injured, this worst of American mass murders will go down in history as a defining moment in our culture.

It is much too early to draw any meaningful conclusions as to why such evil exists, but as we gather in the sanctuary of our deer camps across the hinterland to rejoice at God’s renewable creation and give thanks each and every day for this soul cleansing outdoor lifestyle, it is time to pray a little more than usual for our fellow Americans, our country, law enforcement heroes, first responders and the indomitable American spirit of love and heroism that saved so many lives at that concert.

The great Fred Bear exclaimed how our hunting time will cleanse the soul, and if ever there was a time that souls needed cleansing, it is right now.

THE GREAT SPIRIT I was so sickened to my stomach upon hearing of this event and then watching the reporting in the media that for the first time in my life I didn’t even feel like going into my deer woods on an October day.

I went limp, shattered, angry and hurt.

I had to turn off the TV

and go shoot my bow, run with the dogs, work on some stands, and sit and stare at the campfire, trying my best to both take it all in and escape at the same time.

Time heals all, but time in the great outdoors heals faster, so remain in touch with the all-too-often crazy world around us, but also prioritize our fall hunting time to keep a good perspective on how the good always outweighs the bad and the ugly.

I shot some pretty good arrows this morning, and the wind is strong from the southwest. There is a stand of big timber at the edge of the west marsh where the acorns are falling, and I believe when I belt into my stand, the world will be a much better place for at least three or four hours.

God bless America, and God bless the Great Spirit of the Wild. It will cleanse the soul.

December 2017

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Outdoor Guide

Page 12

December 2017

The Master Gunsmith

Triggers, Part 4

The Double Action Trigger, or ‘Such a Big Job for One Little Finger’

By JED NADLER Master Gunsmith Safety in trigger design and modification is crucial.

When a gun goes off, it must be deliberate, not accidental.

Always – SAFETY FIRST. In prior installments we’ve covered the single action trigger, one which simply releases the hammer. We’ve

shown how, in a semi-auto firearm, this can initiate a process that will recock the hammer and reset the trigger.

Most “semi-autos” will also complete other processes such as extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge and loading a fresh round into the chamber. But before such firearms were invented around 1900, there were

revolvers that did some of these things, all under fingerpower alone.

Revolvers are still around, remain popular for a variety of reasons and have double action triggers. Wait till you see the complex “Double Play.”

There are a number of players, and you’ve got to know their names and positions or

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• Trigger – The thing your finger pulls.

• Hammer – The curvy thing that sticks out the back on top.

• Cylinder – The round cylinder (fancy that) that holds all the “rounds” in its chambers.

Confused yet? No? Give me a minute here.

• Cylinder lock – Like a gopher in the Whack-a-Mole

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game, this guy pokes his head up out of a slot in the lower frame to catch and hold the cylinder in one of the notches.

It makes sure that the cylinder is in just the right place for a chamber to be aligned with the barrel. You might imagine how important that is!

• Hand – You can’t ever really see the hand doing his thing.

He’s the one who rotates the cylinder by pushing on the cylinders’ ratchet pad.

“The Hand,” kind of spooky, actually. I mean, there is no arm so how can there be a hand? (Ain’t no foot either, but who am I to say what’s what? You know, now that I think of it, the butt of this gun has a heel and a toe! But there’s no foot. Go figure. And no arm for the hand.)

• Hammer blocking safety –From the outside, you’d have to look real hard to see him. He hides below and in front of the hammer. His job is to block the hammer from coming all the way home if it tries to, without the trigger being pulled.

OK, so now you’ve read the program and know the lineup. When you pull the trigger on the classic Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver in Figure 4 above, here’s what happens: STEP ONE: The trigger starts pulling the hammer back, bending the main spring, lowering the cylinder lock, which frees the cylinder to rotate. It starts the hand moving upwards to engage the cylinder ratchet pad and rotate it.

STEP TWO: The trigger continues pulling the hammer back. It lets go of the cylinder lock so it can pop up again and complete the hand’s upward movement, rotating the cylinder to the next chamber where the cylinder lock can catch and hold it in the right position. At the same time, the trigger also retracts the hammer blocking safety from in front of the hammer STEP THREE: The trigger lets go of the hammer.

Bam! STEP FOUR: This is the trigger release stage, where your finger lets go and the trigger comes forward again.

It snaps past the hammer to reset, snaps past the cylinder lock to reset, withdraws the hand to its starting point and pushes the hammer blocking safety back up to its starting point. That clears the bases.

HOME RUN AND DONE! We’ll see you again next time. Maybe we’ll talk about forcing cones.

Gunsmith TechTalks do not provide education for the repair or alteration of firearms. Do not make changes to a firearm based on what you read here. Take the gun to a qualified gunsmith. Do not alter a trigger unless you have been properly trained – dangerous conditions can result. Jed Nadler can be reached at FIRST Gunsmithing in Valley Park, at (636) 826-6606 or online at info@FIRSTGunsmithing. com,

DEER HIDES FOR VETERANS The Washington Missouri Elks Lodge is collecting deer hides.

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• Place hide in a bag and keep cool to prevent spoiling • Bring to one of our drop-off locations and place in the freezer Elks Lodge #1599 – Washington, MO Infield Sports Bar and Grill – Marthasville, MO Harvey’s Body Shop – Hermann, MO VFW Post #6133 – Owensville, MO For questions or for more information please contact Nicholas Mueller 636-584-3974.

Thank you for your support of our nation’s heroes.

December 2017

Outdoor Guide

Page 13

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December 2017

Help Your Dog Combat the Cold

By PURINA PRO PLAN

Although the hunting season is winding down, it’s important to stay vigilant about keeping your sporting dog safe in chilly conditions.

Cold weather can be harmful for a dog. It can affect his or her immune system, making the dog prone to disease and injury. By following these tips, you can help reduce disease and the risks of hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, and frostbite, the freezing of tissues caused

by exposure to very low temperatures.

• Know your dog’s limit – Pay attention to your dog’s tolerance of cold weather.

Keep a close eye on puppies and senior dogs, as they cannot withstand wintry weather as

outdoor exercise during winter is that if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog.

However, just because the weather outside is frightful doesn’t mean your sporting dog should become a couch potato until spring. A dog that

Although you can’t change the weather, you can be sure your dog is healthy and comfortable. well as a dog in its prime. A good rule of thumb for limiting

is bored becomes anxious and stressed. Regular conditioning

and training, whether indoors or outdoors, will help to relieve stress and keep him or her healthy and fit.

• Watch for hypothermia – Do not overlook common signs indicating hypothermia, such as shivering, paleness, listlessness and frostbite. A dog suffering from hypothermia should be brought inside and stabilized before being transported to the veterinarian.

Hypothermia can be managed by drying off your dog, then wrapping the dog in a warm blanket or towel.

If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog.

• Use weather-appropriate gear – When sub-zero temperatures prevail, you should also consider wind chill and precipitation. Getting wet in frigid weather can be particularly dangerous for a dog, as a damp coat drains body heat.

When it comes to keeping a dog warmer and drier, any added protection is better than none. Dog vests and boots can help shield a dog from the elements during a hunt or training session.

• Stay off thin ice – Avoid putting your dog’s life in jeopardy by steering clear of frozen ponds, lakes or other bodies of water. You can’t be certain whether the ice will support your dog’s weight. If it doesn’t, the situation could be tragic.

• Check the dog from head to tail – Check your dog’s footpads regularly after outdoor exercise. Constant exposure to moisture caused by rain, snow, ice or mud can irritate a dog’s footpads, causing skin

Cold weather can be harmful for a dog.

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damage, cuts and infection from bacteria or fungi. If a dog has cracked or bleeding paws, consult your veterinarian.

• Winterize the kennel – After a chilly day afield, like you, your dog is ready to return to a warm home. If your dog sleeps

in an outdoor doghouse or kennel, preferably one that is insulated and heated, it should be off the ground, with the door positioned away from direct wind and have thick, dry bedding. Inside shelter, however, is vital when the temperature plummets.

• Cold-weather nutrition – A dog needs 7 percent more calories for every 10 degrees the temperature drops below the moderate temperatures of spring and fall. In fact, the caloric needs of an active dog in winter could double, so feeding a quality high-protein/ high-fat dog food year-round, such as Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 Formula, is recommended. Poor quality dog food is not a per-calorie savings.

• Extra pounds – In winter, it helps to allow your dog to gain a small amount of weight for insulation and energy reserves, but it still is important to maintain ideal body condition, defined as ribs palpable without excess fat covering.

Because of the metabolic changes that take place and to help process extra food, a dog should have ample water. Be sure to keep it from freezing.

The bottom line is to use common sense in caring for your dog in winter. Although you can’t change the weather, you can be sure your dog is healthy and comfortable.

For more information, go online to proplansport.com.

DEER HIDES FOR VETERANS The Washington Missouri Elks Lodge is collecting deer hides.

HOW TO DONATE:

For more information or recipe ideas:

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• Place hide in a bag and keep cool to prevent spoiling • Bring to one of our drop-off locations and place in the freezer Elks Lodge #1599 – Washington, MO Infield Sports Bar and Grill – Marthasville, MO Harvey’s Body Shop – Hermann, MO VFW Post #6133 – Owensville, MO For questions or for more information please contact Nicholas Mueller 636-584-3974.

Thank you for your support of our nation’s heroes.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 15

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December 2017

Tips, Tricks and Thoughts for the Great Outdoors

Outdoors Gifts Bring the Spirit

By LARRY WHITELEY

Here are some other ideas for you, to go along with the Christmas gifts you buy online or at your local outdoor store this year.

Bird houses made from scrap wood make great Christmas gifts. So does a hand-crafted hiking stick.

If you’re a grandparent, Christmas is a great time to pass down your dad’s or grandpa’s old shotgun, pocket knife or fishing equipment to your kids or grandkids.

How about a special camping trip with family time around the campfire, along with a Christmas tree decorated with items from the nature that surrounds you?

A Christmas float trip down a river or a canoe adventure on a quiet lake is a priceless gift.

Time alone with your wife on a hiking trip is a gift she will never forget. A Christmas fishing or hunting trip with

a child or grandchild is a gift that will last them a lifetime.

Other Christmas gift ideas are limited only by your imagination. Get away from the hustle and bustle. Enjoy Christmas in our great outdoors.

CHRISTMAS QUOTE “Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the Savior the focus of the season.” – Thomas S. Monson THAT’S AMAZING, OR MAYBE NOT Congratulations to our U.S. Senate! They finally got together and, with bipartisan support, designated June 2017 as “Great Outdoors Month.”

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THIS IS ALSO AMAZING The eyes of the woodcock are set so far back in its head that it has a 360-degree field of vision, enabling it to see all around and even over the top of its head.

TREE THAT HELPED BUILD AMERICA

The hickory tree played an important part in building our nation.

In most cases, hickory wood was the first choice of frontiersmen, mountain men, railroad men and settlers. They used hickory to make handles for rifles, pistols, knives, axes, hammers and picks. Hickory offered them strength, flexibility, shock absorbency, workability, durability and stability.

Hickory trees were also a favorite place to nest and gather nuts for one of early Americans’ favorite foods that they really depended on to survive – the bushy tailed squirrel.

It is only fitting that the tree that helped build America grows in abundance nowhere else in the world but America.

SQUIRREL HUNTING WITH AN AIR RIFLE When I was a kid growing up on the farm, we hunted squirrels for food. A dinner of fried squirrels and biscuits and gravy, or squirrel and dumplings, was a welcome treat back then.

I live in the suburbs now and hadn’t hunted squirrels for quite a few years. Last year, we started having an abundance of squirrels in our neighborhood and they began chewing on our house, and one even got into our attic and started chewing on wires. Others started chewing on my bird feeders, eating the bird feed and scaring the birds away. It was time to hunt squirrels again.

I bought a Stoeger X10 .177 caliber air rifle, and the squirrels never had a chance. After sighting in with the included scope, it didn’t take long before the squirrel population at my house was decimated.

They still taste good, too.

I sometimes see squirrels around other houses, but I am convinced that squirrels carry around tiny smartphones and text other squirrels telling them to stay away from the Whiteley house because that guy is deadly with his air rifle.

LARRY L. WHITELEY is the host of the internationally syndicated Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Radio and nationally syndicated Outdoor World newspaper and magazine tips.

CONTINUING THE TRADITION Where will the next generation of sportsmen and women come from who will support our firearms, hunting and shooting freedoms? They will be those you introduce to these sports.

So what are you waiting for? Invite someone to go shooting or hunting with you today.

A NEW YEAR I hope for each of you, 2018 is a New Year for you!

I hope it’s a year when politicians come to their senses and realize they work for us the taxpayers, not for their own gain.

I hope 2018 is the year you realize that kids spell love “TI-M-E.” I hope it’s a year you take your spouse’s hand and go walking on a moonlit night.

I hope it’s a year that finds you spending less time at the office and more time with your family.

I hope this is the year you discover that sunrises and sunsets, the sounds of crickets and the smell of campfire smoke are better than any TV show.

I hope it’s a year you learn to tie a fly, paddle a canoe, pitch a tent, skip a rock, shoot a bow and catch a fish.

From me to all of you, have a happy 2018.

THINKING BACK “The best thing about hunting and fishing is that you don’t have to actually do it to enjoy it. You can go to bed every night thinking about how much fun you had 20 years ago, and it all comes back clear as moonlight.”

–John Madson in “The Old Man’s Boy Grows Older,” 1957

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Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Claudette’s Kitchen

Best Wishes and a Fine Cheese Sauce

By CLAUDETTE ROPER

It doesn’t seem possible that we should already be looking back on this past year, but here we are again.

Our regular readers know that in this issue, I usually look back at the year’s articles and comment or update, so here we go.

Having re-read this year’s articles and not finding much

to comment on, I’ve concluded that there are two possibilities: Either the articles were so good that nothing needs to be added, or nothing I add now can fix them.

The latter is likely the case for some of my Canadian family who like fruitcake and didn’t quite get the humor of using it for a hockey puck. Of course, those who commented have roots in England and their mother actually does look like Queen Elizabeth!

Hopefully, some of you decided to tackle making pasta this year. Something missing from the article was a comment on the flour. Durum wheat may be the best flour for making noodles, but it is not the only option.

If you want to just try it once, use all-purpose flour. It will make noodles. The Durum is ideal but not exclusive. Whole

wheat flour also works, but unless your family is accustomed to the taste and weight, it may not go over well.

GETTING RANCID Do keep in mind that dried whole wheat noodles contain all the original oils and therefore go rancid more quickly.

They are not ideal for drying and long-term storage.

What won’t work is any flour that is low in gluten or has no gluten – e.g. rye, rice or buckwheat. Yes, you can buy gluten free pasta, but they have a lot of things in the manufacturing process that make up for it, and we don’t have those at home.

If you’d like to play around with something different, try cutting the dough into little rectangles and squeezing each one together in the center until it looks like a bowtie. The little ridges will help hold pasta or cheese sauce very well.

As a matter of fact, this past summer it was a popular side dish for barbecue and fish fry alike. The cheese sauce recipe below is very basic. You can use your favorite cheese(s) to make it suit your taste.

The easiest way to alter it is to do so while keeping all the ratios the same. This recipe calls for half a cup of grated cheese. You can make that all cheddar (sharp or mild according to taste), or you can try a combination.

Also, the Parmesan can be replaced with Romano. It’s your cheese sauce!

MILK OR CREAM? Not everyone keeps heavy cream at home and not everyone wants to consume that much fat. You can certainly replace it with milk. The sauce will not be as rich, however.

To put it in perspective, you probably wouldn’t come out any higher in fat than if you ate the traditional macaroni and cheese processed products, but it will taste so much better! You may want to save using the heavy cream for special occasions if it’s really a concern.

An easy substitute for heavy cream that works well for both baking and cooking is to add a quarter cup of butter to three quarters of a cup of milk. For this recipe you won’t have to go through the process of melting it and stirring it into the milk. Just cut the milk back to 3/4 cup and add a half stick (1/4 cup) of butter.

This is an easy recipe, but when you are working with a roux and with milk or cream, it is also very easy to ruin.

Do not walk away from this one. Have all your ingredients handy ahead of time and consider turning off your phone.

May all your holiday cooking and baking turn out well and the memories you make give you joy for many years to come. Best wishes for a blessed 2018!

BASIC CHEESE SAUCE 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup cheese 1/4 cup parmesan cheese Salt and white pepper to taste Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan. This recipe makes two cups, so choose your pan accordingly. Add flour and stir until well mixed and bubbly. This needs to cook only enough that there is no taste of raw flour. Don’t let it scorch and don’t let it brown. Save browning for turkey gravy.

Add the cream, stirring rapidly until well blended.

Bring it to a boil while continuing to stir. When it has thickened enough to coat your spoon, add the cheeses.

With the burner on low, stir until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens. Add salt and pepper to taste and you’re done. Bowtie noodles or broccoli are only a few of the things that it’s good on.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 19

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December 2017

Missourians Pioneered Use of Dogs to Hunt Sheds

Photo and Text

By JOHN MEACHAM

Hunting shed antlers with dogs is the fastest-growing man-dog sport in the country, and Sharon and Roger Sigler of Smithville, Mo. were the pioneers.

It all started 12 years ago, Sharon Sigler said in an interview for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

“We had horses and were

out riding one day,” she said. “I looked around, and Roger was behind me on his horse and he was looking all around at the ground. I asked him what he was doing. I thought maybe he’d lost something.

“He said he was looking for antler sheds. I looked down in front of my horse and said, ‘You mean like this?’ and he said, ‘Exactly like that.’ There was a matched set right beside my horse.”

The Siglers had extensive dog-training knowledge and thought they might be able to train dogs to look for shed antlers.

“There wasn’t anybody else doing it at the time, because we searched the Internet, magazines and books trying to find somebody that we could learn something from,” she said. “It was hit or miss when we first started. We didn’t know what kind of dogs would make the

best antler dogs. We had to start from scratch.”

Sharon and Roger had been doing search-and-rescue training with German shepherds and bird-hunting training with German shorthairs, but they found that these breeds did not have the skills for antler hunting. They even tried a pit bull but found it didn’t have the drive they were looking for.

“We decided Labrador retrievers had the qualities our

Sharon Sigler has been working with Burly, a young shed hunter.

antler dogs would need,” she said. “We thought starting with an older pup might save time, but our first endeavor proved us wrong. We bought four Labs that were four to six months old. They’d been kept in a kennel, with very little human contact, so they were scared of everything. They made nice pets, but we needed dogs that not only had the hunt skills but the social skills as well.”

THE BLOODLINE The couple decided they would have to develop their own dogs, and now have their own bloodline of second-, third- and fourth-generation antler dogs.

“This makes our job a lot easier, because the puppies already have the aptitude for antler hunting. The parents have continued that line on to their offspring,” she said.

Their Labs weigh 50 to 65 pounds, are very agile and can run all day, she said, and they love to hunt, which is the first requirement for an antler dog.

“The one thing we can’t teach is the hunting instinct.

That’s what makes our dogs so special. They must have the willingness and the attitude to run for hours, hunting for antlers over hill and dale, and maybe never even find one.

Of course, once they find one, they bring it back to the owner or handler.”

Antler dogs hunt by smell and by sight, according to Sharon.

“I’ve seen them running through a field or woods and be 15 or 20 feet away, and if the wind is in the right direction, they’ll catch that scent and just swap ends. They can smell them even if they’re years old.”

The shed hunting season begins right after the archery and firearm seasons close, so hunters were the first to get on board when the Siglers began promoting the new sport through magazine articles.

Shed hunting with dogs has since become a family affair as well.

“Any time people can do

something with their dogs, there always seems to be an interest,” Sharon said. “After all, ‘dog’ spelled backward is ‘God.’ Just being in the great outdoors with your best friend, your dog, is a marvelous experience.”

There now are shed-hunting field trials.

“It was inevitable that competition would become a part of the sport. A number of our dog owners participate in the trials and do very well,” she said. “I believe there are a couple of organizations that have formed associations for trials.”

MORE HUNTS Antler dogs can be trained to blood-trail and hunt game as well as sheds.

“Hunting antlers is more difficult, because an antler doesn’t have a whole lot of attraction to a dog,” Sharon said. “It’s like a stick lying out there in the woods. It doesn’t run or fly like a bird, and it doesn’t have feathers or blood. The dog has to be taught, through scent discrimination, that it is the antler it is hunting. The retrieve is just a part of the necessary skills of the antler dog.

“We will have dogs ready at six to eight months of age to go to the field come shed season, but they’re always better the second year. They can multi-purpose, but we suggest giving them that first year to get the knowledge of hunting for antlers under their belt before you start doing other things with them.”

Sharon and Roger have now trained almost 500 antler dogs.

“We have dogs in 38 states and four provinces in Canada, and this year one of our dogs is going to Ireland,” she said.

The Siglers have antler dogs for sale and offer training for outside dogs that pass an aptitude test.

They welcome visitors to their training facility in Smithville. They also offer instructional material. For information, go online to antlerdogs.com.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 21

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December 2017

Missouri Elk Herd Looking Good

Photo and Text

By BRANDON BUTLER

Missouri’s wild elk herd is healthy and growing at an appropriate rate. With approximately 50 calves born this year, the population is now closing in on 200 animals. On one recent day, it was magical for me to view about 50 elk and listen to a number of the bulls bugling.

We’re still a ways off from a hunting season, but capturing images of free ranging, wild elk in the Missouri Ozarks is an experience anyone can enjoy from the comfort of their own vehicle.

Viewing wild Missouri elk, and listening to them bugle, is to me an incredibly moving and inspiring experience. It’s powerful to know we as a society are still working hard to right our past wrongs against wildlife and wild places.

Today, we have dedicated professional scientists at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) working hard to return wildlife species to their native landscapes after being senselessly extirpated a century ago.

Back in 2010, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved an elk restoration plan that called for obtaining wild elk from other states

with established wild populations and re-establishing a herd here in Missouri, where elk are a native species. The animals started showing up in 2011. Just six years later, we are able to see success as the herd develops as planned.

PECK RANCH Most of the elk live on Peck Ranch Conservation Area, which is located near Winona and consists of 23,763 acres of some of the most rugged country in Missouri, in Shannon County along U.S. 60, just south of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. MDC purchased Peck Ranch in 1945 with funds made available through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. Initially, the property was used for wild turkey management. Today, it’s home to our latest wildlife restoration efforts, focused on returning wild elk to their native landscape.

There is an elk viewing driving tour at Peck Ranch that is open most of the year.

However, it will be closed for managed deer hunts and Dec. 9-10. For more information about elk driving tours at Peck Ranch, call (417) 256-7161.

“We encourage people to

These wild Missouri elk are just a few of the approximately 200 living on or near Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

take photographs from their vehicles,” Elk Program Manager David Hasenbeck said.

“But please do not disturb elk or other wildlife in any way. It’s also important for visitors to know that gravel roads on Peck Ranch may not be accessible to vehicles without adequate ground clearance, and some roads

may be impassible at times due to high water at stream crossings.”

MORE TO DO The elk are best viewed at dawn and dusk, leaving the rest of your day free for a hike, springs tour, picnic or float down either the Jacks Fork River or Current River. Take

your binoculars with you.

And be sure to take along a camera that has a long lens or a good zoom. The elk can be quite close or a couple hundred yards away.

You could make a trip out of the experience. Grab a room or cabin in Eminence, Winona, Van Buren or Ellington, or camp at one of the

many Ozark National Scenic Riverways campgrounds or take a trip to our incredible new state park, Echo Bluff. A fall canoe trip on the Current or Jacks Fork will greatly add to your Ozarks adventure.

Brandon Butler is executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri.

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Outdoor Guide

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Outdoor Guide

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December 2017

Wildlife Wrangling and Outdoor Ramblings Photo and Text

By RANDALL P. DAVIS In the nearby town of Excelsior Springs where I live, nearly any morning, from spring through fall, as you descend Highway 10 down east end hill, you will likely observe an unusual yet eerie sight. Fifty to 150 buzzards will be soaring over the high hills and deep draws of this quaint resort town.

Many folks say the tall ridges with mature hardwoods provide the perfect roosting and nest sites for these carrion connoisseurs. Others claim the gliding scavengers utilize the wafting winds to smell out their next meal.

The truth is, they’re just waiting for my pickup to drive through town, hoping whatever it is that’s causing the tree leaves to curl and drop in my wake will come spilling out the back for a handout.

Now, I like to keep my five-year-old vehicle reasonably clean. I bathe it at regular intervals (twice a year), and vacuum it out as needed (once a year). But during the summer months, my tidy mobile office with a black topper becomes a four-wheel drive oven on wheels.

And when I’m running full capacity, the collage of aromas

Buzzards Love This Truck from raccoon feces, possum urine, bat guano and decomposing moles amalgamates into a savory bouquet that can make buzzards drown in their own saliva.

STINKIN’ ON PARADE There was the time I forgot our high school Homecoming parade was going through downtown, and as I came up a side street, I was swept into the procession. The event attendant directed me to fall in behind the junior high marching band and ahead of the local 4-H saddle club.

Half a block later, the horses apparently couldn’t tolerate the nasal-searing stench and began to snort, nicker, rear and canter as if they had encountered a mountain lion. Silly equine. It was just the scent from a dozen dead moles. Week old dead, but still...

Fortunately, because of the taller downtown buildings, the wind shifted 180 degrees and the gyrating steeds settled down. Unfortunately, the shifting fumes knocked out the marching band’s last two rows of tubas and drums.

It was about then I exited down an alley.

THE DEADS BUCKET I do, however, try to contain

You may have heard the phrase, ‘Stunk so bad it would knock a buzzard off a gut wagon.’ Well, I drive the wagon.

the odorous emissions. I have a 5-gallon plastic pail with a snap-on lid I use as a repository for any “ripe” moles or muskrats I harvest. I even went to the courtesy of labeling it in big bold letters, Deads Bucket, for those inquisitive as to why their eyes are watering and the buzzards are circling overhead.

But even at that, there are

those individuals with sensitive olfactory organs that don’t share the same yearning as our residence sanitation squad.

There are times I use that to my advantage.

The pickup’s oil change was long overdue. In fact, it had been long enough the little readout actually “dinged” and told me it’s time to CHANGE

OIL! I pulled the pickup into the lube station. The attendant signaled to pop the hood. He pulled the dipstick. Another attendant, meanwhile, had looked up my last visit. It was plain I was way overdue.

A BIT LATE Attendant No. 1 showed me the dipstick and said, “Overdue, buddy. Not real good on an engine. Look how black that oil is.”

Then he looked me up and down, sizing up this older, grayhaired dude for incompetence.

And even though he might have been right in that regard, I couldn’t let this opportunity slide.

“Yeah,” says I. “It has been a long time. Don’t get to town often. Fuel and supplies mostly.”

Mr. Attendant blinked a couple times, allowing what I said to soak in.

“Retired?” he asked.

“No, hermit.”

Then I scanned HIM up and down.

“This gonna take long?” I asked.

“No sir. It’ll be just a few minutes and you can be on your way.”

The attendant passed behind the pickup checking tire pressure. The topper’s door was

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ajar. The emanating insidious vapor was waiting, and I knew what was coming.

THAT SERIAL SMELL Instantly he straightened and his face contorted. His eyes bulged and his lips clamped down to stifle the gag reflex. I noticed him glance through the back window and see the Deads Bucket. He then leaned over slightly and looked at me with a facial expression that read, “Is he a serial killer?”

“Sorry,” I said with a somber look. “My dog died last month. Just got around to burying him yesterday.

You heard of aromatherapy, haven’t you? That dog was the nastiest animal I ever owned.

Sure miss him. But they say the aromatherapy is good for the grieving. I’ve got a couple more weeks left.”

My oil change was finished in record time by the multiple attendants’ tag-team effort. And they were more than happy to wave goodbye despite holding shop towels over their mouths.

One of these days, such types of shenanigans are going to get me into real trouble.

Oh yeah, the buzzards spotted the pickup leaving the station and happily escorted me out of town.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

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Outdoor Guide

Page 26

December 2017

Bobwhite Quail Are on the Rebound

Photo and Text

By KENNETH L. KIESER

Bobwhite quail used to announce their presence to possible mates. “Bobwhite!” sounded across valleys, hills and fields throughout warm weather, a beautiful sound.

This addictive sound promised quail for a fall hunt Do you remember those days? Many of our young hunters do not because of reduced quail numbers. But I am more than happy to

announce that our quail are making a comeback.

Farming practices have been responsible for the bobwhite quail’s demise in places nationwide. Dropping fur prices meant less trapping and fur-bearer hunting and more predators to rob nests of precious quail eggs.

During the best years with perfect conditions, bobwhite quail naturally have a high mortality rate of over 90 percent annually. But during a good nesting year, quail numbers rebound.

Wildlife biologists across the country are working with farmers and ranchers to bring back quail numbers. Many fear that these could be the final “good old days” for both quail and hunters if efforts are not made to provide adequate habitat.

BUFFERING Fortunately, state conservation commissions and organizations like Pheasants and Quail Forever are successfully taking steps to bring back quail numbers.

Soon, hunting dogs will be pointing to bobwhite quail – just like in the old days.

“Bobwhite buffers or ‘buffering’ has become an especially popular program in Kansas and Missouri,” said Jared Wiklund of Pheasants Forever. “It is a means to provide needed nesting and brood-rearing grassland habitat adjacent to cropland.

These important components of quail habitat have declined due to more intense grazing and cropping practices – resulting in the elimination of weedy field borders, abandoned farmsteads and small, recently undisturbed areas loved by quail.”

Acres remain available for enrollment across the country for Conservation Practice 33, the Upland Habitat Buffers practice, a continuous Conservation Reserve Program signup opportunity.

Perfect cover means field borders and vegetative buffers provide important habitats in agricultural areas by leaving a border of native grasses and legumes around the field edge, the wider the better.

Biologists warn against treating field borders with chemicals and seek to reduce in-field use of pesticides when possible. Most of the negative pesticide effects on quail occur indirectly from the reduction of insect populations. We need to leave fencerows, field borders and corners, ditch banks and lanes between fields, and to manage wildlife-friendly vegetation.

Some grasses should be avoided, such as tall fescue, an aggressive, non-native, cool-season grass that tends to crowd out important quail food and cover plants. This turf grass can spread into unintended locations and keeps more quail-friendly grasses, forbs and legumes from becoming established.

HOW TO BURN Burning is a good way to remove harmful grasses or woody cover. Fire reduces dead plant material, stimulates desirable legume growth and seed production, exposes mineral soil and provides open, early successional vegetation stages.

Contact conservation officials and your local fire

department for safety’s sake before attempting a controlled burn. This is accomplished by disking a fire break at least 15 feet wide around the field’s perimeter.

Choose a day when the wind is constant and not exceeding 15 miles per hour. Burning on a day without wind is more dangerous because the wind can pick up and push the fire in an undesirable direction.

Start on the northern end when winds are out of the south and burn into the wind.

The fire will grab material and burn at a slower rate and give critters a chance to safely escape. Next, start flank fires from the side.

When enough burned area is accomplished, a head fire may be set with the wind.

This hotter fire will burn the cedars and other unwanted trees.

This opens up your land for beneficial quail cover and foods. Forbs and legumes found in wildflowers that bloom at different times and attract insects throughout warm weather are beneficial for quail. Insects are an important source of protein for quail. Quail actually get liquid nourishment from various insects.

Forbs, too, are upland game bird’s main source of winter food. Birds in grasslands depend on these important sources of nourishment. Landowners once considered plum thickets as great sources of quail forage, but they don’t last into winter and are eaten quickly.

Legumes contain a source of nitrogen that replenishes the system. This allows the native warm-weather grass to be a self-sustaining product. These types of plants will gain full maturity after three years.

Bobwhite quail numbers are down now, but the future may be bright for this feisty but fragile game bird. The answer is improving habitat and food sources. Quail Forever is dedicated to bring back quail.

Write to Quail Forever at 1783 Buerkle Circle, St. Paul, MN 55110; call (651) 209-4981 or email contact@ quailfdorever.org.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

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Outdoor Guide

Page 28

December 2017

Pros Use Hair Jigs for Cold-Weather Bass

By JOHN NEPORADNY JR.

During those halcyon days of bass fishing in the 1960s, the bucktail jig and pork split tail eel was the deadliest combo for bass.

Now the bucktail and other animal hair jigs have been replaced by flipping, casting and finesse jigs adorned with silicone or living rubber skirts, while various soft plastic chunks, craws and grubs serve as substitutes for the pork eel.

Despite being replaced for most bass fishing applications, the venerable hair jig still shines in certain situations for some of the top pros.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brian Snowden and former Fishing League Worldwide star Guido Hibdon both favor using the hair jig in cold-water situations. Here’s a look at how these two pros fish a hair jig.

GUIDO HIBDON The Missouri pro has tried deer hair in the past but found that the best material for his hair jig comes from black bears. A co-angler from West Virginia stocked up Hibdon with plenty of bear hair, which he ties on a 1/8-ounce or 3/16-ounce ball or banana-shaped jighead. Hibdon used to attach a pork split tail eel as a trailer for his hair jig, but now he tips the jig with

Hair jigs made with deer hair as seen on Scout.com.

either a black 3-inch Luck “E” Strike Grub or the tail section of a black plastic worm.

The hair jig shines for Hibdon whenever the water is at its coldest point during the winter. “I have thrown it up on the edge of ice, and whenever it would fall off and hit the bottom, the fish would get it,” recalled Hibdon. “You can fish it in mighty cold water.”

Since his hair jig best mimics a crawfish, Hibdon throws the lure along rocks where bass forage on the crustaceans even in

the coldest water. Ledges and bluffs in the 15-18 foot range are Hibdon’s favorite places to work the jig, and if he has to fish deeper, he will switch to a different tactic.

While slowly reeling the jig along the bottom, Hibdon tries to keep the lure bumping into the rocks. “I move it two or three feet and then make a little hop with it,” he said. “The majority of the fish will hit it on that hop. I think they are following it around and when you hop that jig, it seems like that is

when they really get after it.”

Hibdon casts his hair jig on a 6 1/2-foot medium action spinning rod with a fast tip and a spinning reel filled with 8-pound fluorocarbon line.

BRIAN SNOWDEN During the pre-spawn, bass move to the shallows and start hitting crankbaits on windy days. However, those same fish tend to ignore a crankbait when the weather turns calm and sunny.

“The fish will remain in the

shallows, but they just won’t chase down that crankbait,” Snowden noted. “You’ll still be able to catch them if you switch to that hair jig.” The hair jig also works well for him in the same weather conditions during the post-spawn.

Snowden dotes on a Bass Pro Shops Enticer Pro Series Smallmouth Jig, which features a bucktail skirt with small silicone strands, a lightwire hook and a single-strand weedguard. The BASS competitor opts for the Enticer jig in 3/16-ounce and 1/4-ounce versions and favors the brownorange color combination. He usually tips the jig with a black or green pumpkin Zoom Super Chunk Junior.

The Missouri pro prefers the hair jig over a finesse jig with a rubber skirt because he believes it is a more subtle lure.

“There is just something about that jig’s profile,” he said. “It is really slender and has kind of a longer skirt and is real streamlined.”

A TAPERING SLOPE A gradually tapering bank is Snowden’s favorite spot for presenting a hair jig. “I want something that has a fairly flat slope to it with mainly pea gravel,” he said. “Earlier in the season, I can catch fish on the hair jig along a channel swing bank where it starts to flatten

out into gravel.” Most of the time, Snowden is working the jig in fairly shallow water, five to 10 feet deep.

Snowden starts his presentation with a long cast and then counts the jig down to a certain depth. “Sometimes they want it shallower and sometimes they want it right along the bottom,” he said. “That just varies day to day.”

If he notices bass are hugging the bottom, Snowden drags his hair jig so it ticks the lake floor occasionally, and he sometimes twitches his rod to make the jig dart. When he sees bass on his graph suspended higher in the water column, Snowden slowly swims his jig about five feet or more off of the bottom. Snowden’s gear for his hair jig tactics consists of a 7-foot medium action St. Croix Legend Tournament rod and Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series JM20 spinning reel spooled with 6-pound Bass Pro Shops XPS Fluorocarbon line.

The hair jig works best for Snowden in clear water and tempts more numbers of fish rather than quality bass. “It seems to shine when conditions are tough, and during those times keepers are very important,” he said. “I have caught some nice 3-pound-plus smallmouth on it and occasionally a 4-pound largemouth.”

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Lake of the Ozarks A Great Fishery

By JOHN NEPORADNY, JR. Known as one of the Midwest’s most popular vacation spots, Lake of the Ozarks also has a reputation of being one of the best fishing lakes in the country.

Although newer reservoirs appeal to an angler’s eye with flooded timber and undeveloped shorelines, Lake of the Ozarks entices fishermen with its hidden charms.

This 54,000-acre lake lost most of its natural cover when the standing timber was cleared before the lake was formed. New cover has developed over the years as dock owners and anglers have planted brush piles throughout the impoundment.

Other fish-holding structure includes steep bluffs, creek channels, humps and points. Docks provide plenty of shelter for a variety of fish, while lay-downs and log jams are the primary cover for bass, crappie and catfish in the undeveloped sections of the lake.

DIFFERING ARMS The various arms of the lake offer diverse water clarity and structure, so anglers can catch fish with a wide range of tactics. The Osage arm runs 98 miles from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam and changes drastically from one end to the other.

The North Shore section, close on the lower end, contains some of the deepest and clearest water on the lake, while the upper Osage near Warsaw narrows until it turns riverine in appearance, with the water remaining stained-to-murky most of the time.

The winding Niangua arm resembles a large river more than a reservoir, since it has few major coves and a narrow main channel for most of its length.

The 10-mile Gravois arm is one of the oldest developed sections of the lake, so its shoreline is dotted with boat docks. Fed by the gin-clear waters of the Gravois, Little Gravois, Spring Branch, Soap, Indian and Mill creeks, this arm usually remains one of the clearest sections of the lake throughout the year.

The Grand Glaize arm runs about 16 miles from its confluence with the Osage arm to the swinging bridges area, where the Glaize narrows down to a stream.

LIMITS, KEEPERS If variety is indeed the spice of life, then Lake of the Ozarks spices anglers’

For all its activities, Lake of the Ozarks always has some quiet corners where anglers can go fishing.

lives with its smorgasbord of fishing opportunities. The lake rates as one of the best reservoirs in Missouri for catching a variety of game fish.

Largemouth bass and crappie are the most soughtafter fish at the lake, but catfish, white bass, walleye and sunfish also offer plenty of action throughout the year.

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s 9-inch minimum length on crappie has helped keep crappie fishing consistently good throughout the year. Limits of keeper-size crappie can be taken in the shallows from March through May and again in October through early December.

The key to catching crappie the rest of the year is to find some of the hundreds of brush piles sunken at various depths throughout the lake.

The lake is also loaded with keeper-size bass, thanks to the Department of Conservation’s 15-inch minimum length regulation on black bass. Renowned for its bass fishing, Lake of the Ozarks draws numerous tournaments ranging in size from 10-boat bass club events to 150-boat national circuit contests, which are held each weekend just about year-round.

With this sort of attention, the lake receives plenty of fishing pressure, yet still yields heavyweight stringers of bass to tournament competitors.

BASS AND CATS White bass are another popular catch in the spring and the fall. Local anglers head for the riffles in the major creeks and tributaries to catch spawning whites in April and May. In the fall, they target wind-blown points and pockets to track down white bass-chasing baitfish.

Lake of the Ozarks catfish are an obliging sort. They will eat just about anything

you put on a hook and can be taken on a variety of methods throughout the warmer months.

The three most popular species to catch at the lake are channel, blue (or white cats as the local anglers call them) and flathead catfish. The lake has a reputation for yielding big blue cats each year and has also produced a former state record flathead catfish, a 66-pounder caught by Howard Brownfield in 1987.

Three state record fish have come from the Lake of the Ozarks. Gene Snelling caught a record muskellunge (41 pounds, 2 ounces) in 1981, Allen Schweiss landed a 36-pound, 12-ounce smallmouth buffalo in 1986 and Ronald Wagner made the record book in 1980 with a 40-pound, 8-ounce freshwater drum.

BOATS, GUIDES Several marinas and resorts rent boat to visiting anglers who don’t own one and want to venture out on the water. Newcomers to the lake also can have a rewarding day on the water by hiring a Coast Guardlicensed guide.

Customers at the resorts on the lake can enjoy catching crappie, bass bluegill and catfish from the docks that the resort owners enhance by sinking brush piles.

For information on lodging and other facilities at the Lake of the Ozarks or to receive a free vacation guide, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-FUNLAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau website at funlake.com. John Neporadny’s book, THE Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Guide, are available by calling (573) 365-4296 or going online to jnoutdoors.com.

Page 29

Outdoor Guide

Page 30

December 2017

Camping Gear & Gadgets Camco Filter Improves RV Drinking Water

Camco’s 40043 TastePure Water Filter with flexible hose protector greatly reduces bad taste, odors, chlorine and sediment in drinking water.

Made in the U.S., the filter has a wide body for higher capacity and flow rate. The in-line filter lasts an entire camping season and uses granular-activated carbon to provide safe drinking water from any potable water source.

Attached to the RV water supply, the 20-micron sediment filter reduces bad taste, odors, chlorine and sediment. The carbon filter helps prevent growth of fungus, bacteria and mold in the filterCamco’s water filter costs $17.87 and can be seen at Amazon.com or Walmart. Additional filters are $17.64 for two.

RV Dishes Set Makes Your Passion Clear Does somebody not realize that you love camping in your RV? Well, have them over and serve dinner on these RVthemed dishes.

The 12-piece set has four dinner plates, four salad plates and four bowls, all adorned with RVs, trailers, wildlife, mountains and maps – the essentials of life on the road.

The dishes are heavy-weight, BPA-free melamine and dishwasher safe.

The RV dishes set is $44.99 at Byerly RV, 295 E. 5th St., Eureka MO, or call (636) 938-2000.

Pop-Up Trash Cans Collapse When Not Needed

Gardenite’s two-way garden hose connector and spigot splitter gives you two tools for one price.

The solid, rustproof construction has a rubber cover that resists temperature change.

Extra long handles make it easy to turn the valves, unlike some other water splitters, and even if you have arthritis.

The item is also lead-free and guaranteed.

The Gardenite garden hose connector and spigot splitter is available for $14.95 at Amazon.com.

USA Tablecloth Makes Meals a Time to Learn

Coghlan’s Pop-Up Trash Can comes in four collapsible models – deluxe, mini, recycle and standard.

They expand quickly and easily when needed and collapse just as fast. Grommets along the lower edge let users stake it down to keep it from blowing away or moving.

The cans are 100 percent polyester, with clips on the top edge to secure a garbage bag and keep it from slipping inside the can.

The Coghlan trash cans are available from several retailers at prices ranging from $11.99 for the standard model to $16.99 for the deluxe.

Where were we today, Dad? Kansas or Carolina?

“Well, son, just look next to your plate, just east of your potatoes, and you’ll see where we were – someplace called Missouri!”

That conversation could really happen with the new Large USA Map Tablecloth, on red checker vinyl.

The heavy-duty camping tablecloth is also a map with all 50 states, and plenty big at 51” by 73”.

The USA Map Tablecloth is available for $39.99 at Byerly RV, 295 E. 5th St., Eureka MO, or call (636) 938-2000.

Nothing Beats A Good Old Folding Chair

Barbecue Swivel Grill Is Portable and Adjustable

The most essential item at the campground, well, one of them anyway, is a good folding chair that comes with all the trimmings.

One is the Folding Director’s Chair, in black with a white logo, that has a built-in side table with cup holder and removable accessory pockets.

The frame is sturdy aluminum, with 600D polyester fabric and comfortable cushions.

Texsport’s Heavy Duty Barbecue Swivel Grill is designed to allow grilling over an open fire.

Its grilling surface is 24” by 16” mounted on a 28” support stake, and the height is adjustable for optimal cooking. Construction is solid metal, welded with high-quality steel.

The grill then rotates 360 degrees to protect the chef from heat and flames, making it an ideal portable grill for cooking over a fire.

The Texsport Barbecue Swivel Grill is sold by several retailers. The list price is $54.99 and it was recently available for $37.77.

The deluxe Folding Director’s Chair is $61.99 at Byerly RV, 295 E. 5th St., Eureka MO, or call (636) 938-2000.

Two-Way Hose & Spigot Splitter Is Easy to Use

RV Backup Camera Goes High-Tech Furrion’s high-speed observation system for RV use has digital wireless technology that connects a powerful, wide-angle lens camera to a 4.3” color display.

With vehicles up to 100 feet long, the system gives clear and uninterrupted video so drivers can back up safely.

The system can be used for many other applications, even at high speeds. The 12-volt camera is waterproof, has infrared night vision, adjustable camera angle and is shaded for low glare.

The Furrion Wireless High-Speed Observation System is available for $519 at Byerly RV, 295 E. 5th St., Eureka MO, or call (636) 938-2000.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 31

Shotgun instructor Len Patton reports that Missouri has more than 200 youth shooting teams, with several thousand middle school and high school participants ages 11 to 18, including girls, competing in trap, skeet, five stand and sporting clays. They start practicing in February and shoot their last meet in September. “I have had the good fortune of being around two of these teams for several years,” he said. “I have watched some of the girls mature in their shooting skills with some fine and dedicated coaches.” The two teams are the Henges Team (left), which practices at the Missouri Department of Conservation Henges Range, and the Claybusters (right), which practices at the Busch Wildlife Range. Each team had five members average 90 or better for 100 targets. “Some of these girls may go on and shoot at the college level. Some will have academic and/or shooting scholarships,” Patton said. “Maybe even the Olympics could be in their futures. Dreams do come true.”

The Shotgun Instructor

Why Can’t I Hit a Target?

Photos and Text

By LEN PATTON “Why am I not breaking these targets?”

“Do you think you can help me?”

Those of us who work on our conservation ranges hear these questions quite often and can see the frustration that these shooters are having. Most of us try not to give advice until the shooter either requests help or is in true danger of getting hurt.

I may approach the shooter and simply ask if he or she need some help? In most cases, they are very happy to see me and beg for some assistance.

I have learned after years of working on the shooting range that even when people are not shooting very well, they don’t always want any help or advise.

Therefore, it is very important to find out what they really want help with. I personally believe that when a shooter does express a need for assistance, we should be very willing to help them. As with many problems, the following solutions may be rather simple: • Keep your head on the stock – The slightest amount of movement with your head, away or up from the stock can, and usually will result in a missed target. Many beginning shooters want to hold their face away from the stock because they fear the feeling of recoil. Once they can remove this fear, they are on their way to becoming better shooters.

• Focus on the target, not on the sights – Many beginning shotgun shooters come to us from years of rifle shooting, in which they have learned to line up a front sight and a rear sight with the target. Shotgun shooting is pointing, not aiming. When you develop your confidence in letting your dominant eye take you to the target and stop trying to aim or rifle shoot, you will break targets.

• Keep the gun moving – A stopped gun is usually a missed target. If you shoot where the

bird is, not where it will be, you will always be behind the target.

We stress the importance of leads and swinging, or keeping the gun moving after the shot.

This is one of the hardest things to get beginning shooters and even older shooters to do. It is a muscle memory exercise that can be worked on off the range.

Like typing, it just requires training the muscles and the brain to work together.

PATTERNING When there is a breakdown of any one of these skills, broken targets are few and frustration is not far behind.

Even seeming to have mastered these skills does not always bring about the desired results. This is when we have to dig a little deeper and ask a very important question: “Do you know where your gun shoots?”

It is always a mystery to me that a person would make a great deal of effort to sight in a rifle and never pattern a shotgun. A common excuse is, “It is a scatter gun and covers a wide range, and don’t you know they all shoot the same?”

Want to bet?

It is true that we get a scattering of shot, but it is important to know the spot where we get the most concentration of shot.

This is referred to as the point of impact. This spot will be the key to breaking more targets and getting good clean kills on live birds.

To establish this spot, one needs to work this out on the patterning board, not on flying birds. Just like sighting in a rifle, doing a good job of patterning your gun requires some assistance. If you need help, consult one of the Department of Conservation range people.

Len Patton of Chesterfield is a shotgun instructor at the Missouri Department of Conservation Busch and Henges ranges. He is a retired teacher, counselor, coach and summer camp director. He can be contacted by email at lspatton1@ gmail.com.

Outdoor Guide

Page 32

Bog-Pod Sets Up Quickly to Target Big Game

Your Guide to Signature Spotting Scope Sets a New Standard

Burris has added the Signature HD 20-60x85mm spotting scope, which takes glassing to a higher level and is built for those who The new Bog-Pod Rapid Shooting Rest portable shooting are passionate about platform from Battenfield Technologies is compact, collaps- optical performance at ible and portable to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts. long distances.

The apochromatic lens system Easy to store in a backpack, and quick to set up, Bog-Pod ing and delivers will give hunters the accuracy and range to make that big eliminates color fringedge-to-edge resolution at any magnification. game shot on the fly. maximum light transmission Bog-Pod is constructed of heavy-duty cast aluminum and Premium HD glass provides polymers with easy-to-deploy tripod legs on non-marring under any condition.

A built-in sunshade eliminates glare in bright conditions rubber traction feet. A twist lock sets main elevation adjustment with a 7-11” height range. It collapses to 12.8 inches and keeps dust, rain and snow off the lens. The ergonomic, lightweight and durable design makes it easy to handle and long and weighs just 21.6 ounces.

Bog-Pod lists for $44.99 at btibrands.com and can be keeps the lens well protected.

The scope has a 20-to-60 times zoom eyepiece with a large found at most sporting goods stores. ocular that offers a wide field of view. An angled eyepiece makes it easy to use whether standing or prone. The scope is waterproof, fog-proof, shock proof and covered by warranty.

The 85mm Signature scope lists for $1,895. Go online to burrisoptics.com

Upland Featherweight Returns to Browning Boot Lineup

The classic Upland Featherweight boots are back in Browning’s new line of trail shoes and boots in men’s and women’s sizes for hiking, hunting and work.

Trail shoes come in three styles and feature sets. For biggame hunting, the Buck Shadow boot is full of innovation and available in a variety of insulation thicknesses and camo patterns.

Rubber boots and slip-on work boots also are offered.

Features adding comfort and stability include OutDry waterproof technology, Thinsulate insulation, Silent Cell single-injected midsoles and SymmPlate, an integrated external shank.

For more information, go online to browningfootwear. com.

Identilock is World’s Fastest Trigger Lock

December 2017

Sentinl introduces an innovative biometric gun lock, Identilock, that not only keeps unwanted fingers off your trigger but gives you access in less than a second with a touch your fingerprint.

Identilock incorporates speed, usability and practicality with unmatched safety and security. It takes 300 milliseconds – literally the blink of an eye – for the fingerprint sensor to identify the user and provide access to the firearm.

The system allows up to three users and is compatible with any USB Type-C charging outlet. It takes up to four hours to charge and lasts on stand-by mode for up to six months on a single charge.

Identilock lists for $239 and is available at Cabela’s. The first round includes locks for Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm/.40, and M&P 9mm, SDS9; Ruger 1911 & Colt 1911; Sig Sauer P226 & P229; and Glock Double Stack. For more information or to buy one, go to getidentilock.com.

Now You Can Call Like a Duck Commander

Duck Commander has launched the new Jase Robertson Pro Series duck calls in models called Hi-Ball, Tigerwood and Acrylic, and they are among the easiest calls to blow that Duck Commander has produced.

The new calls are made by hand in West Monroe, LA. They provide versatility in the pitch, whether the hunter is trying to reach high-flying ducks or soft calling to birds that are circling and attempting their final approach to the decoy setup.

List prices are $39.95 for Hi-Ball, $59.95 for Tigerwood and $64.95 for Acrylic Duck. Go online to duckcommander. com or call (318) 387-0588.

Mammoth Introduces Mossy Oak Cooler and Tumblers

Mammoth Coolers is offering new Mossy Oak coolers and tumblers, including: • Break-Up Country Mammoth Ranger Cooler 65.

• Rover Tumbler with Mossy Oak logo, 20 oz. or 30 oz.

• Chillski Drink Holder with Mossy Oak logo, 12 oz.

The tumblers keep ice up to 36 hours and hot liquids up to 12 hours. Chillski keeps drinks colder up to 10 times longer than standard drink holders. Color options include stainless, crimson, forest green, dark blue and pink. The drink holder fits a 12-ounce can or bottle.

The heavy duty, roto-molded cooler has camo decoration with non-slip surfaces on the lid and front, 65-quart capacity and a lifetime warranty. It keeps ice up to 10 days.

The cooler, tumbler and drink holder are available at mammothcooler.com and will be offered at stores nationwide.

List prices for the tumblers and drink holder are $15.99 to $19.99. The cooler lists for $400.

Guidefitter Arranges Hunting, Fishing Adventures

Guidefitter is an online hub for guided hunting and fishing adventures. You can book your next excursion with its extensive list of outfitters or share your trophies on the Braggin’ Wall.

Would you like to know what to take on your next outdoor adventure? Ask at Guidefitter’s new Q&A feature on its website and app, and the answer will come from a Guidefitter Verified Pro. For more information, go to guidefitter.com, send email to hello@guidefitter.com or download the app from Google Play or the App Store.

Buck Knives Hunter Gets Fixed-Blade Version

Buck Knives has released the 101 Hunter, a fixedblade version of its famous model 110 Folding Hunter.

The 3¾”, 420HC stainless steel blade provides a sturdy option for hunters looking for a clip-point, fixed-blade knife.

With its Macassar Ebony Dymondwood handle and a brass bolster, this version is nearly identical to its predecessor.

The 101 Hunter is easy to clean and weighs nearly two ounces less than the 110 Folding Hunter, yet offers the same blade capabilities in a full tang blade knife with equal skinning capability.

The 101 Hunter is made in the U.S. and lists for $100 with leather pouch at buckknives.com.

Longshot a Feature Laden Bag Just for Rifles

Hazard 4 intoduces Longshot, a high-grade, dedicated rifle/shotgun transporter bag made with high quality and rugged features.

Longshot can fit most assault rifles up to AK47 length, and the internal tie-down system adapts to hold any rifle configuration in place with optics and magazine inserted for a fast time to that first shot.

One side of the full-length organizer compartment uses Velcro for holster and patch, and the other side is a riflespecific organizer panel with adjustable magazine and ammo pouches plus a molle field for polymer holsters.

Longshot lists for $299.99. For more information about Hazard 4 and all of its products, go online to hazard4.com.

December 2017

Outdoor Guide

Page 33

GREAT GEAR King Mallard Advances Design of Motion Decoys

Mojo Outdoors introduces King Mallard, the biggest advancement in motion decoys since the advent of the spinning wing decoy.

Spinning wing decoys are designed to attach the motor, battery and other components inside a rigid body, resulting in vibration, wobble and noise.

King Mallard attaches those components directly to the support pole using a specially designed structural housing. The housing fits inside a flexible decoy skin, using a drop-in, rechargeable battery and remote receiver, resulting in a smoother, quieter and faster decoy. Nothing is supported by the body.

King Mallard lists for $169.99 and is available from dealers or go online to mojooutdoors.com.

Mossberg 590 Shockwave Now Comes in 20-Gauge

Following the success of the 590 Shockwave 12-gauge pump-action firearm, Mossberg has released a 20-gauge version with a 14-inch barrel, “birds head” pistol grip and a length of 26.4 inches.

Shockwave is not subject to the National Firearms Act and does not require additional paperwork or a tax stamp payment for transfers. Buyers must be 21.

The 20-gauge Shockwave required some redesign because it was the first time Mossberg has offered the 590 platform in a smaller gauge. Weighing in at 4.95 lbs, it combines the proven pump-action platform with the innovative Raptor pistol grip from Shockwave Technologies, plus six-round capacity.

The grip provides an enhanced, textured polymer finish for maximum control while minimizing felt recoil.

The 20-gauge, 590 Shockwave lists for $455. For more information, go online to mossberg.com.

Plano Ammo Crate Is Tough, Handy and Economical

Plano Molding introduces its Tactical Ammo Crate, a tough but economical storage box for firearms, accessories and ammunition.

Its stackable, heavy-duty molded shell carries a surprising amount of weight without deflection, while a precision molded lid closes securely with durable snap-down latches.

It can be further secured with padlocks using twin hasps.

Ergonomic handles are molded in on either side. Inside the Crate are 975 cubic inches of space that can be separated in up to four compartments with removable dividers.

The Crate can be used with Plano’s Tactical Long Gun Cases and Tactical Pistol Case.

Plano Tactical Ammo Crate lists for $19.99 and is made in the U.S. Go online to planomolding.com.

zMAX Bore Cleaner Is the Writer’s Choice

Ray Eye suggests that hunters protect and condition their firearms with zMAX BoltLube Bore Cleaner and Conditioner. The micro-lubricant soaks into metal, helps penetrate, reduces carbon build-up and conditions metal parts.

It will not gum up.

Ray says zMAX has been tested by many groups of outdoor writers on hunts in the spring and fall and is the only gun-cleaning product he recommends.

The molecules in zMAX are smaller than those of conventional oils. When applied to internal parts, it disperses carbon and other harmful deposits, protecting a firearm from the inside out.

Cleanup is fast and easy.

For more information, go online to zmax.com, where a 1.5-ounce bottle of zMAX sells for $9.95.

Ray Eye Suggests Thomas Coffee For Christmas

Ray Eye recommends Thomas Coffee, roasted here in St. Louis, as a gift idea to make your hunter the most popular guy in deer camp, turkey camp or fishing camp.

Thomas dates back to 1905 and has generations of experience of roasting and blending fine coffees in whole bean, ground or single-serve.

Ray reports that in media camps, first-time Thomas drinkers often want to know what brand that coffee is. “This happens all the time, and once you have Thomas Coffee, I assure you, you do not want any other coffee,” says Ray. Thomas Coffee is available at your grocery store, or for more information, go online to thomascoffee.com.

Scentlok Updates OdorAbsorbing Hunting Wear

Scentlok Technologies created odor-absorbing hunting clothing 25 years ago and has continued to improve its line, now offering the full-season Taktix collection.

The Taktix Jacket for men or women has two zippered waist pockets, two lower side pockets with hidden snaps and a concealed-carry or smart-phone chest pocket.

An opening in the back lets hunters wear safety harnesses inside. The extended tail and higher back contribute to scent control.

The Taktix pants have eight pockets including quick-access side pockets and two cavernous cargo pockets. Zippered leg openings make slipping them on over boots a breeze, while five belt loops and a gripper side and rear elastic waistband keep them in place.

They are coated with the NeverWet treatment to keep wearers dry inside, made for comfort and available in four patterns.

List prices range from $149.99 to $159.99 per piece in men’s sizes M-8XL and women’s XS-2XL. Go online to scentlock.com.

PhotoCross 10 Is a Rugged Camera Bag

Adventure photographers need a camera bag that’s as tough as they are. With its rugged materials and faceted design, the MindShift PhotoCross 10 sling bag will protect gear on punishing trips into the wild.

PhotoCross is built to withstand the elements, yet comfortable enough to wear on long days in the field. This sling bag stays out of the way when you’re scrambling but offers quick access to your camera when you’re ready to take the shot.

It includes a waist belt, shoulder strap and tablet compartment, holds 7.5 liters, weighs 2.1 lb. and has a waterrepellent exterior.

PhotoCross 10 sells for $114.99 from various dealers.

For more information, go online to mindshiftgear.com.

Latest Onyx Razor Knife Has 3-Inch Blades

Outdoor Edge has added the new Onyx-Lite knife to its popular Onyx line of replaceable-blade razor knives.

This smaller version of the Onyx EDC sports a 3-inch blade and offers heat-treated, hand-finished Japanese stainless steel blades that change safely and easily with the push of a button.

The black-oxide coated blade holder supports the blade for the strength of a standard knife and the sharpness of a surgeon’s scalpel. The polymer handle and non-slip Trimond texture pattern provide a non-slip grip.

With an open length of 6.8” inches and weight of 1.9 ounces, Onyx Lite is a handy pocketknife. It comes with an ambidextrous thumb opener, pocket clip and three blades.

Onyx Lite lists for $28.95 and is available from retailers or online at outdooredge.com. Packs of six replacement blades are available.

Steiner Adds New HX Series of Binoculars

Steiner’s new HX Series of hunting binoculars come in 8x42, 10x42, 10x56 and 15x56 sizes and bring a new optical design for bright, crisp images and an extended field of view.

The Fast-Close-Focus feature minimizes rotation on the focusing wheel for sharper images. Ergonomic eyecups reduce eye fatigue created by peripheral light, wind and dust.

A hydrophobic, molecular coating lens surface repels water and resists dirt, dust and fingerprints. The binoculars have waterproof protection, and a housing that combines a durable polycarbonate frame with long-life rubber armoring for a chassis that endures up to 11 Gs of impact. They are covered by the Steiner Heritage Warranty.

For more information, go online to steiner-optics. com. List prices are $919.99 for 8x42, $999.99 for 10x42, $1,149.99 for 10x56 and $1,379.99 for 15x56.

Outdoor Guide

Page 34

New State Shooting Range Opens The Missouri Department of Conservation’s newly remodeled August A. Busch Shooting Range is now open following a grand opening event Oct. 28 that featured trap, skeet and five-stand shooting.

RANGE FEATURES INCLUDE: • Twenty positions at 100 yards and 15 positions at 50 yards for rifle and pistol use.

• Concrete floors, walls and overhead steel baffle structures to control and contain projectiles, with a bullet trap to decelerate bullets and collect

them for recycling.

• Five trap/skeet overlay ranges with electronic controls and two patterning ranges for shotgun users.

• A new education/office building with an 80-person classroom.

Other features are accessible shooting booths, an archery range, lights for night programs, sound reduction guards and public restrooms.

“The new Busch Shooting Range is a world-class facility for hunters and shooters to practice their shooting skills,”

said Aaron Jeffries, deputy director of MDC. The original range opened in 1973.

SAME FEES User fees remain the same – $3 per hour or round of trap or skeet including paper targets or 25 clay targets and basic ear protection.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, from Sept. 1 to March 31.

Then, hours are 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Friday through Sunday. Call

(636) 300-0258 to confirm it is open or to arrange an event.

Shooters can stay informed about range events by texting “MDC Busch” to 468311 and signing up for text alerts.

The range is closed on Mondays and Tuesday and state and federal holidays. It is free for hunting education, youth and conservation-related programs, when scheduled 30 days in advance. It is located at 3500 Highway D in Defiance, part of the 6,987-acreAugustA. Busch Memorial Conservation, established in 1947.

December 2017

Video and Book Reviews — By BILL SEIBEL

Title: TURKEY MEN

Author: Thomas R. Pero Publisher: Wild River Press, P.O. Box 13660, Mill Creek, WA 98082 Hard Cover, $49.95, 212 pages with color photographs, mostly of happy hunters posing with their beautiful turkeys.

ISBN# 978-0-9895236-5-3 Most humans have goals. Some are as simple and basic as getting a decent meal. Others are seemingly more lofty, although more specialized. Such is the case that author Thomas R. Pero captures in his coffee table-sized book.

Of the thousands of turkey hunters across North America, only a very few have taken one of these beautiful, super-wary birds in all 49 states where the birds are found. Alaska is the only state turkeys don’t call home.

In Turkey Men, the author examines the efforts of six hunters who have achieved this feat, dubbed a Super Slam in the turkey-hunting world. These men – Jeff Budz and David J. Ellis of Florida, Tony Hudak of Pennsylvania, Rob Keck of South Carolina, Clyde F. Neely of Texas and Randy Stafford of Louisiana – dedicated the time, the money and the effort to accomplish the goal.

Pero uses an excellent question-and-answer interview format to probe each hunter’s success and get into their thinking, including motivations, planning, expenses, travel, hunting techniques and the philosophies, frustrations and joys of success. He explains his Q&A process in his preface, which is almost as interesting as portions of the interviews he has conducted and reports.

But for many addicted turkey hunters, it will be the details involved in the equipment and techniques of these highly successful hunters that makes the pages of this book both interesting and fun to read. While the ultimate accomplishment of all six is the same, the differences among them are very interesting. For example, what gauge shotgun and what shot size does each favor?

Six very different, highly successful turkey hunters share much of what makes them “turkey men” with the author. This is information he presents to his readers very well.

And guess what? He has a second volume, sharing the information of six others who have achieved a Super Slam, coming out soon.

Title: A TEMPORARY REFUGE

Author: Lee Spencer Publisher: Patagonia Books, 8550 White Fir St., Reno, NV 89523 Hard Cover with jacket, $27.95, 319 pages with color prints for illustration. ISBN: 978-1-938340-67-3

NOW OPEN ONE CARLOAD, ONE PRICE AS LOW AS ONLY $20 IN ADVANCE!

Author Lee Spencer is an Oregonian by birth, raised in Minnesota, has a master’s degree in anthropology and worked as a field archeologist for more than 20 years, according to the back jacket sleeve of his book. It also reports that he fly-fished for steelhead on Oregon’s North Umpqua River for 35 years.

Steelhead – rainbow trout that are spawned in fresh water, move to salt water where they feed and grow, return to fresh water to spawn and then go back to the salt – are a special finned creature, passionately pursued by those who know them.

Unfortunately, some must cheat in that pursuit, which led to the author spending 17 seasons as the observer and protector of the Big Bend Pool of Steamboat Creek, a tributary of the North Umpqua. The author, with his dog, Sis, started volunteering with the North Umpqua Foundation in 1999. In his first year on this pool he built a viewing perch to observe the entire pool.

Spencer’s main goal may have been protection of a wonderful specialized species, but when he boiled down those years into 14 years of observations to make this book, he gives much, much more. As a scientist, he covers everything from the physical make-up of the stream to the critters in it and the interactions of those critters. Wading fly-fishers in this region’s smallmouth streams should find the interactions of the otters and steelhead particularly interesting.

Some of his prose sounds very much like some of the writings of college professors I had to read many years ago, but Spencer’s information is far more interesting.

Title: THE SPRING CREEK CHRONICLES

Author/Photographer: Dick Kettlewell Publisher: Farcountry Press, P.O. Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604 Soft Cover, $26.95, 232 pages with at least one color photograph on every page. ISBN: 978-1-56037-436-1 This is an easy review to write. On the back cover, the publisher’s folk describe the contents of this coffee table-size book as, “For two decades, award-winning photographer Dick Kettlewell has celebrated in images and words the landscapes and wildlife of North America’s high plains and prairies.”

There is more, but it is simple to describe. The author/ photographer is a better writer than most of the good photographers I’ve been blessed to know and work alongside.

However, I don’t think I’ve seen any better at capturing the outdoors of our great land through a camera’s lense. His work is beautiful. The photos of both the scenery and the animals are stupendous. You discover something new every time you open this book.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 35

Marksman Leads Veterans Against Feral Swine

By BRENT T. WHEAT Unless you’re prepared to have several cherished opinions quickly punctured, don’t ask Rod Pinkston about feral hog control. Your assumptions are at risk, because the man who literally wrote the book on hog control is straightforward – sometimes painfully so.

He’s earned that right.

Pinkston is a world-class shooter who spent 24 years in the military, including a stint leading solders to a recordsetting four gold medals in 2008 with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Olympic Shooting Team.

Now he’s turned his military skills and drive to dealing with America’s most out-ofcontrol environmental and agricultural problem – feral hogs.

Pinkston is president of Jager Pro (from the German word for “hunter”), a company he formed in 2006. It was the first full-time hog control company in the country and is still recognized as one of the most successful.

Jager Pro combines military tactics and concepts with field experience and shooting

skills to defeat a challenging adversary. Pinkston, you see, prefers to hire U.S. military veterans.

While in the military, Pinkston spent several years removing nuisance hogs from the Fort Benning property where he was stationed. He was successful but realized he had only scratched the surface of the problem.

“I’ve been killing pigs since 2004 with a thermal scope,” he said. “I thought we could shoot our way out of this problem, and I was naïve.”

LIKE ROACHES Having seen the carnage unleashed on the environment and major losses suffered by farmers, Pinkston looks at the porkers the way an exterminator does cockroaches. “Wild pigs are just 150-pound pests,” he noted.

Pinkston holds a certain contempt for those who think pig populations can be kept in check by aggressive hunting.

“It just doesn’t work,” he said. “If hunting was the solution, we wouldn’t have a problem. Hunters screw up our control operations all the time because their intent is different than ours. I’m a hunter,

FLIR thermal imaging provides target identification for several hundred yards in darkness or a full range of lighting conditions.

– Gridiron Outdoors photo.

but it (hog control) requires a totally different approach.”

Pinkston said hunters focus on trophies, fair chase and a desire not to waste an animal’s life or meat. They typically shoot a single hog or maybe several if the animals are causing problems. However, because pigs are essentially reproduction machines, culling the entire population is crucial to keeping the damage in check.

This means the real answer is simply a matter of piling up pig bodies in the most efficient manner possible.

For that, Pinkston and

company have developed an integrated pest management system that doesn’t focus solely on shooting. Instead, the system comprises a collection of methods to eliminate a hog population ­– something many believe is impossible but has been done countless times by Jager Pro. TRAP FIRST The basic Jager Pro concept is centered on the Pinkstondeveloped MINE (Manually Initiated Nuisance Elimination) trapping system. Once a trap is sprung on the group of hogs, escaping animals

are quickly dispatched using thermal vision-equipped rifles. Any survivors, such a solitary boar or the occasional pig that wasn’t running with the main group, are stalked and removed.

During reconnaissance, each Jager Pro vehicle is equipped with a FLIR handheld monocular with a 100mm objective lens for scanning the surrounding countryside.

Once a group or a pig is selected for culling, the group uses FLIR thermal weapon sites atop Daniels Defense .308 rifles to quickly dispatch the pests.

“Thermal is so much more efficient than a spotlight or even night vision,” Pinkston said. “You can see a mile away that something is moving, and then when they are within several hundred yards, we can identify our target and determine if they’re deer or hogs.

You obviously don’t want to waste time stalking deer.

“It’s also a lot safer. Thermal is very good for clearing downrange and it’s a whole lot more versatile than night vision.”

SCOPE SWITCH A recent experience

highlighted that versatility.

Pinkston was scanning a food plot with his thermal monocular while trying to cull a solitary boar that had avoided the Jager Pro traps. The boar stepped into vegetation that was about three feet high and started to feed.

As a test, Pinkston switched to a night vision scope and quickly realized he couldn’t even see the huge animal hidden among the plants. Grabbing his FLIR-equipped rifle, he quickly put a fatal bullet through the hog.

“You never would have seen that pig using any type of night vision device,” he said.

With confirmed populations in at least 35 states, feral pigs are a growing threat to the agricultural industry, the environment and human health due to a variety of diseases the animals are capable of carrying and transmitting.

And yet, misguided people continue to spread the animals across the country where they are unneeded and unwanted, so there is a greater call than ever to eradicate this pest.

Jager Pro videos that show how it’s done can be accessed on Youtube. The company’s website is jagerpro.com.

Outdoor Guide

Page 36

December 2017

Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Missourians Are Among Those Honored at Wisconsin Museum

Photos and Text

By CARL GREEN If you drive up to Wisconsin and keep going north about as far as you can go, you will find an actual theme park dedicated to one of the world’s greatest activities – fishing in lakes and streams.

No, the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame doesn’t have roller coasters or song-and-dance shows, but it has astonishing vintage gear displays, fanciful fish statuary and a heartfelt tribute to some of the finest anglers this nation has produced.

The Hall of Fame is located, appropriately enough, in Hayward, a small city in northwestern Wisconsin that serves as the gateway to an outdoor range with all manner of fishing opportunities – plus hiking, camping, hunting and winter sports, too. Hayward is where you get a room and breakfast and then replenish the tackle box before heading out.

The park highlight is a leaping muskie made of concrete, steel and fiberglass, 41/2 stories tall and half a city block long, visible from throughout the grounds. Visitors can enter the muskie and climb a long set of stairs to its gaping mouth, from where they can see the entire park, much of the city and the

lake that runs through it, Lake Hayward. The open mouth alone holds about 20 people, and the interior is full of photos and displays.

GOT IT ALL This “Big Muskie” looms over the actual museum complex, which holds more than 50,000 artifacts including collections of lures, rods, reels and motors and a nice selection of boats – not to mention more than 300 mounted fish, many of impressive size.

Big Muskie is surrounded on the garden-like grounds by other large fish depictions, mostly made of fiberglass and mostly a bit cartoonish, to help entertain the kids. Kids have another treat in store – they can fish in an 88,000-gallon pond right in front of the Big Muskie.

One of the most impressive collections has 1,000 vintage outboard motors surrounding a “Motor Graveyard” sign.

Most look like they were pulled from the back of a boat in 1957 or 1965 and placed directly into the museum – well-used, well-loved and, now, wellpreserved.

In the center is the actual hall that gives the museum its name, with photos and biographies of legendary anglers from all over, including some from the

FISHING

St. Louis region.

Visitors who have known great fishermen will want to leave plenty of time to linger in the Hall, alone perhaps, to get a good look at those who were honored and to see if they know any of them.

At least leave some time to check out the rods and reels and other collections. Maybe the kids can go for a hike or go swimming.

SUCH A DEAL! Winter gets long in Hayward, so the Hall of Fame season runs only from April 15 through the end of October.

During that time, it’s open seven days a week, including holidays. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. inApril, May, September and October. In June, July and August, hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for those 17 and under.

There is no charge for active military personnel or kids 3 and under. The place is just off of Wisconsin Route 27 on the east side of town. Look for a big fish.

Annual memberships are available that come with a family pass, a name on a wall and the annual events calendar, at these levels: • BRONZE – Basic mem-

The view from the Big Muskie’s mouth shows the well-kept grounds, full of flowers.

bership for $30 also includes online access to Splash, the museum’s quarterly publication.

• SILVER – This membership, for $35, adds the Splash print version.

• GOLD – For $45, this level adds a subscription to either of the In-Fisherman or Fly Fisherman magazines, plus the Splash print version.

• PLATINUM – The deluxe membership, for $55, has all of the above plus a year’s membership in the North American Fishing Club and its website.

Lifetime, Club and Business memberships also are available. For details, see the Hall of Fame website at freshwaterfishing.org.

THE HONOREES That website is also the place to go to find a nomination form to get someone entered into the Hall of Fame, and it’s where you can see photos and short biographies of all of the enshrined members – without making the long drive to Hayward.

Currently, the website has 450 of these bios; a few honor

two people, so the total of those honored is a little higher. The inductions began in 1980 and have continued every year since then.

Several historical names pop up, such as Teddy Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway and Izaak Walton, but most are people who have done a lot of fishing and helped promote fishing as a sport or pastime.

The honorees include some whose names may be familiar to Outdoor Guide readers, such as John Neporadny, Jerry Pabst, See HALL OF FAME page 37

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Outdoor Guide

December 2017

• Hall of Fame Thayne Smith, Johnny Morris and Virgil Ward (see detailed list at right).

IT’S A RECORD Bob Kutz of Hayward came up with the idea for the Hall of Fame in 1960 and worked with his wife Fannie to develop and manage it. A fund-raising group formed in 1969 raised much-needed money and found a major sponsor – whiskey distiller Jim Beam, which used collector fish decanters to contribute more than $300,000, giving the museum a crucial boost.

What really gave the Hall of Fame some influence, however, was being recognized in 1974 as the official qualifier of world records for fresh water sport fishing, replacing an annual contest held by a magazine.

from page 36

The record book now lists about 3,000 record catches from all fresh water species in America, now more than 125, and it has plenty of categories that have not yet been filled in, in addition to the expected walleye and largemouth records.

New records are approved every year.

At first, the records were based only on weight, but in 1993, the Hall also began recognizing length records in the catch-and-release category, helping keep many recordsetting fish alive and well and capable of setting new records in the future. Records are now broken down into categories including Rod & Reel, Fly Fishing, Pole/Line/No Reel Fishing and Ice Fishing.

The book comes out every two years, and the current one can be purchased for $15 from

the same website, freshwaterfishing.org.

MORE TO DO Hayward has every price range of hotels, shops and restaurants and no end of outdoor destinations nearby. The other big tourist draw, aside from the Hall of Fame, is Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Show, presented several times a week in warm-weather months at the Lumberjack Bowl, site of the Lumberjack World Championships and just up the road from the Hall of Fame.

In the show, skilled lumberjacks perform log rolling, speed carving, pole climbing, canoe jousting, axe throwing and more in a large pond with stadium seating. Tickets are $13.95 for adults, $10.95 for seniors, $8.95 for 4-11 and free for 3 and under. The season

The Big Muskie soars over the Hall of Fame grounds.

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Page 37

Friends and Neighbors in the Hall Missouri is well represented in the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame by the following people – some famous, some not – listed in the order they were inducted: • Don Latta, columnist, radio host and author of “The $500,000 Bass” humor book, inducted 1982.

• Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops and Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, inducted 1992.

• Virgil Ward, host of long-running “Championship Fishing” show, inducted 1992.

• Denny Brauer, phenomenally successful bass pro, inducted 1999.

• Wallace Lea, bass pro, guide and marina operator, inducted 2000.

• Jim Rogers, founder of Rogers Lures and Flies and teacher at Bass Fishing Institute of Indiana University, inducted 2004.

• George Bayless, developer fishing equipment for the disabled and steel tackle to replace lead, inducted 2008.

• Tony Allbright, considered the ultimate expert on fishing Bull Shoals Lake, inducted 2009.

• Joseph Tomelleri, illustrator of anatomically precise fish in books, magazines and journals, inducted 2010.

• Sharon Ruston, developer of youth and family fishing programs, inducted 2011.

• Al Agnew, advocate for wild rivers and native fish and artist for stamps, license plates and posters, inducted 2013.

• John Neporadny, outdoors writer and developer of high school bass classes and fishing teams, inducted 2016. Appears in the Outdoor Guide.

• Bill Cooper, fishing educator who has written more than 1,500 articles and hosted radio and television shows, just inducted for 2018. Appears in the Outdoor Guide.

NEIGHBORS

Among the many honorees from surrounding states are: • John Shedd, of Illinois, department store owner who in 1924 founded the world’s largest aquarium for education and research in Chicago, inducted 1985.

• Bill Dance, of Tennessee, bass pro who created the popular Bill Dance Outdoors television show, magazine and fishing products, inducted 1986.

• Jerry Pabst, of Illinois, outdoors writer and television host, founder of Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council, inducted 2010. Appears in the Outdoor Guide.

• Thayne Smith, of Kansas, outdoors writer and editor, president of Outdoors Writers Association of America, inducted 2014. Appears in the Outdoor Guide. runs from late May through early September. Go online to scheerslumberjackshow.com.

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GETTING THERE However you get to the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame from St. Louis, it’s going to be a haul. One way is to go

north on I-55 to Bloomington, IL, and take I-39 northbound.

At Portage, WI, go westward on I-90-94 and then follow I-94 north at Tomah. At Eau Claire, go north on U.S. 53 to Trego, then head east on U.S. 63 to Hayward. You’ve got to get up early to make it in a day!

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Outdoor Guide

Page 38

December 2017

For Sale – A Special Cabin in the Woods Photo and Text

By LARRY WHITELEY

When I was younger, I used to dream of having a cabin in the woods – a simple cabin nestled among cedars and hardwoods, somewhere in the Ozark Mountains of southwest Missouri.

My grandma used to tell me that if I dreamed long enough and worked hard enough, my dreams would come true. Grandma was right, and 20 years ago my wife and I found and bought that cabin. It was only five acres but surrounded by the thousands of acres of the Mark Twain National Forest.

The small cabin sits upon a rock bluff overlooking a creek and waterfall. Just like in my dreams, it is surrounded by cedars, hardwoods and a scattering of pines. The trees keep it hidden from view of the few cars that travel the gravel road and offer shade and protection from the summer’s sun and cold winds of winter.

A little wood stove sits in a corner and warms the cabin on winter days. Antique snowshoes hang on both sides of moose antlers. Deer, pheasant, ducks, trout, bass and a big muskie hang on the walls. Fox, beaver and raccoon pelts further add

to the setting. Each has a special memory and a story.

Deer antlers, turtle shells, feathers, buckeyes, rocks, bird nests and other nature things can be found everywhere you look. Most have been picked up by grandkids while on cabin adventures.

They are mixed in with old duck decoys, along with the jars, dishes and other antiques that are my wife’s special touch.

Most noticeable, though, are the pictures of our kids and grandkids, hung with loving care and sitting on shelves; pictures of them with turkey, deer, fish or just having a good time at the cabin, and grandkid pictures when they were just babies as well as pictures of them as young adults.

WATCHING ANIMALS Looking out our windows, we see birds of all kinds coming to the feeders. April through October is hummingbird time, and I don’t mean just a few. Hundreds at a time are a sight that thrills everyone who visits.

The deck is a great place to watch squirrels playing in the woods, butterflies landing on wild flowers, or bats diving for insects in a summer’s night sky. You can hear the waterfall as it cascades

Little Cedar Falls is a natural highlight near the cabin.

down Dogwood Mountain, listen to the sounds of the creek as it flows across the riffles, and hear the kingfisher swooping above the water or crows calling up the valley.

The fire pit is where grandkids roasted marshmallows and shared time with PaPaw. It’s a place to watch the flames dance and flicker as the worry and stress melt away. It’s a place

for fish fries, cookouts and fellowship.

A big barn and a small barn store the ATVs and other things. They are also great as places for grandkids to play when it’s raining.

Grandkids loved going fishing, hunting squirrels, swimming, snorkeling, catching crawdads, skipping rocks, playing in the gravel or waterfall, finding feathers, wading in the creek and riding ATVs. Good neighbors like Bob and Barb, Wayne and Jane, Annie and Winnie, Doug and Kim, Judge John, Sheila and Willie love the valley too. With them, we have shared hiking trails, ATV rides, campfires and pieces of our lives.

FOUR SEASONS Spring at the cabin is redbuds, dogwoods and wildflowers, along with the sound of peeper frogs and whip-poor-wills. Summer is fishing, swimming, relaxing or playing in the creek.

Fall brings a kaleidoscope of color, hunting season, looking for buckeyes, hiking, and cutting wood for the cold months ahead. Winter is books by the fire, making new hiking trails, and hiking in the snow.

The 20 years of owning

the cabin have passed in a hurry, and things have changed.

Kids have grown up and are busy with their own lives now and don’t come to the cabin anymore and won’t after we are gone.

The older grandkids don’t come either except for deer season. They would rather go to the lake than the creek.

Younger grandkids live a long drive away. All of them will always have memories of the cabin.

Grandma and I are getting older now, too, and it’s time for another change. As long as we live, we will still have the memories and the pictures. It will be hard to say goodbye to the cabin, but it’s time to find someone else who has dreamed of owning a cabin in the woods.

MEMORIES, DREAMS I wipe tears from my eyes as I finish writing this.

Remember that a cabin is more than just a cabin. It is a living structure with a soul of memories and dreams.

It is a place to get away, to share with others and to share fragments of one’s life with nature.

If you dream of owning a cabin in the woods, email Larry at lwhiteley2@ basspro.com.

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Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 39

Miracle on a Cedar Limb

Photo and Text

By LARRY DABLEMONT When I was young, I just lived to catch or kill something. A big fish, an unusual waterfowl species, a rooster pheasant or a wild gobbler, I just couldn’t wait to get something wild and beautiful in my hands.

When I did, I couldn’t stop looking at it and marveling at the beauty of wild things.

A lot of that longing to hunt and fish and explore was my heritage. My ancestors didn’t raise much stock to eat, so wild meat was important. I never thought anything would replace a rod and reel or a shotgun and rifle in my hands.

CAMERAS But that Nikon camera I bought a few weeks back is something I intend to shoot a great deal more than my old model 12 Winchester. I got it out of the package, remembering my first camera when I went to work for the Arkansas Democrat newspaper just out of college as their “outdoor editor.” It was a big, heavy, black box which took only black and white pictures. I nearly wore that thing out, and I still have some of the square negatives in my files that it created.

When I went to work as a

naturalist for the state of Arkansas a year later, I bought a 35mm Pentax that indeed took color photos in the form of slide transparencies. The state couldn’t afford a camera for me but they did pay for film and developing. I kept duplicates, and I now have a few thousand old slides and prints that camera gave me.

I sold hundreds of photos to magazines when I finally became a full-time outdoor writer, and I think I sold more than 40 cover photos for various magazines. I learned that understanding the technology of a camera wasn’t as important as knowing what would make a photo and being where you could see things not normally seen.

THE RAIN CROW So I took a little walk down one of my trails to practice with it. I had written recently about yellow-billed cuckoos, which are known as rain crows to us country folks. I have been here on Lightnin’Ridge for 25 years and never had a clear view of one, although each summer they nest up here, staying high in the foliage of big trees, as if they are trying to hide. You see one for a second and then it’s gone.

Walking down that trail with the camera and two lenses, a rain crow flew down and lit

on a cedar limb I had trimmed along the trail. I brought up the camera and tried to see him through the lens. Nothing. The lens cover was still on!

I took it off, chose a setting on the camera I thought would work and clicked a couple of quick photos. But it was too far away. Then I remembered the telephoto lens in my pack, and my shaky fingers worked to find the way to push the right buttons to change the lenses.

I knew it was not going to work. He could see me so well, just 15 or 20 yards away. But somehow I got the telephoto lens on, found him in the viewfinder and began to click the shutter. That rain crow sat there for at least five minutes, turning his head to give me different shots, acting as if he was modeling for me.

SPECTACULAR! When he flew away, I headed for my office, so happy my feet scarcely touched the trail. I stuck the little card in the computer, and there were the very first photos my new camera gave me … spectacular shots of a rain crow, something I thought I would never ever get.

To see more of them, go to my website, larrydablemontoutdoors.blogspot.com, and see if you ever saw an amateur photographer get pictures of a

The yellow-billed cuckoo (rain crow) seemed to just wait on that limb until the photographer was finally ready.

rain crow any better than those.

Sometime in the future I am going to find my best 100 photos, taken over 45 years as a naturalist and outdoor writer, and publish them, with a page of information about what each one is and where it was taken.

I think it will make a good book, because if there is a photo of a bird or animal or whatever, I don’t intend to just tell the facts about that creature that

you can find in a dozen books, but I want to tell the story of my own experiences and observations and what I have learned that hasn’t been printed on some internet account.

With this new camera, I am not sure that better photos than I have ever taken aren’t ahead. I am certainly going to be spending a lot of time on the river and in the woods with it. That is the secret to

getting good photos – being where they are found as much as possible.

Folks have been wanting information about my 10 books, so we have made little sheets each one and I can mail them. Just call (417) 777-5227, email me at lightninridge@windstream.net or write to Box 22, Bolivar, Mo 65613.

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Outdoor Guide

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Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Outdoor Gallery Winner for December edition is Jared De Armond.

Congratulations from OGM and Strike King!

Email your photo to ogmbobw@aol.com

and enter to win a $100 prize package from Strike King Lure Company.

ABLE ARCHER – Carter Pate, 19, of Monroe County, IL, used his bow to get this prize that field-dressed at 200 pounds with 32 scoreable points.

RAMP’S READY – Kortney Triplett helps young Jordan Robinson set her bait for casting after the dedication of a new fishing ramp at Willmore Park in St. Louis on Oct. 21.

The ramp was rebuilt by the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, and another ramp there got new railings.

KINCAID CATCH – Jim Torrence caught this 31/2-lb. crappie at Lake Kincaid in southern Illinois last April 3. He was using a minnow at 16 feet deep.

TRY IT AGAIN – Nathan “Shags” McLeod caught this beautiful 191/2” brown trout on his second cast while fishing the Current River.

December 2017

Outdoor Guide

Page 43

CURRENT RECORD – Savannah Light caught the largest rainbow trout during a weekend getaway recently on the Current River.

SAC SUPPER – Bub Besch and a good friend, Gene Oliver of Overland Park, KN, admire a dandy 18-inch smallie Bub landed on the Sac River while out with float-fishing guide Dennis Whiteside.

10 POINTS AT 13 – Josie Giffhorn, 13, of Waterloo, IL, took this 252-lb., 10-point buck during the Illinois Youth Deer Season in southern Illinois. She is the daughter of Neil Giffhorn.

EMILY’S BEAR – Emily Ziehmer took her first black bear, a 170-lb. boar, in northern New Brunswick, Canada.

ON THE BETSIE – The October coho run on the Betsie River at Betsie, MI, two miles south of Lake Michigan, made for an awesome fishing trip. Andrew Freund had some success while fishing with his dad Chip and Grandpa Ed Troske of Waterloo, IL.

GRANDSON’S GOBBLER – Bill De Armond reports that his nine-year-old grandson, Jared De Armond (center), took this huge gobbler while hunting from a pop-up blind on opening day of Youth Season on the family farm in southern Missouri. It weighed 23 pounds and sported a 10-inch beard. Jared was hunting with his father, Dave, and brother Jake, age 7, who was on his first turkey hunt.

Outdoor Guide

Page 44

December 2017

Larry’s Short Stories

The Once-in-a-Lifetime Moose

Photo and Text

By LARRY POTTERFIELD

Matt Fleming and I were on a 10-day moose hunt in the Canadian Yuukon, and we asked the guides to keep us together the first few days.

They were fine with this and just wanted to know who would shoot first.

As Matt is a few years younger and had not shot an Alaska/Yukon moose, I immediately said, “Matt will be the first shooter.”

The second day we spotted a big moose a mile away. He bedded down near a cow, but the wind was bad so we de-

By MICHAEL WARDLAW Land Specialist Buy low, sell high. That is how the saying goes, right?

When you are looking to invest in real estate, it is no different. The good news for those who are considering cashing in on the sale of a farm, now could be the right time.

The market for recreational farms in Missouri has seen an influx of buyers over the past six months. The booming stock market and overall positive at-

cided to wait. Next morning, he had only moved a couple hundred yards and the wind was better, so away we went.

But before we began the stalk, Matt said, “Larry, this is a very special moose and I want you to shoot him.”

I looked at Matt, thought for a few seconds, and then responded, “A gentleman would never turn down such a gift. Thank you!” The horses took us down the mountain, across the creek and up the other side, where we tied up 500 yards downhill from the bull.

When we first saw him, he was standing at 325 yards.

Cole, Matt’s guide, asked if I

Larry Potterfield, at left, and his co-worker Matt Fleming just took this “once-in-a lifetime” moose in the Canadian Yukon. Notice the drop tine on the left antler. There is also one on the right.

could hit him at that distance.

“Not offhand,” I replied, so he looked around and found a dead stick for support.

I didn’t really want to shoot from that distance and suggested we get closer. When the bull stepped behind some brush, we moved up – now to 264 yards – better. But he didn’t offer a good shot and stepped over a ridge, so we moved up again.

FINALLY, A SHOT The last few seconds were pretty exciting. Sam, my guide, was a step in front as he looked over the ridge. “There he is – 60 yards!” he said.

I laid down my stick and

Seller’s Market for Recreational Farms

titude in the financial markets have provided the environment for individuals to look into purchasing the land they have been dreaming of for the past several years.

And for those who started looking six months ago, they likely found a farm. However, a buyer jumping into today’s market will find a very slim selection of farms to consider. Personally I’m working with six clients who have cash in hand, ready to buy a farm, and cannot find one that fits

what they are looking for.

This has created a seller’s market for recreational farms.

A couple months ago, I found myself reviewing comps with Jason Cleveland, brokerowner of Trophy Properties and Auction. As we went through the list of sold properties in a given area, we quickly saw that properties that sold for $3,200 per acre in 2016 were now selling for $3,600 and even up to $4,000 per acre.

It’s just basic economics at work. The supply is down, so

the price goes up.

DOLLAR SIGNS? Are you seeing dollar signs yet? Well, pump the breaks just a little. I am not saying you can easily sell your farm for a crazy dollar figure. But I am saying that if you stay within the market range on price, even the upper end of the market range, you will have a good chance of selling your farm for significantly more than you could have a year ago.

Once properties begin to hit the open market, things will

level out. So do not think you can sit back and watch things climb until you are ready. Historically speaking, land goes up over time, but there will be ups and downs during any given time frame. At the moment we are seeing the upswing in sale prices. That will not last forever.

My advice to anyone who owns a recreational farm and is even remotely considering selling within the next couple of years is to reach out to a qualified land professional. Find out exactly how the market is doing

stepped up to shoot off-hand.

What I saw was a moose running left to right, 150 yards out – not what I expected. I retrieved the stick. The moose was now out of sight (it was the cow), but now the bull was running the same direction and much closer.

Sam gave a couple of cow calls. The bull stopped, and I put a 180-grain Nosler Partition through his lungs at 125 yards. He ran again, and Matt got an off-hand shot into his ribs before he stopped. My second shot put him down.

That’s my once-in-a-lifetime moose story – a gift from my friend Matt, and he went home without a moose.

in your area. Get their opinion on the current value of your property so that you can make an educated decision for you and your family.

Bottom line, right now the recreational market is looking for people willing to sell their farms. This could be the perfect time for you to take advantage of a strong market.

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Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 45

Warm Weather, Cold Water, Big Trout

Photos and Text

By JOHN L. SLOAN Southern Editor at Large I had just commented on the bald eagle that had been following us. I mentioned to my partner that the eagle knew where the shad were and the trout should, too, since both fed on the same thing.

It was a warm, sunny, early spring day, highlighted by the sudden screaming of the drag on my partner’s spinning reel. The eightpound test was peeling off.

As the eagle banked for a better look, the brown trout, well over six pounds, went airborne.

Anglers seldom think of Tennessee as prime troutfishing territory. The truth is,

it can be fantastic. The early months of January, February and March are best for big trout, and the methods of catching them are varied. For numbers of eating-size, look later in the spring.

About 50 miles east of Nashville, the Caney Fork River winds through steep bluffs and hills from Center Hill Lake Dam to the Cumberland River and I-40, crossing it five times. Center Hill is a TVA dam, and generation is the key to catching the three species of trout – rainbows, browns and brookies. It’s ideal when one or two generators are running. That forces shad through the turbines, and the trout feed. But even far down river, the larger fish can be caught.

Bank fishing can be a trout bonanza with either artificials, including flies, or bait.

Launch points are plentiful. There are two ramps and parking lots at the dam and a great one just outside Gordonsville. You can launch in the Cumberland in Carthage and motor upstream. A quick look at a map of the Caney Fork will quickly show you the spots (see canoethecaney.com).

LIKE A BANKER’S HEART It is an easy river to find and understand. It is also gin clear most of the time and cold as a banker’s heart. It also holds a healthy population of walleye, saugeye, sauger and stripers.

Tackle is simple. I prefer a large-to-medium shad imitator crank or jerk bait, either cast or trolled up stream.

I use nothing but spinning gear, usually spooled with six, eight or ten pound mono.

Obviously, this requires a boat.

But that is not the only method. Bank fishing can be great using such baits as garlic cheese, any commercial trout preparation or an in-line spinner such as a Rooster Tail. White and gray are the best colors, usually, and I like a gold spinner.

Many locations on both sides of the river provide access. Bank fishing near the dam can be spectacular at times, and bonus walleye are not uncommon. Obviously, wear a life jacket at all times.

On one warmish day in early February, a few

years ago, I took a couple of friends, just to get out of the house. We had three rainbows over five pounds and one brown over eight.

We also had a striper that was over 20. Pretty good afternoon.

Knowing how trout feed is important. They lie in the calm waters behind structure and ambush food as it drifts down. The river is full of just such places from huge boulders to bridge pilings.

SLOWLY TROLLING If I am casting, I always cast upstream and retrieve down with the current. A neutral buoyancy jerk bait is deadly. Trolling, the key is to troll slowly and put the motor in neutral every so often and let it drift back.

Each year, several trout of over 10 pounds are caught. I drift down, casting to likely looking spots. Then, from time to time, I troll back upstream through the “good” spots. The biggest problem is, there are so many goodlooking spots. Look for eddies and slower, deep holes.

But I have to be honest.

My favorite way to fish for them is deeper into the spring and summer. Then I float down. I want no generation from the dam, and I wade gravel bars as I float down.

I also listen for gobblers and watch for deer. The scenery is superb.

Mostly I use in-line spinners 1/8-1/6 ounce and smaller floating or shallow running lures such as a #5

While you’re on the Caney Fork, don’t overlook the rainbows.

Sloan in his natural environment.

John Sloan Introduces Himself Outdoor Guide Editor Bobby Whitehead asked me to share these stories from the southern states and to introduce myself.

I know me quite well but will try to make this brief.

First of all, I am a crotchety old man, the model for “curmudgeon.” I have spent almost my entire life outdoors. I have a degree in animal science and communication from the University of Wyoming, and it is almost useless.

But of importance to you, hopefully my faithful readers, is that I have been hunting big game for 63 years and seriously studying deer for close to 30.

I won’t belabor you with technical terms, and I won’t try to sell you a product. I will share what I know and what I have learned.

The same holds true for fishing. I do a lot of that … but not in tournaments, ever. I have done many seminars in the Midwest and perhaps some of you attended one.

AT IT AWHILE I sold my first outdoor story in 1959. I’ve been at it so long, I even believe some of the stuff myself.

That’s a joke, by the way.

I have written for most of the major archery publications and was primarily a bowhunter for many years.

Rapala. There is a lot of fly-fishing on the Caney and I’ll be honest, I know nothing about a fly rod or flies. If you do, I suggest you use whatever you have used elsewhere.

To get a generation schedule for either early spring or later, go online to tva.gov/ environment/centerhill.

You can book a comfortable room at Edgar Evins State Park, less than five minutes from the dam and get the latest fishing info from Joel or one of the girls at Caney Fork Canoe Rentals. They will

Now I am forced to shoot a crossbow. I also hunt with muzzleloader and rifle and occasionally, rocks or spears.

I am addicted to smallmouth fishing but will fish for just about anything.

I catch enough bream – maybe you call them bluegill – to eat their fillets most of the year. The rest of the time, I eat crappie.

Mostly, I bass fish.

I live in Lebanon, TN, and have traveled, fished and hunted all over the U.S., Canada and parts of Mexico. Born in Illinois, I lived in Springfield when deer were just coming back. Yes, I have killed animals that qualify for record books. No, I have not had them registered.

Among my animals are deer, elk, moose, caribou, antelope, bear, sheep and some small game and varmints like turkeys.

I’ve been married for 42 years, have two kids and four G-kids. I am 73 and still working out. I am a Christian and thank God every day for every day He gives me. I hope you enjoy my writing but here is a warning: I misspell a lot of werds on purpose and inject some weird humor quite often.

Great meeting all of you, and God bless. also fix you up with whatever tackle you may need.

DON’T BE STUPID A word of warning: Like all hydro-electric waters, it can be dangerous. Wear your flotation devices at all times and don’t do anything stupid, even fishing from the bank. If you are wading or bank fishing and you see the water start to rise, get out immediately.

By all means, don’t forget your camera. Come on down, enjoy warmer weather and some great trout fishing.

Outdoor Guide

Page 46

By WALT BEITER

December 2017

‘Shepherd’ Novel Revealed 1900s Ozarks Life The author’s inspired description of Mutton Hollow, however, leaves little doubt about his passion for the pristine wilderness he found in the Ozarks. The book’s success gave rise to movie adaptations, one starring a young John Wayne. Still in print, the book can be enjoyed by those interested in the early Ozarks and willing to experience the writing of an earlier period.

INTO THE OZARKS Wright was 23 when he entered the Ozarks in 1895. He quickly bonded with people and, in turn, people accepted the young outsider. At the time, the region was mostly an untamed frontier. It was not unusual for family feuds, personal grudges and unsettled Civil War issues to be settled with guns. “Baldknobbers,” a word now associated with family entertainment in Branson, applied to armed men considered vigilantes by friends and lawless ruffians by others.

Wright died in 1944, and most of what we know about his life is in a non-fiction book he published in 1934, To My Sons. He refused requests to write an autobiography after becoming a well-known au-

A hundred and ten years ago, a novel was published that drew attention to a reclusive section of hills and hollows deep within the Missouri Ozark. It would sell more than a million copies and capture the imagination and curiosity of a national audience.

The Shepherd of the Hills, written by Harold Bell Wright, takes place near what today is Branson, and the characters are based on families living there at the close of the 19th century. A kindly, well-educated stranger enters Mutton Hollow, where he earns the friendship and trust of its inhabitants. He accepts the humble job of shepherd but is burdened with a secret responsible for his coming to the mountains.

The novel was Wright’s second book and his first success. It was the first fictional work to take advantage of the region’s natural attractions.

After publication, people began noticing strangers wandering about, and Wright received the initial credit for introducing tourism to the Ozarks.

By today’s standards, the writing seems melodramatic.

thor. He had married in 1899, had three sons and insisted To My Sons was intended to provide his boys with knowledge about their father before they knew him. The book revisits his journey to the Ozarks, his unusual path to writing, and the experiences that shaped his life. “You may trust me to omit many things you would not enjoy knowing, which would profit you nothing, and of which I am heartily ashamed,” he wrote, adding that what was in the book is the truth.

THE ODYSSEY Wright was born in 1872 in a small village in upper New York. He grew up in a poor family with a loving mother and worthless father. The mother died when Harold was 11, and his father left after the funeral, leaving Harold and his brothers dispersed among neighbors.

For young Wright, the next 12 years would be an unimaginable odyssey. He shifted from home to home, a few warm and friendly, most offering little but hard work. He held demanding jobs beyond his age. He travelled alone on foot, nights spent hungry and frequently without shelter.

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John Wayne in the 1941 film ‘The Shepherd of the Hills’

His movement was westward, and many of those vagabond years were in Ohio. He owned a one-man printing and painting business, attended prep school and worked in a quarry but ran into health problems.

While regaining his health he accepted an invitation from a relative to visit the Ozarks.

There, Wright attended church in a one-room school served by a traveling preacher.

When the preacher failed to appear one Sunday, friends asked him to fill in. He was soon preaching in other churches, a calling he would follow for 10 years. While preaching in Pittsburg, KA, he wrote his first novel, The Printer of Udell’s, but again fell ill.

Returning in 1903 to the Ozarks for rest, Wright camped at Inspiration Point and began his second book and wondered if writing might be a better way for him to serve God. He completed the book while serving a church in Lebanon, Mo. but moved west before its publication.

He lived in Arizona and California for the remainder of his life, writing best sellers and becoming quite wealthy.

He maintained that he was not really a novelist but a preacher, and he described his books as “wholesome and clean.” When he died, the New York Times reported that while literary critics panned Wright “as a purveyor of sweetness and light, millions of Americans avidly read every word he wrote.”

THE IMPACT The Shepherd of the Hills created an interest in the Ozarks, starting the developments that made the Branson area the major tourist attraction it is today.

The railroad delivered passengers to Hollister in 1906.

Two dams created popular lakes, Powersite Dam in 1913 and Table Rock in 1958.

Highway and road improvements reduced travel time.

Family entertainment arrived, including the long-running Shepherd of the Hills outdoor drama. Theme parks opened, condos mushroomed and the Branson waterfront underwent a facelift.

But it is still possible to experience hills and hollows like those found by young Harold Bell Wright. One such area is the Ruth and Paul Conservation Area, just off busy Highway 76. A little further is Drury-Mincy Conservation Area southeast of Branson off Highway J. I enjoy the conservation areas and confess to viewing present-day Branson with mixed emotions. I wonder what it would be like to fish a free-flowing White River stretching through pristine hills, although I certainly

Harold Bell Wright

enjoy catching trout from Taneycomo and smallmouth bass from Table Rock.

I flinch when seeing the modern highways ripping through the hills, but I like convenience and speed in reaching my destination, and enjoy the entertainment and restaurants.

Wright voiced concern about the Ozarks, even in writing the book that made them famous. Near the conclusion, the wise old shepherd points toward Roark Valley and says, “Before many years a railroad will find its way yonder.

Then many may come, and the beautiful hills that have been my strength and peace will become the haunt of careless idlers and a place of revelry. I am glad that I shall not be here.”

For now, the hills are still there to welcome us.

Outdoor Guide

December 2017

Page 47

Conservation Effort Rises Above Politics

As a token gift for my appearance at the Missouri Department of Conservation 80th Anniversary Celebration, I received a copy of a hard-cover book the department printed recognizing its 75th year.

Titled “The Promise Continues,” it is an account of history and a documentary of art and stories that focuses on the partnerships between the department and residents of the state who work together to make efforts to restore wildlife and wild lands in our state successful.

I haven’t finished the book yet, but I was struck by something in the Foreword by former director Robert Ziehmer that highlighted the insight of those who founded the department 80 years ago and presented a challenge for its future.

In 1936 an amendment to the state constitution was proposed that created the department, and the first objective as documented in early reporting rings much louder today: “To protect, as far as legally possible, the administration of the state’s wildlife resources from the influence of partisan politics.”

Nothing seems to happen in government these days that doesn’t seem to find a

base in partisanship. Ideas are debated, decided and deleted based almost completely on who gets credit for it or who scores political points.

For all the successes the department has accomplished restoring deer, turkey and other wildlife species in the state, the biggest triumph may be its ability to rise above the fray and gain the support of both sides of a polarized populace.

NO GREATER ISSUE Around campfires, in fishing boats, on hiking trails, recreational users of our state’s resources may not always see eye-to-eye on the politics of the day, but they seem to agree with Theodore Roosevelt’s perspective from the 1912 Progressive National Convention: “There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in our country. The nation

behaves well if it treats natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value.”

The other stated objectives of the proposal that created the department are equally important to the achievements of the past eight decades.

They also carry a tone that rings around the workings of a political system: “To provide for employment of staff members based

For all the successes the department has accomplished restoring deer, turkey and other wildlife species in the state, the biggest triumph may be its ability to rise above the fray and gain the support from both sides of a polarized populace.

The book shows the foresight of the Department of Conservation founders.

on training and experience, and provide security of tenure so the state benefits from the training and experience of its employees.”

In other words, hiring the best qualified people rather than making patronage appointments, and keeping those good folks rather than dismissing someone just because the previous administration hired him or her.

HISTORY LESSON The bulk of the book focuses on the department successfully putting plans in action on principals like science-based conservation, partnerships with landowners, making public lands available, educating residents, the economics of conservation, and preserving waters and wetlands.

The Profiles of Con-

servation Leaders section includes biographical information and line art drawings of the department directors, master conservationists, hall of famers and commissioners.

The book is available at Department of Conservation gift stores and the online natureshop.com for $15.

Once I finish reading my copy, I’ll be happy to loan it out to someone looking for a good history lesson.

John J. Winkleman is marketing and communications regional manager at Mercy Hospital Jefferson.

If you have comments or news for Outdoor Guide Magazine, send email to ogmjohnw@aol.com or follow John on Twitter at @johnjwink99.

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