Outdoor Guide Magazine November-December 2023

OUTDOOR

GUIDE

November-December 2023

MAGAZINE

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Catching redfish ....... Page 4

Drawdowns ............. Page 6

Hawken rifles........... Page 8

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A an ea N I Th gr

Butler & Bobby........Page 10

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HUNTING • FISHING • CAMPING • BOATING • SHOOTING • TRAVEL Missouri, Illinois and other exciting outdoor destinations!

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Outdoor Guide

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November-December 2023

Final Outdoor Guide brings good memories

Photos and Text

By JOHN WINKELMAN When Larry Fleet sings, “That’s Where I Find God,” he mentions a deer stand and a hay field, among several other locations.

I agree with his references for connecting with the Almighty, and I found inspiration this fall while waiting for action overlooking acreage I had mowed earlier this summer.

I had downloaded images from a trail camera on the way to my stand, so I happened to have my laptop with me as the autumn afternoon made its progress toward evening. I clicked through the photos to find nothing outstanding, but

nothing discouraging either.

As I looked out over the green grass that hadn’t quite grown tall enough for a third cutting, I pondered something else that had been on my mind – for a couple of months, I had wondered about how to write my last column for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

NOT AN OBITUARY I only knew that I wanted it to sound more like a love story than an obituary. As Mark Twain said regarding news of his death, an obituary would be “greatly exaggerated.”

The hunting, fishing, camping, and travel news you have welcomed into your homes for more than three decades is re-

turning to its roots as a section inside the St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune.

At least some of the howto, where-to and what-to-do stories will continue to be available, but in their original location, rather than in this handy, colorful package.

MEETING BOBBY I easily recall the first time I met Outdoor Guide founder Bobby Whitehead and was introduced to the Guide. I don’t know for sure which St. Louis Boat and Sport Show it was, because I went to them all looking for bargains and the shared knowledge that came from their seminars and vendor representatives.

Bobby offered me “the best deal at the boat show.” For just $5, I could get a full-year subscription, and I could pick a pack of lures from the grab-bag box of goodies on display.

I was trying to decide between the black or blue rubber worms, so he told me to take them both but that I had to send a photo for the Outdoor Gallery page – “when you catch a big one.”

GUY WINTER This last issue of the magazine is not big enough to list all the things I’ve learned about hunting and fishing from its pages over the years, but I can say unequivocally that Bobby’s lessons on how to treat people are the area where I gained the most from my 20plus year association with him and the organization.

I have had the opportunities to interview, work with, share a fishing boat with, and go hunting with some incredible leaders of the outdoor industry.

I’m not looking to name drop, but I am compelled to mention Guy Winter for his counsel on crappie fishing and a more-than fair dose of laughter as a great medicine in communication.

JOEL VANCE For all the things that those relationships meant to me and my career, what stands out most was my chance to meet a childhood idol and work alongside him as a mentor and colleague. As an impressionable imp, I would wait impatiently for each issue of Missouri Conservationist

Winkelman’s laptop, ready to ramble.

Magazine, and as soon as it was delivered, I would dive in for the latest writing from Joel Vance.

Later, I was proud to share the Outdoor Guide masthead and pages with the man I considered a master writer and genuine human. I own autographed copies of all of Joel Vance’s books, and as much as I enjoy the comedic prose of his tales, it is the personal inscriptions inside

each cover page that continue to inspire me.

Please continue to look for the work of the talented and dedicated men and women who elegantly and often humorously share their experiences and expertise about the great outdoors.

The writers you have counted on to bring the woods and water to life will continue to provide what you are looking to find.

MORE THAN A FISHING SPOT There’s something special about fishing in Missouri. That unmistakable pink flash of a Rainbow Trout turning in the current, the red dots of a Brown rising into shallower water, the rush of a Largemouth striking the surface. You

can cast a line anywhere, but you can only fish like this in Lebanon, Missouri. Make your next fishing trip count.

VisitLebanonMo.com | 1.844.4LEBANON

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

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NATURE

healthy is

Exposure to nature can help you relax and be kind to others.

Spending time in conservation areas, woods, backyards, and urban parks may ease stress levels.

Getting away from busy schedules allows people to connect with nature and themselves in a way that brings calm and a sense of well-being.

Being outdoors gives us energy, makes us happier, and helps us feel more focused.

Get outside and enjoy nature today! Download the free MO Outdoors app for ideas on where to go near you.

Get outside and enjoy nature today!

Download the free MO Outdoors app for ideas on where to go near you.

Download for

Android

Taking a nature walk may increase creative problemsolving skills by as much as 50 percent.

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Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

Catching redfish out on the Osage Photos and Text

By MIKE ROUX

Thank you for 31 great years!

I have known Ed Franko for a handful of years now. He is the top fishing guide on Lake of the Ozarks. I have fished with him there several times.

Ed is also an expert at fishing below Bagnell Dam, in the Osage River.

The first time Ed took me on the river, I fell in love with it. I grew up river fishing, and there is nothing else like it. He launches his boat in the shadow of Bagnell Dam. With his jet boat, Ed can get to rarely fished sections of the river that only a few others can reach. He runs at full throttle in water no more than a foot deep.

When I told Ed that I was coming to the lake for a week with Nancy and three grandchildren, he offered to take my 11-year-old grandson Connor and I fishing on the river. That was an amazing invitation.

I asked Franko if I could film the trip for an episode of “Mid-MO Reapers” for YouTube. He was excited for the chance to fish and film.

He said we would be catching several species, but he wanted Connor to hook into a special fish on the Osage.

OSAGE REDFISH OR DRUM? On this trip we would be targeting what Ed calls the “Osage River Redfish.” Everyone else calls it a drum.

Either way, there are some dandies in that river and Ed Franko knows how to find them.

We launched about 4 p.m. and headed downstream five miles to start our adventure.

Connor and Ed hit it off immediately. They spent the next four hours fishing and becoming great friends. Ed is very willing to share his fishing knowledge, and my grandson was like a sponge.

Our guide began by showing us the “lure of the day.”

The Ned Rig is Franko’s preferred bait in the river during the summer. He also throws top-water, but not at redfish.

Ed showed Connor how to fish this bait and made him a pro in no time. I was handling the video camera from the back seat while Connor and Ed fished from the bow. I would make a few casts between theirs.

Well, I caught the first four fish, all different species. I

Holding the two biggest fish of his life, so far, Connor Dietrich loves Osage River redfish.

caught a crappie, a smallmouth bass, a largemouth bass and a Kentucky bass. I was just supposed to be the cameraman, so I was really rubbing it in.

GET OUT THE CAMERA At our second stop, they started catching fish, so I had to go to work behind the camera.

Connor’s cast was just downstream of a huge boulder when his Ned Rig got hit. And man, did it get hit!

Watching and filming Connor fight that fish was amazing.

His struggle with the rod was a ton of fun to watch. Ed coached him, and I could see the excitement on both their faces.

Connor’s biggest fish ever had been a 7-pound channel catfish, but I could tell quickly that this fish was well over that weight. Once in the boat, Ed called it at 15 pounds. My young angler was amazed, and we all enjoyed getting some great photos.

Ed caught a few more bass, and Connor caught some bluegill and a bass and then he hooked up again. The result was another huge Osage River redfish. This one weighed a bit over 10 pounds.

Those were two great fish, and personal bests for this young fisherman. You must give Big Ed’s Guide Service a call at (573) 692-6710 and let him guide you to some great fishing in and around Lake of the Ozarks.

To watch all the action I just described, go to YouTube and subscribe to MID-MO REAPERS. For more outdoor content, like and follow Mike Roux Outdoor Enterprises on Facebook.

(Editor’s note: Mike was editor for northeast Missouri and central Illinois as far back as 1998 and returned as a contributor in the past few years.)

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

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November-December 2023

Reservoir drawdowns bring rewards

Photo and Text

By JOHN NEPORADNY

The annual reservoir drawdown on Midwestern lakes works to touring pro James Watson’s advantage whether he’s fishing at home or on the tournament trail.

Every year, dam authorities – whether it’s the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Army Corps of Engineers or private power companies – draw down a reservoir’s water level, either in the fall or winter, in preparation for the flood season.

The lowering of the lake level provides room for the impoundment to hold runoff produced by winter or spring storms.

Watson never recalls having a bad experience fishing a reservoir drawdown, and he instead reaps the benefits of the dropping lake levels.

“You get to see stuff you are not normally used to seeing, like really good rock formations or

seams, stump fields or little choke points,” he said. “It also helps you pattern fish on a drawdown. When the drawdown is done, the bass are positioned really well, in particular long branches or longer creeks.”

A drawdown eliminates shoreline bushes and other shallow hideouts for bass, but Watson believes the dropping water level concentrates bass better on particular targets in certain areas. “There is less water for them to hide in; their pond just got smaller,” he said.

“I love to see the lake come down, especially in the fall, because it seems to stir up the big gizzard shad,” Watson said.

“That is their normal time to get up on the bank and start running around.”

EFFECTS ON BASS The Major League Fishing pro notices how the rate of a drawdown affects bass. He prefers a steady drawdown

OUTDOOR

rather than a drastic drop in the lake level, such as what occurs during the spring when lake levels fluctuate up and down.

If heavy rains occur during a drawdown, Watson will look for rain runoff areas. He believes runoffs are more productive in the spring, but the spots are still worth trying in the fall drawdown. “You can follow the water back up again,” he said. “That is easier to do then following the water down at a faster rate.”

Water clarity determines which part of a lake Watson keys on during the drawdown.

Although bass will remain shallower in murky water, Watson prefers clear water when the water is still warm during the drawdown because it allows him to catch bass on topwater lures such as a buzz bait and the River2Seas Whopper Plopper.

Catching bass during the drawdown can be broken down into three stages: beginning,

GUIDE

November-December 2023

MAGAZINE

HUNTING • FISHING • CAMPING • BOATING • SHOOTING • TRAVEL

Volume 31, No. 6 • Published six times a year Office: 301 S. Ewing, St. Louis, MO 63103 News department — 618-972-3744 e-mail: carl@labortribune.com

COVER created by Kathy Crowe, graphic designer. PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Seager.

Carl Green, editor – carl@labortribune.com John Winkelman, associate editor — ogmjohnw@aol.com Bob Whitehead, editor emeritis – ogmbobw@aol.com Lynn Fowler, circulation manager Kathy Crowe, graphic designer — Account executives — Dan Braun, marketing director 314-256-4136 Lauren Marshall 314-614-5175 — Regional and specialty editors — Darrell Taylor Ray Eye Brent Frazee Brandon Butler

Bill Cooper Thayne Smith Steve Jones

Bill Seibel John Neporadny Jr. T. J. Mullin

Larry Whiteley Ted Nugent Ron Bice

– In Memoriam —

Joel Vance • Ron Henry Strait • Jared Billings • Charlie Farmer • Richard Engelke • Mark Hubbard • Spence Turner • Hank Reifeiss Kay Hively • Bill Harmon • Barbara Perry Lawton • Danny Hicks • Ron Kruger • TJ Stallings • John Sloan

Claudette Roper Gerald Scott Bill Keaton Charlie Slovensky Jerry Pabst Ray Maxwell

Kenneth Kieser Terry Wilson Bob Holzhei Jeannie Farmer Darrell Cureton Jed Nadler

— Staff writers —

Don Gasaway Mike Roux Craig Alderman Randall Davis Larry Potterfield Tom Watson

Tim Huffman Russell Hively Terry & Roxanne Wilson Michael Wardlaw Tyler Mahoney Richard Aites

A buzz bait is one of James Watson’s favorite lures in the early stages of a fall reservoir drawdown.

middle and ending. Here’s how Watson catches bass during each stage.

BEGINNING STAGE During the early drawdown, Watson targets rocks because the cover is abundant on all the lakes (Table Rock, Beaver and Bull Shoals) near his home. “It is hard to beat rock,” he said.

Watson finds bass in the shallows chasing shad and sunfish along the rocky banks.

The shad migration in autumn draws Watson to the backs of creeks during the drawdown.

“The shad always migrate to the back of the creeks even if the water is coming out,” he said.

Watson’s favorite lures to throw when bass are chasing large gizzard shad and perch are a 3/8-ounce War Eagle Buzz Bait, Whopper Plopper and Luck “E” Strike Jimmy Houston Legends Spinnerbait.

He prefers these lures because the baits match the size of the forage fish on the rocks. The Missouri angler positions his boat parallel to the bank so he can run his lures in the shallows throughout his retrieve.

MIDDLE STAGE When the water cools down and the gizzard shad leave the bank, bass move out to stage in the cedar trees and pole timber or around boat docks on Watson’s home waters.

“Those bass will still tend to roam up and down the bank a little bit but also drift out and suspend out there in water over 10 to 15 feet deep,” he said. Shad are moving out of the backs of the creeks then, so Watson starts following the batfish out to the main lake.

Bass start feeding on smaller

shad during this stage, so Watson downsizes the blades on his spinnerbait. He moves his boat out to the trees and casts straight to the bank instead of paralleling the shoreline. Bass will either be suspended in the trees or in open water, so Watson tempts them by walking the spinnerbait on the surface or throwing an Alabama rig loaded with swimbaits.

ENDING STAGE The spinnerbait and buzz bait continue to produce for Watson during this stage until the water temperature drops below 52 degrees. Then he switches to a Luck “E” Strike G5 crankbait that he throws to the bank and runs out to his boat, sitting over depths of 12 to 15 feet. As the water temperature continues to drop, Watson looks for the deepest docks he can find and relies on a spoon or heavy football jig to catch bass at the end of the drawdown.

See additional tips like these in the author’s book, “101 Bass Fishing Tips, Twenty-First Century Bassing Tactics and Techniques from All the Top Pros.” Order an autographed copy by visiting https://jnoutdoors1.jnoutdoors.com.

Madison County second in deer-vehicle collisions

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Madison County, Illinois, ranked second in the state in vehicle crashes involving deer in 2022 with 396 such crashes, behind only Cook County, which totaled 542.

“Fall in Illinois includes high school football, spectacular scenery as the leaves change colors, and the arrival of deer mating season,” the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported in a news release. The other topfive counties for deer-vehicle crashes all were among the Cook County “collar counties,” including McHenry at 396, Lake at 351 and Will at 344.

ALWAYS BE READY The peak active season for deer in Illinois is now, and it will continue through December, especially at dawn and dusk.

“While your natural instinct is to steer quickly out of the way

when you see a deer, remember not to veer suddenly, because you could lose control of your vehicle and swerve into another lane or off the road,” Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said.

“Always prepare for the unexpected,” he added. “A deer might stop in the middle of the road or double back. They also frequently travel in groups, so when you see one, there likely are others nearby.”

In 2022, the state reached 14,524 crashes involving deer.

Of those, 13,892 resulted in damage to property or vehicles, while 629 caused injuries.

Four of the crashes resulted in fatalities.

Although a collision with a deer can happen any time, Illinois is now in the time of year when the most crashes with them occur. Last year, more than 40 percent of crashes involving deer in Illinois occurred in October, November and December, with November being the highest-risk month.

Rural areas were the site

of more than 70 percent of crashes involving deer, with most occurring at twilight or nighttime.

SAFE DRIVING TIPS Safe driving tips for deer-mating season include: • Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with

deer crossing signs.

• Scan the sides of the road for eye-shine – the reflection

of headlights in their eyes.

• Slow down if you see a deer,

and anticipate that others could be following.

• Prepare for the unexpected.

Deer may stop in the middle of the road and not move for oncoming vehicles.

• If a collision is inevitable, don’t veer. Try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic or off the road.

• Deer can often appear suddenly in some surprising

environments, so be on alert, slow down and pay attention in areas where they are known to travel.

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

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November-December 2023

Rare sandhill cranes The Life Outdoors Hawken brothers left us with find home in Missouri Missouri Department of Conservation A pair of sandhill cranes with two young chicks, called colts, gave nature photographer Dan Staples a smile and fine photographs this past June 4 at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in Holt County.

Their interaction on a marsh flat resembled dancing. Sandhill cranes are uncommon in the state, and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) lists them as a species of conservation concern. Tall, gangly, slate-gray birds with a red crown on their heads, nesting pairs are even more rare than the occasional sighting in the state of migrants in autumn and late winter. “eBird data shows them inhabiting Loess Bluffs pretty consistently year to year and throughout the breeding season, but our last heritage record for confirmed breeding was 2006,” said Dillon Freiburger, MDC natural history biologist. “Statewide they are considered a rare breeder, and Loess Bluffs might be one of a few places they consistently attempt to nest at.”

DAILY VISIT Staples lives at Mound City and visits the nearby wetlands at Loess Bluffs almost daily.

“It seems each year there is a pair that comes back,” he said. “The last two years, there’s always one or two colts.”

Staples said the colts he has seen may not survive due to predation or flooding. They feed in wetlands and open fields. Mated pairs make nests from plant materials in shallow water.

In June, he photographed the pair and two colts in the refuge’s Snow Goose Pool, but he also photographed a pair with one colt in the Mallard Marsh.

Sandhill crane sightings are rare in Missouri, said Kristen Heith-Acre, MDC ornithologist. But a few nests have been documented starting in the early 1990s.

COMMON IN 1800s The cranes were very common in Missouri until the late 1890s, according to Mark Robbins, ornithology collection curator at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. Robbins summarizes both historical accounts and data from recent confirmed sightings in his publication, Birds of Missouri, Their Distribution and Abundance. From the early 1900s until the 1990s, the cranes were scarcely seen in the state. But since then, occasional nests have been documented at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge as well as at wetlands at MDC’s Grand Pass, Eagle Bluffs, and Perry conservation areas. Still, they’re rare, although migrants do pass through in autumn and late winter on both the eastern and western sides of the state.

MIGRANTS FROM CANADA Robbins notes that migrating sandhill cranes seen in western Missouri are likely from populations that breed in Canadian provinces west of Hudson Bay and migrate in large numbers through the Great Plains, such as noted migrations through Nebraska and Kansas.

Sandhill cranes in eastern Missouri may come from populations that breed in northern Midwestern states and southern Ontario. Missouri is in between the two major migration routes.

According to MDC’s online Field Guide, flocks of sandhill cranes used to gather to feed at migration staging areas along the Missouri and Grand rivers. Increasing crane populations in upper Midwestern states are improving the chances that Missouri may someday have a small resident breeding population.

For more information about sandhill cranes in Missouri, go online to https:// short.mdc.gov/4WW.

Sandhill cranes were gone from Missouri by late 1800s, but recent new nests have been noted.

some special rifles

Photo and Text

By RICHARD W. AITES

On a hot and rainy Saturday afternoon in late August, my wife and I made the long but scenic drive to the Daniel Boone home in Defiance, MO. The National Muzzleloading Rifle Association (NMLRA) and the Gemmer Muzzleloading Club were sponsoring the Hawken Classic at the historic site. The event was marking the 200th year anniversary of Jacob and Samuel Hawkens’ celebrated plains rifle.

State Reps. Doug Clemens and Mazzie Boyd also attended the event. Clemens and Boyd were fundamental in getting the Hawken rifle recognized as the official rifle of the Show-Me State.

THE GUNS ON DISPLAY Inside the old Sappington House, which sits near Boone’s former residence, were several gun racks displaying original and contemporary muzzle-loading rifles. Greg Grimes, owner of Trail Creek Trade Co. was present to answer questions and assist visitors interested in handling the historic firearms.

Among the 80 or so rifles on display were several originals built in the early to middle part of the 19th century. Many of the contemporary guns resembled the handsome rifles that the Hawken brothers, J.P. Gemmer, and other fine gun-makers of the era produced. Percussion and flintlocks alike, some of these “ole’ frontstuffers” featured beautiful curly-maple stocks with decorative carved reliefs and fancy silver and brass inlays. While others were stocked in plain maple or walnut with iron butt-plates and trigger guards. The latter were more prevalent during the era and used by common folk for protection and in making meat.

TRAIL CREEK TRADE COMPANY Greg Grimes worked for The Hawken Shop on North Lindbergh Blvd. back in the 1970s and ‘80s before he moved on to Mid-City Coin and Guns. In 2000 Mid-City became Trail Creek Trade Company, and Grimes eventually became the sole proprietor.

Greg Grimes, owner of Trail Creek Trade Co., displays the Hawken Classic at the Boone home.

I’ve been a black powder enthusiast since my adolescence and a regular customer of Trail Creek for the past two decades, and in my opinion, Grimes is the most knowledgeable in our area when it comes to all things Hawken and traditional muzzleloading in general. One of the walls of his St. Ann, Mo. shop is adorned with original and contemporary muzzleloading rifles.

On a recent visit, Greg allowed me to handle a gorgeous long rifle that had a beautifully figured tiger-maple stock adorned with decorative etchings and German-silver inlays. Because the 44” barrel was flared, it wasn’t muzzle heavy, like a lot of those long-barreled smoke-poles are. While shouldering the finely balanced piece, Greg mentioned that it takes today’s skilled gun-makers at least 100 or up to 300 hours to build such a rifle.

So if you’re interested in an original or custom-built gun, Greg can likely help you find what you’re looking for. And for those not interested in the real thing but looking to get into traditional muzzleloading, he has some used modern reproductions like those from Thompson Center, Pedersoli, and Lyman on hand as well.

JACOB AND SAMUEL HAWKEN’S RIFLES Jacob Hawken opened his shop in St. Louis in 1815, but it wasn’t until the mid-1820’s when he and his brother Samuel began building the plains rifles that made them famous, and they continued building these rifles into the 1850s.

Before the robust Hawkens, most rifles of the 19th century were of small caliber (usually .36 to .45 caliber) with extremely long barrels and full-length gunstocks. The Hawken brothers shortened the stocks and barrels and increased the bore size (usually .48 to .58 caliber). This made the shortened, half-stocked rifles easier to carry, especially on horseback, and more effective against the larger game animals and predators one might encounter during the westward expansion.

However, the most incredible thing about these guns and their makers was the fact that everything was done by hand (lock, stock and barrel). The Hawken brothers didn’t have the luxury of ordering pre-carved stocks and machine-finished locks and barrels from Dixie Gun Works or Mid-South Muzzleloading. Therefore, you know it must have been a long and tedious process, especially since it takes today’s fine gunmakers with modern tools and machinery 100 or more hours to finish such a rifle.

MY OWN ‘HAWKEN’ RIFLES I really enjoyed delving into the history of the Hawken Brothers’ rifles and their St. Louis connection, and I enjoy shooting Hawken-style rifles just as much. Unfortunately, I don’t own (nor could I afford) an original or custom gun, but I still have a lot of fun shooting and hunting with my 1990’s Thompson Center Hawken rifles (I own both the cap-lock and flintlock version).

My Hawkens may only be modern reproductions, but shooting and hunting with them certainly helps me appreciate and respect the hardy people who relied on them for protection and in making meat … all those years ago.

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

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EXPERIENCE ELLINGTON missouri

the

&explore

outdoors

e l l i n g ton mo . com

Hike the ozark trail

~ Only 2 Hours South of St. Louis ~

1 Clearwater Lake & Webb Creek Park

– Hwy H –Bring the family to camp, boat, fish, and unwind on crystal clear Clearwater Lake. This area of the lake is formed where Webb Creek and Logan Creek empty into Clearwater Lake. The lake is known for its crappie, catfish and bass fishing. Camping is available at Webb Creek Recreation Park; plus a full service marina with boat/wave runner rentals on site. Webb Creek Park features over 40 campsites, swim beach, Webb Creek Marina playground, showers, picnic pavilions, boat launch, and more. Services are limited after mid-September but camping is still permitted. Call Webb Creek Marina at 573-461-2344 for marina, boat rental and campsite information or visit www.recreation.gov to make reservations.

2 Black River and K Bridge Recreation Area

–K Hwy – Float, canoe, fish and explore the beautiful Black River. Enjoy swimming, camping and picnicking right on the banks of the Black River.

K Bridge Recreation Area and Campground offers playground, showers, electric and comfort station, visit www.recreation.gov to make reservations. Floats (raft or canoe) can be arranged on site by calling Jeff’s Canoe Rental at 573-598-4555. A small general store is also Highway K Camping available on site.

3

Current River & Log Yard Gravel Bar – Hwy 106 to HH

Highway- Fish, swim, camp and relax on majestic Current River. Great place to explore Current River. This area is often referred to as Cardareva by locals and is a favorite summer hangout. Primitive camping is available right on the river bank, camping is also available at the nearby School Yard with picnic tables, lantern Cam p Current River hooks and fire pits. These sites are available on a first come basis. Bring your canoes, rafts and kayaks; a perfect day float….Powder Mill to Log Yard. Boat launch available.

River, Blue Spring & 4 Current Powder Mill Recreation Area

– Hwy 106 near

Current River bridge Powder Mill reopened summer 2020. Camping is available with views of the river, picnic tables, fire pit and lantern hook.

Reservations are not available. Powder Mill is a perfect camp base for day trips to area attractions like Blue Spring, Rocky Falls, Peck Ranch, Johnson Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks and more. Wild horses are often seen in the fields near the bridge. The Ozarks offers countless Blue Spring options for family adventure.

5 Rocky Falls

- NN Hwy- A cascading crystal Rocky Creek drops from the Ozark Mountains into a lazy pool which eventually winds through the Ozarks to Current River. A must see if you are in the area and fun for all ages. Wear non-slip shoes and use caution when climbing on the falls.

Picnic tables provided.

6

Current River Conservation Area –Consists

of 28,000 acres of state land. Deer, turkey, eagles, elk and a multitude of wildlife can be seen. UTV’s, ATV’s and vehicle traffic are welcome on miles of gravel roads and trails that wind through some 60+ food plots. Buford Pond, Missouri’s first fire tower, a 1926 log cabin and an earthen Fort Barnesville can all be found here. Buford Pond provides fishing and picnicking and is a favorite location of all. For hunting enthusiasts an unstaffed rifle and archery range are provided.

Current River Conservation Area is home to the Missouri Ozark Ecosystem Project, the world’s most comprehensive forest management study. This 100 year project spans over 9,000 acres.

Main park entrance located on South Road in Ellington, other entrances located off Hwy 106 and HH highway. Primitive camping is available. Elk viewing and maps of the area are available at the main park entrance.

7

Local Flavor – While in town you

won’t want to miss the Reynolds County Museum. This Museum is filled with Reynolds Co Museum relicts from days gone by and the rich history of the Ozarks. Volunteers staff the establishment and are happy to answer questions; Open March-November, Tues-Fri, 10-4 or by appointment. Call 573-663-3233 for more information.

Want some nostalgia from a couple decades back; how about a drive in movie? One of Wild Horses only a few drive-ins left in the Midwest is located just south of Ellington on highway 21. 21 Drive-In opens in May with summer family favorites and offers movie events into the fall including Halloween and Christmas.

9 Blair Creek

- Hwy 106 – This area is a favorite of the local’s spring, summer and fall.

For the person who is looking for the unknown, adventure into the wild Ozark hills for the beautiful views, caves, swimming, picnicking. Here riding the back roads in ATV’s, UTV’s and 4-wheel drives is exciting and fun. Entrance located North of Hwy 106 across from Blue Spring entrance.

10 Ozark Trail

- Hwy 106- Blair Creek & Current River section; Hwy 106 – Whether you are looking for a one day hike or want to make a few days of it; hiking these sections of the Ozark Trail is rewarding and adventurous. Such splendid locations as Rocky Falls, Klepzig Mill and Buzzard Mountain Shut-Ins are located right on the trail. For Klepzig Mill the adventurous visitor this is a must!

11 Peck Ranch

- H Highway, Shannon County- Plan a trip for the fall to ‘Listen for the Bugle’! Elk are roaming the hills of the Ozarks and can be seen in Peck Ranch, Current River Conservation Area and the surrounding region.

Thanks to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Elk Restoration Program the herd has expanded to over 200 bulls, cows and calves. Peck Elk Ranch and Current River Conservation Area is open from sunrise/sunset daily and offers a driving tour.

Bugling occurs Sept-Nov. Check the MDC website for park closing details. Maps are available at the park entrance.

12 While in the area

be sure to visit Black River in Lesterville, Johnson Shut-In State Park and Elephant Rocks State Park.

Johnson Shut-In

Funding for this advertisement paid for by Taum Sauk Fund.

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8 Scenic Highway 106

- This 26 mile drive between Ellington and Eminence is known state wide for its scenic views and beauty, and is especially a favorite in the fall. This section of highway is also home to the Trans-America Trail and sees many bicycle travelers from April-October. Bicycle enthusiasts say TransAmerica Trail it’s one of the “toughest sections on the trail” and known for the steep hills & hollers.

Blair Creek

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Ellington Chamber of Commerce | www.ellingtonmo.com | Find us

Outdoor Guide

Page 10

November-December 2023

The man who made Outdoor Guide happen Bobby Whitehead saw a need and found a way to meet it

Editor’s note: Starting in 1990, sporting ad man Bobby Whitehead spearheaded a series of publications that started as outdoor show programs and evolved into Outdoor Guide Magazine, which he served as editor until he retired in 2020. Because of changes in the media industry, this will be the last issue – as far as we know. Regular columnist Brandon Butler provided this appreciation for Whitehead’s foresight, determination, knowledge – and the sheer delight he took and still takes in a well-written, informative outdoors story.

Photo and Text

By BRANDON BUTLER Bobby Whitehead was the right man in the right place at the right time. Print media was the main mode of communication in the 1980s, and St. Louis did not have a publication dedicated to the local outdoors scene. With over two million Missourians active in angling and hunting, it only made sense to produce a top-quality magazine covering the endeavors of these outdoor-minded millions.

So Bobby saw the need, put vision to paper, and gifted us, the readers of Outdoor Guide, with over 30 years of adventure at our fingertips.

A LIFE OUTSIDE Saturday mornings were a little different for me than for most boys my age when I was a kid. I’d stay the night with my grandparents

so Grandpa and I could wake up at 5:30 a.m. to begin watching fishing shows on Channel 37, an old UHF channel out of Chicago.

While most kids were watching cartoons, I was studying walleye fishing tactics with the In-Fishermen guys, and learning how to be a better bass angler with Bill Dance. Fishing Facts and Midwest Outdoors were the magazines of my youth. My Christmas lists were made from the Bass Pro Shops catalog.

When I moved to Missouri in 2010, I had been involved with producing outdoor media for only a few years. My syndicated newspaper column was running in a number of Indiana publications, and I’d spent a few years as a staff writer for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life communicating the outdoors, but my skills had not yet caught up with my ambition.

Thankfully, I had joined professional outdoor writing organizations, like the Hoosier Outdoor Writers and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, where I was exposed to the best of the best.

SHOWING UP IN SHOW-ME LAND The best in Missouri, I quickly came to learn, was Bobby Whitehead. As I began to make my rounds in the outdoor world of the Show-Me State, it was readily apparent the man in the fancy hat and dark sunglasses was the godfather of Missouri outdoor media. If I wanted to make a name for myself in this state, I would have to win favor with the man

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Bobby Whitehead, at left, catches up with Brandon Butler at a local watering hole.

I affectionately came to call “The Bobfather.”

The first time I met Bobby Whitehead, he broke my heart. It was the spring of 2010. We were at the inaugural Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers Cast and Blast in Branson. About 20 of us outdoor communicator types were in attendance, but the night had whittled our number to fewer than 10.

Here is how Bobby tells it: “I was sitting there with giants in the business and the industry, people I’d known and respected for years and years, having a cocktail, playing a game of chess,” he said in our interview. “And you show up and sit down. I had heard about you.

I didn’t know you, but I had heard about you.

You had a scrapbook, sort of a deal that you wanted me to look at, and here I am playing a game of chess, drinking some whiskey, and hanging out with giants in the business, and you wanted me to look at your book?”

He continues: “I guess I was aggravated, and I was thinking, who is this brash young man?

Who is this kid? And that was the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship.”

GETTING TO KNOW THE BOBFATHER We take our shots in life, and I guess I had taken mine at the wrong time with the Bobfather – a lesson learned about getting between a man and his whiskey-fueled chess match. But ultimately, I won him over, and he became one of the most important people in my life, both professionally and personally. Not a week goes by when I don’t seek his council on some move I have to make, whether it be advice on business or how to win the heart of another human.

You see, Bobby didn’t come to publishing the Outdoor Guide from a place of serious hunting and fishing acumen. He dabbled, but would be the first to tell you he started the magazine because he saw a business opportunity, not because he was a highly skilled outdoorsman.

Over the decades, he became a great angler and turkey hunter, but even with those skills, the outdoors isn’t what defines Bobby. Kindness and compassion – those are his gifts.

Bobby is one of the very rare people who are always positive. When he walks into a room, he lights it up. No one ever feared Bobby raining on their parade. He compliments everyone, always, and makes strangers feel like they have been his friends from the minute they meet. He rains down joy on all around him. When I’m

having a tough time, or I simply need sound advice, Bobby has been my first call for over 10 years. He could have retired long ago had he charged me for all the counseling sessions he provided pro bono. I know I am not alone in this boat. He has been a guiding light for so many of his friends. Bobby has taught me far more about how to be a better man than he will ever teach me about how to be a better fisherman.

THE GUIDE I asked Bobby about the Outdoor Guide and his long run there.

“You get out of life what you put into it.

This is true with relationships, and it’s true with work,” he said. “For over 30 years, our content in the magazine was second to none.

We drew on the top writers in the country.

“We had our problems along the way, but we worked through them. Here at the end, I’m very proud of what we built, how long it lasted, and all the lives touched by the words and photographs from our incredible contributors.”

As anyone who knows him would expect him to do, Bobby gives the credit for the long-term success of Outdoor Guide to those he worked with over the years. And while there is certainly truth to his claim of having worked with the best of the best for three decades, it was the captain at the helm guiding this ship who made it the incredible success it was.

When Bobby loves someone, he refers to that person as his “blood brother.” So to all my Outdoor Guide blood brothers and sisters out there who will forever remain part of this family, I wish you all health and happiness in the future. We’ve been lucky to be part of this special publication, and we are all better people for having the man, Bobby “The Bobfather” Whitehead, in our lives.

See you down the trail…

Editor’s note: We at Outdoor Guide Magazine wish to express our deep appreciation for the readers, contributors and advertisers who made this publication an unlikely but much-loved success story. We also thank Ed Finkelstein and the St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune for faithfully publishing the Outdoor Guide all this time. And thanks to Brandon Butler for serving as our go-to guy with his frequent, well-written and timely columns about outdoor locations and the great things you can do in them. A tip of the hat, Brandon! -- Carl Green, editor

November-December 2023

Outdoor Guide

Page 11

Enjoy The Quiet Side of Central Missouri’s

RELAX AND ENJOY MORGAN COUNTY, MISSOURI Exciting UTV Trails A Fun-Filled Waterpark World-Class Fishing Peaceful Boating Quiet Camping & Lodging

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Outdoor Guide

Page 12

November-December 2023

Here’s a story of deer grunts and snorts Photo and Text

By DON GASAWAY

Deer vocalization is a relatively misunderstood aspect of white-tail deer hunting. Experts in the field vary in their theories as to the number of vocalizations made by deer.

One thing they seem to agree on is that vocalizations are more attuned to biological factors than to the gathering and controlling of a herd.

The biological functions most important to the calling of deer by hunters are the rearing of young and mating. To the deer caller, three types of vocalizations are most important – bleats, grunts and aggressive snorts.

Bleats are the sounds made by young deer in search of their mother, or when otherwise under stress. Grunts are the sounds of a buck in search of a receptive doe. The snort is the sound bucks make during a fight.

Early in deer hunting season, the bleat of a fawn is most important, as the young are still more dependent upon their mothers for food. Later during

the rut, the aggressive grunts and snorts get bucks to respond.

THE RUT BEGINS During November and December, the rut begins with a series of factors, not the least of which is the reduced amount of daylight. During the rut, bucks are less cautious, as their primary interest is in finding receptive does who are in their estrus cycle.

Bucks leave signs of their presence everywhere possible.

These signs are in the form of scrapes, rubs, tracks and dung.

Any sighting of does with fawns should tell the hunter to examine them carefully, as chances are there is at least one buck in the area.

The rut is a prime time to hunt, and wise hunters spend as much time as possible in the field.

During the rut, a buck will respond to bleats, as he suspects that where there is a fawn, there is also a doe. He responds to the grunt in hope of stealing away a receptive doe with a buck. The resident buck is at his most aggressive at this time and cannot resist a chance to challenge a

Biologists track the activity of deer in the field. Calling deer in the field helps hunters in finding that big one that might otherwise get away unseen.

trespasser in this territory.

SNORTS AND GRUNTS Snorts are a kind of call to a street fight. Other deer hear the snorts accompanying a

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the deer hesitates or is going in a direction away from the hunter.

Be patient, as the deer often is very cautions as he attempts to locate the source of the sound.

If the call produces no action, wait for 10 minutes before trying again. Too much calling tends to spook game.

RESULTS VARY Use calls in conjunction with rattling – the rattling of deer antlers is the subject of another article. Suffice it to say that rattling is the imitation of a fight between two deer.

Using an aggressive snort from a call helps to add realism to the simulated fight. Again, use the snort sparingly. The grunt comes in at the end of the fight to simulate the victor’s tending a grunt to his prize, namely the doe in question.

A call works with varying results. Some deer will come in on a dead run. Others stay just out of range, trying to locate the source of the sound. With these deer, patience and practice pay off with venison in the freezer.

However you use a call, it is another tool in the hunter’s bag.

It also provides some laughs for campfire discussion in that some deer go through some crazy antics in response to it.

Calling deer is not difficult and adds another dimension to the hunt.

Don Gasaway has been a valued contributor to Outdoor Guide Magazine since its earliest days.

Hunters take 16,575 deer during firearms early antlerless portion

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rattle of antlers, causing them to investigate the commotion.

Some come to watch the action, and others come to get in on the fight.

Some experts contend that bucks tending does do not respond to a call. It may or may not be the case. The smart hunter knows that if he calls in a doe with a bleat, the buck will surely follow.

No matter which calls one uses, it is important to remember not to blow hard. A good way to remember is to just sort of breath

heavy into the call. With a little practice, anyone can work a deer call very effectively. Deer calls do work! That is, if you follow the instructions. They work best just prior to and during the rut.

The grunt is the most effective call, and it works best on visible bucks. The “attending grunt” varies in intensity, volume, pitch and frequency according to the sexual drive and age of the buck making it.

No two deer sound the same.

That is an aid to the hunter using a call, in that it allows a little leeway for his mistakes.

CALLER MISTAKES Some of the mistakes callers make are that they call too loudly, too frequently, too long, or without proper accompaniment.

To begin with, it is best to call very softly. Sound carries well in the woods, and to call too loudly just spooks the deer close to the hunter’s location. A deer has very sensitive hearing and hears soft noises at seemingly great distances.

Too much calling can pinpoint a hunter’s location. Once the deer sees that the sound does not come from another deer, he is history.

The call is simple. It begins with a 10-second, low, drawnout BLAAAT. Follow it with a 5-6 second call, then several 2- or 3-second calls. Then relax and wait for some action.

If a deer appears, you can coax him on with short, soft calls. One should call only if

All In Stock Parts

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that hunters harvested 16,575 deer during the state’s new firearms early antlerless portion of deer season, Oct. 6-8.

The top three harvest counties were Franklin with 489 deer harvested, Howell with 454, and Ripley with 437.

“With deer numbers being at desired levels in most counties but continuing to increase, additional antlerless harvest is needed to stabilize the deer population,” said Jason Isabelle, the MDC Cervid Program supervisor.

“The goal of the new firearms early antlerless portion is to help increase antlerless deer harvest prior to the November portion of firearms season, when many hunters focus on harvesting bucks.”

GOOD TIMING, GOOD WEATHER Isabelle said the timing of the early antlerless portion was chosen to provide hunting opportunities when weather conditions are usually favorable and to minimize conflicts with archery hunters, who hunt most in late October and early November.

“Hunters couldn’t have asked for much better weather,” Isabelle noted. “After a warm start to October, the cooler weather during this year’s early antlerless portion helped to increase daytime deer movement and made for comfortable conditions for hunters.”

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery hunting through Nov. 10 and again Nov. 22 through Jan.

15, 2024.

Curent and upcoming firearms portions are:

• Firearms Early Youth Portion, Oct. 28-29.

• Firearms November Portion, Nov. 11-21.

• Firearms CWD Portion,

Nov. 22-26 in open counties.

• Firearms Late Youth Portion, Nov. 24-26.

• Firearms Late Antlerless Portion, Dec. 2-10 (in open

counties).

• Fi re a rm s A l te rn a t i ve Methods Portion: Dec. 23-

Jan. 2, 2024 Get more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2023 Fall Deer & Turkey Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

Page 13

Antlerless hunt good for the herd, new hunters

Photo and Text

By BRANDON BUTLER

“It’s deer season.” Those are words hunters can’t wait to hear each year. Across the Midwest, bow seasons have opened, youth seasons are taking place, and firearms seasons are on the brink. The rut is still a few weeks away, giving us plenty of opportunity to prepare for prime time.

Tuning up with a doe hunt or two may be the ticket.

Most states offer liberal doe harvest opportunities.

This is because, in most places, the number of does on the landscape far outpaces the number of bucks. Going out with the specific goal of harvesting a doe or two is a solid conservation move, but it’s also a great opportunity to bring along another person for your hunt. Maybe this person is someone new to hunting or someone who doesn’t want to shoot a deer but does want to spend time with you.

Ground blinds have gained popularity for deer hunting over the past decade. Numerous companies produce quality, lightweight, portable blinds that serve hunter needs.

Permanent blinds have also become much more popular.

These manufactured blinds work well for the ground hunter and are tough to beat when taking a new hunter with you.

THE GROUND BLIND Hunting from a ground blind has numerous advantages. You don’t have to be nearly as still when inside the confines of a blind. If it is going to be a little chilly during your hunt, you can take a heater with you. I’m old enough now to put all the tough guy stuff aside. If I can hunt comfortably, I will. Sitting in a lawn chair with a few thousand BTUs pumping out onto my feet sure makes for a more enjoyable experience than freezing in near zero-degree temperatures. Think about how much your new-to-hunting companion will enjoy the warmth of a heater.

A lot of crops are being harvested right now. Positioning your blind on the edge of a freshly picked field where deer

ON S A SE g tin un H R O F IN T H SIG Antlerless hunts are great for taking a special person along for the experience.

enter each evening is a good bet on a doe hunt. A night or two of scouting should help you identify a good spot for setting up your blind.

IN THE CORNFIELD Years ago, I decided to try ambushing deer that were feeding in a picked bean field by hunting from inside of a cornfield. It was a great decision. On the first evening, I shot a nice eight-pointer.

Since that hunt, I have slipped into many cornfields to hunt deer. Use the standing corn as a blind, especially now, because if you can find a standing cornfield this late in the game, you will likely find a lot of deer using it.

Deer use ditches like highways. If you can find cover along a ditch through open country, you want to give that spot a second look. Plus, you can stay hidden on your way to spots like this by walking down in the ditch. Try to position yourself on the opposite side of the ditch that you think the deer will travel, so when a shot materializes, the deer won’t be right on top of you.

Missouri held a new firearms early antlerless portion of deer season, Oct. 6-8. The Department of Conservation (MDC) reported 16,575 deer were taken. The top three harvest counties were Franklin with 489 harvested, Howell with 454 and Ripley with 437.

“With deer numbers being at desired levels in most counties but continuing to increase, additional antlerless harvest is

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needed to stabilize the deer population,” MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said. “The goal of the new firearms early antlerless portion is to help increase the antlerless deer harvest prior to the November portion of firearms season, when many hunters focus on harvesting bucks.”

CHOOSING THE DATES Some hunters questioned the timing of the new season.

Isabelle said the dates were chosen to provide hunting opportunities when weather conditions are usually favorable and to minimize conflicts with archery hunters, who hunt most in late October and early November.

“Hunters couldn’t have asked for much better weather,” Isabelle said. “After a warm start to October, the cooler weather during this year’s early antlerless portion helped to increase daytime deer movement and made for comfortable conditions for hunters.”

Doe shooting is a large part of the overall conservation strategy tied to deer hunting.

While some hunt exclusively for the chance to tag a mature buck, most hunters are primarily after meat. Taking a doe or two each year helps keep the overall herd in better balance. And as they say, you can’t eat antlers.

For more, check out the podcast at www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Don’t wait! Now is the time to head to one of MDC’s two staffed shooting ranges and outdoor education centers in the St. Louis area to sharpen your skills, sight in your rifles, and pattern shotguns for fall hunting season.

August A. Busch — Defiance 3550 Route D, Defiance, 63341 mdc.mo.gov/buschrange

Jay Henges — Eureka 1100 Antire Road, Eureka, 63025 mdc.mo.gov/hengesrange

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Not a hunter, but want to learn?

Our staff of specialists can help you master firearms and archery, wildlife identification, and many other outdoor skills. Visit mdc. mo.gov/shootingranges to learn more.

Outdoor Guide

Page 14

November-December 2023

Adventures of growing up in Missouri

Text and Illustrations

By TOM WATSON The largest fish I ever landed while living in Kodiak, Alaska, was a monstrous, car hood-sized halibut that sent the scale needle spinning to 171 pounds.

More often, my catch of the day would be a daily limit of silver salmon that I could haul out of a bay in those North Pacific coastal waters from the cockpit of my sea kayak.

THE CARE PACKAGE Despite the rare opportunity to enjoy those incredible angling experiences, it’s the fishing adventures of my Missouri youth that still hold my fondest recollections and lifetime memories.

From the time I was seven years old to entering college, I spent all of my summer months in St. Charles, then a community of about 15,000 on the west bank of the Missouri River, west of St. Louis. My father owned the town’s Hobby Center, carrying a full line of model kits, art supplies and a plethora of outdoor sports equipment – from fishing gear to archery to ammo.

Any time my cousin and I were heading out to one of our favorite fishing holes, we’d get a few packages of the latest Mepps spinners or the newest DareDevil spoon, or on an especially good day, a new jar of catfish stink bait to try out. Life was good. Fishing was better!

MONTAUK MEMORIES I can still close my eyes and

experience a rush of senses from a certain morning some 60-plus years ago. It was a weekend fishing-camping trip with my dad at Montauk State Park.

As a regulated trout fishery, the weekends brought like-minded anglers to the pools along the Current River’s gentle route through the park. We’d cast and cast and cast – but no bites. I remember the nearby “combat fishing” anglers crowded along the banks, doing no better than we were. I can still feel that ever-so-gentle tug on the line.

I remember my dad talking me through the reeling-in process, and hauling in my first-ever rainbow trout. A few minutes later, a second rainbow hung on my stringer.

I found a snapshot of my catches that day, and that image brought it all back – the sights, sounds and smells – every sense popped in remembrance of that first thrilling fishing moment.

CHICKEN SKINS & CRAWDADS Spring flooding left pools of backwater ponds and sloughs throughout the Missouri River bottoms on the east end of town. We’d load up our bikes with a few cane poles, a bucket and a container crammed with chicken skins, and we’d head to our “secret” crawdad “honey holes” hidden in the underbrush along the river.

Crawdads were a favorite bait for bass anglers, and the bait shops were always looking for a steady supply of the fresh, pincher-armed crawlers. For us, it was a chance to earn a handful of change as well as stock up for our own fishing adventures that same afternoon.

Catching crawdads is pretty simple and requires nothing more than a bait to lure them and a way to trap them and haul them up out of the water. Our methods combined several options into one continuous, fluid – and

uplifting – motion.

Chicken skins attract crawdads, and because of their texture, they are tough enough to last quite a while before becoming too shredded to serve as bait, especially when a chunk of it is tied to a string and lowered down into shallow, murky crawdad waters. The skins settled on the bottom while the “angler” waited at the other end of the line.

Within a minute or less, a gentle upward pull on the string would soon reveal one or more hungry crawdads clamped onto a hunk of chicken skin as it was raised out of the water.

Sometimes they’d drop off, sometimes they’d hold on for dear life, but usually you were able to swing a bucket under the cluster and shake the crawdads loose. On a good crawdad fishing day, in only an hour or two we’d have a full bucket to take to the bait shop.

At about 10 cents a crawdad, we’d ride our bikes toward the local A&W with a buck or two burning a hole in our young entrepreneurial pockets.

CATFISH COFFEE-CAN DEEP FRY Back in the day, the Huzzah Creek campground was a small clearing alongside this quintessential stream in a state forest in central Missouri – and our first-choice “go to” spot for many a camping weekend each summer. It was both our favorite swimming hole and

rafting stream. The climb to the overlook at the top of the bluff that loomed high above the swimming hole was the highlight of our hiking “expeditions.”

With the campsites randomly scattered along the river’s edge, rising up early in the morning to wet a line was literally like stepping outside your back door and casting a baited hook. Catching a Huzzah Creek catfish was the crowning moment to the start of each day.

A RUSTIC RECIPE While cooking catfish usually involves dipping fillets in buttermilk and coating them in corn meal, our recipe was much more rustic and rough around the edges. Our main utensil was a 2-pound Folgers coffee can as our fryer. We’d heat up cooking oil (usually waxy, white Crisco straight from the can) and let it heat up over the campfire. We’d cautiously tend to the oil so as not to worry too much about flare-ups from oil erupting up over the rim.

Once the oil was snappy, sizzling hot, we’d carefully lower several gutted and beheaded whole catfish down into the oil with just their tails exposed. No batter, no crispy coating, just pure catfish.

Instinct told you when it was done, and a firm grip with tongs on the tails pulled each one from the hot oil. Once

on our plates, we’d pull them apart with our fingers, the meat sliding off the crisp skin with ease. To this day, I’ve not enjoyed better tasting fish than those meals of Huzzah cats!

JUGGING, FISHING AND JAWS Fishing was always a prime activity whenever we’d build an inner tube raft to float down a section of one of Missouri’s many rivers. One of our favorite water corridors was the stretch of the Meramac River just upstream from Meramac State Park.

Our rafts, made of scrap 2x4’s buoyed by an assortment of old, leak-repaired, truck-tire inner tubes, bobbed and swayed effortlessly downstream, powered by the river’s gentle currents and an occasional well-placed prod with one of our rafting poles to keep our bow pointing toward the next bend.

While we’d cast off toward the nearest bank or tree jam, our main form of angling – the one that required the least effort possible – was jug fishing. We’d outfit two or three one-gallon milk cartons with fishing line wrapped around the neck of the jug, and then tie on a huge treble hook packed with a sticky, smelly gob of catfish stink bait. Those huge, floating bobbers were then tossed out in front of the raft, drifting downstream at the same rate across those waters.

IT’S NO JUG! On one occasion, a nearby jug took on a frantic case of the jitters. “Fish on!” yelled my cousin as we hurriedly fumbled for a raft pole and edged our way to within an arm’s reach of the huge, bouncing bobber.

“It’s a dang branch!” shout-

ed my cousin as he unhooked the bait from a fork in the submerged tree limb flexing in the current.

Just after rounding the next bend, we saw what looked like another jug go into the same kind of frantic, jerky motions.

Thinking it was just another snag on the river bottom, we let the current draw us near the item, which we grabbed by its narrow neck and heaved into the center of the raft. But it was no jug!

“Snapper!” I yelled, as a grotesque, algae-covered monster hissed and snapped at us, with needle-sharp silvered hooks glimmering from within its beaked maw!

We frantically scrambled to the far edges of the small raft. My cousin thrust the end of a pole into its mouth, and I quickly cut the line loose.

With its hawkish beak firmly clamped onto the end of the pole, we catapulted the demonic-looking critter up and tossed it and the pole into the Meramac.

THE MEMORY REMAINS I think that was the last time I ever jug-fished, yet that memory remains close and dear forever. I’ve had uncountable fishing adventures since these earliest experiences, as I am sure most of you have, too. The thing is, we don’t always fully understand the lesson or appreciate the value at the time – it’s often years later when our wisdom reveals to us the lessons we never knew we learned, nor the impressions a particular incident will make.

At the very least, it provides us with lasting memories that are simply fun to re-tell and share with others.

November-December 2023

Photo and Text

By BRANDON BUTLER Dove hunting season has opened across much of the Midwest and continues in Missouri through Nov. 29.

Public lands can be crowded early in the season. But as time goes on, the crowds thin out and many dove fields become void of competition. Doves are still around in droves, so don’t overlook these fast flying, great tasting birds as an excellent hunting opportunity.

Amature dove is only around 12 inches long, possesses a wingspan of 18 inches and weighs a whopping six ounces.

Doves are small targets when you consider the fact that they reach flight speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. Knocking enough of them out of the air to fill a limit is a tough task.

Dove hunting is a challenging and exciting experience.

When the birds are there, the action can be fast and furious.

Connecting with these pintsized rockets isn’t. One would do himself a favor by spending some time practicing by shooting clay targets before hitting a dove field.

PRACTICE FIRST Practicing wing shooting at a trap and skeet club or sporting clays range is a good idea before hitting the dove field.

If you don’t have access to a commercial club or range, there are many options for using your own clay thrower, ranging from simple handheld throwers to professional machines.

Outdoor Guide

Dove season offers a social side of hunting Something in the middle, like the Caldwell Claymore thrower, allows you to transport a quality clay bird thrower to any field where you have permission to practice shooting. A few good practice sessions should save you some money on shells down the road and some frustration from too many misses.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS The equipment needed for dove hunting is minimal. As far as firearms go, any 12, 16, or 20-gauge shotgun will work fine. Some like the challenge of a 28-gauge or .410. Take plenty of shotgun shells with you, because you’ll need more than you think. Size 7½ or 8 birdshot will suffice. Make sure you know if the property you are hunting requires the use of steel shot or not. Many public properties require the use of steel shot only.

When deciding where to situate yourself and your party, try to locate an already harvested crop field with a water source nearby. Doves roost overnight and often fly to water early in the morning and again at dusk.

Keep the sun at your back.

Doves are hard enough to hit without blinding yourself by looking into the sun. Camouflage isn’t necessary, but doves do have great eyesight.

Hunter orange is not required but is a good idea when hunting in a group. Sitting still and breaking up your outline with natural brush or sitting next to a structure of some sort will bring more doves into range.

Stay still until they are right on

you. Don’t stand until you’re ready to shoot, or just shoot sitting down.

WHERE TO LOOK Dove are usually found in good numbers around harvested agricultural fields, especially grain fields. Scouting early and late in the day, when doves are moving to and from fields, especially freshly picked fields,

is a guideline for success. Look on power lines and fences for doves. They’ll hang around roosting areas and water holes, too.

There are few hunting opportunities better for spending time in the field as a family than dove hunting. You do need to be somewhat still and quiet when dove hunting, but you can talk and enjoy the company of those

you are hunting with. There should be plenty of shooting action, or at least you hope so.

If all goes well, you’ll end up with a pile of doves and sore shoulders.

Doves are great to eat. Each one provides two good-sized nuggets that when grilled, baked or fried offer a rich, delicious game meat. My favorite means of preparing dove breasts is to

Page 15

douse them in Worcestershire sauce, sprinkle them with sea salt and cracked black pepper, wrap each breast in bacon, stick a toothpick through it, and drop it on the grill over medium heat.

See you down the trail…

For more of Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast at www.driftwoodoutdoors. com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

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Outdoor Guide

Page 16

By BRENT FRAZEE It was the fall of 2016, and I had just accepted a buyout offer from The Kansas City Star.

After 36 years as the newspaper’s outdoors editor, I was ready to retire. No more deadlines, no more worrying when a story would fall through, no more lengthy road trips.

But not long after my exit interview and cleaning out my desk, I faced a question every retiree encounters: Now what?

After a couple weeks away from the grind, I wasn’t sure that this life of leisure was for me. But that’s when I got a call from an old friend – Bobby

November-December 2023

Outdoor Guide provided writer’s second career

Whitehead.

I’d met Bobby through the Missouri Outdoor Communicators group that he headed, and I instantly took a liking to him. Who wouldn’t?

He was one of those colorful characters I loved to write about. Dressed in a signature Hawaiian shirt and Bimini hat, he set himself apart. But it was more than that. He was always outgoing and friendly – one of those guys who genuinely cared about what was going on in your life.

He congratulated me on my retirement, then said, “Do you remember how we talked about you doing something for Outdoor Guide once you

retired from The Star?”

Before I could answer, he continued, saying, “How would you like to do a regular column for us?”

CAUGHT OFF GUARD The offer caught me off guard, but it was the right moment. I was already a bit down with my new life. This was a chance to get back in the game, albeit in a small way.

I accepted the offer and never regretted it. I’ll never forget my first column, in which I professed my love of the Ozarks, especially when spring was just bursting with new life in the woods and waters.

I continued to write a “Gone Fishin’” column until the news came that the Outdoor Guide was being phased out.

Of course, Bobby had retired by that point and passed the leadership of the outdoors publication to Carl Green. But it was a seamless adjustment.

Though I never have met Carl face to face, we quickly became on-line friends who were devoted to the same cause – educating the public about the value of the outdoors.

I was given freedom to write about anything fishing in my column – from sentimental journeys back to the lake cabin where I spent my childhood to my penchant for buying any shiny lure that was dangled in front of me.

SECOND TIME AROUND To the day I die, I will always credit Bobby and the Outdoor Guide for launching my second career. It was the first market I wrote for post-Kansas City Star, and it set me off on a second goaround.

I soon discovered how much fun it was to be a free

Whitehead (at left) and Frazee in another successful collaboration.

agent – to shop my articles and story ideas to mediums I had read for years. I couldn’t do that when I was at The Kansas City Star.

I also took pride in being a part of a team at the Outdoor Guide that included Whitehead, Joel Vance, Larry Whiteley, Thayne Smith, John Neporadny and John Winkelman, among many others.

We put out a quality product, one that I was not only

happy to write for but enjoyed reading.

So excuse me for getting a bit melancholy about the Outdoor Guide’s demise. Maybe it was time for the magazine to go, but I will miss it.

Brent Frazee continues to freelance for newspapers, magazines, websites and other digital outlets. He lives on a lake in Parkville, Mo. with his wife Jana and his two yellow Labs, Millie and Maggie.

Ray Wagner named to Conservation Commission

The Missouri Conservation Commission and the Missouri Department of Conservation welcome Raymond Wagner, Jr., of Town and Country in St. Louis County, as the newest member of the four-person Conservation Commission.

Wagner was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson on Sept. 29.

He replaces Barry Orscheln of Columbia, whose six-year term expired June 30. Wagner joins Commission Chair Steven D. Harrison of Rolla, Vice Chair Margaret F. (Margy) Eckelkamp of Washington, and Secretary Mark L. McHenry of Kansas City.

“We welcome Ray Wagner to the Commission and look forward to serving with him to protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of our beautiful state,” Harrison said.

“He brings a wealth of business expertise, valuable public-service experience, and a love of conservation.”

Wagner currently serves in the Office of Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as a senior advisor. He was a senior vice president for Enter-

prise Holdings, the rental car company.

Wagner also served as chief legal counsel to Missouri Governor John Ashcroft, and after that, served as the Missouri Director of Revenue. He has also been an attorney in private practice.

JUDGE IN BALLWIN Wagner also served as the municipal judge for the city of Ballwin for six years, and as a commissioner of the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners, He was also on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from March, 2018 until he joined the Missouri Office of Attorney General in January, 2023.

Wagner holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, an LLM law degree from Washington University School of Law, a Master of Business Administration degree, and Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, both from Saint Louis University.

Wagner has been an avid outdoorsman all his life, actively supporting conservation issues.

Wagner presently serves on the board of directors for the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation and is active with the Great River Habitat Alliance. He is also a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, and a member of Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever.

“All these activities continue to fuel my love for the outdoors and conservation advocacy,” Wagner said. “My interest in wildlife and conservation has never wavered. The outdoors and conservation-related activities have long been my passion and I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the Missouri Conservation Commission.”

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

Page 17

Wild Wine Life

Braised venison, wild mushrooms … tasty!

Photo and Text

By RAY MAXWELL It is always wonderful when we have a very easy and tasty way to make a venison and wild mushroom that can be enjoyed in camp or at home beyond the often-fried versions that many of us grew up enjoying.

You will discover this dish brings layers of flavor and enjoyment while not taking much time to cook. The added bonus is that this is a very healthy way to cook some wonderful venison.

You can use any cut of venison for this dish, and any wild mushroom that you enjoy also works.

INGREDIENTS • 1½ pound of venison (two round steaks) • 4 cups of mushrooms • 5 to 6 green onions (chopped) • 3 Anise stars • ½ teaspoon dried Sichuan peppers • 4 sugar crystal cubes • ½ teaspoon brown cooking soy sauce • 2 tablespoons minced garlic • 1 tablespoon minced ginger PREP INGREDIENTS • 2 teaspoons corn starch • ¼ teaspoon salt • 1 cup dry white wine

PREPARATION • Slice the venison into thin, bite-sized slices.

• Pour one cup of dry white wine over the venison and allow it to soak for 10 minutes.

• Drain the wine from the venison and mix it with the salt and corn starch. When fully mixed, allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.

COOKING • Pour some olive oil into a pan or wok and once the oil is hot, add the Anise stars plus dried Sichuan peppers, sugar cubes, ginger, and garlic.

• Once the sugar has melted, add the venison until it is browned. This should take six to seven minutes on medium heat. With the venison browned, add the soy sauce and mushrooms.

• Make sure you keep stirring to prevent the mushrooms from sticking. Stir on occasion for an additional 5 minutes after adding another half-teaspoon of soy sauce. I do not chop up the mushrooms, since they will shrink a lot during the cooking process.

• Add the chopped green onions and cook until the onions are soft but firm. Cover the pan or wok periodically during the cooking steps. Once the onions are soft but firm, plate and serve.

ADAM PUCHTA There are two wines that

I enjoy with this meal that really stand out – Adam Puchta Totality Red 2017 and Robert Mondavi Napa Red Blend 2019.

The Puchta is wonderful – 100 percent Norton made with grapes from vineyards in the path of the 2017 total eclipse. The bright red fruit components, spice, and mushroom notes make this wine a great complement to

this or any wild game dish.

The perfect way to celebrate the 2024 Total Eclipse will be to enjoy this wine with your favorite venison dish.

You can find this wine for $25 at the Winery.

ROBERT MONDAVI The Mondavi Napa Red Blend 2019 over-delivers.

This Cabernet Sauvignon

and Cabernet Franc-driven wine, with the remainder composed of Merlot and Petit Verdot, delivers for any table at camp or home.

The wine has a wonderful softness on the palate, while at the same time bringing huge weight. You will find the berries, plum, coco, spice, and vanilla hints with the long-lingering finish will impress you and your group.

This wine also works with a host of other wild game dishes, and you can find it at your favorite wine shop for about $55 per bottle.

You can find the video version of this recipe at Wild Wine Life on Facebook and YouTube. Please follow or subscribe to catch other wild game recipes, wine pairings and other ideas for home and at camp.

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Outdoor Guide

Page 18

November-December 2023

Hunters, conservationists join for habitat

Help is on the way for elk, ruffed grouse, woodcock, turkey, whitetail deer and many other wildlife species across the Great Lakes region and Appalachian states.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) have entered into a three-year conservation agreement to maintain and enhance habitat within priority areas across

Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin, while improving hunting opportunities.

“This agreement allows two long-time, hunter-based conservation organizations to pool our combined energy and resources to carry out meaningful and measurable conservation work,” said RMEF President Kyle Weaver. “We appreciate our RGS & AWS partners in this bold,

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great to partner with RMEF and get started on greater habitat outcomes than either of us could accomplish alone.”

Rocky Mountain’s Eastern Elk Initiative seeks to grow elk populations in eastern states by conserving and enhancing habitat for elk and other wildlife while opening or improving greater public access.

FOCUS ON HABITAT The RGS & AWS focus on active forest management to improve wildlife habitat. The

organization is sustainably building networks that leverage local fundraising with public and private dollars for landscape-scale habitat work.

In past years, the RGS & AWS have united conservationists to improve wildlife habitat and forest health for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and all forest wildlife. The tenets of sound science in wildlife and forestry have guided the group for more than 60 years.

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Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

Page 19

Women’s duck hunting clinic Nov. 7 to be followed by two hunts

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is holding a free Women’s Duck Hunting Clinic from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the August A. Busch Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center in Defiance.

Participants will then have the chance to go beyond the classroom for first-hand field experience at one of two mentored duck hunts Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.

This program is for women ages 16 and up who have not hunted duck before and want a safe gateway into the sport.

It will cover all the basics of duck hunting including safety measures, duck habitats and migration, proper cover, clothing, firearms and equipment, and tips on using duck-hunting blinds and decoy placement.

The class will also look at duck hunting regulations,

Rockwoods visitor center closes to public The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) closed the visitor center at Rockwoods Reservation Conservation Area in Wildwood as a public contact office beginning Oct. 15.

The rest of the conservation area and all hiking trails remain open for outdoor use year-round during normal operating hours, which are sunrise until a half hour after sunset.

Public use of Rockwoods Reservation is centered on outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, rock climbing, birdwatching, and nature/wildlife viewing. The visitor center itself receives low visitation, and MDC has determined that continuing to operate the office for public access is not a justifiable use of staff resources.

Naturalists will continue to provide public programs at the visitor center, and the building will remain accessible for those uses only. Pub-

lic restrooms remain available at the Trail Among the Trees/Wildlife Habitat Trail trailhead, across the road from Cottonwood Picnic Area.

MDC staff in the area will continue to facilitate maintenance, habitat management, managed hunts, and other outdoor recreational opportunities.

Rockwoods Reservation is 1,880 acres of Missouri Ozarks in the middle of St. Louis County. The area supports a rich diversity of plant and animal life as well as forests, springs, caves, and rock formations.

The area features 13 miles of hiking trails that lead hikers by caves, along Hamilton Creek which flows during wet weather, scenic overlooks, and a giant historic lime kiln.

Rockwoods Reservation is located at 2751 Glencoe Road, off Highway 109 between I-44 and Highway 100.

limits, and identification. Attendance at the clinic is required before participating in the hunts.

A CHANCE TO LEARN “If you are a hunter but never had the opportunity to duck-hunt, this is a chance to learn how to get started in this rewarding and challenging sport,” said Bryant Hertel,

MDC Outdoor Education Center manager.

Women who complete the clinic will then have two options for participating in a mentored hunt: • Saturday, Dec. 2, 5 a.m.noon. Register at http:// short.mdc.mo.gov/Z3u • Sunday, Dec. 3, 5 a.m. to noon. Register at http:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZwD\

Interested participants should register online for the hunt of their choice.

Registering for one of the hunts will also enroll them in the clinic. Interested participants must also be hunter education-certified by the date of the hunt. MDC will provide all equipment, firearms, and ammunition needed for the hunts. Partic-

ipants may also bring their own equipment if they have it. Both hunts will take place near the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles.

The August A. Busch Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center is located at 3550 Route D in Defiance, approximately five miles west of Highway 94.

Outdoor Guide

Page 20

November-December 2023

Wildlife Wrangling and Outdoor Ramblings Photo and Text

By RANDALL P. DAVIS As I sit before this blank computer screen, it’s mid-October, pre-dawn. Thirty eight degrees outside, about 65 inside – just cool enough to allow my mug of viciously strong coffee to billow excessive steam.

The cloud of rich-scented vapor is the perfect element to stare into and contemplate, even meditate, over the past nine years. You see, this is the final Wildlife Wrangling column for Outdoor Guide, and it’s been a magnificent ride.

Prior to this column being published, I shared many wrangling experiences on social media. It was an avenue to educate folks that there’s more to dealing with nuisance wildlife than chunking down a cage trap with a can of sardines in the back for bait (although sometimes it is that easy). No, along with this, there’s often a vast humorous side in most situations.

It was this endeavor that Bobby Whitehead saw, and he gave me a call asking if I would be interested in doing a column. I thought it would be fun, and so it was born.

THANKS, BOBBY I certainly appreciate the opportunity Bobby gave me to flex a few communicator muscles. While I am grateful, I’m sure others are regretful.

As you will see.

There was the time Bobby asked staff writers for

It’s been a wonderful ride a suggested wish list of things needed should one be marooned in the wilds for a few days. The question: What five items you would want available to oneself?

I replied: “Offhand, other than a comfortably furnished, climate-controlled geodesic yurt, complemented with a gourmet chef, full food pantry, brimming wine/beer cellar and stable of supermodels possessing massage therapy licenses, things might get a little rough in the outback.

But, to be realistic, how about these items?

• TEA-BILLY – You know, one of those one-gallon metal lard cans that Canadian guides use to boil tea (or, heaven forbid, coffee). You could also use it to carry water or pick berries. With a handful of rocks inside, it’s a fine maraca to scare off bears.

• SPOOL & HOOKS – That is, a spool of 80-pound-braided fishing line with a dozen 3/0 circle hooks. Not only would this be essential in harvesting aquatic meals, but it would be mighty handy should the impromptu maraca not work and you need to stitch up some wounds from that bear.

• HARMONICA – Not only does it stave off madness from being alone, it can assist with the bear deterrence. And even if you can’t play, simply throw it into the tea-billy.

Then you’ll have no excuse like, “Can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

• QUALITY GO-PRO – I mean, who’s going to believe

Randall Davis has introduced us to countless unusual and interesting critters.

all this anyway? Besides, should everything go south, there will be recorded evidence that you were eaten by coyotes instead of bears.

• CANOE & PADDLE – That is, a well-varnished cedar canoe with a hand-hewn birch paddle. That way you can comfortably record a selfie while playing “Amazing Grace,” (because in a few days you’ll think this is appropriate) while sipping Labrador tea and trolling for lake trout, as you paddle back

to that magnificent yurt and staff you should have never left in the first place.

It was just a few suggestions born from experience.

MORE ADVENTURES Through the years the column led readers along with my trials of possum fangs piercing my gloves, skunks adorning me with substantial fragrance, and groundhogs magically escaping wellmade trap sets.

There were church bats

at a wedding dispensing droppings on the bride, and the following day the same putrid pellets peppered poor Uncle Charlie at his own funeral. Both events made the Mississippi Squirrel Revival seem as languid as a cannabis commune.

MOLES & VOLES There were many moles, voles, and one woman with a kind-hearted soul who wished to trade wildlife removal for a few frozen chicken legs.

Muskrats were removed from a potty pond, resulting in a mouthful of fluid, and a boar beaver that tail-slapped me upside the head ... right in front of the client.

There was the time coyotes threatened to jump the fence to get to the homeowner’s “kids.” Turned out the kids were two weepy-eyed Pomeranians.

I’ve been called for snakes in the attic, in bushes, and entwined in golf clubs, and even in the basement – which turned out to be night-crawlers.

I had a showdown with a raccoon barreling up a chimney, teeth-bared, desperate to inflict a world of hurt on me.

It ended with a .22 caliber quick draw at 20 inches, and the end result flopping down the roof to rest in the gutter – right in front of the client and his family.

There’ve been honeybees relocated from living in a client’s bedroom wall; hornets

eradicated from the ceiling of the local beer hall; applying mountains of patience and tolerance to strong-willed bird dogs; and solving a ghostly mystery from a heating-duct-dwelling bullfrog.

THE REAL VICTORIA’S SECRET There were many other tales – mostly true, as I remember. But one of my favorites was the tale of Vicky Bradford – you know, William Bradford’s daughter, the Mayflower folks? Though shackled and governed by strict Puritanical standards, Vi c k y s i n g l e - h a n d e d l y changed women’s underwear fashion forever by inventing the thong. It became known as Victoria’s Secret.

I wish to thank the current editor, Mr. Carl Green, for his blessed tolerance of my tardiness, wordiness, and, mostly, silliness during these past few years. I can only hope other editors are so benevolent.

Well, it’s time. I’ve meditated over this coffee long enough. Time to load up the prodigiously packed pickup and head out into the vast and varied variations of voracious vermin, vicious varmints, and vexing vertebrates. Fortunately, vitamins have vested a vista of vigor within, and should virtually vindicate me from any violent virus!

So after nine years of enlightening, informing, and, hopefully, entertaining you kind readers, I shall now … vamoose!

Dumping deer carcasses illegal in St. Louis zone During this time of year when Missouri’s deer hunting seasons are in full swing, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) agents receive and investigate many calls reporting illegal dumping of deer carcasses.

“If you observe this taking place, it’s always best to be a good witness and provide as much information as you can, such as vehicle and description of the person, along with a full or even partial license plate number,” said Scott Corley, MDC St. Louis Region Protection Captain.

People commit the Class C misdemeanor offense of un-

lawful disposition of a dead animal in Missouri when they knowingly place or cause to be placed the carcass or parts of any dead animal into: • Any well, spring, brook, branch, creek, pond, or lake.

• Any public road or highway, river, stream, or watercourse.

• On premises not his or her own for the purpose of annoying others.

DISEASE SPREADER Not only is the dumping of a deer carcass or its parts illegal, but it could also contribute to the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease

(CWD). Most counties in the St. Louis Region are part of a CWD Management Zone, and these have special deer carcass movement restrictions. To learn more about these counties and restrictions, go online to http:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZT2.

CWD is a neurological disease fatal to deer that is spread by mis-shaped proteins called prions. Even though infected, a deer may not show signs of the disease for up to 18 months. The only way to confirm the presence of the disease is through post-mortem testing.

Even parts from CWD-in-

fected deer can spread the disease. Long after infected carcass remains decompose, prions stay infectious in the environment, possibly exposing other deer to CWD. Corley said hunters should take these steps when disposing of deer carcass parts: • Place in trash or landfill – The best way to prevent the spread of CWD is to place carcass remains in trash bags and dispose of them through trash collection or a permitted landfill.

• Bury on site – If hunters can’t bag carcass remains and place them in the trash or a permitted landfill, they should

bury the remains at or near where the deer was harvested, and deep enough to prevent access by scavengers. Burial will reduce but not eliminate the risks of spreading CWD. • Leave on site – As a last resort, leave carcass remains onsite. While this will not prevent scavengers from scattering potentially infectious parts, the remains will stay in the general area where the deer was taken. If CWD is already present on that area, it will likely remain there and not be moved to another area.

• Not in water – It is illegal to dispose of carcasses or remains in streams, ponds or

other bodies of water.

• Do not burn – Only commercial incinerators reaching over 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit can generate enough heat for long enough to destroy the prions that cause CWD. CALL THE HOTLINE To report illegal dumping of a deer carcass or any other illegal hunting activity such as poaching, contact your local conservation agent or call the Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-392-1111.

“Practice these deer carcass disposal measures, be courteous and respectful of others, and let’s all have a safe hunting season,” Corley said.

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

Fall tactics for bowfishing anglers

Photos and Text

By DON GASAWAY Fall is a wonderful time of the year. Feeding fish, solitude and fall foliage combine for the best of times.

Bowfishing in fall can require a change in tactics and in equipment. Shots tend to be slightly longer, which requires a little heavier arrow.

That, in turn, means the line should be heavier.

Many fishing archers fail to realize that bowfishing is a sport they can enjoy all year. A bow of hunting weight works for bowfishing. It also allows the hunter to strengthen muscles needed for deer season.

Since carp and other rough fish do not have the kind of body bulk of a game animal, there is no need for the kind of penetration that the broadhead would provide. A more solid arrow rest is best, compared to hunting land-based game animals. With the more solid rest, there is less danger of breaking the rest when shooting the heavier arrow.

One way to add needed weight to the arrow is by adding two inches to the arrow length. Another is using a heavier arrow point. The added weight allows one to shoot a more stable arrow a longer distance.

WHEN HEAVY LINE IS NEEDED While taking longer shots with heavier arrows, it becomes necessary to use a heavy line. The line can be braided nylon, monofilament, or any of the new “super” lines. The last two allow for lighter-weight line and still maintain the strength required for accurate shots and reliable recovery capability.

The line winds around the spool type of bow reel. The crank types, such as fishing reels, tend to be more problematic when taking long shots with monofilament line, as opposed to braided nylon line. In cold weather, reels with mechanical parts can freeze up, causing problems with operation. Fishing line that is wet in cold weather tends to snarl in reels with moving parts.

With the spool-type reel, one winds the line by hand.

A small metal clip secures the line in place. Simplicity in action leads to fewer problems down the line.

Fall fishing means changes

An inexpensive amount of gear is all that is needed to convert hunting archery tackle to bowfishing gear.

in weather conditions. The changes require changes in clothing. Insulated waders are helpful.

It is wise to carry an extra shooting glove or tab. If the glove gets wet, change it. It is always important to stay as dry as possible in cold weather. Not only is it uncomfortable to be wet, it can be dangerous to life and limb.

Stay dry by shooting only from shore or a boat. In slews and swamps, one has little choice but to wade or push a boat through vegetation.

FISHING IN SPRING In spring, one concentrates on the flooded backwaters and weeds. In fall, water levels are usually down and shallow waters turn cold quickly. Fish are cold-blooded animals that become inactive in cold waters. They move to warm water and back to regulate body temperature.

Since deeper water tends to vary less in temperature during the day in fall, fish tend to like it as a refuge. That is not to say that they will not move into shallow water at times. Rather, it is just that they will more often be in deep water in the fall.

Fall water has better clarity than does spring. This allows the archer to see deeper into its depth. Heavier arrows allow shooting deeper with more impact. Deep water aggravates the problem of light deflection.

FISHING IN FALL As light rays enter the water they deflect. They make objects beneath the surface to appear closer than is reality.

Most angling archers know they must shoot below the target to compensate for light deflection. The fall fisherman

must compensate even more.

How much more is difficult to gauge since it depends on the depth at which the target is swimming. Only practice will give you the information on where to aim.

Fish are less mobile in fall.

They present a better target in the clearer water. Because of the temperature, they tend to present a more stationary target.

Locating fish later in the year takes a bit of stalking.

Small streams with some deep pools are a good bet. Even the driest of years will result in some deep pools holding fish.

If the pool has some weeds or other cover, all the better.

Rocks and manmade structures such as bridges and docks are usually located near deeper water. The water around them warms from the heat held by the solid objects. The solid objects are warm from the sun. The water changes temperature

Page 21

The bowfin, once considered a trash fish, is a popular fall species for the fishing archer. They present a challenge to find and collect.

at a faster rate. Fish move to them more quickly and stay longer.

In fall, bowfishing provides

some great outdoor recreation often overlooked in favor of more traditional hunting activities. Give it a try.

Outdoor Guide

Page 22

November-December 2023

‘Fly-by-night’ white-fronted geese arrive Photo and Text

By DAN ZARLENGA

During November, the sun’s rule gives way, and the darkness of night claims more and more hours of life’s daily cycle. Listen carefully in that darkness, and overhead it might sound like someone is laughing at you.

A group of giggling children perhaps?

What you might actually be hearing is a flock of greater white-fronted geese. They are one of many species of fly-by-night birds.

In daylight, you’d see the upper parts of the greater white-fronted goose are mostly gray or brownish gray and sport black horizontal streaks or splotches. Its legs and bill are pinkish orange.

The goose’s calls can be described as yodeling, yelping, or laughing.

These birds are not too common in Missouri, appearing mainly along the state’s western edge, and in sporadic patches throughout, including the St. Louis area.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports it is expanding opportunities for hunters this deer season.

Last year’s deer season was comprised of an archery season and several portions of firearms seasons including youth, November, antlerless, and alternative methods.

This year, however, looks a little different. “With the increasing number of deer in the state, and the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) on the landscape, MDC has expanded hunter opportunities,” said Crawford County Conservation Agent Ryan Catron.

The changes are to help stabilize Missouri’s growing deer population and slow the spread of CWD. Archery season opened Sept.

15. Catron said for those who

GOOSE MIXING You’re most likely to encounter greater white-fronted geese in marshes, ponds, and lakes, especially if there’s plenty of aquatic vegetation.

They can sometimes even be seen in crop fields and pastures looking for grains and roots to eat.

It’s also common to find greater white-fronted geese mixing with other fellow goose species, like their cousins Canada and snow geese.

The greater white-fronted geese that find their way through the Show-Me-State are migrating between their wintering territory in Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana, and their breeding range in the tundra of Canada’s northern territories and Alaska. And much of that migrating they do at night.

FLYING BY NIGHT To be considered fly-bynight is not usually seen as a compliment in human terms, but the tactic is highly common among birds! In fact, it’s believed that the vast majority

The geese you hear at night may be these greater white-fronted geese. – MDC photo

of birds – from warblers to waterfowl – choose the dark of night for their migratory trips.

The sky is quite a busy place for birds after the sun goes down. But why do birds opt to make these epic journeys in darkness? Just like humans

learned thousands of years ago to navigate the sea by using the stars, birds learned the same trick long before that.

As they did for ancient mariners, the stars and the moon provide references that point the way for birds through

journeys that span thousands of miles. To guide them, the avian travelers rely on instinct as their internal “sextant.”

LESS OVERHEATING Flying such long distances requires a lot of energy, and

New deer seasons have begun

Missouri has more deer this year, and CWD hasn’t gone away.

regularly bow hunt, nothing looked different with the season dates or bag limit. One antlered deer could be harvested with an archery method prior to the November firearms season, and one may be harvested after the November firearms season if a hunter does not harvest an

antlered deer during firearms season.

ANTLERLESS As for antlerless deer, archers could harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer during the archery season.

While there was no limit to

the number of antlerless deer that may be harvested, Catron reminded hunters to have the proper permits before harvesting deer. He also reminded bowhunters of the need to wear hunter orange during the early antlerless (Oct. 6-8) and CWD (Nov. 22-26) portions of

firearms deer season in open counties.

Firearms season, however, looks different than prior seasons, including an early antlerless portion of the firearm season held Oct. 6-8 in a majority of counties.

NEW CWD PORTION Also, a new CWD Portion will follow the regular firearms season. This season will run Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 22-26. It will be open in all counties in the St. Louis region, except for St. Louis City and St. Louis and Lincoln counties, which are not in the CWD Management Zone.

Catron reminded hunters that since the season portion is not open in all counties, they should check their county’s eligibility.

THANK YOU FOR 31 GREAT YEARS!

the cooler air temperatures of night reduce the danger of the birds overheating during this intense activity. They can also go further without needing to stop and cool down.

Nighttime tends to bring more stable atmosphere with less turbulent air, making it easier for migrating birds to maintain a steady course.

Finally, the concealing darkness of night likely makes birds safer from predators.

They can concentrate more on traveling without the inconvenience of being eaten, which would certainly ruin the trip!

Even though the hours of daylight are becoming precious few this time of year, birds like the greater white-fronted geese find a way to make every hour of life’s daily cycle count.

Being “fly-by-night” isn’t a bad thing at all, but rather another example of nature’s marvelous adaptations.

Dan Zarlenga writes these Conservation Corner columns for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“The increased harvest should help in stabilizing Missouri’s growing deer population and help reduce the spread of CWD,” he said.

The 2023 youth deer seasons remained similar to previous years. The early youth portion this year was Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28-29, to be followed by the late youth portion Friday through Sunday, Nov. 24-26.

As a reminder, only those between 6 and 15 years old on opening day of the early youth portion may participate during these season portions.

For questions regarding the upcoming deer seasons, contact your local conservation agent. Contact information can be found by county online at http://short.mdc. mo.gov.4ok or by contacting your local regional office.

Outdoor Guide

November-December 2023

Page 23

Grant program will remove abandoned, derelict boats

By BoatUS

Boats end up abandoned or derelict on our nation’s coasts for several reasons. Irresponsible owners abandon vessels when they can no longer afford to care for them or pay for their disposal.

Poorly maintained, “at risk” anchored boats, combined with the increasing frequency and severity of storms, leave shorelines littered with wrecks after each hurricane.

A four-year, $10 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to the Marine Debris Removal Program to the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water aims to rid our nation’s shores of abandoned and derelict vessels and remove the associated pollution, navigation and safety hazards that can harm waters for years.

The grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is part of NOAA’s larger mission to address marine debris, which not only includes fiberglass boats but also derelict fishing gear, plastics and other types of debris.

The grant directs the Annapolis, Maryland-based boating nonprofit to “…improve U.S. coastal and marine waters affected by abandoned and derelict vessels by facilitating removal and prevention activities across the country.”

ONE-STOP SHOP The majority of funds will kick-start a one-stop shop competitive grant program to seek out and complete marine debris removal projects on our nation’s coasts and in the Great Lakes for funding and support.

Under the guidelines, any organization – public or private – will be able to apply for Abandoned and Derelict Vessel (ADV) removal funds.

To help educate and prevent future ADVs, the Foundation will also create a national ADV database to track the scope of the challenge and measure success, document ADV prevention and removal activities to share with the public, and support a national dialogue and education effort on boating-related debris removal, with an added focus on how ADVs impact waters in underserved communities.

“This is a coordinated,

once-in-lifetime investment to remove abandoned and derelict vessels, and we’re proud to help NOAA carry out this important mission to rid our shores of marine debris,” said BoatUS Foundation president Chris Edmonston.

GOAL: CLEAN COASTAL WATERS Alanna Keating, director of the BoatUS Outreach and Grant Program, said the project was designed with prevention in mind.

“Our goal over the next four years is to focus on the immediate issue – the substantial number of ADVs that need removal,” she said. “In the future, we hope to expand the program to inland freshwater lakes and waterways, and to reach a point where ADV removals diminish as educational and preventive efforts have greater impact. It’s much more cost-effective to stop it before it happens.

“We’re excited about building upon our years of experience with ADV removals,” she added. “What makes this program unique is that it is open to any organization, nonprofit or for-profit, as well as local, state, and regional government agencies.

The goal is clean coastal waters for everyone.

“Some of our focus will be seeking underserved or marginalized communities that don’t have the local resources to rid their shores of abandoned and derelict vessels,” she said.

A BIPARTISAN LAW Nicole LeBoeuf, assistant administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, said the project was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “It underscores NOAA’s commitment to combat marine debris and its negative impact on the communities and economies that depend on clean, healthy waterways,” she said.

“This pivotal partnership will enable us to address the issue of abandoned and derelict vessels, and help safeguard our coasts and the Great Lakes from pollution, hazards and navigational challenges.”

The Foundation, which drew more than 60 letters of support for the grant application, expects to announce the opening of ADV grant program applications in early 2024. Up-

dates will be posted to BoatUS. org/ADVGrant as they occur.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader for promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Funded primarily by donations from the nearly 800,000 members of Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS), the nonprofit provides inno-

vative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America’s waterways and keeping boating safe for all.

A range of safe and clean boating courses – including the nation’s largest free online boating safety course – can be found at BoatUS.org/Courses.

For more information about this project, go to the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.

– BoatUS photo

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Mixed with Beef $3.00 lb.

$50.00 DEPOSIT REQUIRED FOR ALL DEER PROCESSED

Kenrick’s Specialty Venison Sausages 3 lb. Stick Hickory Smoked Summer Salami ....................................................................... $14.97 per stick 3 lb. Sticks Jalapeno & Cheddar Salami ................................................ $17.97 per stick 3 lb. Sticks Habanero Summer Sausage ................................................ $17.97 per stick with Hot Pepper Cheese Snack Stick Landejager ................................................................................ $5.99 lb.

Jalapeno & Cheddar ................................................................. $6.99 lb.

Snack Stick

Pepperoni .................................................................................. $5.99 lb.

Deer Jerky ................................................................................. $5.99 lb.

Great for the Grill Fresh Venison

Bratwurst ................................................................................... $3.99 lb.

Fresh Venison

Saziza......................................................................................... $3.99 lb.

Fresh Venison

Country Sausage ...................................................................... $3.99 lb.

Fresh Venison

Jalapeno & Cheddar Brats ....................................................... $4.99 lb.

Fresh Venison

Bacon & Cheddar Brats ........................................................... $4.99 lb.

FIREARMS SEASON DEER PROCESSING HOURS Mon.-Fri. 7:00 to 6:00 • Sat. 8:00 to 5:00 • Sun. 9:00 to 8:00

Outdoor Guide

Page 24

November-December 2023

©2023 O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.

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