Missouri C onservationist VOLUME 71, ISSUE 12, DECEMBER 2010 •SERVING NATURE &YOU [ ] NOTE TO OUR READERS Citizen Conservationists M issouri citizens have a long history of conservation stewardship and generosity. Multiple generations of Missourians and decades of time have created a legacy and history, which are hallmarks of Missouri’s conservation program. As the year winds down, I our state and its citizens. can’t help but reflect on great conservation initiatives and lead- Each year, Missourians generously donate land to the ers that have helped Missouri lead the nation on many resource people of Missouri. This land, which is held in public trust by management fronts. the Department, allows all Missourians the opportunity to en- Missouri landowners have long been at the forefront of joy a quality outdoor experience. managing their land for the conservation of multiple wild- As we look to the future, how do we build on that con- life species. From the pioneering efforts of servation legacy of stewardship and gener- Southwest Missouri farmer Eugene Poirot osity? As a Department, we will continue to today’s modern farmer and recreational our focus on conservation education and landowners, Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is communication. We will continue to ex- being implemented on Missouri’s land- pand the Discover Nature Schools program scape. Today’s landowners are the best edu- in our public school system. This program cated and most technologically advanced helps Missouri youngsters understand land stewards in our state’s history. We also today’s complex conservation issues. We have some of the best conservation oppor- will continue our long standing position of tunities to improve Missouri’s landscape basing conservation on sound science. By through multiple federal and state conservation initiatives. focusing on research and management the Department will Past conservation leaders such as E. Sydney Stephens, A.P. build on conservation successes through science based deci- Greensfelder and Ed Stegner have laid a foundation that helps sions. Citizen input and participation is extremely important today’s citizens build and improve Missouri’s conservation pro- as we work hand in hand with Missourians to vision, plan and gram. Today’s many conservation leaders continue to promote implement future conservation successes. stewardship and generosity that help give all Missourians the Conservation opportunities and challenges will be abun- opportunity to learn and participate in conservation activities. dant in the coming year. As we face challenges, such as invasive Modern deer hunters have donated more than 2 million species or new wildlife diseases, it’s nice to know that Missouri- pounds of deer meat through the years as part of the Share the ans are some of the best informed citizens on conservation and Harvest program. This program provides much needed protein continue to grow their land stewardship. They readily give their to less fortunate Missourians and exemplifies the generous giv- time, talent and money to promote conservation throughout our ing spirit of many Missourians and partners such as Bass Pro state. Missourians care about conserving forests, fish and wild- Shops and Shelter Insurance. life. As we celebrate a new year make and take the time to enjoy Other citizens offer their most precious gift, their time, Missouri’s outdoors with family and friends. Our collective con- as they volunteer at nature centers, shooting ranges and other servation future depends on you—the citizen conservationist! conservation facilities around the state. Conservation volun- teers provided the state with more than 250,000 hours last year, which translates into real economic and educational benefits to Tim Ripperger, deputy director Our Mission: To protect and manage the fish, forest and wildlife resources of the state; to serve the public and facilitate their participation in resource management activities; and to provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about fish, forest and wildlife resources. [CONTENTS] December 2010, Volume 71, Issue 12 FEATURES 8 Quail Country Cover: Black-capped chickadee by by Jan Dellamano, photos by David Stonner Noppadol Paothong. Imperfect landscapes can be remodeled into great habitat. Above: Ashley Williams hunts for quail on his land. Williams works with 12 Trapping—Education Over Extinction MDC to provide good habitat by Larry R. Beckett, photos by Noppadol Paothong for quail. By David Stonner Sharing the secrets of success preserves an outdoor tradition. 18 Missouri’s History With the Elk MISCELLANY by Chris Canipe, photos by Noppadol Paothong 2 Letters This majestic animal’s bugle has been silent in Missouri for more than 100 4 News & Events years, but next year the Department plans to restore elk in a defined area. 5 Ombudsman 28 Plants & Animals 30 Places To Go 25 2010 Missouri Conservationist Index 32 Hunting and Fishing Calendar 32 Contributors 33 Agent Notes December 2010 Missouri Conservationist 1 [LETTERS] Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and might be edited for length and clarity. Pro logger Force veteran of over  years and am thankful capitol in Jefferson City, around the late ‘s for the article that connects sacrifice with or early ‘s. I spent many wonderful family My wife and I would freedom. It has taken the sacrifice of reunions exploring the beautiful countryside. our military men and women to allow the Sharon Stidham-Smith, Round Rock, Texas like to thank you for freedom to be able to appreciate and utilize Deer Lonnie: the natural resources that Missouri offers. printing the article about Logger of the Year A special thanks to our Missouri conserva- Which sense does a deer rely on the most? If a Matt L’Heureux [November; Page ]. We were so tion personnel that do such a superb job of deer smells you but doesn’t see you, should you pleased with the service he provided us clearing watching over those resources. I really enjoy stay where you are or turn in? Most of the time, the downed trees after the damaging storm that reading and treasuring the excellent photos in if I get “snorted,” I’ll sit for another hour then came through our property in Patton Missouri. the Conservationist and kayaking, fishing and go on in. When a deer snorts/flags that pretty After he had the trees cleared, he came back hiking in the Missouri outdoors. much clears out the area of other deer, right? and smoothed the ruts and repaired the ground Dennis Manley, Lake Ozark Dallas Gibbs, via Internet after the heavy equipment damage. We want to Cooper Hill memories thank Matt and his crew for a job well done. He Biologist’s note: Good question. They certainly deserves the title Logger of the Year. I just read the article on Cooper Hill CA in the have excellent senses of smell and Ron and Vivian Williams, St. Peters November issue [Page ]. My great-uncle and hearing; not quite as good vision. Having great-aunt lived in Cooper Hill, Arnold and experienced it many times myself, it Good shepherds Liliane Baker. He made a model of the old mill is frustrating when a deer detects Thank you for your article Shepherd of the Hills Bonnie Chasteen mentioned in the article and your presence and snorts. If you are in the November issue. I am a United States Air donated it to the state. It was on display at the detected (snorting), especially late in the day, it may not bode well, but I do not think it means you should give up. During the rut bucks are moving over large areas and often rapidly. Just be- cause you had a deer snorting at you does not mean every deer that might come by has heard that. You could very well have deer still come through; just hope they are moving in upwind. Good luck this season.—Lonnie Hansen, deer biologist. True spirit of hunting I went out last Saturday for the youth hunt, spent six hours in the stand, and didn’t see one deer. That is what deer hunting is all about: waiting, watching, enjoying God’s creation. After reading the bit about  Plead Guilty in Deer-Dog- ging Case [November] it makes me sad for them Freeze frame that they miss the true spirit of hunting. Reader Photo Graham Stanfill, via Internet Jim Hannon of Labadie took this picture as he was running his trap line in a Corrections creek near his home. Hannon’s wife had decided to join him for the day. “As we walked quietly along the stream checking sets,” said Hannon, “we spotted these In Eminence Gets Conservation Boost [November; miniature icicles near the water’s surface.” Trapping, as well as hunting, fishing Page ] we wrote that “boaters will have better and camping are important activities for the family, which includes Hannon’s access to the Current River at Eminence City two daughters ages 8 and 9. “These activities play a large role in our lives as we Park.” The sentence should have read “better enjoy Missouri in all seasons of the year,” said Hannon. access to the Jacks Fork River.” 2 Missouri Conservationist December 2010 Missouri Northeast SUBSCRIPTIONS C Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3856 or 3249 onservationist Northwest Address: Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 E-mail: [email protected] Conservationist online services: Subscribe to the Kansas Central St. GOVERNOR Jeremiah W. “Jay” Nixon magazine, update your mailing address, or sign up to City Louis receive an e-mail when the latest issue is available THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION online at www.MissouriConservation.org/15287 Don C. Bedell Southeast Cost of subscriptions: Free to Missouri households Don R. Johnson Southwest William F. “Chip” McGeehan Out of State $7 per year Ozark Becky L. Plattner Out of Country $10 per year Please allow 6—8 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Director Robert L. Ziehmer Deputy Director Thomas A. Draper OMBUDSMAN QUESTIONS Deputy Director Tim D. Ripperger Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3848 General Counsel Tracy E. McGinnis DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS Address: Ombudsman, PO Box 180, Internal Auditor Nancy R. Dubbert Phone: 573-751-4115 Address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 DIVISION CHIEFS E-mail: [email protected] Administrative Services Carter Campbell Jefferson City 65102-0180 Design and Development Jacob Careaga EDITORIAL COMMENTS REGIONAL OFFICES Fisheries Chris Vitello Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3847 or 3245 Forestry Lisa G. Allen Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Address: Magazine Editor, PO Box 180, Human Resources Thomas Neubauer Central/Columbia: 573-884-6861 Jefferson City 65102-0180 Outreach & Education Mike Huffman Kansas City: 816-655-6250 Private Land Services Mike Hubbard E-mail: [email protected] Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 Protection Larry D. Yamnitz Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880 READER PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Resource Science Mike Kruse Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 Address: Missouri Conservationist, Reader Photo, Wildlife DeeCee Darrow St. Louis: 636-441-4554 PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 CONSERVATIONIST STAFF Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161 E-mail: [email protected] Editor In Chief Ara Clark Managing Editor Nichole LeClair Terrill Art Director Cliff White Don’t Get Scammed—Do not give any information to anyone who comes to your door soliciting Conservationist Staff Writer Bonnie Chasteen subscriptions. It could be a scam. Get as much information as possible and then contact your regional Missouri Department Staff Writer Jim Low of Conservation office, police department or the Missouri Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222. Photographer Noppadol Paothong Photographer David Stonner Designer Stephanie Thurber MDC Online Discover more about nature and the outdoors through these sites. Artist Dave Besenger Artist Mark Raithel Blog: www.MissouriConservation.org/node109 MDC Web site: www.MissouriConservation.org Circulation Laura Scheuler Facebook: www.facebook.com/MDConline Nature Shop: www.mdcNatureShop.com The Missouri Conservationist (ISSN 0026-6515) is the of- Flickr: www.MissouriConservation.org/20010 Twitter: www.twitter.com/MDC_Online ficial monthly publication of the Missouri Department Kid’s site: www.XplorMo.org www.twitter.com/Nature_Videos of Conservation, 2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO (Mailing address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO Missouri Conservationist website: YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/moconservation 65102.) Subscription free to adult Missouri residents; out www.MissouriConservation.org/3939 of state $7 per year; out of country $10 per year. Notifi- cation of address change must include both old and new address (send mailing label with the subscriber number on it) with 60-day notice. Preferred periodical postage New Kids’ Magazine paid at Jefferson City, Mo., and at additional entry offices. Postmaster: Send correspondence to Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Phone: 573-522-4115, Six times a year we’ll bring you eye-popping art, photos and MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION stories about Missouri’s coolest critters, niftiest natural places, eCxotm. 3m85is6s ioorn 3o2f4 t9h.e C Sotaptyer oigfh Mt i©ss 2o0u1ri0. by the Conservation (cid:38)(cid:68)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:18)(cid:44)(cid:64)(cid:77)(cid:84)(cid:64)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:20) liveliest outdoor activities and people who’ve made a living in Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the wild. Come outside with us and XPLOR! programs of the Missouri Department of Conservation (cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:67)(cid:82)(cid:10)(cid:3)(cid:64)(cid:67)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:77)(cid:3)(cid:77)(cid:64)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:81)(cid:68) Ages: 7–12 is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Questions Missouri residents: FREE (one subscription per household) should be directed to the Department of Conservation, PO Out of state: $5 per year; Out of country: $8 per year Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, 573-751-4115 (voice) A guardian’s name and address is required with the subscription. or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Please alllooww 66—8 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Service Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA 22203. WINTER’S INSULATORS www.XplorMo.org Printed with soy ink KTCEIOPELSPD FC-ROWOZEMYA WTMHIISTESHRO TEUHXRPEISE’SER TS! 573-522-4115, ext. 3856 or 3249 December 2010 Missouri Conservationist 3 [ ] NEWS & EVENTS by Jim Low herd through Share the Harvest (STH). The -year-old program passed a milestone in , channeling its -millionth pound of lean, high-protein venison to needy families through dozens of locally organized STH chapters. STH has achieved this remarkable feat by making it easy and inexpensive to donate venison. Participating meat processors are listed in the  Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet. Donating venison is as easy as taking a deer to any of these processors. Many hunters have enough venison for their own needs by this time in Missouri’s -day firearms deer season. With no reason to hunt more, they reluctantly put away their deer rifles until next year, not considering the possibility of extending their own hunting enjoyment while helping feed the hungry. The antlerless deer season runs through Dec. . Muzzleloader season is Dec.  through . Young hunters get the last shot at deer Jan.  and . Consider taking these opportuni- ties to spend time outdoors with family and friends and help those less fortunate than you! More information is available at www.Missouri Conservation.org/node/2544, or by calling - -, or e-mailing [email protected]. Youth Deer Harvest Holds Steady Urban Deer Harvest During the urban portion of firearms deer season Hunters age  through  checked , deer is available at http://bit.ly/9bmk38. To create a Oct.  through , hunters checked  deer. during the early youth portion of Missouri’s certificate suitable for framing, you need only fill Comparing deer-harvest statistics and weath- firearms deer season Oct.  and . That is the in the hunter’s information, print the form and er records during past urban deer hunts reveals a third-largest number in the season’s -year his- add a photo. strong correlation between weather and harvest. tory and only slightly less than the record. From  through , the youth portion of For instance, daily high temperatures averaged The first youth season was in , when firearms deer season ran for two days in early No- . degrees this year. Hunters shot more than young hunters checked , deer. The most vember or late October. In , the Conservation twice as many deer in , when temperatures ever taken during the two-day hunt was , Department added two days of youth hunting in were  degrees cooler. The largest urban-season in . The harvest during last year’s early January. The harvest during the late youth hunt harvests during the four-day urban hunt have youth hunt was ,. has been small compared to the early portion, occurred in the years with the lowest average According to the Missouri Department of averaging a little more than ,. temperatures. Conservation, this year’s top counties were Osage The Conservation Department recorded no This correlation extends to the November fire- with  deer checked, Callaway with  and firearms-related deer hunting incidents during arms deer season, too. The connection is related Franklin with . this year’s early youth season. to behavior of both deer and hunters. Deer are The Conservation Department makes it easy The Late Firearms Youth Portion is Jan.  and . less active in warm weather. Moving around in to create a lasting reminder of young hunters’ warm weather is uncomfortable for deer in Octo- Still Time to Share the Harvest first deer. An official First Deer Certificate, com- ber, when they already have grown dense coats plete with congratulations and signature by Con- Hunters still have plenty of time to share to insulate them from winter cold. Hunters know servation Department Director Robert Ziehmer, the bounty of Missouri’s white-tailed deer deer are less active and are less inclined to hunt 4 Missouri Conservationist December 2010 in warm weather because deer are harder to find. deer season. The goal was to remove enough the number of miles driven on Missouri highways Furthermore, preventing meat spoilage is more does from the population to hold deer numbers increased from , million to , annually difficult in warm weather. steady in some areas. from  to , an -percent increase. Top harvest counties during this year’s urban Over the following  years, the Conserva- Scotland County Men Sentenced hunt were Boone with  deer checked, St. tion Department gradually increased the length Charles with  and Greene with . This year’s of the antlerless season and the availability of Four Scotland County men were sentenced in Octo- urban deer harvest consisted of  percent does. antlerless tags. Today, hunters can shoot as many ber on charges related to multiple federal wildlife The goal of the urban hunt is to provide addi- does as they want in all or part of  counties. violations, including illegally shooting a bald tional hunting opportunities and to manage deer The Conservation Department also has expanded eagle and illegally trapping and shooting birds numbers in urban areas. the number of firearms deer hunting days from  that are protected under the Migratory Bird Act. to , instituted an urban deer hunt for antlerless Agents discovered poles with steel leg hold traps Fewer Deer-Vehicle Accidents deer and placed counties under antler-point re- on land owned by Douglas Byrn. Court documents Statistics from the Missouri Highway Patrol show strictions to encourage hunters to shoot more does. allege that Douglas Byrn trapped and Logan Byrn that the frequency of deer-vehicle accidents As a result, the number of does harvested each shot a great horned owl in Scotland County. Doug- peaked in . That same year, the Conservation year increased from , in  to , last Department instituted the first antlerless-only year. That is remarkable when you consider that (continued on Page ) Ask the Ombudsman Q: What are the regulations regarding how long deer and wild turkey meat can be stored in a freezer before using? A: T urkeys may not be possessed or stored any later than February 15 of the year following the close of the season when taken. There is no similar requirement for storing venison beyond a certain date. As recently as 1998, there was such a requirement for venison to be used by August 31 of the following year, but a regulations change eliminated it. With more liberal harvest limits for antlerless deer, we American robin felt that it was impractical for many hunters to use all their venison prior to the next year’s deer season. Stored deer and turkeys taken in Missouri should be labeled with the taker’s full name and address, the date taken and the Telecheck on the weather. During the fall, robins form winter flocks confirmation number. and move into wooded areas, where they feed on fruits, berries and invertebrates in the leaf litter. Massive flocks G Q: I had some robins on my property recently. Don’t (sometimes more than a million birds) usually return to N O OTH robins go south for the winter? the same roosting sites each night. These locations are often OL PA dense stands of cedars or other evergreens, which provide D OPPA A: R obins are more common in southern Missouri some thermal insulation as well as predator protection. N N: during the winter but they can also be found, in When spring returns, the flocks break up into breeding pairs BI O HITE, R somewhat lower numbers, in northern Missouri, depending and robins become common throughout the state. W NT: CLIFF Ombudsman Tim Smith will respond to your questions, suggestions or complaints concerning Department of Conservation programs. HU Write him at PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, call him at 573-522-4115, ext. 3848, or e-mail him at [email protected]. December 2010 Missouri Conservationist 5 [NEWS & EVENTS] by Jim Low las Byrn also trapped a yellow shafted flicker. tenced to one year of probation and ordered to free hotline number. Help put game thieves out Douglas Lecen Byrn, , Memphis, Mo., was pay a $, fine on one charge of influencing of business. Dial toll-free --. sentenced to one year of probation and ordered a witness. Natural Resources Conference to pay a $, fine on two violations of the Each of the four men also is to perform  Migratory Bird Treaty Act. hours of community service and is forbidden “The Human Element: People, Politics and Conser- Jared Fuller, , of Memphis, Mo., was sen- to hunt or possess firearms during probation. vation” is the theme for the  Missouri Natural tenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay The defendants appeared before United States Resources Conference (MNRC) Feb.  through  at a $ fine on one violation of the Bald Eagle Act. District Judge Catherine D. Perry, in St. Louis. The Lake of the Ozarks’ Tan-Tar-A Resort. Logan Douglas Byrn, , of Downing, was sen- Conservation Department and the U.S. Fish and The conference program focuses on helping tenced to one year of probation and a $ fine Wildlife Service investigated the case. resource management professionals and citizen on one violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act The Department of Conservation works with conservationists deal with one of the most chal- and one count of aiding and abetting the viola- you to sustain fish and wildlife. If you see a pos- lenging aspects of their jobs. Registration forms tion of the Bald Eagle Act. sible poaching violation in progress, immediately and further information are available at www. James Fuller, , of Memphis, Mo., was sen- call your conservation agent, sheriff or the toll- mnrc.org. More Hunters Apply for Hunts Under Quick Draw Judging by the number of applications for waterfowl hunts, Quick Draw Conservation.org/node/10272. To view the number of hunters apply- is achieving its original goals. ing for and receiving reservations under Quick Draw, visit www.Missouri Quick Draw is a new system for assigning duck-hunting opportunities Conservation.org/node/10493. at the Conservation Department’s managed wetland areas. The Depart- Instead of requiring hunters to apply for waterfowl hunting reserva- ment is testing the system this year at Grand Pass, Eagle Bluffs and Otter tions weeks or months in advance as the traditional reservation system Slough CAs. does, Quick Draw lets them apply a few days ahead of time. Quick Draw More than , applications came in for hunting at Grand Pass assigns  percent of hunting slots in advance instead of the  percent Conservation Area (CA) during the first  days of hunting. The number of under the traditional system, and successful Quick Draw applicants find daily applicants fell off quickly, from more than , for the first day of out their number in the order of hunting-spot selection ahead of time, hunting to a little more than  on the th day. Over the -day period, instead of the morning of the hunt.  hunters—about . percent—drew hunting spots. The success rates The Department had several goals for the system. One was to make at Eagle Bluffs and Otter Slough for the first four days of Quick Draw (the applying for reservations more convenient, economical and practical for only period completed at Conservationist press time) were . and . hunters who must drive long distances to managed wetland areas. Quick percent, respectively. Draw also was designed to help out hunters whose work schedules are For more information about Quick Draw, visit www.Missouri less flexible or who want to introduce school-age hunters to waterfowl- ing. If it achieved these goals, Quick Draw also might recruit more hunters into a sport with significant entry barriers. One other benefit to Quick Draw is that it allows hunters to take weather conditions into account when deciding when to apply for hunts. Quick Draw retains an important feature of the traditional reservation system – the ability of hunters without reservations to draw for a portion of hunting opportunities by joining the “poor line” each morning. Early-season results showed good success among reservation-less hunters, thanks to smaller poor-line turnouts. 6 Missouri Conservationist December 2010 This year’s program will feature nationally Citizens partner with MDC to accomplish Did You Know? known speakers, as well as dozens of nuts-and- great conservation work. bolts sessions to provide concrete management strategies for resource managers. Volunteers Natural resource professional societies or- ganize the MNRC each year. The event routinely » More than 250,000 hours were volunteered by dedicated citizens last year attracts , attendees and provides a forum for conservation activities at nature centers, hunter education courses, for established and aspiring natural-resource shooting ranges and bird monitoring. professionals to exchange information and » 132,283 hours were volunteered by more than 67,000 citizens to enhance ideas and enhance cooperation among gov- and restore Missouri streams last year through 4,115 Stream Teams ernment agencies and citizen conservation located throughout the state. organizations. » More than 20,000 hours of volunteer service were donated through the The conference also features an opening- community-based Master Naturalist program last year. night social, research project poster displays, a » About 2,300 volunteer instructors taught hunter education classes last year. student job fair and exhibits by related vendors » More than 66,000 hours were volunteered at MDC facilities last year. and service providers and professional and » For more information on how to volunteer for the Missouri Department of conservation groups. Conservation, visit www.MissouriConservation.org/node/4668. Donate Asian Carp to the Needy What do you do with Asian carp that jump into your boat or the ones you take bowfishing? Why not donate them to a food pantry or to neighbors on a fixed income? Silver carp have white, mild-flavored meat that some compare to Chilean sea bass or crab meat. The invasive fish are rapidly joining mainstream cuisine, even turning up at restaurants in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Replace the name “silver carp” with “silver fin,” and you have a recipe for success. Want to eat the flying fish yourself? Check out www.iisgcp.org/asiancarp/recipes _chapman.pdf for recipes. Fall Firearms Turkey Harvest Hunters checked , wild turkeys during Mis- souri’s fall firearms hunting season Oct.  through . It was the second-smallest harvest in the fall season’s -year history. Volunteer naturalist gives a presentation Top harvest counties were Greene with  turkeys checked, Franklin with  and Webster with . Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle, who oversees hunters the following spring. population. That is well below the -percent the Missouri Department of Conservation’s turkey- “Missouri’s wild turkey population is esti- threshold.” management program, said the harvest was about mated at approximately , birds,” said Isabelle said that although turkey numbers G ON what he would expect based on the number of fall Isabelle. “Population modeling indicates that as are down in parts of the state due to poor re- H DOL PAOT fireTahrmis sy teuarrk’es yf ahlul nfitrienagr pmesr mtuitrsk esoy ldh.arvest includ- olofn tgh ea ss tfaatlel whaidrvee tsutr dkeoye sp nooptu leaxtcioened, i t h apse rlcitetnlet opurotdstuacntdioinng, t uhruknetyi nhgu notperpso cratunn sittiilel se xdpuercint gs otmhee OPPA ed , hens, or approximately  per county. impact on the population. Even when you com-  spring season. Spring turkey hunting infor- N OS BY: Isabelle said a fall turkey harvest of this size has bine the fall archery and firearms harvests, the mation is available on our website in January at HOT no effect on the number of turkeys available to total is less than  percent of the state’s turkey www.MissouriConservation.org/node/4051. P December 2010 Missouri Conservationist 7 ≤uail Country Imperfect landscapes can be remodeled into great habitat. ∫¥ JAN DELLAMANO, π≠otos ∫¥ DAVID STONNER 8 Missouri Conservationist December 2010