Missouri Conservationist April 2017 SUBSCRIPTIONS Missouri Phone: 573-522-4115, Ext
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Missouri ConservationistVOLUME 78, ISSUE 4, APRIL 2017 • SERVING NATURE & YOU NOTE TO OUR READERS The Call of the Wild Turkey he sounds of spring have finally arrived. There is no better sound this time of year than the distinct and melodious notes of the wild turkey. TIt calls and hunters come. Like every other turkey hunter in Missouri, the start of spring turkey season is by the keys, the more keys you use, the far my favorite time of year. more music you make. A few weeks ago, I had the I love the sound of this anal- privilege of joining 52,000 other ogy, especially when I think about impassioned turkey hunters in the NWTF and their volunteers in all 50 annual pilgrimage to the National states, and how these efforts are only Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) accomplished by playing more keys annual convention in Nashville. The on the keyboard. It’s true for the rest joy of the convention is the chance of the conservation community, too. for fellowship with kindred spir- We each have a valuable role to play. its, those that choose to rise early No one organization, or individual, and watch the sun come up in the or entity can play all the keys by woods with the hope of hearing the themselves, but when we come to- magical gobble of a wild turkey. The gether with a common conservation meeting is also an incredible oppor- goal, what beautiful music we can tunity to talk all day about turkeys make. What big things we can ac- — turkey habitat, hunting stories, complish. What great success stories state population numbers, regula- we can build upon. tions, hunting gear and gadgets, and So, happy spring, valuable part- your favorite turkey call. It is a tur- ners! To my fellow turkey hunters, key hunter’s dream destination. have a safe and adventure-filled hunt. While I was there, I also had the chance to talk one eve- To the rest, I hope to see you afield doing whatever outdoor ning with a volunteer from Missouri. His dedication to NWTF activities make music for you. reflected a deeper commitment to his community as a Boy Scout leader and active volunteer in other conservation orga- nizations. As we were talking about the remarkable efforts of both state wildlife agencies and key partners in bringing back healthy and sustainable wild turkey populations, including how this could not have been done without dedicated volun- —Sara Parker Pauley, director teers, he used an analogy of a piano keyboard with its 88 keys. He said while beautiful music can be played using only some of SHARE YOUR COMMENTS ON CONSERVATION AREAS How are conservation areas important to you and what improvements would you like to see? The Missouri Department of Conservation is updating management plans for more than 1,000 conservation areas all around the state and invites the public to comment on areas important to them. To view area management plans and share comments online, visit mdc.mo.gov/areaplans. April 2017, Volume 78, Issue 4 CONTENTS FEATURES Cover: Turkey fans on display. Spring turkey season begins with the youth portion April 8–9. 10 Safeguarding Our Glades Photograph by Noppadol Paothong by Bonnie Chasteen 500mm lens • f/8 • 1/40 sec • ISO 800 Dedicated conservation partners help restore and protect Missouri’s unique micro deserts DEPARTMENTS 18 What’s in a Nest? 2 Letters by Sarah Kendrick 4 Hunting & Fishing Calendar Scientists monitor nests to study the health of 4 Agent Notes birds and changes to the landscape 5 Ask MDC 6 News & Events 24 After the Harvest 30 Plants & Animals by Jake Hindman, photographs by David Stonner 32 Places to Go Helping a young hunter get her first turkey from field to table 33 Discover Nature Our photographers have been busy exploring the intricacies of outdoor Missouri. See if you can guess this What is it? month’s natural wonder. The answer is revealed on Page 8. April 2017 Missouri Conservationist 1 LETTERS Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity. Deer now hoping to catch a walleye on Stockton Lake Macon County, and one day our teacher told us a Nov. 16 found me in a deer blind near Huntsville some day. Thank you for the enthralling article. man was coming after lunch to visit. in Randolph County. I have never missed an Rosemary William, Stockton Mr. Basil Morlan came and told us of a new opening day of deer season in Missouri in 70 organization called the Nature Knights. Students years. I made up my mind only a big one would February Issue could join and learn about nature and how to do. I saw 29 deer the first day. I never saw a big Wow! Missouri Conservationist covers are legend- make our world a better place by caring for it one. I saw some small, seven and eight points. I ary for their excellence, yet the February cover properly. He had us making scrapbooks and never fired a shot. I have taken some nice deer in exceeds that usual high level. I marvel at how identifying trees, wildflowers, birds, and bugs. all of these years, and stored up a lot of memo- the colors and background so exactly match We loved it. ries. I enjoy your magazine. Great work. those of the Niangua darter. Editors and photog- The Nature Knights program was an impor- L.W. Terry, Clifton Hill rapher Jim Rathert, take a well-deserved bow. tant part of my education. Campbell’s letter Ken Rosenauer, Country Club brought back fond memories of collecting leaves Thanks, MDC. Because of you, we have a great and flowers for the many scrapbooks we made deer population. I love living in Missouri. This month’s Conservationist was the best in in our little rural school. Dale Daughetry, via Facebook years. It seemed to lend itself to education. Thank you for the Missouri Conservationist. Richard Minton, Hamilton We look forward to finding it in our mailbox Wonderful Walleye every month. The article about walleye from the February Memories Doris Noah, Bucklin magazine was especially fascinating [Wonderful Charlie Campbell, Ph.D., mentioned the Nature Walleye; Page 18]. The fact that the fish swim Knights in the February issue of the Missouri Con- Opportunities in schools, stay away from bright light, and are servationist [Letters; Page 2], and that sparked I love enjoying the opportunities Missouri active in the winter was both interesting and memories of another one-room school in the conservation has to offer with my 3-year-old son surprising. I am not much of a fisher, but I am late 1940s. I was a student at High Hill School in and black Lab. You guys are doing great. Keep up the great work. Mike Jennings, Bridgeton Tower Grove Park Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed Danny Brown’s article and photos about Tower Grove Park [March; Page 16]. Cheryl Balke, Florissant We just finished reading the March issue of the Missouri Conservationist. We especially enjoyed the cover photo of the great horned owlets and the article and photographs of Tower Grove Park by Danny Brown. We continue to be impressed by his talent as a photographer and writer. Wayne and Carol Bean, Union Nature Envelopes I have been enjoying your fine magazine for Reader Photo Hickory in Spring years, and I especially love the gorgeous nature photography. Not wanting to waste those Eric Davis captured this young hickory tree unfolding new spring leaves in his beautiful photos, I turn them into envelopes. yard along the Niangua Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. The tree was one of Just another way to enjoy nature and spread the several 3-foot-tall seedlings Davis planted years ago. The trees are now “8-feet-tall love while recycling. Keep up the good work and and vigorous,” said Davis. He has also planted some pecan trees. “The pecans are especially the great full-page nature photogra- also doing well,” said Davis. “Including one that was chomped by a passing deer.” phy. You never know where they end up. Jan Canyon, via email 2 Missouri Conservationist April 2017 SUBSCRIPTIONS Missouri Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3856 or 3249 Conservationist Address: Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 Email: [email protected] GOVERNOR Eric R. Greitens Conser vationist online services: Subscribe to the magazine, update your mailing address, or sign THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Don C. Bedell up to receive an email when the latest issue is James T. Blair, IV available online at mdc.mo.gov/conmag Marilynn J. Bradford Cost o f subscriptions: Free to Missouri households David W. Murphy Out of State $7 per year Director Sara Parker Pauley Out of Country $10 per year Deputy Director Thomas A. Draper Please allow 6–8 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Deputy Director Aaron Jeffries ASK MDC Deputy Director Jennifer Battson Warren General Counsel Jennifer Frazier Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3848 Internal Auditor Lisa Wehmeyer DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS Address: Ask MDC, PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 DIVISION CHIEFS Phone: 573-751-4115 Administrative Services Cyndi Voss Email: [email protected] Address: PO Box 180, Design and Development Jacob Careaga Jefferson City 65102-0180 EDITORIAL COMMENTS Fisheries Brian Canaday Phone: 573-522-4115, ext. 3847 Forestry Lisa G. Allen REGIONAL OFFICES Human Resources Thomas Neubauer Address: Magazine Editor, PO Box 180, Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Outreach & Education Joanie H. Straub Jefferson City 65102-0180 Central/Columbia: 573-815-7900 Private Land Services Bill White Email: [email protected] Protection Larry D.