• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Missouri ConservationistVolume 68, Issue 8, August 2007 •Serving nature & You [Note to our readers] Hunting Fever ven though summer is in full force, I’ve been thinking about my favorite preparation of deer roast. Mary Werdenhause is a family Efriend whose mouth-watering recipe fills the kitchen with such delicious aromas it’s hard to wait for dinner. So, if I’m going to Hunters were the first to recognize the decline in habitat and satisfy this hunger this fall, I had better use August to prepare wildlife populations, and, to change that, they were willing to pay for a successful deer hunt. license fees for professional management Preparation is important no matter and hunting regulations based on sound what game you pursue. Finding the right science. In Missouri, conservation success place and scouting the area before the sea- began in 1936 with the voters’ resounding son greatly increase your chance of suc- approval of an initiative petition to create cess. Honing firearms marksmanship and a citizen Conservation Commission. The archery skills are also necessary preseason effort was spearheaded by a group known activities. Above all, one of the best ways as the “Restoration and Conservation to get prepared is to complete a hunter Federation of Missouri,” led by E. Sydney education course taught by knowledgeable Stephens, an ardent hunter from Colum- and dedicated instructors. E. Sydney Stephens bia, who later became the first chairman Hunting is steeped in our state’s of the new Commission. culture and tradition, and nearly a half Many writers have tried to define the million hunters enjoy their sport in Missouri each year. Deer reasons why we hunt, but the motivation to hunt and the satisfac- and turkey hunting draw the greatest numbers, but many are tion from the experience is a uniquely individual matter. Some equally enthusiastic about doves, waterfowl, quail, furbearers prefer a solitary event; others a social adventure with friends and and other small game. family. Clearly, though, hunting provides a critical connection with In my hometown newspaper, The Current Local, photos of the outdoors and stirs a deep passion in many that participate. successful hunters routinely appear. I especially enjoy the pic- For me, the crisp autumn air is sharper when punctuated tures of excited girls and boys showing off their deer and turkey by that moment when the game is close, your heart rate is up harvests. Special youth hunting seasons are now so popular that and a clear shot is imminent. It’s particularly satisfying to hunt Missouri leads the nation in engaging the next generation in on land where our family has worked hard to manage for wild- hunting. The credit goes to the thousands of adults who mentor life and to share the bounty of the hunt at the family table. kids to experience hunting in a safe and responsible manner. Start preparing for your hunting adventures. Take ad- Hunters in Missouri also aid society’s less fortunate. Last vantage of the Department’s shooting ranges, publications and year, 6,500 hunters donated a record 322,469 pounds of venison informative programs. And if deer hunting is on your agenda, to the Share the Harvest program. The program uses meat pro- try celebrating your hunt with Mary’s recipe for deer roast (see cessors and food bank networks to distribute this healthy protein page 2 for the recipe). to families across the state. Much of our modern conservation movement started with determined hunters seeking to protect and manage wildlife. John Hoskins, 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 for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about fish, forest and wildlife resources. August 2007, Volume 68, Issue 8 [CoNteNTS] On the cover and left: Photographer David Stonner captured these images of Duck Creek Conservation Area, part of Mingo Basin Conservation Opportunity Area. Duck Creek CA is one example of Missouri’s hardwood bottomland forests. This habitat is the focus of this year’s Endangered Species Run and the article Lowland Treasures by Carol Davit starting on page 14. NextGeN This section reports on goals established in The Next Generation of Conservation. To read more about this plan, visit www.missouriconservation.org/12843. 5 PlaNts & Animals 6 PlaCes to Go 7 Community CoNservatIoN 8 outdoor reCreatIoN 10 CleaN Water 11 HealtHy Forests Features 12 laNdowner assIstance 14 Lowland Treasures 13 CoNservatIoN eduCatIoN by Carol Davit The wonderful creatures and features of bottomland hardwood forests and swamps. MisCellaNy 2 Letters 22 Connecting Kids With Nature 4 ombudsman by Carol Mahan and Chris Schmidgall, photos by David Stonner 4 on the Web How an outdoor classroom teaches science, math and a whole lot more. 4 on the TV 32 Hunting and Fishing Calendar 26 ’Twas the Night Before Hunting Season 32 Contributors by Warren Rose 33 Behind the Code Hunting is as exciting as a holiday, but we have to act responsibly to protect 33 agent notes ourselves and our sport. 33 time Capsule [letters ] Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity. [NOTE TO OUR READERS] The Future of Child’s Play amazed me that he could spend so much time ’m the director of the Department of Conservation because I was a kid digging ditches and making bridges for his little who loved the outdoors. From an early age, life with my brothers and Isister on a small Ozarks farm left us free to explore the world. trucks and cars. Each s pring, t he p art of C arter Creek that r an t hrough In his book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv links the In college, Jon chose geology-geography and our property would fl ash into a river and chew out scour holes absence of nature to disturbing trends among our children—the that served as summer’s swimming holes. rise i n obesity, a ttention d isorders a nd I began to worry that he would never find a job! I loved to fi sh and was proud when I depression. Louv advocates b ecoming could hunt s quirrels a nd r abbits alone. actively involved in making “nature play” My brother Steve and I spent memorable an i ntegral part of kids’ lives. “We have Little did I know! Three weeks after graduation nights with a fl ashlight hunting frogs on such a brief opportunity to pass on to our farm ponds, and we spent several others children our love for this Earth, and to tell with our neighbor, Harold, following his our stories,” writes Louv. “In my children’s he joined Peabody Engineers to do soil testing blue tick hounds trying to tree raccoons memories, the adventures w e have h ad in t he d ead of w inter. While in s ixth together in nature will always exist.” for the power plant on the Wabash River near grade, I remember an assignment to make My o utdoor m emories are price- a leaf collection. Dad and I searched the less, so I t ake personal r esponsibility entire farm and found enough leaves for for making n ew o nes with m y grand- Vincennes, Ind. (referred to in a recent issue of an “A,” plus some extra credit. Th a t was children. Th e ir b ackyards a re p laces to also the year I eagerly read back-to-back JOHN H OSKINS ( left) at a ge � w ith his brother begin learning about trees, other plants, the adventures of both Tom Sawyer and Steve (right) on t he C urrent R iver n ear Van insects and birds, a nd p erhaps t o learn National Geographic Huckleberry Finn. Buren. H is c hildhood e nthusiasm for outdoor archery skills or casting with a rod and ). He is now the manager at Th i s childhood foundation g rew pursuits has been a foundation for his career in reel. My fi rst goal is selfi sh—some qual- WIPP in Carlsbad, N.M., making sure that the into a dult p ursuits of d eer, s mall g ame conservation. When not working as director, he ity time with the grandkids. Th e second and turkey hunting and, m y personal enjoys fi shing, hunting, biking and hiking with is to instill an appreciation of nature that favorite t oday—fl oat s tream fi shing. My his family and friends. will reward these children for the rest of solid nuclear waste is properly disposed of, still youth was also t he s tarting point for an their lives. I don’t yet have a single family education in natural science and a career memory that began, “One day while we in conservation. were watching television....” interested in taking care of God’s earth. Child’s My experience is common for anyone my age reared on Th i nk about the opportunities to share nature with those a farm in rural Missouri. However, even farm kids today have in your life. Find some leaves, go to a pond, take a hunter educa- play started a career. more competing for their time than I did then. tion class, or pass down your favorite outdoor author. You will Th e re is real concern that the next generation will not have dramatically increase the number of future adults who value the outdoor experiences enjoyed by previous generations. Th e Missouri’s resources and take positive actions to protect them.

Load more

  36

Copy Link