Missouri Conservationist August 2006

2006·4.3 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

MISSOURI
August
2006
Volume 67
Issue 8
CONSERVATIONIST
Serving Nature & You
Vantage Point
Finding the Balance
Do you ever find yourself wondering
how much is enough or when enough
may be too much? Resolving these
issues can be quite a balancing act. As a
resource management agency, the Missouri
Department of Conservation is often faced
with questions like these when making
decisions about the state's fish, forest and
wildlife resources.
How many trees per acre make a good for-
est? The answer to that question depends on
many factors. What types of trees are being
produced? Is the land public or private? Is e
t
hI
the objective marketable timber or increased w
f
f
wildlife cover? It reminds me of the old clI
cliché, “Sometimes you can’t see the forest for
the trees!” advice and literature on all known, proven methods
Managing Missouri’s water resources can be equally for discouraging geese from becoming established in
challenging. Too many fish in a body of water causes an area. These methods include habitat manipulation,
increased competition for food and stunted growth, various harassment techniques, trained dogs, egg
while not enough fish will decrease one’s potential to oiling, and repellents. Not all control techniques are
provide meat for the frying pan. practical at any given site, and no single control method
Biologists, researchers and land managers are not or combination of methods is successful 100 percent
only walking the tightrope of resource dynamics but of the time. Because of this, lethal control methods
also public opinion. A good example comes to mind sometimes become necessary to reduce or maintain a
that illustrates the complexity of balancing science and local population to an acceptable level.
public tolerance. Lethal control usually comes in the form of a round-
The issue is the management and control of resident up-and-removal effort, after an entity meets minimum
urban Canada geese. requirements to be considered for a special permit.
In Missouri, the resident Canada goose population Geese captured during a roundup are processed for
(the geese that don’t migrate) is strong. In fact, popula- human consumption and distributed to needy families
tion estimates for 2006 put Canada goose numbers at in Missouri by local food pantries. While the Missouri
more than 60,000 birds, which is double the estimated Department of Conservation is mandated to administer
number of just 13 years ago. While we consider the the permitting process, the costs associated with con-
Canada goose management plan a success, high num- ducting roundups and processing is the responsibility
bers of these birds often cause problems where they of the requesting party.
come in conflict with human populations. Everyone seems to realize the value of wildlife in
Complaints from urban centers, where hunting Missouri, not only from an economic standpoint but an
is often not allowed, are common as Canada geese aesthetic one as well. When wildlife becomes an issue,
congregate on subdivision lakes and golf courses and in we often find ourselves weighing that value. Finding
city parks. Most complaints revolve around the drop- the balance is not always easy. Although philosophies
pings generated by a flock of geese, but others include and opinions may differ, rest assured that the Missouri
being chased by geese, water quality issues and addi- Department of Conservation is dedicated in our efforts
tional dangers, such as geese living near an airport. to bring about a balance that serves the state’s wild
The Missouri Department of Conservation is very resources and Missouri’s citizens.
active in helping citizens deal with wildlife issues.
We try to resolve human/wildlife conflicts utilizing
nonlethal control when possible. We provide technical Stephen J. Wilson, Private Land Services Division Chief
contents
August 2006, Volume 67, Issue 8
12 17 22
4 The "Firsts" Our most memorable hunts stay with us, especially when DEPARTMENTS
shared with family. by DAviD UriCh, iLLUStrAtiONS by DAviD bESENGEr Reflections 2
News & Almanac 28
8 All About Captive Wildlife Know what it takes to keep captive
wildlife and exotic animals safely and legally. by tOm SKiNNEr AND bENNy PryOr, COVER
PhOtOS by NOPPADOL PAOthONG Least bittern—by Noppadol 
8 Paothong
12 Meet Joe Polka when a volunteer naturalist is this good,
we can’t help but brag about him. by LyNN yOUNGbLOOD, PhOtOS by NOPPADOL OuTSiDE iN
PAOthONG Tear out this 
month’s insert  
17 Birds of a Feather… the Missouri Bird conservation Initiative makes of our 
big projects possible by drawing on the combined talents of organizations children’s 
interested in conserving our rich bird life. by DAvE EriCKSON magazine on 
glades and 
22 Partnerships Put Conservation on the Ground New additions bugs!
to B.K. leach Memorial conservation Area benefit the public, plants and
4 partners alike. by briAN LOGES, PhOtOS by NOPPADOL PAOthONG
contact Information
Regional offices centRal office subscRiptions
Southeast/Cape Girardeau—573/290-5730 Phone: [phone] Phone: [phone] ext. 3856 or 3249
Central/Columbia—573/884-6861 Address:  2901 W. Truman Blvd  Address:  Circulation 
Kansas City—816/655-6250 P.O. Box 180  P.O. Box 180 
Northeast/Kirksville—660/785-2420 Jefferson City 65102-0180 Jefferson City 65102-0180
Southwest/Springfield—417/895-6880 E-mail subscriptions: 
ombudsman Questions
Northwest/St. Joseph—816/271-3100 [email protected]
Phone: [phone] ext. 3848
St. Louis—636/441-4554 Online subscriptions and address changes: 
Address:  Ombudsman 
Ozark/West Plains—417/256-7161
mdc.mo.gov/conmag/subscribe
P.O. Box 180 
Cost of subscriptions: 
Northeast Jefferson City 65102-0180
Free to Missouri households
Northwest E-mail: [email protected]
Out of State $7 per year
editoRial comments Out of Country $10 per year
Central
Kansas St.
Phone: [phone] ext. 3245 or 3847 Address Changes:
City Louis
Address:  Magazine Editor  Don’t miss an issue due to an  
Southeast P.O. Box 180  address change. Go online,  
Southwest
Ozark Jefferson City 65102-0180 call, write or e-mail us to  
E-mail: [email protected] update your information.  Serving nature and you
www.MissouriConservation.org  
Reflections
WAhoo! little Prairie conservation Area near St. [“Box turtles and People,” July 2006]
finally, our mysterious trees have a James. what a beautiful area, and lake mentioned a study of 1700 turtles,
name—wahoo [“I found this Plant...” towell was clean and had a boat ramp, the oldest of which lived to 59 years
May 2006]. for the past couple of years, fishing dock and lots of picnic areas. old. My cousin, Rainey woody, carved
we have kept an eye on these interest- we had a super day fishing, but to the date and his initials into a turtle
ing trees in the wooded area next to get my teenagers out fishing with us he found in 1913 near Meta. Sixty-five
our home. I noticed this spring that was the highlight of our day. thank you years later, in 1978, he found the same
there were numerous seedlings, so I for the idea. turtle with the initials and date still
transplanted some around our yard for Virginia Applegate, Rolla visible. A picture of Rainey and his
us to enjoy even more. Visitors would “terrapin” appears in A Pictorial History,
ask what kind of tree these were and AnGlers’ resourCe Maries County.
I could only explain what they looked I read the article, “catching Big River Kimberly Parker, Jefferson City
like when they flowered and produced Blues” in the June 2006 issue. I go
fruits. Now I have an answer. fishing all the time with my family and Editor’s note: A Pictorial History,
Sean & Leann Langton, Otterville friends, and I am always after the big Maries County MO, Volume 1, 1989 is
fish. I hope your advice will help me out. available from the Historical Society of
More ThAn Free FishinG every time I read your magazine, I Maries County. For more information,
thank you for an outstanding turn right to the fishing articles. I enjoy contact them at P. O. Box 289, Vienna,
magazine. we have been receiving it everything from ecology to fishing Missouri 65582 or www.rootsweb.
for the last five years and have learned spots and techniques. I have learned a com/~momaries/marihiso.htm.
much from it. lot from the Missouri Conservationist.
we were so pleased to read in the David Boll, St. Louis A liTTle CourTesy, PleAse
June issue about the free fishing I am writing in regard to the “Agent’s
weekend, June 10–11. My two teenage WhAT Goes Around... Notebook,” on etiquette [July 2006] and
daughters and I took my husband to Your interesting article on box turtles floaters on our Missouri streams, by
Michael lancaster.
I grew up on the Meramec River in
crawford county in the 1950s. floaters
were rare in those days. when we did
see floaters, they were usually so cour-
teous we couldn’t believe it. You rarely
heard them coming and only noticed
them as they neared you. today is such
a different story, and like Mr. lancaster,
I believe there should be a book titled
Proper Etiquette While Floating to pres-
ent to those who float our streams.
we now live in Phelps county on MO
hwy 68, which is the route a lot of folks
take to the “scenic riverways” down
south of us. I can tell you those “obnox-
A bASk bEfORE bAThiNg ious floaters” start partying way before
As a thunderstorm approached, Aaron Bass of Poplar Bluff caught this eastern they get to the rivers. we’ve had them
collared lizard lounging in the lichen on top of Stegall Mountain at Peck Ranch stop on the highway, urinate towards
conservation Area located in carter and Shannon counties. though these lizards our home, pull into our driveways to
spend a great deal of time basking, they are quick to take cover if approached. vomit or change drivers. I even had
the males’ bright colors become more pronounced in May and June during the one ask to use our bathroom! And they
breeding season. Both males and females have two dark-colored lines across don’t think twice about throwing trash
the neck, producing a “collar.” they are found throughout most of the Ozarks and out for us to pick up. Somehow I don’t
glades of the St. francois Mountains. see that we’d get away with that type of
behavior if we drove into the city and
  Missouri Conservationist August 2006
MISSOURI
CONSERVATIONIST
stopped in some of their driveways. I they don’t get to enjoy that late night
wonder how long it would take them to gurgling of the river, or watching the GoVernor Matt Blunt
call the police? campfire burn low, or the early morn- The ConserVATion CoMMission
Stephen C. Bradford
we’ve seen firsthand some very ing sunrise and absolute stillness that
Chip McGeehan
rude, obnoxious behavior. Indecent comes with it. Not to mention some of Cynthia Metcalfe
acts, loud music and obscene language the best fishing I’ve ever enjoyed! Lowell Mohler
are just the tip of the iceberg. As a re- Maybe we should start at the begin- DiRECTOR John Hoskins
ASSiSTANT DiRECTOR Denise Garnier Brown
sult, we rarely go to any of our streams, ning and make certain “parents are par-
ASSiSTANT DiRECTOR John W. Smith
and that makes me sad. we would enting” and providing proper etiquette ASSiSTANT DiRECTOR Robert Ziehmer
iNTERNAL AuDiTOR Nancy Dubbert
love to take our grandchildren camp- and none of it would be a problem on
gENERAL COuNSEL Tracy McGinnis
ing on the stretch of Meramec where our riverways or in our driveways.
diVisions
I grew up, but it is too dangerous. So Mary Norris, St. James
ADMiNiSTRATiVE SERViCES Carter Campbell
fiShERiES Steve Eder
fORESTRY Lisa G. Allen
The letters printed here reflect readers’ opinions about the conservationist and its
huMAN RESOuRCES Debbie Strobel
contents. Space limitations prevent us from printing all letters, but we welcome signed OuTREACh & EDuCATiON Lorna Domke
PRiVATE LAND SERViCES Stephen J. Wilson
comments from our readers. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
PROTECTiON Dennis Steward
RESOuRCE SCiENCE Dale D. Humburg
WiLDLifE Dave Erickson
Ask the Ombudsman
ConserVATionisT sTAFF
EDiTOR iN ChiEf Ara Clark
MANAgiNg EDiTOR Nichole LeClair
Q:i just enjoyed eating my first blue catfish. Why ART DiRECTOR Cliff White
WRiTER/EDiTOR Tom Cwynar
doesn’t mdc suggest private lake owners stock
OuTSiDE iN EDiTOR Joan McKee
them instead of channel catfish? the blues filet easier ARTiST Dave Besenger
and taste much better than channels. ARTiST Mark Raithel
PhOTOgRAPhER Jim Rathert
PhOTOgRAPhER Noppadol Paothong
a: I don’t think I’ll weigh in on the taste issue as, judging STAff WRiTER Jim Low
DESigNER Susan Fine
from the fish-eaters at our house, this a fairly subjec-
DESigNER Les Fortenberry
tive matter which is sure to generate debate. DESigNER Marci Porter
CiRCuLATiON Laura Scheuler
I visited with a coworker in our fisheries Division who
explained that channel catfish are faster growing, adapt better to smaller waters The Missouri Conservationist (ISSN 0026-6515) is the of-
ficial monthly publication of the Missouri Department
and are a little more hearty than blue catfish. Also, channel catfish are more readily
of Conservation, 2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson
available for stocking. MDc recommends a balanced ratio of largemouth bass, City, MO (Mailing address: P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City,
MO 65102.) Subscription free to adult Missouri residents;
channel catfish and bluegill for the optimum fishery situation in small impound-
out of state $7 per year; out of country $10 per year.
ments. largemouth bass serve as top predator and keep the ratio in balance. Blue Notification of address change must include both old
and new address (send mailing label with the subscriber
cats also have the potential to become a top-line predator. In a pond situation,
number on it) with 60-day notice. Preferred periodical
you’d have both black bass and blue catfish at the top of the food chain, making postage paid at Jefferson City, Mo., and at additional en-
fish management more complex. try offices. Postmaster: Send correspondence to Circula-
tion, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Phone:
Blue cats are a large-water fish. they do best in Missouri’s biggest rivers, and 573/751-4115. Copyright © 2006 by the Conservation
they are a favorite of catfish anglers at truman Reservoir and lake of the Ozarks. Commission of the State of Missouri.
large channel catfish are sometimes mistakenly thought to be small blue
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from
catfish. the anal fin provides a good method of identification; channel catfish have programs of the Missouri Department of Conservation
24-29 rays while blue catfish have 30-35 rays and a straight margin. is available to all individuals without regard to their race,
color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Questions
for more information on catfish, please see www.missouriconservation.org/ should be directed to the Department of Conservation,
conmag/2003/07/10.htm or contact the MDc Distribution center, P.O. Box 180, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, [phone]
(voice) or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or to the U.S. Fish and
Jefferson city, MO 65102-0180 or e-mail [email protected] and ask for the
Wildlife Service Division of Federal Assistance, 4401
Know Missouri’s catfish wallet card and/or the 36-inch stick-on catfish ruler. N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA
22203.
Ombudsman Ken Drenon will respond to your questions, suggestions or complaints Printed in USA
concerning Conservation Department programs. Write him at P.O. Box 180, Jefferson
City, MO 65102-0180, call him at 573/522-4115, ext. 3848, or e-mail him at
[email protected].   Printed on recycled paper with soy ink
www.MissouriConservation.org  
The
“Firsts”
Our most
memorable
hunts stay
with us,
especially
when shared
with family.
  Missouri Conservationist August 2006
by david urich, illustrations by david besenger
stuck in my mouth.
I
“Firsts” had just crawled up into my tree stand for The chocolate was
my first deer hunt in Missouri. I had recently melting and
moved to the state to start a career with the dripping off
Department of Conservation, and I had never my chin. I
Our most
hunted deer from a tree stand. spread my
As I settled into the stand, I opened up a granola bar. lips around
memorable
Granola bars had come a long way because they used to it as wide
be nasty, hard and uninviting snacks. This one happened as I could
hunts stay
to be chocolate-covered, chewy and delicious. I pulled a and
paperback book from my coat. If I had to be perched up inhaled
with us,
in a tree, I might as well catch up on my reading. greed-
My eating and other preparations for the deer hunt ily. As I
especially
were suddenly interrupted by a noise. I looked down. brought the
There was a deer directly below me. How could this be? gun to my
when shared
I hadn’t been in the stand for 4 minutes. cheek, the darn
The deer was too close for me to shoot, and I didn’t granola bar got in
with family.
even have my gun ready. I panicked. My only thought the way again. I had
was to remain perfectly quiet and motionless. The deer to lip it to the left.
moved away from me, so I twisted in my stand and The deer was walking
gradually raised my gun. directly away from me,
The movement pushed my gloves off the deer stand and I was surprised
and they spiraled to the ground. I watched their descent by how thin a deer
as if in slow motion, thinking that if I concentrated could look. There was not
hard enough I could stop their fall through mental much of a target. Then I remembered someone telling me
telepathy like I had seen so many times in Star Wars that grunting at a deer would make it stop and take
movies. It didn’t work, and the gloves hit the notice. I croaked out a grunt as best I could with a
ground with a noise like a bomb. Surprisingly, granola bar stuck in my mouth. The deer stopped,
the deer didn’t flinch or notice. turned sideways and looked up. I pulled the
As I continued to raise the gun, trigger and had my first Missouri deer.
I realized that I had quit I hunted deer many times after that first
breathing, and the deer, but the memories of my first one are
situation was the most vivid. Almost 15 years later, my
critical. The oldest son, Tim, decided that he would like
granola bar to deer hunt. We got out my old rifle and, for
was still reasons I can’t fully explain, added a scope. I
installed it myself.
We have a safe shooting area on our land
in Moniteau County with a shooting
bench. I had never shot a rifle with
a scope, although I had been on a
shooting team as a youth. On the first
shot, I had my forehead much too close to
the scope. The recoil drove the scope into
my forehead between my eyes, leaving a
superficial half-circle cut that bled profusely.
I walked back to the house. Jen, my wife, was
in the garden in the back yard. I could tell that
she was alarmed by my condition. It was at that
point that my Little Voice popped up in the back of
my mind screaming, “No, don’t you dare!” But I had a
www.MissouriConservation.org  
lifetime tradition of not listening to the sound counsel
from my Little Voice, and I was not about to start now.
I placed my hands over my heart, dropped to my
knees and bleated out, “I’ve been shot!” Then I fell face
down on the grass. The last thing I remember my Little
Voice saying was, “Now you’ve done it.” Jen’s reaction
was predictable and everything I had hoped for, but I
had not thought through the full consequences of my
actions. Once she figured out that I was fooling around,
she stormed inside the house and I could tell by her
body language that I'd better not follow.
Fortunately, I keep my favorite chair in the garage.
Here I can retire to lick my self-inflicted wounds, both
physical and mental, and figure out how to recover
from my poor decision making, often with help from
my Little Voice.
I knew that I would have to endure a Level III lecture.
As a matter of fact, it was so bad that Jen called her
mother, who immediately came over to our house to
give me a piece of her mind and soften me up for the
main event. I was worried that my final punishment
would be a lifetime shooting ban.
After a period of negotiation and groveling, Tim and
I finally resumed preparations for his first deer hunt.
We put up deer stands and scouted for sign. The season
arrived and we poured ourselves into the hunt. I hadn’t
realized how little time we would have for these outings,
due to football practice, scouts, homework, and all the
other activities that compete for a young person’s time.
Success eluded us. It got down to the last afternoon
of the last day of the season. It was raining hard, and station together and he continuously recounted all of
the temperature was in the 30s. I just did not have the details of his first deer kill. I knew that he would
enough hunting passion left in me to hunt in the cold remember his first deer just like I had a special memory
rain. Tim did. of my first Missouri deer.
Jen and I were in the horse barn as Tim disappeared
adventures in wing shooting
into the fog and rain wearing a leaky blue plastic
raincoat with a blaze orange vest overtop. He had more My first pheasant is as vivid in my memory as my first
hunting drive than I did. Thirty minutes later we heard deer. I was walking through the woods in northwestern
a shot. I thought, “Oh no!” and was filled with dread. Missouri watching my feet to make sure that one foot
The only thing worse than hunting deer in a driving was successfully placed in front of the other. I wasn’t
rain is cleaning a deer in a driving rain. We just hoped even thinking about pheasants because I obviously was
he had missed. not in pheasant habitat.
Ten minutes later, Tim was back at the horse barn. A pheasant popped up in front of me out of
He looked like the last survivor from the Titanic; there nowhere—surprising me so much that I was almost
wasn’t a dry square inch on his body. I could tell by the paralyzed. I was able to recover enough to shoot that
smile on his face that he had his first Missouri deer. bird because the trees were so thick that the pheasant
The entire family put on rain gear and followed Tim couldn’t make a hasty exit.
into the woods. He jabbered almost incoherently about More than ten years later, I was pheasant hunting
what had happened. The rain let up, fortunately, and with my youngest son, Kirk. We were walking along a
I offered him my knife and talked him through clean- field border to join some other hunters. Kirk had never
ing his first deer. He did it all. We drove to the check been pheasant hunting, so I was recounting tales of my
  Missouri Conservationist August 2006
That bird was flushed,
shot and retrieved
before my neck quit
snapping back and
forth from the
shock and awe.
past pheasant hunting trips and embellishing (ever so I accommodated his enthusiasm and we went hunt-
slightly) my own shooting skills. Suddenly, a rooster ing. I was the only one carrying a shotgun. He called
popped up in front of us. for me and directed my every move. He did an excellent
Kirk raised his gun instantly and shot. The bird job of leading the hunt and we had a great time. I didn’t
dropped. He turned, looked at me with a big grin and shoot a turkey that day, although I came very close, and
said, “Dad, did you shoot?” Of course I didn’t shoot. That I am kind of glad that I didn’t get one because I would
bird was flushed, shot and retrieved by our Lab before never have heard the end of it.
my neck quit snapping back and forth from the shock
still more to come…
and awe. I realized that, at age 14, my youngest son was
quicker than me and probably a better wing shot. This My sons are grown now and have left home to make
was a humbling experience. lives for themselves. Yet we still have several firsts left
As we walked on, Kirk described in detail—several to complete. Two of my sons have not shot their first
times—how he had shot this first pheasant. He encour- turkey. None of my sons have shot a giant Canada goose
aged me to be more alert, explaining that a successful from a Missouri River sandbar, despite their efforts.
hunter was always ready. He even offered pointers on I took lots of pictures of our hunting trips as my sons
how I should carry the gun so I could react faster. were growing up. I am converting these pictures to
This tendency to gloat after their first kills, usually at computer files and assembling them into digital slide
my expense, was characteristic of all three of my sons. shows. One of these slide shows I titled “Firsts” because
After Tim shot his first turkey, he just had to take me on our first kills were very memorable and special. They
a turkey hunt. He concluded that his hunting skills and are the subjects of stories that we continue to retell and
woodsmanship obviously exceeded mine. share with each other. s
www.MissouriConservation.org  
ALL ABOUT
CAPtivE
WiLDLifE
  Missouri Conservationist August 2006