Missouri Conservationist February 2017

2017·7.5 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

Missouri
C
onservationist
VOLUME 78 ISSUE 2, FEBRUARY 2017 • SERVING NATURE & YOU
NOTE TO OUR READERS
A Season of Strong Partnerships
P
eople have strong feelings about winter — you either love it or you
survive it. But by the time February rolls around with its endless weeks
of gray, cold weather, we’re all desperate for longer daylight hours
and more outdoor time. While some may wish away winter in the hopes of spring, there is
something renewing about the work that happens in winter. As American travel writer Paul
Theroux wrote, “Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.”
Winter is a season of great partnerships. In this issue of the Missouri Conservationist,
you’ll see the incredible partnerships between Missouri landowners and natural resource
managers as they work together to protect Missouri streams and rivers. They’re also improving
the health of woodlands and grasslands on 63,000 acres of private and public lands. This is
just one part of a bigger success story in the Conserving Missouri’s Rivers and Streams article
on Page 10.
Year-round preparation and hard work goes into the regulations process for the Wildlife
WINTER
Code of Missouri, created to keep Missouri’s wildlife and habitat healthy. The Department’s
Regulations Committee is responsible for rules in the Code. The Regulations Committee,
a diverse team of resource management staff from Fisheries, Forestry, Wildlife, Protection,
Resource Science, and Private Land Services divisions, is a strong conduit for citizens to
I S A SEASON OF
ensure their voices are heard throughout the entire process. Regulations Committee meetings
are open to the public, and members of the public can request time to address the committee RECOVERY
directly. If you’ve ever wondered how regulations are made, be sure to check out the Regula-
tions Update (Page 24) for more insight.
AND
Last, but certainly not least, one of my favorite seasonal highlights is also right around
the corner with the trout opener on March 1 at Missouri’s four trout parks. With a horn or shot PREPARATION”
.
in the air, it kicks off with a bang, signaling to all anglers wading patiently in the water that a
new season has started. All their prep work during the winter, including fly tying and casting —PAUL THEROUX
practice, is about to pay off. You can just feel the excitement in the cold morning air.
Thank you for being such a strong partner to the Department in every season. Your
caring, contribution, and concern for
conserving the fish, forest, and wildlife
resources are what matters most. I look
forward to hearing from you — maybe
even stream side at a trout opener! Get
your gear and tackle ready. Spring is
coming before you know it!
—Sara Parker Pauley, director
CONTENTS
February 2017, Volume 78, Issue 2
FEATURES
Cover: A male Niangua darter.
Photograph by Jim Rathert.
8 P artnering With Hunters and Landowners
to Slow CWD
by Bill Graham
Massive sampling effort shows management is working DEPARTMENTS
2 Letters
10 Conserving Missouri’s Rivers and Streams 4 Hunting & Fishing Calendar
by Bonnie Chasteen 5 Ask MDC
Across the state, partners work to protect our vital ribbons of life 6 News & Events
30 Plants & Animals
18 Wonderful Walleye 32 Places to Go
by Jim Low 33 Discover Nature
Missouri’s most delicious sport fish is a little wacky
24 2017 Regulations Update
What is it? Our photographers have been busy exploring the
intricacies of outdoor Missouri. See if you can guess this
month’s natural wonder. The answer is revealed on Page 7.
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February 2017  Missouri Conservationist 1
LETTERS
Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity.
Bald Eagles occasions, and we have always been in awe of A Conservationist
I read with interest the article on bald eagles these incredibly beautiful and powerful raptors. One of my fondest country-school memories
in your December issue [Monitoring Bald Eagles Thank you for such a terrific magazine. I read was to join MDC’s new program called The
in Missouri; Page 10]. Of particular interest was it cover to cover every month and will continue Missouri Nature Knight organization. As a
the map showing Hickory County as one of the to do so. We are immeasurably blessed with very young pupil (in 1946), those of us in the
counties with six to eight active nests (one was natural beauty in Missouri, and the Missouri fourth grade in a rural one-room school in
described in the article). Another one my wife and Conservationist does a great job of showcasing Benton County learned the basics of effective
I are aware of is downstream of the bridge over that every month. conservation. By 1963, I was teaching natural
the Pomme de Terre River at Hermitage. The nest Corbett P. Shannon, Fenton science at Hickman High School in Columbia
is visible from the road during the winter months. and was encouraged by your then staff
The eagles are likely to be seen any day of the I always appreciate Noppadol Paothong’s excellent member Bill Crawford to become a charter
year perched atop a towering, but very dead, tree photography, but his December 2016 cover member of the Missouri Prairie Foundation.
nearby. It makes our day when we see them. They shot was particularly timely. In November, my That eventually led to my earning a post-
are a majestic bird! neighbors and I saw a bald eagle flying around the doctorate at Harvard University, finishing at
Ed Taylor, Hermitage bottomlands along Massey Creek in western Cass the University of Missouri-Columbia. I owe
County. We don’t often see them right here in our MDC a great deal, including time in the Reagan
The article Monitoring Bald Eagles in Missouri and backyard — only once more in a dozen years — Administration — PR duties — both in D.C.
its accompanying photos were terrific. I learned so it’s a rare and delightful experience. We figure and Europe.
a lot of things that I never knew about this the eagle was either fishing in the creek or more Charlie Campbell, Ph.D., Jefferson City
majestic creature and its presence in Missouri. likely had followed ducks who make a stop at our
My wife and I have seen a huge eagle’s nest on creek each fall. Timely Burgoo
the Meramec River in Franklin County on several Steve Porter, Cleveland, Mo. What a surprise to find the recipe for Boone
County Burgoo in the December Missouri
Conservationist [Cooking Wild for the Holidays;
Page 24]. I belong to a book club, and our
book for December was A Year Down Yonder.
Set in 1937, as the town celebrated Armistice
Day, the ladies auxiliary cooked a large pot of
stew, called burgoo, made of squirrel and lots
of vegetables, and sold it for a dime a cup. I
brought my copy of the magazine to book club
and showed the girls. They were amazed to see
a picture and recipe for burgoo. How timely!
Thanks for your wonderful magazine.
Dolores Bonnot, Washington
Trumpeter Swans
Thank you, David Stonner, for a great story on
banding of trumpeter swans [January; Page 30].
Reader Photo Let’s Frolic, Deer I am anxious to learn more about this valuable
resource.
Brenda White of Republic captured this photo of deer in the James River while Stanley Field, Laurie
commuting to work. “Since I am not fond of traffic, I take the back roads,” said
Correction
White. “There is a bridge I cross each day where I drive slowly just to appreciate
God’s handiwork.” White said there was more traffic than usual on the bridge On Page 24 of the January issue, we reported
the day she took this photo. Every time she stopped to take the photo, someone on a yellow-bellied watersnake that made
would pull up behind her. “I had to turn around and go back and forth over the international news when she laid eggs in 2016
bridge at least four times to get the picture,” said White. “I was thankful the after having had no contact with a male for eight
deer weren’t in any hurry to move.” years. Watersnakes do not lay eggs. They are
ovoviviparous, and therefore, have live births.
2 Missouri Conservationist  February 2017
Missouri
C
onservationist
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Phone: [phone], ext. 3856 or 3249
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: [phone], ext. 3848
Internal Auditor Lisa Wehmeyer
Address: Ask MDC, PO Box 180,
DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
Jefferson City 65102-0180 DIVISION CHIEFS
Phone: [phone] 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: [phone], 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. Yamnitz
Kansas City: 816-622-0900
Resource Science Mike Hubbard
Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 READER PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
Wildlife Jason Sumners
Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880 Flickr: flickr.com/groups/mdc-readerphotos-2017
Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 Email: [email protected] CONSERVATIONIST STAFF
Editor Angie Daly Morfeld
St. Louis: 636-441-4554 Address: Missouri Conservationist, Reader Photo,
Art Director Cliff White
Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161 PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180
Associate Editor Bonnie Chasteen
Staff Writer Heather Feeler
Staff Writer Kristie Hilgedick
Staff Writer Joe Jerek
MDC Online Discover more about nature and the outdoors through these sites.
Photographer Noppadol Paothong
Photographer David Stonner
Blog: mdc.mo.gov/blogs Missouri Conservationist: mdc.mo.gov/conmag Designer Les Fortenberry
Designer Marci Porter
Facebook: facebook.com/MDConline Missouri Department of Conservation: mdc.mo.gov
Designer Stephanie Thurber
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/mdc_online Nature Shop: mdcnatureshop.com Circulation Laura Scheuler
Instagram: instagram.com/moconservation Twitter: twitter.com/MDC_Online and Nature_Videos
The Missouri Conservationist (ISSN 0026-6515) is the of-
YouTube: youtube.com/user/moconservation
ficial monthly publication of the Missouri Department of
Conservation, 2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson
City, MO (Mailing address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO
65102.) Subscription free to adult Missouri residents; out
of state $7 per year; out of country $10 per year. Notifi-
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Six times a year we’ll bring you eye-popping
Postmaster: Send correspondence to Circulation, PO Box
art, photos, and stories about Missouri’s 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Phone: [phone],
ext. 3856 or 3249. Copyright © 2017 by the Conservation
coolest critters, niftiest natural places, and
Commission of the State of Missouri.
liveliest outdoor activities. Come outside
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from
with us and XPLOR!
programs of the Missouri Department of Conserva-
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Questions should be directed to the Department of
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Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102,
Out of state: $5 per year; Out of country: $8 per year
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4020, Arlington, VA 22203.
Sign up Now! mdc.mo.gov/xplor | 573-522-4115, ext. 3856 or 3249 Printed with soy ink
February 2017  Missouri Conservationist 3
HUNTING & FISHING
CALENDAR
FISHING OPEN CLOSE
Black Bass
Impo unded waters and most streams All year None
north of the Missouri River
Most streams south of the Missouri River 05/28/16 02/28/17
Nongame Fish Gigging
Impounded Waters
sunrise to sunset 02/01/17 09/14/17
Paddlefish
Statewide 03/15/17 04/30/17
Mississippi River 03/15/17 05/15/17
Trout Parks
“She’s been in there fuming ever since I forgot Catch-and-Release 11/11/16 02/13/17
to give her a Valentine’s gift.” Catch-and-Keep 03/01/17 10/31/17
HUNTING OPEN CLOSE
Coyote (restrictions apply during April, All year None
spring turkey season, and firearms
United States Postal Service Statement
deer season)
of Ownership, Management, and Circulation
Deer
(PS Form 3526, July 2014) Published annually in the February edition of this magazine as
required by the United States Postal Service. Archery 09/15/17 11/10/17
11/22/17 01/15/18
1) Publication Title: Missouri Conservationist
2) Publication Number: 354-960 Firearms
3) Filing Date: 9/21/16 Early Youth Portion 10/28/17 10/29/17
4) Issue Frequency: Monthly
November Portion 11/11/17 11/21/17
5) Number of Issues Published Annually: 12
6) Annual Subscription Price: Free In-State Late Youth Portion 11/24/17 11/26/17
7) C omplete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: Missouri Department of Conservation;
Antlerless Portion (open areas only) 12/01/17 12/03/17
PO Box 180; Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180; Contact Person: Shawn Cunningham;
Telephone: [phone] Alternative Methods Portion 12/23/17 01/02/18
8) Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: Same as above Rabbit 10/01/16 02/15/17
9) F ull Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor:
Squirrel 05/28/16 02/15/17
Publisher: Missouri Department Of Conservation; PO Box 180; Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180;
Editor: Angie Morfeld; PO Box 180; Jefferson City, MO, 65102-0180 Turkey
10) Owner: Missouri Department Of Conservation (Shawn Cunningham); Firearms
PO Box 180; Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180
Youth 04/08/17 04/09/17
12) Tax Status: The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status
for federal income tax purposes has not changed during preceding 12 months. Spring 04/17/17 05/07/17
14) Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2016 Fall 10/01/17 10/31/17
15) Extent and Nature of Circulation
Waterfowl see the Waterfowl Hunting Digest or short.mdc.mo.gov/ZZx
a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run): ..................................................................................586,712
b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail):
(1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: .....................................0 TRAPPING OPEN CLOSE
(2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: ...............................................0 Beaver and Nutria 11/15/16 03/31/17
(3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers,
Otters and Muskrats 11/15/16 02/20/17
Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: ..................................0
(4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: ..........................................7,704
c. Total Paid Distribution: .................................................................................................................7,704 For complete information about seasons, limits, methods, and restrictions, consult the
d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): Wildlife Code of Missouri and the current summaries of Missouri Hunting and Trapping
(1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: ...................579,008 Regulations and Missouri Fishing Regulations, The Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and
(2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: ........................................0
Information, the Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information, the Waterfowl
(3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS: ...............................0
(4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): .......................0 Hunting Digest, and the Migratory Bird Hunting Digest. For more information, visit short.
e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: .................................................................................579,008 mdc.mo.gov/ZZf or permit vendors.
f. Total Distribution: .....................................................................................................................586,712
g. Copies not Distributed: ................................................................................................................2,000
Operation Game Thief
h. Total: .........................................................................................................................................588,712
i. Percent Paid: ...................................................................................................................................1.3%
16. Electronic Copy Circulation Help put game thieves out of business. If you see a possible
a. Paid Electronic Copies: ........................................................................................................................0 violation in progress, call your county conservation agent
b. Total Paid Print Copies: ................................................................................................................7,704
immediately or dial the toll-free number below:
c. Total Print Distribution: ............................................................................................................586,712
d. Percent Paid ...................................................................................................................................1.3% 800-392-1111
18. S ignature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: I certify that all information
furnished on this form is true and complete. Shawn Cunningham, Distribution Manager, 9/21/16 All information is kept in strict confidence. Desirable
information includes names of violators, vehicle description
4 Missouri Conservationist  February 2017 and license number, as well as the violation location.
woodlands. It’s an efficient way to
Ask MDC improve habitat. Thinning creates more
mast and dead trees, called “snags,”
for wildlife and opens the forest floor
to more sunlight, thus allowing tree
seedlings room to grow. By removing
the competition for sunlight, water,
Address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180
and nutrients — and giving the best
Phone: [phone], ext. 3848 Email: [email protected]
trees more room to grow — we create a
healthier forest or woodland.
From time to time we have
had problems with beavers.
This 4-foot-deep trench
Greater roadrunner
is like nothing we have
experienced in the past.
We have greater The boundary for the greater Is this normal procedure
roadrunners on our land. roadrunner has expanded north, for these mammals?
Harsh winters can be possibly due to the series of mild winters Although beavers do not usually
devastating to them. in recent years. According to eBird.org, construct extensive canals in Missouri,
Could you recommend this species has been documented as in certain places in the state, particularly
supplemental food sources far north as Jefferson City, and several on smaller and shallower streams, a
we could contribute to people have reported seeing them near system of waterways may be built to float
help them survive? Lake of the Ozarks. If you see a greater food and construction materials. Beavers
Greater roadrunners feed on insects, roadrunner, reporting your sighting to also dig underwater runs, such as this
R spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, eBird is a wonderful way to contribute to one, to make movement through shallow
PE
N SO lizards, small snakes, rodents, frogs, science and conservation. To learn more parts of a wetland easier.
PHE carrion, plant material, other birds, and about the greater roadrunner and hear Furbearer Biologist Laura Conlee has
H: STE eggs. Other animals make up about 90 its calls, visit allaboutbirds.org. seen this phenomenon before in recently
NC
RE percent of their diet, so it probably isn’t drained wetlands.
R T
AVE feasible to feed roadrunners. Sometimes when I’m “Beavers create runs through the
G; BE Wild animals are adapted to visiting the Department’s wetlands, and if the water level gets
N
OTHO sustaining themselves without human conservation areas, I notice extremely low, the runs are exposed. My
OL PA intervention. The Department of trees that are partially cut thoughts would be that the run was dug
PPAD Conservation encourages people to let through and left standing to when the water level was high — when
R: NO “wildlife be wild,” although there are die. Why is this being done? the creek was running into the lake,”
NNE some obvious exceptions to that rule, The term used for partially cutting Conlee said.
U
R
AD such as the help humans provide to through a tree is girdling. This video clip illustrates the
O
ATER R passerine (perching) species in the form Both wildlife biologists and foresters phenomenon: youtube.com/watch?v=6-
RE of bird feeding. use this practice to thin forests and kKRX6tR3E
G
February 2017  Missouri Conservationist 5
NEWS & EVENTS
by Joe Jerek
taken through Feb. 28, and drawing results will
be posted March 13.
“No MOre Trash!” Contest
The Missouri Department of Conservation and
the Missouri Department of Transportation
invite Missouri public, private, and home-school
students in grades K–8 to help fight litter in the
Show-Me State — and to have creative and edu-
cational fun while doing it — by participating in
the 2017 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free”
trash-can-decorating contest.
The annual trash-can contest encour-
ages school classes and groups to join in the fight
against litter by decorating and displaying a large
trash can with the ”No MOre Trash!” logo and a
litter-prevention message using a variety of cre-
ative media. The contest is part of the state’s ”No
Spring turkey hunt
MOre Trash!” statewide litter campaign.
Schools may submit one entry in each com-
Upcoming Deer and Turkey Hunting Dates petition category: K–2, 3–5, and 6–8. Entries are
judged based on creativity, adherence to contest
At its meeting Dec. 16, the Missouri Conservation Details on hunting regulations, harvest rules, and effective use of theme and logo.
Commission approved recommendations by the limits, allowed methods, required permits, and First-place winners from each competition
Missouri Department of Conservation for the other related information will be available in the category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring
2017–2018 turkey and deer hunting season dates. Department’s 2017 Spring Turkey Hunting Regula- schools. All first-place winners are then eligible
tions and Information booklet and the 2017 Fall for a grand prize, which includes a trophy and
2017 Spring Turkey Hunting Dates Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Informa- $600 awarded to the sponsoring school.
» Youth Portion: April 8–9 tion booklet. Both will be available prior to the There is no entry fee for the contest. Partici-
» Regular Turkey Season: April 17 –May 7 related seasons where permits are sold and at pating school groups must submit a completed
Department regional offices. entry form online with up to three photos to
2017–2018 Fall Turkey Hunting Dates For more information on deer and turkey nomoretrash.org by Friday, March 17. Contest
» Archery Season: Sept. 15–Nov. 10 hunting, visit mdc.mo.gov and click on Hunting/ rules, entry forms, logo, past contest entries and
and Nov. 22–Jan. 15, 2018 Trapping on the homepage. winners, and educational information can also be
» Firearms Turkey Season: Oct. 1–31 Buy Missouri hunting permits from numer- found at nomoretrash.org.
ous vendors around the state, online at mdc.
Changes to Smallmouth
2017–2018 Fall Deer Hunting Dates mo.gov/buypermits, or through the Depart-
and Rock Bass Regulations
» Archery Deer: Sept. 15–Nov. 10 ment’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO
and Nov. 22–Jan. 15, 2018 Fishing, available for download through Google The Missouri Conservation Commission gave
» Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Play for Android devices or the App Store for final approval in December to regulation changes
Oct. 28–29 Apple devices. related to smallmouth bass and rock bass. The
» Firearms Deer November Portion: regulation changes become effective March 30.
Apply Online for Spring
Nov. 11–21 The regulation changes create a standard 15-
Managed Turkey Hunts
» Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: inch minimum length limit for smallmouth bass
Nov. 24–26 Missouri youth, archery, and firearms turkey and a daily limit of one for all smallmouth bass
» Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: hunters can apply online for 2017 spring turkey special management areas. They also expand
Dec. 1–3 managed hunts through the Department’s web- these areas on the Big Piney, Jacks Fork, Big, and
» Firearms Deer Alternative Methods site at mdc.mo.gov/springturkeyhunts. Man- Meramec rivers. DAV
ID
Portion: Dec. 23–Jan. 2, 2018 aged hunt details and application procedures are The existing minimum length limit for small- STO
N
outlined on the web page. Applications will be mouth bass of 12 inches and daily limit of six fish NER
6 Missouri Conservationist  February 2017
remain for all other Missouri streams. The regulation changes are based on extensive
The regulation changes also set a statewide scientific research related to bass populations
length limit of 7 inches for rock bass (also and harvest with consideration of public input
called goggle-eye, warmouth, Ozark bass, and received, including from nine public meetings
shadow bass) and removed the Osage Fork of held by the Department.
the Gasconade River from the rock bass special For more information on bass fishing, visit
Rock bass (goggle-eye)
management areas. short.mdc.mo.gov/Z3p.
CONSERVATION
COMMISSION ACTIONS
The December Commission meeting featured presentations and discussions regarding
grassland conservation partnerships, 2017 Missouri wild turkey hunting regulation
recommendations, CWD mandatory sampling efforts and firearms opening weekend review,
major construction projects, information technology projects, and the financial report. A
summary of actions taken during the Dec. 15–16 meeting for the benefit and protection of
fish, forests, and wildlife, and the citizens who enjoy them includes:
» Recognized the Missouri Prairie Foundation with a 50th anniversary proclamation for
achievements in grassland conservation and partnership with the Department.
WHAT IS IT?
» Following consideration of public input, gave final approval of rule changes to establish
daily and length limits for smallmouth bass and goggle-eye in special management
Red-Bellied Woodpecker areas and modify the boundaries of those areas on certain waterways as written.
Melanerpes carolinus » Approved 2017 Missouri wild turkey hunting regulation recommendations.
Red-bellied woodpeckers are common » Approved season dates for each portion of the 2017–2018 firearms deer
statewide and found in forests, woodlands, hunting season.
parks, and suburban areas. They frequent » Approved bids received for construction of the Montauk Fish Hatchery Bulk Feed Tower
backyard bird feeders during the winter Project in Dent County, and authorized a contract with Cahills Construction, Inc., of
months in search of sunflower seeds and suet. Rolla. The project will receive 75 percent federal funding through a Federal Sport Fish
Red-bellied woodpeckers forage amongst Restoration Grant.
the trees for acorns, fruits, and insects, using » Approved the advertisement and sale of 1,031,214 board feet of timber located on 548
their strong bill to chip away at bark to expose acres of Compartment 6, Sunklands Conservation Area (CA) in Shannon County.
hiding creatures. Their tongue is long, barbed, » Approved the advertisement and sale of 518,840 board feet of timber located on 571
and sticky, and the woodpecker uses it to acres of Compartment 2, Rocky Creek CA in Shannon County.
extract insects from crevices. Like many other » Approved the purchase of two tracts in Jefferson County consisting of 18.34 acres and
woodpeckers, this species excavates nest holes 32.52 acres, respectively, and accepted the donation of an adjacent tract consisting of
in the wood of dead or decaying trees or limbs. 24.99 acres as an addition to Young CA.
Clutches comprise two to six eggs, which » Approved the purchase of 69.93 acres in Platte County as an addition to Platte Falls CA.
incubate for 12 days. Young birds fledge 24–27 » Approved the purchase of 40 acres in Cass County as an addition to Settle’s Ford CA.
days later. The red-bellied woodpecker’s wings » Approved the nomination of Leo A. Drey for induction into the Missouri Conservation
are banded with narrow black-and-white Hall of Fame.
RT lines. The male has a wide red band from its » Approved the nomination of Glenn Chambers to receive the Master Conservationist
ATHE bill over the crown to the nape, while the Award.
ASS: JIM R f—empahleo thoagsr arepdh obny Nthoep pnaadpoel oPnaloyt.h ong The next Conservation Commission meeting is Feb. 16–17. For more information, visit
K B
OC short.mdc.mo.gov/ZZe or call your regional Conservation office (phone numbers on Page 3).
R
February 2017  Missouri Conservationist 7
Partnering With Hunters
and
Landowners Slow CWD
to
BY BILL GRAHAM
MASSIVE SAMPLING EFFORT SHOWS MANAGEMENT IS WORKING
Thank you deer hunters and landowners,
your help is invaluable in the Conservation Depart-
ment’s efforts to limit chronic wasting disease (CWD)
in Missouri’s deer herd. Tests from harvested deer guide
future management, and results suggest that proactive
management has limited the disease.
A half-million deer hunters harvested more than
263,000 deer during the past hunting seasons, so Mis-
souri’s deer herd is still robust. However, CWD is a seri-
ous long-term threat — one the Missouri Department of
Conservation (MDC) is proactively addressing with the
help of hunters and landowners.
MDC conducted a massive, unprecedented sampling
of 19,200 deer harvested during opening weekend of Conservation Department staff remove a lymph node
last fall’s firearms deer season. Those deer were from a for CWD testing during opening weekend of last fall’s
29-county CWD Management Zone surrounding prior firearms deer season. More than 19,000 samples were
cases. Testing lymph nodes from those deer revealed five collected across 29 counties.
new CWD cases. A sixth case was also recently found in
a deer harvested by a landowner utilizing special permits
issued in core zones. That’s critical because knowing the southeast Jefferson County — were quite a distance from
locations and prevalence of CWD helps wildlife manag- previous CWD sites. However, an upside is tests did not
ers battle a deadly deer disease, but one thus far mostly find substantial CWD expansion in deer harvested near
limited to a relatively small number of deer in northeast core areas in Macon and Adair counties where past cases
and eastern Missouri. were found. Adair County had one new CWD case con-
CWD is a fatal degenerative brain disease without a firmed and Macon County had two new cases.
cure that affects deer, elk, and moose. The cause is associ- Since early 2012, landowners and MDC staff with
ated with misshapen proteins in cells called prions. Test permission from landowners have taken additional deer
N
results from the deer harvested in the CWD Management following the hunting season in small CWD core areas OPPA
Zone provide both concern and encouragement. in Macon and Adair counties. Those efforts removed DO
MDC biologists are concerned because two new cases deer with CWD and reduced the chances of disease L PAO
TH
O
— one in southwest Franklin County and another in transmission. N
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8 Missouri Conservationist  February 2017