JEFFERSON CITY -- Missourians will pay more for hunting and fishing permits next year as a result of
new permit fees approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission May 30. In approving the
increase, the four commissioners cited the need to maintain conservation programs and the
importance of ensuring that hunters and anglers continue to have a wide range of hunting and fishing
activities.

At its May meeting, the Conservation Commission approved permit fee increases ranging from 50
cents to $2. Conservation Department Deputy Director John Smith said the increases are the first since
1999, when resident permit fees increased by $1 to $4.

"It has been three years since we had a permit fee increase," said Smith, "and the cost of doing
business - even conservation business - does go up a little every year. And like everyone else, the
Conservation Department has been affected by the recent economic downturn."

The increases will go into effect March 1, 2003, the beginning of the 2003-2004 permit year. The price of
Daily Fishing Permits will increase from $5 to $5.50. The price for Resident Fishing Permits will
increase from $11 to $12, and Resident Small-Game Hunting Permits will increase from $9 to $10.
Daily hunting permits will increase from $10 to $11. The cost of the combination Hunting and Fishing
Permit remains unchanged at $19.

Permits fees increasing by $2 are Resident Fall Firearms Turkey ($11 to $13), Resident Archery ($17 to
$19), Resident Firearms Deer ($15 to $17), Resident Managed Deer ($15 to $17), Resident Spring
Turkey ($15 to $17) and Youth Deer and Turkey ($15 to $17).

Denny Ballard, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the state's largest citizen
conservation group, said his organization supports the permit fee increases.

"Sportsmen and sports women are extremely pleased with the Conservation Department's new
programs for them" said Ballard. "New youth seasons, more liberal deer hunting seasons and limits,
outstanding fishing opportunities - and Missouri permit fees are still low compared to other states."

Conservation Department's Fiscal Services Section projects that the increase in resident permit fees,
along with increases in nonresident fees approved earlier, will boost agency revenues by $185,000 this
year, and by approximately $1.1 million in Fiscal Year 2003. After the permit price increases go into
effect, approximately 23 percent of the agency's revenues will come from permit sales.

Smith said keeping permit fee revenues constant compared to total Conservation Department income
is being faithful to the agency's commitment to hunters and anglers. Ever since Missouri voters
approved the one-eighth of one-percent sales tax for conservation, said Smith, hunters and anglers
have worried about how the sales tax would affect their status.

"The concern has been that more and more of the Conservation Department's funding would come
from the sales tax, and as their permit fees made up less and less of our budget, their interests would
get less and less attention," said Smith. "The Commission understood this concern and thought it was
a reasonable one. So several years ago the Conservation Commission decided that it would not allow
permit revenues to decrease as a percentage of total Conservation Department revenue. Most hunting
and fishing groups like the policy. They like knowing that hunting and fishing will always be an important
part of conservation in Missouri."

Smith said he believes most Missouri anglers and hunters have supported permit fee increases
because they see results from their investments. "Our deer herd is thriving," he said. "We have the best
turkey hunting in the nation, hands down, and people come from far and wide to catch monster
paddlefish, trophy trout, walleyes, muskie, bass and panfish."

Smith said the quality of Missouri's hunting and fishing is no accident. "We conduct scientific research
to provide the basis for fish and wildlife management decisions, and we have a top-notch staff to
implement them. Hunters and anglers have always supported fish and game management in Missouri,
and I think they always will."

Even with the increases, Missouri's resident hunting and fishing permit fees remain below those of
most other states. Minnesota charges residents $18 for an annual fishing permit. The fee is $19 in
Texas, $20 in New Hampshire and $30.45 in California. Lower-priced fishing permits are available in
Louisiana ($9.50 plus $5.50 for a saltwater fishing permit) and North Dakota ($11).

Resident Small-game hunting permits sell for $7 in North Dakota, $11 in Virginia, $14 in Wisconsin,
$15 in Louisiana, $17 in Minnesota, $19 in Texas and $31 in New Hampshire and California.
 

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Hunters and Anglers Spend $70 billion in 2001! - 05/29/2002
Washington, DC - Spending by Americas hunters and anglers totaled $70 billion this past year according to preliminary results from the 2001 "National Fish and Wildlife Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation" released today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Respectively hunters spent $20 billion on trips and equipment, while anglers spent $35 billion and individuals that participated in both activities spent $15 billion.

"Sportsmen and women are one of the most influential demographic groups in this country, and the information that the CSF resource guide will provide will clearly show how important they are," said Melinda Gable, Executive Director of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "While economic analysts worried about a looming recession in 2001, American sportsmen were doing their part to keep the economy in motion. The fact of the matter is, not only are hunting and fishing traditional activities in American culture, but they have an economic ripple effect on Fortune 500 companies as well as small town family businesses."

While hunters and anglers get wide acknowledgement as the major source of funds for healthy fish and wildlife populations, sportsmen tend to get little recognition as a major force in our economy through the expenses incurred in pursuit of their pastime. These statistics show in the most compelling terms that hunting and fishing aren't just leisure activities, but major contributors to the national economy.

The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation is the most comprehensive analysis of the numbers of hunters and anglers and their overall economic impact. These statistics provide the basis for a more comprehensive review of the data coordinated by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) with the cooperation of the USFWS and other conservation groups that will be released in October. The economic resource guide, which will further break down the impacts of hunting and fishing, and compare these figures to other economic sectors of each state's and the nation's economy, is scheduled to be released in early fall.

The preliminary results revealed that in 2001, 34 million Americans 16 years and older took to the waters, each fishing an average of 16 days and spending $1,046 each. Americans taking to the fields and woods 16 years and older totaled 13 million, who hunted on average 17.5 days each and spent $1,581 apiece.

Established in 1989, the mission of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is to ensure that current and future generations of Americans will have the right and opportunity to hunt, fish and trap by serving as the sportsmen's link to Congress.

For more great information like you've read above visit the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation website by visiting http://www.sportsmenslink.org/
 

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Deer Still Plentiful In Town and Country
City officials find that relocating 122 deer a year is difficult.

ST. LOUIS -- Going into its third year of trapping and relocating deer, Town and Country still is struggling to find a workable solution to its urban deer quandary.

Conservation Department biologists counted 441 deer in an aerial survey of the St. Louis suburb last December. Factoring in the number of deer normally missed in such surveys, biologists with the Missouri Department of Conservation estimated the municipality's whitetail population was between 555 and 576.

That is 60 to 80 deer per square mile. The Conservation Department tries to maintain deer populations between 20 and 40 per square mile in rural areas to minimize property damage and deer-vehicle accidents. In urban areas, it aims for deer population density between 15 and 20 per square mile.

Town and Country's deer population was estimated at about 600 before the start of the trapping and relocation program in December 1998. Conservation Department biologists say that removing 120 female deer from the local deer population for two years in a row would bring the population to a more desirable level. A contract trapper removed 59 does in 1998-99, 44 in 1999-2000 and 48 in 2000-2001.

- Jim Low -

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Snow Goose Meat Is Savory And Versatile
Marinating and judicious application of heat make the difference.

JEFFERSON CITY--Thanks to liberal bag limits and burgeoning numbers of snow geese, Missouri hunters are bagging more snow geese than ever before. That translates into tasty rewards for hunters who discover how to turn these superabundant wild fowl into good eating.

Snow geese are relatively small, averaging six to eight pounds live weight. Most hunters use a fillet knife to slice off breast meat in two boneless steaks. This eliminates the time-consuming job of scalding and plucking. Experienced hunters can clean a day's limit of geese in half an hour or so.

One bird yields about a pound of dark, rich breast meat. Marinating is a frequent choice for preparation. One quick and easy recipe calls for soaking breast fillets in Italian salad dressing and then quick cooking over a hot charcoal fire or in the oven broiler. Another variation uses equal parts of white cooking wine and soy sauce seasoned with fresh garlic, ginger root and fresh lime juice.

For best results, perforate the fillets with a fork and allow to marinate overnight. Wrap breast halves in smoked bacon to prevent drying, and check often to prevent overcooking. The red color of the meat makes it easy to underestimate doneness. Cook only until firm to the center, leaving the fillets juicy and tender. Combine pan drippings with leftover marinade to make a sauce and serve with wild rice.

The huge amount of meat that successful snow goose hunters can accumulate encourages innovations, such as the following recipe for snow goose salami.
--12 pounds ground snow goose meat
--3 pounds pork sausage
-- ¿ cup curing salt
--6 teaspoons of Liquid Smoke
--5 teaspoons garlic powder
--6 teaspoons of cracked pepper
--6 teaspoons of whole mustard seed

Mix well and chill overnight. Divide into 1-pound portions and roll each into an 8-inch log. Wrap each tightly with cheesecloth and tie the ends. Place on a wire rack over a pan and bake four hours at 225 degrees. Freeze or refrigerate until used.

- Jim Low -

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Mountain Lion Is Not Just a Rumor Anymore in Iowa HARLIN WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Harlan, Iowa - A full-grown mountain lion was killed by a vehicle this past weekend in what looks like the first confirmed mountain lion killed since 1867.

Shelby County Conservation officials spent Monday looking over the male cat, which weighed about 130 pounds, had a six-foot-long torso, two-inch claws and paws as big as a man's hands.

"It's been taking care of itself," said Bryce Schaven, roadside manager for the conservation board. "It was a well-muscled animal."

The mountain lion was discovered Saturday night after Harlan police received a report that a woman driving on U.S. Highway 59 had hit an animal. The cat was killed about a block from Harlan Community High School. Harlan is about 40 miles northeast of Omaha.

According to a new book on Iowa hunting, the last confirmed mountain lion killed in Iowa was in 1867 in southeast Iowa. There had been confirmed sets of paw tracks found in the state in recent years but never an animal or carcass.

Ed Weiner, wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said more people have reported seeing mountain lions in the past two to three years with sightings in several areas south of Sioux City. There have been recent sightings around Magnolia and Pisgah. Pottawattamie County officials also received several reports about a mountain lion last winter near Underwood.

"We've had stories for the past two or three years of people spotting them," Weiner said.

Weiner wanted to alleviate fears people might have that such cats would pose a serious danger to people. Weiner said that if the animal found in Harlan were wild, it had avoided contact with people and probably kept itself well-fed from area wildlife. He had not heard any reports of farmers losing livestock to the cat.

"That goes a long way to point out that children are not in any sort of peril," Weiner said.

Darby Sanders, director of the Shelby County Conservation Board, said a family had reported seeing a mountain lion northwest of Harlan over the past year. Sanders said there are two possibilities that brought the animal to Harlan: one, someone had raised the animal and dumped it; or two, the mountain lion is wild and roamed into the area.

"I have no doubt in my mind scenario two is what we are looking at because people have been seeing them all over," Sanders said.

There are no other marks or signs to suggest the animal was being kept by people. Conservation agents contacted two residents with licenses to keep such animals. Neither reported any animals missing, and most domesticated mountain lions have had their claws removed.

"This one has all of its claws," Schaven said. "That tends to make us think it's a wild one."

With no objections from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the cat likely will be stuffed and put on permanent display at the Nishna Bend Nature Center. Sanders said the local conservation office likely will need to solicit donations to mount and display the animal.

Courtesy, Planning Keys to Hunting Success
Hunters who observe the golden rule get the best hunting spots.

JEFFERSON CITY--American poet Robert Frost said "Good fences make good neighbors." Bob Staton acknowledges the importance of fences in maintaining neighborly relations. But he said fences alone aren't enough to keep hunters and landowners on friendly terms. That requires responsibility and courtesy.

"Missouri hunters have a wealth of public land where they can hunt," said Staton, protection program supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. "However, even in Missouri nine-tenths of the land is privately owned. That makes good relations with landowners indispensable to hunters."

Even hunters who use public land need to be considerate of private landowners, according to Staton. When pursuing game, it is easy to cross boundaries and trespass unwittingly. That is no excuse in the eyes of the law.

"Hunters need to learn the boundaries of the areas where they hunt," said Staton. "Property lines aren't always clearly marked, and there's nothing worse than walking in unexpectedly on another hunter or a landowner at work. It makes everybody nervous."

Staton said unintentional trespassing exposes hunters to several experiences that can ruin the enjoyment of hunting. No one needs a chewing-out from a farmer, legal hassles or the increased chance of a hunting accident.

To avoid those unpleasantries, Staton suggests studying the boundaries of your hunting area on a map before heading out. "Make this a part of your preseason scouting routine," he says.

Fence lines are a help, too. When you encounter a fence, it is a good idea to consider whose land lies on the other side. When in doubt, check ownership before crossing the fence.

"There are times when you might need to go on someone else's property," said Staton. "If you shoot a deer and track it to a property line, you've got conflicting obligations. You have an ethical obligation to find the deer, but you are legally obligated to get permission before going on private property. Most landowners are glad to give permission to go after a wounded deer, but they don't like finding someone with a gun roaming around their back 40 unannounced."

Staton acknowledged that most hunters would find it difficult to leave a hot deer trail to hunt up a landowner. That's why he suggests spending time before deer season visiting the owners of land around your hunting spot. Most landowners will appreciate your obvious respect for their property rights and give you prior permission to trespass if the need arises.

If you work things right, you even might get permission to hunt some extra land. That's a much more pleasant way to meet the lord of the manor than having him investigate a rifle shot and find you field-dressing a deer in his backyard.

Landowners also can tell you if anyone will be hunting on their property. This can help you better plan your hunt and make for a safer situation.

"A lot of needless friction between hunters and landowners arises because people were in too much of a hurry to show common courtesy," said Staton. "Hunting season should be fun. Why chance getting into a squabble that will make you tense and waste precious hunting time? It's just easier and more pleasant to be a good neighbor."

- Jim Low -

Hunters To Benefit From Thriving Turkey Population
Three years of good to record-breaking nest success foretell excellent prospects for Missouri's spring turkey hunting season.

JEFFERSON CITY -- If national weather experts are on target, Missouri turkey hunters can look forward to a terrific spring turkey season.

The 90-day forecast from the National Weather Service for the period leading up to turkey season predicted near-normal temperatures and rainfall through May. That, says Wildlife Research Biologist Mike Hubbard, is all that's needed to make 2001 a great year for turkey hunters.

Hubbard is the Missouri Department of Conservation's turkey expert. He says Missouri's wild turkey population is very robust, thanks to three years of good to excellent reproduction.

"We had good production of young turkeys the past two years," said Hubbard, "and three years ago we had an amazing year for turkey nesting."

Hubbard said severe cold weather may have caused some turkey deaths in the northern part of the state, but not enough to put a dent in the region's burgeoning turkey flock. He says wild turkeys can stay on their roosts in trees for extended periods without ill effects when snow covers the ground.

Still, he says he doesn't expect this year's spring turkey harvest to set a record. "To top last year's harvest of almost 57,000 birds, we would have to top last year's weather, and I don't know if that's possible," said Hubbard. Warm weather combined with an almost total lack of rain or windy weather during the three-week turkey season created ideal conditions for turkey hunters last year.

Hubbard said he expects a statewide harvest of about 52,500 gobblers. "I don't think we'll see another record harvest this year, but it won't be due to lack of birds. There are a lot of two- and three-year-old gobblers out there."

Turkey hunting regulations remain substantially the same as last year's. The season opens April 23 and runs through May 13. A regular turkey permit entitles the bearer to take one bearded turkey during the first week of the season and one per day during the remaining two weeks, up to a season limit of two.

Tagging and checking procedures remain unchanged. Full details of regulations are contained in the 2001 Spring Turkey Hunting Information booklet, which is available wherever hunting permits are sold.

Hunters under age 12 can take part in the spring turkey season with a Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit. This $15 permit allows kids under the minimum legal age for hunter education certification to participate in the spring and fall turkey seasons. To do so, they must hunt in the immediate presence of adult hunters who are licensed to hunt and have successfully completed an approved hunter education course.

The youth permit allows young hunters to take one bearded turkey during the spring season and one during the fall season and one deer in the fall.

- Jim Low -

Good Weather Favored Record Deer Harvest
The 2000 November deer harvest topped the previous record by 6,495.

JEFFERSON CITY--Encouraged by near-perfect weather conditions, Missouri hunters killed a record 201,165 deer during the November portion of the firearms hunting season.

A record opening weekend harvest of 111,002 provided an early hint that this year's harvest might exceed previous years'. The total for the 11-day November 2000 firearms deer hunting season is 25,240 more than were bagged last year, when unseasonably warm weather made deer less active and discouraged some hunters. This year's total topped the previous record, set in 1998, by 6,495.

The six firearms-related hunting accidents reported during the November hunt is well below the average for the past 10 years. However, two of the accidents were fatal.

Howell County led harvest totals with 4,166 deer checked. Macon County was second with 3,716, and Henry County came in third with 3,663.

Regional harvest totals were: northeast, 36,945; northwest, 32,507; west-central, 29,481; central, 24,173; east-central, 19,674; Ozark, 18,289; southwest, 18,019; southeast, 13,959; Kansas City, 4,503; St. Louis, 3,615.

Missouri's deer herd, now estimated at 800,000 to 1 million, is growing slowly in a few areas, but is stable in most parts of the state. Deer herd growth is primarily in suburban areas.

Two segments of Missouri's firearms deer season remain. Muzzleloader season runs from Dec. 2 through 10, and the January Extension runs Jan. 6 through 9.

Roughly 425,000 hunters took part in the 2000 firearms deer season. Conservation Department officials say a more precise number is difficult to determine. The Conservation Department sold nearly 365,000 basic resident and nonresident deer hunting permits for the November season.

Another 41,000 people hunted under landowner deer hunting permits.

In addition, any Missourian living on at least five acres can legally hunt antlered deer without a permit. Upon killing a deer they simply write out a tag with their full name and address and attach it to the deer. No one knows how many people hunt under this "farm tag" option, but 6,116 deer were checked this way in 1999. Assuming these bucks-only hunters have an average success rate of 23 percent, this represents roughly 26,000 additional deer hunters.

- Jim Low -

Game Bird Slump Continues, Some Remedies Possible
These days, even when the news about bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse and pheasants is good, it's no call for rejoicing.

JEFFERSON CITY  Favorable weather conditions allowed bobwhite quail to stage a meager comeback in some parts of Missouri this year, but ruffed grouse and pheasant numbers continue to slide downward. Public and private conservationists have partial explanations for the popular game birds' declines, and are working hard to find more answers and implement solutions.

Above average temperatures and below-average rainfall and snowfall allowed quail to come through the winter of 1999-2000 in good numbers, setting the stage for a modest recovery. Continued mild, dry weather through June gave bobwhite hatchlings a good start. However, some of those gains disappeared in July and August, when hot weather and locally heavy rains cut into brood survival rates.

Quail numbers seen in roadside surveys in August were up 34 percent from 1999 figures statewide. An annual survey of quail broods showed 70 percent more than last year.

But Tom Dailey, wildlife research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, says quail numbers only look good this year because they were so low in 1999. Compared to the average over the past 17 years, Missouri's bobwhite population has decreased by 45 percent.

"Despite the increase in quail numbers over the last year, quail are still doing poorly in Missouri," says Dailey.

The news about ruffed grouse is worse. Wildlife Research Biologist Mike Hubbard says surveys of male birds drumming on logs, their spring mating ritual, turned up the lowest numbers since the Conservation Department began reintroducing grouse to the state in the 1950s.

"The continued low grouse numbers may be cause for concern, not only for grouse, but for numerous wildlife species that rely on early successional forest habitat during some or all of their life history stages," says Hubbard.

The news about pheasants is bad, too. Research Biologist John Schulz's report on ring-necked pheasants shows a 37 percent decrease in the annual pheasant population index. That is only a 1.2 percent decrease from 1999, but this year's numbers are down 50 percent from the five-year average and 60 percent from the 10-year average.

Dailey calls the quail hunting outlook "fair at best." However, he says good numbers of quail still can be found in places that have good habitat and that had favorable nesting-season weather. Hunters in the northern part of the state will find slightly improved opportunities compared to last year.

Total quail numbers were highest in western and northeastern Missouri and lowest in the Ozarks and Mississippi Lowlands of southeastern Missouri. Counties reporting more than 15 quail per 30-mile survey route were Benton, Johnson, Ray, Carrol, Clark, Ralls, Monroe, Audrain, Lincoln and Warren.

Schulz says he expects the 2000 pheasant harvest to be about the same as last year's, with fair to good hunting in northern Missouri. Pheasants were most plentiful in the northwest. Only Nodaway and Livingston counties reported sightings of more than two pheasants per 100 miles of survey route driven. Mercer, Harrison, Gentry, Worth and Andrew counties were the next best areas, reporting 1 to 1.9 pheasant sightings per 100 miles.

The grouse survey tracks populations on only a few areas, so comparative population indices for different parts of the state are not available.

Quail season runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. Pheasant season runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 in the North Zone and from Dec. 1 through Dec. 12 in the South Zone. Grouse season runs from Oct. 15 through Jan. 15 in 18 counties. Bag limits, areas open to grouse and pheasant hunting and other bird hunting regulations are listed in "2000 Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations," a booklet available wherever hunting permits are sold.

Schulz says pheasants, which were imported from Asia, have never been especially successful in adapting to conditions in Missouri. Having them here gives hunters the chance to shoot a novelty species occasionally while hunting quail, but Missouri probably never will have the kind of pheasant numbers that draw thousands of hunters to Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota each fall.

Quail and grouse are different matters. Both these species are native to Missouri, and quail have been abundant here in the recent past. Grouse once were common in the Show-Me State, but unregulated hunting, coupled with wholesale clearing of Missouri's forests around the turn of the 20th century, wiped out our "partridge" population.

The decline in quail numbers has paralleled changes in farming practices that reduce nesting and feeding cover used by quail, rabbits and a wide variety of other wildlife. "About 93 percent of Missouri's land is in private ownership," says Dailey. "The Conservation Department owns or manages a little less than 2 percent of the state's land, so what we do on our land isn't going to have a noticeable effect on overall quail numbers. Private land is the key to our quail quandary."

With this in mind, the Conservation Department launched the Open Lands Initiative in 1997. This initiative brings together state and federal incentives and technical assistance programs to help private landowners manage their property in more wildlife-friendly ways.

In 1999, the Conservation Department created a new Private Land Services Division with a field staff of 70 full-time resource-management professionals in MDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture offices throughout the state. These private land biologists are responsible for ensuring that private landowners get help managing their land. To consult with the private land conservationist in your area contact the nearest Conservation Department office or log on to the MDC web site: www.missouriconservation.org.

"The Private Land Services Division has tremendous potential to help quail and other wildlife species that formerly thrived in our agricultural areas," says Dailey. "The single most important thing we can do to bring back quail numbers is to encourage farmers and other rural landowners to take advantage of the expertise and assistance available to them."

Whereas quail thrive on open lands, grouse are creatures of the woodland edge. They need mature forest for mating and nesting, brushy second-growth woods for escape cover and lush open areas where they can find nutritious seeds and insects.

This last essential component of grouse habitatsmall forest openingshas grown increasingly scarce over the past 30 years as forests have grown to maturity on vast expanses logged early in the last century.

"Mature forest is one critical component of grouse habitat," says Hubbard, "but what grouse need that is lacking in Missouri forests today is five- to 10-acre patches of early successional woody growth within large stands of mature forest. Anything that creates an opening, whether it's a tornado or a logging crew, gives grouse a better chance in Missouri.

Ted Cooper, with the Missouri Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS), says other factors probably have contributed to the difficulty of reestablishing ruffed grouse here. A 30-year restoration effort that ended in 1996 brought more than 5,000 wild grouse to Missouri from other states. These birds were released at 72 sites throughout the state to serve as core populations that would repopulate the state.

"Grouse are subject to population fluctuations from extremes in weather during their nesting and brood-rearing period," says Cooper. "A bad spring can wipe out virtually all of that year's reproduction, leaving isolated populations like the ones Missouri had in the 1990s very vulnerable. Just when our grouse were beginning to take off, we hit the flood years of 1993 and 1995. Those years were devastating."

Cooper says it's possible Missouri's ruffed grouse seed populations weren't large enough to weather the storm, and several perished. That, he says, makes it critical to ensure that the remaining population centers have adequate habitat. He says the RGS is working with the Conservation Department's Private Land Services Division to educate landowners about grouse habitat needs and encourage them to create forest clearings. And he says the group also is working to increase public awareness of the importance of forest clearings for balanced wildlife management.

"Old-growth timber is extremely important," says Cooper. "There's no question that we need it. But grouse and a variety of other wildlife need more than mature trees to survive. Several songbirds that use young forests like those that grouse need are in serious decline because of lack of habitat. Today, virtually the only thing that creates that young forest is a chainsaw."

Cooper says the RGS has to contend with strong public sentiment against cutting trees. He says society members don't want to see Missouris' forest decimated as they were 100 years ago. "That would be as bad for grouse and endangered songbirds as letting every acre of southern Missouri grow up in mature oak-hickory woods," he says. "What we advocate is a balanced approach that favors biological diversity by providing diverse habitat."

- Jim Low -

Survey Paints a Picture of Wildlife Recreation
Wildlife means big bucks, and not just the antlered variety.

JEFFERSON CITY--Wildlife recreation is a multibillion dollar industry in Missouri, according to the most recent National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has conducted the survey every five years since 1955. The most recent update catalogs hunting, fishing and wildlife watching. Survey results are broken down by state.

The survey revealed that 1.9 million Missourians 16 years and older engaged in fishing, hunting or wildlife watching at least one mile from home. Wildlife watching was far and away the most popular wildlife-related activity in Missouri, with 1.7 million people participating. Anglers numbered 935,000, hunters 499,000. In addition to residents, 300,000 people from outside the Show-Me State came here to watch wildlife, while 309,000 came from outside the state to hunt or fish.

The average wildlife watcher spent $262 to observe, photograph and feed fish and wildlife. The average angler spent about $500 for his hobby, while the average hunter reported spending nearly $1,200. Dollars spent on wildlife-related recreation generated 55,000 jobs and more than $2 billion in additional business activity.

The survey shows that most Missouri hunters are males between 25 and 50 years old who have high school educations and live in rural areas. Their annual income is between $20,000 and $40,000. They hunt about 16 days per year, primarily on private land. Anglers are more likely to live in urban areas, and include many more women in their ranks.

Summaries or the full survey report are available by calling 703/358-1839 or via the Internet at http://fa.r9.fws.gov/.

- Jim Low -

Family Fun Awaits Missourians at HOOT Workshops
Outdoor skills workshop designed to help Missourians safely enjoy outdoors

JEFFERSON CITY-- Learning outdoor skills can be a real hoot with training from the Missouri Department of Conservation. The Conservation Department Hands-On Outdoor Training, or HOOT program is a family outdoor skills workshop designed to help Missourians safely enjoy outdoor activities.

The goal of the HOOT program is to provide participants with a basic understanding of conservation, outdoors skills and safety. Training is offered for more than 30 outdoor activities. Following is a list of some of the courses:
--Aquatic Ecology, in which participants explore a pond and a stream to learn about aquatic plants and animals;
--Archery Basics provides training on selection and use of bows, arrows and other archery equipment;
--Birdwatching for Beginners teaches bird identification techniques and how to select bird watching locations;
--Firearms Safety gives instruction on the safety rules and responsibilities of firearms handling;
--Fishing Basics teaches the fundamentals of fishing equipment, bait, fish identification and habitat;
--Nature Arrangements shows participants how to select, collect and preserve materials from the natural environment;
--Turkey Hunting teaches the basic skills needed to hunt turkey in Missouri;
--Wilderness Survival teaches participants how to build fires, filter water and avoid being unprepared in the wilderness.

The Conservation Department will host two HOOT programs this year. The YMCA of the Ozarks is the site of the workshop April 27 through April 29, and the Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center in Shannon County hosts a smaller HOOT workshop July 20-22 that focuses on river fun.

The training courses are designed for those ages 10 and older. A kids' camp adventure is available during the workshop for children 4 to 9 years old. Children 10-16 must be accompanied by an adult to attend the training. Several of the courses for the April HOOT have been filled.

The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop scheduled for May 18 through May 20 at the YMCA of the Ozarks in Potosi also has openings. For information on available courses at HOOT and BOW and for details about program fees and registration, call 573/751-4115 ext. 3292.

- Arleasha Mays -

Mountain Lion Sighting Confirmed In Lewis County
A deer hunter with a video camera caught the large adult cougar on tape.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation have confirmed another mountain lion sighting, this one near the state's northeast corner. They say the sighting is not cause for alarm; the state is prepared to deal with cougars that become threats to people or livestock.

Michael Sharpe was sitting in his tree stand on private land in Lewis County at 1:30 p.m. New Year's Eve when a large, adult mountain lion appeared. Sharpe, 18, had opted to "hunt" deer with a video camera instead of with his bow, and he documented the big cat's passage on tape.

"I had a doe underneath my stand, so I was preoccupied with that," recalls Sharpe. "When I looked up, I saw something standing in a field of wheat stubble about 250 yards away. I thought it was a coyote at first, but when it started to walk away I noticed its long tail. I knew then it couldn't be a coyote."

It wasn't until he viewed the video tape that he realized he had seen a mountain lion.

Senior Conservation Agent Gene Lindsey, who has chased down his share of mountain lion reports that couldn't be substantiated, watched the tape and visited the scene of the sighting before declaring it "irrefutable." He said the cougar appeared to be hunting. The undulating landscape,
with a mix of crop land, pasture, hardwood forest and cedar thickets, harbors a thriving population of white-tailed deer, the mountain lion's primary prey.

Sharpe's sighting brings the number of confirmed mountain lion reports in Missouri in recent years to five. Two other cougars have been videotaped, both in the Ozarks. Another was treed by two rabbit hunters' beagle hounds in January 1999 in Texas County. Conservation Department
biologists confirmed that two deer carcasses found nearby had been killed by a cougar.

The fifth case involved a mountain lion killed by poachers in 1994 in Carter County near Peck Ranch Conservation Area. The men, who later pleaded guilty to killing the cat while raccoon hunting, photographed themselves with the carcass, but said they had gotten rid of it. Two years
later, a deer hunter discovered a cougar hide, with the head and feet still attached, alongside a road in Texas County. Some evidence suggested that it might be the same animal.

Five confirmed mountain lion sightings aren't many, considering the fact that the Conservation Department receives hundreds of reports of sightings each year. Most end up being classified "improbable" or "unconfirmed." Conservation Department officials say some of these reports
could represent actual sightings, but they are impossible to verify without photos, video or other physical evidence, such as tracks or droppings.

"In most cases it's simply impossible to determine whether a person really saw a mountain lion," says Wildlife Research Biologist Dave Hamilton. "That doesn't mean we don't believe people who report sightings or that we don't want to know about them. We can only go by what can be proved."

Hamilton said Missourians who think they see mountain lions are encouraged to call the nearest Conservation Department office as quickly as possible. The agency does not send biologists for on-site investigations unless human safety is threatened or there is substantial physical evidence.  As a matter of policy, the Conservation Department doesn't conduct an on-site investigation if it learns about the sighting more than two days after the fact.

"Quick reporting is critical," says Hamilton. "Mountain lions are very mobile, so the chances of finding the animal or any useful evidence after two days are very slim." He says anyone who finds what they think are mountain lion tracks or droppings should photograph them and then cover the
evidence with a bucket and send the photos to the Conservation Department so experts can examine them.

Conservation officials say they haven't released mountain lions or taken any other actions to encourage the big cats to return Missouri. However, they note that the most important element of cougar habitat that was missing here for decades food has returned with the resurgence of deer
numbers. "If mountain lions migrated into Missouri from Texas or Colorado, the nearest self-sustaining populations, they would find enough food to sustain them now," says Hamilton. "The same is true of captive animals that escape or are released from captivity. Thirty years ago, they
might have starved. Now they would have no problem."

The mountain lion is a protected species in Missouri, and it's illegal to kill cougars that are minding their own business. If the Conservation Department documents an attack on a human or domestic animals, however, efforts will be made to find and destroy the offending animal.

The Wildlife Code of Missouri also allows anyone to kill a mountain lion that is attacking people or domestic animals. In situations where attacks on pets or livestock are suspected but not confirmed, the Conservation Department can issue temporary permits to kill mountain lions. Anyone who does kill a mountain lion is required by law to report the incident immediately. They also must turn the carcass over to a conservation agent within 24 hours of the kill.

Hamilton emphasized that the few mountain lions apparently living in Missouri pose very little threat to people or property. However, he acknowledged that the presence of a predator large enough to kill adult deer is not without risk. Those who spend time outdoors can reduce their risk by knowing how to act in encounters with mountain lions.

A mountain lion that sees a human and does not run away should be considered dangerous. It's important not to run from a cougar. Fleeing is likely to trigger the cat's predatory instincts. Don't turn your back on the mountain lion, either, and don't crouch or bend over.

Instead, stand directly facing the animal. Make and maintain eye contact and do anything you can to make yourself look large and threatening. Raise the sides of your coat or shirt with your arms, or wave your arms slowly.

Talk to the cougar in a loud, firm voice. If you have pets or small children with you, keep them close to you. If attacked, fight back with a knife, rocks, sticks or anything available.