Jeff Leonard
Monday, Nov. 17, 2008
Conditions appear good for deer rifle season
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008
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Monday, Nov. 17, 2008
As Missouri hunters continue the 64th annual firearms deer season this week, the odds of taking a whitetail will be pretty good.
In recent years, an annual average of more than 500,000 hunters have consistently harvested about 300,000 deer each season. While the odds of successfully taking a whitetail are fairly good, they weren’t always this way for Show-Me State hunters.
Conditions appear good for deer rifle season
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008
They’ve patiently watched as archers from all over Northwest Missouri have been bringing in some great whitetails. Youth hunters also had their turn and with less-than-favorable weather conditions still managed to complete their first weekend with an above-average harvest.
And as firearms season gets started on Saturday, gun hunters finally get their chance.
Friday, Nov. 7, 2008
During its September meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved a broad range of permit changes for the upcoming 2009 season. While the changes affect literally everyone who hunts or fishes in Missouri, nonresidents will see the most dramatic increases of all.
Friday, Nov. 7, 2008
Colby Burns and his father Chad headed out into the fog on opening morning of the initial youth deer season last Saturday with high hopes of harvesting a nice whitetail. The morning hunt was special to them, as it was Colby’s first and the weekend youth hunt offered the perfect setting to get his feet wet.
A truck load of rainbows delivered to WesternFriday, Oct. 31, 2008
Missouri Western State University got some new residents last week, and while they’re not professors, I think they may be able to teach a few local anglers a lesson or two.
These newcomers were of the finned variety, and their home has now become the Everyday Pond on the northeast side of the campus.
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
What do you do with a young duck hunter who can hardly wait till the first rays of sunlight to begin streaming in over the beautiful wetlands around his blind? You go to a kickoff party the evening before.
It’s a tradition that John Chezik and ranch manager Robert Lee have held onto for many years on Chezik’s hunting property north of Mound City, Mo. In attendance among all the crusty old waterfowl hunters was a 9-year-old boy who was about to make the transition from being just an observer to toting his own shotgun into the blind as a hunter.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
Deer hunters lucky enough to harvest a trophy whitetail buck this season can again look forward to joining the ranks of 8,000 record holders in the Missouri Show-Me Big Bucks Club.
The club is accepting new applications for records under the typical and non-typical deer and shed categories. The club has not accepted applications in several years because of an outdated record-keeping system which made the process unmanageable.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
When sportsmen head to their favorite permit vendor to purchase their 2009 hunting, fishing, and trapping permits they’ll notice some significant changes. In previous columns we discussed changes to youth, senior and landowner permits. This week we’ll cover the price increases to resident permits and also the addition of a new “light geese” permit.
While I’m fairly certain no one wants to hear the words “increased prices” mentioned in the same sentence, Missouri still remains among the cheapest states to hunt, fish and trap in the Midwest.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
Change. It’s a word we’ve been seeing and hearing just about everywhere in the heat of political battle as both Democrat and Republican candidates spend the last few weeks competing for our vote. While most of us are growing tired of hearing all the political rhetoric, change is something all Missouri sportsmen will have to deal with in the coming year, regardless of who wins on election day.
This is the second in a series of columns designed to give outdoor folks a heads up about the new permit changes passed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) last month at the Conservation Commission’s meeting in Poplar Bluff.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
A new study by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) may have deer hunters from throughout the country reconsidering their choice of firearms and ammunition. The study began after several samples of ground venison from a North Dakota venison donation program (similar to Missouri’s Share the Harvest) were found to contain lead fragments last winter.
Minnesota officials tested samples from their donations with some unsettling results. Ultimately, 27 percent of the ground venison and 2 percent of the whole muscle cuts were found to be contaminated with lead fragments from hunters’ bullets. This information prompted the MDNR to complete a preliminary study to improve their understanding of the problem.
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
At a time when folks are just beginning to see a reprieve at the gas pumps, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is making changes to the permit system and asking all sportsmen to dig a little deeper into their pockets.
March of 2009 will bring some drastic changes to our permit system that will affect everyone, including youth, seniors, college students, landowners, general residents, non-resident licenses and even special-permit purchasers.
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
With another archery deer hunt in full swing and rifle season on its way, deer hunters who choose to hunt from elevated stands are asked to use caution when heading up to their perch. Studies show more people are injured or killed each year, not in firearms incidents but in accidents involving tree stands.
With the popularity of elevated stands on the rise and the amazing variety found on the market, more hunters are heading up in and effort to stack the odds in their favor.
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Unlike most of the hunting shows — in which outdoor celebrities seem to add one or two trophy whitetails to their collection every time you turn on the television — the chances of taking a wall hanger come few and far between for most of us. This is why it’s so important to be prepared when you finally get your chance at the buck of a lifetime.
While many of us are more than equipped to head into the woods in pursuit of big whitetails, having a game plan for the after-shot care is also very important. Craig Debord of 9 Toes Taxidermy in Clarksdale, Mo., and I spoke about this important aspect of the hunt, and he’s provided a little guidance on this issue.
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
While working in the Sugar Lake area last week, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Agent Steve Nichols ran into a Missouri angler with not one but four great fish stories and some arms that ached from handling a fishing rod.
Millard McGlothen of Kansas City and his buddy had hooked up his boat and drove to the lake in hopes of snagging a few buffalo or other non-game fish, but what ended up at the end of their lines put them and their equipment to the ultimate test.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
What started out as a small, simple way of thanking the sportsmen of Pennsylvania has now turned into one of our country’s most effective grassroots efforts to promote outdoor sports and conservation.
Today, American sportsmen celebrate the 36th National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
It started in Zurich, Switzerland and eventually worked its way to Kansas City, Chicago and about 29 other cities throughout the world.
The idea was simple: Decorate fiberglass replica cows and place them on display before auctioning them off to raise money for charity. Steve Holt of Chillicothe latched onto this concept and as an outdoorsman decided to alter it a little by using ducks, and more specifically, beautifully decorated decoys.
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Having just returned from an archery black bear hunt in the north woods of Minnesota, I’ve found a whole new respect for those who choose to scratch their outdoor itch in some of America’s more remote and rugged environments. I also discovered through the span of the seven-day hunt that some of these trips are not for the faint of heart.
All four of us on this trip were new to black bear hunting and although we were well equipped and physically ready, we hadn’t actually envisioned what it was like to be hunting in such a wild, untouched area. This would be a trip filled with moments of pure, heart-stopping excitement along with hours of pure boredom sitting on stands waiting for a shot opportunity to reveal itself.
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
The Missouri Trappers Association are gathering in Cape Girardeau this weekend for a Fall Rendezvous that highlights their 50th Anniversary, according to Karl Rice of the Northwest Chapter (District 8).
The association began when a young trapper from Dewitt, Mo., named Walter “Eddie” Stephenson decided to form an association that would follow the remarks he included at the end of all his correspondence, “Yours For Better Trapping.”
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
While preparing for an upcoming bowhunting trip for black bear, the owner of the lodge informed us that we may wish to carry a legal firearm along as a backup weapon, as we’d be hunting predominately on our own in very remote areas.
Call me naive, but as a newcomer to the world of bear hunting, in a worst-case scenario, the thought of going toe to toe with a 300- to 500-pound black bear with only a bow and arrow to defend myself didn’t sound too appealing.
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Mother Nature sent a clear message that summer is coming to an end by dropping a nice little cold front into Northwest Missouri. With recent daytime temperatures dropping down into the upper 50s, stepping out of the house into the crisp, wet, cool morning air made many bowhunters yearn to be in their favorite tree stand overlooking a heavily used deer trail.
Those who experienced similar sensations can rejoice in the fact that the 2008 archery season opener begins in just over a week.
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008
While it doesn’t appear the Cabela’s King Kat Trail will be making up the local tournament that was cancelled due to flooding earlier this year, there still is a last chance opportunity for local anglers to participate and possibly qualify for the Cabela’s King Kat Classic.
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008
With little or no breeze and temperatures stretching into the mid-90s — not to mention a heat index of more than 100 degrees — 88 archers took to the wooded trails of Pigeon Hill Conservation Area for the St. Joe Bowhunters 3D Shoot of the Season.
Friday, Aug. 1, 2008
Recreational boaters and anglers can breathe a sigh of relief after President Bush gave his approval to the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (S 2766) last week. This legislation protects more than 17 million recreational boat owners in the United States from having to deal with federal and or state regulations never intended for them in the first place.
The ‘lure’ of loveFriday, Aug. 1, 2008
While most husbands and wives hope for a romantic evening away from the kids on “date nights,” Holly Crawford ended her evening with something more.
Holly discovered a new outdoor obsession which would allow her to spend more time with her husband and eventually her whole family, doing something they all enjoy.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Law-abiding gun owners in the United States recently experienced a victory unlike any other in the history of the debate over rights granted under the Second Amendment.
Friday, July 18, 2008
What do a bunch of competitive bass anglers who enjoy hanging out together and just can’t get enough of chasing big largemouths do for fun? They head to the lake once a month for a little thing they like to call the “Friday Night Hog Fight.”
Walleyes still being caught at Stockton LakeFriday, July 11, 2008
STOCKTON, Mo. — Les Jarman fishes familiar banks when he chases walleyes at Stockton Lake these days.
The only difference from the past? Those banks are under almost 15 feet of water now.
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is looking for a few good men — and women, as well as some youth — to fill this year’s assortment of managed deer hunts being offered. With the new weighted, random-drawing system, hunters now have a better chance of being drawn if they remain persistent.
A large mouth full of teeth and attitudeFriday, July 11, 2008
Muskies are known among anglers as the “fish of 10,000 casts.” For Darren Peters, a member of the St. Joe Bass Club, the odds were a little better, considering the fact he landed a 41-inch trophy while on a recent bass fishing trip at Pony Express Lake.
Catfish tourney a washSaturday, June 28, 2008
For the second consecutive year, Mother Nature placed a roadblock in the path of the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail, which was scheduled for a June 21st tournament date at the French Bottoms Access on the Missouri River. The roadblock came in the form of major flooding problems.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Animal rights extremists must be dancing in the streets after a law in Switzerland recently passed. With utter disbelief and a little laughter, I read through this new law imagining the Swiss people dealing with some of the outlandish details they will have to put up with starting this September.
Outdoorsmen heed call to support proposed global warming billFriday, June 6, 2008
Global warming is a hot topic in the media right now, but it’s even hotter in the United States Senate.
A major piece of conservation legislation is being considered. The Climate Security Act (S 3036) proposes important pollution cuts while providing a large source of funding to assist wildlife and habitats in combatting the effects of global warming.
Friday, June 6, 2008
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice and criminals should never return to the scene of the crime, but in the world of the outdoors, getting back to a previous location may mean the difference between success and failure.
Fishing fun can include catching the bait, tooFriday, May 30, 2008
Some of my fondest fishing memories from childhood come not so much from the actual time spent with a rod and reel in my hand but in the hours spent gathering our bait. Let’s face it, you don’t have to be catching or shooting to have fun in the outdoors.
While its great to be able to quickly drop by any local bait and tackle shop and get what you need, gathering your own bait can be a fun way to spend more time outdoors and save a few bucks in the process.
Friday, May 30, 2008
The old African adage “It takes a village to raise a child” seemed to be the theme as conservation agent David Carlisle stood before a group last week whose sole mission is to enhance the lives of area youth.
Carlisle had come before the St. Joseph Optimist Club to discuss how the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), with the help of citizens, businesses and civic organizations, can play a vital role in helping the youth of our state.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Like it or not, technology is changing the way we live our lives. Many of us now enjoy and even rely on our computers, GPS units, cell phones, fish finders and the like. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is keeping step with these changes and in a little over a month will kick off its first Online Hunter Education Course.
Cold weather fails to derail Crappie FestivalFriday, May 16, 2008
MAYSVILLE, Mo. — Cold winds and overcast skies may not be the best ingredients for a day at the lake catching crappie, but that didn’t stop the huge crowd of anglers who lined the shores of Pony Express Lake during the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Crappie Festival last weekend.
Current trout season allows anglers to keep a good haul of troutFriday, May 9, 2008
Warmer weather has finally returned and along with it water temperatures have started to rise. For anglers, spring usually clouds our thoughts with the craving for a big mess of crappie, but there’s one other species who’s time has come.
For those who may have forgotten, the Everyday Pond on the campus of Missouri Western State University was stocked with more than 800 rainbow trout ranging in size from 10 inches to a whopping 24 inches.
Friday, May 9, 2008
This year’s deer season will see a few changes — including a second youth-only season and the expansion of antler restrictions to more areas of the state — after a recent meeting and vote by the Missouri Conservation Commission.
These changes came after the Missouri Department of Conservation gathered input from more than 4,000 people through a series of 16 public meetings held throughout the state, including St. Joseph. Public input from the meetings, along with comments received online, by mail and telephone, were summarized and coupled with biological considerations to form the department’s recommendations for the upcoming season.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Although youth hunters were allowed to hunt nearly twice as long as they have in the past seven years, this year’s Missouri youth turkey season ended with the second-lowest harvest on record.
The Missouri Department of Conservation released the telecheck numbers from the April 12 and 13 weekend, which showed a harvest of only 2,898 turkeys.
Friday, May 2, 2008
In every state across the country there is a small but persistent group of activists who are doing everything possible to disrupt the actions of state and federal wildlife agencies.
Time and time again, these groups go against sound, scientifically based management principles that have proven to be effective for many decades.
Friday, March 14, 2008
With winter finally loosening its grasp on Northwest Missouri, turkey hunters are ready to take to the woods in pursuit of a big Missouri longbeard.
With the youth season just more than a month away and the regular season soon thereafter, hunters should be aware of several new regulations affecting youth hunters and those who are new to the sport.
The first regulation change allows those participating in the 2008 Youth Turkey Season to hunt from half an hour before sunrise to sunset. This is a big change from past seasons, when all hunters were required to stop shooting at 1 p.m. The new regulation will provide valuable extra time afield during the two-day season slated for the second weekend in April.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Every now and then, a piece of legislation comes along that just makes sense.
State Rep. Don Ruzicka, R-Mount Vernon, and more than 50 other representatives who have signed on as co-sponsors introduced legislation that provides liability protection to landowners who invite hunters and anglers onto their property.
In a nutshell, the bill establishes the “Landowner Liability Protection Act” (House Bill 1798), which says that a landowner who permits or invites, without charge, another person to use his or her land for hunting or fishing purposes doesn’t extend any assurance that the premises are safe.
Friday, Feb. 29, 2008
Gun enthusiasts and those interested in concealed weapons permits may want to take a look at House Bill 1651 introduced by Rep. Mike Dethrow last month. This bill is meant to ease the requirements of getting a concealed carry permit for present and past military personnel.
Ice fishing clinic proves popularFriday, Feb. 29, 2008
When life, or in this case Mother Nature supplies lemons, sometimes the best thing to do is make lemonade. While the majority of anglers look forward to the day when ice on area lakes and ponds melts away, others took advantage of the extended winter conditions and spent a great day on the ice at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) first Mozingo Lake Ice Fishing Clinic this past weekend.
Chillicothe outdoors show becomes instant ClassicFriday, Feb. 15, 2008
Like a moth drawn to a flame, outdoor folks from all over Northern Missouri rolled into Chillicothe last weekend for the first annual North Missouri Outdoor Classic.
The two-day event drew more than 2,800 sportsmen. Those lucky enough to attend were treated to one of the more comprehensive outdoor shows around.
Steve Shoot, president of the North Missouri Sportsman’s Alliance, said cooperation enabled the rural area to pull off the event. The Outdoor Classic is the culmination of the combined efforts of six individual outdoor organizations, several area business sponsors, a school district and a region full of people who wholeheartedly support outdoor recreation, he said.
Friday, Feb. 15, 2008
The big hunting or fishing trip to Canada or Mexico has been booked and the excitement is building as the outdoor adventure nears. As you prepare for the big getaway make sure your gear, and hunting and fishing licenses aren’t the only things in order. New requirements are in place which may cause problems for those unprepared to deal with border-crossing changes.
In January of 2007 things began changing when all U.S. citizens, including children, were required to present a passport or secure travel document when returning to the United States by air from all foreign destinations, including Canada and Mexico.
For most sportsmen, this wasn’t a big deal as the majority of us tend to drive to our favorite outdoor destinations. But phase 2 of the Department of Homeland Security’s Plan went into effect Jan. 31, 2008.
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008
For many wildlife organizations, hosting banquets has become an annual tradition for raising the money they need to fund their conservation-related goals.
They also are a great way for interested hunters and anglers to get a glimpse of what being a member of these groups is all about.
Attending the banquets offered around the region is a lot like buying a new truck. Sure, you could go right in, plop down a nice down payment and drive away in a flashy new rig without ever test driving it. But that would be a tad bit foolish. Instead, wouldn’t you rather kick the tires a few times, check under the hood and take it out for a spin to see how she feels?
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008
A civil complaint filed in a U.S. District Court in Minnesota against the makers of Scent Lok brand clothing and various major outdoor retailers has been dismissed.
The ruling was made after Judge Richard Kyle found the plaintiffs failed to satisfy the pleading requirements of federal rules of civil procedure.
The complaint was filed last fall by four hunters from Minnesota who claimed “the defendants misrepresented that their clothing eliminates 100 percent of human odors and is capable of being regenerated in a household dryer after the clothing has become saturated with odors.”
Friday, Feb. 1, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funded a study in 2005 that revealed an interesting fact about women and their interest in outdoor activities: Four out of five women were unaware there were programs available to teach them skills such as camping, canoeing, hiking, hunting and fishing.
The members of the Platte Purchase Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Women in the Outdoors are trying to change this. The chapter is gearing up for a big weekend designed to help local women learn about and enjoy the great outdoors.
