U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reopens comment period on proposed critical habitat designation for endangered Tumbling Creek Cavensail; invites comment on draft economic analysis

Image via WikipediaThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the public comment period on its June 2010 proposal to designate 25 acres as critical habitat in Taney County, Missouri, for the endangered Tumbling Creek cavesnail. The Service also made available a draft economic analysis that examines the potential economic impact of designating critical habitat for the species. Comments on the proposed designation and the draft economic analysis will be accepted through February 11, 2011.

Hunter admits shooting mountain lion in Ray County

Conservation officials say no charges will be filed.

RICHMOND, Mo.–A Ray County man has admitted that he, not a cattleman, shot a mountain lion on Jan. 2. Conservation officials say the admission brings their investigation to a close, and there will be no charges, because the shooter feared for his life.

James “Jimmy” McElwee, 29, of Camden, admitted he shot the 115-pound mountain lion while hunting raccoons in rural Ray County. His confession followed the admission by Bob Littleton, 60, of Richmond, that his initial claim of shooting the mountain lion was false.

“Mr. Littleton only said he shot the mountain lion to protect Mr. McElwee,” said Larry Yamnitz, Protection Division chief with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). “Based on the outcome of our agent’s investigation, no charges will be filed in this case.”

According to Yamnitz, McElwee admitted to the shooting, saying he feared for his life.

“He followed his dogs up a draw and shined a light up into a tree and saw eyes that were too far apart for a raccoon,” said Yamnitz. “When he realized it was a mountain lion, he was afraid to run, thinking it might attack him.”

After killing the cat, McElwee and his hunting partner and father-in-law, Larry Danner, 52, of Richmond, contacted Littleton, who took responsibility for shooting the mountain lion.

Yamnitz said everyone would have been better off if all parties involved had told the truth from the beginning.

“The true circumstances of the incident were more clearly within the provisions of the Wildlife Code than the story they made up,” said Yamnitz. “Based on the evidence and statements by all the parties involved, you can make the case of self-defense. There will be no charges.”

The Ray County mountain lion showed no signs of having been held in captivity and was in good health. MDC is conducting DNA tests to learn more about its origins and determine if it is the same animal photographed by a landowner in southern Platte County Nov. 26

The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is a protected species under the Wildlife Code. The Code allows the killing of any mountain lion attacking or killing livestock or domestic animals, or threatening human safety. Anyone who kills a mountain lion is required by law to report the incident to the MDC immediately. The intact carcass, including the pelt, must be surrendered to MDC within 24 hours. 

To report a sighting, physical evidence or other incident, contact a local MDC office or conservation agent, or email MDC’s Mountain Lion Response Team at mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov.

For more information on mountain lions in Missouri, visitwww.MissouriConservation.org and search “mountain lion.”

Firearms deer harvest tops 230,000

Image via Wikipedia

Youths posted a strong performance during their two-part deer season,

checking the second-largest number of deer in the youth hunt’s 10-year history.

JEFFERSON CITY– Hunters age 6 through 15 checked 1,292 deer during the late youth hunt Jan. 1 and 2, bringing the total harvest for the 2010-2011 firearms deer season to 231,513.

The combined early and late youth season harvests total 14,555, or 6.2 percent of the firearms deer harvest. Top counties during the late youth hunt were Osage with 27 deer checked, Macon with 26 and Adair with 24.

This year’s firearms deer harvest was down 6.5 percent from the 2009-2010 figure. Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) deer specialist, attributed the decline to an abundant acorn crop in southern Missouri and reduced deer numbers in parts of northern Missouri.

“We have reached a second tipping point in Missouri’s deer-management history,” said Hansen. “The first tipping point came at the culmination of a 60-year deer restoration effort. In the 1990s we finally reached the point where we had enough deer in many areas and began to see evidence of actually having too many deer in other areas.”

Hansen said that evidence took the form of increasing damage to agricultural crops and a rising incidence of deer-vehicle accidents. In response to these trends, MDC changed hunting regulations to increase the harvest of deer, especially does. Between 1995 and 2002, Missouri’s doe harvest increased from 70,000 to more than 100,000 a year.

“We moved slowly and cautiously at first,” said Hansen, “looking for the right combination of tools to encourage hunters to take more does. We used antlerless-only permits, an antlerless-only deer season and antler-point restrictions, to boost the doe harvest. We finally reached our goal around 2006, when our firearms deer harvest peaked at 280,000. That was the second tipping point.”

Hansen said that while parts of Missouri still have fewer deer than MDC would like, and others – mostly around urban areas – still have too many, deer populations in much of the state are close to the right size.

“The right number is hard to define,” said Hansen. “It is different for hunters who are mainly interested in deer with big antlers and those who are most interested in putting venison in the freezer. Many farmers would want smaller numbers than most hunters. Deer management today is a balancing act.”

Hansen noted that 93 percent of Missouri’s land is in private ownership. As a result, private landowners hold the key to balancing deer numbers.

“Landowners have a tremendous effect on deer management, whether they know it or not. Across most of the state, the amount of access that landowners give hunters to their land determines whether deer numbers increase, decrease or remain steady. One of our biggest challenges in the future will be helping landowners understand their role in deer management and finding ways to help them achieve their goals – whether that means more deer, fewer deer or bigger deer.”

Hansen said solutions to future deer-management challenges likely will include regulation changes, such as reducing the number of antlerless deer permits available in some areas. However, solutions also might include helping neighboring landowners who have common goals develop cooperative management strategies.

“You can’t effectively manage the deer population in an area on 40 or even 400 acres,” said Hansen, “but it is amazing what you can do if enough landowners agree on a particular strategy.”

Related articles

• 68,037 Illinois Deer harvested during opening weekend (chicagonow.com)
• Hunters bag more deer on first day of gun season (dispatch.com)
• Deer-gun season opens bigger than last year (dispatch.com)
• Hunters took fewer deer this year (dispatch.com)

Missouri Walleye Fishing

Image via WikipediaOn often overlooked fishing pursuit in Missouri is the walleye species.  We have enjoyed our walleye trips, but have had a hard time finding good information on the various places to go.  Family-Outdoors has put together a pretty nice piece on Missouri walleye fishing.  They have covered seven lakes and three rivers and streams.  There are certainly a few other walleye fishing destinations in the Show-Me-State, but this certainly will give the fisherman a good idea of some good walleye fishing spots.

They also cover tips and specifics of where on the bodies of water to go.  You will even find a nice (if short) video on walleye fishing at Bull Shoals, which was produced by Cabelas.

MoNASP regional and state tournaments coming January and February

JEFFERSON CITY Mo -- The Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) will hold tournaments for its St. Louis, Southwest, Central and Kansas City regions during late January through mid February followed by the 2011 state tournament Feb 25-26.

MoNASP is coordinated through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) in partnership with schools and supporting organizations throughout the state. MoNASP is an affiliate of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and promotes education, self-esteem and physical activity for students in grades 4-12 through participation in the sport of archery.

More than 25,000 Missouri students from 148 schools participate in MoNASP. Since NASP's beginnings in 2002, more than seven million students have participated in the program through 7,350 schools in 47 states and five countries.

 

MoNASP 2011 REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS

 

St. Louis Regional Tournament -- Jan. 29

Seckman High School, 2800 Seckman Road in Imperial

Southwest Regional Tournament – Feb. 5
Willard Middle School, 205 Miller Road in Willard

Central Regional Tournament – Feb. 5,
Perry Christian Academy, 1235 E. Main St. in Perry

Kansas City Regional Tournament – Feb. 12, 2011
Warsaw High School, 20363 Lane of Champions in Warsaw

 

MoNASP STATE TOURNAMENT – Feb. 25-26

 

Linn State Technical College, One Technology Drive in Linn

MoNASP REGIONS

St. Louis Region Counties: Lincoln, Warren, St. Charles, St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Crawford, Washington, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Iron, Reynolds, Madison, Perry, Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Wayne, Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Dunklin and Butler

Southwest Region Counties: Barton, Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Barry, Lawrence, Dade, Cedar, Hickory, Polk, Greene, Christian, Stone, Taney, Webster, Dallas, Laclede, Pulaski, Phelps, Dent, Texas, Wright, Douglas, Ozark, Howell, Shannon, Oregon, Carter and Ripley

Central Region Counties: Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Clark, Lewis, Knox, Adair, Sullivan, Macon, Shelby, Marion, Pike, Ralls, Monroe, Randolph, Saline, Howard, Boone, Audrain, Montgomery, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau, Cooper, Morgan, Miller, Camden, Maries, Osage and Gasconade

Kansas City Region Counties: Vernon, St. Clair, Benton, Henry, Bates, Johnson, Pettis, Cass, Jackson, Lafayette, Clay, Platte, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, Linn, Livingston, Caldwell, Clinton, Buchanan, Andrew, DeKalb, Daviess, Grundy, Mercer, Harrison, Gentry, Worth, Nodaway, Atchison and Holt

MEDIA CONTACT

Amy Francka, MDC Education Outreach Coordinator and MoNASP Coordinator

573-522-4115, x3295 or amy.francka@mdc.mo.gov

MORE INFO

For more information on this program, including participating schools and communities, visit www.MissouriConservation.org and search “MoNASP.”

Managed turkey hunt application deadline is Feb. 28

You can apply online for most of the

hunts listed in the spring turkey hunting guide.

JEFFERSON CITY–Turkey hunters have until Feb. 28 to apply for managed hunts during Missouri’s 2011 spring turkey season.

Missouri hosts special spring turkey hunts at August A. Busch, Bois D’Arc, Caney Mountain and Weldon Spring conservation areas (CAs) and at Current River State Park and Smithville Lake. These hunting opportunities are allocated by random drawing.

All 19 managed turkey hunts are listed in the “2011 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information" booklet, which is available at www.mdc.mo.gov/793 . The booklet has application instructions and details of 2011 turkey-hunting regulations. The print version will be available from hunting permit vendors statewide in mid-February.

In addition to 12 events open to all firearms turkey hunters, this year’s offerings include managed hunts for archers, youths age 11 through 15 and for people with disabilities. All take place during the youth turkey season April 9 and 10 or the regular turkey season April 18 through May 8.

Hunters may apply individually or in groups of up to three for most hunts. Youth hunts accept applications only for single hunters or pairs. An individual applying as a member of a party has the same chance of being drawn as someone who applies alone. Successful applicants will receive notice of their hunt dates and other information by mail. Drawing results will be posted March 21 at www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/turkey <http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/turkey.

Applications can be made by phone for hunts at Smithville Lake (816-858-5718) and Bois D’Arc CA (417-742-4361). Applications for other hunts are online at http://mdc4/applications/managedhunts/showhunts.aspx.

The number of hunters allowed to take part in each managed hunt ranges from 10 to 40. Participants in some hunts must complete a pre-hunt orientation. Consequently, hunters are urged not to apply for these hunts if they cannot attend the orientation.

The bag limit for managed hunts is one male turkey or turkey with visible beard. Turkeys taken during a managed hunt count toward the season limit of two. Hunters who shoot a turkey during a managed hunt before April 25 may not take another during the first week of the regular turkey season.

All-terrain vehicles are prohibited on areas with managed turkey hunts.
The “2011 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet lists conservation areas where turkey hunting is allowed, and information about area regulations.

Missouri has some of the best turkey hunting in the nation, thanks to the combined efforts of MDC, citizen conservationists and landowners in a 25-year restoration program. Today Missouri’s fall turkey population is between 500,000 and 600,000 birds. To learn more about wild turkeys in Missouri, visit http://bit.ly/g8Uclc.

-Jim Low-

Ray County cattleman kills mountain lion

The 115-pound cat was a young male, which is consistent with

the theory that Missouri mountain lions come from other states.

COLUMBIA–Conservation officials say a mountain lion killed by a cattleman in Ray County was a young male that showed no sign of having been held in captivity.

Conservation Agent Tammy Pierson said Bob Littleton went to one of his pastures Sunday night after coon hounds treed a mountain lion where his cattle were grazing. He killed the mountain lion with a shot to the head from a .22-cal. rifle.

Littleton reported the incident as required by law. Pierson collected the mountain lion this morning and sent it to the Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Science Center in Columbia, where resource scientists examined it this afternoon.

Conservation Department furbearer biologist Jeff Beringer said the mountain lion weighed 115.2 pounds and measured a little over 6.5 feet from nose to tip of tail.  The sharp edges of the cat’s teeth and faint barring on the insides of its legs indicate it was a young male, probably three years or younger. Beringer said laboratory tests will provide more detailed information about the cat’s age and genetic makeup.

“We removed a small premolar tooth that will be sectioned so we can count the annual growth rings,” said Beringer. “That will tell us exactly how old it was. DNA testing will tell us whether it was related to native mountain lions in states to the west of Missouri, or if it is more closely related to mountain lions from somewhere else – possibly captive animals.”

Northwest Nebraska is the area nearest Missouri with an established mountain lion population.

Genetic testing also will determine whether the mountain lion killed in Ray County is the same one photographed by a landowner in Platte County in November.

Beringer said nothing in his examination of the Ray County mountain lion led him to believe it had been held in captivity. It had no tattoos or electronic identification tags – customary ways of marking captive cats. Its skin and paws showed no sign of having lived in a concrete-floored enclosure, and it still had its dewclaws, which often are surgically removed in captive animals to prevent injury.

The Ray County cat is Missouri’s 12^th confirmed mountain lion sighting since 1994. Most of the mountain lions whose bodies have been recovered have been young males. Young males are the most mobile mountain lions, because they typically leave their birth areas to establish territories not already occupied by adult males. This is consistent with biologists’ theory that the cats are coming into Missouri from other states. Beringer said there is no evidence of reproduction for mountain lions in Missouri to date. This indicates that Missouri does not have  a self-sustaining mountain lion population.

Because of evidence that Missouri no longer had an established population of mountain lions (Felis concolor), the Missouri Conservation Commission reclassified the species from “endangered” to “extirpated” in 2006. This means the species no longer exists as a self-sustaining population.

Also in 2006, the Conservation Commission adopted a policy that re-establishment of a sustainable mountain lion population in Missouri is not desirable, due to the potential for conflict with human activities.

Missouri’s Wildlife Code does protect mountain lions, but the Wildlife Code also allows the killing of any mountain lion that attacks or kills livestock or domestic animals or threatens human safety. People who kill mountain lions mustreport the incident to MDC immediately and turn over the intact carcass, including the pelt, within 24 hours.”

More information about reporting mountain lion sightings and how to deal with mountain lions is available at http://bit.ly/ciJDvb.

-Jim Low-

Related articles

• Some mountain lions descending to the Plains (reuters.com)