Missouri Conservationist February 2021

2021·5.5 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

MISSOURI
VOLUME 82, ISSUE 2, FEBRUARY 2021
SERVING NATURE & YOU
CONSERVATIONIST
RENEW YOUR
HUNTING
FISHING
and

PERMITS TODAY
Buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from vendors
around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or
through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing.
MISSOURI
CONSERVATIONIST
Contents
FEBRUARY 2021
VOLUME 82, ISSUE 2
10
ON THE COVER
A flying squirrel
inside a tree cavity
: NOPPADOL PAOTHONG
100mm macro lens, f/22
1/100 sec, ISO 500
GOVERNOR
Michael L. Parson
THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
CHAIR Don C. Bedell
VICE CHAIR Wm. L. (Barry) Orscheln
16 SECRETARY Mark L. McHenry
MEMBER Steven D. Harrison
DIRECTOR
Sara Parker Pauley
DEPUTY DIRECTORS
Mike Hubbard, Aaron Jeffries,
Jennifer Battson Warren
MAGAZINE STAFF
MAGAZINE MANAGER
Stephanie Thurber
EDITOR
Angie Daly Morfeld
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Larry Archer
STAFF WRITERS
Bonnie Chasteen, Kristie Hilgedick,
FEATURES Joe Jerek
ART DIRECTOR
10 Cliff White
22 DESIGNERS
Taking the Nightshift Shawn Carey, Marci Porter
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Southern flying squirrels patrol the
Noppadol Paothong, David Stonner
forests, keeping them healthy.
CIRCULATION MANAGER
by Angie Daly Morfeld Laura Scheuler
mdc.mo.gov/conmag
16
Shed Antlers: DEPARTMENTS
The Other Deer Season 2 Inbox
Finding shed deer antlers 3 Up Front With Sara Parker Pauley
in winter is fun.
4 Nature Lab
by Bill Graham
5 In Brief
22
28 Get Outside
Missouri Black Bears
30 Places To Go Download this
A species returns and science leads 32 Wild Guide issue to your
the way in managing its survival. phone or tablet at
by Francis Skalicky 33 Outdoor Calendar mdc.mo.gov/mocon.
Northern cardinal
Download for
Android
Inbox
Letters to the Editor MORE BIRD’S-EYE VIEW
Submissions reflect My grandson Henry is intrigued with nature and
readers’ opinions and looks forward to your magazine every month. He
may be edited for length and his brother, Milo, are receiving online instruction
and clarity. Email
this school year. Thanks to your December issue,
[email protected]
they learned about Missouri birds, cut out and
or write to us:
stapled the field guide together, and made the
MISSOURI
wreath feeder. We incorporated reading, measuring
CONSERVATIONIST
ingredients, and cooking skills for a successful and
PO BOX 180
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65102 fun lesson. Thank you for your wonderful magazine.
We Missourians are so lucky to have this publication!
Ginny Pherigo St. James
We loved Bird’s-Eye View and the cut-out bird guide CAVES
in the December Conservationist. It seems you are January’s Conservationist contained an irresponsible
Northern cardinal
succeeding in providing ways for families to use their “invitation” to explore caves (Get Outside, Page
American goldfinch Pfiunrcphle gAomldefirinccahne s COVID downtime at home and in nature. Thank you. 28). It is totally irresponsible to suggest visiting
Bird’s-Eye Sue Allmart and Sammy Williams Mexico caves during the winter hibernation period for bats.
Awakening dormant bats can be fatal to them. Also,
View PERMITS entering caves any time of year can be a problem
Blue jay
But First, Make Thanks to your staff working to assist us to obtain due to white-nose syndrome (WNS), not to mention
AT GHUE IFDOE OTOD TBHIREDYS L AONVDE This Field Guide
cwcPThfsBeaahaaenngoitds ecrm s hgtti1mo .au5tmiweyh krih)pknood.deied leundme Oys aec tf l a peew.neeasvmr scra rcatiet saeteloir oh hltt n i ht.treieweh gnehuMomtrerhoteylsu lye i iv aprcssofll ro/ es ostefsoZy u ao msmaocfor2gutewkf ueeiof8re n.ea d ir ed ii,aIgyfg sn defotb ia rtaebnhsryrsse n eaae obwm rttatcvruot,oieiktoi afr nnts d wrdyiprfti gnet f oelaa yo armrirbcnbioncf’ tesia temeutifs n c ntondserakdeoro gtaerr rvsm m yoda e.fimc, u nos.M aoeo iindrttoYtltn aid’ dhorsoob wn e rtiundeiyn yshar aoa.b gtdceoaysucia wfyrsnfhgrn da t ard tth hntsotooa ho ecctu ltpmhmihedsneoo reoerds eo or .,hy v bvsv(aYyooi.sieen osoduewsrIiuudeerttf-. ❶❷❸❹❺ CFSSScaitnhottialutoaa en nltwdpcn umoksg lieemte u tiha tdehtteh cht detrbehhhei lc ciie e drsccau d ubounfilts -tteoeet.-o-totlxreoduwdtudu t eetgts tw lrs eduis.n ontoiodeo wppstegh.aan ewegg tt hheehpeessea rr g 8me a e alyisodno naddurgl ee9 .. htyoou unorbt istnaygisn tpe temhrem. mIi tc soo.nn Iltnian c2et0,e 1Id 9h a,a wdwh otermonua Inb f loewu hnnoad vw iogaualtkt iewndge mhaed tdshauafeet ttayol m tWeocNhstnS a.i qlAlu lcseaosv,. etsh eorne pisu bnloic m laenndtsio anr eo fn aonwy cclaovsee d
10 Missouri Conservationist | December 2020
through the system, and I printed out my deer Bill O’Donnell, Interpretive Manager
BIRD’S-EYE VIEW tag. Last year, I had another problem, contacted Round Spring Cave, National Park Service, Retired
I have a bird another nice lady, who not only obtained it, but
feeder and was printed it out for me and mailed it since our printer MDC caves were closed in 2010 in response to
so glad to see was broken. I was appreciative and thankful for the white-nose syndrome (WNS), and before that time,
Bird’s-Eye View kindness, professionalism, and courtesy provided “cave open” signs were displayed with proper safety
(December, Page by your staff. requirements for entering. Winter disturbance of
10). I now know David Thater Springfield hibernating bats and potential spread of WNS is of
O
what birds are serious concern. The closure of public land caves HERIG
visiting my feeder. LONGTIME READER and necessary safety precautions should have been GINNY P
NCaasnscvyi lSletockton Id aemca d8e7s yaegaor sI ofilrds ta rneda dc aannndo te nrejomyeemd btheer hMoiwss omuarin y csotrnikseid aenre adp bperofoprreia itnec bluadlainngce t hbies tawretiecnle .e Wnceo usrtraigvein tgo H FEEDER:
Conservationist. It is better than ever, especially the responsible outdoor recreation and conservation WREAT
photos, and I look forward to receiving it. messages. We apologize for missing the mark with WITH
Harry W. Bratton Lee’s Summit this article. —the editors OYS
B
Conservation Headquarters Have a
Connect With Us!
573-751-4115 | PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 Question for a
Commissioner?
/moconservation Regional Offices
Send a note using
@moconservation Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880 our online
Central/Columbia: 573-815-7900 Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 contact form at
@MDC_online Kansas City: 816-622-0900 St. Louis: 636-441-4554 mdc.mo.gov/
Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161 commissioners.
2 Missouri Conservationist | February 2021
Up
Want to see your photos
in the Missouri Conservationist? Front
Share your photos on Flickr at
flickr.com/groups/mdcreaderphotos-2021,
email [email protected],
or include the hashtag #mdcdiscovernature
on your Instagram photos.
with Sara Parker Pauley
_ As the new year rolled in, a winter’s storm blanketed the
surrounding landscape and left a winter wonderland in its wake.
The nearby bluff was framed in white, revealing an underlying
bone structure that showcased its raw beauty, highlighted with
stalwart trees and their naked limbs lifting skyward.
Looking out the window at the bluff and the birds fren-
ziedly grabbing for seed at the feeders, I thought of how winter
1 lays us bare, forces us to slow down, shed off what is no lon-
ger necessary, and rest awhile. Writer Katherine May opines,
“Once we stop wishing it were summer, winter can be a glori-
2
ous season … a time for reflection and recuperation, for slow
1 | Rabbit in snow replenishment, for putting your house in order.”
by Bill Ekey,
You’ll read in this month’s issue how wildlife winters, from
via email
flying squirrels huddling together in tree cavities (Page 10) to
2 | LaBarque Creek bucks shedding antlers to conserve energy through Missouri’s
Conservation Area
colder months (Page 16).
by castlewoodmo,
via Instagram And there are myriad opportunities to find your own con-
nection to nature in wintertime. From a walk in the fresh snow
3 | Peregrine falcon
on a nearby conservation area or an eagle-viewing road trip to
by Donnie Dryden,
via Flickr perhaps a snow goose hunt or a trout fishing adventure at one
of the many urban fishing venues — all are designed for us to
breathe in the chilled air and get the blood pumping! So, let’s
savor this wintering season, with eyes opened to the mysteries
3
that nature reveals during this special time of year.
SARA PARKER PAULEY, DIRECTOR
[email protected]
The Missouri Conservationist (ISSN 0026-6515) is the official monthly publication of the Missouri
Department of Conservation, 2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO (Mailing address: PO
Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.) SUBSCRIPTIONS: Visit mdc.mo.gov/conmag, or call 573-522-
MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMISSIONERS 4115, ext. 3856 or 3249. Free to adult Missouri residents (one per household); out of state $7 per year;
out of country $10 per year. Notification of address change must include both old and new address
(send mailing label with the subscriber number on it) with 60-day notice. Preferred periodical postage
paid at Jefferson City, Missouri, and at additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send correspondence
to Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Phone: [phone], ext. 3856 or 3249.
Copyright © 2021 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri.
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Missouri Department of Conserva-
tion is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry,
age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. Questions should be directed to the Department of
Don Steven Mark Barry Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, 573-751-4115 (voice) or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or
to Chief, Public Civil Rights, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW,
Bedell Harrison McHenry Orscheln Washington, D.C. 20240.
Printed with soy ink
mdc.mo.gov 3
Nature
L A B
by Bonnie
Chasteen
Each month, we highlight research
MDC uses to improve fish, forest,
and wildlife management.
ELK RESTORATION
Paternity Genetics
_ Last October, less than 10 years after the first of
Elk are a polygamous species, meaning one male usually
three shipments of Kentucky elk arrived in Missouri’s
mates with many females. When MDC researchers put collars
Elk Restoration Zone, the state held its first-ever elk on these elk to collect survival and movement data, they also
hunting season — a sign that restoration efforts have took a small genetic sample to help determine paternity.
succeeded as planned.
Even so, managers still had questions about the
herd’s genetics. One was, “Who’s your daddy?” To study Missouri’s restored elk herd’s mating,
“With translocated elk, we get concerned about a birth rates, and paternity patterns, MDC partnered
bottleneck effect that can last a long time,” said MDC Study of with University of Montana researchers.
Biometrician Leah Berkman. mating, birth Their goal was to compare the Missouri herd’s
Bottleneck effect is a term geneticists use to rates, and genetic diversity with that of its parent herd in Ken-
describe what happens when a small, isolated group paternity tucky. They also estimated effective population size
loses diversity and is at risk of “the effects of bad patterns and projected future losses in genetic diversity if the
genes coming together,” Berkman said. These effects Missouri herd receives no new elk.
helps MDC
can include low reproductive fitness, increased “We genotyped nearly every elk in the herd,”
managers
genetic diseases, and a reduced ability to cope with Berkman said, and she sees encouraging evidence
keep
environmental changes. that the herd will do well in the future without
Missouri’s
“However,” Berkman said, “while translocation can costly intervention.
restored elk
be stressful for elk, it can also shake up the group’s MDC Cervid Biologist Aaron Hildreth notes that
herd strong
breeding patterns.” More males may get more oppor- this work helped his team establish “a sort of base-
tunity to breed, and more genetic mixing helps the line that will help us track changes through time
herd avoid the bottleneck effect, she said. with future genetic work.”
Elk Genetics
Number of Calves Sired by Each Bull
at a Glance Results
Data suggest the elk
translocation strategy
Purpose may have given
more bulls more
Determine retention of
chances to breed
genetic diversity in Missouri’s
restored elk herd
Partners
Methods Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation, U.S.
• Tracking with radio collars,
Fish and Wildlife
ear tags, and microchips
Service Restoration
• DNA sampling
Grant, University of
• Genotyping and genetic analyses Missouri, University NNER
O
• Identifying the most likely fathers of Montana DAVID ST
4 Missouri Conservationist | February 2021
In Brief
News and updates from MDC
MISSOURI’S Joe Benthall of
Mount Vernon
INAUGURAL ELK harvested the first
elk in December’s
SEASON COMES inaugural elk
firearms season.
TO A CLOSE
MDC REPORTS SUCCESSFUL
SEASON WITH FIVE
ELK HARVESTED
 Missouri’s first elk-hunting
season ended Dec. 20,
2020, with all five of the
hunters selected for permits
harvesting bull elk during the
firearms portion, which began
Dec. 12. An archery portion ran
Oct. 17–25 with no harvests.
The five Missouri hunters
were selected for elk-hunting
permits through a random
drawing of more than 19,215
permit applications, including
33 for one resident-landowner
antlered-elk permit and 19,182
for four general permits.
MDC congratulates the five
Missouri hunters on their success! commission during MDC’s elk restoration efforts. “To the lucky individuals
“What an exciting gift right that scored the hunt, I congratulate you … To my fellow commissioners,
before the holidays to see all five past and present, to all the staff involved, to the citizens who love the sport
hunters harvest elk in this first and the conservation of this beautiful state, congratulations!”
inaugural elk season in Missouri,” Joe Benthall, Mount Vernon, drawn for an antlered-elk general permit,
said MDC Director Sara Parker harvested a 5×5 bull elk Dec. 12 on National Park Service property near Log
Pauley. “This success also Yard in Shannon County. He was the first of five Missouri hunters selected
showcases the hard work and for elk permits to harvest an elk. Benthall has been deer hunting off and
collaboration of our commission, on for 25 years and had not hunted elk before. He says he applied for the
staff, partners, landowners, Missouri opportunity because he has wanted to hunt elk, but has not had
and citizens. One of the hunters the time or money for a trip out west. He added that he only hunted during
called me personally just a few the firearms portion.
minutes after he harvested an elk Michael Buschjost, St. Thomas, drawn for an antlered-elk general permit,
full of excitement and thanks, but took a 6×6 bull elk Dec. 15 outside of the refuge portion of the MDC Peck
the real thanks goes to the bigger Ranch Conservation Area (CA). He has hunted elk in Montana, Colorado,
team for making this happen.” and Wyoming, with two bulls and a cow elk harvested from those efforts.
“The rewards of the (elk He said he was excited to hunt elk in Missouri and to take his three kids with
restoration) efforts made over the him to scout the area before the season opened.
past 10 years have made many Sam Schultz, Winfield, drawn for an antlered-elk general permit,
avid hunters very happy and it is harvested a 5×6 bull elk Dec. 15 on private property in Shannon County.
NNER my hope, pleased,” said former Schultz has been hunting for 30 years and he mostly hunts deer and
DAVID STO CBeocnksye rPvlaattitonne rC, wohmom wisassi oonne trh e turkey. He successfully hunted elk in Colorado in the earlcyo n2t0in0u0eds .o n Page 6 »
mdc.mo.gov 5
In Brief
INAUGURAL ELK SEASON
Ask MDC
(continued from Page 5)
“My elk was originally a 6×7 bull, but he
had two broken antler tines, which left him to Got a Question for Ask MDC?
be a 5×6,” said Schultz. “It was a tough hunt,
Send it to [email protected]
but I had a blast doing it. Best of all was one or call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.
of my boys was with me when I harvested this
awesome animal. Thank you, MDC, for bringing
them back to Missouri.”
Gene Guilkey, Liberty, drawn for an antlered- Q: My community is planning
elk general permit, harvested a 6×7 bull elk on to install a purple martin
public land in Shannon County Dec. 16. house near a large pond.
“I have never hunted elk before and this hunt Several flower gardens for
was the dream trip of a lifetime,” Guilkey said. butterflies and bees are
“I literally dreamed of taking a 6×6 bull, but nearby. With nesting martins
didn’t think it was possible nor would I be up overhead, won’t this be
to it, but the good Lord above had better plans the end of insects seeking
than I did!” nectar, shelter, and food?
He added, “When I harvested this bull, I It seems incompatible.
was stressed, relieved, and overjoyed all at the  A purple martin house Purple martin and house
same time. I screamed loud enough that quite may have some effect on the
possibly all three counties involved could hear pollinators gathering at these Conservationists, however, hope
me! What a thrill! Taking this trophy was the gardens. A colony of martins may to achieve several goals through
hardest hunt I have encountered. It took a lot of catch and eat several hundred the planting of pollinator-friendly
scouting before and during the archery season beetles, horseflies, grasshoppers, gardens. For instance, more than
to get the terrain laid out. During the hunt, we dragonflies, and wasps daily. 150 crops in the United States
were delighted to find this bull on day three and These acrobatic swallows hunt depend on pollinators, and foods
focused on the area he was spotted in. He was winged insects, helping to check such as apples, strawberries,
actually bugling, which was an experience we the population of less-than- tomatoes, and almonds wouldn’t
did not expect so late after the rut. These are desirable insects. exist without them. Also, a plentiful
amazing animals!”
Bill Clark, Van Buren, drawn for the resident-
landowner antlered-elk permit, harvested a bull
elk on his property Dec. 19. Clark is a life-long
hunter of deer, turkey, and small game. He has
also pursued elk in Colorado and Wyoming in Clark added, “I’m really happy to represent
the 1990s. He and his family own 80 acres east what I believe to be one of the most important
NG
of Peck Ranch CA where they conduct timber- hunts of my life. This program is an example HO
OT
stand improvements on the heavily forested of one of the best things to happen for the OL PA
property and plant clover and native grasses people of Missouri in years, and I’m nearly OPPAD
for elk and other wildlife. Clark says he applied 80 years old.” OX: N
for the elk hunt because he supports MDC’s elk Elk are a native species in Missouri, but GRAY F
restoration and management efforts, wildlife were hunted to extinction in the state through NNER;
mthea nhaegrdem bye ntht iinnn ginegn ae rbaul,l la.nd wanted to help uMnirsesgouulrai’tse dfi rhsut netlikn hgu dnutr tinhgis tfhaell lcaatem 1e8 a0f0tesr. DAVID STO
“ldtwihIme’imrtcohi“kt u Ien tasgdheneh aeidenr m tl seyhm.al e8kwHy 0 ot mear na e sog neotbrdosuoi plruuii nptlpsay ee .nto d hIadf ,w e c caa oaaylnswlna d tser he td taaelh knn wat daditimb ti anwhoe g cau,a”r sot u Csn1ttphlc0 amhie0rk kyes sy o hsbab aoaIrui’dctmd lksIl. Bprilol pCelarrtky ihna Vrvaens Bteudr ean b. uMllD eClk d oenv ehlios ped ycRplinaieooen aMcrsdrtk ebsoiys ryw osMs o Mnfi ounerDuerrcisnsCl u.att, od atLn reiisnuanah tmgEroino lrekl not mrF. ocmeoaoufuldrsf neoc cp od.ramatmabsrto toimono.ugfenu tort, n sehvai l/enitknZi de ncYr slmeJau .satdaitnvoinnderyga asst uptirohepenea-- DOROTHY CLARK; PURPLE MARTIN:
had and the shot I took. We then broke down the tfoher ldorcaawl l asynsdtoewmn teor es ntos upraer otipcippoartteu inni ties Learn more about elk hunting in Missouri HARVEST:
carcass and are processing it ourselves.” the elk hunt. online at short.mdc.mo.gov/Znd. ELK
6 Missouri Conservationist | February 2021
supply of pollinator insects not
only helps plants and trees
maintain their genetic diversity,
but it also helps them reproduce
an adequate amount of seeds
for dispersal and propagation. Chris Doran
We need plants to be pollinated.
PERRY COUNTY
But we also seek to provide food
CONSERVATION AGENT
Gray fox
for many types of wildlife —
offers this month’s
including birds. Pollination is just
AGENT
one service bees and butterflies occurs, which might also cause this
provide. Another niche they fill change. Breeding typically peaks
is serving as nourishing food for in January through March, with kits
ADVICE
adult birds and their young. being born March to mid-May.
Also, purple martins don’t eat all Throughout most of the year,
pollinators. Monarch butterflies, for foxes have no special home but
example, are toxic and birds leave sleep on the ground. However,
Feb. 7 marks the beginning of
them alone. during breeding season, dens are
the Light Goose Conservation
used for young. This is often a
Q: There were four foxes modified groundhog or former fox Order in Missouri. This order,
in a friend’s backyard last den, but it can be a den dug by the which runs through April
winter, but they disappeared female fox.
30, is designed so hunters
at the first snowfall. What Gray foxes — essentially an animal
can reduce snow, blue,
happened to them? of warmer climates — uses dens
 The foxes may have retreated more than red foxes. and Ross’s goose numbers.
to their den to escape inclement For more information on Hunters must possess a
weather. But winter is also the time Missouri’s foxes, visit short.mdc.
Conservation Order Permit
of year when mating and breeding mo.gov/Zfp.
to participate. This permit is
required for all hunters over
age 15, including landowners,
unless they have a Resident
Lifetime Small Game Hunting
Permit or a Resident Lifetime
Conservation Partner Permit.
Methods for harvesting
What
light geese include shotguns
IS it? capable of holding more than
three shells and electronic
Can you calls or electronically
guess this
activated calls. A daily bag or
month’s
possession limit for light geese
natural
wonder? will not be in effect during
the Conservation Order.
The answer is on
Page 9.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
SHORT.MDC.MO.GOV/ZB9.
mdc.mo.gov 7
In Brief
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
SETS DEER, TURKEY
HUNTING DATES
SMOKED TROUT CHOWDER
2021 Spring and Fall Turkey
The star of this chowder — Missouri’s trout — will take you
Hunting Dates
from the coldest of winter days to the warmth of spring. That’s
_ Spring Youth Portion: April 10 and 11
because Missouri is a great place to fish, and MDC provides
_ Regular Spring Turkey
anglers with ample opportunities year around. If you took
Season: April 19–May 9
advantage of the winter trout season and visited a stocked
_ Fall Firearms Turkey Season: Oct. 1–31
urban lake where you could keep your bounty, you are ready
to try this hot, hearty meal right now. If not, trout season opens
2021–2022 Archery Deer and Turkey
March 1 and this recipe will be just as tasty in the spring.
Hunting Dates
_ Sept. 15–Nov. 12
Serves 4 SAUTÉ vegetables except spinach in oil about 10 _ Nov. 24–Jan. 15, 2022
minutes, stirring often. Add chicken broth and
INGREDIENTS: simmer, covered, until vegetables are very tender, 2021–2022 Firearms Deer Hunting Dates
2 tablespoons extra-virgin about 45 minutes. _ Firearms Deer Early Youth
olive oil MASH vegetables, with a manual potato masher, Portion: Oct. 30–31
1 medium onion, finely diced in pot until chowder thickens to your satisfaction _ Firearms Deer November
3 carrots, finely diced (Alternatively, pour half of soup into a blender and Portion: Nov. 13–23
2 medium potatoes, process on low speed, taking care to press firmly on _ Firearms Deer Late Youth
finely diced
the lid with your hand during processing to prevent Portion: Nov. 26–28
2 stalks celery, finely diced
hot liquid from flying out of the top. Blend until _ Firearms Deer Antlerless
1 quart chicken broth
thickened, then return contents to the pot and stir
Portion: Dec. 4–12
¼ cup cream or milk
until well combined.)
_ Firearms Deer Alternative Methods
¼ pound smoked trout,
broken into bite-sized ADD cream, trout, and spinach. Cook briefly until Portion: Dec. 25–Jan. 4, 2022
pieces fish is heated through, but spinach still bright green.
Handful of fresh spinach, MDC recommended increasing the length
SEASON with dill, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste.
finely chopped of the antlerless portion from three days to nine
A few fresh dill sprigs, finely SERVE immediately with good bread. days based on Missouri deer numbers, as well
chopped (can be replaced as stable or increasing numbers in most coun-
with a pinch of dried)
ties that allow two firearms antlerless permits
Smoked Spanish paprika,
and two landowner firearms antlerless permits.
a few pinches or to taste
MDC harvest data shows that increasing the
Salt and freshly
firearms antlerless harvest limit past two does
ground pepper
not result in a significant increase in harvest.
Details on hunting regulations, harvest
limits, allowed methods, required permits,
and other related information will be available
in MDC’s 2021 Spring Turkey Hunting Regula-
tions and Information and MDC’s 2021 Fall Deer
& Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information
booklets. Both will be available where permits
are sold prior to the related seasons.
Learn more about turkey hunting in Mis-
souri at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZZy.
Learn more about deer hunting in Missouri
at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zki.
This recipe is Buy Missouri hunting permits from vendors
from Cooking around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buyper-
Wild in Missouri by mits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO
Bernadette Dryden,
Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download
available for $16 at
through Google Play for Android devices or the
mdcnatureshop.com.
App Store for Apple devices.
8 Missouri Conservationist | February 2021