Family fishing derby brings back big smile memories

Then five-year-old Alex Winkelman uses all his strength to hold a stringer of bass he caught in 1999. More than 25 years later, Alex’s cousin, Holden, has a similar smile for his first big fish.

After more than 35 years of writing about hunting, fishing and the outdoors, a few topics are bound to repeat themselves. Maybe the best possible scenario for that fact played itself out earlier this month at a fishing outing with my grand nephews, young cousins, and a few of their friends.

While I worked to get as many of the kids set up with worms and bobbers for some bluegill catching action, I offered a pre-rigged pole with a rubber worm to one of the little boys. I hoped it would distract him for a few minutes and allow him some practice casting.

The Texas-rigged soft plastic bait does not have an exposed hook, so I felt fairly safe for everyone around that the six-year-old novice would not hurt himself or anyone else while I worked on other more traditional set-ups.

“I got one! I got one!” Benson squealed, while I tried to thread a wriggling red wiggler onto a thin gold hook. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed that the bending pole and moving line was unmistakably hooked to a fish, I scrambled down the bank and helped my young cousin get the largemouth bass onto the shore for a few quick photos before we released it.

I convinced Ben to let his twin brother try the rubber worm, and in a matter of minutes, Holden was holding his first big fish up for a picture. As it turns out, this little pond was filled with hungry bass that seemingly grabbed whatever was being offered.

We did catch and release several bluegill, but the highlights of the day were the bass that the kids caught. Before too long, the young fishermen using rubber worms or squirming plastic lizards outnumbered those with traditional bait and bobber options.

Nine-year-old Charlotte was the oldest among the anglers that day, and she showed a true knack for retrieving the “magic salamander” as slowly as possible. She was more skilled at casting than her younger fishing companions, and she wore me out taking fish off her hook.

We didn’t keep score or count the catches that day, but Charlotte’s 20-inch bass was the clear winner. In true fisherman fashion, any time someone hooked but didn’t land a fish that could be measured, they all claimed those close encounters to have been with a lunker that was certainly more than 20 inches long. Some fishing lessons just come naturally.

A News-Democrat Journal column from September 1999.

The outing reminded me of another fishing trip I wrote about more than 25 years ago. Our son Alex was 5 years old when we went to my Aunt Mary’s pond, and he caught six nice largemouth bass in fast fashion using a similar safe but effective rubber worm set-up.

The newspaper clipping from September 1999 is yellowed with time, but that little boy’s smile still shines as he strains to lift his stringer of fish from the bucket for a photograph. It’s also easy to recognize that Alex and Holden are related when you see the pictures side-by-side.

Giving young people the opportunity to learn to fish is one of the great joys of the outdoor world. Having a location that may be overstocked with largemouth bass is a nice advantage.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 35 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

State invites comments on proposed camping fees at conservation areas

State Department of Conservation employees remove the remnants of an abandoned campsite at Brunswick Access in Chariton County. Missouri Department of Conservation photo

For decades the state Department of Conservation has offered free primitive camping at more than 300 properties, but that situation is likely going to change beginning next year. That sweet situation will come to an end for one simple reason: people.

The implementation of fees is not about making money for the agency; the proposed fee structure charges five dollars for five days for up to 10 people. The new camping permit is designed to get a handle on who is staying and for how long.

In simplest terms, too many people are using the campsites as long-term residences. Currently there is no system to identify those “campers” in cases of suspected criminal activity or safety concerns. Any damage they do before moving on leaves no one to hold accountable.

“Campers” abandoned this site and left trash at the conservation area where they had set up residency. Missouri Department of Conservation photo

According to data from the department, camping violations and warnings have increased exponentially in the past decade. In 2015 the department issued 11 violations and two warnings. By 2024, the numbers rose to 30 citations and 153 warnings. Those numbers only include violators who could be identified. “Campers” who abandon their sites leaving colossal messes are also common.

Current regulations for state conservation areas allow visitors to stay up to 14 consecutive days, and campers are limited to 30 days in a calendar year. Groups of 10 or more are required to apply for a special use permit.

The free campsites come with very few, if any, amenities. Some conservation areas may include pit toilets, dumpsters, or picnic tables, but those facilities are for all area users, not just campers. Most of the designated or walk-in campsites provide none of those conveniences and require campers to manage their human waste, trash and campfires appropriately.

If approved by the Conservation Commission, the proposed permit system would go into effect March 1, 2027. The $5 permits are good for up to five days and can be extended for up to three consecutive camping trips for $5 each. Individuals are limited to six camping permits per year. Under the new rules, personal property at the campsites may not be left attended for more than 24 hours at a time. 

The proposed permits provide tracking for those who are using the campsites and how long they plan to stay. Because the sites are first-come, first-served, long-term residents preclude new people from enjoying the camping experience. Being able to hold users accountable is expected to reduce messes and limit illegal activity.

According to a conservation department press release, the new permit is much less expensive than fees charged on other public facilities. Individual back-country camping permits at Missouri State Parks are $10 per night, and basic, walk-in camping is $13 to $16 per person. Campsites with amenities such as electricity, sewer and water are up to $36 daily. Camping in Mark Twain National Forest costs $10 to $25 per night per individual.

The new camping permits would be purchased online, from permit vendors, or by telephone. The registration system will allow conservation agents and other staff to know how many people are camping on state properties. The data could also help expand camping opportunities in the future.

A public comment period is open through Aug. 14 for input from state residents and others at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/public-commenting-opportunities. The commission is scheduled to review public comments and take action on the proposed regulation changes at its Sept. 11 meeting.

The comment period opened on July 16. I completed the online form, which only asked for my name, email address and zip code as mandatory fields, along with my vote of support or opposition, and comments. The survey was available under the category of proposed regulations.

None of the conservation areas in Jefferson County allow camping. The same is true in St. Francois County. Regionally, camping is allowed at Rockwoods Reservation in St. Louis County, Magnolia Hollow in Ste. Genevieve County, Indian Creek in Franklin County, and Pea Ridge, Bootleg Access, and Buford Mountain in Washington County.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 35 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

Annual open archery tournament supports state conservation efforts

Archers of all ages can compete in the annual Open Outdoor 3D Archery Tournament on Aug. 1 near Mark Twain Lake. This photo from the 2025 event was provided by the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.

For those who are not counting down the days until archery deer hunting season opens in Missouri, the number is now under two months. July and August are long months, and the weather makes you yearn for fall, but now is the time to begin preparations.

The most important elements are practice, practice and practice. Confirming the capabilities of the archer and his or her equipment is essential. Scouting, collecting camouflage and researching gear upgrades has time to spare, but putting arrows where you aim them takes as much advance work as you can muster.

The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation hosts a special event each year for archers of all ages to put their best shots downrange while raising money to support natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation activities. Jefferson County’s bowhunters and National Archery in Schools Program target shooters, along with their whole families, could enjoy the event.

The Open Outdoor 3D Archery Tournament challenges shooters in five male and female divisions, and four equipment categories. Participants can shoot anytime throughout the day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. along two, 20-target trails on Saturday, Aug. 1, at Mark Twain Lake Archery Range Park, in Frank Russell Recreation Area near Monroe City, Missouri.

Shooters ages 10 or younger may enter the competition for $15 each. Archers aged 11-16 compete for $20. Two adult divisions, for shooters age 17 and older or 50 years and older, pay $45 per person, and the entry fee for the championship division, open to all ages, is $65. Pre-registration is required at mochf.org by Monday, July 27.

Archers in all divisions except the championship group may enter the competition in divisions that include NASP regulation equipment, Bowhunter, Open Compound, and Traditional/Barebow. The NASP category requires that the bow set up meets school competition rules with no sight pins or a bow stabilizer. Archers in the Bowhunter division may have a compound bow with up to five fixed-distance pins and a stabilizer of 12-inches or less. The Open Compound group may use any compound bow, with no pin limitations, any-size stabilizer, and a movable scope is allowed. The Traditional category is open to recurve or longbows with no pins or stabilizers.    

Archers will compete in groups of three to five shooters. Individuals will be added to smaller groups. There are no reserved starting times or assigned pairings, and spectators are allowed to walk the trails to watch the competition for no charge. Water stations will be available throughout both trails.

Each archer will shoot one arrow per target and submit their own scorecard. In the 10 and under division archers will only post a score for one of the 20-target trails. If the young shooters choose to complete both trails, their scores for the best of the two loops will be entered for judging.

The competition will continue regardless of weather conditions. The only possible exceptions are flooding that closes access to the park, or lightning which could delay the activity until the potential of danger from a storm has moved out of the area.

All pre-registered archers will receive an event T-shirt and water bottle, plus all will be entered for attendance prizes. Top-finisher medals will be given for first through third place for each male and female division. They will be presented at the awards ceremony following the competition. The Championship division offers cash prizes based on the number of competitors.

All the information about the annual fund-raiser tournament can be found on the foundation website mochf.org. Details are also available by calling 800-227-1488.

Jefferson County archers continue to make impressive showings in state and national competitions, and the county has maintained its reputation as the top archery deer harvest area in the state for more than a decade. Now our best shooters have a chance to show off their skills while raising money for conservation efforts in our state.

The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization founded in 1997. It is governed by a board of volunteers. Archery deer hunting season in Missouri opens on Sept. 15.  

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 35 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

Managed deer hunt application period now open

A managed deer hunt at Robertsville State Park in Franklin County is scheduled for Nov. 7-8 this fall.

Jefferson County residents hoping to participate in the state’s managed deer hunting program this fall have many things to think about before applying for their best opportunity. The most important consideration is timing. The online application process is only available this month.

Every year the state Department of Conservation program offers hunts on public lands that are otherwise restricted from deer hunting. There are 101 scheduled hunts that will accommodate more than 5,300 hunters, and that number does not include managed hunts specifically for beginners, youth-only, and hunters with disabilities.

One of the 101 hunts is for women-only and at a place called Monkey Mountain County Park. While it may sound like fun to be able to tell people you’re going hunting at Monkey Mountain, the park is in Jackson County, near Kansas City, so it’s not very handy for Jefferson County residents.

Proximity is probably the most important consideration, but local hunters who have places to stay elsewhere in the state certainly can expand their horizons. There are no managed hunts planned in Jefferson County, but opportunities abound in St. Louis and St. Charles counties, and an interesting option is offered again at Robertsville State Park in Franklin County.

The goal of the managed hunt program is two-fold. First of all, it provides places for people to hunt in areas where deer hunting is generally restricted. Secondly, it is a management tool to help control deer populations on properties where their numbers exceed the carrying capacity of the land.

Hunts like the one at Robertsville State Park on Nov. 7 and 8 are designed to reduce the expanding number of deer in the park. Thirty-five hunters will be selected to use muzzle-loading firearms at the state park. The hunt allows each hunter to take three deer, but hunters must check-in with an antlerless deer before taking a deer with antlers.   

According to statistics from the hunt last year at Robertsville, 21 hunters took 37 deer, including just five with antlers. By removing mostly does, hunters can have a significant impact on the number of deer in the park.

The potential to be selected in the random drawing is another consideration when determining where to hunt. Included in the statistics available at mdc.mo.gov is information about how many people apply for each hunt. Statewide about 23,000 people applied for managed hunts last year. Participants may only apply for one hunt each year. Those who do not get selected earn preference points that improve their odds for future drawings.

The Robertsville hunt had 170 applications for 35 permits last year. Not on the list this year are nearby hunts that had been held in the past at St. Francois and St. Joe state parks just south of Jefferson County. Last year nearly 600 people applied to hunt at St. Francois, and 301 tried for the chance to hunt at St. Joe.

Popular opportunities like a 24-day archery hunt at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County had 919 applicants for 20 permits last year. This year that hunt is scheduled from Oct. 19 through Nov. 13. Getting picked is a long shot. Conversely only seven archers applied for 10 spots in a hunt at Marias Temps Clair in St. Charles County in January.

The other statistic available from previous hunts is the success rate for hunters. Sixteen hunters took 31 deer in the archery hunt at Jefferson Barracks last year. Only one of the seven hunters harvested a deer at Marias Temps Clair.    

In addition to the options at Robertsville State Park, Jefferson Barracks, and Marias Temps Clair, other intriguing managed hunts in the St. Louis region include chances for 600 archers in three hunts at August A. Busch Conservation Area, two month-long hunts in November and December for 75 archers each at Rockwoods Range in St. Louis County, and two, two-day muzzleloader hunts in November at Forest 44 Conservation Area near Valley Park.

The program also caters to special groups. Eleven hunts with a conservation department approved mentor are available for hunters who have never taken a deer. Twelve hunts statewide are scheduled for young people ages 11-15 years old. Fifteen managed hunts are planned for hunters with disabilities.

Hunts are available for archery, muzzleloading firearms, shotguns and modern centerfire rifles. With more than 100 to choose from, now is the time to begin dreaming about autumn success. All the information about the hunts is available at mdc.mo.gov, including the application process, locations for 2026-27, and nine years of statistics from the past.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 35 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

Funding for state parks on crowded August ballot

The statewide Parks and Soils Sales Tax funds construction and maintenance of playgrounds like this one at Mastodon State Historic Site in Imperial.

The August primary election is more than a month away, and I am already sick and tired of the television advertising. The ballot includes multiple issues, and big spenders are flooding the airwaves with relentless mischaracterizations for and against the proposals.

At the very least, the deluge could discourage voter participation. Who wants to be associated with an issue that is so terrible, or to support the horrible people on the opposite side? Negative advertising is a scourge. Voters must find facts from reliable sources before making these important decisions.

Among the four proposed amendments on the statewide ballot next month is a question that comes up every 10 years, and one that has had widespread voter support since its implementation in 1984. The Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax is a statewide, one-tenth of one percent funding mechanism split evenly between Missouri’s state parks and historic sites, and soil and water conservation efforts.

The portion of the tax that supports parks averages about $10 per year per state resident. Missouri is one of only eight states that does not charge entrance fees for its state parks and historic sites. Several other states charge $10 or more for each park visit, according to information from the Missouri Parks Association.

Jefferson County has several great state parks and historic sites that welcome area residents — as well as tourists from all over — to enjoy, explore and learn. If you haven’t seen all we have to offer, plan a visit soon to Don Robinson State Park, and Mastodon, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, and Gov. Daniel Dunklin’s Gravesite historic sites.

Just beyond the county lines Route 66, Robertsville, St. Francois, and Washington state parks all provide great places to enjoy the outdoors. Not much further away are Felix Valle House in Ste. Genevieve, Hawn, Meramec, Castlewood, and Babler state parks. St. Joe State Park and Missouri Mines Historic Site combine both options near Park Hills. 

All of those places and nearly 100 others throughout the state provide free access. Overnight camping, cabins, and some museums do require admission fees, and they welcome more than 20 million visitors and a million overnight guests annually with a 97% approval rating.

The sales tax pays for park upgrades including playground areas, hiking trail renovations, campground amenities, improved accessibility, and ongoing maintenance and repairs of more than 2,000 structures, 3,500 campsites, and 1,000 miles of trails.

If state parks aren’t your thing, the soil and water conservation portion of the tax is vitally important to all humans and other planet inhabitants. Since the tax first passed in 1984 more than 288,000 projects have stopped more than 193 million tons of soil erosion, according to the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Described in practical terms, that 193 million tons of soil would cover all lanes on Interstate 70 from St. Louis to Kansas City with a pile of dirt over 52 feet tall. Keeping that soil out of streams benefits drinking water sources and all the creatures that call our creeks and rivers home.

Prior to the implementation of the sales tax, Missouri cropland lost soil at a rate of 10.8 tons per acre each year. That amount has been reduced by more than half to about 4.8 tons per acre each year.

Among the misinformation surrounding the issue is a steady voice suggesting that voters should reject the 10-year extension as retribution to the state Department of Conservation for its management practices. Missouri State Parks are owned and operated by the state Department of Natural Resources, and soil conservation is the purview of districts established in each of the state’s 114 counties.

The conservation department manages trout rearing operations at three state parks, and enforces wildlife game laws throughout the state, including all public property, but it is not funded by the parks tax. The proposed punishment of the MDC is misdirected.

For more information on Amendment 1, the Missouri Parks Association is a nonprofit citizen’s organization. Learn more at missouriparksassociation.org. For information about the soil and water conservation districts throughout the state, the website is moswcd.com.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 35 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

First visit found much to like about Montauk

A stretch of Current River through Montauk State Park offers solitude for fly-fishing anglers.

When I interviewed new Jefferson County conservation agent Dominick Montileone III earlier this month, I was not surprised to learn that one of the places he identified as part of his indoctrination to the outdoors was in the woods and water at Montauk State Park.

Our new agent, who begins his assignment on July 1, is from Jefferson County, and it seems like everyone from here has a Montauk story. One notable exception is the guy who has been writing about the outdoors in Jefferson County for 35 years. I had never visited the popular property.

I have been to the state Department of Conservation’s trout parks at Maramec Spring in St. James and Bennett Spring near Lebanon. Whenever the topic came up, it was almost embarrassing to say I hadn’t been to Montauk, but I rectified the situation with a stay in the park near Salem at the end of May.

After a weekend of fun along the trout stream and a great float trip on the Current River, I understand why so many people in Jefferson County consider it their “go-to” place. Even the roller coaster state Highway 119 leading to the park adds to the allure.

Anglers of all ages enjoy the fishing action at Montauk State Park.

Families and fishermen of all ages found space along the streams trying to satisfy their dreams of a lunker lurking in the depths. Unlike the opening day images of elbow-to-elbow activity, the stretches of spring branch provided plenty of room for everyone on a spring weekend. The flies-only section of the Current River inside the park offered Sunday morning solitude for wading anglers in the clear water.

When the 6:30 a.m. whistle blew to signal the start of the day’s fishing, the action was fast in the any-bait section just downstream from the rearing ponds and hatchery. Throughout the day, anglers tried their luck, including people standing in water up to their waders and others in lawn chairs enjoying a more casual approach.

Montauk State Park is owned and managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, while the hatchery is operated by the conservation department. The tandem agencies provide an enjoyable experience for all visitors.

I stayed in one of the park’s 33 cabins and found the accommodations outstanding. With a full-sized kitchen, bathroom and shower, two beds, covered porch and campfire ring, I was not roughing it. The concessioner also offers 18 motel rooms in Montauk Lodge. Most visitors filled the 150-plus campsites in four camping loops along the river. A fifth camping area is under construction.   

A paved trail connects the camping area to the park store, restaurant and snack bar, which serves hand-dipped ice cream. A couple of longer trails offer hiking options. The Montauk Lake hike is mostly flat and on service roads for those who are looking for an easy way to add extra steps to their day.

With a couple of steep climbs and natural surface through the woods and along bluffs, the Pine Ridge Trail is a challenging 1.4-mile hike. The out-and-back route offers nearly three miles of solid workout, or the walk can be turned into a two-mile loop by using park roads between its two trail heads.

For those with a taste for history, Montauk State Park offers several preserved relics including a gristmill. Built in 1896, the mill was once a center of attraction for the town. With much of its original machinery still intact, the two-story structure offers a glimpse into the past. 

Montauk is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a state park this year, and its history includes assistance from the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Several of the original works of those craftsmen still stand, including an old stone bridge over the fishing stream and a stone shelter for family picnics.

The park’s other claim to fame is its status as the starting spot of the Current River, the most spring-fed of all the Ozark streams. My weekend float trip from Cedargrove to Akers Ferry passed Welch Spring, the sixth largest spring in Missouri.

A personal high point from my visit came a week or so later when I was talking with a Jefferson County resident who told me he had just returned from Montauk. He and members of the Missouri Disabled Sportsmen group donated another special wheelchair to the park to provide stream access to those with mobility issues.  

I complimented him and the group for their work with those who need extra assistance, and took pride in telling him, “I was at Montauk a couple of weeks ago. What a great place.”

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 35 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

Rarely orphaned, wild babies don’t need human help

A young robin inadvertently trapped itself in an open garage twice in the same morning.

Every spring the state Department of Conservation sends a reminder to “leave wildlife wild” because the advice is so important for the newborns and hatchlings that sometimes end up a little too close to home.

I had two encounters last week. A baby robin found its way into the garage, then couldn’t find its way out. It huddled in a corner, inches from the 16-foot-wide open door, afraid to move as I approached. With a five-gallon bucket lid as a safe landing zone, I convinced it to take the leap and then quickly carried it through the opening.

The flightless fledgling hopped across the lawn as one of his parents squawked overhead. I was not sure who was being scolded, me or the baby bird. The adult swooped down and gave the bird a bite to eat and then flew back to the neighbor’s roof.

The next time I went out to the garage, the little hopper had worked its way back inside. There is no way the concrete floor was more comfortable than the green grass, and for some reason, this time the bird was all the way at the back of the garage. With gentle nudging from a floor broom, I was able to direct it out again and close the door.

A young fawn spent the entire day in the same backyard location while its mother stayed in the nearby woods.

Then this past weekend, I peeked out the bedroom window early on Saturday morning to see a fawn curled up in the vines at the edge of the backyard. Throughout the day and into the evening we checked on the baby deer. Although it stood up and laid back down, it never left its green hiding spot. 

The fawn stood up and laid back down throughout the day, but never left its hiding spot.

I scanned the nearby woods several times and never saw its mother, but I am certain she was out there somewhere. The next morning the fawn was gone. Hopefully we will see it again as it grows.

“Young animals are rarely orphaned,” conservation department wildlife veterinarian Sherri Russell said in a press release. “If the young are left alone, the parent will usually return. Parents are normally out searching for food and cannot constantly attend to their offspring.”

Her description of the baby bird I saw was precisely what I witnessed. It tried to fly but had not mastered the skill.

“If you see a chick on the ground hopping around and it has feathers, leave it alone, the parents are nearby keeping an eye on it,” Russell said. “Fledglings can spend up to 10 days hopping on the ground while learning to fly.”

Nests of baby rabbits face dangers from pets and mowers this time of year, but the greatest peril may be well-meaning people trying to take nature into their own hands.

“Rabbits seldom survive in captivity and can actually die of fright from being handled,” Russell said. “Even if the animal is injured, return it to the nest because the mother will most likely return.”

Despite what many think, wild mothers do not abandon their young because of a human scent, she said.

“While people have good intentions, the care and rehabilitation of wild animals require special training, knowledge, facilities — and permits,” Russell said. “Without such care, wild animals will remain in poor health and could eventually die. And it is illegal to possess many wild animals without a valid state or federal permit.”

Russell also noted that wildlife can become dangerous as they mature, and can carry parasites, disease, and can damage property.

“Native wildlife can carry mites, ticks, lice, fleas, flukes, roundworms, tapeworms, rabies, distemper, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, and skin diseases,” Russell said. “Some of these can be transmitted to humans.”

Nature can be a cruel place, and occasionally a baby will lose its mother or fall from a tree before it is ready to leave the nest, but no matter how well-meaning we may be, people do not make good surrogate parents.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

Conservation agent returns home with new assignment

Northwest High School graduate Dominick Montileone III begins his assignment in Jefferson County on July 1

Most people associate homecoming with the fall season, but a 2018 Northwest High School graduate returns to his alma mater on July 1. Conservation agent Dominick Montileone III starts his new assignment in service to Jefferson County next month.

Following graduation from the state Department of Conservation Agent Training Academy last September, Montileone was assigned to St. Francois County, where he worked with a field training agent for two months.

“I’ve been in St. Francois since October. Then some transfers occurred, and I was able to take a chance on getting to return to my home county,” Montileone said.

Among those transfers was agent Ben Bardot, who had been assigned to Jefferson County since 2021. Originally from the St. Clair, Mo., area Bardot now patrols Franklin County where he grew up. Cpl. Lexis Wilson remains as the county’s senior conservation agent with more than a decade of experience here.

Montileone, 26, is familiar with Jefferson County’s outdoor resources like Big River and the dolomite glades at Valley View, where he said he enjoys hiking through the unique topography. But it is a place outside of Jefferson County that first caught his attention and developed his affection for the outdoors.

“Growing up I was big on fishing for trout,” he said. “My family would go multiple times a year to Montauk State Park. That’s where I first interacted with conservation agents and department employees, and I always thought about it as a possible career.”

He took a different route when he graduated from Northwest and earned his degree from Lindenwood University in Paramedicine. He worked four years at Big River Ambulance District as an emergency medical technician but always felt the call of conservation, so he applied for the academy.

In addition to the Police Officer Standards Training (POST) program, he spent 26 weeks completing physical fitness requirements, fish and wildlife management instruction, lake and river boating courses, and emergency vehicle operations to earn state certification as a law enforcement officer.

Because of his familiarity with Jefferson County, he recognizes that it is a different place than where he has been in St. Francois.

“Jefferson County is a lot more urban,” Montileone said. “Down here on some of the National Forest land you might not see another person when you are out hunting, but in Jefferson County you might walk past two or three people on your way out.”

Compared to the large tracts of public land available in southern Missouri, Jefferson County is mostly in private ownership, with a few conservation areas and river accesses available as its rare public properties.

“I’m looking forward to getting out there, spending time in those areas, and getting to know the hunters, and getting their feedback,” he said. “I am going to be available and willing to take time with the people whether I’m out and about in a conservation area or just stopping at a gas station.”

He said he encourages conversations.

“I’d rather they come up to me and ask questions. Yes, we are law enforcement, but we are also educators for the Wildlife Code.”

As a native son of the county, he also knows he will cross paths with people from his past.

“In the academy they actually talked about if you work in the county where you are from,” Montileone said. “I took an oath to apply the law without fear or favor. If I have to write a citation for someone I know, I won’t enjoy it, but I’m mature enough to do it.”

Like all conservation agents, Montileone’s office is his mobile telephone. After July 1 he can be reached by text or telephone at 314-954-5697. His email address is dominick.montileone@mdc.mo.gov. For the rest of this month, he is still assigned to St. Francois County and answering that cell phone at 573-330-8038.

.John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

Blue moon and big bluegill join forces this month

Bluegill sunfish that take two hands to hold are prime targets this time of year.

Deep in the recesses of my aging mind, I have the lyrics for hundreds of old country songs bouncing around. Occasionally, one of them worms its way to my consciousness. Today that song is a 1980s tune by Earl Thomas Conley: “Every once in a blue moon, I do something right.”  

Early in the morning on May 31, the Earth’s moon will officially be full when the sun, the planet and its satellite arrange themselves in a straight line. The official time is 4:45 a.m., and it marks the second time this month that the celestial circumstance has manifested itself. The phenomenon of two full moons in one month is known as a blue moon.

The moon’s orbit around Earth takes slightly more than 29.5 days, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, so the night we get to witness the full scope of the sun’s reflection decreases by about one date each month. Our crazy collection of 28- through 31-day months causes a few wrinkles in the system, but about every three years, we get a situation like 2026 when the moon is full on May 1 and 31.

The website earthsky.org says the next monthly blue moon will occur in December 2028, with occurrences again in September 2031, July 2034 and January 2037. When it happens in that first month 13 years from now, there will be no full moon in February, but two in the same month again that March. The short month also was skipped by the full moon in 2018.

I was thinking about all that moon information (There is a ton more at almanac.com and earthsky.org.) because I have always told people that the best time to go fishing for big bluegill is as close to the full moon in May as you can get. This year we have two chances to try to hit it just right.

The reality is that anytime you can go fishing is the best time to try your luck. My full moon advice has served me well, but weather conditions, water temperature, and hours of sunlight are probably more likely indicators for stringer success. Those atmospheric measurements in Missouri can be dramatically different between May 1 and May 31.

Bluegill and their redear cousins are my favorite piscatorial pursuits. They are most people’s first-fish because they can be easy to catch, but landing large sunfish on Missouri’s lakes and ponds takes some extra focus and a few equipment tweaks. Obviously, big is a relative term; any fish over 8 inches or 12 ounces is a true keeper.

Live bait is usually the best bet with worms and meal worms as the most popular options. I prefer crickets, but they can be hard to find sometimes. Catching fish on artificial flies, spinners, and prepared soft baits can be a blast, but real food always seems to be the best option for bringing bluegill to the dinner table.

Little bobbers are the next big subject to tackle. A small strike indicator is less obtrusive when it splashes in the water and easier for even small fish to pull under. Frequently I see anglers with huge red and white balls attached to their fishing poles. My preference is a thin slip-float that slides along the line until it hits a predetermined stop tied to the line. The pencil shape sinks easily when something takes the bait.

Terminal tackle needs to be small, with a light sinker to match the mini bobber and a hook that can fit in a little mouth. Not trying to get technical, but it’s hard to beat a gold Aberdeen No. 6 hook. I know people who insist that No. 8s are better, (The larger number represents a smaller hook.) but the slightly larger, light-wire hook is easier to remove.

The other instance where size matters is in the line you choose. Modern technology has come to fishing string with a wall-full of options. Nylon, fluorocarbon, and polyethylene braids are all the rage. Some perfectionists suggest that two-pound test or less is preferrable, and the smallest size you can be comfortable with is recommended, but I exclusively fish with four-pound monofilament on my panfish setups.  

Where to find fish is the next test. This time of year, they move toward shallow areas for nesting. Expect them in clear water areas near shallow flats along the shoreline. As is the case with all fishing, stealth helps. Find a way to get your bait to those areas without giving up your own location.

Bluegill are found naturally in streams and lakes statewide and stocked in just about every man-made pond. In places where there are not enough predators, the sunfish can become stunted, but in bodies of water with an overabundance of bass, big bluegill are usually the standard.

Bringing the right equipment to the right place will always do more to affect fishing success than the moon, so when you gear up make sure you size down. And that’s the name of that tune.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

Conservation agent reminds residents to be ready for possible bear visits

Two young black bears are on the move in this image captured by Missouri Department of Conservation photographer Noppadol Paothong.

For more than a decade Cpl. Lexis Wilson has patrolled Jefferson County with the goal of protecting our natural resources and investigating game law violations, but the role of conservation agent goes way beyond those familiar tasks.

Maybe most importantly, agents educate the public about the wild world around us. One subject that has been near and dear to Wilson since her arrival here in 2015 has been the wandering black bears who visit for only a very short time almost every spring.

Missouri has a growing bear population whose home range continues to expand. Most of them live in the dense wilderness of Mark Twain National Forest across the southern third of the state. As spring begins to turn to summer, young male bears get wandering souls and leave their home turf in search of greener pastures to claim as their own.

The young bruins are on the prowl for comfortable habitat, ample food sources, and female companionship. They will travel as far north as Jefferson County and beyond, but while our local streams and forests can provide the first two, component number three is not available here.

One of Wilson’s most consistent lessons offered to area residents is to limit the traveling bears’ access to easy eats. Pet food containers and bird feeders are obvious attractions, but so too are trash cans and barbecue grills. Bee hives should be protected by electric fences.

Wilson believes the message about limiting attractions for bears, along with a gradual acceptance of their occasional presence has led to a more peaceful coexistence between bears and the residents of Jefferson County.

Conservation agent Cpl. Lexis Wilson talks with a group of children.

“People are beginning to get a little more comfy with the idea of bears in the county,” Wilson said. “For example, last spring one came through town in De Soto, and nobody even called me about it. I’d like to think that means they are starting to get more comfortable with sharing the county with black bears.”

Calling the conservation agent to report interesting wildlife encounters helps track movements and can provide an alert for others to be aware of any visitors. Wilson can be reached by telephone or text at 314-696-9425. Another helpful resource is bearwise.org, a cooperative organization supported by the Missouri Department of Conservation and other state wildlife agencies.

I signed-up for the monthly newsletter when I first learned about BearWise, and I get great information all year long. A recent missive included a link to a new, free four-page PDF of facts about our bears. With research from across the country, Meet the American Black Bear answers questions that separate fact from fiction.

  • Where Black Bears Live
  • A Bear’s Natural Diet
  • Black Bear Physical Traits
  • About Bear Cubs
  • The Life of Black Bears

Another BearWise email I received at the beginning of this month included compelling news with a lead story about encounters between bears and dogs.

“Bears don’t like to be barked at, chased, or cornered. When a bear feels threatened and doesn’t see an easy way to get away from ‘danger,’ the natural instinct for self-preservation kicks in, and the bear will most likely defend itself,” the newsletter explained. “No matter how big and strong your dog is, pound-for-pound bears are much stronger and more powerful.”

Troublesome human and bear encounters often begin with a dog. Those interactions often result in injuries or death for the pet, and can be very dangerous for people too. With a little bit of improved understanding, those situations can be avoided.

BearWise is a national education and outreach program created by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. To learn more or subscribe to the free newsletter, visit bearwise.org.   

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.