Incentives added for Share the Harvest donations that feed the needy

Hunters can help the herd by harvesting antlerless deer and donating to Share the Harvest.

The popular Share the Harvest deer donation program in Missouri is getting a boost as the first of the upcoming firearms hunting seasons begins on October 9 with a three-day opportunity to take antlerless deer in most Missouri counties.

The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation has launched an initiative that doubles the value of donations from those who wish to contribute cash to the program. The foundation also introduced an incentive for hunters to donate their entire deer this weekend through approved processors across the state.

The first 100 hunters to donate their doe will receive an Old Timer Trail Boss hunting knife etched with the Share the Harvest logo. The form for the submission is available at the foundation’s website, mochf.org. All donors will also be entered to win a MEAT! Your Maker brand electric grinder. The deadline to complete the submission form is October 16.

John’s Butcher Shoppee, 503 N. Mill St. in Festus, is the only participating processor in Jefferson County for Share the Harvest donations. Options in adjoining counties include John’s location in Overland, Kenrick’s Meat at 4324 Weber Road in south St. Louis, three Franklin County locations Beaufort Meat Processing in Leslie, K and A Meats in Labadie, and Sullivan Meat Locker, and Ste. Gen Meats, 425 St. Mary’s Road, in Ste. Genevieve County. An interactive map and listing of all participating butcher shops is available at mdc.mo.gov/share.

For those who choose monetary contributions, Tyson Foods will match donations up to $5,000 for a limited time. A $125 gift covers the processing cost for one deer and provides an estimated 160 meals for a needy local family. The foundation press release states that 800,000 Missourians faced food insecurity last year.

“Lean, high-quality protein is essential for kids to grow and parents to stay healthy, but it’s often one of the most expensive items on the grocery list,” according to the foundation information. The meat is distributed to local food pantries through regional food banks.

Officially, Share the Harvest started in Missouri in 1992 when the state Department of Conservation ran with an idea hatched by a group of archery deer hunters in the Columbia area. State records indicate that 3,200 pounds of venison was donated in that first year. In its 30-plus year history, the program has provided more than 6 million pounds of lean red meat to people in need.

The conservation department estimates that hunters donate about 5,000 deer to the program each year, and for the upcoming season a goal has been set to increase those contributions to 6,500 deer.

Originally hunters were responsible for covering the cost of butcher’s fees. Now those who choose to contribute their entire deer pay nothing thanks to cooperative partners and individual donations. Another new component of the program allows hunters to financially support Share the Harvest directly when they purchase their permits. The Conservation Federation of Missouri also has multiple options for donations to Share the Harvest. Organizations, individuals and businesses can find their level of support at confedmo.org.

The early antlerless deer hunting season is open from October 9 through 11 in 100 of Missouri’s 114 counties. It is not open in four counties in the northwest corner of the state and in 10 southeast Missouri counties around the Bootheel and including Iron County.

Hunters may use their any-deer permit or purchase additional antlerless-only permits for $7.50 for residents and $34 for non-residents. In Jefferson County, and most other places in the state, hunters may purchase and use up to four antlerless-only permits in all the firearms hunting seasons combined. The late antlerless-only season is scheduled for December 5 through 13.

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.

Show at Powder Valley will feature art of nature photography

Conservation department photojournalist Noppadol Paothong will showcase his work in a presentation at Powder Valley Nature Center on October 9. MDC photo

When the October issue of the Missouri Conservationist magazine arrives this month, it is certain to contain interesting and important information, but most noticeable will be the spectacular photography of Noppadol Paothong.

From tiny thumbnail shots to panoramas that fill the pages, the images of outdoor wonders from our state will tell many stories of their own. An upcoming program at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood will offer the opportunity to see those photos on a theater-sized screen and hear from the man behind the long lens.

“Conservation in Focus: Lessons from a Life in Photography” will showcase Paothong’s work from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. The program is free but advanced registration is required at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/oxR. Only 200 seats are available for the presentation.

I was able to see a similar program by Paothong in 2020 when the auditorium was filled for two consecutive nights. Like the guarantee that there will be great pictures in every edition of the Conservationist, this program will be “sold out,” so do not wait to make reservations.

Paothong is an associate fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers, a group of the best wildlife, nature and culture photographers in the world. His pictures have been published by National Audubon, Ranger Rick, BBC and Nature Conservancy.

He also has two award-winning books, documenting rare and endangered species over the past 15 years, primarily grassland grouse and their shrinking habitat. The large format photography books are Save the Last Dance from 2012 and Sage Grouse, Icon of the West in 2017.

Paothong’s will share his photo gallery on the giant video screen at Powder Valley. Nine interlinked 55-inch LED screens display images that will seemingly come to life. He will share lessons from mistakes he’s made, and he will talk about new technology, how his style and approach have evolved, and how those changes continue to influence his work.

The nature center’s doors will open at 6 p.m. to allow visitors the chance for a meet-and-greet session with Paothong prior to the program.  He will also visit with attendees after the program. Children must be at least 9 years old to attend and anyone 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult.

Paothong will offer an exclusive look at projects he is working on, along with the stories behind the images. He will also provide practical, hands-on advice for anyone who wants to use their own camera, and their own voice, to become a conservationist, the conservation department press release said.

Powder Valley is at 11715 Cragwold Road in Kirkwood, near the intersection of Interstate 270 and I-44. For more information call the nature center at 314-301-1500.

Not all the pictures in the October Conservationist magazine will be images by Paothong. The department’s other photojournalist, David Stonner, also will contribute compelling scenes he captures, and many reader-submitted shots make it in the publication every month. Still other photos on the pages will come from the library of pictures taken by long-time photographer Jim Rathert.

The September edition included a tribute to Rathert who retired in 2006 after 36 years with the department, including 22 years as a staff photographer. Rathert died on July 2 this year.

“Jim taught generations of Missourians ho to truly see what was around them,” Paothong wrote in the story that accompanied more than a dozen of the 100,000 images Rathert produced for the department. “He set a standard at MDC that quietly became the reason someone like me could even dream of doing this work.”

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.

Drought and heat spike potential for hemorrhagic disease in deer

Hemorrhagic diseases may create temporary deer population drops, but chronic wasting disease has the potential to cause long-term declines in herd size. Missouri Department of Conservation graphic

Long periods of dry weather and hot temperatures through the summer and into early fall often lead to outbreaks of hemorrhagic diseases in deer. Late August and most of September this year have produced prime conditions for deer deaths.

According to data from the state Department of Conservation, seven cases of the disease have been identified in Jefferson County. Forty of the state’s 114 counties have confirmed the disease this year, with the largest number (9) identified in Pike County, north of St. Louis on the Mississippi River. Three of the reported deaths in Jefferson County have been attributed to blue tongue virus, one of the two variants caused by the same circumstances.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease and blue tongue virus are both caused by the bite of a midge fly and tend to peak when deer are concentrated near limited water sources where the flies reproduce. The conservation department is asking area residents to report deer carcasses they find with no apparent cause of death symptoms.

Deer that die from hemorrhagic diseases are frequently found near water sources, according to a department press release. The virus causes internal bleeding and can cause high fever, prompting infected deer to seek water. Symptoms of the disease may include reluctance to move, difficulty breathing, swelling of the head, neck, or tongue, and unusual behavior such as appearing dazed or unresponsive.

“Hemorrhagic disease is a naturally occurring virus in Missouri’s deer population,” said Brigid Niemeyer, wildlife health program supervisor for the conservation department. “Outbreaks are most common between July and October and typically end after a heavy frost kills the midges that spread the virus.”

Reports from the public help biologists identify and understand the scope of the disease in any given year. Missouri’s most significant outbreak of the disease was reported in 2012 during an extended drought, the department stated.

“We care deeply about Missouri deer and deer hunting,” Niemeyer said. “By reporting suspected cases of HD, members of the public can help us track where the disease is occurring and how it’s affecting deer numbers in specific areas.”

While some deer may develop resistance and survive, most animals that are infected by hemorrhagic disease die quickly, making the effect obvious. By comparison, deer that contract chronic wasting disease may carry the deadly prion for years before succumbing to its brain degenerating symptoms.

An outbreak of hemorrhagic disease does not have long-term effects on the overall health or sustainability of Missouri’s deer herd. Even after a severe outbreak, the deer population recovers within a few years, the department release stated.

CWD is transmitted from deer-to-deer contact, bodily fluids, and through infectious material left in the soil. A deer carrying the disease may appear healthy, but it can spread the infection to others. The prions can survive in the environment for years. Unless infection rates are kept low, chronic wasting disease has the potential for long-term significant declines in deer populations.

According to the department, the virus that causes hemorrhagic diseases does not affect humans and cannot be spread by handling or eating meat from deer with HD. However, the disease may weaken a deer’s immune system, allowing secondary infections that make the meat unsuitable for consumption.

There is no evidence that CWD is a health issue for humans, but the US Centers for Disease Control advises hunters in areas where the disease is present to have their deer tested and wait for results before eating the venison. 

Jefferson County residents can report deer deaths suspected of being caused by disease to our local conservation agents, Cpl. Lexis Wilson or Dominick Montileone. Wilson’s phone number is 314-696-9425 and her email is lexis.wilson@mdc,mo.gov. Montileone can be reached at 314-954-5697 or by email dominick.montileone@mdc.mo.gov.

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.

Deer hunting changes respond to public opinion, CWD concerns  

As summer shifts to fall deer color changes from reddish to gray/brown.

Antler-point restrictions have been eliminated from state deer hunting regulations for the upcoming year. I have never cared for the rule, so I am not sad to see it gone. However, the cause of its demise outweighs any joy I might feel for finally getting my way.

Managing the potential spread of chronic wasting disease in Missouri is behind most of the significant changes for the season that opens Sept. 15 when archery hunters begin their fall pursuits. Because young bucks are most likely to disperse great distances from their birth location, a rule to protect them until they grow into larger adult deer increases the likelihood of CWD expanding its coverage area.

The concept behind the “four-point rule” – as the antler-point restrictions were commonly known – allows that young bucks not harvested this year or next have the potential to be really big deer by the time they are three or four or more years old. As a philosophy that is hard to argue with, but as public policy, I always felt it was unfair to inexperienced hunters.

The regulation had not been imposed during the youth hunting seasons, so those under 15 could take any deer during their assigned weekends, but older newbies were required to pass on the chance to take their first-ever buck if they couldn’t count at least four points on one side. Advocates for deer with record-book racks will not be happy with the change.

Unhappy hunters are responsible for most of the other new rules for the upcoming deer hunting seasons. Post-season targeted culling, which had been used since the first reports of CWD in the state in 2010, was canceled following the 2025 season, and the state Department of Conservation has no plans to resume the approach this year or into the future.

No longer will there be CWD Management Zones, counties clumped together by their proximity to positive test results. Restrictions on placing food and minerals for deer will still exist and will be based locations where the disease has been found. Feeding deer is prohibited year-round in 84 counties, all of which are within 10 miles of a confirmed CWD case, with exceptions for sites within 100 feet of occupied residences.

Jefferson County has recorded 79 positive tests for CWD including the first one found here during the 2016-17 season.  That number is the fifth highest county total in the state behind Ste. Genevieve 160, Franklin 108, Linn 90, and Macon 80, according to conservation department data.

This fall the hunting schedule does not include an extended CWD portion of the firearms season as it had in the recent past. Information from the conservation department states that the five-day extension of the main firearms deer hunting season did not significantly affect harvest numbers.

The change that promises to be the most confusing, at least at its outset, is the new program for mandatory sampling. Beginning this year, every county will require mandatory check-ins on opening weekend once every four years. Jefferson County is not among the 27 of 114 counties being tested in 2026. Free voluntary CWD testing is available from Sept. 15 through Jan. 15, 2027, at seven locations throughout Jefferson County including options in Arnold, Barnhart, Dittmer, Festus and Hillsboro.

Hunters who shoot a deer on Nov. 14 or 15 this year must take it to a sampling station on the day of harvest in Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Benton, Buchanan, Callaway, Carter, Cedar, Dade, Greene, Holt, Iron, Lawrence, Lincoln, Monroe, Montgomery, Nodaway, Oregon, Pike, Polk, Ralls, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Clair, Warren, and Wayne counties. 

The other significant change for the upcoming season affects non-residents hunting on property they do not own. Those hunters may only take one antlered deer in Missouri this year. Residents and non-resident land-owners are still permitted to take one antlered deer with a firearm and one with an archery tag prior to the November portion of firearms season. Resident bow-and-arrow hunters who do not harvest an antlered deer during gun season may take a second buck after Nov. 24.

All changes and rules for the upcoming season are highlighted in the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available online at mdc.mo.gov and from permit vendor locations. Additional data and details about chronic wasting disease in Missouri can be found at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

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.

Waterfowl hunting seasons target teal first

Missouri Department of Conservation photo
With Sept. 12 as opening day, the blue-winged teal is the first target for waterfowl hunters in Missouri.

Four months of deer hunting season may seem like an eternity, but compared to opportunities for waterfowl shooters, the quest-for-venison calendar looks compact. Teal hunting opens in early September, and the light goose conservation order allows harvest until April 30, 2027, providing nearly eight months of shotgun swinging.

Hunters may take up to six blue, green or cinnamon teal in the aggregate each day during the nine-day season, which is scheduled from Sept. 12 through 20. The length of teal season depends on population surveys from the previous year. In 2025, the breeding population – in Canada, Alaska and the Northern Rocky Mountains – was estimated at 4.4 million. When that number exceeds 4.7 million, the season is 16 days long. If the estimate is fewer than 3.3 million teal, no season is scheduled.

Fast-flying teal are small compared to the other ducks hunters will call this fall. According to the state Department of Conservation field guide, adults are 14 to 16 inches in length. The much more familiar mallard averages about 23 inches from bill to tail.   

One distinction for the teal season is that shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset. With the exception of the light goose conservation order next spring, all other waterfowl hunting is permitted from 30 minutes prior to sunrise until sunset.

An early season for Canada Geese and brant is next on the schedule with a nine-day opportunity for hunters to take three Canadas daily from Oct. 3 through 11. The possession limit for Canada Geese and brant is nine.

Youth waterfowl hunting is held on three different weekends depending on location. In the designated North Zone, hunting is scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25. It’s set for Halloween weekend, Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, in the Middle Zone. The dates for the South Zone are Nov. 21 and 22. Hunters aged 15 and under – accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18-year-old – may take daily limits of up to six ducks, 15 coots, 20 light geese, three Canada geese, and two white-fronted geese.

All hunters get their chances in three different 60-day seasons based on the area of the state where they will be hunting. Delineated by highways that wend their way near the north bank of the Missouri River, the North Zone is roughly the top third of the state. That season opens Oct. 31 and closes on Dec. 29.

The Middle Zone is the largest and includes all of the Missouri River across the state. In addition to the center section, the zone dips significantly toward the Bootheel. That prime lowland and everything else along the Arkansas border is in the South Zone. Middle Zone hunting days are Nov. 7 through Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 through Jan. 10, 2027. South Zone hunting opens Nov. 26 through 29 and Dec. 7 through Jan. 31, 2027.

The regular season for goose hunting is scheduled to overlap the above duck hunting opportunities from Nov. 11 through Feb. 6, 2027. In addition to Canada Geese and brant, hunters may harvest two white-fronted geese and 20 snow geese daily. The possession limit is three times the daily limit for Canada geese, brant and white-fronted geese. There is no possession limit on snow geese.

The light goose conservation order from Feb. 7 through April 30 is even more liberal in its attempt to manage an exploding population of snow, blue and Ross’s geese. There is no daily limit, and hunting is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.

Non-toxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting. Lead pellets have been proven to cause fatal poisoning for birds that ingest the spent shot, as well as the eagles and other carrion predators that eat the dead birds. Federally approved non-toxic shot shells include alloys of bismuth, copper, iron and tungsten.

Three permits are required for waterfowl hunting in Missouri, including a small game hunting license, migratory bird hunting permit, and a federal duck stamp. Permits are available at vendor locations like Buchheit and Dunn’s in Jefferson County, online at mdc.mo.gov, or on the conservation department’s free MO Hunting app. Hunting during the extended conservation order requires an additional permit that costs $5.50 for residents. 

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.

Limited hunter education classes fill quickly as fall arrives

It’s back-to-school week across Missouri, and young hunters who hope to take to the field this fall must register for one more classroom assignment before they can get a permit to hunt on their own.

Hunter Education certification once required an eight-hour classroom commitment for everyone, but now it only asks those ages 11 to 15 years old to complete the skills session in-person. The knowledge portion may be completed at home and online. The hands-on learning opportunities are limited by class sizes, and the courses can fill quickly.

Two skills sessions planned at the Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center in Eureka are the nearest for Jefferson County residents. Eighteen seats are available from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19. As of this week, almost half of the morning session had been reserved, and several seats were filled in the afternoon too. Reservations are available at mdc.mo.gov under hunter education.

The skills portion of the state hunter education program includes safe firearm handling instruction.

Searching within a 50-mile radius of Crystal City, I found seven classes scheduled prior to the fall firearms hunting seasons. In addition to the two sessions in Eureka, young hunters could attend programs on Sept. 12 in Union, Sept. 14 in Perryville, Sept. 21 at the Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles County, Oct. 7 at Ste. Genevieve VFW, or Oct. 10 at the Elks Lodge in Farmington.  

The knowledge portion must be completed before attending a skills session. Options for the knowledge portion include completing a free study guide from the state Department of Conservation, or two different online courses.

The study guide is available from conservation department offices or can be ordered online from the hunter education page at mdc.mo.gov. The student must study the illustrated manual, complete the chapter review questions, and present the completed workbook to their instructor at the skills session.

The study guide is free, but the cost of the two online courses is paid to the education provider and not the department of conservation. For $24.95 the textbook-style hunter safety course features realistic illustrations and animations. The $39.95 option provides a dynamic video game-type experience that is built around real-life scenarios and features learning challenges and assessments to measure progress.

Students ages 11 through 15 must present their completion certificate from the online course when they arrive for the skills sessions. At the end of the classroom portion, students must pass a 35-question multi-choice test with a score of at least 80 percent. Hunters ages 16 and older only need to complete the online education portion. 

Anyone may hunt prior to earning hunter education certification, if they hunt in the immediate presence of a mentor who has completed the course. The conservation department recommends that young hunters gain experience alongside a licensed adult before taking the hunter education course, so they become more familiar with the sport and its terminology.

The Apprentice Hunter Authorization allows hunters aged 16 or older to participate prior to taking the course, if they are hunting with a mentor who is properly licensed. The apprentice program is only available for two years. After two seasons, hunters must complete the online course to earn their certification.

Hunters ages 10 and younger who can hold, aim and fire a gun may only hunt in the presence of an authorized adult. Those 11 or older can take the course and purchase permits to hunt on their own.

Hunter education has been mandatory in Missouri since 1987. In the past 40 years hunting accidents and deaths have declined by more than 70 percent. The course emphasizes responsibility and ethics, firearms safety, hunting techniques, wildlife identification and management, game care, survival and first aid skills, conservation and specific state regulations regarding deer hunting.

Fall seasons for this year begin with archery methods opening on Sept. 15. The first firearms season is the three-day, early antlerless portion, which begins on Oct. 9. The first youth-only hunting season for the year is the weekend of Oct. 24 and 25. The main firearms deer hunting season opens on Nov. 14. 

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.

Dove season is first for fall hunting opportunities

When most people think about migratory birds and waterfowl, the colorful plumage and royal presence of ducks and geese come to mind, but the gray, black, and white mourning dove graces the cover of this year’s hunting digest from the state Department of Conservation.

Several fall hunting seasons open Sept. 1 with mourning doves as a primary target.

Only minor adjustments have been made to the regulations for the upcoming fall seasons for resident hunters. The biggest change is the establishment of a non-resident migratory bird hunting permit. Locals will pay $8 for the required license, while out-of-staters will be charged $60.

Hunters are also required to carry a small game hunting permit for dove and other land-dwelling birds: $11.50 for residents and $108.50 for non-Missourians. All waterfowl hunters ages 16 and older must also purchase a Federal Duck Stamp, which is available electronically for $32 or as a paper stamp for $25.   

Mourning doves are one of the most abundant game birds in North America. With an estimated population of up to 350 million, they are common across 48 states and much of southern Canada. Missouri is home to migrating birds in the spring and fall, and many take up residency here throughout the summer.  

According to the conservation department field guide “doves lived in America before humans arrived, and they proved quite adaptable to the presence of humans.” Prairie fires used by indigenous tribes created open plains that improved growth opportunities for seed-bearing plants. In recent times, crop farming, pastureland, forest management, and plant propagation helped dove populations increase.

While doves are primarily seed eaters, they will take an occasional insect while on the ground. Also notable is their position at the other end of the food chain. They are prolific reproducers, and they are frequent prey for many meat eaters. While nesting pairs may attempt up to seven nests between late March and September, the eggs, hatchlings and adults are favorite snacks for snakes, hawks, skunks and other carnivorous mammals.

The other omnivores that enjoy eating doves are humans. They are popular for sport hunters because of their acrobatic flying ability, but the real lure they provide for shotgunners is the tender breast meat each one provides.

Dove hunting season is open from September 1 through November 29. Shooting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. The daily limit is 15 birds, which can include mourning doves, white-winged doves and Eurasian collared doves.

The conservation department field guide describes differences in the three species. The mourning dove is brownish gray with scattered black spots on its wings. It has a long, tapered tail that appears to come to a point in flight. The round-headed bird has dark, black eyes and white tips at the ends of its wings.

The Eurasian collared dove looks much like the morning dove, but it is significantly larger. It has a crescent-shaped black stripe around the back of its neck and no dark spots on its wings. The invasive species was introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s and has rapidly expanded its range into and across the United States including sightings in California and Alaska. 

The white-winged dove is uncommon in Missouri but may be seen as an accidental summer visitor. The bird is similar in size to the mourning dove. Its core range is to the southwest and south. It has a squared tail, lacks black wing spots, and has a distinct white patch along the front edge of its wings.

Dove hunters should look for leg bands on the mourning doves they harvest. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service uses identification numbers on birds to track their travels, population and harvest rates. The inscribed ID information can be entered online at reportband.gov.

Research shows that doves eating seeds off the ground also ingest spent shotgun pellets to the point of suffering from lead poisoning. Many hunting areas prohibit the use of lead shot for hunting doves. Conservation areas with wetlands and high concentrations of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds require non-toxic shotgun pellets, including Pacific Palisades near Eureka.

All information about the upcoming seasons is included in the Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2026-2027 at conservation department permit vendor locations and online at mdc.mo.gov. The mourning dove looks good as the cover model.

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.

Fall food plot planting programs offer answers for deer hunters

Having access to a tractor is helpful for preparing food plots for planting.

A sweltering summer day seems like a splendid time to consider the forecast for the first frost of fall. That date is an important consideration for those planning on planting a food plot of forage for deer and other animals this autumn.

Because Missouri is about 300 miles from top to bottom, the average first frost date fluctuates by almost a month between the Iowa border and the bottom of the Bootheel. Early October freeze outs are expected in Schuyler and Scotland counties buffeted by the winds of the Hawkeye State. Conversely, it’s no surprise to stay warm enough until November in Oregon or Ozark counties adjacent to Arkansas.

The National Deer Association recommends planting fall food plots about six to eight weeks before the predicted first frost to allow adequate growing time. Depending on the location of your deer hunting honey hole, that planting could take place any time from today through mid-September. The NDA also highly recommends planning that planting ahead of ample expected rain.

Picking a location for food plot planting should consider an area that gets plenty of sunshine but also can stay moist without being chronically wet. After selecting the site, most guides suggest a soil test to determine the ground’s need for fertilizer or lime.  

The next important consideration is what to plant, and the best suggestion is to not try to do too much, according to an article titled “A Beginner’s Guide to Deer Food Plots” at deerassociation.com.  

“Hunters have a tendency to want to take the kitchen sink approach to food plots, choosing a mix with lots of different seed types,” Brian Grossman wrote in the Aug. 7, 2024, article. “This is one area you’re better off to keep things simple. Having a bunch of different food plot species mixed together creates issues.” 

A separate article on the NDA website recommends a seed mix that includes two species of clover mixed with wheat. It attributes the suggested mix to Craig Harper, a professor at University of Tennessee.

“These three species complement each other nicely, with the wheat and crimson clover germinating rather quickly, offering about 25% crude protein through the fall and winter months. Then, when the crimson clover starts to die off in early spring, the arrowleaf clover begins to flourish, extending nutrition over a longer window of time.” 

Wheat is suggested over oats or rye because it is cold-hardy, relatively drought-resistant, and tolerant of multiple soil types. The two types of clover are “reseeding annuals” meaning that if allowed to flower, they will replant themselves for years to come. Overseeding the clover with wheat the following fall should bring back seed heads for fall and winter forage.

The National Deer Association is a tremendous resource for all things deer hunting, and its articles include links for additional information on planning and planting food plots. If in-person presentations or opportunities to ask questions are your preference, two programs are available this month.

“Fall Food Plots Question and Answer Session” is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center at Antire Road and Interstate 44 in Eureka. Representatives from Valley Park Elevator and Hardware Store will be available to discuss topics like how, when, and what to plant for the most effective fall food plots. The event is free, but space is limited so advanced online registration is required at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ocm.

The other option is a Zoom webinar at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, featuring the state Department of Conservation and the National Deer Association. It is the third and final Deer Management Assistance Program of the year presented by the two organizations.

“Wildlife Food Plots in Missouri” will focus on establishing and managing effective food plots for deer and other wildlife, and how hunters and landowners can incorporate food plots into their deer management plans this fall. The program will include a presentation followed by participants’ questions.  

Other webinars in the series are available through YouTube and date back to 2023. Topics from earlier this year include a deer management overview and “Hunting for Venison.” Topics from past presentations include prescribed burning, wildflower and woodland management, chronic wasting disease, hemorrhagic disease, and invasive plant species. Fourteen DMAP recordings are currently available at mdc.mo.gov.

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.

Nature center celebrates 35 years with passport program

JT Winkelman gets a closer look at some of the animals on display at Powder Valley Nature Center.

Powder Valley Nature Center celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. It would be disingenuous for me to say, I can’t believe it’s been around that long, because coincidentally, we have a daughter who is 35 years old this year, and she has been enjoying the “special place” since she was very little.

The state Department of Conservation’s education and information center, along with its natural areas and family friendly hiking trails was one of several locations in the area we would plan to visit as an incentive when our kids were young. This past week our grandson made his first trip.

JT Winkelman has his name on a Passport to Powder Valley program booklet that the nature center is using this summer to engage visitors. Everyone who completes the five activities included in the booklet receives an anniversary sticker and is entered in a drawing for a grand prize that will be awarded at the end of October.

“These activities emphasize the nature center’s mission: to connect individuals with nature,” said naturalist Lauren Baker, a department employee at the center. “This program is perfect for all visitors, from individuals to family groups. Come help us celebrate Powder Valley’s 35th anniversary.”

Department of Conservation image

The passport program began on July 14 and continues through Oct. 31. The passports are available from the center information desk. The nature center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. A celebration event is being planned for the weekend of Oct. 24.

“The passport encourages visitors to explore not only the nature center itself, but the surrounding trails and grounds,” Baker said. “The passport can be completed at your own pace anytime up to the end of October to enter the grand prize giveaway.”

We completed stop No. 1 by watching the birds at the feeders just outside the center’s large main floor windows. The raccoons and squirrels that tried to find something to eat on the elevated platforms added to the excitement.

The second activity in the passport program requires checking in at the front desk to get a Discovery Backpack from a nature center volunteer. Each backpack has a theme with tools and activities to help with learning and understanding for either the birds, trees, or “creepy, crawly” invertebrates outside the center.

Many ambassador animals live in display cases inside the nature center building. We will go back to check off item No. 3, but during our recent visit we saw snakes, turtles, fish and others. The big timber rattler was very active when we were there, and the protected alligator snapping turtle is definitely an attention grabber.

Stop four requires the most coordination, but it is guaranteed to be the most informative. Naturalists like Baker and volunteers lead free programs that explore nature through activities like art, cooking, and animal encounters. Advanced registration at mdc.mo.gov/events is required for the programs. There are more than 20 programs scheduled in August.

Taking a hike on one of the three paved trails at Powder Valley is the fifth and final component to complete the passport. The one-third mile Tanglevine Trail is the shortest of the walks in the woods. The Broken Ridge Trail and the Hickory Ridge (short loop) are both less than a mile too. The long loop for the Hickory Ridge Trail is just 1.2 miles. While on the hike, participants are asked to take a picture of something they see during their walk or a selfie with a trail marker sign.

Once all five stops have been completed, the passport is returned to the front desk staff who will review each activity. For the hike you are asked to show the photo from one of the trails. After reviewing the passport, names are entered in the grand prize drawing for a basket, which includes a tour for four at the Endangered Wolf Sanctuary ($100 value), Laumeier Sculpture Park Membership ($125 value), A History of Kirkwood Missouri book, and four tickets to Missouri Botanical Garden ($65 value).

For 35 years I have claimed Powder Valley as “almost in Jefferson County.” Near the intersection of Interstates 44 and 270, it is a wooded haven for kids of all ages to enjoy. Get your passport and learn all the nature center has to offer.

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.

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 grandnephew 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.