Category Archives: Uncategorized

There are a few places just beyond the Jefferson County borders that are close enough to claim or cool enough to covet, so that when someone mentions how close they are to our home, I wouldn’t dare correct them. Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area is just downstream on the Mississippi River in Ste. Genevieve County, andContinue reading “Celebrate National Trails Day at Shaw Nature Reserve today”

My cousin AJ and I were floating down the Meramec River earlier this spring when I mentioned the pretty purple flowers along the bank. “Sweet Williams, I think,” he responded with a degree of confidence. “That’s impressive,” I replied. I was feeling pretty good about just noticing the flowers and acknowledging something besides the waterContinue reading “Finding flowers on a float trip and everywhere else this spring”

The annual antler scoring open house at the Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 19, this year. Hunters can stop by anytime with their harvests from this fall, shed antlers they have found, or racks from deer they shot in previous years. ReservationsContinue reading “Antler scoring event returns to Henges Center near Eureka”

The Bows for Birds program sponsored by Audubon has been encouraging winter hikers for three years, but I first learned about it this winter and took my first hike on January 1. The program welcomes hikers to 12 parks and natural areas in the St. Louis region for fresh air, a chance to win prizes,Continue reading “Birds and Bows program provides another opportunity to enjoy a winter walk”

As a veteran last-minute shopper, I know there are plenty of people out there who still have someone or 10 others to check off their lists. I remember my teenage years when Lucky Jim and I scoured the aisles of Kmart on Christmas Eve hoping to find that certain blue-light special for friends, family orContinue reading “Guided fishing experience makes great gift-giving idea”

A press release from the state Department of Conservation late last month caught my eye. The agency is looking for input about places that provide access to lakes and streams. A few years ago I offered my evaluation of a few, and the issue still gets my attention. This time they were actually asking forContinue reading “State seeks comments on plans for new and improved fishing accesses”

With only the alternative methods portion of firearms deer hunting left for 2022, hunters in Jefferson County and in many other areas of the state have a few new chances to say “wait till next year.” At its Dec. 2 meeting, the state Conservation Commission approved dates and new regulations for next season. The primaryContinue reading “New 2023 firearms deer hunting opportunities to increase antlerless deer harvests”

For the fair-weather fishermen like me, this is the time of the year to re-spool the reels, restock the spinners, and sort through the rest of the mess that served as a tackle box through the spring, summer, and fall. But for the hearty boys and girls who don’t let a little cold or blowingContinue reading “Winter trout program expands fishing opportunities for anglers”

Even before I started deer hunting myself, I had a pretty good idea about the home processing process. My college buddy Steve had killed a small buck on public ground outside of Kirksville, Missouri, and he requested my help to retrieve it and get it to his dad for butchering. Big Ken was a unionContinue reading “Field to Freezer program provides deer processing primer”

Jefferson County artists demonstrated their talents in the virtual youth art contest sponsored by Missouri State Parks in honor of Earth Day in April. In the first and second grade category, artwork by Gabriel Sedrock of Festus Elementary School was selected as the first place winner, and Lena Massa of Crystal City earned third placeContinue reading “Local artists shine in State Parks contest honoring Earth Day”