Don't Call Me Outdoor John

While everyone was cheering in the new year, no one would blame Kelly Reeves for watching the Times Square ball drop with a little bit of melancholy. His 2023 is going to be hard to beat.

Just before Valentine’s Day, he and Emily found out they would be parents for the first time. On Memorial Day weekend he started a project to finish the basement in their Festus home. With the help of his handy father-in-law that project was a few tweaks from finished by the end of the year.

Also in May he applied for a Missouri elk hunting tag, as he had each of the three previous years that the opportunity had been available. With more than 8,500 applicants for five hunting licenses, he was not surprised when he didn’t hear anything from the state Department of Conservation after the drawing was held in July.

When he went online to purchase his archery deer hunting tags on September 14, the afternoon before opening day, he noticed that it showed a drop-down button for an elk hunting license.

“It didn’t make sense that it was available if I hadn’t been drawn. I had never seen that option before. It had to be wrong. They would have contacted me,” Reeves said. He navigated to the department website to check the drawing results, and there alongside his previous years’ rejection notices was the bold “SELECTED” next to 2023. He called the conservation office in Columbia, and they told him a letter had been mailed to him.

Disregarding that miscue, Reeves knew he had work to do with three weeks remaining before the opening of the archery portion of the elk hunting season. He began making contacts near the Peck Ranch Conservation Area where Missouri began restoring elk in 2011. The reintroduction area covers about 200,000 acres and includes parts of Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties.

Lightly populated and densely wooded with deep ravines and tall Ozark foothills, the land is the best place in the state to bring back a species that had been extirpated by unregulated hunting in the 1800s. It is also a place with very little cell phone service. So after a long day of research and scouting on September 25, Reeves was on his way back home when his truck reached a high spot on the highway.

“My phone started blowing up. I had nine missed calls from Emily and texts from her and her sister. She was at 38 weeks, and her blood pressure was spiking,” Reeves said. He made the two-hour drive in much less time than normal.

They arrived at Mercy Hospital St. Louis before midnight and within minutes they were in a labor and delivery room. About 33 hours later, he was there when the doctor asked him if he wanted to assist in the birth of Lucy Lu.

“That was by far the best part of my year,” he said.

Hunters drawn for an elk tag are allowed to participate in a nine-day archery hunt in October and a nine-day firearms hunt in December. Reeves managed to make two more scouting trips before the archery season. He said he heard bull elk bugling more than 100 times on opening day, and called in a six-by-six that may have been close enough for a shot, but the season was early. A better opportunity was sure to come, but the weather turned unseasonably warm for the rest of the season.

“The elk disappeared,” he said. “I joked to my hunting buddies they all found a cool cave underground and were hiding. I ended up putting 500 miles on my truck driving the dirt and gravel roads searching for new elk and about 10 miles on my boots, looking high and low. No luck.”

He returned for the firearms portion of the season and on opening morning he spotted a herd of elk in a field on the public land he planned to hunt. It was still dark when they set up, but they may have been noticed by a couple of the cows. The bull and his harem worked their way onto the woods. Climbing in the hill to follow them or looking for an ambush spot, risked driving the herd away. The best strategy was to hope they would return to the field in the evening

“It was 7:30 a.m., and we were already done for the day. We made a plan to be back in the blind by 2 p.m.,” Reeves said.

The weather was in the 50s when they set up the blind, but a cold front was due overnight. The wind was gusting to the point that it pulled up the anchor pegs on their tent-like structure, so Reeves and his companion had to replace the ground stakes. As he returned to his stool, Reeves noticed a cow entering the field, then another, then he spotted the bull they had nick-named Medusa for its non-typical antlers that went in all directions like the mythical serpent hair.

The big elk was more than 300 yards away, so Reeves crawled out of the blind to take the shot from a prone position with his gun propped on a hunting backpack for stability. With practice at distances of 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards at the Arnold Rifle and Pistol Club, Reeves was confident in his shot placement. As he squeezed the trigger, he watched the bull fall through his scope.

“I didn’t do anything to deserve this tag. I was just really lucky this year.”

Originally published by Leader Publications of Jefferson County on January 4, 2024.

A few weeks ago the state Department of Conservation planned a beginner’s seminar for deer hunting, and while I don’t qualify as a novice, I am not an expert by any means. Still, my first reaction was, “could I teach a class on the subject?”

I’m not volunteering and do not have the credentials, but with more than 30 years experience I believe I could create a fair curriculum for Deer Hunting 101.

The first session would be on rules and regulations. Hunter safety education is required for purchase of a permit, and signing your permit is a contract that says you agree to abide by the Wildlife Code. The required text would be the updated regulations booklet published each July by the department.

Selecting a firearm for the job is a matter of personal preference. Every hunter has his or her own favorite that they swear by and sometimes swear at. Most modern center-fire rifles shoot nearly flat well beyond a 100 yards, but newbies should stick to shorter shots. Patiently waiting for a deer to come into your proximity is the best bet.

Telescopic scopes that most guns come equipped with can be dialed in precisely for anyone to use, but a new hunter must shoot the rifle in advance to get a feel for its weight (they’re heavy), recoil (they kick) and report (they’re loud). All hunters regardless of experience level should send a few rounds down range prior to each season to refamiliarize themselves with the gun they plan to shoot when it counts.

New hunters who want to take up archery have to spend much more time getting acquainted with their bows. The repetition and muscle memory needed for accurately launching arrows requires dedicated practice to hit a stationary target. The pressure of placing a perfect shot when buck fever causes a racing heart and shallow breathing can only be overcome by confidence.

The last bit of advanced preparation is to learn all you can about the property where you hunt. Deer are just about everywhere in the state, but knowing the areas they are most likely to use during the season is a step toward success. Preseason walks in the woods, and motion-detection trail cameras can provide needed reconnaissance.

Where to hunt is also a bit of personal style. Many stands are set up near big fields. It seems logical because when you drive by you can see herds of deer in the open areas morning and evening. Deer do get killed in fields, but my response is always, “for every one you see standing exposed, there are a dozen hidden in the surrounding woods.”

You can not see as far in the forest, and many deer will pass undetected, but that’s where they live. They browse on grass and other greens or grains, but they eat acorns in the fall, and they find them among the trees. This time of year they have other deer on their minds, and again, there are many more in the woods.

Finding the best ambush point is the next consideration. I have hunted from ground blinds and elevated stands, and the view from above is significantly longer and clearer. Being 15 feet off the ground has added potential danger, so I would emphasize safety again. If you don’t have a fall-restraint system, you should stay on the ground.

It is less likely for the deer to see the hunter in a tree stand, but that doesn’t mean they won’t spot trouble above their heads. The most important piece of advice matches what I think has always been my best asset as a hunter. I can sit on my butt for a long time. Staying quiet and still while remaining vigilant for any movement or unusual noises is the key strategy.

Almost every noise you hear is going to be a squirrel, and every movement a falling leaf or flitting bird, but you have to check each out carefully. One of those times it will be the flick of a deer tail or the crunch of a hoof.

When that deer is in sight and in range, you return to the basics of hunter safety education and the importance of positively identifying your target and knowing what lies beyond. Success is the reward for a hunter’s patience, but hunting safely is what makes it a lifetime of fun.

What to do after you take the shot is full course itself. “After you pull the trigger, that’s when the real work starts.”

Originally published by Leader Publications of Jefferson County on Oct. 19, 2023. John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and is the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.

There was a time when I would count down the days to the opening of archery deer hunting season. Like a kid clicking through an Advent calendar, I was checking equipment, getting regular shooting practice and making final preparations in anticipation of the big day.

So here we are on the eve of opening day, and I’m admittedly way behind schedule. I have been watching my trail cameras all summer and feel confident in my ability to hit the target, but when the first arrows fly on Friday, Sept. 15, mine will not likely be one of them.

The warm weather and persistent insect pests are reasonable excuses, but mostly my demotivation comes from the abundance of other opportunities. I took up archery when the nine-day firearms season was not enough time. Long since the “deer hunting season” in November expanded to 11 days, and this year, even more hunting days have been added to the calendar.

The first chance comes with the addition of an early antlerless-only hunting opportunity in 100 of the state’s 114 counties. The three-day weekend season is open from Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8. Population control is the primary goal of the early season, and removing does is the best way to manage herd size.

“With deer numbers being at desired levels in most counties but continuing to increase, additional antlerless harvest is needed to stabilize the deer population,” said Jason Isabelle, cervid program supervisor for the state Department of Conservation. “This new season portion will help increase antlerless deer harvest prior to the November portion, when many hunters focus on harvesting bucks.”

Isabelle said timing of the early antlerless portion was chosen to provide hunting opportunity when weather conditions are usually favorable and to minimize conflicts with archery hunters, who usually hunt most in late October and early November.

As mentioned above, archery season opens on Sept. 15 and continues through Jan. 15. It does close during the November portion of the firearms season. Bow and arrow hunters must adjust their attire anytime firearms are allowed, like the antlerless and youth seasons. Archers are usually in all camouflage clothing, but when out at the same time and place when firearms hunting is allowed, they must wear a hunter orange hat and vest or coat.

For many years the youth-only hunting season has included an early and late portion. The first is held two weekends before the opening of the November portion, so this year hunters 15 and under will get their shots on Oct. 28 and 29. The late youth portion, Nov. 24 through 26, begins on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

That second season is overlapped by another new season, specific to those areas like Jefferson County, which are currently in Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones. In those areas with CWD restrictions, hunters may continue to pursue deer Nov. 22 through Nov. 26, which adds five days to the November portion.

“Because higher deer densities can increase the rate of CWD spread, additional deer harvest in the CWD Management Zone is needed to prevent further increases in deer numbers and help minimize the spread of the disease,” Isabelle said.

Hunters will be able to use any unfilled firearms deer hunting permits during the CWD portion and must abide by the statewide limit of one antlered deer during the firearms deer season, all portions combined. Hunters must also abide by county-specific firearms antlerless permit numbers.

Jefferson County is one of 85 counties where the number of antlerless permits available to hunters has increased from two to four this year. All of new those chances makes it tougher for an old guy to want to be up in a tree on a warm September morning. Happy Opening Day archers!

Originally published by Leader Publications of Jefferson County on Sept. 14, 2023.

Ruben Perez is an idiot, and the bad part is that he is not unique. I have been wanting to write about Ruben since I took a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park last year, but I’ve been sticking to more local issues.

I have never met the man who has offended me so significantly, and I am certain there are other Ruben Perezes in the country to whom I apologize for my abrupt assessment. I’m sure there are people who do not hold me in high regard, and I hate to think other John Winkelmans may be misjudged because of me.

But I am certain that the aforementioned Mr. Perez is a selfish jerk, and he has company. Ruben carved his name into the white bark of one of the signature aspen trees at Rocky Mountain National. His handiwork stands out among the destruction because he used his full name, while many others proudly defaced the pristine nature of the national park with only their initials.

Many may consider the vandalism a minor infraction. Obviously there are a lot of people who commit the crime. There are millions of aspens in the national park and throughout the Colorado range, so why worry about a few getting knifed on along the trails. The thousands of hikers who compact the soil around the trees may be doing even more damage.

On the contrary, those who take only pictures and leave only footprints are much better stewards of the public resource. People who leave their litter, pick the wildflowers, poach the wildlife, ignite wildfires, and whittle the woodlands for their own satisfaction are all criminals.

Aside from evidence of those obvious transgressions, everything else about our visit was awesome. Ruben and his ilk could not ruin the trip. From the highest peaks of the continental United States to the falls and streams that flow with pristine waters, Rocky Mountain National is a true treasure. Abundant wildlife navigate the unspoiled parts of the wilderness, while roads and trails allow access to visitors of all capabilities.

I was reminded of Ruben and the Rockies recently when I went to visit another natural wonder a little closer to home. With nothing else in its vicinity, the state’s largest bur oak tree stands sentry amid the vast Missouri River bottomlands southwest of Columbia, Missouri. For about 400 years it has been witness to history, and now it attracts attention from motorists who drive under its large shadow.

The National Park Service recognizes it as a landmark along the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail. It wasn’t as big when Meriwether and William passed it 200-plus years ago, but “The Big Tree” was part of the landscape as the Corps of Discovery worked their way west.

An NPS release lists the tree’s circumference at 287 inches. It is about 90 feet tall with a 130-foot spread. “It would take four full-grown men to be able to wrap their arms around the trunk.”

The tree has survived storms, floods, droughts, lightning strikes and fire, but its biggest scar is the damage done by vandals who spray-painted it with vulgarities and slurs among other lettering. The paint has the potential to complicate the trees ability to absorb carbon dioxide and expel oxygen, but using chemicals to clean the graffiti off would be more dangerous for the tree.

According to a story from the Columbia Missourian online, the vandalism took place in 2016. The recommendation at the time was to let time allow the paint to fade, but in 2023 the damage is still obvious and ugly. I took pictures of the mess, but the offending words are still legible, so I will not share those shots. At least the photo from across the road still looks majestic.

Ruben Perez is an idiot for carving his full name into a national park tree, but that term doesn’t adequately describe whoever is responsible for the defacing an historic landmark that has stoically and solidly stood the test of time and then some.

Originally published in Outdoor Guide Magazine in July 2023.

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, and Washington State Park has a De Soto address. The Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center gets its mail through a High Ridge Zip Code even though it is decidedly in St. Louis County.

It’s a stretch to try to make a claim on Gray Summit in Franklin County, but the Shaw Nature Reserve just past Pacific has hundreds of reasons to make you want to call it your own. This weekend the public is invited to see it for free in recognition of National Trails Day on June 3.

The 17 miles of hiking trails are just the beginning for this beauty, which legally belongs to Missouri Botanical Garden.

In cooperation with the state Department of Conservation, the nature reserve is hosting an Explore MOre event from 9 a.m. to noon for visitors to learn about nature and the habitats being preserved and restored at the park. Regular admission is only $5 for adults, so if you can’t make it this weekend, it’s worth the visit any other time.

At the special event, nature reserve and conservation department staff members will welcome guests to education stations ranging from history to habitats and much more. An event passport will be stamped at each location with chances to win prizes at the welcome center.

The St. Louis based Missouri Botanical Garden purchased five adjoining Franklin County farms in 1925 as a refuge for plants that were threatened by industrial pollution in the city. The mission continues to provide a protective environment for plant and animal species while educating the community about the importance of connecting with nature.

The natural areas restored on the 2,400 acres between Route 66 and the Meramec River include prairies, glades, woodlands and wetlands. Four miles of roads allow visitors to discover portions of the property from their vehicles.

Several historic buildings are also available for viewing at the reserve including a brick home built in 1879 for a Confederate army colonel, and a rustic stone and log pavilion that serves as a starting spot for several of the hiking trails.

The Dana Brown Overnight Center is a collection of buildings from the 1850s that were moved from their original locations and reconstructed on the site. The log and timber structures can be reserved for school groups, workshops or other events. The Sod House was built by the reserve staff to depict the type of home that would have been common on the country’s original prairies.

As mentioned earlier, the celebration on Saturday is in recognition of National Trails Day and Shaw Nature Reserves delivers for those looking to explore the outdoors on foot. Most of the trails are shorter than a mile in length, but the 17-mile network could provide a full day of hiking and discovery.

The longest trek in the park is the Rus Goddard River Trail at 2.5 miles. The loop can be steep as it passes through the natural surroundings en route to a gravel bar on the Meramec River. The trial is named for a long-time volunteer who helped maintain the pathways for more than 20 years.

Other notable hikes include the Wildflower Trail and the Bluff Overlook Trail that both are less than a mile and depart from near the Maritz Trail House. Both offer glade and river valley views. The Wetland Trail along Brush Creek is a fraction more than a mile and includes a 300-foot boardwalk and an observation blind and spotting scope for viewing plants and animals.

Members of the Missouri Botanical Garden can visit free year-round. For more information about the event or memberships call 314-577-9555 or visit missouribotanicalgarden.org

Originally published by Leader Publications June 1, 2023.

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 water and places to make my next cast, and AJ came up with the flower name.

“Well,” he fessed up. “Sweet William is my go-to guess whenever I notice little purple flowers.”

Fair enough. We didn’t paddle over for a closer view, even though the spring stream side gave us ample opportunities to work on our wildflower identification skills. We wanted to catch fish, but in hindsight, we probably would have been better served by a botany lesson.

This is definitely a great time of year to discover the creative colors nature has to offer. In the past week the state departments of conservation and natural resources hosted wildflower walks and even a virtual class on how to identify those glorious little signs of spring.

My schedule didn’t match up with those events, but the Taum Sauk Mountain State Park hike sounded like a great way to learn more. I decided to visit the conservation department’s webpage for a self-guided tutorial, and now I want to get out in the woods for some field research.

Navigating the website was not as tricky or exhilarating as a three-mile walk to Mina Sauk Falls, but I was able to find quite a bit of information at mdc.mo.gov by clicking on Discover Nature, then Field Guide, then Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants. The site has descriptions of 411 entries in the category and photographs of most of them. (On closer review, the Field Guide includes several duplicates, so the actual number of unique species is closer to 300.)

Of course, I looked first to check out Sweet William, whom AJ knows so well. Blue Phlox is the official name, and based on the details I found online, I am pretty sure my cousin got it right. The other thing that caught my eye in the guide was how much fun someone seemed to have coming up with the names. Wild Sweet William was tame compared to what they call many other natural gems to look for in the woods and on the river banks.

I have to learn a few of them just to be able to shout them out as a best guess. See a cluster of bright yellow: “That’s a Showy Partridge Pea.” Spot a cluster of little sky blue and white faces: “Blue-Eyed Marys.” What are those white ones? “It could be Foxglove Beardtongue.” Do you know those flat-faced violets? “I’m going with Johnny Jump-Ups.”

There are names that match the flowers’ appearances, at least in someone’s eye, including several different Lady’s Slippers, and the Dutchman’s or Woollen Breeches. It seems easy to guess how they settled on the Purple-Headed Sneezeweed.

Other names made me think I was looking through a listing of punk rock bands that were printed on an upcoming show bill. Would you consider buying tickets to see? Deptford Pink, Goat’s Beard, Downy Skullcap, Smooth Spiderwort, Philadelphia Fleabane or Jerusalem Artichoke. One of my favorite descriptions said Dead Nettle had a close relative named Henbit.

Of course the best way to check out these natural beauties is to explore the hills and dales. Since we all rarely go anywhere without a camera, it is easy to capture images and then return for identification. I was too busy trying to catch fish while AJ and I were floating along, but I do have some other pictures from previous trips.

The online field guide allows you to narrow your search by flower color, habitat and other key identifiers. I was easily able to figure out that I had a shot of a Sensitive Briar in my collection. Now I know it is more than just a good-looking wildflower, which is why I took the photo. Its Devil’s Shoelaces nickname is pretty cool too.

Missouri wildflowers bloom from early spring into the fall, so they can be a reward for a hike or float trip almost anytime. Learning about them can be fun too.

Originally published by Leader Publications on May 18, 2023.

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.

Reservations are not required, and there is no cost to have antlers measured. For more information, call 636-938-9548. The center is at 1100 Antire Road near the Interstate 44 exit 269 between Valley Park and Eureka, Missouri.

Missouri Department of Conservation press release

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, and a bit of bird education along the way.

Utilizing clues to a mystery bird and its whereabouts, hikers search for a bow and a wooden cutout of the bird in each location. Walkers who complete a scavenger hunt worksheet can submit it for a chance to win raffle prizes.

Places where the 12 birds and bows can be found include Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood, the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Jefferson Barracks, Laumeier and Tilles parks in south St. Louis County, Missouri Botanical Garden and Forest, Lafayette and Bellerive parks in St. Louis, St. Ferdinand Park in Florissant, Spanish Lake Park in north St. Louis County, and the Audubon Center in West Alton, near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Participants have until Feb. 5 to find the bows and birds and submit their scavenger hunt form. Those who find at least seven and email the information to bows4birds@gmail.com are entered in a drawing. The grand prize basket includes a $680 pair of binoculars, and other donated prizes include a Big Muddy River adventure, gift cards, bird feeders, St. Louis Cardinals tickets and more. Participants are also encouraged to share images on social media utilizing the hashtag #BowsForBirds23.

You can find all the details, the scavenger hunt form and clues for each park at riverlands.audubon.org. The prize drawing is scheduled for Feb. 10 during the organization’s Great Backyard Bird Count virtual training.

We went to the World Bird Sanctuary near Eureka. For more than 45 years the facility has served as a rehabilitation hospital for raptors and a showcase for many other avian co-inhabitants of our planet.

The birds—and the work that is being done with them—bring visitors from all over. A paved footpath leads past large enclosures that serve as homes of injured birds that have been rescued, but for many reasons can not be returned to the wild. The hiking trails are a bonus.

Located at 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Way, the bird recognized as our national symbol is an obvious star of the show. The bald eagle’s story of recovery in North America is symbolic of the work that goes on at the sanctuary. Once exploited and nearly extirpated, wild flocks are now a main winter attraction in our area along the Mississippi River.

Along the footpath you can observe birds from big emus to comparatively tiny sharp-shinned hawks with a menagerie in between. Owls, pelicans, pheasants, falcons, and others from our backyards and around the world watch you watching them, try to hide from prying eyes, and in some cases answer back to a visitor’s greeting.

Dozens of birds recovering from a variety of injuries and circumstances are available for viewing. The sanctuary and its hospital are home to about 270 different critters including eagles, hawks, parrots, vultures, reptiles, and other injured or endangered species.

The 305-acre property works cooperatively with the state Department of Natural Resources. Outreach programs have educated more than a million school children. The rehabilitation hospital has treated more than 21,000 injured birds, and the facility has connections for bird conservation on four continents.

An admission charge funds the work at the sanctuary. The cost is $8 for an individual, $12 for a vehicle with two or more people, or $20 for buses with 10 or more. Children ages 5 and under are admitted for free. The facility is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other ways to support the birds include direct donations, memberships, guest experience events, volunteering and more. For additional information call 636-225-4390.

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

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 or acquaintances whose wishes remained unfulfilled.

I attribute my gift wrapping talent to being able to handle packages, paper, scissors, and tape in the front seat of a pick-up truck as my cousin, Bones Malone, drove us over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house on Christmas Day more than once when we were in our 20s.

I still do most of the wrapping, but I haven’t had to fight the crowds for more than 30 years, since the arrival of my own Christmas angel. Kelly considers last-minute shopping to be any date after Thanksgiving. She scouts for thoughtful things all year long and usually has most of “our” gift giving wrapped up before the stores have put away the Halloween decor.

In years past, I have recommended bird feeders and seeds as great gifts for anyone with even a slight connection to the great outdoors. The state Department of Conservation’s Natural Events Calendar gives all year long with its remarkable photography and daily reminders about the world outside the windows here in Missouri.

Those make fine gifts, but this past year I discovered another great idea in a gift to me. For my 60^th birthday I received a guided fishing trip with Ryan Walker from OSA Guides and Outfitters. My gift certificate said that the Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance founder would take two anglers—on a mutually agreeable date—for a chance to battle bronzebacks on a southwest Missouri stream.

I have always been a do-it-myself kinda guy, and I certainly didn’t need someone to bait my line or take fish off of my hooks. But I have to admit that’s a pretty nice perk. Ryan said we could bring our own equipment and do all we wanted, or we could just show up at the boat ramp and he would take care of everything else. We chose the latter and had a terrific day.

No one was too disappointed when spring rains in the week before our scheduled trip made the smallmouth streams a little too swift. We called an audible to try our luck at catching walleye in tailwaters below a dam where the current was much more under control.

Walker offers gift certificates for smallmouth or walleye fishing trips on his website osaguidesoutfitters.com, and our experience was much more than fishing. We were able to learn tricks and tips from a true professional, and we collected a few new fish stories along the way.

I took the trip with Lucky Jim, who is an accomplished angler himself, but I realized that a guided trip would be great to share with someone of less experience. Lessons from a patient master of the craft may resonate better than instructions from Dad or a spouse. The together time would be the gift, while the guide did all the work.

I have had the good fortune to take a guided trip or two through the years. I have never had a bad experience, but picking a professional partner may require a more than randomly selecting someone based on a roadside sign or other solicitation. Walker and OSA Guides and Outfitters came recommended by a mutual friend. If you check out osaguidesoutfitters.com you’ll see a website as professional as the angler, and his work is on display on social media too. For more information call 417-366-3617.

If you still need to land a great present for an angler on your list, the memories from an experience gift like a guided fishing trip will outlast most of the other things you could find in the store. I know because I have been in those aisles and the pickings can be pretty slim.

Originally published by Leader Newspapers of Jefferson Vounty on Dec. 23, 2022.

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 for my opinion rather than for me to begin a random rant. Alas, there was more (or less) to the request than I thought. Throughout the month of December the state is collecting comments about public places to reach rivers and lakes, but it is specifically regarding an environmental assessment procedure.

The 60-plus pages of report that is available for review reads as raw and redundant. For what I could glean from the document, they want to use a simpler method for determining how plans for river and lake accesses affect the surrounding properties, including the human, plant, and animal residents in the area.

The suggested change would save money and time for building new accesses or renovating, and relocating existing properties. Trying to reduce the taxpayers’ burden and speed up the process for government work would not likely have many detractors. By my interpretation, potential environmental impacts are addressed, and when a conflict with the new rules arises, the old requirements return.

A public comment period for saving money and time seems like a waste of both. Either way, if you want to provide your input, the Draft Generic Environmental Assessment for Public Access Sites in Missouri can be viewed online at https://mdc.mo.gov/media/118586, and you may send an email to state fisheries program supervisor Laura.Ruman@mdc.mo.gov before Dec. 31.

The need for more and better accesses is evident, and according to the press release, the state is obligated to spend a specific portion of federal money it receives on providing anglers and boaters better ways to reach the water.

“Over time, new and improved boat accesses are necessary to help meet increasing demand generated by increased boat ownership and leisure time,” Ruman said in the press release. “Accesses are frequently damaged during flood events and may require closure until the damage is repaired or the access is relocated.”

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service provides Sports Fish Restoration funds to the states, and 15% of that money must be spent on access renovation, construction, or maintenance. The taxes come from federal excise on fishing equipment, import duties on boats, and portion of the fuel tax. It is distributed based on a state’s geographic size and number of fishing permits sold.

I have no doubt that our state spends its required allotment on the hundreds of access across our wide Missouri, but I always want the ones I might use to be better or even available. I have visited a few that are barely accessible.

An ongoing initiative in Missouri invites anglers to complete its Smallmouth Slam, by landing at least one bronze beauty from 12 different streams where special regulations protect them.

Three of those options are in or near Jefferson County. The entire length of Big River has multiple locations throughout its length to join the flow and try to catch a fish. It may be the most accessible of all the streams in the state. The Mineral Fork and the Joachim Creek are near the opposite side of the equation.

Walther Park in De Soto has fantastic facilities for just about everything you could want from a public property, but its potential for providing significant smallmouth bass fishing is limited. The rest of the Joachim Creek in the special management zone has better angling options, but it is almost exclusively in private ownership.

The conservation department’s Kingston Access in Washington County is a parking lot and quarter-mile hiking path to the Mineral Fork. Wade fishing is possible, or kayakers and canoeists who are willing to carry their equipment can float the three miles to Big River for downriver access sites.

Even with the new and improved environmental assessment plans, the state’s opportunities to reach its fishable waters face significant limitations.

Originally published by Leader Newspapers of Jefferson County Dec. 15, 2022.