Conservation is efficient

I offer this in reply to the commentary by Dr. Stephen Stigers published on Dec. 9, 2014.

I would like to comment on his remarks regarding deer management and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

As an avid outdoorsman and volunteer with the Department of Conservation, I am familiar with its operations. As a source for my comments I refer to a 2008 booklet titled "Conservation Facts Handbook: A Resource for Those Who Speak and Write About the Missouri Department of Conservation."

The Missouri statement of the MDC is: 1) To protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife resources; 2) To serve the public and facilitate their participating in resource management activities; 3) And to provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about fish, forest, and wildlife resources. While hunting is considered a valuable wildlife management tool I can assure Dr. Stigers that MDC's primary agenda is not limited to promote hunting.

In Missouri 93 percent of the land is privately owned. The Department owns or manages less than 2 percent of land in Missouri and rarely, if ever, recommends clear cutting of forests as a harvest practice.

At times in the past, deer harvest has been limited to bucks only. This practice allows the does to survive, breed and thus grow the herd. For a number of years now biologists have recommended just the opposite; they encourage the harvesting of does to reduce and control the number of deer. That is working. Many of these deer are donated to a program called "Share the Harvest." This high quality meat is processed and given to food banks and other organizations. Last year alone over 225,000 pounds of venison was donated! Deer hunting in Missouri generates $1.1 billion of business activity and supports 11,000 jobs annually.

MDC receives part of its budget from sales tax receipts. Of Missouri's sales tax of 4.255 percent, 3 percent goes to the general fund. Education receives 1.9 percent, conservation 0.125 percent and parks/soils receive 0.1 percent. MDC does not receive any money from the general fund. The MDC budget receipts are broken down as follows: sales tax receipts 60 percent, permits sales 8 percent, federal reimbursements 13.5 percent, sales and rentals 5 percent, other sources 2 percent, interest 0.7 percent. One could easily say that Conservation pays its way in Missouri.

The U.S. Forest Service and the Corps of Engineers do manage their lands and lakes in Missouri. They are funded by the federal budget. Many times the MDC cooperates with these organizations. Our state parks that Dr. Stigers refers to are part of the Department of Natural Resources. As such their share of Missouri sales tax is the 0.1 percent as noted above. As I recall, anytime these tax issues have been on the ballot here it has been very clear what they were to be for: conservation, parks, etc.

The claim of lavish entertainment and travel for agency officials is very hard to imagine. My observation is the MDC is very efficient and conscientious steward of taxpayer money it receives. The MDC is widely recognized as one of the leading state conservation agencies in the United States. We are fortunate to have these professionals managing our resources.

Fiehler is a resident of Cape Girardeau.