DISABLED TO HUNT

SMITHVILLE -- Hunters with permanent mobility impairments will have a chance to hunt deer Nov. 23 and 24 at the Smithville Reservoir in Clay and Clinton counties.

Guides will be available to assist up to 25 disabled hunters during the two-day hunt, which is sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local volunteers. Deer hunting permits will be provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The deadline for applications to participate in the special hunt is Oct. 1. For applications and additional information, contact: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 16311 DD Highway, Smithville, Mo. 64089. Phone: (816) 532-0174.

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Grouse stockings

ROLLA The Missouri Department of Conservation expects to receive between 280 and 320 ruffed grouse from Indiana and Washington during the next few weeks. The birds will be released at eight locations in Taney, Barry and Phelps counties. With protection from hunting and a little luck, these birds will serve as "seed" stock for self-sustaining grouse populations in those areas.

Ruffed grouse inhabited many parts of Missouri before the turn of the century, but unregulated hunting and changing land uses caused their disappearance. The Department has been working to restore grouse to areas with suitable habitat since 1978, and the restoration program is now in its final phase. Department officials say they expect to conduct the last reintroduction releases in 1995.

`Color' reports

JEFFERSON CITY--Want to know when the colors of fall foliage reach their peak in the Ozarks, Oregon or the Appalachians? You can get an up-to-date report by calling the USDA Forest Service Fall Color Hot Line, (202) 205-1780.

Stanley Krugman, director of Forest Management Research for the Forest Service, said late rains in parts of the eastern and western U.S. promise exciting tree color in those areas.

"Color changes are primarily brought on by increasing hours of darkness that accompany the fall season," said Krugman, "but exact timing of peak color is also affected by weather."

Krugman said the hot line report will be updated weekly and will continue throughout the fall.