FINS, FEATHERS AND FUR

Hunting, fishing and camping equipment and seminars will be presented at the Sports Show, to be held Feb. 11-13 at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus.

Show hours will be 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 11; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 12; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 13.

The 10th annual Spring Sports and Recreation Show is being held at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Arena this weekend, Feb. 4-6.

More than 100 booths will exhibit fishing, hunting and other outdoor equipment. Seminars will be presented throughout the weekend.

Admission is $3. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

SEMO Gun Show, Inc., will host a two-day, Saturday-Sunday, gun show at the Arena Building Saturday and Sunday.

The show will feature guns, knives and related items.

Show hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The annual St. Louis Boat & Sports Show will be held Feb. 8-13, at Cervantes Center in downtown St. Louis.

Sailboats, pontoon boats, cruisers, and bass boats will be on display, along with engines, fishing gear, and other travel exhibits.

Show hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 20 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13.

Additional information is available by calling (314)-567-0020.

"1994 Fishing Prospects," a publication of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Fisheries Division, is now available.

The report contains detailed information about where and how to catch fish on more than 17 streams and 35 lakes, including those at James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area (WA) east of Kansas City and at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area west of St. Louis.

The report also includes information about largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass; bluegill and other sunfish; redhorse and other suckers; white, striped and hybrid striped bass; crappie, walleye, trout, catfish, carp, grass carp, drum, buffalo, gar, chain pickerel and rock bass.

To receive a free copy of the report, write to: Missouri Department of Conservation, "Fishing Prospects," P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo., 65102-0180.

Eagle surveyors saw fewer bald and golden eagles in Missouri this year than in 1993, but Jim D. Wilson, natural history ornithologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said the drop is not a cause for concern.

Early reports showed a total of 1,724 eagles in Missouri during the annual count last month. That is 690 fewer than last year, when a cold spell chased hundreds of eagles into Missouri from more northerly states. The 1993 total of 2,414 eagles was an all-time record.

Wilson said unofficial figures showed 1,167 adult bald eagles, 540 immature bald eagles, five adult golden eagles and five immature golden eagles.

The Missouri Conservation Commission will hold its next meeting Thursday at Sikeston at the Ramada Inn, starting at 10:15 a.m.

Commissioners are: Jerry P. Combs, Kennett, chairman; Andy Dalton, Springfield, vice chairman; John Powell, Rolla, secretary; and Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City, member.

The Ozark Mountain Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its annual turkey-calling contest Saturday at Ironton Elementary School.

Calling will be in four divisions -- Amateur, Friction, Open and Owl Hooting.