FINS, FEATHERS, FUR

PIEDMONT, Mo. Now is the time plan for warm weather gatherings at Clearwater Lake.

Reservations for use of seven group shelters around the lake are now available.

"These shelters are popular for family reunions, birthdays, and holiday celebrations," said Joe Corbin of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "They're usually booked well in advance."

Reservation to use the shelters in 1993 may be made by calling (314)-223-7777, or by writing the Corps of Engineers, Rte. 3, Box 3559D, Piedmont, Mo., 63957.

The reservation fee is $20 for a half-day, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., or from 2 to 10 p.m. The full-day fee is $30. Any shelter can be used at no cost from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless they have been reserved. The group shelters are furnished with picnic tables and grills and will serve about 100 people.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Illinois conservationists are gearing up for their annual count of bald eagles wintering in the state, according to Illinois Department of Conservation director Brent Manning.

"Each year at this time, personnel with the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board and other professionals and volunteers participate in an effort to count wintering eagles in Illinois," said Manning. "It is not intended to be an exact county, but gives us numbers to compare to counts of previous years so we can judge how eagle populations are doing."

Manning said a steady increase is shown. "Last year, 2,025 winters eagles were county, compared to 1,864 in 1991 and 1,539," said Manning.

The Illinois count is part of the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey, conducted by the National Wildlife Federation.

Results of the count will be announced in late February or early March.

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JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri Conservation Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Jan. 29 at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach.

Commissioners are: Jay Henges, St. Louis, chairman; Jerry P. Combs, Kennett, vice chairman; Andy Dalton, Springfield, secretary; and John Powell, Rolla, member.

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OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. More than a half-million Canada geese are still in the Southern Illinois area, with more than 100,000 at the Horseshoe Lake Refuge area in Alexander County.

The latest goose census, conducted Tuesday in Southern Illinois/Western Kentucky area, shows about 597,000 geese in the area, up more than 50,000 from the count of a week ago.

More than 550,000 of the geese are in Southern Illinois, with 165,000 at the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge near Carbondale; 105,000 at Horseshoe Lake; more than 100,000 at Rend Lake; 58,000 at Union County Wildlife Refuge.

A total of 46,000 geese were counted at Ballard County Wildlife Refuge in West Kentucky.

Harvest total in the four-county Alexander, Union, Jackson and Williamson counties is 12,185 through Saturday. A total of 3,335 geese have been harvested in Alexander County; 2,247 in Union County, and 6,603 in the Crab Orchard area near Carbondale.

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PUXICO Eagle Days will be held at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near here Feb. 6-7.

Eagle Days provide Missourians a chance to view eagles in the wild and learn more about conservation efforts to bring back the national bird. Each event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a Saturday and Sunday.

Dates and locations of this year's Eagle Days events are:

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Mound City, Dec. 5-6.

Table Rock Lake, Dewey Short Visitor Center, Branson, Jan. 9-10.

Clarksville Lock & Dam No. 24, Clarksville, Jan. 30-31.

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Puxico, Feb. 6-7.

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CARTERVILLE, Ill. The Illinois Department of Conservation and the Williamson County Tourism Bureau has teamed up to sponsored the official Illinois Big Buck Expo in March.

The two-day, March 13-14 event, will be held at John A. Logan Community College at Carterville.

Judy Kovar, a Northern Cheyenne Indian. and an archer who lives in Illinois, and Leonard Lee Rue III, author and photographer, will conduct seminars during the Expo.

Kovar, acclaimed as America's best lady archer, will present seminars at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 13, and at 11 a.m. March 14. Rue, today's most published wildlife photographer, will appear in seminars at 2 and 5 p.m. March 3 and at 1 and 4 p.m. March 14.

Other show events and attractions include the "Police Decoy Deer Program," by the DOC, "Private Land Restoration," by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife group, manufacturers booths and "Deer Hunting in Shawnee Forest," by the Forest Service staff.

Deer hunters are asked to bring their deer mounts. Deer head check-in ends at 1 p.m. March 14, with awards presentations for winners in five categories at 4:30 p.m.

Additional information is available by calling 1-800-433-7399.