FINS, FURS, FEATHERS

WEST PLAINS -- The Conservation Commission has established dates for the nine-day firearms deer season in Missouri, Nov. 13-21.

Deer hunters using muzzleloaders will have a split season, Nov. 13-21, and Dec. 4-12.

Archery deer and turkey seasons will run from Oct. 1 through Nov. 12, and from Nov. 22 through Dec. 31.

Last year's firearms deer harvest was up 1 percent, with 148,764 deer taken. Given normal production this spring and favorable weather this fall, a record harvest is possible in 1993.

Last year 94,809 archers did set a record, with 15,134 deer taken statewide.

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Donald L. Rollins of Zionsville, Ind., has been elected president of Ducks Unlimited, the international waterfowl and wetlands conservation organizations.

Rollins previous served as DU's senior vice president for the Northeast Mississippi Flyway, regional vice president, Indians state chairman, and as a member of the Ducks Unlimited Board Directors.

Ducks Unlimited is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn.

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JEFFERSON CITY Missouri squirrel season opened May 29 and will continue through Dec. 31.

Hunters may take up to six squirrels daily, and can possess up to 12.

Warm-weather squirrel hunting offers special challenges and rewards. Bob Staton, hunter skills coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation says it also requires special caution.

"With all the foliage on trees at this time of year, it's especially important for hunters to be sure of their targets and be aware of the direction of fire," said Staton. "It's easy to lose track of hunting partners, and that can spell disaster."

Staton says wearing hunter-orange clothing is a proven way to prevent accidents in which hunters are mistaken for game or caught in the line of fire of other hunters. But hikers, photographers and many other outdoor recreationists share the summer woods with squirrel hunters, and these people may not be wearing protective colors. Caution in identifying targets and choosing a safe line of fire is the only certain way to avoid accidents.

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Free fishing days are coming up in Missouri and Illinois.

Anyone in the Show-Me State can fish without a license June 12-13. Each year, the Missouri Department of Conservation asks the governor to set aside a weekend when residents and non-residents alike can fish free. On those two days, permits, daily trout tags and trout stamps are unnecessary at any MDC areas and other places. Requirements for special permits may still be in effect in some county, city or private waters, however.

Illinois permits four free fishing days each year. The dates for "Free Fishing Days" in Illinois this year are June 11-14.

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The Velo Girardeau Bicycle Club will holds its "Midnight Ramble Dry Run" Sunday. Riders will meet at 2 p.m., and tour the major thoroughfares in Cape Girardeau in a preview of the June 12 Riverfest Ramble.

The Riverfest rides, of 12 and six miles, will start at 12:30 a.m. June 12 at the Show Me Center.

The June 13 ride is the Oak Ridge Run, a distance of 40 miles. Riders will meet at Kent Library at 2 p.m. for this jaunt.

Other June rides are the Kelso to Chaffee Backroad Boneshaker June 20, a 27-mile ride, with participants to meet at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport at 2 p.m., and the June 27 Y-P-G Loop, a 30-mile ride, with riders to meet at Kent Library at 2 p.m.

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The Velo Girardeau Bicycle Club will meet Monday at the Cape Girardeau Library, 711 N. Clark, at 7 p.m.

The club's summer Tuesday/Thursday rides have started. The rides leave from Cherry Hill in Capaha Park each Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

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The Buck McNeely Outdoorsman Expo and Sporting Clays Tournament will be held Aug. 28-29 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Special events include archery contests, petting zoo, shooting gallery, seminars, and other activities.

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ST. LOUIS The June meeting of the Missouri Conservation Commission will be held June 23-24 at locations in St. Louis.

The first session in the Commission's two-day meeting will begin at 2 p.m. June 23 at The Ritz-Carlton, 100 Carondelet Plaza. The second session will begin at 9 a.m. June 24 at the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park off U.S. Highway 40.

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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WAPPAPELLO Waterfest '93 will be held at the Peoples Creek Beach at Wappapello Lake July 3-4.

Activities will include a blind water balloon volley, tug-of-war, puppet show, water basketball, talent contests and castle and sand sculpture contests.

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The cost of fishing in Illinois may be going up.

Under a proposed new fee structure, fishing license will cost $12.50, an increase of $5.50.

Licenses have cost $7 in Illinois since 1982.

The national average for fishing license costs in the U.S. is $11.92.

Missouri resident license cost $8.

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WEST PLAINS The Missouri Conservation Commission approved acquisition of several areas during its May meeting here.

New acquisitions announced:

1.5-acre gift in Buchanan County as a new public fishing access to the Missouri River.

134 acres in Stoddard County transferred from the Farmers Home Administration as an addition to the Holly Ridge Conservation Area.

537 acres in Barton County purchased as a new prairie chicken habitat area.

250 acres in Miller County purchased as an addition to Saline Valley Conservation Area.

40 acres in Mississippi County purchased as an addition to Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area.

20 acres in Johnson County as an addition to Ralph and Martha Perry Memorial Conservation Area.