LETTERS: CONCERNS ABOUT DUCK CREEK WILDLIFE AREA

To the editor:

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission is not the only state entity that answers to no one and sets its own agenda. The Missouri Department of Conservation is another.

I know it is almost sacrilege to criticize the Conservation Department, but it is becoming less and less responsive to the hunters and fishermen in its management decisions.

The manager of Duck Creek duck reserve and fishing lake southwest of Advance decided during the worst drought in years to drop the level of the Duck Creek pool by two or three feet because the depth of the lake was detrimental to some trees in the north end of the lake. This drop in the water level practically killed the fishing and will now cut into the duck hunting at Duck Creek. Is this called wildlife management? I believe Larry and Moe could do a better job.

One other thing. The Conservation Department takes in over $70 million in taxes and license fees. It looks to me like the department could afford to hard-surface the road back into Duck Creek. It has to be the worst gravel road in the United States. If the dust doesn't choke you, the washboard surface jiggles your eyeballs out.

Come on, all you outdoorsman. Speak out and remind the Conservation Department that it works for us and this is where we want some of our tax dollars spent.

DAVID E. YOUNG

Jackson