Outdoor Briefs 4/19/02

New Dept. of Conversation director begins job July 1

John Hoskins, a native of Carter County and now living in Jefferson City, Mo., has been appointed as the seventh director of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Hopkins, 47, has been with the department since 1977 and served in a variety of positions. He attended the University of Missouri and Southeast Missouri State University on scholarships and graduated from Southeast in 1975 with a degree in education.

"John represents the very best of several excellent candidates," commissioner Stephen Bradford of Cape Girardeau said. "His vision and personal value system will carry the mission of our department to a very high level of achievement."

Hoskins will begin his new position July 1 after the retirement of the present director, Jerry Conley.

DeSoto fisherman snags state's largest spoonbill

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. -- Some anglers fish a lifetime and never catch a record fish. Then there are anglers like Wayne Russell of De Soto, Mo., who, on his first paddlefishing trip, snagged the largest spoonbill ever taken from Missouri waters.

On the second day of the season, the 56-year old retiree hauled in a 139 pound, 4 ounce paddlefish from Table Rock Lake. The previous record was a paddlefish weighing 134 pounds, 12 ounces caught in Lake of the Ozarks in 1998.

Paddlefish season continues through April 30. The daily limit is two. In most waters, paddlefish must be released immediately if they measure less than 24 inches from eye to fork of tail. Full details of paddlefish regulations are listed in the Summary of Fishing Regulations, which is available wherever fishing permits are sold.

Commission sets meeting April 29-30 at Eminence

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo -- The Missouri Conservation Commission will meet April 29 and 30 at the Jerry J. Presley Education Center near Eminence, Mo. Workers from all divisions within the Conservation Department work together to develop broader management plans that recognize the interdependence of different species and areas.

Commission meetings are open to the public. Items to be placed on the agenda for presentations or other business should be sent in writing to: Director, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo., 65102-0180; fax 751-4467. Requests must be received by April 15.

Supplying food to bears can lead to trouble

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With more people spending time outdoors in the warm weather, supplying meals to bears in campgrounds or near homes can make bears ignore their fear of humans.

Missouri has a small bear population -- about 300 -- mostly in the east-central Ozarks and southwestern corner of the state. Forests in those areas supply the food bears need to survive and enough space to steer clear of people.

"Bears are very easily habituated to human feeding," Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Research Biologist Dave Hamilton said. "A lot of problems can occur when bears are conditioned to expect food from humans. It's up to us to prevent those problems by removing anything that can attract bears to our homes."

Purple paint law designed to help property owners

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's Purple Paint Statute of 1993 was designed as a simple way for landowners to protect their property rights. The law recognizes purple paint on trees and fence posts as a means of marking private property against trespass.

Landowners using paint to mark their property must place the paint between 3 and 5 feet off the ground on trees and fence posts no more than 100 feet apart.

Trespass in the first degree is punishable by a fine of up to $500, a six-month jail sentence or both.

-- From staff reports