Outdoors digest

Private grant ups ante for turkey poachers

Illegal turkey hunting, already a risky proposition for game law violators, is about to get even riskier. Angered by outlaws who kill turkeys illegally, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) has put up cash to help the Missouri Department of Conservation catch turkey poachers.

Illegal turkey hunting is a chronic problem, particularly in the southern half of Missouri. Special operations in recent years have dramatically increased the number of arrests for turkey hunting violations. Now the NWTF has added $12,000 in matching money to help the Conservation Department's Protection Division target turkey violations. Most of the effort will focus on the area south of the Missouri River, where poaching before and during the spring season is a particular problem.

Terry Roberson, the Ozark Region Protection Field Chief for the Conservation Department, said the matching money will pay for specialized equipment and help defray the costs of special operations. He said the grant is just a small part of the role the NWTF plays in wild turkey conservation.

"Our partnership with the NWTF will reap the benefits of a healthy turkey flock and safe, ethical hunters in Missouri," he said.

Paddlefish season begins March 15 in Missouri

With small eyes that peer over a two-foot long spoonbill snout at one end and a thresher shark's tail at the other end, it's unlikely many would describe the paddlefish as attractive. But for hundreds of Missouri anglers there is nothing more beautiful than the sight of a seven-foot long, 100-pound paddlefish at the end of a snagline.

The paddlefish snagging season begins March 15 and lasts 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. The minimum length limit is 34 inches on Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Truman Lake and their tributaries. The Osage River between Bagnell Dam and the U.S. Highway 54 bridge is closed to snagging, snaring and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.

Anglers must stop snagging, snaring or grabbing for any species of fish after taking a daily limit of two paddlefish on Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks and their tributaries and on the Osage River below Highway 54.

Full details of paddlefish regulations are listed in the 2002 Summary of Fishing Regulations, which is available free wherever fishing permits are sold.

The challenge of hauling in a large fish is just part of the thrill of paddlefish snagging. Paddlefish aren't interested in any kind of lure or bait that can be put on a hook. Consequently, anglers must snag the big fish by randomly jerking lines with treble hooks in the water. Snagging is effective only when paddlefish are concentrated in a few areas. This occurs in the spring when the fish move upstream in response to their spawning urge.

Even though paddlefish still obey their urge to spawn, dams, pollution and habitat destruction on the Osage River now prevent successful spawning. Missouri's paddlefish population depends on stocking by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Migratory bird hunting permits OK through June

Hunters are encouraged to put their Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permits to use by hunting snow, blue and Ross's geese through April 30.

A MBHP is all that's needed to hunt light geese under regulations set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This is the fourth year that federal officials have issued a conservation order to increase light goose harvests. The action is designed to stop ecological damage to the birds nesting grounds around Hudson's Bay in Canada.

North American light goose numbers have grown so large in recent years that their nesting habitat around Hudson Bay no longer can support them. Wildlife biologists say the animals literally are eating themselves out of a habitat. Parts of the area have been so heavily overgrazed that biologists believe those areas likely will not recover in our lifetime. Reductions in snow, blue and Ross' geese population are needed to prevent further damage to the nesting grounds.

While the conservation order is in effect there are no daily or bag limits on light geese. Hunters may use unplugged shotgun and electronic calls to aid their hunting efforts.

To help hunters locate snow goose concentrations, the Missouri Department of Conservation provides weekly snow goose reports at www.conservation.state.mo.us/hunt/wtrfowl/weekly-snow.

Survey shows bass virus in more Missouri lakes

Largemouth Bass Virus is spreading across the United States and the Missouri Department of Conservation reports that it is now spreading through Missouri's waters. LMBV was first detected in Missouri in 1999 at Table Rock Lake, according to Fisheries Division Administrator Norm Stuckey. As of 2001, the virus has been documented in Wappapello Lake, Lake Springfield, Harry S Truman Reservoir, Lake of the Ozarks, Bull Shoals Lake and Norfolk Lake.

Several Missouri lakes were tested for the virus in 1999 and 2000 as part of the National Wild Fish Health Survey and other routine disease studies. LMBV was not found outside of Table Rock until the 2001 survey.

LMBV may have entered Missouri through contaminated live wells of boats or the illegal stocking of infected fish. It is not known to cause disease in humans or other mammals.

-- From staff reports