SKMO

Can I check in here with some bear stuff (glad the rattlesnakes went away, JDMidwest kind of suckered me into that one) It's good to see a "lack of hysteria" about black bears. I think they are just slowly moving into MO habitat from Arkansas and points south. I am pretty sure there is no covert bear stocking going on by MDC, but to their credit they are monitoring the natural ingress of the critters. It would be cool if the population got to a point we could have a regulated season down the road, but I am sure this is many years off. I have encountered more than a few black bears over the years in MN, WI, MT, Pacific NW, AK and Canada, and one in MO. Some up close and very personal. I would describe them as big raccoons.... but that being said a 100 pound raccoon (if one existed) could tear you a new one. A 200 pounder can tear you a serious new one, and replace it with one of his choosing. So yes they are potentially dangerous, but the odds of a big Yogi picking a fight with you in Missouri are, well, pretty much non-existent. Like a coon they would rather flee than fight, at least in my experience. The greatest potential of serious endangerment comes as the gas pump on your way to the "bear woods" when Meth Head Willie starts having a bad day. That's when you need to be "Heads Up & Packing". I have eaten quite a bit of black bear and it is very good. I mean really good. I have dined on several northern (Ontario) bear and maybe the bears down this way are not as tasty. I have not had the opportunity to try any Southern Bear. But I really enjoy a young Ozark coon, properly dressed, and presented with a vintage American brew, so maybe my culinary standards are less than stellar. Anyway, in my opinion, if anyone hesitates going into an Ozark woods due to fear of a bear, they either need to stay at home or better yet get a mentor to show them the way down the trail. I have more concerns about the trigger-happy, bear-o-phobic citified gun-toter, and the tweaker dude at the gas pump. Heck at least I can reason with the bear. All this just my opinion.

Not sure where to begin here. 1) Yes all the critters/seed you mentioned HAVE been traded for. Except for rattlers and "bass". 2) Who in MDC would admit to a "rattler for turkey trade"... that would be nobody because it has never happened. 3) It "Could have happened" as you stated but so what ? It did not. MDC "could have" traded turkeys for Russian T72 tanks. 4) As far as your "General Theory" Missouri's wild turkey have been a trading chit since the 60's, mutually beneficial to everyone involved. Yes this has been "historically proved". 5) As others have stated... rattlesnakes are not that uncommon and never have been. 6) "It always makes for a good excuse this time of year when turkeys are hard to find." - Huh? Say what?? Turkeys can be hard to find and even harder to bag. I have never felt the need to justify my lack of success since I readily admit they are smarter than myself. However if I had to make an excuse I am not sure I could incorporate the word "Rattlesnake" in the sentence. "Rattlesnakes ate the turkeys" is one possibility. "MDC traded my turkeys for rattlesnakes" is another. "I'm so afraid of all the rattlesnakes I can't get out of the truck" maybe? 7) "But the MDC constantly denies it". - Of course they do it is total BS. ============= Nothing to see here folks, please move along. However the line for tinfoil hats is forming on the left for those that wish one. SKMO

Do you actually believe this, that rattlesnakes were traded for turkeys and stocked? I have heard this for 40 years and among all the ridiculous "Urban Legends"(in this case a rural legend)this one remains near the top. Makes for a good conspiracy theory though, the govt and MDC doing all kind of covert stuff they don't want us to know about. Of course everyone knows someone whose cousin's next-door neighbor's baby-sitter actually SAW them being dropped from the helicoptor, or knows the employee first hand who did the stocking. So it's gotta be true.

I built this 15 years ago. CCA treated pine. In good shape, very heavy and solid, all 2 X 6 construction. Brown in color, could use a coat of paint. There is a slight bow in the tabletop. This is solid and has several years use left in it. Call me on my cell if you are in terested 417.342-1898 Thanx

Had a great morning in the woods. Called in two big gobblers a 0630. Flew out of the tree and walked to me within 10 minutes. They were broadside at 40 yards and I passed as I was unsure of the distance at the time. They walked over a little ridge and gobbled their heads off within 100-200 yards until 0830. I moved to a better position and had another hunter screw them up.... walked right into them. Back to the truck. Drove a mile to another ridge and went in blind at 0945. No gobbling but I knew there were some nearby. At 1030 heard a bird open up maybe 250 yds away on the next ridge. Made some agressive box calls and long story short called up 2 more adults, killed one at 11 am at 20 yards. 21.4 pounds, 10.25" beard and 1" spurs. 4 longbeards within range in one morning. About the most fun I have had for $17 since I went to Mexico in college. Adrenaline has worn off and I have a bird to clean.

Water has cleared to about Jakie/deer bluff as of yesterday. Pretty discolored from Sweetwater to the island.

Look through the following site, register and ask your question. I am positive you will get your answer: http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/ Sounds like a worn or rounded extractor, or maybe in fact you don't have it as clean and slick as you think. These are great guns and tend to function flawlessly. I doubt if you will have problems getting it to run smooth. If you are not picky try some different ammo. The current cheap bulk stuff is crap. Try a box of CCI Standard Veloctiy, if you have problems with that then you do in fact have a minor problem. Here's another good source: http://www.histandard.info/ Good luck, don't worry you have a great little handgun.

Baxter ramp is definitely open. I was attempting to catch fish nearby last weekend and saw a couple boats launch. Anyone needing info on Corps facilities can call 417/334-4101 and talk w/them directly.

I have spent several hours the last 10 days dodging the FLW boats and doing some alternative species fishing. FYI in case anyone is interested the bass fishing is good, the white and crappie fishing great in the King's river. For the whites we have been finding them between Kings River Marina and Jakie. On the gravel flats in 4-10' water early and late or all day if it is cloudy. Across the lake on bluffs during clear mid-day periods. Have been catching some real nice sized whites 2.5# and larger. In 4 attempts we have caught 6, 8, 13, and 17 of these brutes. Crappie in the hardwood poles, 10-40' of water, suspended 3-12' deep, the sunnier it is the deeper you need to go. Crappie fishing for me seems to be best from 2PM on. In the same 4 trips we bagged 37 obviously legal crappie, with maybe 6 sublegal. If we have to measure them we toss them back, let me tell you these are some really nice sized fish, the majority 12"+. I think with the lake level as messed up as it was last year, and the fact that there were virtually NO fisherpersons harvesting whites or crappie in March/April/May of '08, 2009 will be a great year for panfisherman-types. It's going on now, get out there and make your mark. !!

Terry - I used to hate kittens myself, but I'm here to tell you you are missing out on some really good eating! I know I passed up and gave away a lot of fine meals, until I was enlightened by my old neighbor Myung-Hoi. Now that old gal knew what to do with a kitten! You can do your own research but I settled on a basic marinade of buttermilk and soy sauce, then lightly seasoned and simply pan fried. Cats are a different matter, but keep in mind they are a bit tougher, and par-boiling or pressure cooking is mandatory in my experience. After that, any receipe you like for possum or muskrat will turn out to your satisfaction. My only bad experience with the feline line of fare involved a large hog roast in college where some BBQ cat got mixed up with the pork at a large midwestern college. Things got real dicey when a cheerleader was advised of the actual contents of her BBQ sammich, and her linebacker boyfriend felt he had to defend her culinary honor. Unfortunately a true story Bon Apitite' SKMO

I have an OM-2 35mm I purchased in the early 80's Only used it a few years, and has since basically sat unused for 20 years, Also have 2 additional lenses, a 24-48mm Vivitar, and a 70-210mm vivitar, plus some multipliers, close-up extenders, filters, misc & etc. Also a hot-shoe mount Vivitar dedicated flash I was wondering best way to sell it? Break it up or sell as package? Am aware of ebay, and could het my son to help with that. Are there better sites or methods of getting a fair price for this? Thanks - PM or call Cell at 417/342-1898

Sold my 8mm. Have 29 rounds of new 170 gr Winchester Power Point. (Plus 10 once fired brass) Bought last fall, it is marked as $25/20 rounds, or $1.25/round. (currently $29/box..... here is the round: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...eitemid=451420) I'd sell all for $25. PM me if interested - Thanks

Wish it were more. But I also wish they had more $ to spend on wildlife management, forestry, public education, fisheries management and hatcheries, land acquisition, etc etc etc. The agents are but one cog in the wheel. I have lived in and hunted/fished in states where the majority of Fish & Game dollars were spent on enforcement, with little left over for actual management. I'll take the current Missouri stuation any day my friend. Actually what I wish is people would know, understand, respect and obey the laws, and we could get by with fewer agents. Regards - SKMO

$125 seems to be the average market price for the class. I have seen it from 90 - 175, but 125 is really common. There are a lot of people teaching it. I would suggest doing some homework and trying to find the best instructor possible, and get in a small (3-6 person) class. If you are going to invest a day's time and some $ might as well get the most bang for the buck, no pun intended. I would want to meet the primary instructor, or at least talk with him on the phone prior to taking the class. I would want at least 15 years law enforcement experience, the more the better.

BIGREDBIRDFAN - What are you talking about number-wise? Where does the $167 million number come from? Where did you get it and what does it represent? What does 8% have to do with anything? I am curious and need some clarification.

Want to buy a decent "O" style press for reloading rifle. I already have a progressive for pistol. Just need a good single stage for rifle. Also any other stuff you might have... might be interested I am going to start reloading for 25-06 and 270 Call 417/342-1898 THANX

A very vague statement that cannot be backed up. No "donations" are ever made to any state general revenue fund from MDC receipts. As far as being a "Cash Cow for the state", that is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. That's the COOL thing about the internet, anyone can promote anything as "truth" and before long the witless among us have a party going on. No need to cite facts, just make 'em up and you can get some guys to pile on with you. Before The Internet we met in the cafe over coffee and such talk was tossed about as B***S*** and maybe if somebody actually started to believe it we had a story going on for a couple days. Anyway it was a lot more fun when we all knew it was BS and you could buy the guy a cup of coffee. Now it is anonymous and he thinks we actually believe it. Not as much fun.

For all the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth about how the Conservation Department was going to stick it to us low-brow citizens..... there is a remarkable lack of "appreciation" around here for lack of a better word, that they did not do so. And an even lesser understanding about how these pocket "savings" will come back to haunt us. I for one never felt any of the proposals were too out of line. General increase in permit prices are to be expected, over time, every few years. The landowner restiction going up to 80 acres was pretty "different", but so was the illusion that a 5 acre landowner should have a free pass. What will hurt us all here is that MDC will lose $17 of Federal Monies per landowner permit, for each permit they would have sold. i.e. MDC could have pocketed $17 of Federal money for every landowner permit they sold, even if it was only a $3 landowner permit. (Joe the Plumber buys a $3 landowner tag, Feds kick in $17 ..... what a deal for Missouri). As far as I can tell all the squeakey wheels shot us squarely in the foot. We are gpoing to leave a lot of Federal money on the table.

Welcome ! Where in Little Egypt do you hail from? I was born and raised in Mt V and went to SIU from 1975 - 1982, been a SW Missourian ever since. Regards - SKMO

I would just echo Don's impressions of the show. Superlatives just get old, but it was a fantastic show. Also want to echo the Gillioz Theatre impression. It's an extremely fine place like no other locally. I am not sure there is any venue in StL, KC or Tulsa that has anything on this place. Bigger places for sure but...... This place is going to bring a new dimension to Spgfld music scene. Classy. Springfield is lucky to have it and kudos to those that made it happen.

My son and I have 6th row center section ticks. Can't wait.

I have read this thread and many others on the CAFO subject. Man... it is a tough biological and sociological nut to crack. Every one is right... to some extent. There is no one easy solution to this and a jillion other problems brought on by..... OVERPOPULATION. What happened to the population control groups so visable in the 70's? I am sure they still exist but the had some real front page coverage years ago. Now, not so much. Really, this is a serious question on my part. I guess we as a society have decided that technology and/or famine and/or war will keep this green planet healthy. As far as the Roaring River CAFO (I think I put this in a year or two ago) the operation can not and will not impact Roaring River State park, as it well below the Park, gravity-wise. I mean it is in the lower watershed. Unless chicken poop starts to run uphill RRSP is safe. The lower couple miles of Roaring River are definitely succeptible to impact. IF the operation is run correctly there may never be a really negative inplact on the lower river, or Table Rock Lake. IF. Short word, big implications. I am on neither side of this issue except I think there are right and wrong places to grow our food and do our business. The Roaring River Watershed is a nice place and I pray it remains so. I spend a lot of time there, even more so on TR Lake. Another concept to consider: NIMBY "Not In My Back Yard" Doubt if we would be having this discussion if the CAFO was in southern Iowa. But's it's in somebodies backyard. Ours, and we get all bent out of shape. Think Globally Think Ahead. Blessings - SKMO

Patfish - If you had Billions of acorns in your yard earlier this year that is not really a good sign. Ripe, mature, healthy acorns are just starting to drop. When acorns (or fruit of any tree) has a problem (not pollinated, insect or disease infestation) the tree will abort the nut (fruit) and not waste energy on producing a big pretty hollow acorn. This is really noticible on walnut trees which (depending on the tree) start dropping nuts of various sizes, all of which have a problem, most of which are discolored and half-size. If you see acorns falling in June/July early Aug, and break into them you will find insect larvae in them, or they will be hollow (unpollinated).

Hit the water at 0500 with a fellow who has a ton of experience on this lake, since the 60's. He predicted it would be tough with near full moon conditions and high skies and he was right. Actually had a pretty good bite early on, on jigs. Ended up with 18 fish or so, probably 5 keepers but you would have had to measure every one. After 0800 it got tough. No topwater. Caught 6 decent dropshot fish late. Noteworthy - I was amazed at the lack of boat traffic in the Baxter area. Plenty for sure and it's not like I want more but noticably and significantly less than I would have expected. Economy... gas $, whatever. Just an observation. We caught all our fish 18-22' deep. There were huge numbers of "fish" at this depth, obviously not all bass and obviously not biting if they were bass. I also found nice consistant balls of shad at this depth and deeper, out to 40', not like it did us any good. A couple of the points we fished were absolutely loaded with bluegill. Clouded the screen and everyone was plagued by short peckers, so to speak. I really have no clue how to catch fish right now. In a normal year I would disregard the shallows after 0600 and start at 28-32' but there does not seem to be biters there for me now. ALSO - I had a battery problem on the water and to make a long story short we trailered down to Battery Warehouse (Shuemakers at Golden MO) at 0800 and they did me right. Back on the water by 0845. I always buy batteries from them and they went above and beyond the call. Fantastic people and great service, they have given me more breaks than I deserve. "We'll just give you a new one" seems to be their motto. All in all an OK morning. Would have liked to have put more fish in the boat but that is just how I think. My "primary fisherman" expected it to be tough. My "secondary fisherman" who was a great guy lives near and fishes on Lake Ozark. He made a comment that I think we all need to appreciate, that is.. "after 8AM you CAN'T STAND UP AND FISH" on LOZ. He was amazed at the solitude... so to speak. He was referring to the big boat traffic. We still have it pretty good. He was also amazed that we had the bank at our back and were casting to deeper water much of the time. Also new to him was casting a jig in open water. Fun stuff for both of us. SK

Who in their right mind would want a more "sensitive" wife. Mine came with a hair trigger.