jdmidwest

The best way is to get a collection permit, a shocking system, and hit the streams. We did that for a grad project on the Whitewater River system, it was amazing the diversity on it from its start to its finish, we went from cool water fishes to lowland fishes, all within a 30 minute drive. Are you personally wanting to take pics of each fish or do you just need pics? I googled some of the ones I had not heard of and found quite a bit of info and pics.

This is true, all it takes is one Judge to read a law another way and away it goes. But it would not hurt. I think it would carry here in MO, not as many anti's as there are pro's. Our outdoor heritage is pretty clear, but we need something to protect it. Sierra Club and others are moving this way to target some of stuff as we speak.

Pfleiger's Fishes of Missouri lists the ranges and locations of all of MO species. It looks like you may have to go out of state for the rest. The internet should be of help there, start with the F&G websites of each state. You may find the pics pretty quick. I assume "natural riverine state" does not mean on a stringer or suspended from a thumb of an innocent bystander?

I think that real estate part was just to point out the urban sprawl taking place and the loss of public land for hunting and fishing. I think the real reason we need the amendment is to protect us from groups like PETA gaining a foothold and stopping us from fishing, hunting, and trapping. Or to protect our Public Lands from being sold off for a profit to private individuals when the Government needs a little cash. A loss of National Forest lands or MDC Property would effect the way the people of MO hunt and fish. The amendment would be to protect the methods that we use that are coming under fire from special interest groups. Trapping is a hot topic. And if gun activists get their way, no guns to hunt. Gigging is also a targeted method, it is always a hot topic on here. It would help preserve our methods we have currently used for hundreds of years.

What ever happened to Crippled Caddis? We were going to meet up a couple of years ago and swap some Crosman Parts on the Spring River. He disappeared on here and I feared the worst.

Interesting article from the River Hills Traveler. Seems like the current state of affairs may require citizens to "affirm" their right to Fish and Hunt in the state of MO. Why not, we had to back up the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution with our CCW and Castle laws. Look for future legislation regarding this matter, surely all on here will be for an amendment to our state constitution regarding this matter. And, BTW, politics and sporting rights are intertwined, no matter what anyone says. It really should not have anything to do with politics, but it does. From the River Hills Traveler online. Is it necessary to affirm the right to hunt and fish in state constitutions? “I liked it better when I was hunting birds there,” said the mediator, when he figured out the location of the garages at a Branson condominium. Seven attorneys gathered to attempt to resolve a dispute over rights to use four garages at the condominium. As the Ozarks and much of rural America becomes suburbanized, many people want to protect their cherished traditions of hunting and fishing. In ten states, citizens have amended their constitutions to affirm the right to hunt and fish. Oklahoma has done so and the proposal is being considered in Arkansas and Tennessee. As I hear people in the Ozarks express themselves about land and water and fish and game, I hear the same arguments that have been made to affirm the rights of native peoples to continue their hunting and fishing traditions, some of which have been protected from state regulation by federal law. The Ozarks have been populated by people of mostly European ancestry for nearly 300 years. After many generations, it’s no wonder that members of old Ozarks familes feel like they need to assert themselves to hang on to their culture. And those whose families haven’t been around as long would naturally want to feel secure in their adopted traditions.

It was a general statement, war is good for the economy for the basis that defense spending goes up and most of it stays in the US. I don't suggest that we use it as a tool to get us out of a depression.

What is the plant in Lebanon that we used to buy Shotgun Shells from back in the 90's? I thought that was Fiocchi.

You guys can sure twist anything around to suit your needs. Defense contracts for new and replacement military equipment are up, keeping and creating a few jobs. New contracts are coming for new personal weapons under trials now to replace the M4, Beretta had an order for several new pistols. Local factory is being upgraded to paint and refurb training planes for the military. All of the MO National Guard Armories have been revamped in the past few years creating jobs in an otherwise stagnant construction industry. The demand for small arms ammo like 223 and 9mm have kept Fiocchi in Lebanon running round the clock. New technology, Homeland Defense, overseas contracts to rebuild, all have been added since the war. Not to belittle the deaths on the battlefields, but the war had to be fought, we had a purpose. Remember 911? And it was not only the poor that fought this war, most were National Guard units that were activated for this one at the start. Businessmen, doctors, and working class people all fought alongside the regular army. If you want to blame anyone for the lack of equipment at the start, blame Clinton, he cut defense spending and emasculated the military while he was in office. Contrary to popular belief, the government has a clause in all new military spending requiring you to prove you are using American Made stuff, not foreign. I know, I bid the jobs, so twist on that. I have a contract now on a local armory.

I think the topic came up when we were discussing long threads and I mentioned one on Sarah Palin a few years back, then the dogpile started. I think this thread should have been, "Why are some members afraid to say anything on OAF".

War is good for the economy, look at all of the new military contracts. As an added bonus, research and development of new weapons and equipment. Revamping of all of the National Guard Armories. Replacement parts for equipment lost or wore out in battle. Money flowing into the public sector is good business.

Yeah, made it to page 12.

It is your land and you have the right to charge whatever you want or block access to it all together. If you do charge, I would post the rates on a sign at the entry to let everyone know what is going on before they get unloaded and think otherwise. That should eliminate any confusion. I spend some of every summer in the areas around the Huzzah and the Courtois and have not seen anything worth 10 bucks, but I choose to wade and float more private streams. You have a liability if they get hurt and the expense of hauling off their trash. Even the Forestry Service has done away with hauling off the trash at their areas. Last time I floated near Sam A Baker, a group had taken the 2 day float above the park. They had stopped at an old abandoned campground to spend the night. The awoke to find the new owner informing them they were trespassing, paid a camping fee of 15 bucks per boat and went on their way. There was no signs or anybody living there to check with when they got there and they did not expect to pay. They could have drifted down to the next gravel bar and camped free of charge. On a normal weekend, I pay to camp at an organized campground. I pay $15 to $25 to park and have the person Shuttle me or the boat upstream. If I camp with friends and have more than one vehicle, that part is eliminated. Parking and access should be the same fee, but like I said, it is your land and you can do what you want. It seems like you are not doing it for the money, just to keep the access controlled. If you have a store, you have to remember, I will need some ice, food, and drinks too, and you will make a little money on that also.

Good story, kinda points out the fact we should not reintroduce Elk back into MO, he almost hit it with the truck........

I went fishing this weekend and caught some pigs and I am not telling where! It was a public lake and we had it all to ourselves.

Sarah Palin is a motivator, a pit bull on the leash. She has done alot to motivate younger voters. As far as a President, I doubt she will ever make that now. Besides, she probably makes more now giving speeches.

At this rate, it may even cure erectile dysfunction.

Canon Rebel is a great choice for a semi professional DSLR at around $500 for the body and a basic AF lens.

Yes, but it is filtered and scrubbed and regulated by the EPA. Burning fields are raw smoke and lots of it. It darkens the skies for miles and hangs in the air till a good front comes thru and blows it out.

There you go, GIGGING does no harm to the environment. Other than to kill the fish it touches. We can use worms and crickets and use rocks for weights, as long as they are rocks from the stream we are fishing as opposed to rocks from the stream over the hill with rock snot on it or zebra mussels. We can use rocks as long as there is not a mudpuppy hiding under them, then we will have to look for something else for weight.

Migratory birds like ducks and geese fly of a night during the migration cycles, so it could happen since they are in flocks and playing follow the leader. But I doubt it would be that big of a problem, about the same chance of them swallowing my lead sinker.

What about dry flies?

Burning Fields Cause Massive Pileup. Every year it is the same old thing in SE MO, farmers burning off fields 2 times a year, thick smoke, chemicals released into the air, and now, a huge pileup involving 14 cars. The smoke clouds the skies, chokes the air, and causes more pollution in and hour than most factories produce in a year. But there is no regulation of it, it is a common practice. It happens all across southern Missouri an Northern Ark. If there is a wind, it drifts for miles, and affects many people. What is to gain? Save a little fuel instead of tilling the vegetation into the ground? Increase production by getting a crop in sooner or planting the ground twice a year? The article states that it controls disease in plants, but what about all of the chemicals it releases in the burn? What about the herbicides, fertilizers, and whatever they spray on them to mature them? And the heat damages essential bacteria in the soil that help the soil to be productive. With all of the regulation, why does everyone seem to turn their head on this one? Lord knows I am against big Government, but with all of the assaults on Car Companies, Manufacturing, Mining, and other industries, how does this go un-noticed?

Labor Day usually kicks off a new season for me, time to get the duck stuff ready. The best part about duck hunting is making new toys for the season that starts a few weeks later. Teal Season opens on 9/11 this year and I spent most of the weekend getting the duck stuff in order. Redid the portable lake blind, put the blind back on the johnboat, and came up with a new camo scheme for the yak. In the past, I have just used some leafy camo and burlap and it worked fine. There are times when I tuck up into grass and reeds and need a different camo pattern. So a trip to the Hobby Lobby for some Raffia, some bungee cord, zipties, and here it is. Removable camo for the weeds, it all comes off on 4 bungee cords and hangs in the shed when not in use for about $10. Now all I have to do is check the deke cords, charge the robo duck, and head out to some favorite lakes for early teal and bass this weekend. Nice thing about teal season, you shoot them off the lake, stow the guns, fold down the blind and hit the fish.

Interesting, a MO game law for a non federal game animal should not result in "double violations" I would think. If you violate a game law with a federal animal like a duck, it does. Must be some hidden clause about the violation taking place on federal land. Reading the rule 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(a)(1) and 3373(d)(2), it appears they must have been successful in taking at least one deer in order for the violation to occur. WOW. Any lawyers figure that one out? I wonder how the appeal is going? Somebody was going to way to much trouble to kill a deer, all you have to do is drive down a back country road on any night with a heavy duty bumper and knock one out of the road. Or if you are lazy, just drive up and down the road and pick up the carcasses of the ones others have bumper stunned. Instead of investing all the money they did with the dogs, electronics, 4 wheelers, time and effort, you could have traded that all for some nice Angus beef.