Two Follow Ups From July Mo Conservationist

[mic]

The Rocky mountain elk were never in Missouri. The MDC introduced a non- native speices at a cost of $30,000.00 a pop. Rocky mt elk could have been bought in MO. at around 3-4 grand each from private ranchers.

I could have swore they got those elk from wild stock in the east ???

[exiledguide]

Pheasants deserve the same amount of additional protection as brown trout, none. The current regulations are fine, and in some cases, excessive, but that is neither here nor there. Elk belong here along with mountain lions. Whether or not you agree with it is irrelevant. The elk and the area they have been reintroduced into is far from a zoo, and more wild than most places in Missouri. Otters belong in our rivers and the fish populations may take a couple years to find equilibrium with the reintroduced otter, but if conserving and preserving a NATURAL resource is wrong, what would you have the MDC do? Notice that I emphasized natural. Trout aren't natural here, otters are.

I am all for genetic testing of Neosho smallmouth to determine genetic differences between them and northern strain smallmouth. There are notable appearance differences, along with some minor habitat preference differences, but the extent of genetic differences are what intrigue me.

I realize that you and I don't agree on much OTF, but we both love the Ozarks and the species native to them. I can definitely agree with you on that one.

Wrench, the difference in spoonbill and, say, pheasant, is that the spoonbill is indigenous to this area, much less this continent. The elk are indigenous to this area as well, regardless of what embittered "sportsmen" want to say.

Drew

I could be wrong but I don't believe horses were native to MO until introduced by the Spanish. Smallmouth are not native to MO I'm not sure Rainbow Trout are native to MO, McCloud trout are not native to Crane Creek but all these animals are protected by laws or regulations. My point is I look upon wildlife as a resource to be used with proper management. I'm a lot older than most of you guys and I remember when very few deer or turkey were in this state and they were reintroduced with proper management not put in one area with no hunting of them allowed until they reached a population to support a harvest. I'm not against Elk in Missouri I'm against spending millions of dollars being spent in what may not work. Why not release them to the wild protect them from illegal hunting until thet reach a herd size to allow a harvest. OH, by the way I don"t hunt any more never hunted for big game birds were my what I enjoyed along with rabbits. As for hijacking this topi, MIC, I did answer his question and no one has said that my info was wrong. Also so as not to hurt anyones feelings I will refrain refrain from using POOBAHS to reference the MDC commisars and use either the kinder and gentler terms Mucky Mucks or Lustros Potates. God bless America!

[awhuber]

I could have swore they got those elk from wild stock in the east ???

They trapped them in KY at a cost of 30 gs ea. The Eastern elk is what was native to MO and has been extinct since 1900 or so.

KY AR and some other states introduced Rocky mt elk and that what we trapped.

Look up elk for sale and you will see that they are alot cheaper that what MDC paid to introduce them at Peck.

[ness]

Such an innocuous sounding thread, turned so nasty so soon. Shocking!

[KCRIVERRAT]

Drew

I could be wrong but I don't believe horses were native to MO until introduced by the Spanish. Smallmouth are not native to MO I'm not sure Rainbow Trout are native to MO, McCloud trout are not native to Crane Creek but all these animals are protected by laws or regulations. My point is I look upon wildlife as a resource to be used with proper management. I'm a lot older than most of you guys and I remember when very few deer or turkey were in this state and they were reintroduced with proper management not put in one area with no hunting of them allowed until they reached a population to support a harvest. I'm not against Elk in Missouri I'm against spending millions of dollars being spent in what may not work. Why not release them to the wild protect them from illegal hunting until thet reach a herd size to allow a harvest. OH, by the way I don"t hunt any more never hunted for big game birds were my what I enjoyed along with rabbits. As for hijacking this topi, MIC, I did answer his question and no one has said that my info was wrong. Also so as not to hurt anyones feelings I will refrain refrain from using POOBAHS to reference the MDC commisars and use either the kinder and gentler terms Mucky Mucks or Lustros Potates. God bless America!

Smallmouth are not native to Missouri? Guess I haven't been paying attention. Could you please give me information regarding your comment?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I second that on the smallmouth?

None of the salmonoids are native and even the ancient coldester fish was a char.

Stripers, musky, and none of the carps are native either.

[exiledguide]

I second that on the smallmouth?

None of the salmonoids are native and even the ancient coldester fish was a char.

Stripers, musky, and none of the carps are native either.

I said I could be wrong and I was I typed using only wickipedia as my reference and now have found a map from the sate of Alabama that shows the original range includes the Ozarks thanks for correcting me. It was laziness on my part.

[lunkertrout]

You may be thinking Kentucky bass (spots). Similar habitat and feeding patterns to smallmouth but definitely not native to the majority of Missouri streams...you'll catch them like crazy in the Meramec river system.

[Outside Bend]

Mic- The brookies worked for biological control, just not as well as MDC had hoped. I believe they're planning to stock higher densities in order to better remove the parasite from the system.

[drew03cmc]

Drew

I could be wrong but I don't believe horses were native to MO until introduced by the Spanish. Smallmouth are not native to MO I'm not sure Rainbow Trout are native to MO, McCloud trout are not native to Crane Creek but all these animals are protected by laws or regulations. My point is I look upon wildlife as a resource to be used with proper management. I'm a lot older than most of you guys and I remember when very few deer or turkey were in this state and they were reintroduced with proper management not put in one area with no hunting of them allowed until they reached a population to support a harvest. I'm not against Elk in Missouri I'm against spending millions of dollars being spent in what may not work. Why not release them to the wild protect them from illegal hunting until thet reach a herd size to allow a harvest. OH, by the way I don"t hunt any more never hunted for big game birds were my what I enjoyed along with rabbits. As for hijacking this topi, MIC, I did answer his question and no one has said that my info was wrong. Also so as not to hurt anyones feelings I will refrain refrain from using POOBAHS to reference the MDC commisars and use either the kinder and gentler terms Mucky Mucks or Lustros Potates. God bless America!

Please do research before you post to prevent things like this. Smallmouth are native to the Ozarks, however, they are not native west of the Ozarks. Rainbow trout belong in the streams of the west coast. They do not belong in the Rockies, Appalachians or Ozarks. Since you mentioned them, wild horses, have been in North America for 4 million years. I guess that is wrong though because you said so, right? If you don't agree with MDC, state that, but there is no need to stoop to name-calling.