Does The MDC Make Mistakes?

[oneshot]

It seems all the time people are questioning the MDC and decisions they make even me.

MDC says Turkey numbers are down because of habitat and wet Springs I look at the bigger picture. Why is there fewer ground nesting birds? It has been years since I’ve heard a Wip Poor Will. Use to kill plenty Quail in Polk County.

One year they decided Archery Hunters Mail in their Tag after a kill. Interesting that year there was a big jump in Archery kills. This only lasted one year.

For years Doe Deer were basically protected. Kill numbers were kept down and Deer numbers were good. Then they let unlimited numbers be killed. They didn’t turn this around until hunters spoke out.

I was part of releasing Otters in Central Missouri. I asked when there would be trapable  numbers? I was told they was just a novelty that they would never be trapped.

They find a rare plant and first thing they do is protect it. No fire, Timber cutting or Grazing. Then there is fewer of this plant. Well maybe there was a reason for this plant being.

To me it seems the MDC has gotten away from hunting and fishing but the people have gotten away from this. The kids anymore for most part are not interested.

Use to be a lot of clearings in the Ozark were planted in Grain Crops. Hay and pasture was Warm Season Grasses .

Things change from year to year and MDC has to change too but they also need to get out in the field and listen.
 

oneshot

[Dutch]

I had a similar conversation with a neighbor who shared a half mile of fence on one of our farms.  His place was 200 acres and ours was 240.  We had one covey of quail along the fence between us.  Both farms had clear barbed wire fences and fescue pastures.

He said when he was young his farm alone had 10 coveys.  I asked him about the fences at the time and the pastures.  He said the fence rows were all grown up in brush.  They had dairy cows so they grew corn, milo, and lespedeza.  Nuff said.  

[MoCarp]

It’s all about habitat and predators man included...the bitter winters were hard on ol bobwhite....don’t see many jack rabbits ether....

[fishinwrench]

They do "some" good things, but for the most part MDC seems to be mostly concerned with creating projects for themselves that can't be deemed a failure regardless of the outcome, or the amount of money spent.  

Grossly over equipped, and overpaid, for the amount of things that they accomplish IMO.

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8 minutes ago, Dutch said:

I had a similar conversation with a neighbor who shared a half mile of fence on one of our farms.  His place was 200 acres and ours was 240.  We had one covey of quail along the fence between us.  Both farms had clear barbed wire fences and fescue pastures.

He said when he was young his farm alone had 10 coveys.  I asked him about the fences at the time and the pastures.  He said the fence rows were all grown up in brush.  They had dairy cows so they grew corn, milo, and lespedeza.  Nuff said.  

Similar thing happened at my in laws dairy farm.  Neighbors plowed road to road and the quail population diminished.  We went from 6-8 coveys to 2-3 to now we don't mess with them.  They enrolled in the CRP program but quail don't rebound well.  One other thing my father in lay mentioned was coyote hunting with dogs and horses.  Once that stopped the quail pop went down with it.  Last time we were there hunting we had coyotes come to us while hunting.  Several left the area with #8 shot in them....

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3 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Grossly over equipped, and overpaid, for the amount of things that they accomplish IMO.

They send out the Tuesday Tweet to see if you can identify the bird song of the week....😁

[tjm]

Fescue kills quail, any body that knows anything about ground nesting birds should know that the youngins need bare ground to walk on. I lost my three coveys to cold rainy springs 20 odd years ago and the turkeys at the same time. Baby birds on the ground don't do well in 6-10'' of cold rain and I didn't need to go to college to know that.

Sure MDC makes a lot of mistakes, for a couple of reasons, one is the people there are just people and all people make mistakes, and secondly the department is subject to political supervision and politics knows no science.

[oneshot 1]

Seen guys take 30 Quail out of one covey and still had birds. Never see that again.

I set on a ditch by where I use to live with Single Shot .22. Killed my limit of Rabbits in a half hour.

oneshot

[oneshot 1]

2 hours ago, MoCarp said:

It’s all about habitat and predators man included...the bitter winters were hard on ol bobwhite....don’t see many jack rabbits ether....

Don't see it much anymore but Guys would Trap Critters and Fish. Yes very Illegal but it was interesting what they would come up with. 

I know many would buy Commercial Fishing Licenses just to fill their Freezer. That was back when you would see Carp in the Store.

Remember riding on Front Fender of Truck jumping off to knock a Possum or Skunk in the Head. Got .25 apiece.

oneshot 

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2 hours ago, oneshot 1 said:

Don't see it much anymore but Guys would Trap Critters and Fish. Yes very Illegal but it was interesting what they would come up with. 

I know many would buy Commercial Fishing Licenses just to fill their Freezer. That was back when you would see Carp in the Store.

Remember riding on Front Fender of Truck jumping off to knock a Possum or Skunk in the Head. Got .25 apiece.

oneshot 

How old are you?