Does The MDC Make Mistakes?

[jdmidwest]

You is the one that let those otters loose.  That is what has kilt all of the fishes.

[Al Agnew]

Cattle farming and fescue are the worst things that ever happened to quail, rabbits, ground-nesting birds...heck, you name it...in the Ozarks.  A fescue field is a sterile field except for cows.  Yes, a lot of wildlife did better when there was more row crops.  Yes, predators kill some quail and turkeys and rabbits, and there are plenty of predators these days, but if the habitat sucks, you simply won't have a lot of critters.

MDC makes mistakes.  The good thing is the 1/8th cent sales tax gives them more money than most state fish and game departments.  The bad thing is that it's paid by a lot of people other than hunters and fishermen.  It puts MDC in a bit of a quandary as to how much to concentrate on huntable animals and catchable fish, and how much to put into non-game species and non-consumptive recreation.  Actually I'm a bit surprised that they are still as focused on hunting and fishing as they are.

[Terrierman]

9 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

Cattle farming and fescue are the worst things that ever happened to quail, rabbits, ground-nesting birds...heck, you name it...in the Ozarks.  A fescue field is a sterile field except for cows.  Yes, a lot of wildlife did better when there was more row crops.  Yes, predators kill some quail and turkeys and rabbits, and there are plenty of predators these days, but if the habitat sucks, you simply won't have a lot of critters.

MDC makes mistakes.  The good thing is the 1/8th cent sales tax gives them more money than most state fish and game departments.  The bad thing is that it's paid by a lot of people other than hunters and fishermen.  It puts MDC in a bit of a quandary as to how much to concentrate on huntable animals and catchable fish, and how much to put into non-game species and non-consumptive recreation.  Actually I'm a bit surprised that they are still as focused on hunting and fishing as they are.

People will hate on me for saying this - but that never stopped me before.  The current MDC director is a good person who I've known for a long time and she is a legit outdoorsman.  And a very good politician too which counts for a lot in that job.

[fishinwrench]

27 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

People will hate on me for saying this - but that never stopped me before.  The current MDC director is a good person who I've known for a long time and she is a legit outdoorsman.  And a very good politician too which counts for a lot in that job.

There's a lot of great people working for MDC, no doubt about it.  They've got alot on their plate, but I don't sympathize with them because it's all self induced.   With as many people as they have on their payroll it would be great to see more attention given to the things I truly care about.  I know, selfish, but seriously...they spend(waste) too much time and money on Feel-Good BS, and not nearly enough on TRUE Conservation and game management.  

To the point that they really should consider changing the name of their organization.   

[Gavin]

Missouri Department of Conversation maybe? All talk, no action.

 

[oneshot 1]

12 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

How old are you?

Only 67

oneshot

[oneshot 1]

12 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

You is the one that let those otters loose.  That is what has kilt all of the fishes.

Yes turned Otters loose and have seen them kill fish just for fun. And for years they thought needed miles of Timber for Turkeys but about the same time they was stocking Turkeys in Northern Missouri and was very surprised at how well they did.

Remember seeing thousands of acres of Trees killed, Dozer brought in to clear the hills, then broadcast Fescue Seed.

I remember a guy Turkey hunting at Ft. Leonard Wood and was surprised to hear a Turkey Gobble.

Me and the MDC has disagreed on many things. I had them come to my Farm I was wanting more Wildlife. Found out later is was a Forester who was more interested in Trees than Wildlife. Finally talked with a Wildlife Managers he was all for controlled burns, which cleared the ground for New growth and brought in more Wildlife. 

oneshot

[tjm]

4 hours ago, oneshot 1 said:

all for controlled burns,

A lot of wildlife responds well to new growth after a burn.

[Gavin]

Controlled burns are great for Wildlife. Up in MI they cut & burn allot of Jack Pine to help the Kirtlands Warbler. It only nests in Jack Pines of a certain size.

[Terrierman]

1 hour ago, Gavin said:

Controlled burns are great for Wildlife. Up in MI they cut & burn allot of Jack Pine to help the Kirtlands Warbler. It only nests in Jack Pines of a certain size.

My grandson works for The Nature Conservancy.  Controlled burning is his main activity.  And now culling deer and hogs on a place they own near Ada, OK.  Prior to his OK job he worked in Louisiana burning to help longleaf pine, at a place in North Dakota on the Missouri River Breaks helping manage a bison herd, Georgia burning again for longleaf pine habitat and finally as a wildfire fighter in Oregon.  He's had an interesting career so far and now has a lot of fire related certifications.  TNC is a good outfit and they treat their people well.