The future of deer hunting is in some very small hands, but it is the adults who must make a commitment to growing the sport and encouraging participation. The first of two youth-only hunting seasons open Saturday, Nov.1.
An initiative from the Missouri Department of Conservation invites people of all ages to connect with the outdoors or find their way back outside through a number of activities and multi-media opportunities.
While it may be too soon to call it waxing nostalgic, I have been thinking about the history of hunter education in Missouri. It was not that long ago that this time of year would present a calendar full of opportunities for new hunters to ea…
Hunters who believe that we are the best deer management tool available get their first chance to prove the point this weekend. When the early portion of the antlerless hunting season opens Friday (Oct. 10), hunters will have three days to ma…
The ability of humans to communicate is not unique among animal species. We may be the most advanced at the trick, but in some instances, we could be the worst at it. When I hear song birds singing, crickets chirping, tree frogs trilling, or …
Jefferson County can boast about its share of outdoor legends, but few will leave a legacy as far reaching as William “Bill” Kunz. As big as his impact may have been on hunting and shooting sports, the people who knew him best say it was a fr…
Councilman Charles Groeteke plans to hold an open house to educate his constituents about the Rock Creek watershed and share solutions for living and thriving in the flood-prone area.
Fall turkey hunters will experience the biggest regulation change as the seasons open this autumn. Already affected are those who have enjoyed a combined deer and turkey archery hunting opportunity.
Fall deer hunting seasons open on Monday, Sept. 15, in Missouri with dark clouds hanging over the proceedings. The presence of chronic wasting disease is not the cause for the overwhelming concern. It is a virulent misinformation campaign tha…
Putting conservation into action should be a year-round goal for everyone who inhabits the planet, but September is a particularly good time to get in to action. Two upcoming events in the St. Louis region and an annual sale will provide chan…
As a part of its management plan to improve smallmouth bass fishing on some streams, the state Department of Conservation adjusted regulations on fishing for spotted bass starting in the late 1990s. The most significant changes have eliminate…
For nearly six decades the Open Space Council has been taking to the rivers and creeks around St. Louis to fight the effects of flooding, illegal dumping and careless littering with an army of thousands of dedicated volunteers. More are alway…
The Missouri Department of Conservation received a report that a black bear was spotted on the north end of Scenic Drive in Festus early Wednesday, Aug. 13.
For the first time in a decade, deer hunters in Jefferson County will not be required to take their harvests to a chronic wasting disease sampling station on opening weekend this year. Since the disease was first discovered in Franklin County…
My recent attempts to transplant trees in my yard and at the farm where we go deer hunting have been met with mixed results. The mix mostly involves the lack of opportunity to provide supplemental moisture to those on the property we only vis…
On more than one occasion, I have advocated for state residents to subscribe to the free Missouri Conservationist magazine. Its spectacular photography and stories about the outdoors and wildlife are a true treasure.
The chances for a bear encounter in Jefferson County for this year diminish as summer fully sets in and the wandering young bruins of spring are settling into the more comfortable environs in the rural areas of the southern Missouri Ozarks.
Last year nearly 25,000 hunters applied for almost 6,000 permits to hunt for deer in 143 managed locations in Missouri. This year’s annual application period is open through July 31, so now is the time to study the results from previous seaso…
After hearing from several Leader readers about observing fewer hummingbirds this spring, I checked in with state Department of Conservation ornithologist Kristen Heath-Acre to learn if there was an issue with the little bird’s numbers.
While we cling to our rural roots and suburban subdivisions, Jefferson County continues to camouflage the fact that the natural environment in the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis city, spills over into our neighborhood.
A friend of ours asked for recommendations of local places to take her children during their summer vacation. She planned to visit one new location each week for the kids to explore and learn. I thought it was a great idea, so I assembled my …
As a non-traditional outdoor sport, it would be difficult to play disc golf anywhere except outside. Jefferson County has several disc golf courses and I’ve had many opportunities over the years to give the game a shot.
As most schools wrap up spring sports, students on area fishing teams are entering prime time for serious practice and competition. Summer vacation offers many opportunities for self-motivated young anglers to sharpen their skills and make as…
Jefferson County archers recently took their show on the road and continued to flash their sharpshooting prowess. Most notable among the dozens of arrow-launchers was the continued dominance of Hillsboro High School sophomore Wade Conner.
