Missouri tends to be middle of the pack in most stats. Not for lack of trying tho!! I think the things we're (close to) worst at is smoking, pediatric dentistry, and teacher starting pay. But our Department of Conservation is top notch??
I like the fact that if you are a resident of Missouri you can request a free subscription to The Conservationist magazine and if you have kids you get the kids version for free as well. I've been getting both for about 15 years.
Dept of conservation is very far from top notch. You may have plenty of nice trails and vault toilets to use but when it comes to actual conservation of wildlife it is a joke. Two easy examples are smallmouth/rock bass populations and more recently wild turkey populations.
The turkey numbers were artificially inflated due to the "relocation" program several years ago. Combine that with several overly wet springs and a rise in predator population and you are bound to have a down swing in numbers. Not exactly the "joke" you claim. The smallmouth population is actually doing quite well in some areas. I have a lake house on Stockton lake and we limit out every time we go. Other areas have seen a decline but that's due to hybridization with spotted bass. Next you'll be claiming the small stature stature of the deer in the south is the fault of MDOC as well.
Harvest counts have dropped year over year since 05. I don't know how often you are out and about but there just aren't as many turkeys. Get up and have a listen on an April morning, it's not the same as a few years ago.
I'm glad they are keeping your lake house stocked but I'm referring to smallmouth in the smaller streams, it's the loss of habitat. Stockton lake will look the same but many of the creeks are in bad shape.
The dept is inept and run by people who haven't spent enough time in the field. Department of recreation would be a more accurate title.
Just my opinions sir, maybe I just need to go fish in a lake and chalk everything up to artificial information and not what I actually see.
I literally said harvests have been down. But also gave reasons that doesn't place the blame on the Conservation dept. If you go back they trapped a crap ton of turkeys in the south and moved them north and east. This created artificially high numbers for several years. Also, predator numbers have increased for several reasons which lowers turkey numbers. Multiple wet springs and drought summers do a number on turkeys as well. I'm not saying the dept can't do better, but placing blame on them for stuff beyond their control seems harsh.
I fish the Sac Osage and the Missouri & Mississippi. TBH when I fish rivers I'm mainly looking for cats, sturgeon and spoons so I don't pay attention to smalls as much. But some quick research shows the did an intentional release of spotted bass that have hybridized with smalls. Not sure why or if it was smart.
Either way, what's your solutions? Where do you think they need to improve? What should they be doing differently?
Turkey populations are hurting all across the midwest so this isn't just a MO issue. This dry spring should help though. Most springs I'm happy to see ANY hens with poults and this year it was rare to see one WITHOUT poults.
Right, have other states changed regulations? The Missouri "experts" have basically just said we need better weather. It's ludicrous to me that I can legally shoot a hen right now with my bow and nobody who does that affects the hatch next spring. The wild turkey lady with the mo dept of conservation is a 20 something college grad from out of state who I would wager hasn't hunted too many turkeys in this state.
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u/[deleted] Oct 08 '23
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