We’ve closed one poll on mountain lions just to open another one.

The results of the poll “Do you agree with releasing the Reynolds County mountain lion?” showed an overwhelming case for letting the lion go: 47 people voted for freedom, and only 1 person said the cat should have been kept in confinement.

Photo by Paula Barton

But mountain lions are still on people’s minds. In Senate Bill 738, introduced February 2, Sen. Bill Stouffer of mid-state Napton wants to make it legal to kill mountain lions without the animal necessarily being an immediate threat.

What do you think? You can answer here or in the poll halfway down the right hand column. As before, please leave us a short comment (see below) why you hold that position. The poll will be open for a week (Until Feb. 10) and then we’ll announce those results.

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A state senator has introduced legislation clarifying that anyone in Missouri may kill a mountain lion, according to an AP story forwarded to us by writer Doug Smith.

Republican Sen. Bill Stouffer, of Napton in mid-state Missouri, offered the proposal Thursday. His bill says anyone who kills a mountain lion would have to report it immediately to a state conservation agent and give up the body within 24 hours.

Photo by Paula Barton

If you are a Missouri angler, this is a quick reminder that fishing permit and small game permits will expire February 29th. Yes, you get a whole extra day to renew your permit, a process better explained at the MDC site. You may buy a new permit online or in person from one of the state vendors who sell them.

In other news, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites photographers around the state to enter its 75th Anniversary Photo Contest. The contest is an effort to help Missourians discover nature by capturing and sharing photos that celebrate the natural wonders of Missouri. Winners will be featured in the October issue of the Missouri Conservationist, as well as on the MDC website and in other media.

This is an online only contest.

The photo contest has seven categories: mammals, plants, reptiles and amphibians, insects and spiders, birds, outdoor recreation, and habitats and landscapes. Entries will be accepted through May 15. Photographers must tag their photos with the exact name of the category they are entering.

A panel of photography and nature experts will select the best entry in each category. Category winners will then be posted on the MDC website starting July 1 for the public can vote for their favorite photo from category winners. The photo with the most votes will be named “Best of Show.” All seven winners will be displayed in the October magazine and other MDC media.

More information and examples of category photos are featured in the February issue of the Missouri Conservationist or online at mdc.mo.gov/conmag. A full list of rules and guidelines can be found on the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/node/16689. Entries will only be accepted via Flickr, an Internet photo sharing service. To join Flickr, visit flickr.com/groups/mdc75thanniversary/.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake is pleased to announce their upcoming special events for 2012. Families can enjoy volunteer opportunities, living history events, connecting with the great outdoors, or just soaking up seasonal fun. Check out the annual favorites below (subject to possible change ):

• April 14-15 34th Annual Old Greenville Black Powder Rendezvous

Continue reading Despite cutbacks, Wappapello favorite special events survive

(Missouri State office The Nature Conservancy news release.)
Missouri’s Greater Prairie Chicken and the American Burying Beetle
Made the List, But Both Species Face Threats

So you think you’ve had some strange dates? This Valentine’s Day, The Nature Conservancy compiled the top 10 most bizarre examples of love in the wild.

Photo from outdoorhub.com

“Nature can get pretty wild, especially when love is in the air,” said Todd Sampsell, The Nature Conservancy’s Missouri State Director. “While we may find the mating habits of some of these critters bizarre, they actually may remind you of someone you know.” Continue reading Animal Valentines: the 10 strangest animal lovers

Even though numerous groundhogs today say there will be six more weeks of winter, many in Traveler Country are still waiting for winter to arrive. The plants and animals seem to be confused, so we’re not putting much credence in the groundhog predictions this year.

We’ve had several reliable reports of crocus in January. Several people have noted daffodils emerging. On Monday, the high of 67 tied a 122 year old record for the National Weather Service at St. Louis. Last night, leaving the Traveler office in short sleeves, I heard spring peepers calling, apparently coaxed from their muddy digs by several days of unseasonable temperatures. Continue reading Plant hardiness zones move north: better data or climate change?

Our annual directory of Missouri outdoor businesses, Mo-Go, short for Missouri Guides & Outfitters, is now available online in two formats and in print. (To learn how to get the printed Mo-Go mailed to you free, see the offer at the end of this article).

ONLINE OPTIONS
In addition to the traditional online format, allowing you to search for listings by location

Click this cover image to access the electronic replica version of Mo-Go.

The electronic replica version works just like Traveler’s e-Edition with clickable indexes to take you quickly to different sections and clickable email and web links on the listings. We think you’ll find it very convenient to use. It’s free and available 24/7 to help you plan your Missouri outdoor adventures.

PRINT DISTRIBUTION

We are in the early stages of distributing 40,000 printed Mo-Go booklets statewide. Over the next two months, we’ll have Mo-Gos available at convenient pick-up points all over Missouri.

The booklet will be inserted in all copies of the March issue of Traveler and will also be available at the KGMO Great Outdoors Sports Show in Cape Girardeau Feb. 24-25-26. That event will be held at the Show-Me Center.

Places where you can pick up a print Mo-Go so far include the following:

Niangua River Oasis, Lebanon Continue reading Mo-Go hot off the press. Get it 3 ways

Whew! After all the work, the February River Hills Traveler is finally getting out there.

This one is something special, folks, and that’s not hype. We’re kicking off our 40th Anniversary year with some exclusive photos and coverage of the mountain lion trapped near Centerville in Reynolds County on January 5. Writer Doug Smith interviewed the trapper, and came up with some positively scary photos

Photo by Paula Barton

Our e-Edition takes things two steps further: Continue reading February Traveler online: there’s a big kitty hide-n-seek here!

Ozark National Scenic Riverways has completed the internal review of the park’s General Management Plan.

“The park staff have completed their review of the 318 page document and have provided comments. These remarks have been compiled and submitted to the Denver Service Center planning team,” says Acting Superintendent Black.

Two Rivers: Jacks Fork on left, Current River on right. Jo Schaper photo.

Besides the park staff reviewing the draft, the National Park Service’s Denver Service Center and the Midwest Regional Office in Omaha, Nebraska have also reviewed the draft document and provided their input. Continue reading Riverways completes internal review of GMP

Part of Jo’s husband’s job means he travels all over the state. He’s rarely without a camera, (and just figured out how to use the camera on his cell phone for when that happens.)

A couple weeks ago life took him to Big Lake State Park. If you usually stay on the eastern or southern part of the state, Big Lake is near the town of Big Lake, which means it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, about halfway between Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge and the Missouri River north of St. Joseph. It was flooded much of last year, and tragically made the news recently as the location where Missouri state highway patrolman Fred Guthrie (and his patrol dog) met their deaths while on patrol. Continue reading Two signs from Northwest Missouri