In the November 2010 issue of
River Hills Traveler
Our Deer Season issue includes Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge's first mobility and visually impaired hunt, a comparison of ground blinds and tree stands, a historical look at Missouri deer hunting, stories on a youngster's first deer and a 70+ hunter still getting buck fever plus one hunter's quest to break the "Curse of the Sacred Doe"

On the cover
Fall Buck, by Al Agnew
Agnew needs no introduction to most Traveler readers. The Ste. Genevieve, Mo., artist has been a Traveler contributor for years and was voted favorite Wildlife Artist or Photographer in our last two Readers Choice Awards.

Page 1 stories:
First hunt, first deer— Spencer E. Turner
Brian West, House Springs, Mo., was all grins after getting his first deer on his first hunt, which was also the first mobility and visually impaired deer hunt at Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge near Annada, Mo.

Elk plan OK'd
The Missouri Conservation Commission on Oct. 15 approved an elk restoration plan that includes health protocols, herd management guidelines and habitat management recommendations. Release of elk in the Peck Ranch area of Reynolds, Shannon and Carter counties could happen as early as 2011.

The rest of the paper

Traveler Editorial — Bicycling should be encouraged but some roads ought to be off limits.
Bicycling is a healthy, green, economy-boosting way for folks to enjoy Missouri’s outdoors, but until all roads are structurally safe for both motorists and other users, authorities ought to have the right to keep some users off selected portions to protect the safety of the rest. Read the complete editorial.

Kaylin Bade aims to promote Missouri's outdoors — Jo Schaper
When Kaylin Bade, Mrs. International Missouri Tourism 2009-2010, climbed down from her big forest green pickup truck in front of the Traveler office, wearing her winner’s sash over a simple dress and carrying her tiara, I knew this interview was going to be, um, different.

Makin Tracks: Worries misplaced; deer season issue fully loaded — Emery Styron
I was a little worried as the November deadline drew near. It didn’t seem to me that our writers had submitted the usual number of good deer hunting stories and I hadn’t contacted Al Agnew about a cover illustration.
One night I woke up in a sweat — how could we have a deer issue without deer stories and a great Agnew cover?
Like most of my worries, these were unfounded.

Nature's Corner: Sumac's quiet intensity shows boldly in fall — Aaron Horrell
The wild staghorn sumac tree or bush goes virtually unnoticed most of the year. But come early autumn it is one of the first to show off its brilliant colors.

Mark Twain National Forest has new website, web address
At www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf, you can find employment information, motor vehicle use maps and more.

Old guys can still get excited — Bob Todd
"I could feel the shakes coming on as a full case of buck fever threatened," writes Todd, 72, about taking an 8-pointer last season.

A new beginning: Late 1930s marked turnaround point
for Missouri’s decimated deer herd — Jim and Donna Featherston
Bringing deer herds and wild turkeys back to Missouri began in 1937 as a top priority of the state’s reorganized, non-political Conservation Commission. By 1944, the Conservation Commission’s initial steps in deer restoration had been successful. A three day, bucks-only season was opened in November.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways chief ranger retires
Greg Moss, chief ranger at Ozark National Scenic Riverways has hung up his hat after 32 years of federal service at parks from Alaska to the Virgin Islands.

Sutton Bluff gets upgrade
In July, Sutton Bluff Campground was closed for major renovation including wider camp sites that will accommodate larger vehicles, a new group camping area, and 12 electric sites.

Happily grounded — Tim Huffman
If you don’t bounce or heal as well as you used to, you can find hunting success from a blind close to earth

Well-placed tree stand can improve odds — Howard Helgenberg
Perhaps the easiest way to improve your odds of taking a deer is to get yourself up off the ground. Not only does it help in taking you out of the line of sight, it also gives you a much larger field of view.

First harvest — Greg "Rudi" Rudroff
The son’s time had finally come. For years, Dad had taken a week of vacation each fall and come home with a deer or two for the family to savor throughout the year and stories of the hunt. Now it was time for the son to create stories for himself.

Curse of the Sacred Doe —By Watson A. Matterhorn as told to John Meacham
It was Veterans Day and Fishhook Fields and I were having our morning coffee in his apartment across the hall from mine above Bea’s Two for the Price of One Bakery in beautiful downtown Londonwood. Suddenly, young Carlos Muldoon burst in. “Mr. Fields, you’ve got to help me!” he said. “I’m about to go clean out of my mind!” Find out if Fishhook can break the curse.

Conservation Commission suspends privileges of Wildlife Code violators
At its October meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission suspended hunting and/or fishing privileges of 15 Missouri residents and two nonresidents for Wildlife Code violations and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of one Missouri residents. Read the full story.

The power of towers — Photos capture Bob Frakes' passion for firetowers
Longtime Traveler subscriber Bob Frakes of Bonnie, Ill., a retired high school history teacher, has a passion for visiting and photographing Missouri firetowers. Traveler devotes a page to Bob's photos and provides a new online photo gallery, Missouri Firetowers, where you can view Frakes' photos and share your own.

Waterfowl hunting opportunities abound in NW MO — Bill Cooper
Coop stalks ducks near Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge north of St. Joseph and Grand Pass Conservation Area in Saline County.

Wilsons pen practical guides to bluegill, smallmouth fly fishing — Jo Schaper
Jo reviews two books by Bolivar, Mo. anglers, writers and seminar presenters Terry and Roxanne Wilson: Bluegill….Fly Fishing & Flies and Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing – A Practical Guide. Both, she says, are good reads. Also reviewed: In Their Words: Lewis and Clark, by George Sullivan. This slim book for young readers tells the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, with quotes from the Journals interspersed into the narrative. These books are available at Traveler's online bookstore or at our office.

Elk dominates commission meeting
Approval of the elk restoration plan dominated the Missouri Conservation Commission at its October meeting but other action included purchase of an addition to W. R. Kearn Memorial Conservation Area, a construction contract for an equipment storage and work building at Blind Pony Lake Conservation Area.

Furnace Creek may be Superfund site
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal Oct. 21 to add the Washington County Lead District Furnace Creek Site to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

Think you're a mighty hunter? Try spearing a trophy mastodon — Jo Schaper
Mastodon Camp, in some form, really existed. Imagine you and 20 of your best buddies, (all of you armed only with big sticks, burning torches, rocks and atlatls (spear throwers), you headed out for northern Jefferson County or Truman Lake to hunt them. Visiting mastodon exhibits at Mastodon State Historic Site and at the Truman Lake Visitor Center can help you visualize life in Missouri in 12,000 B.C.

The Seasons: Lots to hunt in November; here’s what to shoot with — Bob Todd
If there was such a thing as an all-purpose gun and all-purpose ammo, this would be the month to use it. Everything from the biggest to the smallest game we have in Missouri will be in season at least part of this month. (Almost. Turkey season closed Nov. 1.)

The Iron Kettle: Careful! You could spend the whole month eating — Pat Todd
There is so much going on this month in the way of good food, I hardly know where to begin — squirrel, rabbits, turkeys, then deer season, Thanksgiving — we really have to watch it or we will just spend the whole month cooking and eating! Recipes for apple pudding, crockpot game, sausage dinner in a dish and more.

Our Indian Heritage: Expressions of gratitude take many forms — Kathleen Brotherton
Some Native Americans felt suffering and testing proved the sincerity of their thankfulness to their god. The Sun Dance looked like self-torture to whites, but was considered a time of "unspeakable joy" to the Indians, writes Thomas Mails.

25 years ago: MDC agent doesn’t buy ‘designated caster’ claim — From our files
Traveler reported on a fisherman caught without a permit, who claimed to be a “designated caster” for a companion with a permit who was so intoxicated it was “not safe for him to handle a rod.” The ingenious story didn’t fly with the conservation agent.