In the October 2010 issue of
River Hills Traveler
"What's wrong with fall turkey hunting?"asks the headline on our page 1 story. "Not a thing," answers the story's author, Charlie Slovensky. He is seconded by writer Bill Cooper, who explores the joys scouting the big birds in autumns with the likes of Ray and Marty Eye.

On the cover
Autumn splendor
Marty Eye thinks fall is a grand time to hunt wild turkeys in the Ozarks. With a gobbler in hand a views like this, who could disagree. Bill Cooper photo.

Page 1 stories:
Will Missouri give elk a shot — Heath Wood
The Missouri Department of Conservation held public meetings in late August on the possibllity of reintroducing elk to the Ozarks. Heath Wood attended the meeting in Eminence, visited with Deputy MDC Director Tom Draper and filed this report.

What's wrong with fall turkey hunting? — Charlie Slovensky
Missourians who don't hunt turkeys in the fall — and that's nine out of 10 spring turkey hunters — don't know what they're missing, says Charlie. He and his sons had no trouble filling the meat pole in 2009's fall hunt. Find out how they did it.

The rest of the paper

Traveler Editorial — Elk plan needs more work
Traveler's not opposed to reintroducing elk into Missouri, but we think the MDC's arguments are a little shaky in some areas and it's plans for keep the elk on the Peck Ranch ought to be more specific.

Reader Poll results — Elk restoration: 3 yes , 1 no
Few readers responded to our request for views on the elk question, but three of the four who did were in favof. On our Facebook page, comments are about even, pro and con. There's a new poll question: Eight states have adopted right-to-hunt amendments to their state constitutions. Is this something Missouri should consider? Weigh at News & Views on this website or on our Facebook page.

Makin Tracks: Ozarkers know who to turn ugly suckers into good times — Emery Styron
Traveler editor Styron caught suckers as a youth in southwest Missouri's Shoal Creek, but he didn't know how good they could taste until he ate them fried on a riverbank in southeast Missouri.

Nature's Corner: Cockleburs are infamous equal opportunity annoyers— Aaron Horrell
The rough cocklebur has spread to all corners of the nation because of its ability to hitch a ride with anyone and everyone.

Readers Choice Awards: Last chance to vote this year
Get a paper, clip the ballot and give a shout out to your favorite Missouri outdoor places and people.

Fire fishin' on Sinkin' Creek — Rick Mansfield
Shannon County native Marie (Prugh) Williamson, 86, tells of wade-gigging in Sinking Creek by the light of pine torch (they called it fire fishing) in the hungry 1930s.

Even gigging goes high-tech — Rick Mansfield
Rick interviews area marine dealers to learn how they outfit gigging craft these days. "We've come a long way from lanterns and car batteries," said David Martin of Ernie's Sales & Service.

Phantom entity draws turkey hunter's blood — Don Rathert
Nearly a year later, Don still doesn't know what kind of creature attacked his left arm and shoulder in the north Missouri turkey woods. He got his rabies shots, just in case, and is looking forward to his great-grandkids' weddings.

Ray Eye — Fall a great time to be in turkey woods
Hunters say that turkeys don't gobble in the fall and are not as much fun to hunt. Ray Eye tells Bill Cooper those hunters are wrong. Coop interviews Marty Eye and J.R. Lanham on great places to hunt fall turkeys.

Stil, sunny evening is his favorite time to hunt deer — Howard Helgenberg
Howard has his mind on deer hunting, though the gun season is still weeks away. He evaluates the best times of day to hunt and names his favorite.

Everything spooked Poncho on this Ozarks trail ride — Stacey Cummins
Stacey, a resident of Chesneee, SC, describes her friend Sherri's artful handling of a nervous horse during a week of camping and trail-riding at Eminence this summer.

Keeping it simple: the best single fall bait — Ron Kruger
Outdoor writers tend to make fishing complicated, but Ron homes in on the basics to explain the best single rod and lure to take fall fishing.

Fall crappie bite is near on Ozarks impoundments — Darrell Taylor
In the fall, crappie move back to the same areas where they spawned, concentrating around brush and pea gravel banks. Darrell tells how to catch and cook this succulent species.

The Iron Kettle: Suckers are always fried but scoring, breading methods vary — Pat Todd
Pat and friends caught a mess of suckers this summer and took photos as they scored, breaded , fried and ate them, all so she could share the secrets with you in this October issue. Or maybe she did it for the food.

2010 Mingo Swamp Flora & Fauna Photo Contest Winners — Our center spread
Best of Show and first place photos in each divison are presented here, courtesy of Traveler. They are gorgeous shots of the southeast Missouri outdoors.

Rock Talk: Tiff digging — Mining the hard way — Jo Schaper
Open pit barite mines in Washington County are turning into landfills and subdivisions, but geology enthusiast and history buff Adam Marty knows what they represent.

The Seasons: See a giant rabbit walking? It's a swamper — Bob Todd
Swamp rabbit season opens Oct. 1, as does cottontail and fall turkey season. Get the lowdown on ruffed grouse season (it's not happening) and what else is coming up for fall hunting.

Gifts from the land — Mary Syrett
To survive, wild plants must cope with herbivores, other plants, weather and climate change. As a result, they've evolved to become fit species with high concentrations of nutrients that they and we need to survive. Humans who eat "weeds" get the benefit.

October a season for pause, reflection— Jim and Donna Featherston
Every living thing is unique, be it pond scum or white-tailed deer. Take time to ponder and celebrate the wonders of life on Planet Earth.

Our Indian Heritage: Rabbit hunting long a pastime for dogs and their human masters — Donna Featherston
Donna recalls some happy rabbit hunting trips for her husband, teenage sons and beagles, Cleo and Tubby, then explores Native American rabbit hunting methods.

Through the Years in Traveler: History hums familiar tune: Elk study to MCC
Ten years ago, a front page headline in Traveler read: "Elk study to Commission next month."

Other news in this issue
• Committee seeks projects to improve Mark Twain Forest ecosystem
•West auto tour route opens at Mingo NWR
• Army Corps of Engineers warns about submersible pumps
•MCC pulls privileges for Wildlife Code violators

Maps in this issue: Clearwater Lake • Lower Current & Eleven Point Rivers • Lower Meramec River • Parkland/Arcadia Valley/Black River • Upper Current & Jacks Fork Rivers • Upper Meramec River, Huzzah & Courtois Creeks • Wappapello Lake