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As shared in another post, I have been asked to be a voice in the CWD/Deer Management conversation here in Missouri on March 4. One of the best ways to get answers is to ask the right questions (lots of them) and to listen carefully to the response. So, let me know your questions.

I enjoyed a great time of hunting and a fellowship with friends from deer Creek Baptist Church at our Northeast Missouri upland bird hunt. We had two teams of six hunters. Our group brought in 23 birds, of which I contributed four, and the other group ended up with 19 birds. Both chukars and...

With the acquisition of a thermal scope, I decided to build a coyote/hog gun in .223. The goal is a rifle that shoots cost-effective rounds (Hornedy varmint .223's are about .45/round), reaches out 150-200 yards, and is light weight. Using a polymer lower by ATI & 16" barrel keeps the rifle just...

Last month it was a bear near our place. This week, while I was out of town, a friend from church hit an elk. So far these are simply nomadic males, but it is still interesting given its been over a century since bear and elk have been in our area...

Telemark’s recent post of King Matthias with a crossbow got me thinking. As a bowhunter, my first experience with a crossbow came in 2014—after I blew out a shoulder. At the time, I needed a medical waiver, which I gladly accepted. There was no way I was missing deer season, and no way I could...

This could help some on the forum with no cell service. I just saw the SpyPoint is adding the Flex-Range model to their lineup, which has both cellular and satellite uploads. Here is the verbiage from the posting, which notes a Spring 2026 release date. SATELLITE BACKUP: Stay connected to your...

MDC reports final deer harvest for season at 301,954 Top harvest counties were Franklin, Howell, and Callaway. Hunters harvested 275,656 deer during 2024-2025 deer season. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri's 2025-2026 deer-hunting season ended Jan. 15 with the Missouri Department of Conservation...

I am going out with my grandson on his first rifle deer hunt (in this case, a muzzleloader). On Monday he starts college, so hopefully this will provide an experience and context that will help him navigate the craziness of the academy. I bought him a used Traditions Yukon and put a scope on it...

Here is the link to the original Land Tours post: https://habitat-talk.com/threads/c2-ranch.17932/post-406635 * * * * * * * * * * * * * Got a call from our forestry company during family dinner on Saturday saying they were running ahead of schedule, and they'd be burning Sunday morning. That's...

We habitat junkies always get interesting gifts that would cause most city folks to roll their eyes. This year I got a new outhouse to replace the one that died after many seasons (and being left out for a year!) and new Muck boots!

I had the privilege of mentoring Wayne, a new Missouri Department of Conservation biologist, on his first deer hunt. Hunters such as Wayne are a cause for encouragement for our future. He made a perfect quartering away shot on his first whitetail. We also enjoyed watching turkeys chasing deer...

With snow on the ground and hunting seasons still going strong in many states, the though of burning is far from most "to-do lists," dormant-season burns help manage grasslands and promote native plant growth. Fire is frequently listed as the most powerful tool in the habitat management...

I was feeling the pressure of getting my eight-year old granddaughter on deer. In 2023 she harvested a doe, and in 2024 a button buck. This year, her goal was to "tag out" with a buck and doe. She was already into her seventh sit of the season (two with me, five with dad), and she had only seen...

With the close of the Show-Me States’ main firearms deer season, the Missouri Department of Conservation reports hunters harvested 158,712 deer during the regular November firearms season (65% of the total harvest, to date). 2025: 158,712 2024: 158,577 2023: 193,885 2022: 199,115 2021: 188,928...

Day one of the Baptist Homes of Arcadia Valley Senior Deer Hunt is over, but the memories will continue for a lifetime! Despite the drought, the Vitalize Carbon Load food plots produced, allowed two senior hunters who thought their hunting days were long over to harvest a deer. New this year...

Day 1 of 7: I am once again privileged to be a part of a century old Deer Camp tradition, joining a colleague and friend and his family at their 140 year old cabin in the beautiful Ozark mountains. On the 5 Hour drive from our Northwest Missouri farm, the temperatures averaged to 81°. This is...

My son-in-law experienced the rut the wrong way this morning in Kansas City on the way to work...

There are plenty of things that could be worse than having a birthday in mid-October—having an anniversary during hunting season, for one. Yet, every year as my birthday approaches, I feel that familiar tug to step away from the busy rhythm of work and spend all or part of the day in pursuit of...

A couple of recent threads have demonstrated that CWD is a topic of interest and passion...and one that is respectfully discussed on this forum. Here are two recent resources that are well worth the time investment for those wanting to know how to respond to CWD (if it is in your area) or...

We are preparing for the 2026 senior hunts at work, and I thought it was interesting to see how quickly the deer appeared on the path after mowing an access trail. This ladder stand will be ideal for team members using crossbows. After a day in the office it is nice to be able to go into...