CAMPFIRE CHAT WITH
MOC PRESIDENT ZACH SMITH
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Greetings, Missouri Outdoor Communicators.
The sounds and signs of the season are cropping up all over: The spring peepers are putting in nightly concerts, fire crews are getting an early jump on the dry season and the decoys are being dusted off as they’re brought out of storage. Before you know it we’ll be airing out tents, unrolling hammocks and topping off the ever-melting cooler. But I enjoy this little pocket of calm before the storm of summer (which always goes by too fast), when the air is still a little crisp in the morning and the campfire is doing more than just making a pleasant crackling sound.
I’ll be the first to admit that in adulthood that sense of serenity is a little harder to come by, even sometimes in the outdoors. I think it probably has something to do with the emphasis modern society places on the idea of a “career.” I can only speak for myself, but when I have time away from the daily grind, the bottomless inbox and the endless meetings, I want to feel that I’m accomplishing something outside of that role, too, that I’m not just a line item in an annual budget. That makes it harder to find the joy in something as simple as taking a walk, as Thich Nhat Hahn would say, “without thinking of arriving anywhere.”
But when I can’t summon up that magic by just being in the outdoors, there is another Zen master’s wisdom I can always count on: Bill Watterson, or more accurately his avatars Calvin and Hobbes. When you weren’t marveling at inventions of cardboard box wizardry or chuckling at a summons to the principal’s office, you’d typically find Calvin and his trusty tiger pal outside: building snowmonsters, taking a death-defying wagon ride down a hill or simply walking in the autumn leaves. It was against these backdrops that the duo have deep philosophical discussions (or as deep as you could get in a four-panel strip) about the meaning of life, the dangers of materialism or the difference between happiness and satisfaction. Those are among the thoughts that come to you in nature.
I won’t pretend I understood all of these discussions and revelations in my younger years. I just liked the art. But as age creeps on, the wisdom of Calvin’s (Watterson’s) words, both written and implied, sink deeper in: “there’s treasure everywhere” — if you look for it. I hope as we get out and about again, and life returns to something a little closer to normal, that you all are finding whatever your treasure is, wherever it may be. In the meantime, I’ll look forward to hopefully seeing some of you in May at our next Fish ‘N Fun event in Pulaski County or all of you at our annual meeting this fall at Bennett Spring.
Until then, I look forward to seeing you all again outside. If our paths cross, then in the immortal “last” words of Calvin: “Let’s go exploring!”
- Zach Smith, President 2019-2021
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE |
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Every family I know that spends time outdoors has their own traditions. It could be an annual camping trip, fishing trip, float trip, hiking trip, hunting trip or all of the above. There are a lot of overlaps, but each tradition eventually becomes engrained in the fabric of that family and a source of endless stories and great pride. This is one of the many things I love about the outdoors.
During one warm weekend late this winter, my family and I went to the farm for a shooting weekend and our (now) seven-year old son, Elliot, had the opportunity to fire his first "real" gun. After once again going over the finer points of firearm safety, it was time to start shooting. It would not have mattered to him what type of gun it was - he would have been just as happy shooting the Red Ryder BB gun - but, to the adults, there was significance in the choice: Elliot will be able to say the first gun he shot was a .22 pistol that once belonged to his great-grandfather; the same pistol that that his grandfather learned on and taught his dad and uncles to shoot with. And now, his grandfather was teaching him, too.
Elliot sidled up to his grandfather's lap, got settled in, scanned his surroundings and drew a bead on his target. To all of our astonishment, he didn't miss. Not once. Six shots and six holes. He made quick work of that target and was incredibly proud of his accomplishment. Needless to say, we were all very proud of him, too.
Now that spring has arrived, we've been making plans for more shooting days and discussing whether or not he wants to get up at zero-dark-thirty to sit in the turkey woods with his "Papa" (at the moment, the scale is tipping closer to sleep than it is gobblers). We've also been reorganizing his tackle box and making sure his rods and reels are ready to go (yes, that's right... he's only seven and already has more tackle than anyone really needs). He's been waiting all winter to chase sunfish in the farm pond and to try his hand at a trout park this spring and I'm all too willing to take him. To quote Hank Williams, Jr., "I'm just carrying on an old family tradition."
Another wonderful thing about traditions is that one begets another.
How many people do you know began a new tradition because they were inspired by the stories of others? As mentioned previously, I've taken much inspiration and guidance from the stories of fellow MOC members. I'm hopeful the stories of my family's outdoor adventures create that same spark in others to get outside and start their own traditions. After all, isn't that why we became outdoor communicators in the first place?
- Kyle Stewart, The Beenders Walker Group
Missouri Outdoor Communicators Executive Director
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We're excited to be getting back in the saddle again with organized opportunities for Missouri Outdoor Communicators.
We have two events taking place this spring and fall, respectively. You should have received Save-The-Dates emails for each already but here's a reminder of what we have on the horizon:
First up is the 2021 MOC Spring Fish, Float N Fun media event in Pulaski County, May 18-20.
The second is our annual Missouri Outdoor Communicators conference at Bennett Spring State Park in Lebanon, October 1-3, 2021.
Scroll down for information on each.
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Pulaski County, nestled in the Ozark Mountains, has been a welcoming destination since the railroad laid its tracks across the county in 1869. Outdoorsmen were the first to discover the area as a getaway from crowded cities. They traveled by train to fish, hunt, and breathe in the fresh Ozark Mountain air. Now, you can reconnect with Mother Nature in Pulaski County's wide-open outdoor spaces; wander in its nationally protected forest; paddle Pulaski's uncrowded, gentle rivers; discover ancient fishing holes or cast away the afternoon at a private lake. For more information on Pulaski County, head to www.VisitPulaskiCounty.org.
WHEN: Participants will arrive Tuesday afternoon, May 18 and depart Thursday afternoon, May 20, 2021.
WHERE: The headquarters and lodging for this media event will be at Gasconade Hills Resort in Richland, MO. Participants also will spend time on the rivers, lakes and hiking trails throughout the area as well as visiting the cities of Waynesville, St. Robert and Dixon.
WHO: This event is limited to no more than 11 Active MOC Media Members. Priority will be given to active media members on assignment or with guaranteed story placement.
HOW MUCH: Registration for the 2021 Fish, Float N Fun Media Event is $40 per participant. This includes two night's lodging, all meals and activities.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Participants will have their choice of outdoor pursuits to choose from. Options will include guided kayak fishing on a Pulaski County river (Gasconade and/or Big Piney), guided private lake fishing, guided fly fishing on Roubidoux Creek, floating on the Gasconade River and/or Big Piney River, hiking in Mark Twain National Forest, and exploring a local wild cave, to name but a few of the activities available in Pulaski County.
A special thanks goes out to Karen Hood and the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau for hosting sponsoring this media event.
More details, as well as a sign-up form for the Pulaski County Fish, Float N Fun Media Event will be arriving in your inbox very soon.
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We are delighted to announce that the 2021 MOC conference will take place Friday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021 at Bennett Spring State Park in Lebanon, Missouri.
We will be able to choose from a variety of accommodations at the beautiful Bennett Spring State Park and lodging also will be available at the Bennett Spring Inn outside of the park.
Lodging options at Bennett Spring State Park include:
- Duplex Units (two bedrooms - one with two twin beds and one with a queen bed) for $149 per night
- Motel units at the park (two queen beds) for $99 per night
- Quaint Sleeping Rooms (1 bed) for $79 per night
- To make reservations for accommodations in the park, please call 417-532-4307 or 800-334-6946.
Additional lodging options at the Bennett Spring Inn, which is located about two miles outside the park, include motel rooms with two queen beds for $50 per night. To make reservations at the Bennett Spring Inn, please call 417-588-9110.
To receive the above-mentioned conference rates, please be sure to let your reservationist know you are reserving your stay for the Missouri Outdoor Communicators conference.
While in Lebanon, we will be exploring and experiencing the many excellent outdoor-focused adventures available in the area.
A sample of conference activities and topics include:
- Learning about Missouri's trout stocking program
- Trout fishing at Bennett Spring
- Fly casting workshops taught by Jim Rogers, certified master caster
- Floating/fishing the scenic Niangua River
- Hiking celebrated trails
- Exploring the "Mother Road" and Lebanon's Route 66 Museum
- Craft Improvement programs
- Story Starter Seminars
- Spouse/Guest Tours and Activities
Registration for the 2021 MOC conference will be $75 per person.
A special thanks goes out to Rebecca Rupard and the City of Lebanon Tourism Office for sponsoring this conference and our activities.
We're hoping to see as many of you as possible at our conference the first weekend of October in Lebanon. And, for the record, the last time we held a MOC conference in Lebanon it was the best-attended conference to-date. So, let's see if we can recreate that magic!
Please be on the lookout for additional conference details - including lodging options and rates, activities and conference programming - in the coming months.
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MOREL HUNTING TIPS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS |
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By Colton Zirkle, Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) Education and Communications Coordinator
Note: This story, "Spring Morels," originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of Conservation Federation Magazine. It is reprinted here with permission from CFM.
Take a moment to think of a rewarding outdoor activity anyone can get involved in. Does that activity require any special equipment or expertise? Last year brought many newcomers into the great outdoors for many reasons, whether to escape from endless hours of screentime or to find new productive forms of entertainment. Deer and waterfowl seasons closed a little while ago and the opening of spring turkey season marks the short window of the year of my favorite season, morel mushrooms.
Morels are a genus of fungi (Morchella) that come onto the scene for about a month in Missouri. Their season fluctuates with temperature, humidity, and rainfall, but there are general things to look for to know it's that time. Spring turkey season cuts off every day at 1pm. Every opening weekend (April 19 this year), my cousin and I will hunt turkeys in the morning and morels in the afternoon; that weekend is nearly a sure bet for finding morels. The old-timers say to look when the oak leaves are as big as a squirrel's ear and believe it or not, that timing works out pretty well too!
But where do you start?
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Do you jump out into the woods and start grabbing and eating wild mushrooms? By no means! First and foremost, when foraging, always positively identify the species. Morels are pretty easy to ID once you learn and know them, but they do have some dangerous lookalikes. True morels will have a loosely conical shape, a pitted cap (the top part of the mushroom) resembling a sponge or honeycomb, and a hollow stem (see photo to the right). There are arguably four species of true morels in Missouri, the American morel aka "yellows" (M. americana), the half-free morel (M. punctipes), black morels (M. angusticeps), and hickory chicks aka "grays" (M. diminutiva). If you are ever concerned about what you have, take it to a regional MDC office or nature center, or email them a picture and ask before you eat. I'm a part of several great Facebook groups in Missouri for mushroom identification and morels specifically, but it boils down to this, don't eat it if you're not 100% certain what it is. The second rule of foraging is to try a small amount of the food and wait before you eat a full serving. Some people are more sensitive to wild food than others, so just because some people eat a mushroom doesn't mean you will be able to do so. Ok, those are all my disclaimers; let's dive into morels.
Morels are generally associated with the roots of trees. The mushroom is simply the fungus's fruiting body, which spreads its spores, similar to how an apple spreads seeds for the apple tree. The majority of the fungus lies underground.
Their relationship with trees is not fully understood; they may be parasitic on the trees or they may help provide nutrients for the tree that it could not gather from the soil on its own.
It seems that when one of these trees dies, this fungus "abandons ship," so to speak, and sends out its fruiting bodies before it dies. Dying trees seem to be great places to find morels. But which species of tree? Don't worry, we'll get there in a moment, we have to cover the habitat first.
Many people have their favorite places to find morels, hillsides and creek bottoms seem to be the main arguing points, but be assured, no 'shroomer will reveal their spots. People have been known to take their "honey hole" locations to the grave, never revealing them to their own family! These people are serious. For someone new to the sport, I recommend creek bottoms. My experience has shown that low-lying areas near year 'round streams and rivers seem to be the best spots. Start scouting (looking for) spots now. Conservation areas and state parks can be great places, but you'll have to beat the competition. Be sure to follow guidelines and regulations at public areas and know the rules before you go. E-scouting is also a great way to look for somewhere to hunt morels. A new smartphone application on the scene is On-X, but you can get by just fine with a free app like Google Maps.
Look for low, flat areas with sandy soil near streams.
Now for the trees.
You may be thinking, I don't know how to identify trees, I'm here to tell you, you can do it! You need to know only 5 main tree types with which morels associate. In order of my personal most success, those are American elm (Ulmus americana), ash (Fraxinus), black cherry (Prunus serotina), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), and eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana).
The best way to recognize these trees in the early spring is by their bark, and luckily, they're all fairly distinct.
I will go through each species/group below. Be sure to refer to the photos of each.
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American Elm
There are three common elm species within the state, but the American elm (Figure 1) is the easiest to recognize and seems to produce the most morels for me. I usually spot this tree in the distance by the abundance of green moss growing on light-colored bark. Its bark is scaly with the areas between the scales being the same light color.
American elm is one of the earliest trees to begin putting on leaves and almost immediately drops its seeds first thing in the spring. The seeds are called samaras and look a bit like an over-easy egg, flat and circular with a raised dark area surrounded by a thin disk. Sometimes I key in on the seeds on the ground or even fall before seeing the tree itself.
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Ash
We have six common species of ash in Missouri, for our purposes, which species does not seem to be relevant. Ash is also easy to identify at a distance from its deeply-furrowed bark (Figure 2). They have light-colored ridges with dark-colored valleys running vertically on the trunk. Like the elm, moss seems to favor the tree, but unlike elm, it typically does not cover the tree on every side of the trunk. The bark ridges form a distinctive pattern, seemingly crisscrossing one another into "X's."
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Black Cherry
Black cherry bark can be best described as scaly (Figure 3). Its scales are larger than the American elm and appear as two-inch or so square-ish blocks that are light gray with dark furrows between them. How to spot them from far away is their trunks are usually darker than the other trees around them. These trees are also some of the first to leaf out and will likely be nearing flowering. Cherry leaves are oval and lightly toothed. Later in the spring, the cherries on these trees are edible but somewhat bitter.
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American Sycamore
This species can be easily recognized even from the highway. Toward the tree's base, the bark of the American sycamore is brown and flakes off with a light touch to reveal a light green or white smooth under bark (Figure 4).
Near the canopy, most of this outer bark has flaked off to reveal stark white main branches. The forest floor beneath these trees will likely be covered in their leaves from the previous year, like the maple leaf on the Canadian flag.
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Eastern Redcedar
Cedar is a coniferous tree that remains green all year long. Its leaves are modified into small overlapping scales (Figure 5). This tree's outer bark usually has long vertical lines that can be pulled off in fibrous strips (which can be woven into cordage or used as tinder to start a fire). Lower branches on this tree are usually dead but still attached to the trunk.
There you have it, the basics of morel mushroom hunting. Most folks carry a mesh bag to collect their morels as they believe that it helps spread the spores while you walk and keeps the mushrooms fresh.
Once you get your mushrooms home, most people soak them in saltwater to rid them of the bugs and little critters living in them. Others swear against water with salt in it and say a simple water soak is fine.
After their soak, rinse and they are ready to be added to your favorite recipe, sauteed, or fried as most of us enjoy them. Some folks even dry them or freeze them to use later in the year (ours usually get eaten right away). Practice makes perfect! Go out and study your trees now, they won't look too much different come spring.
Search for a spot. A good tip is to look at many photos of morels to create a search image. And pretty soon you'll be dreaming of morels.
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MDC SAYS HUNTERS COULD SEE MORE
YOUNG TURKEYS THIS SPRING
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It wouldn't be spring without morel hunting and turkey season, which often go hand-in-hand.
Below is in excerpt from a press release distributed by the Missouri Department of Conservation on March 30 in regard to the outlook for spring 2021.
By Joe Jerek
Missouri turkey hunters can expect this spring season to be about as challenging as the past few spring seasons according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The spring turkey hunting season starts with a youth-only weekend April 10 and 11 followed by the regular spring season April 19 through May 9.
“A great deal of what makes for a good spring turkey season depends on the hatch two years prior because it affects the number of two-year-old gobblers on the landscape,” said MDC Turkey Biologist Reina Tyl. “These young gobblers are not associated with hens as often as older, more dominant birds and are the most likely to respond to hunters’ calls.”
According to MDC, turkey production was generally poor statewide in 2019. Therefore, hunters can expect fewer two-year-old gobblers available for harvest during this year’s spring hunting season.
“However, some regions of the state, especially north Missouri and counties along the Missouri River in central and east Missouri, saw significant improvements in production during 2020,” Tyl said. “It’s possible that hunters in those areas with better production last summer might see an overall increase in the number of turkeys on the landscape this spring due to an increase in the number of young birds.”
Considering the prospects for the 2021 spring season, hunters who aim to harvest a gobbler that is two-years-old or older should be prepared to put in a bit more effort to be successful this year.
“When gobbler numbers are down, it becomes even more important to spend time scouting for flocks before the start of the season,” Tyl said. “Hunters should get out to their hunting areas as much as possible to listen for birds gobbling at daybreak.”
Tyl noted that hunters should also take the time to learn where turkeys are spending most of their time after they fly down from the roost.
“Use binoculars to spot turkeys feeding in open areas or look for signs of where turkeys have been feeding in the timber,” she said. “This will help hunters be in the right area when the hunting season gets here.”
Although the prospects for this year’s spring season aren’t encouraging, this isn’t the first-time poor turkey production has reduced turkey numbers in Missouri. After reaching a population peak in the early-to-mid 2000s, Missouri’s turkey population experienced four years of poor production from 2007–2010, causing the population to decline. However, Tyl noted that turkey numbers rebounded following several years of improved production.
“In much of the state, we observed improved production during 2011, 2012, and 2014,” said Tyl. “As a result, turkey numbers increased, and hunters generally had better hunting seasons in the years that followed.”
She added, “We are again in a period of lower turkey abundance on a statewide scale driven by poor production in recent years. However, turkey numbers may start to rebound a bit in those regions of the state with improved production in 2020.”
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SELF-PUBLISHING YOUR OWN OUTDOOR BOOK
By Tim Huffman
Outdoor books and magazines were going strong in the 1990s when I wrote my first book, “Winning Crappie Secrets.” Books and periodicals were critical tools for sportsmen keeping up with the latest gear, baits and techniques. It was a good time for outdoor writers and a good time to write a book.
I used a simple layout program, copied pages to a laser printer, delivered them to my book printer and wrote a big check to pay for printing. A few weeks later, I picked up 3,500 books with hopes they would sell instead of collect dust and cobwebs in the garage. They did sell along with a second printing of 2,500.
The world is different now than it was in the ‘90s. Books are not necessities because of the massive amounts of free information available with the click of a computer key. However, books still have a place and can be published in both print and electronic versions. Risks are fewer because books are printed one at a time, removing the requirement for large stockpiles.
I tried formatting for today’s books but it was a struggle. I learned, at least for me, it wasn’t worth the trouble. I decided to do the things I know how to do and hire someone to do the formatting.
Edit, Repeat, Edit, Repeat
The key to completing a book is to find a system that works to keep momentum going from start to finish. I’m not sure if the steps I used for “Limiting Out for Crappie” were the most efficient way to write and self-publish a book, but they kept me on track.
Step one was an outline. I’m a “to-do” list person who enjoys an organized working plan. For this book, I started by pulling previously published articles that were potential chapters. I created a book outline using those chapters. I listed other topics and experts I wanted to use for new chapters.
Step two was to select articles. I read each article and kept those I liked, made notes of ones needing interviews or updates and eliminated articles I didn’t want. The book outline was revised to include articles and new chapters. Those were organized into spring, summer, fall and winter sections.
Step three was a rough draft. Interviews, photo shoots, updating chapters and writing new chapters took a lot of time and effort. I reminded myself to keep the work fun and make the process an enjoyable experience. I didn’t want to fade away as the light in the tunnel remained distant.
Step four was a second draft. Getting words on a computer screen is one thing, but getting them to be readable comes with edits. Edit, repeat, edit, repeat. This was another time-consuming step and the least fun.
Step five was a professional edit. I used Keith Sutton, a friend, and in my opinion, the best outdoor editor in the country. I thought my book was near perfect, but his red ink engulfing each page proved otherwise. Another round of corrections were required.
Step six was the “other stuff.” ISBN numbers, cover layout that I did myself and other miscellaneous required items had to be completed.
Step seven was formatting. The company 52 Novels put my text and photos into formats for printing and e-books. My 52 Novels expert, Rob Siders, was excellent to work with, gave excellent advice and provided a quality, finished product.
Step eight was uploading. Not totally painless, but I accomplished it even though I’m not tech savvy. I uploaded my books to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) for print-on-demand paperbacks and Kindle e-books. Amazon is only one of many, but using them exclusively was the best option for me.
Hard figures? My two latest books involved a few miscellaneous fees but primarily proofing and formatting. My photo shoots and fishing trips were tied to other events so they didn’t add extra expenses to the book. The formatting costs were based upon word count, photos and other choices. My books were 30,000 words with about 25 photos. Miscellaneous, proofing and formatting cost between $1,000-$1,100 for each book.
I’m not recommending self-publishing over working with a publisher, but self-publishing has worked for me. Today, Amazon makes it easier than ever to publish your own books. I no longer worry about filling orders or having stockpiles of books in the garage. My two latest books quickly paid for themselves. The long hours in front of a computer screen are fading away, but the books continue to make sales on Amazon without further attention or work. So to me, the monthly checks are gravy…and I like gravy.
Editor’s note: Tim Huffman has written and published eight books. “Limiting Out for Crappie” won third place in the book category at the 2019 Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) Excellence in Craft awards. “300+ Crappie Fishing Tips” won first place in the 2020 AGLOW Excellence in Craft awards. Tim’s website is www.monstercrappie.com and his email address is tim@monstercrappie.com.
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For future issues for MOC TALK, please send story submissions, photographs, inquiries and upcoming events to Kyle Stewart of The Beenders Walker Group at Kyle@TBWGroup.net.
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MISSOURI OUTDOOR COMMUNICATORS
125 E. HIGH STREET, SUITE 200
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101
EMAIL: KYLE@TBWGROUP.NET
OFFICE: 573-636-8282
CELL: 573-619-3296
WWW.MISSOURIOUTDOORCOMMUNICATORS.ORG
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