Missouri Conservationist May 2020

NatureLABby BonnieChasteenEach month, we highlight researchMDC uses to improve fish, forest,and wildlife management.RESOURCE SCIENCEOpinion Surveys“Natural resource management is just as muchabout managing for people as it is for turkeys, trout,or trees,” said Social Science Program Supervisor RonReitz. “The department considers how its management decisions affect you, the resource user, and yourrecreational opportunities.”Reitz’s team of social scientists uses mail surveys,public meetings, focus groups, and web surveys to askMissourians about their views. Last year, his teamcontacted nearly 200,000 Missourians to get theirinput on everything from deer and turkey regulationsto elk viewing and unstaffed shooting range use.You might say, “Nobody asked my opinion.” It’strue MDC can’t contact everyone. But, through sampling, staff can learn what you likely think about agiven topic.This is because surveys assume that an opinionheld by one person is also held by others. “If you askenough of the right people, you get a pretty good idea Who uses MDC’s70 unstaffedshooting ranges? What are theirneeds, desires, andcompliance with rulesand regulations?Methods1. Create a map of allshooting ranges,regardless of ownership2. Survey key areamanagers3. Conduct user surveysat 39 unstaffedfirearms ranges4 Missouri Conservationist May 2020Socialscience teamtracks publicopinionsaboutMissouri’sfish, forest,and wildlifeof what a group of people, whether landowners,anglers, hikers, hunters, homeowners, farmers, oreven all Missourians think about an issue,” Reitzsaid.In fact, for simple survey questions, a samplesize of about 1,000 can accurately represent theanswers of Missouri’s 6 million people. “The resultsare almost the same as if everyone had been askedand responded,” Reitz said.One survey that helped MDC learn more and domore for a group of Missouri recreationists occurredbetween 2013 and 2015. “This three-stage effortfocused on unstaffed shooting range users,” Reitzsaid. “The information we gained will help us bettermanage unstaffed ranges, meet public needs, andcomply with federal guidelines.”User Survey of Unstaffed Rangesat a GlanceResults Over 89% of Missourians live within 30 minutesof a shooting range (of any ownership) About 51% live within 30 minutesof an MDC shooting range Area managers reported three common rule violations:littering, improper firearm use, and vandalism An estimated 299,810 visitors used thestudy’s 39 unstaffed firearms ranges Missourians made up 95% of the visitors MDC’s unstaffed ranges provided users over 1.8 million in recreation value The estimated economic impact onMissouri’s economy is 7.3 millionUsing the Info Evaluate potentialfor staffingand prioritizemaintenanceand renovation/constructionprojects Modify rules,encouragecompliance, andimprove customerservice and safetyBrowse public comment opportunities at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJxEXIT SURVEY: TOM TREIMANInfo NeededA trained volunteer conducts an exit survey with an unstaffed shootingrange user. MDC seeks and uses public opinions to improve naturalresource management and balance the needs of people and nature.

News and updates from MDCFIRST ELK HUNTINGSEASON THIS FALLAARON HILDRETHTHE MISSOURI CONSERVATIONCOMMISSION HAS APPROVEDFIVE PERMITS FOR HUNTINGBULL ELK DURING MISSOURI’SFIRST ELK HUNTING SEASONIN MODERN HISTORY Missouri’s first elk season comesafter years of restoration efforts ofthe once-native species by MDC,numerous partners including theRocky Mountain Elk Foundation,and supporters including localcommunities and area landowners.For this season, MDC hasdesignated a nine-day archeryportion running Oct. 17–25 and anine-day firearms portion runningDec. 12–20. The five permits,awarded through a random draw,will be for bull elk and will be validfor both portions. Four permits willbe for the general public and onepermit will be reserved for qualifyingarea landowners.In BriefMDC will require a 10 application fee for those applying for thegeneral permits. Qualifying landowners applying for a landownerpermit will not be required to pay the 10 application fee. Thoseselected for each of the five permits must pay a 50 permit fee.MDC will limit the random draw to one application per-person,per-year with a 10-year “sit-out” period for those drawn for a generalpermit before they may apply again. If selected for a landownerelk permit, qualifying landowners will not be required to wait 10years before again applying for a landowner elk permit. Qualifyinglandowners may apply once each year for a general elk huntingpermit and for a landowner elk permit, but are eligible to receive onlyone permit annually.Local landowners have been supportive of the reintroductionof elk to the area and many have worked hard to create habitat thatbenefits elk and many other wildlife species.The landowner elk permit is limited to resident landowners with atleast 20 contiguous acres within the “Landowner Elk Hunting Zone” ofCarter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties. Zone boundaries are shownin the application. The landowner permit is nontransferable and mayonly be filled on the landowner’s property.General permits can be used in Carter, Reynolds, and Shannoncounties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area,and are not transferable.Allowed hunting methods for each season portion will be thesame as for deer hunting. The permits will allow for the harvest ofone bull elk with at least one antler no shorter than 6 inches in length.Successful hunters must Telecheck their harvested elk, similar to deer.First Elk Hunting Season continued on Page 6 »mdc.mo.gov 5

In BriefTo apply for an elk permit, applicants must be Missouri residents at least 11 years of age by the first day ofthe hunt. Those selected to receive a permit must havetheir hunter education certification or be exempt by age(born before Jan. 1, 1967) before they may purchasethe permit.Apply for the elk permit random draw May 1–31online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC’s freeMO Hunting app, by visiting a permit vendor, or by calling 1-800-392-4115.Qualifying landowners must submit their propertyinformation through MDC’s Landowner Permit Application at mdc.mo.gov/landownerpermits before applying.Starting July 1, applicants can check to see if theyhave been selected for an elk hunting permit onlineat mdc.mo.gov/buypermits after logging into ManageYour Account and selecting View My Special Hunt History.For more information on elk hunting in Missouri, visitshort.mdc.mo.gov/Znd.Elk are a native species in Missouri but were huntedto extinction in the state through unregulated huntingduring the late 1800s. With the help of numerous partners and supporters, MDC reintroduced about 100 elkto a remote area of the Missouri Ozarks in 2011, 2012,and 2013. Their numbers have grown to more than200, and their range has expanded in recent years tocover portions of Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties. Learn more about elk restoration in Missouri atshort.mdc.mo.gov/ZYJ.HUNTERS GIVE TO SHARE THE HARVESTMDC and the Conservation Federation of Missouri(CFM) thank the thousands of Missouri deer hunterswho donated 348,535 pounds of venison to the state’sShare the Harvest program this past deer season, including 6,795 whole deer. We also thank the more than 100participating meat processors throughout the state whogrind the donated deer meat into ready-to-use packages,and the many sponsors who financially support the program. The donated deer meat goes to local food banksand food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians allaround the state. To get Share the Harvest venison, contact local food banks or food pantries. Share the Harvestis coordinated by MDC and CFM. Since the program wasstarted in 1992, it has provided more than 4.3 millionpounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungryMissourians, including this past season’s donations. Formore information on Share the Harvest, visit CFM onlineat short.mdc.mo.gov/Zeu.6 Missouri Conservationist May 2020Ask MDCGot a Question for Ask MDC?Send it to AskMDC@mdc.mo.govor call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.Q: I saw this mossthat looked like it was”blooming.” I’ve neverseen this before. Can youtell me what this is?h This moss is at the “capsule”stage and is about to releasespores. The capsules openMoss capsuleswhen small, lidlike structuresdecay, allowing the spores tofloat in the wind and establishQ: I have some large elmnew life.trees in my yard that areAll mosses are bryophytes,succumbing to Dutch elmmeaning they reproduce viadisease and need to bespores rather than flowerscut down. I’ve noticedor seeds. Of the thousandssquirrels, robins, wrens,of species of bryophytesbluebirds, and occasionallyidentified, none show all thecardinals nest in them.adaptations needed for aWould fall be the best timecompletely terrestrial existence.to remove these elms, whenUnlike other plants, they lackthe squirrels and birdsthe well-developed vascularare not raising young?structure needed to conducth From the perspective ofwater and nutrients. This limitsthe wildlife using these treestheir ability to grow very largeas habitat, September throughand most are less than 4 inchesOctober is the safest time totall.remove them. By September,Since they do depend on themost of the bird nesting activityexistence of water to reproduce,will be concluded. And bythey grow primarily in dampgetting the work done beforeand shady environments — suchHalloween, you would allowthe squirrels to create nestsas the floor of a Missouri forestelsewhere before very coldor woodland.weather sets in.Because mosses can surviveAs conservationists, wewithout being rooted in soil,encourage people to preservethey grow where other plantsdecaying trees when and wherecannot, such as on the surfacespossible because they serve asof boulders, rocks, and stones.excellent sources of food andMany a hiker has enjoyed theshelter for a variety of animalsoft respite offered by a mossspecies.covered trail.MOSS: HOLLY MARTIN; RED MILKSNAKE: COURTNEY BOLINFIRST ELK HUNTING SEASON (continued)

Zachary SwindleSHANNON COUNTYCONSERVATION AGENToffers this month’sRed milksnakeHowever, some trees simplycannot be saved or are not worthsaving. If a tree has already beenweakened by disease, the trunk issplit, or more than 50 percent of thecrown is gone, the tree s

answers of Missouri’s 6 million people. “The results are almost the same as if everyone had been asked and responded,” Reitz said. One survey that helped MDC learn more and do . more for a group of Missouri recreationists occurred between 2013 and 2015. “This three-stage effort focused on unstaffed shooting range users,” Reitz said.