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Volume 2 Number 1 Spring 2010 |
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Missouri Trifecta By, Steve Bemke, Heartland Hunters Pro Staff Cajun roasted wild turkey breast, sautéed breaded wild morel mushrooms, deep fried crappie pulled from your favorite fishing hole and an ice cold beer. It doesn’t get much better than that. Each Spring I step into the turkey woods with the goal of taking one of the most challenging animals to hunt; the Eastern Wild Turkey. But if all goes well, that’s just the beginning of my “grocery shopping”. Missouri offers a great opportunity that I aim for every season; I like to call the Missouri Spring Trifecta. If I’m successful, the next night’s dinner will be a rare but exceptional indulgence that includes the delicacies listed above. I’ve rarely missed an opening day in the spring turkey woods, as it has been an obsession of mine since I was young. Hunters who have avoided turkey season often ask, “What makes turkey hunting so special?” For one I say, “Its spring time and I am hunting! It doesn’t get much better than that!” But you are also pursuing one of the most challenging; and in my opinion, one of the most exciting and best eating wild game there is. Missouri—thanks in part to our outstanding Conservation Department—has produced one the greatest turkey populations in the nation. I think it’s safe to say, the wild turkey will never overcome the popularity of our nation’s whitetail deer. However, if you’ve never experienced spring turkey hunting in Missouri, you are missing out on one of the greatest times to spend in the outdoors. If you’re fortunate enough to take one of these wary birds, you can add to the reward by adding a few sides to the dinner menu. In Missouri, you cannot hunt past 1:00 p.m. So bird in hand or not, your afternoon and evening are free to pursue other great opportunities. I like to start off by visiting my favorite morel mushroom hot spots that have been uncovered over the years. If you’ve never had morel mushrooms, you’re truly missing out on one of the best tasting mushrooms there are. Even folks, who are not typically fond of eating mushrooms, fall in love with the taste of morels. Besides the great eating, they are a lot of fun to hunt for as well. |
Morels can pop up in many different places, but I have had the most luck along creek beds, lakes, and river bottoms. A lot of times these same areas are surrounded by ferns that like the same soil conditions as morels. Once you've found a morel patch, you can visit these patches each spring and yield good results if the weather cooperates. Morels can be found most typically through the month of April in Missouri depending on your area. I see the best results around the 2 nd week of April through the first week of turkey season.
So if all has gone well so far, you have a long beard on the ground in the morning, you have a couple dozen morels picked form your latest hot spot, and now you have the rest of the day to rig up your crappie pole and hit the near-by lake. This time of year, crappie are in there spawning phase. This means, based on the water temperature and clarity, the crappie have moved to shallower water anywhere from 5ft-10ft deep. As long as you are on the crappie, many different crappie lures will do the trick. You may have to experiment with different colors, but once you’re dialed in, you will be packing your cooler with slabs of crappie in no time. Even just catching 4-6 crappie will create enough fillets to go with the next night’s meal. I try to avoid freezing my fish and wild game meat when possible. In other words, if I am rewarded with catching a half dozen crappie and taking a wild turkey, it’s safe to say they will be on the menu the next night if not that same night. As spring approaches, see if you can stack the dinner table with these great eating meals; even if you only cash in on one of the three, you are still eating well!
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Muskie Fishing on a Budget By, Gary Neely, Muskies Inc. Muskie fishing is an item that is most outdoorsmen’s list of things to do in their lifetime and now you can have the opportunity to do this right here in Missouri. And we have the answer on how to do this with a minimal amount of money. But how do you proceed? If you have never fished for Muskies you could read a lot of books and spend a fair amount of money on learning and gathering the required fishing tackle, or you could simply give "Guide For A Day" at try in Southwestern Missouri on Pomme de Terre Lake.
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On September 25 th, 2010 the Pomme de Terre Chapter of Muskies Inc. will be offering their Guide for a Day program to those who would like to try this sport at bargain basement pricing. Hiring a guide to take you fishing will easily top $250.00 for the experience, but this event will get you 8 hours on the lake with an experienced muskie fisherman/guide, plus a steak dinner when the day is done for only $125.00. Our fishermen/guides will help you with the tackle if you don't have anything heavy enough so that your day will be pleasant and not too expensive. We don’t guarantee fish but can insure you that you will have a memorable day of fishing/hunting for Muskies and visit one of Missouri’s prime Muskie Fishing lakes with large numbers of 40” plus fish. And if you do catch one, we can almost guarantee that you will be hooked for life. Pomme de Terre has one of the largest muskie populations on a per acre basis in the U.S. & Canada. The funds raised by our club are used to assist the Conservation Department and Game Commission in our state with the preservation and quality of Muskie Fishing. The guides will be providing the boat, gas and equipment to help in this major fund raising event so other than the cost of the meal, all funds will be available for use to further the sport of Muskie Fishing in our state. So visit our web site: www.missourimuskies.org for more information and sign up soon as spaces quickly fill up every year. This will be a one day event in 2010 as the Corps of Engineers will be doing a draw down on the lake for dam maintenance this summer, so sign up early as this event will fill up quickly, and experience one of life’s greatest pleasures – muskie fishing. |
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Weapons 2 Wall Hangers By, Tammy "Tam" Paben My name is Tammy Paben or Tam as everyone calls me. My husband, Mike of 22 years taught me the love of hunting and fishing. I bow hunt, rifle hunt, muzzleloading, predator hunt, turkey hunt and fish as much as possible. We also have two sons that join us when they can. I have been doing taxidermy for about 15 years now. I studied whitetail under Joe Meder back in 2000. As far as everything else, I have learned on my own and by going to seminars at the many shows I have attended. During the first three years I took ribbons at the state and national level. Since then, I have been so busy in the shop that I haven't had time to compete.
I have about a one year waiting list for my work. I run the shop by myself, insuring you that you are getting my work. I don't send my hides out; everything is done right in the shop. I do whitetail and other big game mounts. I do several bear a year, waterfowl, turkey, upland game birds and about any kind of mammal there is and fish. I also provide rugging, skull work, tine repair and refurbishing older mounts. I know how important your trophy is. Tam's Taxidermy is located 10 miles southwest of Kahoka, MO. |
My husband owns and runs a gun shop at this location also. He sells new and used guns, does repair work, general cleaning, bore sighting and some refinishing. He also sells accessories for your gun, ammo, optics and deals in some archery. He can get you about anything you can want as far as blinds, game cams and calls in a short amount of time.
Our combined name is Weapons 2 Wall hangers: Your one stop shop! We're just a couple of small family owned businesses and would love to help ya in any way we can. You can contact us at: 660-479-5567 or Tam at 660-341-4757 and Mike at 660-341-5537.
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Times of Change By, Bill Ernst, Mossy Oak Pro Staff Well we have all experienced it. As I write this article, deer seasons have ended across the country and preparations for the upcoming spring turkey season are well underway. The banquets, expos, seminars, and practicing have all begun and It's time to lay down the long guns of deer season and reach for your favorite scatter gun for turkey. If you’re like me, you have a passion of a higher calling and already have your bow handy and within an arm's reach. I can still recall that first gobble that sent a chill down my spine and made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I was not successful that day, however, I was hooked. I have spent a lot of time hunting and fishing in Illinois with my Uncle Tony. He has played a huge role in being a mentor for me and the outdoors, involving me in his hunting trips, weekend fishing tournaments, and introducing me to archery as a teenager. As I had stated before, we were unsuccessful for a bird on this given day, however neither of us will soon forget that day. We had set out that morning with a plan, like most seasoned hunters have. Turkey hunting was new to us, however we were up to the challenge. We had split up in a patch of woods not far from the house, and were to meet up later in the day. Being new to turkey hunting, everything seemed like trial and error. After a couple hours of moving and calling, moving and calling, I finally heard it. I got an answer from a long beard as he busted loose in a patch of cedars. Not knowing any better, my tom had hung up and I gave up on the hunt. I walked out of the woods and had met up with Uncle Tony as planned. As we walked along the tree line heading home, discussing the day’s events, my gobbler busted out of the cedars and took out across the corn field in front of us. We both looked at each other in amazement. Anxiously waiting for the other to draw up on the bird and roll-em up in his tracks, but, after several very long seconds, I realized we had both already unloaded our shotguns for the trip home. Together, laughing, we stood there in a cherished moment not to be forgotten. Needless to say the tom lived another day, as did we. |
It is moments like these that have fueled my love for the outdoors. The time was well spent with a loved one, or it could be a friend, a silent moment alone, to reflect on life. To see nature as it is, untouched and free. Try to take the time this year to involve another in your ventures. Instill that passion within them. You will be giving them a priceless gift that will not soon be forgotten. My name is Bill Ernst. I am an avid outdoorsman who is fortunate enough to share moments like the one mentioned, with my family and friends. We live in Missouri where the game animals are plenty, as is the natural beauty of the outdoors. I have been lucky to team up with several companies in the outdoor industry to procure spots on several Pro Staff teams. Through their help, I am able to catapult myself into the outdoors. I have also teamed up with a couple friends to partner in an outdoor 3D archery range, Double-Back Archery www.double-backarchery.com located in Norwood, Missouri. I also have an active Blog and urge everyone to take part. Feel free to contact me as I am always looking for new friends to share the passion of the outdoors with. Bill
Ernst Commando Pro StaffFlatline Productions
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The Heartland Hunters are proud to support the Missouri Department of Conservation youth angler pilot program, GO FISH! For More information click on the picture below.
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