By PAUL DAVIS
Outdoors Editor
Ducks and geese have returned to Southeast Missouri in a big way after all the widespread ice melted over the weekend.
When everything was locked up with ice, there were very few birds hanging around what open water they could find, which was mostly on the rivers and a few isolated pockets in the open.
The Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area was holding 15,000 over the weekend, but that number has ballooned to 40,000 now, plus 45,000 geese. No information was available for the Little River Conservation Area in Dunklin and Pemiscot counties.
A hunt at the Coon Island Conservation Area Monday showed a dramatic turnaround: green-winged teal were as thick as summer mosquitoes, and mallards were abundant. Plus healthy numbers of pintails and a few gadwalls also were seen and geese filled the sky constantly.
Unfortunately, there's only a few days left in the season for ducks and geese, with Sunday being the last day.
Furbearer Closure
Missouri's furbearer hunting and trappings seasons will wrap up Jan. 31, so if you want to try calling in a bobcat, you've got until then to get it done.
Closing on the 31st are the hunting and trapping seasons for foxes, badger, bobcats, opossum, raccoon and skunk. Trapping for coyotes also closes then, though the otter and muskrat trapping season remains open through Feb. 20 and beavers can be taken through March 31.
Coyotes can be hunted year-round, with some springtime restrictions, so after the 31st, you can still have at those fawn killers.
Coon Hunt
Speaking of furbearers, the Butler County Coon Club will host a UKC HTX hunt Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday evening.
The event will take place at the club's headquarters off County Road 607, and there will be a $10 entry fee.
If you need more information, give terry Uhl a call at 573-714-1624.
Trout Closure
Missouri's winter trout catch-and-release season closes on Jan. 31, which means you'll be able to start keeping trout caught in designated lakes on Feb. 1.
In Southeast Missouri, the Department of Conservation stocked rainbow trout in three lakes, including Rotary Lake in Jackson, Giessing Lake in Farmington and Legion Lake in Perryville in November. Since those stockings, all fishing has been on a catch-and-release basis.
Beginning Feb. 1, anglers will be able to take home four trout daily, with no size limitations or bait restrictions.
If you do keep trout, you'll need to have a Missouri trout permit, which costs $7 (half that for youths).
Once the catch-and-keep season opens, the trout probably won't last long, so if you want to catch some, don't dilly-dally around.
Ice is Gone
With ice covering Wappapello Lake over the weekend, the Wappapello Crappie Club was forced to cancel its Saturday tournament. its next event will take place Feb. 17.
Fortunately, the ice is gone now, according to Assistant Operations Manager James Gracey, and anglers finally can get on the lake.
Very few have ventured out onto the water this week, Gracey noted, but that should change. Besides, it's time to try catching some winter crappies.
Managed Hunts
If you hope to hunt turkeys this spring on a managed hunt in Missouri, the application period for the drawings will open Feb. 1.
MDC has 33 managed turkey hunts listed this spring, though most are in the St. Louis and Springfield areas.
Three regular hunts and one youth-only hunt are scheduled at the Peck Ranch Conservation Area, and two youth-only hunts will take place at the Current River State Park. There's also a special hunt for disabled hunters at the Coldwater Conservation Area north of Silva.
Every managed hunt takes place during either the youth or regular spring seasons, so there's no early hunting.
Applications will be taken online, and you can reach the page at mdc.mo.gov/springturkeyhunts. The application period will end Feb. 28, and the results of the drawing will be posted on March 12.
Archery Schedule
The archery season just ended in Missouri, but that doesn't mean you have to stay out of practice during the off-season, and the Indian Creek Bowhunters organization wants to help you keep in top form.
The club has just released its 2018 schedule, with 3-D archery shoots planned for March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, the St. Jude event on Aug. 11 and the season wrap-up on Sept. 8.
New this year will be a pop-up target system, which should make things interesting and more challenging.
Each event is open to the public, and any kind of archery equipment is welcome. You can also shoot just for fun or you can compete in various trophy classes if you wish.
If you're interested in the club's activities or want to get involved, give Brad Massey a call at 573-785-0647 or Tony Harwell at 573-718-7135.