March 10, 2021

More than 200 people turned out Saturday night for the Heartland Gobblers/National Wild Turkey Federation’s 28th annual Super Fund banquet. “That was the most we’ve had in several years,” said chapter president Chuck Stewart. “It was one of the best banquets we’ve had in a long time.”...

More than 200 people turned out Saturday night for the Heartland Gobblers/National Wild Turkey Federation’s 28th annual Super Fund banquet.

“That was the most we’ve had in several years,” said chapter president Chuck Stewart. “It was one of the best banquets we’ve had in a long time.”

The event went smoothly, Stewart said, without any hiccups.

The total amount raised during the banquet, Stewart said, was $60,000.

“I think that’s about 13,000 or 14,000 above last year,” he said.

The venue was different this year, with the event being held at The Grotto in Poplar Bluff.

“The Grotto was a really nice place to have it,” Stewart said. “Everybody needs a little change every now and then.”

Several games, raffles and a silent auction kicked off the night, and all were well received, Stewart said.

“We had two or three of the games sell out,” he said.

A pork steak dinner was served by Mike’s Meats and More, and, Stewart said, it was well received.

“Everybody was bragging about it,” he said.

Haven Willis conducted a live auction after the dinner for items like framed prints, hunting gear, an African safari and NWTF-branded merchandise.

“The stuff did really well,” Stewart said. “The rocking chair brought in $2,000 alone. There were two people who really wanted it.”

Twent-four guns were given away over the course of the night.

Examples include Franchi and Tristar shotguns, a Winchester rifle and the Gun of the Year, a Benelli Montefeltro shotgun.

The Gun of the Year went home with Jeff Stanley.

Two scholarships also were handed out during the event. Puxico High School seniors Madison McMeans and Allison Faries each took home checks for $500.

Water Levels

Most area waters are somewhat back to normal levels, though that likely will change in the coming days as heavy rain is predicted to fall, especially in the northern parts of the watersheds.

As of Wednesday morning, Clearwater Lake was just a few inches high, and the Black River downstream at Poplar Bluff was at 4.4 feet and falling ever-so-slightly.

Wappapello Lake was at 357.3 feet and dropping about 10 inches per day, though that will begin to taper off quickly. Downstream, the St. Francis River at Fisk was at 9.21 feet and falling slowly.

The Current River is in good shape, with the gage at Van Buren reporting 4.1 feet and the one at Doniphan 1.4 feet.

Last Chance

If you’ve got any remaining fur pelts to sell, buyer Marc Romine will be at Poplar Bluff’s Sale Barn Friday.

This will be Romine’s final stop in Poplar Bluff for the season.

As is normal, he plans to arrive and set up around 9 a.m. and will pack up around 11.

Butler County Conservation Agent Mark Skelton should be on hand to tag any bobcat or river otter pelts you may have.

Paddlefish Season

Monday is the day one very specific group of anglers has been waiting for — opening day of Missouri’s paddlefish snagging season.

Since paddlefish are filter feeders and don’t really bite at anything, the only way to catch them is by snagging.

The general method is basically chunking a big, weighted treble hook as far as possible and ripping it back through the water, keeping it in the upper few feet.

The daily limit is two paddlefish, and they must measure at least 24 inches long from the eye to the middle of the fork in the tail.

If you catch one, take a close look at its jaw, because it may be fitted with a metal tag. I’m not sure if any of those MDC tags are worth any reward money, but they might be.

Unfortunately, both the St. Francis and Black rivers, where all the local paddlefish snagging is done, will likely be high and muddy by then. With several inches of rain in the near-term forecast and the high likelihood both Wappapello and Clearwater lakes will begin heavy discharges, paddlefish snagging may have to be put on hold until things settle down.

Drawing Results

If you applied for a managed spring turkey hunt through the Department of Conservation’s website, you’ll be able to check the results of that drawing starting on Monday.

There are very few turkey hunts offered, compared to deer hunts, and any turkey taken on one counts against your season limit, unlike with the managed deer hunt.

Road Closures

Most of the side roads in the Mark Twain National Forest Poplar Bluff Ranger District’s Otter Creek and Cane Ridge Spring Walk-In Turkey Hunting Areas outside Piedmont and north of Poplar Bluff will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning Monday.

The Forest Service has been closing these roads for years to provide more solitude for nesting hen turkeys.

Closed roads will be gated off and signed so there should be no confusion.

The roads will reopen June 1.

On the Doniphan/Eleven Point Ranger District, which has five walk-in areas, the closure dates are a bit different. Side roads there will close on April 1 and reopen May 15.

Maps of the walk-in areas are available at each ranger district office, or you can call the Poplar Bluff office at 573-785-1475 or the Doniphan office at 573-996-2153.

Paul Davis is the outdoors editor for the Daily American Republic. He can be reached at pdavis.dar@gmail.com.

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