Missouri’s first duck season of the fall will open Saturday, and though it doesn’t garner the attention of the winter seasons, the early teal season always is a good start for dedicated waterfowl hunters.
There’s a six-bird daily limit on blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal only. The limit can be made of any combination of the three species, though you’ll likely never see a cinnamon teal in Southeast Missouri.
Shooting hours are from sunrise until sunset, and the reason for the later-than-normal morning start is because there are other species around which aren’t legal targets and the better light allows for positive identification of teal.
If you go, you’ll need a small game hunting permit, state migratory game bird permit and a federal duck stamp.
Teal decoy readily, and large numbers of decoys aren’t necessary, making the workload for hunters easier.
Because of the warm weather, you’ll want to keep an eye out for slithering critters, while also taking precautions to fend off hordes of mosquitoes.
Shallow water is the key, so focus your efforts in those areas. Teal are fast flyers, so you’ll need to stay ready for any shot opportunities because they come and go in a hurry.
At the Otter Slough Conservation Area, there will be a morning draw at 5 a.m. each day of the season for 19 or 20 available hunting positions, possibly more.
Because of the wet spring and summer, area manager Luke Wehmhoff said, staff were unable to plant crops to attract birds. However, considerable moist soil management was completed, and with teal, that’s even better.
Wehmhoff reports several teal already using the area and expects the season at Otter Slough to be a good one.
At the Duck Creek Conservation Area, a 5 a.m. draw will be held during the opening weekend only for about 20 positions, according to area manager Nicky Walker.
After opening weekend, teal hunting will be on a first-come, first served basis under statewide regulations.
At the Coon Island Conservation Area in southern Butler County, Wehmhoff said, water will be limited to borrow ditches and the few semi-permanent pools there. Hunting at Coon Island is on a first-come, first served basis.
Dove Opener
Missouri’s dove season started off fairly strong, according to Stoddard County Conservation Agent Michael Collins, but it didn’t last long.
“Opening morning was petty busy,” Collins said, “and there were a lot of bids flying.”
By the second day, he said, things had “died off pretty fast.”
The overall lower number of cut cop fields, Collins said, was a detriment to successful hunting.
Hopefully in the coming weeks, more fields will be dry enough to cut and dove hunting will improve.
UKC Hunt
The Butler County Coon Club will hold a UKC show and hunt Friday, based out of the club’s headquarters off County Road 607, south of Poplar Bluff.
The bench show will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the hunt at 8.
For information, contact Terry Uhl at 573-714-1624.
Clay Shoot
Saturday is the day of the Outdoorsmen with a Mission organization’s 5th annual five-stand clay bird shoot.
Held at the Black River Ranch off Honeysuckle Drive in Poplar Bluff, registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., with shooting from 8 to 3.
Two-man teams will compete in traditional five-stand clays and the fast-paced “crazy quail” competition.
All clay birds are provided - shooters only need to bring their shotgun and low-brass shells.
The cost is $100 per team, and all proceeds go to help local families in need.
Aaron Aden has more information at 573-429-3195, or you can call Matt Blackburn at 573-712-6606.
Crappie Tournament
The annual Ben Kruse 18-Fore-Life benefit crappie tournament will be held Saturday on Wappapello Lake.
“It’s going to be a dandy,” said organizer Bruce Christian of the event.
You can launch from any ramp on the lake, and fishing hours will be 7 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The weigh-in will be held at the Sundowner pavilion, and you’ll have to be in line by 2 p.m.
You can pre-register before the event at Sundowner Marine or at the pavilion the morning of the tournament.
According to Charlie Brotherton at Sundowner, about 120 boats are expected to take part in the tournament.
Archery Shoot
The Indian Creek Bowhunters in Poplar Bluff will finish out its summer season with a final 3-D shoot on Sept. 7, offering a good warmup before the opening of the fall archery season in mid-September.
Archers can register for the shoot between 8 a.m. and noon and start the 20-target course at that time.
The cost to shoot will be $10 for fun-class participants, while those shooting in trophy classes will pay $15. Children age 12 and under can shoot for free.
If you need help dialing in your equipment before the fall archery season, club members will be available to lend a hand.
For more information, call Tony harwell at 573-718-7135 or Brad Massey at 573-785-0647.
Big “O”
Sunday is the day for the annual Big “O” bass tournament on Wappapello Lake.
Based out of Chaonia Landing, the event is one of the oldest on the lake.
A pre-event meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at Chaonia Landing to determine a launch time and boat numbers.
At the conclusion of Sunday’s event, more than $4,300 in prize money will be doled out, including $1,500 to the overall winners. They’ll also take home custom jackets and trophies. Prize payouts will go to the top eight teams and possibly more, depending on the number of entries.
The entry fee for the tournament is $110 per team, which includes the big bass pot.
To register for the event, contact Chaonia Landing owner Dallas Rich at 573-297-3206 or Rick Robertson at 573-429-7910.