With all of Missouri’s duck seasons now closed, waterfowlers have only one option - geese - and the regular season is in its final days.
Hunters can take snow, white-fronted and Canada geese through Feb. 6, with daily limits specific to each species.
There are some geese around, but numbers overall seem to be lower than normal. Given how pitiful the duck season was, I wouldn’t expect anything else at this point.
Starting on Feb. 7, the annual Light Goose Conservation Order kicks in and runs through April 30.
Special rules apply during the conservation order, with the idea to make it easier to kill more geese. One of the biggest changes from the regular goose season is the allowance of electronic calls, which is a huge help for those trying to decoy snow geese. A few guys in a pit or layout blinds will turn themselves blue in the face trying to get the attention of thousands of snow geese with mouth calls, but a recording played through a loud speaker or two, sounding like hundreds of live geese, is much more effective.
Unplugged shotguns also are allowed during the conservation order, so it’s time to break out that shotgun magazine extension that’s not legal for anything else.
During the conservation order, there is no daily limit on snow and Ross’s geese, and hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
Non-toxic shot still is required when hunting geese in any season.
Besides decoying snow geese, another alternative is ambushing them. Essentially, you find a flock feeding in a field (which, of course, you have permission to hunt) and use available cover, like a ditch or tree line, to sneak within range. The technique is very effective in taking large numbers of geese, but you have to be extra careful not to take any white-fronted geese, which tend to congregate on the outer edges of large flocks of snows.
To hunt geese in Missouri’s late season, you’ll need a $5 ($40 for nonresidents) conservation order permit.
Or, you can hunt Arkansas’ conservation order (Feb. 3-April 25) without any special permit. You’ll only need a valid hunting license of any kind, from any state, and you’ll need to call 800-364-4263 to get a free registration permit number.
Tournament Winners
Sixteen teams fished last weekend’s Wappapello Crappie Club tournament, where anglers battled high, muddy water. Even with the conditions, there were some impressive stringers at the weigh-in.
The top team on the day was James Chism and Chuck Chism, who brought 10.45 pounds to the scales. They also had the day’s second-largest crappie, weighing in at 1.83 pounds.
Second place went to Larry Houchins and Christie Houchins with 9.89 pounds, while third place was earned by Jerry Greer and Derek Emerson with 9.14 pounds.
The fourth and final paying position was filled by Mike Owens and Dave Maddux with 8.17 pounds. They also had the biggest fish of the day, weighing in at 1.88 pounds.
The club’s next tournament will be its annual two-day Classic, taking place on Feb. 16-17.
Falling Water
Wappapello Lake remains a bit high, but it’s falling at a rate of around 9 inches daily. That rate will taper off quickly as the tailwater discharge is reduced, but barring additional heavy rainfall, it shouldn’t take long to finally reach winter pool. There is rain in next week’s forecast, but at this point it doesn’t look like it will amount to much.
Clearwater Lake is at its normal mid-winter level of 494 feet.
Crappie fishing at both lakes has been good lately, with some dandy fish being taken.
As you’d expect, fishing around structure in deep water has been the trick to success.
Eagle Watch
As you’ve probably heard by now, the bi-annual Eagle Days event at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge has been canceled.
Ironically, the decision to pull the plug on the event was made only hours before the federal government was reopened Friday.
If you’d still like to go see wild bald eagles in our region, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake will host a Wappapello Eagle Watch event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Those participating are asked to start at the lake’s visitor center, where they can pick up a map of designated viewing stations, activity sheets for children and more.
Several eagle watching stations will be set up along a self-driving auto tour, and two of those will be manned by rangers with spotting scopes for close-up viewing.
If you go, it’s a good idea to bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope, plus dress appropriately for the weather, which looks to be relatively warm.
If you need more information on the event, call the Wappapello Lake Project Office at 573-222-8562.
Schedule Change
Fur buyer Marc Romine had to make a change to his schedule, and instead of visiting Poplar Bluff’s Sale Barn on Feb. 9, he now will be in town this Saturday instead.
As always, Romine expects to be on site from 9-11 a.m.
After this weekend, he’ll make one final stop in Poplar Bluff this winter, on March 16.
Arkansas Sport Show
If you don’t mind a short drive, you might be interested in the annual Arkansas Sport Show, which will take lace this weekend at the First National Bank Arena on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
The show is expected to feature lots of vendor booths, a turkey calling contest, big buck contest and more.
It’s slated to run from 4-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday.
The cost to get in will be $8 for those age 13 and older, $4 for those aged 6-12, and those age 5 and under will be admitted free.