By PAUL DAVIS
Outdoors Editor
Deer harvest numbers across the region really shot up over the weekend, with some counties doubling their numbers in just a couple days.
The weekend was warm and breezy, especially Sunday, and it appeared as if the deer were moving during mid-day and again late in the evenings.
It's likely the biggest factor in hunter success over the weekend was that there were simply more people out in the woods.
As of early today, hunters in Ripley County had taken 102 deer with their bows, and in Carter County, the tally was at 104.
In Butler County, hunters have arrowed 59 deer, and in Stoddard County, the number sits at 101.
Dunklin County hunters doubled their harvest over the weekend and now have taken 17 deer. In Wayne County, 138 deer have been checked by hunters.
The statewide harvest is 7,278, which is almost exactly the same as last year at this point in the season.
Turkey Harvest
The number of turkeys taken by hunters during the firearms turkey season, which opened Sunday, is, as expected, pretty low.
One hunter I know has been out three days already and has seen everything from deer to hogs and even an armadillo, but no turkeys.
As of this morning, hunters across the state have taken a measly 494 birds.
Locally, hunters have taken two birds in Butler County, eight in Wayne County, 11 in Stoddard County and three in Carter County.
The season continues through October.
"Consistently
Mediocre"
Fishing at Wappapello Lake, in the blunt words of Tracy Brotherton at Sundowner Marina, has been "consistently mediocre," but she thinks it may be getting a little better.
The lake's crappies, she said, are starting to stir and move a round quite a bit, making locating them tougher. Most successful anglers, she said, have been catching them on the flats with jigs.
Bass fishing is really what has been the most consistent as far as success, Brotherton said. Anglers are catching them shallow and along rocky areas.
Some bluegills have been caught lately, but, she said, the catfishing has turned for the worse, with few fish caught.
The spillway, as it has been all summer, is producing some nice bass as well, along with the usual cadre of small crappie and other fish.
By the way, MDC Fisheries Management Biologist Dave Knuth should be working on his annual crappie survey at Wappapello in the next couple weeks, and when he's done, I should get the info from him. One potential issue is the water still is pretty warm, so the fish might not be located where they normally are this time of year.
Area Closures
For anyone who may be planning a trip to the Big Spring area over the weekend, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways will be hosting a managed youth deer hunt in the Big Spring section of the park on both Saturday and Sunday, which will affect traffic temporarily.
Because of the hunt, the National Park Service will be closing Peavine Road, the Peavine pavilion area and all hiking trails in the park beginning Friday and continuing until early Monday morning.
Other facilities within the park, including Big Spring and the boat ramp, will remain open during the weekend hunt.
Fall Classic
There are several outdoor-oriented things on the schedule this weekend, the first of which is Poplar Bluff High School's self-hosted Fall Classic trapshooting event at the Poplar Bluff Gun Club.
Several regional schools are expected to compete in the event, including Richland, Alton, Doniphan, Greenville, Twin Rivers and Naylor.
Shooting will kick off around 9 a.m.
If you want to go watch, take Highway NN north of Poplar Bluff to County Road 546 and watch for the signs.
The event also will wrap up Poplar Bluff's trap season until next spring.
Early Geese
Saturday also is the opening day of Missouri's early Canada goose season. You may recall this season has traditionally started on Oct. 1, but for whatever reason, the Department of Conservation pushed it back a week this fall.
Canada geese don't get much attention from hunters around here, but there are enough resident birds around to make things interesting if you wanted to pursue them.
Just like in a lot of waterfowl hunting, if you can find a cut field where the birds are feeding and set up there the next day before they arrive, you could be in business. One thing you probably don't want to do is hunt a roost area. If you shoot at them there, that spot will be void of birds for a good while.
The early season runs only nine days, and closes on Oct. 15. The daily limit is three birds.
Gigging Tournament
Also on Saturday, the Outdoorsmen with a Mission organization will host the inaugural John McDonough Memorial Gigging Tournament on the Current River.
A chili supper will be held starting at 4 p.m., followed by boat check-ins at 5. Boats will launch from the T.L. Wright ramp at 6 p.m. and return to the same spot for a weigh-in at 10:30 p.m.
There's an entry fee of $20 per person, and a boat can have a maximum of five anglers on board.
For more information on the event or to sign up, call Nikki at 573-776-5993 or Rick at 573-776-5991.
Catfish Tournament
If you don't mind a bit of a drive, the annual Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest will be held both Saturday and Sunday at New Madrid, Mo.
While the main outdoor event is the catfish tournament, there are other things on the bill for family to take part in, like crafts, wagon rides, a petting zoo and a youth fishing rodeo.
For more information, call 573-748-5300.
Angler's Choice
Also this weekend, on Sunday, the Angler's Choice/Bass Quest circuit will be hosting its final tournament of the season at Wappapello Lake.
The tournament will launch out of Chaonia Landing at 7 a.m. and return for the weigh-in at 3 p.m.
Ken Owens is the tournament director and can be reached at 573-820-3715.
Gun Bash
If you're in the market for a new firearm, the Heartland Gobblers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation may have just what you're looking for at its upcoming Gun Bash event on Oct. 13.
The event will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Brown-Mabry American Legion Post 153 just off Kanell Boulevard in Poplar Bluff.
As of now, 16 guns are scheduled to be given away during the event, including a Remington 1911 pistol, a Browning A-Bolt rifle, a Sig Sauer P320 pistol, a Henry Golden Boy .22 rifle and more, plus a few Yeti coolers and other items to boot.
Tickets to the event cost $50 and can be purchased by calling Chuck Stewart at 573-421-1257.
Final Class
The final hunter education skills class to be held in the Poplar Bluff area this fall will be held starting at 5 p.m. Monday night at the Brown-Mabry American legion Post 153 off Kanell Boulevard.
Participants must be at least 11 years old and complete the knowledge portion of the program before they will be allowed entry to the skills class.
At last check, there were only a few spots available in the class, and if you need certification and can't get into this one, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Other options in the region look to be slim, with only three others scheduled before the fall deer season. A class will be held in Ellington, Mo., on Wednesday, one in Bloomfield, Mo., on Oct. 14 and one in Piedmont, Mo., on Oct. 17.
To register for any of those classes, go online to mdc.mo.gov and follow the links.