Anglers generally are as disinterested in the opening dates for hunting seasons as hunters are in fishing-season dates, but the fourth Saturday in May is a red-letter day for both groups. That is opening day for squirrel hunting season and catch-and-keep fishing for black bass in Ozark streams.

Hunters may pursue gray and fox squirrels from May 26 through Feb. 15, 2013, with rifles, shotguns or archery equipment. The aggregate bag limit is 10 squirrels and the possession limit is 20.

“Aggregate” means hunters may harvest any combination of fox and gray squirrels so long as they do not exceed 10 squirrels total in one day. If hunters bag a daily limit two days in a row, they will have a possession limit of 20 squirrels. After that, they must eat or give away some squirrels before going hunting again in order to stay within the possession limit.

Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, known collectively as black bass, may be caught and possessed year ‘round from impoundments and areas other than the Ozarks. These other areas are defined as the Mississippi river, all waters north of the south bank of the Missouri River, the St. Francis River downstream from Wappapello Dam and streams in that portion of southeast Missouri bounded by a line from Cape Girardeau following Missouri highways 74 and 25, U.S. highways 60, 67 and 160, and the west bank of the Little Black River to the Arkansas state line.

The daily limit on black bass in most of the state’s waters is six, with a possession limit of 12. However, many lakes and streams are subject to special daily and length limits. These are listed in the 2012 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations.  The booklet is available from permit vendors, Missouri Department of Conservation offices and online at mdc.mo.gov/node/6108. The 2012 Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations is available at mdc.mo.gov/node/3657.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Bronzebacks and Bushytails are Legal May 26 in Missouri

Hunters checked 40,447 turkeys during Missouri’s regular spring turkey season, up by 2,120 from 38,327 last spring, or about one percent. The harvest of 4,319 turkeys during this year’s spring youth weekend, March 31 and April 1, brought the 2012 spring turkey harvest to 44,766, up about one percent from 2011. Youth hunters harvested 3,893 turkeys during the 2011 spring youth weekend for a 2011 spring total of 42,220.

Top harvest counties during the regular 2012 spring turkey season, April 16 through May 6, were Franklin with 852, Texas with 803 and Greene with 698.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recorded four non-fatal firearms-related turkey hunting incidents and no fatalities.

The bulk of birds taken during both this year’s youth weekend and regular spring season were adult gobblers with 31,813, or about 71 percent. Juvenile male turkeys (jakes) comprised almost 28 percent with 12,445 birds. Bearded hens made up one percent with 508.

Turkey harvest totals by county are available online at mdc.mo.gov/node/17396.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Missouri’s Regular Spring Turkey Harvest Totals 40,447

A little over a decade after their deaths, Earl Hoyt Jr. and Paul Jeffries will be forever honored and remembered for their conservation efforts and great achievements in outdoors sports and recreation. Both men have been inducted into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.

The two men will be the 34th and 35th inductees to the Hall of Fame. Each has a career spanning decades in conservation, archery, bowhunting and more. For 60 years, Jeffries was a conservation agent by career, but also a leader at Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts of America, Missouri Bow Hunters Association and more.

While Hoyt also had a deep involvement in all things outdoors, he is perhaps most known for forming the Hoyt Archery Company in 1942. Hoyt also competed in numerous archery tournaments and so have his company’s bows. The Hoyt line of bows has won gold, silver and bronze medals in numerous tournaments including the Olympics.

Original press release issued by the Missouri Department of Conservation on April 20, 2012:

Engineer/entrepreneur Earl Hoyt Jr. and career conservationist Paul Jeffries are the two newest inductees into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) inducted Hoyt and Jeffries into the Hall of Fame April 13 at a ceremony at Runge Conservation Nature Center. Friends and family of both men the honorees present for the occasion.

In introductory remarks, Conservation Commission Chairman Don Johnson said Missouri’s conservation movement is founded on citizen leadership with the guidance of conservation professionals. He noted that the Conservation Hall of Fame recognizes both these forms of public service.

“Today, our attention turns to Earl Hoyt, Jr., and Paul Jeffries,” said Johnson, “dedicated sportsmen and conservationists whose lifelong commitment was driven by an intense passion for the resource and their desire to share that with the citizens of our state and country. We honor their memory and achievements at this ceremony. Due in no small part to their dedication and passion for conservation, Missouri is a better place.”

Hoyt was an engineer who turned his skills into a business built around archery and bowhunting. He convinced his father to join him in forming the Hoyt Archery Company in 1942. Innovations that emerged from the partnership can be found in today’s high-tech compound bows. Hoyt’s Pro Medalist bows dominated the scene in four Olympic Games and were adopted by archers from many foreign countries as well. In 1977, he received the National Archery Association’s highest award, the Thompson Medal of Honor.

Hoyt and his wife, Ann, donated funds to the Conservation Federation of Missouri to establish the Earl and Ann Hoyt Scholarship Fund for students entering the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources. Many Hoyt scholarship recipients have gone on to successful careers in conservation. He also was a major contributor and an early inductee into the Archery Hall of Fame.

Jeffries began his MDC career in 1948 as a conservation agent in Ste. Genevieve County. His ability to work with private landowners, public officials and conservation organizations to protect and improve resource management did not go unnoticed and, in 1954, he was promoted to the Field Service Section.

As a Field Service Agent, Jeffries quickly realized that MDC had to win over landowners if it hoped to significantly improve wildlife habitat throughout the state. He brought together government agencies, sportsmen and other groups to promote a landowner wildlife initiative offering various forms of assistance such as seed or planting stock.

Hoyt and Jeffries collaborated on two conservation achievements – establishing Missouri’s first archery deer season in 1946 and founding the Missouri Bow Hunters Association. Both men served as ambassadors to promote archery and bowhunting in Missouri and were mentors to future enthusiasts.

“When I think of people in Missouri who were at the forefront of both archery and bowhunting, not one, but two names come to my mind,” said Conservation Department Director Bob Ziehmer, “and it’s only appropriate that we recognize the achievements of these two gentlemen together. It is difficult to speak of Earl or Paul without including the other. These gentlemen were national and international leaders in bowhunting and archery. These two lifelong friends never slowed in their promotion, defense, education, and devotion of and to archery and bowhunting.”

MDC created the Hall of Fame in 1988 to honor deceased citizen conservationists, former MDC employees and other conservation-related agencies that have made substantial contributions to fish, forest and wildlife conservation in Missouri.

The induction of Hoyt and Jeffries brings the number of Hall of Fame members to 37. Photos and brief biographies of former inductees are on display at the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City. The nature center’s namesake, G. Andy Runge, is another Hall of Fame member.

A unique aspect of the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame is the way nominations are received. They are not solicited internally through the Department of Conservation, but rather from citizens of our state. Thus, those being honored are recognized by those they served.

The nominations are carefully screened by a diverse committee and their recommendations are presented to the Conservation Commission for consideration and final approval.

For more information on the selection of candidates and to nominate a candidate, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/7759/ (pdf).

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Earl Hoyt Jr. and Paul Jeffries Inducted into Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame

Missouri hunters shot more turkeys during the first week of the spring hunting season than they did during the same period last year. This is the first increase since 2004.

This year’s first-week harvest of 21,765 represents a 15.8 percent increase from 2011. It also is 2.1 percent more than the previous five-year average. Top counties were Franklin with 467 turkeys checked, Ste. Genevieve with 439 and Texas with 433.

Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle supervises wild-turkey management for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). He says the increase is in large part due to the good hatch that was observed throughout much of Missouri in 2011. He notes that jakes, as one-year-old male turkeys are commonly known, made up 26.4 percent of this year’s first-week harvest. That is a substantial increase from last year.

“Hunters checked 5,748 jakes during the first week of the season,” says Isabelle. “That is a 61-percent increase from 2011. The number of mature gobblers in the harvest was only up by about 800 birds, so birds hatched last year accounted for nearly three-quarters of the harvest increase.”

Isabelle says weather, which can significantly influence turkey harvest, probably was a wash during the first week of Missouri’s 21-day spring turkey season. The week included some rain and wind, which typically reduces hunter success, but these conditions were interspersed with ideal hunting weather.

First-week harvest figures were up in all eight regions of the state, ranging from an increase of 11.3 percent in the Central Region to 21.3 percent in the Ozark Region.

Isabelle says he is hoping that Missouri’s weather will remain favorable for turkey nesting for the next two months. Good nesting and brood-rearing conditions could enable the state’s turkey flock to build on gains made last year.

Missouri hunters also had an above-average first week in terms of safety. MDC recorded two firearms-related hunting incidents, compared to an average of 3.4 over the past 10 years.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - First-Week Turkey Harvest Rebounds in Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri - And just like that, it the weekend is over. Building since Thursday until reaching a fever pitch Saturday night with the Celebration of American Values Freedom Experience, this year’s 141st Annual Meeting in St. Louis is sure to be a memorable one.

Between the National NRA Foundation’s Banquet & Auction, Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum, Annual Meeting of Members, NRA Country Jam II and so much more, there was something for everyone.

Last time we came to the Gateway to the West a new attendance record was set. While full attendance figures have not yet been tallied, it was no doubt a massive weekend in both turnout and entertainment.

One of an Annual Meeting’s biggest draws is the exhibit hall where the industry’s top companies show off their new firearms, ammunition, accessories, hunts and more. This year’s experience was no different, featuring over 500 of the top names in almost eight acres of space.

From the moment it opened its doors at 9:00 AM on Friday until they were closed at 5:00 PM on Sunday, the exhibit hall was packed with attendees eager to poke, prod, and eye the latest and greatest.

Once Annual Meeting had officially ended, though, the exhibit hall began to disappear almost as quickly as it had popped up. Forklifts, crates, and cases of all sizes sprouted up around the giant hall and were soon packed up with the eye-catching booths we had seen throughout the weekend. Some were going home, others to new shows, but they all left with fond memories of St. Louis.

As you left the main doors of America’s Center Convention Complex, maybe you noticed our large banner that said “See you next year!” when we’ll do it all over again, this time in Houston, for the 142nd NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - NRA Saying Goodbye to St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri - Ted Nugent, NRA Board Member, Second Amendment activist, New York Times bestselling author, Motor City Madman, acclaimed musician and member of the Bowhunters Hall of Fame – or “just a guitarist” as he says it – helped send off this year’s NRA Annual Meeting in St. Louis in style on Sunday afternoon.

In a theater packed with cheering fans, Nugent rocked out and spoke to the crowd about how great and important it is to exercise our right to bear arms.

Brought out by the Attorney General of Texas, Greg Abbott, who is thrilled to have him as a new state resident, Nugent immediately went for his guitar and got the crowd on their feet with some hard rocking songs.

On the cusp of his 2012 Great White Buffalo tour, Nugent brought out bandmate Derek St. Holmes and the two belted out smooth rhythm guitar to the electrified crowd.

After a few choice songs, Nugent set the guitar down, but kept the mic, and went on to speak to the audience about how great our Second Amendment rights are and how important the NRA is in helping us exercise them.

Thanking everyone for coming out and proclaiming he would sign just about anything at the back of the auditorium, the house lights came back on and the crowd began to funnel out as the last big event of the weekend had finished.

Nugent was recently reelected to his third term on the NRA Board of Directors where he has done innumerable deeds to help us utilize the Second Amendment and, thanks to his reelection, appears to be intent on continuing so for a long time to come. Thanks Uncle Ted.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Ted Nugent Amps up the NRA Annual Meeting

St. Louis, MO- On the last day of the 2012 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, the exhibit hall saw throngs of visitors come for a last chance to explore the 340,000 sq. ft. and over 500 displays it had to offer.

If you didn’t have a chance to make the trek to St. Louis and get in on the action this year, we’ll be setting up shop in Houston next year before you know it.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - NRA Convention’s Exhibit Hall Still Bustling Right Up to the Last Day

Madison, NC – Attendees of the 2012 NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits in St. Louis, Missouri will want to bring their cameras to check out the western cowboy theme at Booth #823.  We encourage boots, cowboy hats and Wranglers.  The western-themed display will have plenty of legendary Marlin lever-action rifles, best-in-class bolt-action rifles and of course, cowboys.

Marlin fans that stop by the booth will have the opportunity to swap a few stories with the Marlin Man and Cousin Johnny, by grabbing an autograph and taking a picture to upload to the Marlin Facebook page.  In addition, Marlin fans will be able to sign up for a chance to win a Model 336C rifle, $100 gift card from Bootbarn.com and a vintage Marlin sign.

After the show, the western theme continues as Marlin invites all fans to join them for a night out on the town.

Marlin Night at Wild Country

Saturday, April 14, 2012

9:00pm – 2:00am

17 Gateway Drive

Collinsville, IL 62234

619-346-6775

*Free cover charge with valid NRA badge.  Adults over 18 are admitted.

In addition, Marlin Firearms enthusiasts will want to make sure to visit The Marlin Firearms Collectors Association, booth #4107, for their “Magnificent Marlins” collection of take-down lever action .22 rimfire rifles from 1897 – 1945.

The story of Marlin is still being written by generations of sportsmen and firearm enthusiasts who call Marlin their brand.  We happily invite you to join us at the show in celebration of the 140-year legacy of America’s rifle.  And besides, everyone has a little cowboy in them.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Marlin Announces 2012 NRA Show Western Cowboy Theme

More than a thousand companies have signed up for the NRA’s Business Alliance. And why not? There are dozens of discounts to be had. Lower shipping fees from Federal Express, free next day shipping and discounts on office furniture from Corporate Express, and lower credit card processing fees from Payment Alliance International. But Payment Alliance has decided to raise their benefit factor up a notch.

Anyone attending the Annual Meeting this week in St. Louis is now eligible to win a brand new iPad. Just print up this page, fill out the form at the top and drop it off at the Payment Alliance booth (#24) inside the America’s Center. Do that before 2pm on Sunday at that iPad could be going home with you.

Click here for a larger version of the entry form.

After hearing about all these great giveaways taking place this year at the Annual Meeting, there’s only one important question that remains unanswered — which ones are NRA employees eligible to win?

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - iPad giveaway at NRA’s Annual Meeting in St. Louis

Brownells is giving away over $300 in daily door prizes at this year’s NRA Show held in St. Louis, MO, April 13-15, 2012. Visit booth #2305 to see some of their newest, most innovative products, chat with Pete or Frank Brownell, get tips from knowledgeable Gun Techs, and register for the prizes.

“We really look forward to the NRA show each year. It’s a great time for us to connect face-to-face with our customers,” said Pete Brownell, CEO of Brownells. “It’s also a great time for our customers to see the new products and hear from the leaders in our industry. We hope that everyone will stop by and see us.”

Visitors must register at booth #2305 daily in order to be eligible for that day’s drawing. The drawings will take place at 4:00 pm each day, and the winners’ last names and first initial will be posted.

The lucky grand prize winner will receive a $300 Brownells Gift Card. All daily registrants are eligible for the grand prize. You must be 18 to enter, and all prizes will be shipped to the winners.

At Brownells everything is guaranteed period! …Forever, 100%, with no restocking fees. Founded in 1939, we supply more than 65,000 firearms parts, accessories, gunsmithing tools and ammunition to armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. Brownells provides free tech help and there’s no minimum order size or small order fees. To place an order, or for more information, call 800-741-0015 or visit www.brownells.com.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Win Free Gifts from Brownells at the 2012 NRA Show