National Hunting and Fishing Day a hit

Ken White/ Daily Mail/ Les Ray, El Dorado Springs, gives kids in attendance at Nevada's Outdoor Youth event a course in mountain-man survival techniques.

Nevada Daily Mail

National Hunting and Fishing Day was celebrated Sept. 26 by the more than 1.1 million anglers, a-half-million hunters, plus people who enjoy wildlife photography or just watch and enjoy Missouri's rich wildlife and natural resources.

Missouri hunters and anglers have a lot to celebrate, especially in Southwest Missouri ----where there is a variety of game to hunt as well as it being one of the top states in the nation for fishing and restored habitat. That is when National Hunting and Fishing Day was conceived by organizations that endorse hunting and fishing.

Ken White/ Daily Mail/ Brian Conroy, area chairman of Ducks Unlimited, giving demonstrations of duck calling from a blind to youngsters at the Outdoor Event on NH&F Day.

On National Hunting and Fishing Day, many outdoor youth events were held including one in Winona at the Twin Pines Conservation where a family fishing day was held and everyone was able to enjoy a variety of fish activities.

More than 125 youngsters along with family and friends attended a fun event in Nevada where youngster's events included archery, lessons about deer, turkey and duck hunting, and shooting clay targets. In addition younger children shot BB guns.

Adam Dean, organizer of the event, said, "This was our fifth annual Youth Outdoor Event. It's all about the kids, they are the future of our outdoor sports. They received free admission, free food and door prizes. The weather was good. It has grown into a big fun event. Kids activities started at 9 a.m. and continued until 4 p.m.

Ken White/Daily Mail/ Lynne Harman, Molly Russell, and, Harman proudly display a big turkey decoy at the Outdoor Youth Day in Nevada, Sept. 26.

Dean said the event is for the next generation of youth, including those who may have limited exposure to those types of activities.

"Among the most popular was firing a black power gun. Over the years, we have had great sponsors. The first year we only had one sponsor, but this year we had 40. It is a good event to tie-in with National Hunting and Fishing Day. I think this event helps us pass our hunting and fishing heritage to our next generation."

The Outdoor Youth Event was hosted by the National Wild Turkey Federation ---- chapter Osage Prairie Thunderin' Toms as well as the Missouri Conservation Department, Ducks Unlimited and 4-H Shooting Sports.

Ken White/Daily Mail/ Scott Sudcamp teaching a group of youngsters habits of whitetail deer at the fifth annual Outdoor Youth event held last Saturday.

Families in attendance were from all across the Ozarks. Hugh Davis, from Joplin said, "I had heard about the event so I came over to see what it was all about. I was impressed and will work to do a similar event in Joplin. I saw a lot of happy kids that learned and enjoyed the outdoors. It was an event that projected a positive impact of the mission of NH&F Day, getting more families and children outdoors."

There was a mountain-man camp for the kids taught by Les Ray to show survival techniques.

The wild turkey restoration is an excellent example of what can be done in restoration. When the program in Missouri started, there were only around 3,000 wild turkeys in the state. The first modern day turkey season opened in 1960, with just three counties open for the three-day season. The 2015 fall firearm turkey season opened Oct. 1, and will run for the entire month. Only seven counties are closed during the fall hunt. Newton and McDonald in Southwest Missouri and the other four in the Southeast section of the state. Having a month-long fall season is another chapter in the successful modern day turkey hunting.

Ken White/Daily Mail/ Thad Smith shows five year old Jake Conroy a lesson in how to shoot with a bow.

Both spring and fall turkey hunting are great for different reasons. In the spring, hunters have those big toms that are gobbling, plus the possibility of finding morel mushrooms and good fishing after the morning hunt ends. In the fall, often the color in the outdoors is exceptional. You may hunt all day and you might harvest some of the fall bounty like nuts, fruits and other goodies that are available. There isn't nearly as much competition for fall turkeys as there is in the spring. Both seasons are special.

The 44th annual NH&F Day, Saturday. was memorable and enjoyable and one for all outdoors men and women in Missouri wildlife and fishing clubs. State wildlife management agencies and other interested outdoor groups who organized exhibits, demonstration stations and hands-on learning experiences. This event should entice old-timers and novices alike.

Ken White/Daily Mail/ Hunter Jacobs 14, El Dorado Springs, was one of the participants in the Outdoor Youth Day held in Nevada on National Hunting & Fishing Day Saturday.He practiced calling turkeys at one of the seven stations set up to demonstrate hunting opportunities in Missouri.

Ken White/ Daily Mail/ Adam Dean, organizer of the Nevada Outdoor Youth event, said, " We had a very good turnout and the weather was good. I think everyone in attendance enjoyed the day."