Winter months afford ample opportunity for fishing and hunting

Joe Mayfield, Bear Creek, with a coyote he shot after a recent snow. (submitted photo)

For many outdoor minded people, this is the worse time of the year. With winter boat and sport shows winding down, hunting seasons nearly ended. In addition, fishing catch-and-keep at the trout parks won't be open until March 1.

Don't let the winter blahs get you down. Even in the middle of winter there are plenty of things to do that will continue towards the enjoyment for outdoor minded people with activities during late January and all of February.

There's rabbit season running through Feb. 15. Though, the number of rabbit hunters has declined, equaling the decline in number of cottontails. Of course, we've been informed rabbit population is down from the "good old days."

With the promise of snow on the ground rabbit hunters can be a very happy group as it's easier to track them in the snow. Still, there are hunters who set out with their beagles in search of rabbits.

Squirrel hunting continues through Feb. 15 and many hunters find it easier to get a limit of bushytails in the winter when the leaves are off the trees and the squirrels are more visible.

Coyote hunters keep busy in winter months. Recently, Ethan Grotheer and Joe Mayfield both had a successful coyote hunt. The season on coyotes continues all winter.

Some hunters find crow hunting can be rewarding. That season runs through March 3.

One of my favorite things to hunt during winter months is shed antlers. Bob Martin once told me that there are very few days that he didn't find something to do in the outdoors here in Missouri. He said, "Starting around the last of January, I start looking for shed antlers ---- go rabbit hunting or fish for trout at Lake Taneycomo or crappie in Table Rock, Stockton, Pomme de Terre, Lake of the Ozarks or any of the smaller lakes that have open water. There are very few days that you can't get out and enjoy the outdoors in our state."

By the way, starting around the first part of the year, whitetail bucks began dropping their antlers that had grown for the fall rut. The exact timing varies from place-to-place and from year-to-year. Right now you can be sure there are antlers on the ground throughout the state.

Scott Williams, Independence, with a three pound walleye he caught last week along with several big crappie. (Photo by Ken White/Special to the Daily Mail)

Looking for them puts you in closer touch with nature. If you are a new antler hunter, it also provides clues to the location and habits of bucks that survived the hunting seasons.

In February, bucks spend most of their time looking for food, so smart antler hunters focus their attention on places where food is readily available. Travel

Game trails, logging roads, fence rows and stream corridors are natural travel lanes for deer and should be checked. South facing slopes are favorite bedding places because they offer maximum exposure to warm sunshine on clear days.

Hunting shed antlers is like any kind of hunting. The more you do it, the better you become. Veteran antler stalkers in productive areas can bring home a lot of antlers each year.

It's a good time for archery hunters who find shed antlers to seek permission to hunt the same location with their bow the following season. Don't be discouraged if you just find one or two antlers or even come home empty-handed the first time out. You will find other rewards that will keep you coming back to the woods at this time of the year, when just a few Missourians take the time to experience this kind of event.

Martin said, "The first few times out searching for antlers I only produced one set, but I saw lots of other wildlife including turkeys, foxes and coyotes and that made the trip worthwhile."

You can find shed antlers any time of the year, but the best specimens are available now through March. Mice, squirrels and even deer gnaw on shed antlers to get the nutrients they contain, so whole antlers usually don't last long in the wild.

Fishing never stops in Missouri, even in winter. There are many good fishing holes throughout the state where an angler can wet a line and catch fish. Many trout anglers say that February is a good month to catch big trout on Taneycomo.

Many years ago, during the filming of a trout fishing segment at the lake for my television show that was televised to the Kansas City market ---- a big snow storm hit the Branson area.

The crew and I decided to go fishing anyway and we were all glad we did. As we drifted down the lake, we saw people pushing the heavy snow off their docks to keep them afloat, but we drifted on. Soon we started picking up trout and often all three of us had a fish on at the same time.

When we arrived back at the dock, we had three limits of rainbow trout, including an 8-pounder and had released dozens more. I was happy we had it on film because no one would have believed it otherwise.

A lot of anglers, like Scott Williams find the walleye and crappie fishing good while fishing off the docks in winter. He caught a 4-pound walleye and several big crappie on a recent fishing trip.

Fred Smith, of Warsaw, who has been fishing for crappie on the Lake of the Ozarks, said, "If you bundle up, you can catch fish. And when you are catching fish you don't mind the cold. It's worth the suffering."

So, if you seem to be catching cabin fever during these next several weeks, remember there's always something you can do about it. In Missouri we are fortunate to have so many winter diversions to keep any active outdoorsman or woman busy.