Outdoor life had its share of ups and downs last year

What will 2006 hold for the Missouri outdoor-minded persons? What did the year 2005 have to offer?

In looking back over the past year, there were many things that affected the sportsmen in the state. There were highs and lows for hunters, anglers, campers, boaters and other outdoor active people. For the outdoor sport enthusiasts, last year was filled with moments to remember including a few listed here.

The drought and heat of last summer, which has continued into 2006 in many areas, has left ponds and lakes low -- including Stockton, which is about nine feet below normal.

As usual, the deer season was good, although a bumper acorn crop was the leading theory in a harvest decline, but we may also be seeing the break-over point where an increased emphasis on doe harvest is becoming effective. Although most states would be very happy to harvest more than 250,000 deer, in Missouri, it was almost a disappointment.

Ameren-UE settled the Missouri Department of Conservation's lawsuit to obtain a new license for the Bagnell power plant, then has a blowout at Taum Sauk that hit Johnson Shut Ins State park.

A record 124-pound blue catfish was caught in the Mississippi River and then died en route to the Cabela's store, where it disappointed the many people who were anxious to see the monster fish.

The problem of feral hogs becoming a widespread concern in the state keeps growing. They could be devastating to ecology and agriculture.

The discovery of the ivory billed woodpecker in Arkansas delighted the many birdwatchers in Missouri.

Quail restoration initiatives, both public and private, blossomed to give bird hunters hope for improvement for this popular game bird.

Missouri continues to lead the nation in turkey harvest, according to the national Wild Turkey Federation, which gathers harvest numbers each year. Hunters had their first month-long fall season that is set again for this year.

Invasive exotics threaten Missouri ecology, including the Zebra mussels, Chinese yam, rusty crayfish, silver and bighead carp.

Outdoor sportsmen were saddened to learn of the passing of several noted people including Harold Ensley, Buddy Baier and Mike Keller.

These are but a few of the highs and lows of 2005 for the outdoor sportsmen and women.

Anglers had a slower start to crappie fishing last spring, but fishing picked up later and gave hope for this spring and some of the excellent fishing.

Squirrel hunters had another good season, as did dove hunters, but quail hunters had another down season. Waterfowl hunting started off good as populations were high, but hunting slowed down as summerlike weather moved into many sections of the state.

There will always be highs and lows for outdoorsmen in the state and 2005 will be remembered as good and bad, but as Dave Daniels told me recently, "We have a great state to hunt, fish, boat, camp and just generally enjoy the outdoors. Let's do all that we can to keep it that way in 2006."