It’s hard to live in Texas County without being involved in Missouri’s outdoor heritage.
Activities such as gathering wild edibles, fishing and hunting were once a necessary way of life. Today these activities fit the criteria of hobbies whereas years ago they were necessary for survival and sustenance.
One activity that stands out as a true Ozark tradition is gigging suckers. Early Ozark residents burned pine knots held in an iron cage over the river so to see into the river while floating at night in their wooden plank jon boats. This tradition has carried through to today’s culture, but with today’s technological advancements of bright electric lights and gas-powered aluminum jon boats.
If only the old timers of yesteryear could see how gigging is done today – I’ll bet they would be amazed. These same old-timers relied on the wildlife much more than we do today and as early settlement populations grew in number, wildlife populations began to decline. By the late 1800’s and early 1900’s sustenance hunting was overtaken by market hunting where large quantities of game animals were harvested and sold at market. During this time of excessive wildlife commercialization, many of Missouri’s soughtafter game populations dropped dramatically. In 1925, wildlife managers estimated Missouri’s deer herd to be under 400 animals. Furthermore, during this time the wild turkey population was estimated to be at an all-time low. Clearly Missouri wildlife management was at a crossroads.
In 1935 nearly 100 motivated sportsmen and concerned citizens met and formed the Conservation Federation of Missouri. The Conservation Federation in turn worked tirelessly to develop a proposal for a new science-based Conservation Commission to be placed on the ballot for a constitutional amendment. On Nov. 3, 1936, voters approved the amendment with one of the largest margins to which any constitutional amendment had passed. On July 1, 1937, the Conservation Commission took effect and with it the Missouri Department of Conservation was formed. Since this time, through numerous conservation initiatives, Missouri’s wildlife populations have made dramatic rebounds from the depleted populations of years past to the plentiful populations we see today.
Today Texas County’s deer and turkey population is considered to be one of the very best in Missouri with harvest totals often being the highest in the state. With Texas County’s high deer and turkey harvest rates, hunters from all over the United States visit our neck of the woods with the intent to pursue these highly sought-after game animals. Many of the hunters visiting the county either hunt free public land or lease private property for a pricey fee. The tradition of hunting and fishing brings much economic support to Texas County and to Missouri as a whole. These wildlife related recreations aid Missouri’s economy by supporting jobs and promoting the sale of outdoors related equipment. Locally, timber and forest products industry can’t be overlooked in the larger picture. All things considered, Missouri’s natural resources pay off with big dividends! Each year Missouri benefits from:
• $4 billion in economic support from fish and wildlife related recreation.
• $8 billion in economic support from the forest products industry.
• 99,000 jobs supported by fish and wildlife related recreation and the forest products industry.
• $507 million of state and local taxes generated by fish and wildlife related recreation spending and the forest products industry.
For further information regarding conservation-related topics or to report wildlife violations, call me at 417-260-2865 or agent Jeff Crites at 417-260-2855.