Missouri Opens Archery Season To Crossbow Hunters

Ask a hunter what they think about states allowing crossbows as a legal method for taking deer  during archery season, and you will get a vast array of responses.  Many of them will express a concern that it will result in deer numbers taking a sharp decline. Many of us would prefer that only those who are disabled be able to use a crossbow. Allowing any and all hunters to enter the woods with a crossbow seems to be a surefire way to put those of us with compound an recurve bows at a disadvantage.  Crossbow hunting takes the challenge out of archery hunting, and from my research the states that do allow this method for deer hunting typically end up paying for it in the long run.

Although there has been a growing number of outdoorsmen in the state who are interested in it, Missouri has held off on allowing the use of crossbows in the pursuit of deer for quite some time.    Over the last few years Missouri has hinted at the possibility of opening up this option.  After holding several open houses in 2015 as well as taking comments from hunters online, they have decided to allow their archery hunters to begin using crossbows during the archery season starting in 2016. 

I can only hope that this decision by the Missouri Department of Conservation doesn't come back to haunt us all.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Bear Hunting Opportunities In The Midwest

Photo Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

The midwest offers some of the best hunting in America.  From small game to large game there's something here for everyone no matter what their skill level is.  One of the exciting species available to hunt in some of the midwest states is the  black bear.  

The black bear can range in color from black to brown and have a sense of smell that is better than that of a dog.  This would explain why they are sometimes caught rummaging through garbage cans that aren't secured well.  The female black bear weighs around 150 to 200 pounds, and the males can weigh in at up to 500 pounds.  Black bears typically inhabit wooded areas, but will venture into open places when searching for food.  Although bears are a large animal, they generally avoid human contact; however, a bear may attack if it feels threatened.

There are three states in the midwest which presently allow black bear hunting.  Those states are Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Missouri plans to begin allowing bear hunting at some point in the future.   

Michigan:

Anyone including nonresidents may apply for the drawing; however, no more than 2 percent of licenses in any hunt period will be issued to nonresidents.

Minnesota:

Bear hunting in the state of Minnesota is open to both residents and non-residents.  The state is divided into several areas with and without quotas.  As I understand the information, the non-quota areas do not require a lottery entry in order to obtain a permit; however, most of the land in the no quota area is private property so it is important to make sure you have a place to hunt before purchasing a permit for this area.

Wisconsin:

The lottery for bear hunting is open to residents and non-residents alike.  Wisconsin uses a preference points system which ensures that the sportsmen who get the opportunity to bear hunt are not the same people year after year.  Preference points add up over time but are reset to zero if you do not either purchase a preference point or apply for the lottery at least once every three years.

Missouri:

Missouri has stated that they intend to open a bear hunting season at some point in the future.  The state is currently working to boost the population to numbers that will support this activity.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day