United States - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will sell duck stamps online for the first time this year, giving hunters an alternative to buying paper duck stamps. USFWS recently selected Missouri, along with a handful of other states, to provide duck stamps through its new e-Stamp option.

Starting Aug. 1, hunters can buy the new federal e-Stamps online at mo.wildlifelicense.com.

The e-Stamp will have a $2.50 convenience fee for handling and mailing in addition to the $15 purchase price.

The Electronic Duck Stamp, or e-Stamp, allows customers to purchase the Federal Duck Stamp online and use it immediately. The E-Stamp is valid for 45 days from the date of purchase. Within that time, a physical Duck Stamp will be mailed to the customer. After 45 days, the customer must carry their Federal Duck Stamp while hunting.

In the past, paper duck stamps were sold at post offices, MDC offices, and some retail permit vendors. This year, paper stamps will still be available from post offices and MDC offices, but not from permit vendors. Retail vendors will still be able to process e-Stamp transactions for hunters.

For more info on the new e-Stamp offering, visit USFWS online at fws.gov/duckstamps/stamps.htm.

The decision not to sell paper duck stamps through retail vendors came from federal officials after we already printed our 2014 Early Migratory Bird Hunting Digest. As a result, the digest says hunters can buy duck stamps from retail vendors, without mentioning details of purchasing e-Stamps. Sorry for any confusion.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and Quail Forever (QF) to provide mentored hunts for first-time dove hunters eight years of age or older on five sunflower fields located on private land across the state and one on public land.

Hunts will be offered on the private and public fields on opening day of dove season, Sept. 1. Additional hunts will be offered on the private fields later in season. The specific dates will be determined by the participating landowners. Each field will be limited to 16-20 hunter/mentor pairs per hunt to maximize safety and provide a quality experience.

Participants must first attend a hunter-orientation workshop where they will learn about dove biology and management, the importance of hunters and hunting, hunter safety, and will have the opportunity to practice shooting a shotgun. No equipment is necessary for the workshops or hunts. Hunters 8-15 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during both the pre-hunt workshop and the hunt. Participants will be provided more details via email prior to the workshop.

The hunter-orientation workshops will be held:

Meadville -- Aug. 10, 1-5 p.m., MDC Fountain Grove Conservation Area;
Kirksville -- Aug. 17, 1-5 p.m., MDC Northeast Regional Office;
High Ridge -- Aug. 21, 5:30-9 p.m., MDC Jay Henges Shooting Range;
Parkville -- Aug. 27, 28, and 29, 5:30-8:30 p.m., MDC Parma Woods Shooting Range;
Williamsburg -- Aug. 30, 1-5 p.m., MDC Prairie Fork Conservation Area;
Ash Grove -- Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., MDC Andy Dalton Shooting Range; an
Cape Girardeau -- Aug. 30, 4-8:15 p.m., MDC Apple Creek Trap and Skeet Range.
Participants may attend any workshop offered, but the field they will be invited to hunt will be determined by applications received and space availability of each field for each hunt. If spaces remain available on any field for any hunting days offered, first-time hunters will have the opportunity to attend multiple hunts.

For more information or to apply, contact John Burk of NWTF at 573-676-5994 or jburk@nwtf.net, or Elsa Gallagher of QF at 660-277-3647 or EGallagher@pheasantsforever.org.  Or apply online at tinyurl.com/nax8qhm.

For more on hunting doves and other upland game birds in Missouri, go online to mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/upland-game-bird-hunting-0.

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Missouri - The outlook is bright for Missouri’s early teal hunting season, but state officials say some hunters will need to make different arrangements than in years past to buy federal duck stamps.

The length of the early teal season depends on the number of blue-winged teal (BWT) counted in early-summer breeding bird surveys. If the BWT breeding population index is below 3.3 million, the season is closed. If the BWT breeding population index is at least 3.3 million but less than 4.7 million, the season is nine days long. If the BWT breeding population index is 4.7 million or greater, the season is 16 days long.

This year’s surveys showed 8.5 million BWT, triggering a 16-day season from Sept. 6 through 21 for BTW, green-winged teal (GWT) and cinnamon teal. Bag limits remain the same as last year, six BWT, GWT and cinnamon teal in the aggregate daily and 18 in possession.

Missouri will have a 16-day early teal season again this year thanks to a third consecutive year of high duck numbers. Population surveys of North American breeding waterfowl show high numbers for the third year in a row, meaning Missouri hunters will enjoy another 16-day early teal season.

With teal numbers near record levels, 2014 could be an excellent year for the early teal hunting. Whether that potential is realized will depend on weather conditions during teal season. Teal are early migrators, and the passage of cool fronts between Sept. 6 and 21would increase the number of teal available to hunters. Conversely, stable, warm weather during the early teal season could limit hunting action.

The Missouri Department of Conservation wants to alert teal hunters and other waterfowl hunters to changes in federal policy regarding where and how duck stamps (technically called Federal Waterfowl Conservation Stamps) are sold. In the past, paper duck stamps were sold at U.S. Post Offices, Conservation Department offices and some retail permit vendors, such as hunting equipment retailers. This year, paper stamps will still be available from post offices and Conservation Department offices, but not from other permit vendors.

However, duck stamps will be sold online for the first time this year, giving hunters and retail vendors an alternative to buying/selling paper duck stamps. Starting on Aug. 1, hunters can buy the stamps at mo.wildlifelicense.com. Retail vendors will be able to process the transaction for hunters. An electronic stamp, or e-Stamp, will be issued at the time of purchase, and a paper duck stamp will be sent through the mail. Hunters can use their e-Stamps immediately and for 45 days following purchase. After 45 days, they must carry the paper duck stamp. The e-Stamp will have a $2.50 convenience fee for handling and mailing in addition to the $15 purchase price.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service recently selected Missouri, along with Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia, to provide duck stamps through its new federal e-Stamp option. The decision not to sell paper duck stamps through retail vendors came from federal officials after printing of the 2014 Early Migratory Bird Hunting Digest was complete. As a result, the digest says hunters can buy duck stamps from some retail vendors, without mentioning details of purchasing e-Stamps.

The North American population of mallards, the mainstay species for Missouri waterfowl hunters, is estimated at 10.9 million this year. That is up 5 percent from 2013 and 42 percent above the long-term average (LTA). Mallard numbers have exceeded this year’s figure only once in the past 56 years – in 1958.

Other duck species breeding populations recorded in the 2014 survey include:

·        Gadwall, 3.8 million, 14 percent more than last year and 102 percent above LTA.

·        Pintail, 3.2 million, 3 percent below 2013 and 20 percent below LTA.

·        Green-winged teal, 3.4 million, up 13 percent from 2013 and 69 percent above LTA.

·        Wigeon, 3.1 million, up 18 percent from 2013 and 20 percent above LTA.

·        Scaup, 4.6 million, up 11 percent from 2013 and 8 percent below LTA

·        Shoveler, 5.3 million, 11 percent more than 2013 and 114 percent above LTA.

·        Redhead, 1.3 million, up 6 percent from 2013 and 85 percent above LTA.

·        Canvasback, 685,000, down 13 percent from 2013 and 18 percent above LTA.

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Jonesboro, Arkansas - Dexter native and Arkansas State golfer Chance Holden has been named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar for the 2013-14 season.

Holden was among 207 Division I players across the country to be named a scholar athlete.  To qualify, a student-athlete must be either a junior or senior academically, compete in at least three full years at the collegiate level, participate in at least 50 percent of his team’s competitive rounds, have a stroke average under 76 in NCAA Division I and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2.

Holden participated in a team-high 35 rounds last season as a senior.  The Dexter, Mo., native tied for the lowest stroke average on the team, finishing with a 74.1 average.  His lowest round of the season was a 66 at the Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate.  His best finish was a tie for third place at the Red Wolf Intercollegiate.  He also had three top-five finishes, along with six top-25 performances.

“I am very proud of Chance for receiving this award for the second time,” said Arkansas State head men’s golf coach Steve Johnson.  “To play at his level with the amount of travel he’s had while representing our program over the last two years, and still complete his degree in nursing, speaks volumes about the level of dedication and commitment he has both to his golf game and academics.  We are excited to have him bring another award back.”

This is the second straight selection for Holden as a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar athlete.  The selections for this accolade are made by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor

Dexter, Missouri – The Dexter High School Football coaches held a Coaches Clinic with the Dexter Parks and Recreation football coaches to talk and learn about techniques that will make them more successful on the football field.

“The clinic was designed to help Dexter Parks & Recreation football coaches,” stated Dexter Head Football Coach Justin Peden.  “Those guys donate their time to help Dexter's little league football be the best they can be and I respect what they do immensely.”

Both Coach Justin Peden and Coach Greg Lummukka helped with the clinic set up by Jamie Rowe of Dexter Parks and Recreation.  The clinic focused on the fundamentals of football while teaching and sharing some of the most dynamic drills of the game.

“I thought it might be helpful to discuss things like implementing our offensive strategies, blocking techniques and practice drills and organization.  I personally thought it was a very successful meeting and the DPR coaches know that they can lean on us as a resource anytime they need us,” continued Peden.

DPR football season will commence this week beginning with practices and games.  These very excited youngsters dream of one day becoming a high school Dexter Bearcat playing on the “big” field under the lights at Charles Bland Stadium. 

Just ask any little league football player what they going to do when they get to high school, and the answer will be play BEARCAT football!

Almost 100 kids from  grades 3 - 6 signed up to play DPR football this year.   The Varsity Teams are the Red Team and Black Team consisting of 5th and 6th graders.  Jason Greenvield coaches the Red Team.  Brett Dorton and Derek Driskill coach the Black Team. 

The Junior Varsity teams consist of 3rd and 4th graders and have been broken into 4 teams, Red Team, Black Team, Blue Team and the Green Team.  Joe Kennedy, Kris Chamberlain, and Derek Bradley coach the Red Team.  The Black Team is coached by Jason Comfort and Matt Stone.  Josh Coons, Jason Josupait, Tony Parrish, and Mark Zabelin coach the Blue Team.  The Green Team is coached by Don Bewley, and Tom Jarell.

The coaches have been busy preparing for the season with uniforms and gear handed out last week and practices already started.  The DPR Little League Football Program has been a part of the Dexter community for more than 40 plus years, going back to the 1970’s and with the support of the Bearcat fans it will continue for many years to come. 

Join us on the field and support the young Bearcats of the future.  Action will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings when the JV Little League takes the field first followed by the Varsity.  The ShowMe Times will post a schedule of all games as soon as it is available.  The Dexter Parks & Recreation work closely with the schools and coordinating games can be time consuming. 

Follow us on Facebook for updates and game times each week!  Just click HERE.