JEFFERSON CITY- The results of this year’s North American Duck Breeding Population Survey are in, and the news is excellent, beginning with news that Missouri will have a 16-day early teal season.
 
The U.S. and Canadian fish and wildlife services have conducted aerial surveys to estimate breeding-duck numbers since 1955. The survey also evaluates nesting habitat conditions. The annual report of this survey provides an early look at prospects for the coming hunting season. This year’s report estimates total duck numbers at 48.6 million continent-wide. That is a 7-percent increase from last year and up 43 percent from the long-term average (LTA).

The North American population of mallards, the mainstay species for Missouri waterfowl hunters, is estimated at 10.6 million this year. That is up 15 percent from 2011 and 40 percent above the LTA. Mallard numbers have exceeded this year’s figure only twice in the past 56 years - 1958 and 1999.
 
The length of Missouri’s early teal hunting season is set according to the number of blue-winged teal recorded in the annual survey. Blue-winged teal numbers this year are estimated at 9.2 million. That is similar to last year’s population. It also is 94 percent above the LTA and nearly twice the 4.7 million needed for the maximum early-season length of 16 days under federal guidelines. This year’s early teal season will open Sept. 8 and run through Sept. 23.
 
Other duck species breeding populations recorded in the 2012 survey include:

• Gadwall, 3.6 million, similar to last year and 96 percent above LTA.
• Pintail, 3.5 million, 22 percent below 2011 and 14 percent below LTA.
• Green-winged teal, 3.5 million, up 20 percent from 2011 and 74 percent above LTA.
• Wigeon, 2.1 million, similar to 2011 and 17 percent below LTA.
• Scaup, 5.2 million, up 21 percent from last year and similar to LTA
• Shoveler, 5 million, similar to 2011 and 111 percent above LTA.
• Redhead, 1.3 million, similar to 2011 and 89 percent above LTA.
• Canvasback, 800,000, similar to 2011 and 33 percent above LTA.

Doreen Mengel, a resource scientist with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), notes that habitat conditions in the north-central United States and central Canada, where most of Missouri’s ducks are produced, were not as good this year as in 2011. She says that could cut into nesting success. However, she also noted that above-average precipitation that occurred in prairie Canada after the survey was completed may have improved conditions for late-nesting species, any re-nesting attempts and for brood-rearing.
 
“It would have been difficult to imagine that we would see these kinds of waterfowl numbers 20 years ago,” says Mengel. “Having near-record duck populations is a testament to the hard work hunters and conservation groups have made to restore wetland habitat on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border. It’s reason for celebration. However, remember that weather, local habitat conditions, and migration timing will play major roles in shaping the 2012 teal and regular waterfowl seasons we experience in Missouri.”
 
The Missouri Conservation Commission will set opening and closing dates, bag limits and other details of the regular waterfowl season at its August meeting.

The event all the young athletes have been waiting for has finally arrived.  Organizers met Sunday evening to finalize plans and make certain that the first annual Youth Football Camp is filled with fun and excitement. 

The camp will consist of three nights of drills and instructions from high school coaches and players in the non-contact camp.

The camp will consist of 12 drills designed for a great time while learning the proper techniques used by athletes in the local football program.  Each drill will begin with a demonstration of the techniques by players and coaches.  At that point, the young athletes will begin to perform the drill themselves.

Organizers have made sure that plenty of water will be on hand for the kids.  Each station will last approximately 7 to 10 minutes.

The event is open to all youngsters going into the 3rd grade through the 6th grade.  Registration is only $20 and will provide each kid with a camp t-shirt and 3 days of great fun. 

"I can remember when I was in the third grade", commented Dalton Putnam, a 2011 Bearcat Football team member.  "Just being on the field with a high school player meant everything to me."

Please make every attempt show up early tonight if you haven't been able to sign up.  There will be a consent form and payment that needs to be made to the group. 

The camp will begin at 6:00 p.m. and run until 8:00 p.m.; parents can also print and complete the form below to help expedite the registration process.

"Our hope for this camp is that the kids have fun," noted Loyd Rice.  "We want this to be a springboard to help our kids gain interest and get involved with the Dexter Park & Rec Little League Football program". 

For additional information, see Loyd Rice, Darrin Propst, and Sean Vanslyke at the high school practice football field this evening. 

This is NOT a contact camp; helmets and pads will not be required for participation in any drill throughout the duration of the camp.

Click here
 to download the registration form.

The 36th Annual Missouri Lions All-Star Football Game will be played in Warrensburg on Saturday, July 21st. The game features outstanding 2012 graduated high school football players from the entire state. Pre-game festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Vernon Kennedy Field on the UCM Campus.

The annual affair was created in order to benefit the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation and has raised nearly $200,000 for this statewide Lions project. The game pits some of the top football talent from around the state to play one last game with and against their peers before entering the world of college or other careers. The game is divided into Blue and Gold Teams. Heading this year’s Blue squad will be Coach Nathan Morgan of Caruthersville High School, and the Gold team will be piloted by Coach Dustin Baldwin of Miller High School.

The players and coaches arrived at UCM on Sunday, July 15th. The week will be spent getting acquainted, learning plays and two-a-day practice sessions. It will culminate with the banquet Friday evening, July 20th, with Westran High School Coach (and last year’s All-Star Gold Team Coach) Curtis Jasper as the keynote speaker, and the game at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 21st. Tickets for the game will be available at the gate on game day at only $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.

The Missouri Lions are pleased to announce that this year’s game will be broadcast live on KKWK (100.1 FM) Radio in Cameron, MO, and at NorthWestMOInfo.com.

Click here
 for the full ASG Roster!

Photo Above: The Bearcats will be well-represented in the 2012 Missouri Lions All-Star Game, with (from left) Tyler Miller, Zach Lacy, and Cody Stevens all earning spots on the roster.

The Rib City Shootout is underway! This weekend, nearly 60 teams will compete across the junior high, junior varsity, and varsity divisions of the two-day basketball extravaganza.
Above, Advance's Lane Below moves the ball up-court during Friday morning's contest against Winona.

Click here to download the full schedule!

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal for all portions.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 90 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass fair on artificial baits after dark; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 86 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Cypress Lake: 84 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie slow in 1 - 3' of water on minnows and jigs; bluegill and redear sunfish fair in 1 - 3' of water on jigs, crickets and worms; largemouth bass slow in 1 - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits; channel catfish fair in 2 - 8' of water on worms, crickets and stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/12/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 85 degrees, low, clear; bluegill and warmouth sunfish fair on crickets and jigs; largemouth bass fair on plastic worms; all other species slow. Note: boaters be aware of tree stumps due to low water levels. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Lake Girardeau: 88 degrees, normal, clear; bluegill and redear sunfish good on worms and crickets; largemouth bass good on plastic worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Perry County Lake: 86 degrees, dingy; channel catfish fair on liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 94 degrees, normal, channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 88 degrees, normal, black bass fair on plastic worms early and late; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; all other species slow.

Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 83 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): low, dingy; black bass fair on topwater lures in early morning; walleye fair on crankbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/12/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): 82 degrees, falling, muddy; blue catfish and channel catfish fair on worms, stinkbait and cut bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on worms and cut bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): low, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 7/12/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 82 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on chicken liver, stinkbaits and worms; flathead catfish fair on goldfish and small sunfish; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/11/2012)

Anglers are invited to send pictures of their catch to the ShowMe Times - simply email a photo to SMT Sports Editor Andrew Cato, including your name, where the fish was caught, the species of the fish, and - if you care to share - what bait you were using!