Some people enjoy winter hunting and fishing

Although there are still a lot of hunting seasons open in Missouri including archery deer and turkey, rabbit and squirrel, quail and pheasant as well as waterfowl in some areas, there are places dotted all across the state that attract hunters this time of the year.

Jack and Dave Franklin look forward to January to get in a lot of hunting and they know they will always see plenty of action. "The many hunting preserves and clubs over the state provide some good hunting after the regular seasons close," said Jack. "Some eight years ago my brother and I discovered one of the many places in the state where you know you will see birds and have a good time."

As more and more of our hunting areas are posted with no trespassing signs and the number of wild birds are dropping, these hunting preserves offer a hunter a place to hunt.

"I don't think we will ever see the kind of hunting we had as young men, but we can still find birds by going to a well managed hunting club," said Franklin.

Most of the clubs offer quail, pheasant and chuckers and many have guides, dogs and meals included in your day afield.

Franklin said, "We were surprised to find the hunting conditions similar to places we normally hunt. The fields had plenty of cover and the birds moved out like wild ones. Our pointer worked just like he was in one of our regular spots. We were also surprised that the hunt went as well as it did and although we expected it to cost a small fortune, it turned out to be less expensive than a wild bird hunt would have cost and by hunting at a club we knew we would see plenty of action and I think our dog thought he was in dog heaven."

A question that often comes up when hunters gather is, where can you find a good hunting place today. One answer is to knock on doors until you find a farmer who is willing to let you hunt on a place that has good habitat or try public hunting spots, but as another choice and one that has a much longer season is any of the commercial hunting preserves.

Hunters who have hunted a well run hunting club know that it can be very good. There is no better place to start a new hunter like your spouse, son or daughter and there wouldn't be a more convenient place to enjoy a day afield.

Franklin said, "Some 30 years ago when I started hunting these kind of clubs were few and far between. Wild birds were available and most of the state was rural. However, today the need for hunting clubs has become more apparent. After my hunt last week, I don't know why I never tried it earlier. I set up a hunt next month for me, my wife and two sons. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did."

Fishing too never stops in Missouri in spite of the cold. For more than 10 years several anglers from Des Moines who work the Kansas City Sportshow, have traveled to Missouri early to fish and haven't been disappointed.

Tom Harper has worked the show for 16 years and always hits Missouri water before and after the show.

"I catch more fish in January than in the summer months and the fish are bigger," he said. "Depending on the weather I hit the heated docks at the Lake of the Ozarks, fish at one of the power plant lakes, fish for big bass at one of the many big impoundments or head for Branson and catch trout in Taneycomo. Fishing never really stops in Missouri even when the temperatures are in the single digits."