Missouri Falconers Association 2006 Midwinter Field Meet
 

It was 6:45 am when I walked into the Steak and Shake at K and N highways. The joint was hopping. There were ten to fifteen people sitting in the section that the Missouri Falconers Assoc grab up before the start of the field meet. Weather promised to be great. The rabbit population was great. By eight there were close to thirty people and twenty hawks ready to go hunting.

 

I was excited to see all the new faces at the meet. These meets are a great thing for a person who thinks they may be interested in taking up the sport. Being able to learn from other experienced falconers brought me to the club.

 

The group split up to three groups, heading different directions, two hunting redtail hawks, or wanting to see tails flown and one hunting goshawks. The groups were to meet along the strip at one pm to take a lunch, and have the clubs business meeting.

 

After the meeting the club went out to watch the Harris’s dirt baggers fly their birds. Some others split off to hunt their hawks again in the afternoon. I am not sure of a head count of game. I am sure that everyone had ample slips for their hawks. I know of no hawks that were hurt during the meet. I did watch one falconer take a nasty spill chasing after a hawk. He managed to get back to his truck. Rob Lyttle and I split off from Tony Taylor and Tony Jr and others at sunset. I am looking forward to the next field meet March 4th 2006 in St Louis.

 

 Things discussed at the business meeting in no particular order

 

1) The importance of MFA members belonging to NAFA

 

2) Asking the MO. dept of conservation for more liberal possession limits

 

 3) 100.00 donation for the NAFA defense fund   Ok’ed by membership

 

4) 100.00 donation for the Will Shor Memorial fund   OK’ed by membership

 

5) 100.00 donation for The Grouse Partnership    OK’ed by membership

 

6) Expenditure of 1000.00 for much needed computer equipment and software for    

     MFA   OK’ed by membership

 

       All club members in attendance voted YES for these expenditures

 

7) Mindy Batsch had sent Norma Haynes an email volunteering to help with the raffle this year and I asked Norma to send an email to Mindy and Stacia Novy thanking them for helping the club with this years raffle. Last years was the best ever due to Stacia’s hard work and our club’s best ever summer picnic turnout.

 

8) Fred and Mary Reinhold have volunteered the use of their home in St Louis to        host the MFA 2006 summer picnic            

 

9)  Discussion for a donation to be made to the Coulsons, it never came to a vote.  Those close to them suggested no need.

 

10) 2006 late winter field meet location, as 100% of those attending flew rabbits, the meet again will be in the St Louis area, the first weekend in March. Roger Peterson again will host the meet. Details to follow.

 

11) Questions to addressing the Missouri Dept of conservation, concerning the changing of duck season dates. It was brought up that some members would like to see the season open at a later date.  It was suggested that those interested in changing or maintaining the current season dates contact me at afurnituredoctor@juno.com for their input before we as a club do anything.

It is suggested that we forgo the early teal season, and duplicate the seasons set up by the Illinois Dept and or the Kansas fish and wildlife with a late winter season. Any changes this year for next year must be presented to the Missouri Dept of Conservation board of commissioners during its March 2006 meeting.  Most falconers who currently hunt ducks were not in attendance, but were hunting upland game with their long wings. Those interested please email me.

 

Again I want to thank Roger Peterson for hosting, those who participated in the midwinter meet and all those who help to make falconry great in Missouri. I look forward to seeing you in March.

 

 Bob Payne

President Missouri Falconers Association