Lone Jack BURNED

I have not posted in an unusually long time- though its not because I havent been out!

The gentians have come and gone at JSmith; I was surprised to find the scaly blazing stars and false-eared foxgloves with seed pods and dying leaves. I really expected that the seasons were not as advanced as far as they seemed to be- Was hoping to return from Colorado in late summer.

Lone Jack was all ablaze last week; the smudged yellow MDC crews drove their ATV's and pickups out of private property.

I didnt notice or even suspect any kind of burning until I smelled the smoke that'd settled onto the lake. I turned around and drove a bit down Browns rd. to my favorite access. The burn had left almost half of the area smoldering where things were not too green.

A few patches of debris were still flaming, and a thin smoking line separated the fresh leaf litter from long stretches of black and white ash.

The smell was good for me; there is something powerful and rejuvenating about such a thing. It truly heals a person as directly as it does the earth.

I walked around to the furthest point of the lake and turned around. The log on which I found all of those awesome little yellow mushrooms on just a few days earlier was ashes. A HUGE inky cap stuck out of the green trail and a few small patches of puffballs had turned to dust *literally!* on some old hunks of bark; It is certainly the season for the things, but we havent had rain in many days.

Robins are everywhere! It was like a single giant flock was invading the area. Their hoots and laughs were heard through the entirety of my hike- disrupted only by a loud group of grackles above us all and a few gunshots from an adjoining property. That vast, rank stand of Indian grass was nothing but a few scattered dogwoods and raspberries and a whole lot of black!

A few ducks- I dont know what kind- swam around in the shelter of a cove. I walked off the path- amongst the oodles of deer-stands. I saw only one big dark blob..

He sat still far in front of me on the edge of a field- directly in the path to my truck. I walked towards him. The blob showed no detail; the bright sun on the opposite side of him overpowered any identifying marks. He sat still enough that I began to doubt his being a hunter.

I was about 50 feet from the tree in which he was parked before I decided that to proceed may be dangerous. I picked a branch from off the ground and snapped it violently over my thigh. He flinched and looked over his bow in my direction. I waved and continued up the path that I had found. I was almost under him when he nodded and I whispered an apology. It reeked of a bitter piss. I assume that it was that of a doe- maybe the hunter had simply marked HIS spot!?

Lone Jack CA

This morning was crisp and sunny- When I arrived at Lone Jack early there were two other hunters on the opposite side of the area. One had set out many goose decoys and his calls were heard from a mile away- the other paced through a field of tallgrass and over crops. I never did hear a shot from them.

The lake was frozen over- solid. A shallow coat of dry snow covered most parts and the surface was textured. trails could be found no matter were you looked- many rabbits and a few opposum, some small birds and rodents, and plenty of deer and coyote. The trail seen above was small and dog-like- maybe fox or coyote. The clouds arrived suddenly, the geese disappeared from the sky and the wind grew stong-- at about nine it began to snow- flurries!

Lone Jack CA

The way to lonejack starts on 435 E at state line, merges onto 470, hwy50 and then 'left at the shamrock station'
The drive usually takes me 20-30min and is not too exciting. This morning, however, this was not the case. as I was driving over the Blue river on 435 I encountered a great wall of the thickest fog. When I left my home and until this point there was even little evidence of any clouds! The vehicles exiting the blob all had their lights on and seemed to pop out of it. I drove into the blob and remained in the blob through my stay at lone jack. At times visibility was just a few hundred feet and cars and bends in the road were invisible until this point.

Upon steping onto Lone Jack, I knew that the trip was a waste for any hunting I was hoping to do. I left the gun in the car and enjoyed the morning for what it was. The air was moist and cold; a thin layer of ice had formed on the front of my truck from the drive. The ground was coated in a thick frost and patches of slick snow and ice layered those parts of the ground that had got the least amount of direct sunlight over the past few warm days. The lake was frozen and the dead trees that disrupt its surface were only grey and hazy silouhettes in the fog. The air was still with the exception of an occasional light breese that lasted for only a moment. The fog suppressed all sound of traffic and city, and Lone Jack was completely silent but for the songs of birds and the scream of the neighbors cattle. I walked through a few thickets of dogwood, summac and rose and tried to take photos of the numerous shy songbirds that ate the bittersweet from the thickets. On the edge of a confield, where the harvested crop met the thickets, I found creatures like mocking birds, chickadees, cardinals and lots and lots of juncos and sparrows. The birds stayed far enough to make a decent exposure in the fog difficult and impossible.

A briar (maybe grape?) was some of the best colour on the property! Bittersweet and rose hips were even better, though they could be harder to find.

By the time I left the area and made my way into leessummit the fog began to lift and when I reached past the blue river the clear sky dominated. Were expecting snow tomorrow, up to 6in. is what i am told, and I look forward to exploring many areas in white. Happy Holidays!!!

Lone jack

I got out there around 9 this morning in hopes of finding some geese or a duck on the lake. I was the only one on the area for much of the morning, and did not see much wildlife.

A thin coat of ice shielded the water's surface from the light breeze and made the lake appear completely still. An occasional small flock of canada geese would fly over and break the silence. one group of 4 birds flew especially low in order to land in the water. As they neared me I set my pack and camera down and raised my gun. I shot only once with #4 steel shot- the lead bird flinched but nothing showed much sign of being hit and so I didnt bother shooting again.

I ventured across a new field today- navigated my way through a few nasty thickets of ivy and locust. I found nothing worth doing that again! Came out into a familiar part of the property and waited on a stump for the birds that I spooked upon bursting out of the locusts. I set everything but my camera down and took off my orange and jacket to advance on the birds. I creeped through the grass until I dared go no further and waited. A large group of not-so-gold goldfinches sat about 20 feet away and I snapped a few shots. Something ruffled behind me and a chickedee's call near deafened me about 3 feet from my ear. I turned around and flushed the little energizer in an attempt to photograph him. Oh well..

A bit further I came out onto a remote cove of the lake. The sun warmed my skin and a duck whipped around the bend before seeing me. I mounted my gun and watched it- it was smaller and flew very quikly. I decided not to shoot in fear that it may be a teal- I shot one last year in duck season on the same cove. I had never shot a duck before, and misidentified the bird that was flying directly at me..oops.

After I summitted the hill that divdes the two hlaves of the area, I shot a large foxsquirrel and herded a flock of some kind of sparrow into a dogwood island. The tiny birds were probably song sparrows- they had streaked breasts, a darker mask and white tuffs under their beaks. Wish I'd gotton a worthy photo.

Saw nothing else that was too exciting- returned to my truck enjoying the warm, sunny weather.

Lone Jack & the MO river

I spent the morning at Lone Jack CA. The lake was misty and the shallow parts had frozen overnight. The remenants of wednesdays flurries were still very visible. There were many hunters: waterfowl, rabbits and deer. The cops patroled the parkinglot; I guess they had nothing better to do ?

I walked around the area and saw many squirrels to shoot- I never pulled the trigger as I didnt think that cleaning them in the crisp 23*F was going to be very much fun. I really wanted a duck or some quail, though I never found any. I heard some geese- found an opening and waited. A few snow geese flew over. THey were high and I never got a good opportunity to shoot. A few Canadas flew nearby, and well within my range. I didnt think that they were in season- I was right.

I saw many birds, and had a nice conversation with a tiny kinglet. The yellow-topped bird chattered at me only a few feet away. I had left my camera in the car, but enjoyed him very much.

PARKVILLE, MO

After returning from lone jack, I accompanied my mother for a walk along the Missouri River. We strolled over a mile of sandbar- there were no winds, and the surface of the river was glass aside from the occasional fish jumping. It was peaceful and serene, and the sounds of the birds and the river set the mood.

Come sunset, the ducks and geese filled the sky and shattered the silence. It clouded over, but the sun was bright.

Lone Jack CA

This morning was cold- the sky was crystal clear and the wind was non-existent. I arrived at the area around 815am to find that a group of duck-hunters had blanketed a cove of the lake in decoys. We spoke briefly- they had shot three mallard ducks, though the dog had not found one of the birds. I took my usual hike around the lake, through forest, old fields, tall grass and crop.

Nothing real special today, but the weather was PERFECT. The lack of wind created a world of reflections on the surfaces of the lake and ponds. I could not find my quail, but I got two squirrel and spooked a family of deer from their bed.

About half way through, I had not shot at anything- I entered a large plot of Indian grass and stood still. The sparrows and finches filled the air with songs- many of which I did not recognise (this doesnt mean anything). I took a step forward after about 3min. Upon doing so, another woodcock flushed a few feet to my left from a brushy fence row. he circled back and flew in front of me about 30ft away. I quickly mounted my gun and took one shot, I missed and did not shoot again in fear that I would loose him in the grass and brush he seemed to be headed for.

I found the simplicity of a large feather to be beautiful enough to spend a few minutes shooting. It was large, Blk&W, but did not have the bulk or shape of a turkey's. It lay on the ground beneath the corn that was left for the wildlife. I tampered with color saturation to make the color less vivid- I think it came out OK!

Another feather, left from the hunters- that of a mallard. It was still with the water.

Lone Jack CA

I find it hard to multitask on my trip to lone jack. I carry my camera, a youth-sized 20ga. pump shotgun, and a backpack to carry extras, bones and game in. Like today, I often find myself stuck between raising my gun or camera; or which one to set on a stump while I shoot.




Today was cloudy, cool and windy. There were periods of sunshine, and those without wind- but by 10am, the day was lost to the poor weather.Today I hoped to get my first quail and maybe a duck while I was at the lake. i loaded a few rounds of steel #4 shot into the gun.


I circled the lake, and found nothing in the wooded portion of the property. The nieghbor has re-marked the property line with violet painted trees and fence posts. Once I got to the first clearing, and frequently from there on, I found a dead deer. The first was a large buck. his hind end was smashed- hit by a car? Many skeletons of deer, turkey and small game lay beneath the trees where they were killed days, weeks and years before.

I continued through the thickets of the far end of the area, and burst out onto the field of indian grass. A small, yellow and red-lookin sparrow welcomed me to the stand. Maybe a le conte's?

Cardinals and juncos swarmed the woodland edge.

In the grass, where I was hoping to flush those quail for a shot, I found this guy. My best guess is a song sparrow. A flock of goldfinch were nearby. no quail

Here, edible oyster mushrooms which are often inhabited by small black or black and red beetles scale a dead tree. I picked a bunch, stashed them in my bag and continued.



A bit further, while crossing a stream I found a handful of cricket and bull frogs. He posed for a picture where i found him and then left him
I walked. All of the sudden a squirrel poped up. This was no dilema-I mounted my gun. Within a split second, the smaller covey of quail erupted from a few feet away. five birds I counted.

I usually hear the quail in the leaves before I get so close- but this time the wind blinded me. Now I was in a dilema. Quail or Squirrel; camera or shotgun? I safetied my gun and took a second to hand my camera and pack on a tree limb next to me. I was about 20ft from the thick stand of trees where the squirrel had startled me, and was facing into the woods-where the quail had flushed to. I creeped up on the tree where i saw the squirrel- no squirrel. I continued in the direction where the quail appeared to have flown, with my gun ready. I found nothing for a long time, and then a single bird flushed from beneath me. he quickly dove behind a stand of trees and continued flying out of sight before i could get my shot off. I kept my gun aimed, and then he appeared. I disengauged the safety and pulled the trigger-

For all you hunters- considering the information I have given you- what was my mistake?

The quail burst into a flurry of feathers; I knew he had been shot. I went to where the feathers were still floating in the air- and spotted my bird- he was running behind a tree.

I had shot at him with a 3" #4 round- much too large for a tiny bird.I was lucky toi have hit him.I put my gun on saftey and chased him. the poor guy ran into a raspberry thicket. I continued after him until he stopped. I couldnt reach him, so I mounted my gun. He was only 3 ft away from the end of my barrel. I knew that if I pulled the trigger, there would be nothing left of the little thing- I continued to chase him until I had become so entangled and cut by the thorns and briars-- -I lost site and gave up.

On my way out I flushed a woodcock. I hadnt seen one in two years!?

I had a very good day- even if all I was able to kill was a bunch of mushrooms. It got very cloudy and windy by the time I arrived at the car- it was kinda nice in a not-so-nice way. My arms, face and neck burned from the tiny cuts of the quails' thorney trap- but I noticed only the cool wind stirring the leaves that float on lake and relieving the sting from my skin. It roared through the trees above me and was the icing on the cake that was my morning excursion.

Lone Jack CA

It almost halloween; You can tell with this chilly fall weather?

It was 70 degrees and beautiful out today. A little breezy, but the critters didnt seem to mind. I met with Larry Rizzo today at Lone Jack Conservation Area. He was going to take a look at some possible remenant glades I had found, and tell me if they were salvageable. We took a hike, found many frogs and saw a few songbirds. He pointed out some buck scratches for me and we stirred up a rabbit.

After we took a look at the site, we determined that it would be necessary to see it again in the spring, when things are in bloom, to know for sure weather the area was worth saving.

The lake on the area is way up, the trails are freshly mowed and maintained, and the fall migration has hit the area. I found a batch of poison ivy before Rizzo arrived that held many chickadees, titmice, wrens, creepers and an assortment of others.

This Myrtle Warbler? perched on a branch a few meters away for only a few seconds. I had enough time to snap a single blurry shot!

Also caught a glimpse of a small gray titmouse like bird with a brightly coloured crown or crest. I was thinkin kinglet, but Im never right. What do you think! Not much is in bloom anymore; some goldenrods, a few asters, and the occasional sunflower. At the very end of our stroll, Larry and I stumbled upon this beautiful purple thing. I didnt recognize the flower, but larry identified it as a late-blooming Ironweed. Cool.

Lone Jack CA

Though its a drive, Lone Jack Ca is one of my favorites around KC. I hunt small game and waterfowl on the area, and have always enjoyed the diversity of wildflowers I find in its fields of fescue. Though it is heavily invaded by fecue and sericea (sp) lespedeza, the area is scattered with exposed limestone, wildflowers and cacti, and all sorts of native songbirds. I have only found one bush honeysuckle on the entire area, and think that it would be worth the effort to restore!

Last month, I found a few ladies tresses orchids, an array of sunflowers and docks, and many butterflies. Today, however, I found none of this; it was cold, and there was even a light frost on the ground. I carried my shotgun, but found nothing worth killing. I flushed a few turkey and a huge covey of quail, but hesitated to kill any of that due to the fact that I was not familier with their seasons or licence requirements. Many songbird out this time- a flock of goldfinch, some chickadees, zillions of sparrows, and a few colorful vireos. The trail had been re-cut for thew first time this year. That was nice.

I did find many colorful plants and trees. They were scattered, with the exception of all of the poison ivy, like this one.

Walking through the opening woods, I found some awsome mushrooms. Many large puffballs, and one that I had never found before; the "bearded tooth"-- sounds killer! I collected a large, firm puffball... Ive never eaten a wild shroom before, but Im going to try it!

The few streambanks that travel through the area were covered with ferns and the glade and open areas with fruiting cacti - This place just needs a burn! !

Prickly Pear cactus (Above) and fern (below)