title

Here's a few letters, more to come! Keep watching!

From.....JOE JOHNS...STOCKTON. MO.

I just finished reading your column about you and your Uncle Norten catching
"about 25 whopper-sized white bass" at Bull Shoals Lake.   I know you were
on the Arkansas side of the state line, but if you were in Missouri, and
kept the fish, you may have been illegal. Many people don't know that in
Missouri, there is a daily limit of 4 white bass over 18 inches long.
That's right, you have to measure those big whites! The rule has been in
effect for several years and is on page 73 of your 2007 Missouri Wildlife
Code. Don't look at the rules in the "Summary of Missouri Fishing
Regulations" book. They are ambiguous and probably written by a lawyer
instead of an outdoor writer like you. I expect that with the criticism you
regularly deliver to the Conservation Commission, they are watching you with
their satellites and have a microphone hidden in your boat. So if you
didn't already get arrested, the story might not be true. Watch out,
somebody might report you to Operation Game Thief!

From.... DAWN THREEWIT, MT. HOME, AR.

I and my friend Jean Duhs of Lakeview, Arkansas, wanted to let you know we
enjoyed your recent article on birds in the Baxter Bulletin. And we would
like to read more of what you can tell us about birds here in the Ozarks.
One question I have for now where are all the hummers this year? I have my 4
feeders out and no diners! Larry you are doing a wonderful job---- keep up
the good work.

From: DAVID SILER, NO ADDRESS GIVEN

I've been a long time reader and fan of yours but this is first Time I've
ever written. I've got a question. My son and I want to take a 2-day float
on a Missouri stream in the middle of October, camping on the stream
overnight . I have read with interest previous articles that you have
written about floats you have taken on the Niangua and others. We aren't
looking for the prepackaged kind of thing, more of a, 'rent a johnboat, have
the truck driven to the take out' and just spend two days drifting and
fishing and overnight on the bank. Is there any thing like that left??
Could you recommend a book that would have some of that kind of
information, or could you recommend a stream and a float. I know you are
busy and any information would be appreciated.

ANSWER....I'd recommend you float on the Gasconade, and if you check with
folks around Lebanon or Richland, Mo. you'll find people who can rent you a
johnboat and move your pick-up. The lower Big Piney also has people who
will do the same thing. There's a resort at Ross Bridge which does that. A
pretty good overnight trip exists on the Niangua where you can get away from
the canoe rental crowd, if there is enough water. It is the trip from
Windyville to Moon Valley. The only good book on river floating I can
reccommend is my own.   Shameless, ain't I!!? It is entitled, "Rivers to
Run" and everybody in America ought to own one, to my way of thinking.
(Then I could retire!)     You can see it on my
website...www.larrydablemont.com.    The Missouri Department of Conservation
also sells a book written long ago by a fellow named Oz Hawksley entitled
"Missouri Ozark Waterways. But it only gives put in and take out points,
features along the river in a list from mile to mile, and distances of
floats. Still...it is a great book to have if you float very often and on
various streams.   l.d.

From...Bill Lewey, Buffalo, Mo.

I've been putting off letting you know how much I enjoy your outdoor
articles in the Buffalo Reflex.   The 24 Jan 07 article was great & brought
back memories of the winters we had when I was growing up in Buffalo.(1929
to 1947). Reading about your grandpa and the way he lived, I could really
relate to. I was fortunate enough to have had access to some great hunting
and trapping on the Swede Johnson farm. I was setting & running almost a
hundred rabbit & steel trap from the time I was 8 yrs old, selling rabbits
to the Farmer's Exchange for 7 & 8 cents apiece. The fur was stretched on
pine boards made from apple crates and was sold to a buyer who usually came
to town in late February. I played four years of varsity basketball and
many times would take the coonhounds and hunt till three o'clock in the
morning after playing four quarters of basketball. I don't think kids do
that anymore. You shook another cobweb loose with your and your uncle
Norten's visit to the 101st Airborne at Ft Campbell. General Petraeus is a
soldier's soldier. I enlisted, or thought I had... in 1947 with the 101st,
but after spending some time at Ft Riley KS I found myself in basic training
at LAFB, in San Antonio TX. They woudn't give me the time of day when I told
them I was suppose to be in the Airborne Division. So after 20 yrs with the
AF I retired. How do I go about ordering a copy of the "Ridge- Runner? By
the way, where in the hell is "Lightnin Ridge"? Along the Nianqua river? My
regards to you and Uncle Norten.

Answer........ Lightnin' Ridge is what i call this ridgetop that i live
on...it is the highest point in Polk county I believe and every time there's
a storm, lightning hits somewhere on my twenty acres, ruining another tree.
it actually is above Pomme De Terre river eight miles northeast of Bolivar.
You can order the book Ridge-Runner off my website via pay pal, or you can
just order signed copies direct from me by sending $12.95 per book order to
Lightnin Ridge Books, Box 22, Bolivar, Mo. 65613..... l.d.

From: LINDA GOOSZ, COOK STATION, MO.

Dear Larry,
I have wanted to e-mail you before, but after reading your article, "A
Little Tale for the Kids" in our paper today, I felt that I had to write
you. I just got home from a "Terrible, Awful, No good, Very Bad Day" at
work and felt like there was nothing that would improve my mood. But you
did! By the way, there is a good children's book by that same name that
your grandson might enjoy. It's not your typical childrens book. Anyway, I
always look forward to your article in the paper. It is entertaining and
gives me different outlook on the things you write about. Thank You again
for lifting my spirits and I look forward to your next article.

From.......BURT STANLEY, MTN. GROVE, MO

Here's a tidbit you might be able to use sometime...the amount of water in
one acre - inch is 27,154 gallons (113.31 tons). So the 5.1 inches of rain
we recently got on y 35 acres was 4.94 million gallons. That's pretty
impressive when you figure that it's a free blessin from God.

From....CONNIE DENAULT, WENTWORTH, MO

I came here in Jan. '03 from Kankakee, IL to be a caregiver to a friend,
Jason Wight, who was dying of bone cancer. He left me his place and I fell
in love with the Ozarks and stayed. I have 14 kids and most are a 9 hour
drive away, one is in Texas and one in Wisconsin. The devestating freezing
rain in February cost me my favorite tree which held 8 bird feeders just
outside my desk window. My mimosa trees were also hit bad and all have to
be cut down to the ground. Living here has given me my first look at those
pink, silky, fluffy blossoms. I will really miss them and all my pretty
birds. I still love it here and plan on spending the rest of my life here.
Wentworth has 141 people, between Pierce City and Sarcoxie. We do have
post office and antique grocery store.

From.....NANCY SOLIZ, WICHITA, KS

Just a note to tell you how MUCH I do enjoy your weekly column in the
Nevada/Ft Scott Herald Tribune. I was born and raised in Ft. Scott but live
in Wichita now. I still take the Tribune. I don't hunt or fish but your
thoughts and ideas are wonderful. Keep it up!

Signed: Miss Park, Montreal, MO
I'm sending a couple photos. Isn't nature a marvel? Please excuse the
chew marks on the edge of one photo, I have a bird named Tucker and he has
to taste everything. (LARRY, THE PHOTOS (squirrels) ARE WITH THE LETTER)
I feel sorry for those people who can't or won't take time out just to see
what nature has to offer us. Gone are the great fishing days on Lake of the
Ozarks. Now it's how fast and early they can get to the so called "Party
Cove," to see how naked, drunk and drugged they can get; to act like they
have no brains at all! How sad to know that everyone there didn't skip a
beat from the partying to even give room for the search of a young man that
had just lost his life! 2,500 people there and they didn't give a darn.
Something is wrong with this world as it is today. I'll just stay out here
where there is a much slower pace of life and enjoy every day with the
nature in my yard. Keep on writing!

From....MARY AKINS, HARRISONVILLE, MO
I have been reading your articles in our weekly newspaper for some time
(The Harrisonville Democrat Missourian). I enjoy them very much. I don't
hunt or fish, never have. I'm 81 years old now, do you think it's odd that
I would read about such things? Well, I've got a husband almost 84 years
old that used to fish and hunt, and I had a father also who did those
things. My husband and I used to go camping. I did enjoy that. We went to
Bennett Springs a lot. Age and not-so-good health stopped that. The reason
I probably started reading your articles was because you had a Bolivar
address. We have a grandson who lives in Bolivar. He went to college there
and got a job working at Woods Grocery while still in college. Back to your
writings, I enjoy the human interest part of them. Keep up the good
writings. We lived at Richland, MO for seven and a half years. We traveled
around in the Ozarks quite a lot while we lived there. Met a lot of good
people.
May God be with you!

From......HARRY STRICKLIN, WEIR, KS
I read your column in the Pittsburg Morning Sun and always enjoy it. "This
one's for the Birds" really excited me. I have wondered for years what the
correct name was for the bird my mother called a "rain crow". All my life
(now 67) I have heard this bird calling. I have tried to follow the call
and see what it looked like but it seemed to stop calling when I got close.
I have gone through bird books reading descriptions in hopes of finding the
sentence which says, "This bird is commonly called a Rain Crow", but never
found it.
Once I had the name from your column, I quickly found it in my "Guide to
Birds of North America". Thank You! Thank you! Thank You! Next I want to
subscribe to your Lightnin' Ridge magazine.

From.....ED ASH, JOPLIN, MO
Thank you for you your column that comes out on Sun. in the Joplin Globe.
I can relate to and have done so many of the things that you write about. It
really upsets me to hear what greed and money can do. I have heard about
Roaring River and the chicken plant 1 1/2 miles from Eagle Rock at the Park.
When I was a small boy in the 30's, my dad took me to an old store and cabin
at the Old Eagle Rock. There was a small dam and some small cabins and an
old swinging bridge close by. I waded up Roaring River towards the park
what seemed like 2 miles. I loved to explore and even though I didn't fish
at the time, I saw many trout, some big, that drifted down from the park.
When I was older I had an old 10 horse motor. Several times I rented a boat
at Eagle Rock on Table Rock Lake. We'd go up into the Roaring River Arm.
Cold, beautiful water. In just a matter of time you know what happened to
that beautiful place. And now some rich people want to make more money out
of chickens. So much of our water is already ruined. Do you know that we
drank water out of the White River in the 30's. NO one
got sick. I hope with your influence and your great writing you can cast a
light on all that is happening. Thank you for and keep up your work. We
need more of your writing and experiences.

JOHN LINK, GALENA, KS

I enjoy reading your column. I was raised as a young man on the river in a
small cabin built up on poles. I have many memories and many stories I
could tell about the river and the old man that took care of me. Perhaps I
have missed some of your writings but I believe that you could say more
about the changes that have occurred during the past 50 years. This
includes EVERYTHING about animals and their habits, water quality, plants,
birds, (swamp rabbits - that are gone) etc. etc. You name it. And what the
future foretells for mine and your grandchildren. Like you and your uncle,
we built our own sharp pointed river boats. We made paddles from sycamore
and sassafras. We paddled from the sharp end (detested oars) Indian style
and the old man could make that boat dance. Much faster than oars.
At that time everyone used chains and you had to be careful not to drag
that chain on limbs or whatever when hunting (no noise allowed).   I was
taught to tie that chain in one special way always so regardless of dark
nights or high water, you did not need to see the chain to free the boat.
No one locked their boat and it was always returned when used. I remember
seeing my first outboard motor that came up the river. The old man cussed
because of the noise and the waves. He never got used to them. He lived
his entire life on the river and I always thought that there was nothing he
did not know about the birds, fish, animals, trees, and flowers AND people.
At that time, water was cold and clean and you had access to ALL the creeks
and sloughs. We hunted in mostly hardwoods - shellbark, pecan, walnut and
others. There was plenty of mast and the geese with their wild call going
south was still there. I was taught the names of all local trees, flowers,
birds and the habits and lifestyle of our wildlife. I knew more about some
things than my college professor and he would have me teach the class. I
killed one of the last swamp rabbits in this area and it is on display at
the college. Something I will mention: Armadillos were only in Texas and
you had to go the ocean to see seagulls and pelicans. I was taught to trap
(I still have the traps) and that was a special time to enjoy the solitude
and learn the ways of life of animals on the river. I caught the first
beaver in Kansas when they opened the season again.
I just wanted to say a few things before I die and perhaps share some
experiences and stories with you and others. The younger people do not know
what it WAS like and how much they have lost and are still losing. I still
make my living or part of it on the river. I plant and harvest some aquatic
plants with my airboat. I acquired the first airboat for the Kansas Dept.
of Wildlife. I could tell so many stories - even about shooting myself -
ha!
Years ago, I was considered an authority on plants and wildlife. I have
been married for almost 55 years to an Indian woman. I used to teach school
(6th grade) and I was the first one in my school to take my class to the
river. I HAVE seen some beautiful timber, water, and people in my life. I
believe that there is nothing I have not done (in this area) in regards to
living outdoors.

Signed.... An Interested Reader in Joplin, MO
I wanted to tell you I love your articles in the Sunday Joplin Globe.
My husband and life-long best friend was such an outdoorsman that any
leisure time from our world of responsibilities, we spent in eastern Mo
(we lived in western Mo), hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Our grown sons do
the same now. My husband was on the way to church to teach our Wed. night
bible class when he was violently killed by a drunk driver. I miss him so,
and will never be able to do all those things without him. I forward your
articles to my brother-in-law in KS who has always been a farm and country
guy.   He is 63 and still hunts, fishes and all outdoor things barefoot. He
enjoys reading your articles. I recall going bullfrogging, hunting,
trapping, fishing as well as cleaning and eating all the game with my dad
when I was young. The years have certainly changed as we see cement cover
our country.
I am 67 and am blessed to have all those memories. Thanks for your
articles.

From......SHIRLEY WRIGHT, FT. SCOTT, KS
In my family, I'm the one who reads your column. My husband and I have
never hunted and when it comes to fishing--well we are at the school fair
with a magnet on the end of our poles! Back in the 60s we women were sold
down the river--sorta speak. The "women libbers" told us how lazy we were
if we were for staying home and taking care of our children. They said we
should be out working. What we didn't know was these women didn't have
families. No husbands. No children to take care of. They HAD to work!
They were jealous of us. But, we didn't have sense enough to figure it out.
Now, we have women writing letters of protest because the truth has been
spoken. How sad. Strangers are raising their children, family dinners are
out of the question, and husbands can't read their favorite columns! Those
eagles you wrote about are doing it right. And, please, keep telling it
like it is--perhaps, those women libbers took our humor away from us too.

From.....DENISE GROOMS, JOPLIN, MO

I wanted to celebrate my dad's 78th birthday on June 8th, and Father's Day
on June 17th by sending you a picture of him with the huge fish he caught a
few weeks ago. I would also like to share a few things about my dad. Dad
has always been an outdoorsman. Our family was raised in Northern Idaho,
where Dad stocked our freezer with elk and deer meat. we lived on the
Spokane River and Dad was a guide for many of the "California people" who
came to Idaho to rough it. I remember him taking snips of my hair to make
lures for fly fishing. He had quite variety of lures, considering he had 5
daughters and a son, all willing to donate snips of hair to his large fly
collection. When most of us kids were raised, mom and dad and the younger
kids moved back to Dad's hometown of Joplin, MO. Dad continued his hunting
and fishing in Missouri, choosing to only hunt for deer with a bow, because
"it's more of a challenge." Rain or shine, he baits and sets limb lines in
the morning, and checks them in the evening. In the afternoons, he catches
the black perch he uses for bait. The flathead catfish in the picture was
caught in Center Creek, near Carl Junction, Missouri. He didn't weigh it,
but estimate it at about 30 pounds or more. While all of the kids,
grandkids, and great grandkids were admiring the catfish, Dad was telling us
that about four years ago, he caught a catfish on the other side of Center
Creek that weighed 44 pounds. I wonder if that's what they call a "fish
story?" I'm sure my dad will continue to hunt and fish in the Ozarks, and
our large family will continue to enjoy getting together for our famous fish
frys!

Signed: JO FISCHER, HOUSTON, MO

I have promised myself many times I'm gonna write to Larry to thank him and
encourage him to continue on. Your column is wonderful; it's funny, witty,
reverent and insightful plus I love the way you take on the beaucrates and
tell us the truth about what's happening in the Ozarks - "Give 'em hell
Larry!" When you said in one of your column "God is the best insurance
policy I have," my spirit said: get up Joni and start thanking a brother in
Christ.
I know I'm not the only person who has just been too lazy to write; there
are hundreds of people here in Houston and your column is the first we turn
to. I was going to write and encourage you when you told us about the
"sludge" (I'll call it that) they're dumping on our fields and you
specifically asked us all to write. I think you said you received maybe 100
responses, shame on us all.
I could so identify with your column on the manhunt for Neal. I too grew
up in Houston; I remember your pool hall. Attended a country school on
Brownhill Road and later Houston High and we were desperately poor - but
happy. Believe me Larry the hierarchy, the "click" the "inner circle" still
exists today. I wrote to request a newsletter on the Alumni...it took them
one year and three months to answer me. Like you, I found with God's help I
could forget my resentments.
Thank you Larry for all the joy you bring us in Texas County but, most of
all may God bless you for always praising and giving thanks to God. So I
don't buy insurance and I don't have to run to doctors. Once while
barefoot, I stepped on something and I couldn't see it to get it out. I
went to the emergency in Houston; they gave me a shot of Novocain in the
bottom of my foot (Oh Lord have mercy!) then dug the piece of wood out.
They charged me $700;.... I kid you not. I'm paying a little every month to
stay out of court. Ahhh well what can you do? Stay strong, get well soon.
Don't you dare move to Canada.

From..... ED STAMPS, No address given

I am writing you to let you know that there are a great many people who
support your ideas with regard to the MO Dept. of Conservation. To my mind
this bureaucracy has developed into an oversized and out of control waster
of tax money. It operates without apparent oversight by the State and seems
to be governed only by self appointed rubberstamp groups.
I understand that Jay Nixon is wanting to run for governor and I can't wait
to corner him on this issue. The only reason Jay is Attorney General now is
that his sister, Penny, asked me to vote for him when he first ran several
years ago. He does seem to be "no worse than the rest" and "better than
some" which is pretty good for career politicians. I have to say that it
seemed that he was instrumental in the NO Call list law which I very much
approve of. I have written of Shannon Cooper (my local state rep) about
this with the hope he might put some pressure on the MDC but haven't seen
much action. Some of my neighbors and I voted against the reinstatement of
the tax for the Conservation Commission. Even though it passed, the votes
were there.
I hope you saw the January '07 issue of "Missouri Conservationist" which
included the most propagandizing they have put out lately. On the first
page, the director (Hoskin) proudly stated the sale of 20 million board feet
of timber (This is not a profit organization-right?). Then, the article on
polls that was strictly slanted to pat themselves on the back. The numbers
that were quoted might have been correct but just because many people
support Mother Nature does not mean that people support waste of money and
resources, questionable management and corruption. This article made me
almost sick.
Just west of where I live is the James Harter Conservation Area. I
remember the people and I'm sure Mr. Harter gave the farm with the idea that
the public would benefit from turning it into a natural area. As far as I
know, it has never been open to hunt. There is a sorry looking little
parking spot and a sign board at the old house site and it is otherwise
mostly undeveloped as a natural area. The main use has been to rent it out
to raise beans or corn. South of me is the Suttle's Ford area that is an
even bigger example of waste and misuse with its wetlands that never have
water in them and the fences built through it. When questioned about the
cross-fencing, the response was that they were studying controlled burning.
They have changed the doctrine of burning grass about every other year for
the past 20. How hard is it to burn prairie or to figure out how often to
do it? I have a short 20 acres of prairie that I have nurtured (with no
help from either USDA nor Conservation Dept. despite the BS they both put
out about how they help landowners).
You and I could probably clean out and organize Conservation Dept. in about
an hour and a half if we were empowered to do it. Since that is not likely,
we will just have to keep pushing for results the best we can. Keep up your
work and know that there are some out there with you.

KEN OLSON, TIPTON, MO
I'm writing for several reasons but the most important is to inform you I
am enjoying your book "Memories From a Misty Morning Marsh" which I
discovered this weekend in a small book store in Osage Beach, MO. Having
grown up as a young boy in south central Wisconsin and been taken on my
first duck hunt with my Dad, your stories bring back fond memories not to
mention humorous and enjoyable reading on waterfowl hunting.
Since my first duck hunt years ago, I've since retired from the U.S. Army
in 1990 and took up residence here in Missouri in Tipton. I enjoy the
lakes, woods and field in this area and enjoy duck hunting on Truman Lake
and elsewhere. I've also purchased a War Eagle 18' 6" Advantage Max 4-HD
camo boat and outboard motor. I'd be interested in obtaining other books on
waterfowl hunting which you may have as well as any articles you've written
and the names of those magazines I could find our regular articles in for
future reading.
I am also a Lab lover as well. Since a young boy in Wisconsin growing up
on our farm, I've always had Labs. I admit, a career in the military moving
around, did not allow me to have Labs when I wanted to but we did have few
which I trained to retrieve. Sadly I recently lost a black male Lab which
was only six weeks old. I was in the process of making 'Zeke' my companion
and hunting buddy. Parvo took him before we could spend long cold days
together in the boat or blind. I did get to take him fishing at Lake of the
Ozarks earlier that fall. It may have been when he contracted the Parvo
virus. After beaching the boat on a gravel shore after watching numerous
ducks take flight as we motored into a small cove, I let Zeke sniff around
to see his reaction to duck smell and it could have been there that he
contracted the Parvo, but I am only speculating. Our town Vet didn't have
good news when we noticed him being lethargic and without energy. In
summary it was heart wrenching to watch him go as we both and hopes and
dreams of ducks, retrieves and time on the water together.

From.....ARLIE LINDOW, Colonel USA (Ret), DUKE, MO

I always look forward weekly to reading your articles in the Houston
newspaper. Your thoughts and insight to the real world remind me each time
of the writings by an elderly Winnebago Indian who wrote articles for the
weekly Banner-Journal in Black River Falls, Wisconsin (1930) As an elderly
veteran with three wars behind me, and so many of my early friends and war
comrades of later years gone, I do reflect on things from time to time.
Your special gifted insight into things that count is remarkable to say the
least.
One of the special things I enjoy in the woods are chipmunks and their
antics. I forget turkey and deer when I watch the shows they put on. I
especially enjoy their antics of climbing a tree and then swooping down into
the leaves on a side slope where they dive under the leaves and go for 20 or
30 feet before emerging and BACK up the tree to repeat their frolics.
Several incidents come to mind after reading one of your articles about
turkey and turtles. I will relate only 2 but they remain in my mind as if
they happened today instead of 75 years ago. ONE memory was of a fishing
trip in the Spring for suckers in the river, using a cane pole and only 1
hook. After catching a nice mess for a meal, I removed the hook but still
put the line the water to dismay any others who may want the spot I had.
After all, with a warm sun and a tree at my back, what else could a kid want
to do?
SECOND one was the first day of Spring trout season when every boy in town
from kindergarten to senior in high school played hooky. The special day
was that when all were fishing, the school superintendent joined us at a
certain trout heaven. His remark - "I wasn't about to be the only male in
school amongst a flock of women!" The main reason for writing is that I
need one of your articles. Many moons ago you wrote about neighborhood good
will doings. I believe it started out with cutting firewood, donations of
it and whole community got in the act with good deeds for one an another. I
hope your assistant, Mrs. Wiggins (bless her soul) can locate a file copy to
send to me. I have three fine young grandsons who are in their twenties who
would welcome it and pass it around. One is a college All-American in
soccer and now a graduate of the John-Hopkins Medical school, selected to
continue at John-Hopkins less than a week after graduation on a free
tuition-salary basis. His young brother also made All-American in soccer,
final four National 1991 and ten back again in 2001 to be National Champion,
setting new all time college records in three areas. He now has graduated
as a security agent for the National Security Agency. The younger grandson
is also on his way to be named an All-American in soccer since he has been
the team captain for the past three years. He does have a problem though
that may become serious - the cheer leader has grabbed hold of him!! Tough
luck!!
So, you can see what you and I believe could have material and significant
impact upon them if furnished a copy of that special article.
Respectfully yours and many thanks.
    P.S. The Winnebago tribe's chief was my Godfather. At one time my dad
owned and operated a stage coach line between Eau Claire and LaCrosse, WI