Calling all duck callers: It’s time to compete

There will be a whole lot of quacking going on in the Kansas City area next weekend.

Two major waterfowl calling contests will be making noise Aug. 5-7 at area outdoors retailers.

▪ The Grand Slam calling contest will be part of Heartland Outdoor Days at the Independence Bass Pro Shop on Aug. 6-7.

The Missouri and Kansas state championships, the Eastern Kansas Open, the Western Missouri Regional, the Show Me Regional and the Four Rivers Regional will be held.

Winners of the contests will receive automatic berths in the World Championships in November. Call Graham Giblin at (913) 706-0695 for more information.

▪ The eighth annual Grand National Waterfowl Calling Championship will be Aug. 5-7 at Rogers Sporting Goods in Liberty.

Callers will be competing for $50,000 in cash and prizes. A feature of this year’s event will be the addition of a World Championship Two-Man Duck Calling Contest, with a purse of more than $10,000.

Past world-champion callers and representatives from leading manufacturers will be at the store to discuss the upcoming waterfowl seasons.

For more information, Call Rogers at 816-781-9026.

Conservation at the state fair

The Missouri Department of Conservation again will bring the outdoors world to the Missouri State Fair from Aug. 11-21.

An aquarium fill of Missouri fish and other live native animals such as snakes, turtles and amphibians will be featured in the display. Attendees also can listen to special programs through the fair.

▪ Visitors can see a live eagle and other birds of prey in the Raptors of Missouri presentation at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Aug. 11 and 20.

▪ Fishermen can learn how to prepare the catch for the table in a Fishing Cooking and Cleaning presentation at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 and 13.

▪ Fair attendees can learn about Missouri black bears in the Be Bear Aware presentation at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and 21.

▪ Chronic Wasting Disease, a deadly deer disease, will be the topic at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 15.

▪ Visitors can learned about the importance of bees, butterflies and other pollinators at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and 17.

▪ The Alien Invaders in Missouri program will discuss how to stop exotic plants and animals threatening the state at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 19.

Deer hunters face deadline

Missouri deer hunters have until Sunday to apply for managed deer hunts in the Show-Me State.

A full list of the managed hunts, plus information on applying, can be found at the Department of Conservation’s website, mdc.mo.gov.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 6:42 PM with the headline "Calling all duck callers: It’s time to compete."