Fieldnotes on the Edge - Eyes on Joplin

    Joplin’s urban bowhunting policy leaves a local deer herd vanished. A firsthand account of habitat loss, ordinance flaws, and community impact   For 27 years, I’ve watched a small herd of white-tailed deer move through Freeman Grove Woods a 29-acre tract of wooded land nestled west of Main Street, east of South Jackson, and just south of 36th Street in Joplin. This patch of habitat, with its stream-fed ravine and quiet cover, supported generations of deer: lactating does with late-season fawns born in August and September, first-season bucks, and the kind of wildlife rhythm that families with field glasses came to cherish. But this week, the woods fell silent.  The seven deer I’ve monitored in this corridor are gone. Not relocated. Not dispersed. Gone.   Based on my research and direct observation, I believe they were harvested under Joplin’s 2025 urban bowhunting program, which allows unrestricted age hunting on qualifying private land with la...

  Urban hunting in Joplin’s wooded corridors has raised new safety concerns for families, pet owners, and neighbors. Without clear signage, residents may unknowingly enter active hunting zones, creating stress and risk in spaces long treated as extensions of their backyards. Transparent warnings are the minimum step to protect both hunters and the community.   Hunting in urban corridors is not just a policy decision it’s a public safety issue. When wooded tracts of land sit directly beside neighborhoods, they are more than property boundaries. They are extensions of backyards, walking routes, and daily spaces for families, children, and pets. Hiking with dog in woods, no hunting signs so she thinks its safe  In Joplin, many residents enjoy nature close to home. They walk dogs, take children on trails, or simply step into the woods to enjoy wildlife. Deer sightings   sometimes even fawns have long been part of the joy of living near these corridors. But when hunti...

Over the weekend, gunshots were heard across the 29‑acre wooded corridor that many of us walk daily. By morning, residents noticed hunter blinds, game cameras, and deer attractant in the area. While no stand was observed, fresh deer tracks were visible in the soil. Concerned for safety, we contacted the police.  It’s worth noting that many hunters remove their stands when not in use to prevent theft, which may explain why none were present at the time.   Law Enforcement Response The responding officer, Jeremiah McGough himself a hunter confirmed that he had permission to hunt on the property. He acknowledged that the area has been plagued by poachers and instructed us to call the police day or night if we hear projectiles fired. Officer McGough also noted that individuals had confronted him at his blind, questioning why deer hunting in Joplin, Missouri was taking place in a space regularly used by families, dog walkers, ATV riders, and even unhoused individuals se...

  In June 2025, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) sent a letter to Joplin City Council congratulating them on the passage of Ordinance 2025-083 . The ordinance legalized urban bowhunting of deer within city limits. MDC praised the city’s “proactive approach to herd management.” But what exactly are they celebrating? This ordinance permits hunters to legally harvest lactating does during Missouri’s archery season, knowing full well that unweaned fawns will not survive without their mothers. These fawns aren’t just losing warmth they’re losing the only teacher they have. White-tailed deer fawns stay with their mothers for nearly a year, learning how to forage, avoid predators, and navigate seasonal shifts. Without her, they’re left vulnerable, confused, and unequipped to survive. This isn’t herd management. It’s maternal erasure. And when the state calls it “responsible,” it’s time to ask: responsible to whom? “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, b...

  Every September, when the leaves begin to turn and the air shifts toward crisp, my husband and I lace up our boots and head down to the valley. It’s a quiet ritual walking the creek bed beneath the bluffs, watching the oak and silver maples change color, listening for the rustle of squirrels and the hush of water over stone. That hike has always marked the start of fall for us. But this year, we’re staying home. Not because we want to. Because we have no idea if archers are in the area. Bowhunting Season Begins Without Warning Joplin’s urban bowhunting season opened on September 15th, 2025  The city ordinance allows bowhunting on private property of one acre or more with landowner permission , but it doesn’t require signage. No warnings. No alerts. No indication that privately owned wooded areas near homes, trails, and creeks may now be active hunting zones. We would rather skip the hike than risk walking into a space where arrows are flying and no one’s bee...

  For years, we’ve heard claims that Joplin is overrun with deer infested, even. But when my neighbor walked the woods around Silvercreek this week, he found only a few does and late-season fawns. No herds. No mature bucks. No signs of damage or overpopulation. He’s not alone. A recent field report documented a dusk drive through Silvercreek and Leewood. The author saw just a handful of deer mostly does and fawns and noted that the only posted deer crossing sign was near the Tractor Supply on Rangeline. And one in Leewood.   Mercy and Freeman hospitals, both near wooded corridors, had no signage at all, despite frequent crossings. So, we’re asking: Hunters in the Joplin area what are you seeing? Have you found deer inside city limits? Are you spotting mature bucks, or just scattered does and fawns? Are the woods quiet, or are we missing something? Because from where we stand, the “infestation” narrative doesn’t match the evidence. And if deer are crossing near hospi...

    Shoal Creek in early fall is a quite beautiful, the leaves are starting to change and there is a low chatter of squirrels, and the unmistakable honk of Canada geese staking their claim along the banks. They’re not just passing through. They’re residents. And like any good neighbor, they expect a little courtesy. The Incident My friend, bless him, sincerely believes all wildlife would welcome him with open wings. He approached the geese with the confidence of someone auditioning for a nature documentary. Two geese disagreed. Loudly. What followed was a block-long chase that ended only when he dove into the car like it was a getaway vehicle. I, meanwhile, stood calmly at a respectful distance. The geese never even glanced at me.   Goose Etiquette 101 Canada geese aren’t aggressive by nature they’re protective. Especially during nesting and molting seasons, they defend their space with precision and persistence. Shoal Creek is part of their seasonal rhythm, a...

  Bowhunting begins tomorrow, September 15th, in the city of Joplin. According to the ordinance and city council statements, the hunt is intended to thin the herd primarily to reduce car accidents, protect ornamental trees and flowers, and lower the risks of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Lyme Disease. The central claim is that the deer population has grown significantly. One homeowner in the Silvercreek community, a rural area south of Joplin with estate homes and wooded acreage, reported seeing 24 deer grazing in his yard. No time stamped photo was found in a public search, so it’s hard to verify.  This evening, my husband and I went out at dusk to observe the herd ourselves. We drove through the Leewood community and up and down the streets of Silvercreek, looking for signs of deer and yard destruction. What we found were beautifully landscaped homes with lush flowers still blooming on their front lawns. What we didn’t find was a herd. We did see a late-season doe...

  "Opinion: Joplin’s urban hunting ordinance creates chaos, trauma, and risk for families controlled hunts offer safer, ethical alternatives." Original photo by Susang6 Whether you’re a resident, hunter, or city official,  I believe this issue isn’t just about wildlife it’s about  responsible policy, neighborhood trust, and environmental health. In my view, Joplin’s urban hunting ordinance allows bowhunters to harvest deer within city limits without the oversight, trauma safeguards, or disposal protocols that should accompany such activity.  What happens if the arrow misses will that deer bolt into communities before collapsing on a residents lawn? A quiet neighborhood would then become  the backdrop for a wounded animal’s final moments. For some families, this isn’t wildlife management it’s trauma. They don’t see a sport.  Young children may view it as Bambi’s mom passing away on their lawn. Bowhunting may be a tradition for some, but in urban zone...