Fieldnotes on the Edge - Eyes on Joplin

   Confirmed hunting activity in South Joplin’s Freeman Grove area. Learn what residents need to know to stay safe and protect their pets. This isn’t just another patch of woods. For decades, the tract between Main Street and Jackson Avenue, running parallel to 36th Street, has been more than open land  it has been a gathering place for the Freeman Grove community. Children have run scavenger hunts here in the fall, crunching leaves underfoot as the trees turned gold. Teenagers carved their names into a tree and circled them with a heart. Families have walked the trails, thrilled to spot a deer and, once in a while, a fawn that brought pure joy to young eyes. Neighbors have treated it as an extension of their backyards a space of connection, recreation, and everyday peace. Today, that same beloved corridor is no longer simply a place of community life. It has become an active hunting zone, introducing risks and stress into an area long valued as safe and shared. Wha...

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...

  Uncovering the overlooked risks, biological contradictions, and emotional fallout behind Joplin’s urban deer hunting ordinance. When Joplin’s city council approved its urban bow hunting ordinance on June 16, 2025, they cited neighboring cities Springfield, Columbia, Branson, and Cape Girardeau as models of success. But extensive research reveals a different story: repealed ordinances, wounded wildlife, public backlash, and biological red flags. This article documents the dangerous gap between policy and lived reality and why Joplin’s wooded corridors deserve better.    What the Council Claimed City officials stated the ordinance would: Reduce deer-vehicle collisions Minimize property damage Prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Mirror “successful” programs in other Missouri cities They referenced Branson, Columbia and Springfield , as examples of safe, effective urban hunts. Assistant Police Chief Brian Lewis called ...

    When Joplin’s city council approved its urban bow hunting ordinance in June 2025, one of the stated goals was to “reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)” among the local deer population. Council members cited similar programs in Branson, Columbia, and Springfield as successful models. But the science and the field evidence tell a different story.   Watercolor image created by Susang6 using AI technology  What Is CWD? Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal neurological illness affecting deer, elk, and moose. It’s caused by misfolded proteins called prions , which slowly degrade the brain and body. Symptoms include weight loss, confusion, drooling, and eventual death. There is no cure , and prions can persist in soil and water for years. What Joplin’s Ordinance Claims The city’s urban hunting page states that the ordinance aims to: Minimize deer-vehicle collisions Reduce property damage Reduce the spread of CWD Councilman Mark Farnha...

  Across Missouri, urban bowhunting ordinances are being passed in communities like Joplin, Columbia, Branson, and Wildwood. These laws allow hunters including youth as young as 16 to harvest deer within city limits, often on small residential plots. But what happens when the hunter is still learning? What happens when the arrow doesn’t harvest but wounds? This article explores the ethical concerns surrounding youth bowhunting in urban zones. Scientific research shows that young bowhunters, still developing skill and judgment, are significantly more likely to wound deer rather than deliver a clean, humane harvest. And when that happens, the deer suffers sometimes for hours, sometimes for days. We’ll examine how urban harvests have played out in Columbia, Branson, and Wildwood, and what those outcomes reveal about enforcement, community impact, and the dark side of residential hunting. Extensive research was conducted to support the information shared here, and all sources are c...

    Introduction: Quiet Caretaking, Loud Oversight In June 2025, the City of Joplin passed an urban bowhunting ordinance aimed at thinning the local deer population. Officials cited garden damage, traffic risk, and herd congestion but in their rush to legislate, they overlooked something vital: the lived reality of local hunters who’ve practiced quiet caretaking of the land and wildlife for generations. These hunters aren’t trophy seekers or seasonal tourists. They’re residents of Jasper and Newton County who rely on venison to feed their families through the winter. They follow ethical practices, respect seasonal rhythms, and hunt with intention. Yet they now face a landscape where deer have already been poached , herds are thinned , and non-resident permits flood the system , leaving fewer opportunities for those who’ve carried this responsibility year after year.     What the Ordinance Allows and What It Ignores The Joplin Urban Hunting Ordinance ...