Fieldnotes on the Edge - Eyes on Joplin

    Joplin’s urban bowhunting     ordinance requires hunters to carry written permission from the landowner but there’s no standardized form, no verification system, and no requirement for notarization. That means a poacher could: Print a fake letter claiming permission Forge a signature Hunt on wooded private property without the landowner ever knowing This loophole is especially dangerous on wooded parcels over one acre , where visibility is low and enforcement is rare. These lots often unfenced, unmonitored, or owned by absentee landlords become easy targets for disguised trespass. “Nobody’s checking,” said one Joplin resident. “And if they are, it’s after the deer’s already harvested.” Without a notarized document or city-verified registry, anyone with a bow and a story can claim legitimacy. And once the arrow flies, the damage is done.   What Landowners Can Do to Protect Their Property To prevent unauthorized hunting and protect re...

    Why Chronic Wasting Disease is changing hunter behavior and what it means for Joplin’s urban hunt. Across Missouri, deer hunters are quietly making a choice: to sit out the season. While the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) continues to promote its deer management programs, including urban bow hunting ordinances like the one passed in Joplin in 2025, on Joplin MO   many hunters are opting out not because of lack of interest, but because of growing concern over Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and other cervids. It spreads through saliva, urine, feces, and carcasses, and it can persist in soil and vegetation for years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , deer infected with CWD may appear perfectly healthy, and the only way to confirm infection is through post-mortem testing. The CDC does not recommend consuming meat from CWD-positive animals and urges hunters in affected ...