Fieldnotes on the Edge - Eyes on Joplin

  Last night, I saw a photo shared with pride a 12-year-old boy posing with his first deer. It was a fawn. The caption called it “good target practice.” I posted my reaction, and the response from ethical hunters was swift and clear: They do not hunt fawns. They teach their children to pass by young deer and reproducing does. They wait for mature bucks and older does animals past their reproductive prime. For them, hunting is about sustenance, not spectacle. Precision, not thrill. Respect, not conquest. Image captured at night this fawn born in August. (3 months old)  too young to be hunted or considered "target practice"   That distinction matters. There’s a world of difference between harvesting a mature animal for food and celebrating the harvest of a fawn. A fawn isn’t a meal it’s a moment of life barely begun. To call its loss of life “target practice” is to strip away any pretense of ethics. It’s not about feeding a family. It’s about the high of watchi...

  Even “healthy-looking” deer can be infected with CWD and carry prions. Here’s how field dressing spreads CWD across neighborhoods, soil, and scavengers. At first glance, a deer may appear healthy alert posture, glossy coat, no visible symptoms. But beneath that surface, it could be carrying Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) , a fatal neurological illness caused by prions: misfolded proteins that resist breakdown and remain infectious in the environment for years.  This article explores what happens when a field-dressed deer is left exposed on city land, or private property that allowed bowhunters. How that decision can trigger a chain reaction of contamination, scavenger behavior, and predator attraction. Readers will learn how prions spread, which species act as unexpected vectors, and why containment not just herd thinning is essential for responsible wildlife management in urban zones like Joplin, Missouri.   Prion Contamination: What Happens When a Carcass Is Left B...

  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 But extensive research reveals a different story: repealed ordinances, wounded wildlife, public backlash, and biological red flags.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...