Choosing a Place to Hunt
Missouri
offers a wide range of hunting conditions. The Ozark Region of southern
Missouri has large areas of timber. Central counties have cultivated land
mixed with woods in about a 50:50 ratio. The prairie region of northern
and western Missouri is mainly agricultural land with woody cover confined
to woodlots or along streams.
Most turkey hunting takes place on private land and many Missouri landowners allow hunting. The U.S. Forest Service owns about 1.5 million acres in the Missouri Ozarks, and most are open to public hunting. The Department of Conservation manages more than 600,000 acres for public hunting.
A list of these lands is available by requesting a Discover Outdoor Missouri map from the Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Also, some maps are available on the MDC web site at www.mdc.mo.gov. Wherever you decide to hunt, remember to follow the rules of that area, and always respect private property. Trespassing is a crime!
