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Family Deer Hunting

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country.

Deer Camp

There’s a lot more to the experience than just the hunt. See how some things have changed, and others haven’t.

Finding a place to hunt

Most deer hunting in Missouri is done on privately owned land. Most landowners still permit free hunting, but there is a growing tendency to charge for hunting privileges, either by the day or the season. Often, farmers lease their entire holdings to a group of hunters for the season. Remember, always obtain permission before entering private land.

The U.S. Forest Service owns about 1.5 million acres in the Missouri Ozarks, and this land is open to public hunting. Maps are available from the U.S. Forest Service, 401 Fairgrounds Rd., Rolla, MO 65401. The Conservation Department manages more than 600,000 acres that also are open to hunting. Maps of conservation areas are available from the Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, and from the MDC Atlas.

Scouting

No matter where you choose to hunt, you should become as familiar with the area as you are with your own backyard. Your chance for success in a familiar area, even though it may have fewer deer, is greater than in an area that is strange to you. Thorough scouting prior to the hunting season will greatly increase your chances of success.

Look for deer tracks, droppings, signs of browsing on plants, buck scrapes along the edge of forest clearings and antler rubs on small trees. Scouting may be done in advance of the season; however, remember that deer may change their location and movements as the acorns begin to drop and the breeding season begins.

A good map is essential to scouting any area. Topographic maps show the location of ridges, hollows, streams and other landmarks, which will help you become familiar with a new area. Not only will they help you plan your hunt, but they also may keep you from getting lost. Experienced hunters who are wise to the habits of deer can pick out likely spots for a stand from a topographic map. Topographic maps may be purchased from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Land Survey, ATTN: Maps and Publications, P.O. Box 250, Rolla, MO 65402, (573) 368-2125.

Once you have decided on a place to hunt, stay with it. There must be deer in the area or you wouldn’t have picked it in the first place. The longer you hunt in the same place and the more you learn about the area and the habits of deer, the better your chance of success.