Mark Twain National Forest A Gem In The Crown Of Missouri's Public Land (Learn about the Show-Me State's largest tract of public land, 1,797,536 acres of deer hunting heaven!)
by: O.Pen Acres
Deer hunters in Missouri are faced with increasing difficulties in securing places to hunt whitetail deer and other wildlife. Landowners have discovered that their properties are valuable to hunters. It's not uncommon for landowners to lease prime properties for more than $10 per acre.
To compound this problem, hunting clubs are sprouting up across the Midwest and leasing these lands at prime rates then charging inflated membership fees to hunters for access. There is nothing wrong with landowners or hunting clubs making money on leases and memberships. These folks are simply entrepreneurs and let's face it, this is the American way.
Mark Twain National Forest Missouri's only national forest, Mark Twain National Forest, could be the solution to the problems many hunters are facing. This 1.5 million acre tract of public land offers hunters a lot of ground to roam and a variety of habitat to hunt.
These openings provide a lot of what deer look for in way of habitat and food sources. First, deer love edges where two or more habitat types converge and openings provide this. Secondly, many of the opening provide additional food sources that deer thrive on besides mast. Ideally hunters should look to areas of Mark Twain National Forest that include at least two-fifths of open areas. These openings should ideally include 15 to 35 percent crops, legumes or warm season grasses.
The districts with the most open areas include the Ava, Cassville, Willow Springs, Rolla and Cedar Creek tracts. Consequently, hunters will find higher concentrations of deer in these areas as well. Deer hunters scouting the Mark Twain National Forest should also concentrate their efforts on water sources.
The USFS has done a good job in providing watering holes for wildlife in all of the districts. Ava District The 140,000-acre Ava District of the Mark Twain National Forest covers portions of Christian, Taney, and Ozark counties in southwest Missouri. Limestone and cedar glades cover over half of this area which is typical of the habitat in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri. The balance of this tract of land is oak/hickory forest. Primitive camping is allowed except near trails and in day-use areas.
"We've made watering holes, and we do lots of timber improvement which benefits oaks," said Charles Gill, Public Affairs Info Specialist of the USFS. "We've done this not only in the Ava District but throughout the Mark Twain National Forest." For additional information and an area map, call the USFS district office in Ava at 417-683-4428.
"Deer hunting in the forest here has declined in recent history, even over the last three years since I've been an Agent in Barry County," said Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Agent, Mark Creed. "Generally, folks are concentrating their efforts up north for deer hunting which has really opened up the forest to less hunters.
There is a good deer population in this region with not many hunters in the National Forest here." For just $6.00 you can purchase a map of the Cassville, Ava and Willow Springs Districts. There are lots of private ownership in broken blocks that the state map doesn't show. The district map clarifies the boundaries along with roads and other details.
For additional information and an area map, call the USFS district office in Cassville at 417-847-2144.
Cedar Creek District The 15,000-acre Cedar Creek District of the Mark Twain National Forest in Boone and Callaway counties is the only district of the forest located north of the Missouri River. This region of the forest is made up of oak/hickory forests and tall grass prairies. Two campgrounds are available, Pine Ridge with seven units and Dry Forks with 12 units open to campers. Outhouses are also available at these campgrounds. "The Cedar Creek District of Mark Twain National Forest is one of the better kept deer hunting secrets in Callaway County," said MDC Agent, Brian Ham. "There is lots of public acreage available in the Mark Twain National Forest here that isn't inundated with lots of hunters."
Pre-season scouting is essential in locating trails, bedding areas and other deer sign. "The USFS has some warm-season grass patches and prairie restoration in parts of the forest which offers good bedding and open areas," Ham concluded. "We have a great deer population in Callaway County and the Mark Twain National Forest is a really overlooked hotspot for deer hunters." For more info and an area map, contact the USFS District Office in Fulton at 573-592-1400.
Doniphan District The 150,000-acre Doniphan District of the Mark Twain National Forest is located in Ripley County. This section of the national land is primarily composed of oak/hickory timber with some scattered stands of shortleaf pine trees. This area is situated between the Eleven Point River on its western boundary and the Current River on its eastern side. Primitive camping is available throughout the district. Two maintained campgrounds exist in this area including the Deer Leap Campground which costs $8 per single campsite and the Float Camp Campground at $8 per camp. For additional information and a map of the area, contact the USFS District Office in Doniphan at 573-996-2153 Eleven Point District The 180,000-acre Eleven Point District of the Mark Twain National Forest includes portions of Shannon, Oregon and Carter counties in southeast Missouri. The oak/pine forest habitat in this section is typical to the Ozarks in southeast Missouri. Primitive camping is permitted throughout the area. There are two maintained campgrounds Greer Crossing Campground at $8 per single camp and McCormack Lake Campground for no charge. For more information and an area map, contact the USFS District Office in Winona at 573-325-4233.
Fredericktown District The 82,000-acre Fredericktown District includes parts of Ste. Genevieve, Madison, Bolinger and Iron counties. Most of this area is composed of mixed hardwood timber. A very small percent of this area has any openings. Primitive camping is available. Maintained campsites are closed after Oct. 30 here. For further information, contact the USFS District Office in Fredericktown at 573-783-7225.
Houston/Rolla District This 195,000-acres Houston/Rolla District spreads across the Salem Plateau in Phelps, Pulaski and Texas counties. This region is hilly, rolling terrain with lots of post oak flats and hardwood timber stands. Primitive camping is available. Maintained campgrounds include the Paddy Creek Campground at $5 per single campsite. For more information or a map of the area, contact the USFS District Office in Houston/Rolla at 417-967-4194 or 573-364-4621. Poplar Bluff District The 165,000-acres Poplar Bluff District encompasses parts of Butler, Wayne and Ripley counties where the Ozarks of Missouri give way to the Mississippi Lowlands. Primitive camping is available. For more info or an area map, contact the USFS District Office in Poplar Bluff at 573-785-1475.
Salem/Potosi District This 389,000-acre Salem/Potosi District includes parts of Crawford, Reynolds, Shannon, Iron, Dent, and Washington. A mix of black and white oaks and pines are the primary habitat in this region. Primitive camping is available here. Maintained campsites include Brazil Creek Campground, Berryman Campground at $5 per single campsite and Hazel Creek Campground. For additional information or an area map, contact the USFS District Office in Potosi at 573-729-6656 or 573-438-5427.
Willow Springs District The 102,000-acre Willow Springs District covers parts of Douglas and Howell counties in south central Missouri and is made up of mostly oak/pine forest and other mast producing trees. Primitive camping is available. Maintained campsites include the North Fork (Hammond Mill) Campground at $8 per single campsite. For a map and more information, contact the USFS District Office in Willow Springs at 417-469-3155.
Summary If you scout or hunt any of the districts of the Mark Twain National Forest you should be aware of the irregular boundaries in each area. Some districts have public-owned lands smack dab in the middle of the tracts so area maps are a must before scouting or hunting. Primitive camping is allowed throughout the Mark Twain National Forest except where otherwise posted. Hunting is not allowed in or within 150-yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area or across from or on a Forest Service road or body of water adjacent to it.
If you are willing to do your homework by acquiring area maps and topographical maps of the tracts you intend to hunt and do some intense scouting, you should have no trouble at harvesting a deer.
Begin by checking over the maps for open areas which are good places to start looking for food sources in these vastly timbered areas. Next, look to the maps for water sources. Also use the maps to locate the easiest accessible areas into each tract and avoid these areas strategically position yourself to use these human entry and exit accesses to push deer to you.
Once you actually visit the areas basic scouting strategies and woodsmanship skills will play a big part in your hunting success. Use your knowledge of whitetail deer habits to locate feeding, watering and bedding areas and escape routes and sanctuaries.
With a little common sense, some hard work and a strong back to get your deer out of the woods, you're likely to have a successful deer hunt on any of these tracts this year! (Editor's Note: Hunters must always check with the Missouri Dept. Of Conservation for up-to-date regulations and harvest limits on public lands before hunting.) END