Hunting is not permitted in many conservation areas, and there are also special regulations in some areas. Duckworth has hunted a prime piece of deer habitat on a 246-acre farm in Phelps County for the past 12 years. It will benefit both landowners and hunters by allowing them to manage their land more efficiently. They're producing a good number of big bucks to be such small states. The MDC estimates that some counties in Missouri lost up to 20 percent of their deer herd and that conservatively, statewide mortality from EHD was in excess of 100,000 whitetails. The mineral-rich soils, which produce tons of whitetail forage, the agricultural crops, and the mosaic of habitat in this region along the Missouri River makes it prime trophy whitetail habitat. This page is for hunters around Missouri. I think you'll be glad you did. The treestand is situated inside a strip of timber along the edge of his neighbors bean field. Like kids in a candy store, we knew there was a big deer frequenting the area and we just had to wait for the right conditions. Hunter Education Certification is required for all Missouri hunters who were born on or after January 1, 1967. Missouri has some good deer hunting, but it is not A-rated. Hunting regulations are subject to a variety of restrictions in conservation areas. For years the 5,208-acre Whetstone Creek Conservation Area has been a favorite among trophy buck hunters. G.O. Best Counties in Missouri?????? - Missouri Whitetails Missouri Whitetails - Your Missouri Hunting Resource. When I got ahold of Anthony I erupted! The simple fact is some areas have better habitat than others for growing larger deer. https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/h/?utm_medium=syndication&utm_source=smartnews. These restrictions first began in 2004 in 29 counties and are now paying big dividends in trophy bucks. A 15-point, 188 5/8-inch buck taken by Eugene Bausch in Macon County in 2001 is the largest typical ever arrowed in the Show Me State. Trophy List | Archery Big Bucks of Missouri Americas Heartland is known for producing most of the countrys monster whitetails carrying outrageous headgear. What could be better than a deep-fried nugget? Hunting better in areas bordering Iowa is preferable to hunting further away. Check out the stories behind these giants. Historical data exists on antler scoring from the South Carolina White-tailed Deer Antler Records Program. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. This is one state that many people forget about. According to Missourian and deer biologist Dr. Grant Woods, the reason is simple. Alaska has some of the best fishing and hunting in the country. For more info, call 660-646-6122. We've already witnessed the continuous decline in past seasons. The program began in 1974 and provides a broad, long-term view of where the biggest bucks have been killed. Some offer all-inclusive packages that include lodging, meals, and guide services. Subscriber Services. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? It's produced 204 entries in the last five seasons. * Missouri Warren, Callaway, Saline, Atchison, Carroll, Saint Louis, Montgomery * Nebraska Otoe, Washington, Richardson, Boyd, Burt, Cass This is still a great place to be in a tree. Ground Zero: Missouri's Record Bucks - Game & Fish - Game & Fish But just like anywhere else, there are sweet spots nestled across the state, ones you should have on your radar if looking to score a monster. Top 10 States for Monster Whitetails - An Official Journal Of The NRA In Alaska, hunters must have a hunting license, which accounts for 15% of all licensed hunters. But it's still eye-opening data. Overall, Franklin County had the highest harvest, with 5,786 deer, followed by Howell with 5,367 and Callaway with 4,989. Resident firearms permits are $17 and resident archery permits are $19. This tract of public hunting land includes 800 acres of woods overlooking the Missouri River bottomlands. Buying a farm or leasing land to an owner who makes a profit is not nearly as profitable as owning a hunting preserve and consistently harvesting trophy whitetail deer and turkey. It's still the good old days for those who love whitetails. Theres a good reason for that as well. The state of Missouri has an estimated 1.2 million whitetail deer, with an average of 500,000 hunters participating in the sport. There are a variety of different ways to hunt deer, and the state offers a number of different hunting areas. The difficult access keeps most weekend warriors away. Entries (per square mile) the last five seasons: .00136, Top county for non-typicals: Mercer (four). Its incredible that he was able to kill that massive buck, and his story shows that even in states where large deer arent common, big bucks are capable of being killed. Hunting these lands is associated with a stigma. IMB Outfitters in North Central Missouri offers trophy hunting for the deer. Sure, that's three more than Kentucky. After just 15 minutes in the stand, Doyle saw a big buck get up out of his bed facing away from him. Of the deer harvested, 133,914 were antlered bucks, 27,931 were button bucks, and 123,638 were does. Because crossbows are legal during archery season for hunters, they can be used without the use of a disability. West Virginia is known as the Mountain State for good reason. Hunters have access to a vast range of hunting opportunities in the Mark Twain National Forest and a number of other areas in the Conservation Area. It doesn't make the all-time top 10 list, but it's certainly climbed up in the ranks in recent years. The recent buck killed in Sumner County called the Tucker Buck and the increase in Boone & Crockett entries are all pointing to this area as a region of the Volunteer State where there may be some good opportunities to harvest a trophy deer. Photo courtesy of Realtree. A hunter should be aware that hunting and recreation use regulations may vary depending on the area. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.