Some Mo info

[ncboman]

:D

http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/state/

http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/

http://mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/

http://www.missouriconservation.com/

http://www.missourigameandfish.com/hunting/whitetail-deer-hunting/mo_aa093103a/

I doan think I'm lettin the cat outta the bag by saying the best trophy buck chances are in the northern part of the state.

http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgRecords/records_whitetail.asp?area=bgRecords

ncboman

[Bushman]

NC, thanks for that last link to the B&C areas. I've seen that map at the deer shows. It only confirms what I've seen myself. Having hunted in a white area where my cabin is was a recipe for frustration so about 15 years back I moved my hunting area to a red area and it was like night and day different. Even if I was not shooting a big buck every year, the deer sign alone was enough to keep my interest up knowing that class of animal lived in those woods. You can be an outstanding deer hunter, but if you don't hunt where big deer live, you are not going to be very successful.

Sis and mom live in the only red area in MT. and being a borderline bunny hugger, I don't get many deer hunting reports. Might have to get out there for a visit and scope things out for myself.

[dave-t.]

If you look at the counties that are hot in IL and IA, it makes you wonder what is up with MO. Guns in the rut for 11 days is the main difference that I can think of, and unlimited out of state over the counter tags.

I'm hoping the 4 points per side rule starts helping in the rest of the state, expecially south of the MO river.



The MO Conservation Dept over all is a great game dept. They do a lot not only on state land, but will work with private land owners also, stocking ponds, burning fields, making recomendations on what to plant and how to manage for specific wildlife deer, turkey, quail, ducks, etc.. They are on a big quail cruisade now, which is much needed.

[ncboman]

It's in the dirt Dave. While record class bucks can and do show up from almost anyplace in the state, the regions north of the river will always produce more and better overall, St Louis Co area withstanding.

Later on I'll prove how influential the dirt is as there are examples, studies, and results in Ohio that leave little doubt. Imagine the possibilities in St Louis Co if 50% of it could be restored to woods devoid of development. lol

That said, vastly most of the residents of Mo like their rifle season like it is and the state accomidates as it should. Some of the best hunting I've ever enjoyed has been where antler restrictions have been in place a few years.

I may roam around some up there myself before long. In fact I should probably go ahead and make some picks as to the first areas I wanna check out. ;)

ncboman

[ncboman]

NC, thanks for that last link to the B&C areas. I've seen that map at the deer shows. It only confirms what I've seen myself. Having hunted in a white area where my cabin is was a recipe for frustration so about 15 years back I moved my hunting area to a red area and it was like night and day different. Even if I was not shooting a big buck every year, the deer sign alone was enough to keep my interest up knowing that class of animal lived in those woods. You can be an outstanding deer hunter, but if you don't hunt where big deer live, you are not going to be very successful.

Sis and mom live in the only red area in MT. and being a borderline bunny hugger, I don't get many deer hunting reports. Might have to get out there for a visit and scope things out for myself.

The differences in locations is staggering to a good hunter. It's one reason I keep hunting and checking out new areas as I go. I've been primarily hunting Ohio for ~8 yrs I guess. Before that I walked all over Illinois. I should make a list of all the places I've walked. It's sizable.

Speaking of Mt, my dream buck came from Flathead Co;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/ncboman/enhancedPetryBuck.jpg

:D

ncboman

[dave-t.]

I know about the dirt and glacial movements and deposits in the area.

That is one of the reasons only parts of the state have pheasants, trace elements that help build egg shells strong enough to accomodate successful breeding.

If you do decide to come to MO, let me know, and I'll at the very least point you to a few locations that would be my top choices.

Also, the deal with St Louis is so much of it is off limits to any hunting, and so the age structure is out of the world. Same for KC. I knew a bow shop owner that used to travel 60 miles one way to illegally bow hunt in one of the bigger KC parks. I don't know how he got away with it. I believe the place is now open for draw hunts.

[Bushman]

One has only to fly across the country from the window seat to see the rich soils in that MO. IA. and IL. farm land. Add to that no winter kill and shotgun only limited range weapons and private land limited access and it is a wonder WI. and MN. can even compete for B&C class bucks.

Mt. might be kind of a sleeper for big whitetails. While sis only says that deer are everywhere out there, she never goes into specifics about how big they are. What tipped me off to there might be something to that north west corner of MT. was when Dick Idle, the guy who was ground floor in starting North American Whitetail Magazine, retired to the same town where sis lives. The Wensel brothers relocated from MT. to IA. though and they could have moved anywhere too to hunt big deer. Greg Miller is so convinced that baiting has screwed up WI. that he hunts other states now that he has made a name for himself and that he needs to produce big bucks. The Benoits go to Canada now to get away from people.

I asked a buddy of mine where he would go to retire and be able to hunt big bucks? I was kind of surprised when he said West Duluth, MN. That is also St. Louis County, but in MN. He sent me an e-mail a couple of years back referencing the Duluth Outdoor section of the newspaper after the deer season. Large deer registered were weighed in field dressed: 223# 12 points 26.25" outside, 250#, 255#, 247# and 274# Grand Portage and Hermantown look to be the hot spots. I've only hunted MN. a couple of years, but since they start their gun season the first weekend in November, that hits the peak of the rut when those big guys are on their feet. WI. starts two weeks later and post rut hunting for big bucks is tough.

[ncboman]

The Wensel brothers enjoy the resident Iowa permits. I'm sure that was a factor. :D

Every time I start thinking about the northern tier of states, I also think about how many good bucks I'd pass by to get there. :o

ncboman

[ncboman]

dave-t,

The wife has family in the Perryville area so I'm 'relatively' sure I will return there at some point. The last time I was there I kept my ventures fairly close to that area, actually wound up across the river in Illinois. That was before the state of Illinois pizzed me off by price gouging the permits.

Not really wanting to drive all the way to KC (she has relatives there too) but I'm definately interested in your wildlife area picks. Send me a pm. :)

ncboman

[MOGC]

dave-t,
North Missouri has the crops and soils to produce those big bucks and sustain the large numbers of deer. Northern Missouri deer are also better protected than Ozark deer. The Ozarks consist of hay and cattle pasture in the few places the ground isn't heavily forested. That just won't produce antler growth like the northern part of the state. Basically Ozark deer live on acorns. Plus the southern part of Missouri has more large predators, coyotes, bobcats, black bears, and even a few scattered mountain lions that all hit the fawn crop. Probably more poachers too. The 4 pt. Rule would probably be the end of the Ozark deer herd. Deer hunters in the Ozarks are GOING TO KILL A DEER, some deer, any deer! If they can’t legally shoot the first buck that comes along, then they will kill does. If everybody in the Ozarks began shooting does, the population is going to nose dive tremendously. The deer population in the Ozarks isn’t overly plentiful anyway, it isn’t like the northern tier. You won’t see 15 - 50+ deer in a single herd. You see deer in 2’s and 3’s in the Ozarks. Start hammering does too hard and you won’t even see that many at a time. Don’t mess with the rifle season. I always hear that from whining bow hunters that want even more than the overly generous seasons and limits they have all ready. Now you have special bow only areas - pure BS! I am 100% for jacking up the Non-Resident Tag to reciprocate whatever that persons home state charges. If Iowa wants $500 per tag, so should Missouri, fair is fair - screw ’em. Same for Illinois, Kansas, and anybody else. Another thing IMHO, non-residents shouldn’t be allowed to enter for special draw hunts. I recently hunted a special managed draw hunt for turkey and most of the participants were from Arkansas and Illinois! When Missouri residents have tremendous odds to draw for these managed hunts and guys from out of state are in direct competition with them, I say BS. And by the way, how many Youth Hunts are we gonna have? BS on that too! Give the kids one weekend, and make that second one a Senior Hunt. Those older hunters have paid taxes and bought tags for a heck of a long time to fund conservation. Seniors often have more trouble getting around in the woods and stay away from inclement weather hunting. I say give them a chance of their own. I am becoming more hard nosed about some of this stuff.

[dave-t.]

I'll get you the info. Perryville area is pretty, I grew up 40 minutes NW of there, but there is better hunting to be had.

[Hi Ball]

MO-GC has made several valid points! I agree 100% in what comes around should go around in price of tags.

[howdydoit]

I live in the Ozarks and while I generaly see 3-6 deer at a time year round, I still see deer through out the seasons.

Im not apposed to the point restriction, but I do have to agree that with a point restriction several (all) of the good ole boys will poach and or shoot everthing they see. We have too much of that already in my area already.

Id like to see something done, but I couldnt put finger on what it needs to be. I do know It has to be region spacific, not state wide. 20-30 years ago a hunter could see all the 130-140 class buck he wanted, it was pretty much what we grew around here. I feel that if done right we could get back to those days.

Over grazing is a problem and one WT have to contend with. I do have to disagree about WT eating only acorns. There is tons of alphalfa, cloves, acorns and several other food sources for WT's to live on. But the Predetors are an issue as well. Coyotes have run pretty wild the last few years when they dropped the bounty on them the pressure on them decreased greatly.

Just my thoughts
Howdy.

[Hi Ball]

Ncbowman......awhile back a Missouri game magazine printed a study on the trophy size bucks taken in the state all the way back to the 60's. Now since those days, bigger bucks have found their genes going down into Southern Missouri.

It is NO SECRET that the majority of big bucks come from up around the Missouri/Iowa boarder. There are now several counties that produce monster size whitetail bucks. Most of these counties are North or mid-state Missouri above Columbia, Missouri.:D

[Hi Ball]

Now back in the 1960's, it used to be the area just around Kirksville now years later there are at least 6 or 7 more counties up North that produce record book size whitetail bucks.

[SeniorCoot]

Morning Hi Ball- our waterfowl season about over so I'm back on net- see you got some more puppies- great- we had two litters by our 3yr old YLM- most pups are hunting but one is at FBI academy learning to be a sniffer dog.

[Hi Ball]

Hi Senior Coot! Well I wish I could selll a couple of pups right now, seems like everybody is watching their penny's like old man S............., Congrats on your pup going to the FBI sir. I hope it makes a damn good one. It is a real shame our so called elected officials can not clean up this drug crap across the nation. I don't really think those higher ups want to really. There is a lot of big dollars being passed around under the table you bet. Hey, stay warm now you here Coot.