Mark Twain Hunting - Ozark MO

Size and Counties

Shown Here is approx 11,214 acres. The Mark Twain National Forest is huge and has over 1.4 million acres of public lands open to hunters with a valid state hunting license  — making it the largest block of public hunting land in Missouri by a wide margin. It's spread across roughly a dozen counties in southern Missouri including Douglas, Ozark, Taney, Oregon, Ripley, Carter, Shannon, Reynolds, Wayne, Crawford, Dent, Phelps, and parts of others — essentially the entire Missouri Ozarks.

What You Can Hunt

Game includes deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, woodcock, mourning doves, ducks, raccoon, bobcat, fox, and coyote. There is no additional fee to hunt in these areas. Mark Twain Forest Deer and turkey are the primary draws.

Terrain

This is rugged, big-woods Ozark country. Sunlit balds and deep hollows, narrow ridgetops and steep slopes, secluded pastures and clear streams are the trademark of the forest. USDA Forest Service The landscape is predominantly oak-hickory hardwoods mixed with shortleaf pine, with glades — open rocky outcroppings of native grass and limestone — scattered throughout. Rivers and clear Ozark streams run through most districts. It's physically demanding terrain compared to anything in flat or rolling Kansas or Oklahoma.

Best Hunting Areas Within the Forest

Deer hunting is best in the Swan Creek, Paddy Creek, and Pine Ridge Recreation Areas, along with the area around the Round Prairie Interpretive Site. Swan Creek, located in the Ava Ranger's District, offers over 8,000 acres with lightly trafficked trails and prohibits motorized vehicles, making it one of the more remote locations in the forest and an ideal location for hunters of all experience levels. Mark Twain Forest The Eleven Point Ranger District and Piney Creek Wilderness are also well regarded for getting away from crowds — hunters who pack into these deeper wilderness sections report seeing deer that have had very little human contact.

Honest Assessment of Deer Quality

Here's the real talk: deer size and quality tends to be quite a bit better north of the Missouri River, and northern Missouri hunts more like Illinois, Iowa, or Kansas while southern Missouri is more like the Arkansas Ozarks or eastern Tennessee. The Ozarks grow smaller-bodied deer with less impressive antlers than north Missouri's agricultural country. Many areas of southern Missouri have relatively low deer densities compared to northern Missouri, and deer can be significantly smaller.  That said, Ozark County and the surrounding area rank high in the state for deer and turkey populations , so there's variation across the forest.

The Key to Success

The biggest factor is effort and willingness to get off roads. The one key thing to remember is that your willingness to get some distance from where people cannot access via motorized vehicle will put you in a spot where you likely will have an area to yourself. The vast majority of hunters stay within a quarter mile of a road or trail. Family-Outdoors The forest is said to have some of the best bowhunting in the state, even better than areas found on private lands Mark Twain Forest — specifically because the pressure drops dramatically for bowhunters willing to hike in.

Pressure Concerns

Regular firearms deer season gets crowded. Some hunters report that after five years of hunting there during gun season they only got two deer. Missouri Whitetails The wilderness areas — Piney Creek, Devil's Backbone, Irish Wilderness — are the escape valves. Piney Creek Wilderness Area has deer that have probably never seen a human before, and hunters who pack in with mules during the first 10 days of the season have had consistent success on nice bucks. Missouri Whitetails

Rules to Know

Only portable deer stands are allowed and must be labeled with the hunter's name and address. It is prohibited to hunt within 150 yards of residences, campsites, or roads. Hunting is not allowed on administrative sites or certain lakes unless posted.  Also be aware that private land inholdings exist throughout the forest boundaries — maps from the Forest Service are essential to distinguish public from private ground.  Private land is marked with purple paint on trees, public land with red paint.

Bottom Line

Mark Twain National Forest is a tremendous resource for a hunter willing to put in serious boot work, especially a bowhunter or someone willing to hike into the deeper wilderness sections. Don't expect Kansas-caliber whitetails — this is hill country with modest deer. But turkey hunting is excellent, the sheer size means you can always find solitude if you work for it, and the Ozark scenery and wild country make it a special experience

Property size: 11000 acres

Maximum Number of Hunters:

Cattle on Property?

Is fishing allowed?

Are family members allowed?

Are guests allowed?

Can this be used as a corporate lease?

Big Game Limits?

Shared bag limit applied?

Does the landowner require a phone or text notification before hunting?

Electric hookup on property?

Water hookup on property?

Is camping allowed on property?

Greg Willis

• (405) 674-4868
• sales@ushunts.com