@camoninga

 

Too soon [emoji16]

 

Your options are going to be limited on areas where you can do this. Many Conservation Areas are too small and only allow camping in designated areas. Mark Twain National Forest and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways are your best options though.

 

Thank you. Yes, I see only a few conservation areas that this may be possible in. I live in the KC area and Baltimore Bend may be an option relatively close by.

I appreciate the Mark Twain recommendation. I’ve done some initial research and that seems like the best option. Lots of space and options. The southern portion looks to be outside the CWD management zone as well.

What are your all thoughts on CWD? Do you always get deer tested even when not in a CWD management zone/county? I’m wondering if it’s a good idea to test the meat when hunting on lands bordering the CWD zones.

 

Can you elaborate a bit on this backpack hunt? What does it entail, carrying your tent and staying in the woods like a elk hunt out Weat?

 

Yes, that is my plan. I enjoy backpacking already and hike a lot so already have gear and in condition to do this.

I’m still working on a plan and details, but I was thinking one day to hike out and get settled somewhere promising. Then, hunt and hopefully find something and pack it back to a vehicle.

 

Yes, that is my plan. I enjoy backpacking already and hike a lot so already have gear and in condition to do this.

I'm still working on a plan and details, but I was thinking one day to hike out and get settled somewhere promising. Then, hunt and hopefully find something and pack it back to a vehicle.

Most locations in Missouri will not require a "day" hike, nor will it be worth it. Even in the outskirts of MTNF you can get there and back to the trail head in reasonable time. That is what I would look at doing at the least. Setup a base camp at a trailhead(that is permitted) and hike in to a scouted spot.

It may pretty disheartening packing everything in to a "spot" only to find out somebody had access to the back of "x" private property and could easily hike to your area within 20 minutes.

Do you own a canoe or kayak? That would be another option to get to areas away from people. And gravel bars make nice camping spots, permitting rain....

 

What I meant to say is that there would be additional days, but that the first day would be a hike out and get settled somewhere.

 

^^ Agreed. I would try to go somewhere by water to get away from people. And it would be more for the experience. It's really not that necessary to go for miles and miles to kill your first deer. They aren't as hard to kill as a bull elk out west.

 

I appreciate the advice. That is a good point about private lands in MTNF. I didn't consider access is potentially greater than what it appears on a map. I do own a Kayak and could consider doing that. I'll try and scout out some areas near water.

For me and my first time out, this will be very much about the experience, and so even though I may find a deer more easily, i'm trying to set this up to be a bit of challenge, and hopefully it will serve as preparation for more complex hunts in the future such as elk.

I'm curious if you all get all your deer tested for CWD or not? I'm planning on hunting in Reynolds county somewhere which isn't in the Missouri CWD management zone, but borders some areas that are.

 

I appreciate the advice. That is a good point about private lands in MTNF. I didn't consider access is potentially greater than what it appears on a map. I do own a Kayak and could consider doing that. I'll try and scout out some areas near water.

For me and my first time out, this will be very much about the experience, and so even though I may find a deer more easily, i'm trying to set this up to be a bit of challenge, and hopefully it will serve as preparation for more complex hunts in the future such as elk.

I'm curious if you all get all your deer tested for CWD or not? I'm planning on hunting in Reynolds county somewhere which isn't in the Missouri CWD management zone, but borders some areas that are.

DM sent

 

If this is a bowhunt you can probably pull a hunt like this off and have a good time. During gun season you are likely to have your hunt spoiled by jackazzes on ATV's. It's a slobs greatest joy to jump on his 4 wheeler and ride around gates posted with "No Motorized Access" signs. They will ride deep into the woods even where there is no trail. I have walked an hour in the morning dark, two miles deep into the timber, climbing up and down steep ridges, over rocky rough Ozark country working hard to get away from crowds only to hear the purr of a 4 wheeler thirty minutes after daylight. Then have several lazy azz slobs ride right through the woods where there isn't even a trail of any sort as if it's no big deal. While I backpacked a climbing stand and all my gear in, these guys ride their stand on the 4 wheeler easy peasy. Plenty of them being a couple bags of corn and sometimes apples and other bait on the rig with them. I debone, quarter and backpack my deer out. They drive theirs out. Can't stand the lazy SOB's.

 

That is unfortunate. I didn't really think about people using 4 wheelers off trail illegally. That would be very frustrating for sure. I unfortunately am not familiar at all with bows right now so i'd be looking at using a rifle, just out of familiarity with it.

 

Buy a $300 used bow setup. They are easy to figure out. The experience will be that much better and you'll not have near the hunter pressure. The rush you get doesn't compare to rifle hunting imho. And season is 4 months long.

 

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely consider that. I’ve heard that from a number of bow hunting folks.

 

I’d hit up Smithville lake land with your kayak, I’d like to a little bit of that next year as well. I also wouldn’t sweat cwd unless a deer looks unhealthy.

 

Thanks, hopefully I’ll learn some more about the signs and I’ll try to avoid the CWD management zone.

 

Thanks, hopefully I'll learn some more about the signs and I'll try to avoid the CWD management zone.

No reason to avoid cwd management zones either.

 

You got some good advise here. Mtnf would be a good option. But most big areas are not close to KC. Base camp and hike from there is a good call.

 

I appreciate the advice from everyone. I’m willing to drive and go to MTNF so will definitely plan that out. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

Corp land around some of the big lakes might also be a good option.

 

Float trip on the Eleven Point River into the Irish Wilderness sounds like your best option in MO if you really want to get away.

Stash the canoe on the river bank then backpack up White's Creek drainage to set your base camp.

 

Can jet boats run on the Eleven Point? They do on the Current River.

 

Didn’t trailblazer need a partner?

 

Didn't trailblazer need a partner?

That's who I was thinking of but couldn't recall the name.

 

I'll keep that in mind. I have no issues getting deer tested if found within the CWD management zone. Just thought it would be less likely to find a CWD positive deer to use the meat from outside of that area.

 

You have a better chance if seeing a mountain lion as killing a cwd deer

 

Interesting. Is that because CWD deer are rare in Missouri or because they will die off naturally from CWD? Or is it because of behavior changes when they get CWD?

 

If you own a boat if not rent one from marinas around Truman Lake. Not sure about any overnight camping restrictions but you can boat into some awesome hunting around the lake. Lots of great hunting.

 

Thanks for the advice. I didn't realize that area had great hunting. That's only a few hours away so i'll look into that.

 

Lots of public hunting just not sure about remote camping. There are lots of campgrounds around Truman.