Home › Missouri › Public land › Federal Hunting Land
Federal land
Missouri federal hunting land
National forest, refuges, the riverways and Fort Leonard Wood.
Photo: J L (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Missouri Federal Hunting Land: the largest first
Mark Twain National Forest is by far the biggest public hunting ground in Missouri: the Forest Service says a million and a half acres await hunters, and its lands statistics show 1,510,740 NFS acres in six ranger districts across the Ozarks.
The refuges are smaller and stricter: each opens designated areas only, under the conditions in 50 CFR 32.44, and Mingo uses the MDC daily draw at Duck Creek for its pools. Ozark National Scenic Riverways is open except at Alley, Big and Round Spring and near developed sites, and Fort Leonard Wood opens to hunters who meet installation access.
Ozark Cavefish and Pilot Knob refuges and five National Park System sites (Wilson's Creek, George Washington Carver, Harry S Truman NHS, Ulysses S. Grant NHS and Ste. Genevieve NHP) are closed.
Missouri Federal Hunting Land on the map
Mark Twain National Forest and its ranger districts
1,510,740 NFS acres, 64,183 of them wilderness; no Forest Service hunting fee.
| Place | County | Acres | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain National Forest | Oregon, Ripley… | 1,510,740 | National forest |
| Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District | Taney, Barry… | 316,688 | Ranger district |
| Doniphan / Eleven Point Ranger District | Oregon, Ripley… | 338,889 | Ranger district |
| Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District | Phelps, Texas… | 210,393 | Ranger district |
| Poplar Bluff Ranger District | Wayne, Butler… | 157,884 | Ranger district |
| Potosi / Fredericktown Ranger District | Iron, Washington… | 290,899 | Ranger district |
| Salem Ranger District | Reynolds, Dent… | 195,986 | Ranger district |
National wildlife refuges
Missouri fee land of the 8 refuges listed in 50 CFR 32.44; designated hunt areas only.
| Place | County | Acres | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Muddy NFWR | Saline, Howard… | 11,976 | Wildlife refuge |
| Clarence Cannon NWR | Pike | 3,761 | Wildlife refuge |
| Great River NWR (Missouri portion) | Clark, Pike | 2,786 | Wildlife refuge |
| Loess Bluffs NWR | Holt | 7,557 | Wildlife refuge |
| Middle Mississippi River NWR (Missouri portion) | Jefferson, Perry… | 2,182 | Wildlife refuge |
| Mingo NWR | Stoddard, Wayne | 21,109 | Wildlife refuge |
| Swan Lake NWR | Chariton, St. Clair… | 11,852 | Wildlife refuge |
| Two Rivers NWR (Missouri portion) | St. Charles | 144 | Wildlife refuge |
Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Fort Leonard Wood
NPS riverways open outside the spring areas; Fort Leonard Wood through iSportsman.
| Place | County | Acres | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Leonard Wood | Pulaski | 60,817 | Army post |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | Shannon, Carter… | 80,546 | Scenic riverway |
Missouri Federal Hunting Land in pictures
Missouri Federal Hunting Land: questions
May I hunt anywhere on Mark Twain National Forest?
Yes, forest-wide under MDC seasons with no Forest Service fee, outside 150-yard safety zones.
Which refuges allow hunting?
Big Muddy, Clarence Cannon, Great River, Loess Bluffs, Middle Mississippi River, Mingo, Swan Lake and Two Rivers, on designated areas.
Which parts of Ozark National Scenic Riverways are closed?
Yes, except Alley Spring, Big Spring, Round Spring and within 300 yards of developed areas.
What does Fort Leonard Wood require of hunters?
Meet installation access, buy the post permits and check in and out on iSportsman each trip.
Are national parks open?
No. The five National Park System historic units in Missouri are closed to hunting.
Do Missouri refuges ask for a refuge permit?
Some do; Mingo requires a signed refuge brochure. Each refuge page quotes the federal rules.
Can I leave a stand on the national forest?
Only portable deer stands, labeled with name and address.
Which ranger district is largest?
Doniphan / Eleven Point Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest).
Other photos on this page: J L (CC BY-SA 2.0); Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0); Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0).