Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting First time MO whitetail hunt

I'm 61. Have been hunting Western states for elk, mule deer and antelope my entire life. Even lived in Alaska, hunting there. A friend of my moms found me on Facebook last year and has invited me out to her 1800 cattle ranch in South Central Missouri to hunt the rifle whitetail hunt, opening 16 November through 26 November. Not sure what to expect, do, bring, etc. Any advice is much appreciated.

Alan

Any chance you’re talking about Houston MO? I ask because they have a lot of cattle farms of that size out there. Anyway if you’ve been hunting out west with success you will be more than at home here in Missouri. Temps might be cold and snow but be prepared for sunny and hot too, possibly both in the same day. I would take whatever rifle you like shooting the most. You do not need any magnum chambering but if it trips your trigger go for it.

Alan,

bring 2 good rifles and $$$$

That’s pretty sound advice right there.

Last year I was in MO for that hunt (Fayette area) and Monday morning snow flurries were about 4" and then 15 was warm for a while, then just cold the resat of the week.
Was there several years ago for the same time period and it was "warm" for the whole week.
Some counties have 4 point restriction (one side) but if it is the same down there, you will likely see plenty of deer.

1800 acres or cows?
If it is acres, a place that big is bound to have some great hunting woods and possibly woods/crop fields

It's in Howell county, somewhere around West Plains. It's an 1800 acre ranch. I'll likely bring this 257 Roberts stoked with 115 gr Nosler BT's



...and likely this Kimber 257 Roberts for inclement weather.



....and likely this custom in my own wildcat 6.5x57BR if the ranges stretch out a bit.

I live 90 minutes East of West Plains

Most years it's not very cold and we get more rain in Southern Missouri then snow or ice.

You are hunting in a 3 tag area

One any sex and two antlerless deer can be killed in that county.

You’re just south of Houston MO, I hunted on a cattle ranch for about 6 yrs down there. 6 of us had 2200 acres to ourselves. It’s not north central Missouri in terms of rich agricultural and huge deer but you should have a target rich environment. Hunt the wood lines and funnels but more importantly listen to what the land owner tells you. You can bag a nice trophy down there but you’ll have to be patient. If meat for the table is your gig you should have no issue getting some. Good luck and by all means post your experience when it’s over.

Dress for the occasion, weather etc. travel the lightest you can,
scopes, rifle, food, bags, antibiotic. etc,
Have a lot of fun and post some Pics.

Do not trust weather forecasts before you leave.
We were suppose to have 40s and rain last year . . .
Had neither!

I grew up in Howell County not far from West Plains. I now own a farm one county over, in Ozark County.

Weather can be anywhere from the teens to the 70's and if we get moisture during firearms season, it is usually rain but prepare for anything. Trophy quality is not on par with the agricultural areas to the north but there are still a few darn good bucks in that area.

Howell county is not under the 4 point antler restriction but you should still see plenty of nice bucks. You should have no trouble killing a nice representation of the species and fill your doe tags. Hogs are legal to shoot on private land and there are a few sounders in that area, so be prepared.

Hunter Orange is required, even on private land and by law, that is to include a hat and vest, shirt, coat, etc.. Blaze Orange (orange with camo in it) does not meet the requirements.

Legal shooting hours are from 30min before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset and baiting deer is illegal statewide.

Large cattle ranches in Southern Missouri usually means lots of cool season grass pasture, mostly fescue with a some clover mixed in. While there will be deer grazing morning and evening in the fields that have clover, overall the fescue pastures in the area provide poor deer forage and habitat...

Ranches of that size have typically cleared most of the timber from their holdings and converted it to pasture but there may be some areas that were either too rugged or they just haven't gotten to it yet.

Whatever timber you do find will be loaded with deer! Study aerial photos and find the spots where the timber bottlenecks.. Hunt and approach the bottlenecks from the downwind side! Statewide, these deer receive a lot of hunting pressure during firearm season and because of that, they will not be dumb!

That said, bucks will be in full rut and you should see some wild daytime rut activity if the weather is cool. If the weather is hot (70's) and it often is during that season, most of the chasing will take place at night. Your best opportunities to catch a nice buck will be the twilight hours just after dawn and just before dusk or by taking a stand over a secluded water hole mid day. A portable treestand, preferably a climbing stand, would be a very useful tool but not absolutely necessary.

Shots can be long if you hunt the pasture but your also likely to see less deer there. Knowing you can shoot, I'd suggest bringing something that you can shoot out to 500 or 600yrds but with a scope that will crank down low enough to not be a hindrance in the woods. Your 6.5x57BR with that 2.5x10 Nightforce will cover everything nicely!

If there is anything else I can help you with, shoot me a PM..



X-VERMINATOR

The first weekend will be best hunting as that will probably be a more active rut. If you have a comfortable stand, don’t be hesitate to sit all day. It keeps from spooking deer as you walk in, in the afternoon and may catch something people push as they are leaving the morning hunt. Sounds like a great opportunity...enjoy.

**Heads Up GSSP** Was just reading through the Missouri 2019 Fall Deer and Turkey handout, Howell County is in the CWD Management Zone this year. All deer harvested in Howell County on Nov. 16-17th must be taken the day of harvest to a CWD sampling station. It is acceptable to just take the head in for testing but you must leave at least 6" of the neck attached.

CWD sampling stations will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Looks like there are three locations in Howell County with the Ozark Regional MDC Office (551 Joe Jones Blvd. West Plains, MO) being your closest.



X-VERMINATOR

Thank you X-Verminator.

Alan

Don’t forget to let us know how your hunt went.

You won't be too far from me and my camp...I'm just north of Caney Mt Conservation area between Brixey and Romance in Ozark County.

Looks like we will have decent weather...mostly in the 30s and 40s, no rain!

Have a good, safe hunt!


Tim

OMGosh. I forgot all about this post. I had a wonderful career change about 5 weeks back which was too good to pass up. Subsequently, starting my new job I have no/zero vacation days until January. The plan is to go Missouri next year. I truly appreciate everyone's wisdom and advice but I'm working my dream job as a Ballistic Lab Tech for Barnes Bullets.

Thank you,

Alan

Oh man! What a job. If you can reveal it let us know what tools you can reveal. Like what radar system you use to determine statistics? That might me considered a security problem though. I hope you come to our state next fall season. Put up a note when you do. Thanks and Be Well, Rustyzipper.

Very cool, congrats on your dream job!