2021 Edition for Missouri

Written by Heathe Pendergraft

Edited by Tyler Wolf

The show-me state is no stranger to deer. As home to approximately 1.3 million whitetails, you can find these Wiley ungulates in every corner of the state. However, each corner brings a new take on habitat, resulting in a mixed bag of hunting conditions. To be successful in Missouri, you have to know the lay of the land and understand how the deer behave in each. Fortunately, Fall Obsession has a man on the ground who provided a detailed look into Missouri's whitetail. Below is an overview of how to approach your next Missouri whitetail hunt.

When it comes to deer hunting, Missouri has a bit of an identity problem. It's home to three different hunting ecosystems. And, depending upon which study you read, three distinct subspecies of whitetail call Missouri home. Furthermore, the northern half of the state, made up of mostly cropland, offers a different take on whitetail hunting than the south, comprised of Ozark Mountain forests.

One variation is whitetail behavioral calendars. Due to a wide climate range, the rut in the state's northern half will typically occur before the rut in the south. Another variation between north and south is habitat. The north portion of the state resembles the whitetail hunting of many other Midwest states, such as Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska, producing many crop-filled dandies.

On the southern side, deep within the Ozark Mountains, hunting whitetails is vastly different. Deer here are generally smaller in size, but big deer do exist. They tend to be harder to track and less frequently encountered, especially as one enters the hollers of deep southern Missouri. If you venture further down into the swamps and river bottoms of bootheel country, hunting is even more difficult as the local deer population tends to be easily spooked.

Each area of Missouri whitetail hunting requires different tactics. Yet, some consistencies do exist. Below are tips on how to handle those variations, as well as three commonalities that will factor into any state you plan to hunt.

Food and Cover

Food and cover are obvious deer attractants, but hunters may forget them when fall whitetail activity is heating up. Once the pre-rut starts, it's easy to start relying on rut-style tactics. But don't be too quick to abandon your early-season repertoire. As more hunters come afield, deer behavior changes. Whether deer are looking for love or not, they will start gravitating toward a combination of cover and quality food sources. Even as bucks begin displaying signs of frisky behavior and adjusting their travel patterns, does remain out of heat and stick to food and cover. Of course, where the doe goes, the buck will follow. So, pre-rut is an excellent time to retain early-season tactics and hunt over food and cover. These transitional areas where fields and cover meet can be bonanzas.

Terrain

Regardless of where you hunt and when you hunt, terrain features will always be a factor for deer. Much like people, deer are creatures of habit and convenience. They prefer to travel the same paths, often choosing the path of least resistance. Hunters refer to these as travel corridors. If you're hunting in south Missouri, deep in the Ozark Mountains, this could be a nice bench or saddle in the timber. If you're in north Missouri, surrounded by farmland, this usually covers a fence low spot or finger of timber that runs through crops on both sides. Down in bootheel country, features such as break lines that separate shallow water from deep water, or waterways that lead to pinch points, are go-to travel spots for deer. Essentially, if you find the travel corridors, you'll find the deer.

Acorns

Acorns. Acorns. Acorns. While this is technically food and covered in the first point above, acorns are such a deer magnet that you must treat them as separate entities. During that magical time when the acorns are falling, deer will alter their regular routines just to get a taste of these delicious morsels. Next to a doe in heat, there is nothing that draws a buck like acorns. Find a lovely big oak with plenty of nuts on the branch, especially one that plays to the natural travel habits of the herd, and you'll see plenty of action. And, if acorns happen to be falling, set up camp and sit tight. The sound of acorns falling amplifies a buck's desire to find the source.

Bonus Tip

In the Ozark Mountains, wind direction can be challenging to conquer. The hills and hollers will cause the wind to swirl and frequently change directions. It's not uncommon to have the wind come from every direction at some point in the day. Many hunters will start the day with a North wind, only to see East, South, and West winds by the end of their sit. To combat this, develop a multi-faceted setup strategy. Pre-configure your hunting spot with multiple stand setups and keep an active pulse on wind direction. Of course, don't adjust at the lightest swirl. The movement is bound to cause more harm than good. Instead, wait for a consistent change in wind direction and adjust accordingly.

Summary

Wherever you hunt in the Show-Me-State this year, good luck and stay obsessed!