Photo by R.E. Ilg.

The success rates for bowhunters in Missouri just seem to get better each year. Last year’s 92-day archery deer season produced a record number of deer taken. Bowhunters bagged an unprecedented 43,524 deer last year, surpassing the old record of 37,646 set in 2004 by 5,878 deer. The top counties: St. Louis, with 1,151; Callaway, 966; and Jackson, 964.

“Participation in bowhunting has not dropped, and probably has grown a little bit,” said Lonnie Hansen, resource scientist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. “We’ve also seen the archery deer harvest increase just about every year.”

Hansen attributes the annual increase in archery harvest to a number of factors including a more liberalized season, better equipment, and the wealth of information available to deer hunters today. “I really believe that deer hunters are getting better each year,” he said. “A lot of this really does have to do with all of the great info available to them out there in reading material.”

If you weren’t one of the bowhunters fortunate enough to fill a deer tag last season, you’re probably wondering where you can go and what you can do to increase your odds of bagging a whitetail during the 2007-08 season.

We’ve compiled a list of some hot-spots for you to use in beginning your quest for a whitetail bow kill this year. Many of these areas are wetlands managed primarily for waterfowl; they allow archery methods only and prohibit deer hunting through much of the season, which makes them true sweet spots for some really big bucks. Read on to discover public lands that are hunting honeyholes, learn what they’re like from MDC biologists and land managers, and find out how to get there and get hunting!

GRAND PASS CA
Grand Pass Conservation Area is in Saline County along the Missouri River. The 5,096-acre area is primarily managed for waterfowl and migratory game birds -- but don’t let that fool you: Often, managing for ducks equals trophy bucks. You’ll find about 1,600 acres of luscious agriculture on site, with the balance of the area in cottonwood and silver maple -- typical river-bottom softwoods.

Grand Pass is only open to archery methods for taking deer. Bowhunters should note that they may hunt the entire area from opening day of the archery season on Sept. 15 through Oct. 15; after that, most of the area is closed as a refuge or a waterfowl-only hunting zone.

“After Oct. 15, most of the deer hunting is limited to the exterior areas of timber on the area,” said MDC biologist Chris Freeman. “There are a couple of other areas bowhunters can venture including a small area in the southwest portion of Pool No. 2, next to one of the primary refuges. But the majority of the levied portion of the area is closed to deer hunting after that date.”

Bowhunters are required to check themselves into the area daily, fill out a harvest report card at the end of each hunt, and drop off the card at the area headquarters.

To reach Grand Pass CA, go eight miles west of Marshall on state Highway 65 and then five miles north on County Route N.

Freeman suggests that anyone venturing into Grand Pass CA should get an area map before beginning a hunt. You can get a map and detailed hunting information inside the foyer of the area headquarters or you can call the MDC’s central regional office at (573) 884-6861.

YELLOW CREEK CA
Relatively small at 680 acres, this conservation area is a favorite among hardcore deer hunters in the Show-Me State. It comprises common bottomland hardwoods, including good stands of oak and silver maple, and a few oxbows create some semipermanent wetlands on the area.