Factors that account for Yellow Creek’s positive reputation with deer hunters: It’s right next to Swan Lake refuge -- a known haunt for huge Missouri whitetails -- it offers archery-only deer hunting, and it’s in an antler-point-restriction county.

“Chariton County is getting a reputation for having some really nice bucks,” said MDC biologist Chris Freeman. “The added fact that Yellow Creek is in a county with the 4-points-or-better-on-one-side antler-point restriction, and that the area is next to Swan Lake, really attracts a good deal of bowhunters to this area.”

Access to Yellow Creek is generally good, but can be a problem when the creek floods. You may want to check local weather conditions before making a trip to Yellow Creek.

To get to Yellow Creek CA, go about three miles south of Sumner on County Route RA and then right on a gravel road at the cantilever sign. Primitive camping is allowed on the area.

As in the case of all public-use areas, hunters should get an area map and complete regulations before hunting. Contact the MDC’s northwest regional office for a map and more details at (816) 271-3100.

BOB BROWN CA
“Ducks and bucks” could be the phrase to describe this 3,302-acre wetland area in Holt County. It’s archery only for deer hunters on this area. About 2,300 acres of this tract comprise a wetland, but about 1,000 acres of agricultural land, the crops there including milo and legumes, occupy the north portion of the area.

Archery deer hunters can hunt just about anywhere on the area from Sept. 15 thru Oct. 15; after that, much of the area is closed to deer hunting.

“A lot of times there’s not going to be as much habitat here for deer hunters to hunt on after Oct. 15,” said MDC wildlife biologist Martin Marks. “There’s very limited opportunity, because deer hunters are pretty much restricted to the northern one-third of the area, which is managed for upland game.”

Marks wants archers to be well aware that they will be sharing that 1,000 acres of treelines and crops with pheasant, quail, and rabbit hunters. Getting a head start during the first month of the archery deer season is your best bet at both Bob Brown and many other wetland areas. However, anytime could be a good time for the dedicated bowhunter to stick a mature whitetail buck or any deer at Bob Brown CA.

“I would like for hunters to go to an area parking lot, get a map, and check out the rules and regulations before hunting,” Marks said. “You can also call the northwest regional office for a map or more information.”

To get to Bob Brown CA, go two and a half miles west of Forest City on Old Highway 111. For a map or more info, contact the MDC at (816) 271-3100.

REFORM CA
Its nearly 6,000 acres open to archery-only deer hunting, this CA in Callaway County is a favorite among bowhunters in Missouri. The north end of the area is made up of mostly crop fields and old pastures, while the south end is timbered, rolling Ozark hills.

“Both habitats on the area contain good numbers of deer,” said MDC biologist John George. “Based on our observations and what we know about deer, we believe that there are about 40 deer per square mile at Reform.”

In case you didn’t know, Reform CA is part of the property on which the Callaway County nuclear power plant is sited. Hunters should note that as the area is under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security, an increase in the nation’s security level to orange or higher will immediately result in the entire area being shut down.

There is good access throughout the area, and several parking lots, but there is no camping allowed.