The Cedar Creek district, just east of Columbia, south of Fulton, and northeast of Jefferson City, would be my first choice for hunters in central Missouri. The Cedar Creek district is a checkerboard of forest lands interspersed with small fields spread along Cedar Creek. The district and the MDC use food plots in many of the open fields to help manage the wild turkey population. Several campgrounds are available.

This district's uniqueness, I believe, lies in its relatively flat or gently rolling topography, which eases the hunter's labors. Mark Twain NF's administrators manage major chunks of the woodlands along the southern border. Springfield turkey hunters should check out the Cassville and Ava districts. Farther east are the Willow Springs, Doniphan, Eleven Point and Popular Bluff districts.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Several districts of Mark Twain NF also abut both public lands belonging to the MDC and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, in the care of the U.S. Park Service. Interestingly (to me, at least), the Ozark Nation Scenic Riverways along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers is the only national park that allows hunting. It supports some great turkey hunting along both rivers. I like the Current River because of the patchwork of old fields along the river, and the easy access from roads or by canoe. For a unique turkey hunting experience, float in to a turkey camp along the river.

EASTERN MISSOURI
MDC Conservation Areas
If you live near St Louis, check out Danville CA, south of I-70 near New Florence, which comprises more than 2,600 acres of mixed woodlands and open fields. Also, Daniel Boone CA in Warren County has more than 3,000 acres, and Little Lost Creek CA has more than 2,600 acres of woodland. Both support excellent wild turkey populations.

NORTH MISSOURI
MDC Conservation Areas
North Missouri has a ton of managed MDC conservation areas, all supporting excellent turkey populations. Check out Helton CA in Harrison County (2,500 acres), Lake Paho in Mercer County (1,700 acres), Rebel's Cove CA in Putnam County (4,000 acres), Union Ridge CA in Putnam and Adair counties (8,100 acres), and last, but certainly not the least, Indian Hills CA in Scotland County (4,000 acres). These represent only a small sample of North Missouri public hunting areas available for fall turkey hunting.

I've found that most of these CAs are far enough away from major metropolitan centers to be lightly hunted. If I had to pick one, it would have to be Indian Hills, which supports some of the best wild turkey hunting in Missouri; because of the rural nature of its terrain, it's easy to pinpoint the turkeys' whereabouts there.

WESTERN MISSOURI USACE Lands
On the west side of the state, the lands surrounding Truman provide great turkey hunting. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake has more than 54,000 acres of managed lands in Benton, Henry, Hickory, and St. Clair counties. The Corps also manages Smithville Lake north of Kansas City with more than 7,000 acres. A refuge section closes during waterfowl season, but the remainder is open for fall turkey hunting.

FALL TURKEY TACTICS
Let me fess up: I'm probably the world's worst turkey caller. The first time I tried a mouth call, my partners speculated as to whether they'd have to take me to the hospital to remove the call stuck in my throat -- as a result of which episode I learned that you have to blow, not suck. I've had grown men almost fall off chairs laughing as I practiced calling.