No deer in Iron Co. I quit !

[Country Boy]

 Plenty of public land but few if any deer. I grew up there and and still can"t find good spots. So I quit. Since I lost my lease in North Mo. I may quit completely

[Ranger J]

I was surprised when I looked at the tel check deer numbers for Iron county.  I live right on the Iron and Crawford county line and I hunt public land.  I can testify that the number of deer seemed to be down somewhat this year.  I hunted both firearms and muzzle loader seasons and saw a total of five deer.  Allowing an extra doe in Crawford county doesn't help the numbers of deer but you and I both probably know why the deer numbers are so low in our area.  The poachers ad spot lighters probably take more deer in a year than are shot legally.  This is a problem that will continue until the MDOC gets serious about arresting illegal hunters and we the legal hunters are willing to pass on information about who we hear through the grapevine is killing deer out of season.  Talking to some of the MDOC's wildlife biologists they tell me our area should carry three times as many deer and turkeys as it does.  The reason they tell me it doesn't is purely poaching.  If Missouri would enact some real heavy penalties such as some other states have such as seizing all the weapons and equipment used in poaching operations we get some judges who aren't third cousins to the poachers we might start seeing some game in our area.

RJ

[jenkst]

Country Boy; Have you considered Wayne county? They kill almost as many deer and turkey's in Wayne as in St. Gen. county. I was a little surprized when I looked in the conservation magazine at the numbers taken. And there is some conservtion land if you look at their web. site. Coldwater might be good, but I've never hunted there. I've hunted around Clearwater but its nothing to brag about. Cane Ridge might be good, but I don't know anything about it either. Hope I've helped you some.   Jenks

[Country Boy]

Thanks guys, If the warden wants a voluntier just have him call me. Be glad to help him out in Iron Co.

[Mohawk]

  I feel for you guys, really. In Texas, if the deer is poached on private property, it is a state jail felony, or at least can be charged that way.

[rocko]

Calm down bear. Like i told you over on missouri whitetails, i will be more than glad to help you do some scouting this fall. We will find some for you. 

[Country Boy]

Rocko, I'm getting worse the harder I try the less luck I have finding a good place. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Since my heart attack and car wreck I can't go too far by my self, wife won"t let me. I live in Park Hills, Mo.

[Singleshotsam]

My friend hunted in Wayne County this year.  He was sorely disappointed.

Back home in the hills of Stoddard Co.  We had a decent harvest and a considerable amount of 8, 9, 10 pointers killed. You may consider making a journey over to Mingo or other areas in November.

[rocko]

Rocko, I'm getting worse the harder I try the less luck I have finding a good place. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Since my heart attack and car wreck I can't go too far by my self, wife won"t let me. I live in Park Hills, Mo.

Im only about 20 minutes south of you in Fredericktown. Theres some good public around. We will get you fixed up. I dont post over on MWT anymore so just holler at me here.

[rocko]

My friend hunted in Wayne County this year.  He was sorely disappointed.

Back home in the hills of Stoddard Co.  We had a decent harvest and a considerable amount of 8, 9, 10 pointers killed. You may consider making a journey over to Mingo or other areas in November.

First, you cant rifle hunt in Mingo. Only archery, other than managed muzzleloader hunts. And for the "hills" of stoddard county..Thats funny right there. Up here where me and country boy are, we have real hills here.. Never seen a hill in stoddard county other than Crowleys ridge. LOL But there is getting to be some dandy deer over that way.  But country boy is only 20 minutes west of StGenevive county where there is a buttload of deer.

[Singleshotsam]

Hmmm... Sorry to post facts that were not currently true.  I thought at one time you could rifle hunt in mingo...

I live on crowleys ridge, so there are a few hills lol...  The rest of Stodd co is pretty flat.

[Country Boy]

I taught school in Perry Co. for 20 yrs in all that time never got but one invitation to hunt except after the family " had killed their deer" it was in cedar fork. Two of the teachers I worked with and I were very good friends and had land but, it was only for the family. The only options for me is National forest and it' devoid of deer in Iron Co. or in SE St. Francios/St.Gen Co. but has plenty of hunters. My Dr. gave me permission to hunt on 160 acres he has West of Doe Run but it is land locked and talk about a hill !!! it's part of bread trey Mt.All brush and Thorns, I've gone over it with a fine tooth comb and have yet to see a turkey or deer track.
  Yes I know about IBM outfitters but I can"t afford the money. I can hunt WWW.snipecreeklodge.com in Ky, a 4 hour drive for less money.

[Singleshotsam]

I've been trying to convince my father to open up a lodge of sorts on the 230 acres he has.  Perfect hunting land and a great deer population. But he's too much of a conservationist to do it.  He's also tight on his money lol... So its one of theose family only deals.

[Country Boy]

Rocko, I'm ready to go looking when ever you have the time. Thanks, Carl

[rocko]

Sorry to just now be getting back to you carl. Been real busy. The wife and i are expecting a baby any day now and work has been crazy. Theres plenty of good hunting right behind my house. Ive already filled my first bow tag for the year on a little buck. Should have let him walk, but wanted to get some meat in the freezer before the baby got here. Ill shoot you a message with my cell number.

Chad