Missouri offers wealth of outdoor opportunities

John Farris, left, and Leon Waggoner, Carl Junction, with a limit of ducks from an earlier hunt. The hunters said they were out early Thanksgiving morning as the south zone opened.

As Tom Stone was preparing for the opening of the south zone duck season, he said, "Missouri outdoor-minded people have plenty to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day."

The Vermont transplant reminds us of the opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors offered within Missouri.

"With all the good hunting, fishing, camping and boating available, it's a great place to live," he said. "An outdoors person can float a clear Ozark stream, fish in a big impoundment or farm pond.

Greenhead mallards have been pouring into Missouri the past week just in time for the south zone opening. All three duck hunting zones are now open.

"You have a large variety of game to hunt, from deer to ducks and the turkey hunting is the best in the country. Camping is one of our family activities that we take advantage of any time we can.

"I could go on, but you can see how impressed I am with Missouri. I wish I had moved here earlier."

Duck hunters, like Stone, were ready for the south zone opening as mallards are now pouring into the state. More than 100,000 ducks, mostly mallards, were reported at Squaw Creek and Grand Pass Wildlife areas.

Closer to home, Four Rivers Wildlife Area reported some 90,000 ducks, while nearby Schell-Osage had 30,000 ducks in the area.

"A big difference between Vermont and Missouri is the fact that Missouri has a wide variety of hunting, fishing, camping and boating that is available to the average person all year," Stone said. "I don't miss the long winters that we had in Vermont.

"It's nice to be able to enjoy all four seasons. There is turkey and mushroom hunting in the spring, along with the good fishing, summer fishing and camping, the good hunting in the fall, bird and rabbit hunting in December and January."

As we celebrated Thanksgiving, Missourians had a lot to be thankful for. There is always an adventure to be had any time of the year.

Many outdoor activities are better now than in the past, including deer and turkey hunting, good fishing and boating, as well as better gear and places for campers to enjoy at the state's big impoundments. We are fortunate to live in a place where the beauty and bounty of the land is at our doorsteps.

Our state is impressive, with all the natural beauty, as well as all the outdoor adventures available. Floating down an Ozark stream, driving down a back road to discover everything from historic old mills to tree-covered hills in a national forest will guarantee to be scenic in any season.

"Whatever your interest, you will find something to make you happy," Stone said, as he was preparing for a early Thanksgiving morning duck hunt. "Yes, this Thanksgiving Day, we Missourians have a lot to be thankful for."

There is still a lot of hunting left this year for deer and duck hunters. Missouri hunters who didn't get that big buck they had hoped for still have until Dec. 8 to bag an antlerless deer.

The firearms alternative deer season, which includes muzzleloaders, is Dec. 21-31. Archers have until Jan. 15, 2014, to get a deer or turkey.

The duck season will continue in the north zone through Dec. 24, while the middle zone closes Dec. 31, and the south zone season -- which opened on Thanksgiving Day -- runs through Jan. 26, 2014.