Schell-Osage and Four Rivers conservation areas boast rich duck hunting tradition

Wesley Lillard displays a teal he shot, on opening day of the duck season, Nov. 4 at the Schell-Osage Conservation Area. On opening day, Lillard found the hunting to be very good, and took his limit to start off the season.

Ken White | Daily Mail

With the duck season opening last weekend, area waterfowl hunters are excited about the conditions on conservation areas — including Schell-Osage, located in St. Clair and Vernon counties near Schell City, where more than 10,000 ducks were (present) for opening weekend.

“We had a great hunt on opening day,” said Springfield resident, Mark Campbell. “We got out there early and, only hunted about an hour, and all three of us had our limit. We like the Schell-Osage Conservation Area and hunt here a lot. Sometimes we camp out and other times we drive up from Springfield. I guess we must hunt here around 30 times during duck season. Most of the ducks we shot were green wing teal; the big ducks will be here later.”

The prospects of a good waterfowl season in Missouri has optimism running high. A third straight year of big flights of ducks heading south each fall has hunters excited, as the water and food conditions are at a high level. This helps hold the migrating birds around for awhile.

Matt Campbell, of Springfield, displays ducks he shot on opening day of the 2017 duck season at the Schell-Osage Conservation Area.

Ken White | Daily Mail

Cool temperatures in the north central United States as well as south central Canada, jump-start the birds flying south toward Missouri. Once they get here, they look for good habitat and food. If they find these requirements, they stay for awhile, otherwise they keep moving southward.

This fall there has been enough rain to fill ponds and marshes, fueling the growth of seed-bearing plants, which provide food for the migrating ducks. With continued normal rainfall, the birds should find conditions favorable for an extended stay in the Show-Me-State.

Schell-Osage and Four Rivers Conservation Areas are the favorite duck hunting spots for many area duck hunters. Schell-Osage is one of the oldest wetland conservation areas in the state. It opened for waterfowl hunting back in 1964. Over the years, both ducks and hunters have been able to enjoy this stopover location for more than 50 waterfowl seasons. Schell-Osage Conservation Area has a total of 8,635 acres, with more than 1,400 acres of wetland. It is an important area with a rich tradition.

The biggest challenge at this popular hunting spot lies in the wake of Truman Lake. This large U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project has resulted in floods of greater frequency, through elevation and duration. This has resulted in major changes in Schell-Osage Conservation Area. Restoration plans will focus on aged wetland management structures and establishment of early succession wetlands, wet prairies and bottomland.

Four Rivers Conservation Area is just a few miles north of Schell-Osage, located south of Rich Hill and east of U.S. Interstate 49 (previously I-71). It received its name from the four rivers — the Little Osage, Marmaton, Marais des Cygnes and Osage rivers. This area has been a good waterfowl spot for years. It was dedicated in October 2001. It covers nearly 14,000 acres in parts of Vernon and Bates counties, and is primarily open bottomland with some large tracks of bottomland timber. It has more than 21 miles of stream frontage.

Many area duck hunters say this area has been a good waterfowl spot for years. They have taught their sons and grandsons how to hunt ducks along the Osage River. The veteran hunters say it has always been a good place to hunt ducks, with some years better that others. But there has always been ducks around in the fall. They agree that the addition of Four Rivers Conservation Area has been a good thing for both the ducks and the duck hunters.

Duck hunting at both conservation areas, located in the middle zone, have a split season, which ran from Nov. 4-10, and will start again Nov. 16 and run thorugh Jan. 7.

For more information on Schell-Osage Conservation Area, call 417-432-3414, or 417-876-5226. For additional info related to Four Rivers Conservation Area, call 417-395-2341, or 417-876-5226

Happy Hunting !