Float Hunting

[ozark trout fisher]

I was really hoping to get some advice on what might be a good floating/deer hunting/ fishing stream this fall. Here are a few things it would need to work

1. Significant Public Land along the river

2.Decent deer population in the area (duh)

3. Some halfway decent fishing to enjoy between hunting stops. I don't care if its trout, smallmouth, largemouth, or even catfish.

4. A stream that's pretty tame, so I don't tip my boat and ruin my gun.

All these this criteria leads to three possibilities for me.

1. The Eleven Point from Greer to SH 142,

2. Current River Baptist to Van Buren

3. Upper Jacks Fork

4. Chariton River in Rebels Cove Conservation area (way up in northern Missouri, just south of Iowa, apparently there is good deer hunting and decent catfishing)

I'm leaning towards the Eleven Point from Greer to Whitten. It has all the public land I need and more, decent deer populations presumably, and off course excellent trout fishing, not to mention the region's best scenery. Sounds like a good fit. But I'm willing to consider other options.

If anyone has some other stream stretches that might work, or some how to tips, I would be ever so happy to hear them. I have only been hunting deer for a few years, and this float hunting thing is totally new to me. It sounds like a blast (pun intended).

[Wayne SW/MO]

Personally I would think the deciding factor would be the roads in the area. If they are far from the river then their use would benefit you.

[Brian Sloss]

On the Eleven Point, you might consider taking a route past White's Creek float camp( just below Whitten). You could use that as a deer camp that puts you on the doorstep of the Irish Wilderness (16000+ acres). There is no drive in access at that camp, so it is private as can be. There is a good shoal there for fishing as well.

[Gavin]

I've done quite a bit of floating during deer season...I usually see lots of folks out on the Meramec in Woodson Conservation area...most jet up, but some canoe. Upper 11pt see's some traffic but not as much...maybe two or three jet boats with hunters when I've floated it during rifle deer season. There is a good population of deer on the Upper Current too. Pretty rare when we dont see several of them and lots of deer sign between the park and Cedargrove. Good luck.

[shaker]

Don't know if you would consisder West-central mo. but the Sac river has a lot of the things you are looking at plus some pigs! I would look at starting at Caplinger and go north there are several roads that cross the river here and there, not much access other than that. It would be a put in and take out on your own as I don't think that there are any outfitters that work the river.

[Deer Slayer]

I've done quite a bit of floating during deer season...I usually see lots of folks out on the Meramec in Woodson Conservation area...most jet up, but some canoe. Upper 11pt see's some traffic but not as much...maybe two or three jet boats with hunters when I've floated it during rifle deer season. There is a good population of deer on the Upper Current too. Pretty rare when we dont see several of them and lots of deer sign between the park and Cedargrove. Good luck.

There is no Gun Hunting allowed in Woodson K Woods. Archery only!

[Gavin]

Thanks for the clarification...I dont hunt deer and I dont pay attention to the deer regs. FWIW, the folks I've seen hunting in the WKW have appeared to be bow hunters.

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks for the clarification...I dont hunt deer and I dont pay attention to the deer regs. FWIW, the folks I've seen hunting in the WKW have appeared to be bow hunters.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Decisions, decisions....

I don't bow hunt, so the Meramec is probably out, but all the other options sound great. Thanks again.

[taxidermist]

Buffalo River is a no go, no shooting from or across the river. Feds changec the law from when the formed the river.

[ozark trout fisher]

Buffalo River is a no go, no shooting from or across the river. Feds changec the law from when the formed the river.

I was planning on fishing out of the canoe, but getting out and going hunting anyway. The Buffalo seems a bit far though.... Plus the out of state license would be kinda prohibitively expensive.

Thanks for the info.

I know this sounds silly, but I don't mind floating in an area where the deer hunting isn't exactly prime. I've been hunting for 4 years out here, and only ever harvested one deer, a small doe. That gives you an idea of my intensity level when it comes to hunting.... I just wanted to try something different than the stand hunting I usually do. I wonder how many deer have walked past my stand while I've been asleep???

Plus fishing, in my humble opinion, is way better, and it just seems like a good idea to incorporate a bit of it into deer hunting.