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Yes....
Lived in Kansas City for three seasons 2011-2013 and harvested 4 deer in the 3 years, all off public land, all within 10 miles of my doorstep ( NE Kansas City). 3 bucks and one doe. One buck and the doe were with Archery and the two others were with rifle. Remember Missouri has a 4 point rule to a side to be legal in much of the state, and where I hunted this rule was in effect. I could have taken a lot of smaller bucks during the archery season.
And the public land I hunted was almost 1000 acres and during Archery it was like my own 1000 acre farm. I NEVER saw another hunter, except during the rut I saw one maybe each year.
The walk from parking lot to the woods was almost a 1/2 mile, no bikes allowed, foot traffic only. The first buck I took was a 5.5 year old 140 incher that was close to 300 pounds live weight. Dragging him back to my truck 3/4 mile was not fun, but that is where the big guys live
Southern MO has toads as well. Check out growingdeer.tv Taney and Stone County MO really can't get much more south. Just need to do some research and be willing to hike a ways in on public land. Also, Corp land is very easy to hunt. I hunt all corp of engineer land and kayak in.
Grew up in southern MO and have archery hunted here my whole life. I hunt all public land mainly Mark Twain in southern MO around Chadwick MO and more south. Just be willing to do some hiking in. I would archery hunt because once gun season is on its the wild west and the orange army floods in. Look at Corp land too, its very easy to Kayak or boat in and leave it at the bank and hike in with a stand on your back. The Hang and Hunt method is my favorite and a lot of Corp land you will never see other hunters there if your deep enough. I have hunted the same place on Corp land for years and have never seen another hunter and around September the Conservation Department Brush Hogs paths around the other edges. Be bear aware in southern MO too black bears are becoming very common.
