Missouri Quail Hunting

Missouri quail hunting has historically been our best quail hunting compared to our Iowa and Kansas quail regions. It is best along the northern half where the Lower Missouri River Basin's good soil and rainfall brings large grains of soybean and corn. It is first this row crop farming plus the many miles of rivers, streams, tributaries and drainages that creates miles of quail covey holding edge cover.

Periods when Missouri's quail hunting is less than that of Kansas are those years when adverse chick survival weather occurs May through October. As weather cycles change over decades that best Missouri quail hunting could come the next pup's first season. By the next pup the better region may be Kansas. This is one advantage of this Association. If/when Missouri quail numbers decline it is unlikely that Kansas quail numbers will be low. It has been our history that from our south Iowa, through north Missouri out to western Kansas we do not have good quail hunting everywhere. There will be one region better than another from year to year.

Missouri's early to cool weather does make it more attractive as compared to Kansas later into the season warmer temperatures. As winter starts to close in the snow line often is somewhere through north Missouri.

Just north of the snow line typically offers low ground accumulation snow making for firm roads and fields. Vehicle transport and field walking being much easier than what may be mud conditions south of the snow line.

On years when there is too much snow in southern Iowa and the upper north of Missouri a bit of travel south usually lends to better field conditions.

This Association generally has in excess of 80,000 acres of Missouri private land hunting. See the Association Missouri private land acreage map.

What Mid-America Hunting Association Brings To Missouri Quail Hunting

Mid-America Hunting Association contributions to Missouri quail hunts are first and foremost private land quail hunting access. This is without the time loss of knocking on doors. It is the avoidance of public hunting lands hunter mentality. Our quail hunters will be quail hunting throughout the entire daylight hours. They do so without mixing their dogs with others.

All hunts are self guided. We will recommend to the new Association hunter to the point where to park his truck, put out dogs and hunt. After that, the hunter hunts on his own. See an upland bird hunting unit of land.

All may hunt as often as desired compliant to Missouri State and MAHA regulations.

Missouri quail hunting benefits include the Missouri quail season is open to non-residents for the entire season. Missouri does not have shooting hours.

Missouri has miles of soft edge quail habitat of the narrow band of low to the ground cover between wooded areas and grain crop fields. These edges are fence line property boundaries, in-field waterways, pond in/out flow areas and such.

Those with the willingness to walk, shooting ability and dog power will be hunting coveys and singles every day.

Missouri Consequences

Missouri quail hunting consequences while few do impact quail hunt quality. The early part of the November portion of the Missouri quail season is typically warm. Many November days will be warm to the point both dogs and hunters will be slowed down.

Conversely Missouri has plenty of water in the fields. Ponds, streams and low ground are typically with water. This may be contrasted to that of Kansas. A Kansas quail hunt will require the hunter to carry water for his dogs. That water requirement would be for every spot hunted. Missouri quail hunters frequently do not carry any water due to the frequency natural water is found.

There is a period during Missouri quail hunting season most quail hunters avoid. This is the two week period each year in the middle of November while the modern rifle deer season is on. Missouri being an over the counter deer tag state and surrounded by Kansas City, Saint Louis and Des Monies Iowa gives many city dwellers a chance to deer hunt. During this two weeks most quail hunters hunt Association Iowa or Kansas quail.

For those upland bird hunters who have dogs that like turkeys Missouri will offer plenty. Anywhere Missouri quail will be found so will be turkeys. Large flocks of turkeys that are well accustomed to evading coyotes.

Pheasants

Missouri does offer limited pheasant hunting. The best of it is the northern tier counties along the Iowa State line. They are not frequently encountered as Missouri does not offer the large open grass lands pheasants need for ground habitation. Missouri's farm land is too valuable in terms of soil fertility and rainfall to enroll into CRP any land that can be farmed for soybean and corn.

Where pheasants may be encountered will be the grass and low brush waterways cutting through row crop fields. Bagging a pheasant would be a bonus to what is otherwise predominately quail hunting cover.

Dogs

In terms of dog hazards Missouri quail hunting is rather uneventful. As with all of our quail regions barb wire fence encounters account for the most veterinary visits. Snakes are few and rarely seen. To date snake bites have not been reported.

The Honey Locust thorn found in Kansas is less encountered in Missouri.

No cactus any where in Missouri. Or, sand bur for that matter.

Cockle Burs will be the most annoyance to be encountered. That is once turkey chasing is overcome.