I hunt in Hickory County. Crosstimbers to be exact. Bout 65miles N of springfield. Its a family friend ranch/farm, they run a intensive grazing program and hate deer so I have the run of the place. Its 2000ac but I hold up in a block of 40ac that he never touches cuz its so steep and has deep coolies and cuts. The ridges are beautiful and full of hard timber. I absolutely love MO and if I could make a living there I would buy some land in that county. BTW- The ranch backs up to the lucas oil family farm which is huge. Lots of pressure on opening days, I hear gun shots everywhere. A lot of locals do deer drives or pushes. That normally puts the deer hiding and scatters them out good. Ive been able to harvest several doe and shot a 8pt (120class) on my last day in 2010 and the neighbor found a 8pt dead several days after so he saved the horns for me. I bleached them in 2011 and hung them up
If you know someone in the area they are welcome but if your an outsider not so much. I really like the area and the way they live. Its a country boy life out there and most families are Mennonites.