By Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (August 29, 2024) — With hunting seasons approaching fast, it’s important to know the rules that affect Fort Leonard Wood.

“Pulaski County is still a Chronic Wasting Disease management county, but there will be no mandatory sampling this season. However, it is highly encouraged that any deer harvested in the county get tested for CWD,” said Police Lt. Eric Magoon, conservation law enforcement officer with the Directorate of Emergency Services. “There will be a drop-off freezer located at the Outdoor Adventure Center again this season.”

Baiting for wildlife is prohibited on Fort Leonard Wood, and due to Pulaski County being listed as a CWD management zone, all salt products and mineral attractants are also prohibited on post, according to Magoon.

He said the No. 1 violation for three consecutive years during hunting season has been “area-access violations.”

Magoon said everyone must check in and out of open areas using the Fort Leonard Wood iSportsman website, regardless of duration or activity.

“All recreational activity is conducted via the website, from purchasing appropriate permits to determining when areas are open or closed, along with sign-in and sign-out procedures,” Magoon said. “Please remember that check-in and check-out procedures must be completed on the same day access is desired and all recreational users must display their six-digit iSportsman permit number in the front windshield of the vehicle in which they are travelling each time they are checked in.”

He said this permit number must be placed in a manner that it is easily viewable from the outside.

“Be sure to confirm check in prior to going afield and confirm check out of the area prior to 10 p.m. If multiple hunters travel in the same vehicle, all personnel afield need to have their permit displayed,” Magoon added.

Other common violations include hunting over bait, off roading, hunting in a closed area, hunter orange violations, and failure to tele-check deer as prescribed.

“This is performed through the Missouri system, not iSportman. However, hunters are still required to report harvests in iSportsman, too. Always remember to notch a deer tag immediately upon retrieving a harvest as well,” Magoon said.

Feral hog traps are always off limits to all persons, as are the hogs which may be in traps, according to Magoon.

“It is illegal to harvest a deer that enters a hog trap or to hunt near a baited feral hog trap. Feral hogs may be taken on Fort Leonard Wood only incidentally, while hunting for deer or turkey and following all legal seasons, restrictions and methods for those seasons,” he said.

Magoon pointed out there is an important change regarding turkey permits.

“Turkey permits are now separate, and the limit has been reduced to two for all seasons combined,” Magoon said.

Some of the more important hunting dates for the upcoming season include:

• Archery Deer and Turkey Season is Sept. 15 to Nov. 15, and Nov. 27 to Jan. 15;
• Fall Turkey Firearm Season is Oct. 1 to 31;
• Firearm Antlerless Deer Seasons are Oct. 11 to 13, and Dec. 7 to 15;
• Youth Firearm Deer Season is Nov. 2 and 3, and Nov. 29 to Dec. 1;
• Firearm Deer Season (November portion) is Nov. 16 to 26;
• Firearm Deer Season (CWD portion) is Nov. 27 Nov to Dec. 1;
• Alternative Methods Season is Dec. 28 to Jan. 7.

The following permits are required in addition to state issued permits to hunt deer and turkey, depending on the season:

• 2024 Archery Deer and Turkey Permit is $12.
• 2024 Cantonment Archery Permit is $12.
• 2024 Firearm Deer Permit is $12.
• 2024 Firearm Turkey Permit is $12.
• 2024 Combo Permit, which includes hunting, fishing, archery deer and turkey, firearm deer and turkey, and cantonment archery, is $60.

Magoon said it is the hunter’s responsibility while afield to provide both state and Fort Leonard Wood permits for inspection by conservation law enforcement officers.

“Many times, hunters are unable to pull up their digital permits on the Missouri Hunting app while afield, so it is recommended, but not required, that everyone keep on them a paper copy of their Missouri State Deer and Turkey hunting permits,” Magoon said.

Upon registration with iSportsman, there is a required annual safety brief and quiz prior to being able to purchase Fort Leonard Wood recreational permits, including hunting permits.

There are eight permanent ground blinds, located in Hunting Areas 3, 5 (East), 5 (West), 7, 14, 26A, 32 and 36A. These are available for use by all patrons, on a first-come basis and require check in and check out through iSportsman. However, they are designed primarily for disabled hunters, so it is expected that able-bodied hunters defer use.

Firearms turkey and waterfowl hunters should remember that shotguns capable of holding more than three shells in a magazine and chamber combined are prohibited.

The Missouri Wildlife Code requires all unattended tree stands be labeled with full name, address and telephone number, or conservation ID number. Permanent tree stands are not authorized on post. Temporary tree stands include, but are not limited to, ladder stands, climbing stands and hang-on stands not affixed to trees with nails, screws or other permanent fixtures.

All other recreational activity that may occur outside the cantonment area is governed by FLW 210-21, which can be found here. For activities other than hunting and fishing, it is required that those recreating outdoors register on iSportsman and obtain the Outdoor Recreation Permit. This enables individuals to check in and out of areas and participate in activities, such as picking berries or mushrooms, riding horses, hiking, cycling, bird watching and searching for shed antlers.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the potential to have an encounter with black bears has increased dramatically over the past several years, with numerous confirmed reports. Black bears were released in Arkansas in the 1950s, and they have slowly returned to the Missouri Ozarks. Most bear reports and sightings are of young males, averaging 60 to 90 pounds, foraging and looking to establish new range. They typically move at dawn and dusk, are very wary of human activity and tend to scare easily. However, bear activity changes dramatically as winter approaches. They will be highly focused on consuming as much food as possible, and it may become easier to walk up on a feeding bear. Black bears in Missouri are protected and cannot be hunted, possessed or pursued unless selected for the state management lottery hunt. In any instance with a bear encounter, stand tall and make noise. Everyone is encouraged to visit their website for more information.

It is always good practice to review the 2024 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulation prior to the season starting, which can be found here.

Organizations on post can also request Conservation Law Enforcement to provide a 60-minute overview of Fort Leonard Wood’s hunting and fishing regulation. Call 573.596.5002 or 573.528.8136, or email

usarmy.leonardwood.id-training.mbx.usag-flw-des-cleo@army.mil for more information.

usarmy.leonardwood.id-training.mbx.usag-flw-des-cleo@army.mil for more information. usarmy.leonardwood.id-training.mbx.usag-flw-des-cleo@army.mil for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About Fort Leonard Wood

Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.

Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.