JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With fall hunting seasons underway, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters to check the status of their favorite hunting spots before venturing into the outdoors -- particularly if they use private properties enrolled in the Department’s Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program (MRAP). 

MRAP provides incentives for private landowners to allow fishing, hunting, and/or wildlife viewing by the public on their lands. The program is funded through the federal Farm Bill from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). MRAP includes more than 40 properties around the state. Regulations and allowed activities for each MRAP property are posted on bulletin boards onsite. 

“MRAP is supported by a grant from the USDA Farm Bill called the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program,” explained MDC Private Lands Program Supervisor Lisa Potter. “We’ve recently had some properties leave the program because the lack of available federal grant funding.”

The following MRAP properties have recently withdrawn from the program and are no longer open to public use:

• SF Tract in Gentry County (will close Nov. 1)
• Twin Chimneys Tract in Howell County
• Uncle Doolittle Farm Tract in Reynolds County
• Highway E. North and South Tracts in Iron County
• Arcadia Woods Tract in Iron County
• Little Creek Tract in Bollinger County
• Hieber Woods Tract in Cape Girardeau County

Additional properties may withdraw from the program. MDC encourages hunters and others to check the MRAP listing map at mdc.mo.gov/mrap before making their fall outdoor plans. 

Hunters and others can also use the MDC Places to Go online feature at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places to find MDC conservation areas available for a variety of outdoor activities.