Ozarks (Rural)
Hunting and fishing follow MDC rules and the trout zones
Fishing the Current and hunting the surrounding public land both run on Missouri Department of Conservation permits and special area rules that catch newcomers off guard.
The Current River and the public land around Carter County are a draw for anglers and hunters, and both run on Missouri Department of Conservation rules. The Current is spring-fed and cold, but the trout zones are upstream, not here: MDC’s designated trout management areas on the Current are the Blue Ribbon area in Dent County and the White Ribbon area in Shannon County, well above Van Buren. The Carter County reach near Van Buren, from town down toward the Arkansas line, is warmwater fishing for smallmouth bass, walleye, and suckers instead. Hunting is open at MDC areas in the county such as Peck Ranch Conservation Area, home to Missouri’s elk herd, and Carter Creek Conservation Area east of Van Buren. Seasons, permits, and methods are set statewide by MDC, while the land you are on, national forest, a conservation area, or the National Park Service river corridor at Big Spring south of Van Buren, may add its own rules. The practical step is to buy the right MDC permit, check the regulations for the specific water or area you plan to use, and confirm who manages the tract before you go, since season dates and area rules change each year.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Carter County. See every local note for the county on its page.