Located in the Midwestern United States, Missouri is a state filled with outstanding hunting opportunities and a blend of hunting cultures from both the Midwest and South. Its diverse terrain includes the open, rolling hills of the Great Plains north of the Missouri River, and, in the southern part of the state, the still-wild and heavily forested Ozark Mountains. The rugged Ozarks are mostly covered with oak-hickory forest, with some open areas in the bottomlands. White-tailed deer and wild turkeys are the headline species in Missouri, but the state also boasts hunting opportunities for many other species, including a variety of small game, furbearers, upland birds, and waterfowl. Turkeys are hunted in Missouri in both spring and fall. White-tailed deer trophy quality in Missouri is historically very good, although the state is not as famous as some of its neighbors for B&C-quality racks. The northern counties have historically been the best areas to find exceptional trophy bucks. Deer hunting is conducted in a variety of ways, including stand-hunting, still-hunting, and putting on drives. Hunting over bait is prohibited. Hunter orange is required during the firearms deer season, and antler-point restrictions apply in some counties. For detailed information about hunting in Missouri, regulations, and licensing, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation (huntfish.mdc.mo.gov).