HUNTING IN THE LAKE AREA
For hunters, perhaps the most important thing about the Clearwater Lake area is the abundance of places to hunt. Nearly 40 per cent of the land in the area is publicly owned and virtually all of it is open to hunting.
Right at the lake, for example, hunting is permitted almost everywhere outside of developed recreation sites. That's about 16,100 acres. And it is joined by an abundance of state conservation areas - Wayne County, Reynolds County. And nearby is the Mark Twain National Forest. There's 80,000 acres in the Poplar Bluff District alone!
Whitetail deer are abundant and are the most sought after game. Archery season for them is four months long. The regular firearms deer season opens in mid-November. There's also a special youth season, and a muzzleloader season.
Wild turkeys are also popular targets for hunters. There's the popular spring gobbler season, but also a month-long season in the fall.
Waterfowl hunting at Clearwater itself depends on water conditions in the fall. But even with low water, there's good duck hunting just a short drive away at two state areas - Duck Creek and Otter Slough Conservation areas.
Small game is dominated by squirrel hunting. Squirrels are abundant in the forests of the area. Cottontail rabbits and quail are abundant in more open area.
