USACE Wildlife Management Area General Hunting Information

Hunting is allowed on all USACE WMAs except where specifically prohibited. Prohibited areas include but are not limited to parking areas, and areas where hunting activities are incompatible or unsafe. All hunting on USACE WMAs shall be in accordance with the following policies in addition to other applicable Federal and State Regulations governing such activities.   

Waterfowl & Hunting Blind Policy

Hunters wishing to use a blind to hunt may do so under the following guidelines:

  1. Boat based blinds and hunts are permitted on the Missouri River.  All state regulations apply.
  2. Daily blinds and hunts are permitted except where hunting is otherwise prohibited.
  3. For safety, a buffer zone between all blinds and hunting parties is required.  
  4. Construction of floating blinds is prohibited. Layout boats are permitted.
  5. The use of steel posts, tin sheets, dimensional lumber, plywood, plastic ties and wire is prohibited.
  6. Shore blinds may be constructed from natural materials including driftwood, grass, weeds and live willow trees or cottonwood less than 6 feet high gathered from around the site.  Do not cut any other species of live trees or standing dead trees of any size. Man made materials such as camouflage cloth, and burlap are permitted.
  7. Blinds not made of natural materials must be removed by March 1st of the following calendar year.
  8. Personal property, including spent ammunition, must be removed from the project daily. Unattended property may be impounded and a fee assessed for its return or a violation notice issued requiring the payment of a fine. 

Tree Stand Policy

Hunters wishing to use a tree stand to hunt may do so under the following guidelines:

  1. Only portable tree stands and ladders may be utilized.
  2. Unattended stands must be plainly labeled on a durable material with the owner’s full name and address.
  3. Tree stands may be placed between September 1st and January 31st.  Stands must be removed by March 1st.
  4. Use of nails, screw in steps, and any other material or method that would damage the tree is prohibited. 
  5. Personal property must be removed from the project daily.  Unattended property may be impounded and a fee assessed for its return.

Trapping Policy

Persons wishing to trap on project lands must contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Area Office at 816-240-8131. Limited trapping is allowed in specific areas. 

Trapping with dog-proof style and other traps is allowed.  The trapping of furbearers on public lands and waters shall be in accordance with the following policy in addition to other applicable Federal and State Regulations governing such activities. 

Traps:

  1. May be placed and set for furbearers on the first day of the current trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of trapping season.
  2. Must have smooth or rubber jaws only, and may include foot-hold, Conibear, or other killing-type, foot-enclosing-type, cage-type, colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide, snares set underwater only, and cable restraint devices.
  3. Must be plainly labeled on durable material with the user’s full name and address.
  4. Wildlife must be removed or released from traps daily, except for colony and killing-type traps, which must be checked every 48 hours.
  5. May not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals. Killing-type traps may not be set along roadways.

Conibear or Killing-type traps must comply with the following:

  1. Traps with a jaw spread greater than 6 inches are NOT allowed.
  2. Maximum jaw spread of 6 inches (#160), may be set underwater, but not in any dry land set.
  3. Maximum jaw spread of 4.5 inches (#110), may be set underwater and in a dry land set.

Snares must comply with the following:

  1. Be set underwater.
  2. Have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set.
  3. Have a stop device that prevents the snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
  4. Be made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter.
  5. Have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.