Other Activities

Choose from the following to find a site:

• Geocaching & Letterboxing

Paintball and Airsoft Weapons

Are allowed in the Mark Twain National Forest as long as the guidelines for firearms is followed. Are not allowed within developed recreational areas, caves, or other areas where discharging of firearms is prohibited. Firearms may not be used within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area and on National Forest System roads or water body whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge. We discourage the use of non-biodegradable ammunition, and use along trails, trail beds, boat launches, and other concentrated use areas. Games and other organized activities would be subject to the same special use permit requirements as other recreational events (need a permit for total of 75 or more, or charging a fee to participate). It is prohibited to construct any type of “course” and/or leaving any type of trash or type of litter behind.

Root Diggers & Plant Collectors

A number of laws and regulations govern the digging or taking of plants or plant parts in Missouri. Common law considers plants to be the property of the landowner. Therefore, plants may be legally taken only with the landowner's permission, with the exception of rare or endangered species.

Public lands in Missouri are managed by a number of agencies, and restrictions on the digging or taking of plants vary. The regulations of several public agencies are summarized below. If you have questions about the legality of collecting plants from any site, you should contact the landowner or managing public agency for specific information.

The guidelines below do not pertain to timber management practices on public lands where various policies govern commercial harvest and firewood cutting.

U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Manages National Wildlife Refuges - No digging or taking of plants or plant parts is allowed, except that small quantities of fruits, berries, and nuts may be gathered for personal consumption.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Manages State Parks, State Historic Sites, and many State Natural Areas - No digging or taking of plants or plant parts is allowed, except that wild fruits may be picked for personal consumption at the site. These fruits may not be carried outside the park or historic site.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Manages land around most of Missouri's large lakes and reservoirs as well as along the Mississippi River - No digging or taking of plants or plant parts is allowed.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Manages Mark Twain National Forest land which includes several Wilderness Areas - No digging of roots or taking of plants is allowed. The taking of berries and nuts for personal consumption is allowed. Commercial collecting is prohibited.

U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service - Manages Scenic Riverways, National Battlefields, and National Monuments - No digging or taking of plants is allowed. Small quantities of certain fruits, berries and nuts may be gathered for personal consumption only as designated by each area's superintendent.

Missouri Department of Highways and Transportation Manages state and interstate highway rights-of-way - prohibits the digging of plants from roadsides of state and interstate highways.

County Public Works Departments - Road and Bridge Divisions Manages county road rights-of-way -prohibits the digging of plants from county roadsides.