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“We are just around the corner from regular gun and black powder gun seasons, when Mark Twain National Forest is filled with hunters.  We want to remind people to be careful,” said Mark Twain National Forest Deputy Forest Supervisor Teresa Chase. “Be sure of what you’re shooting, and be courteous to other hunters.  When it’s all said and done, success is when everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.”

Mark Twain National Forest visitors will have free day use at forest recreation sites Friday, November 11, 2011 through Sunday, November 13, 2011, as well as free camping on Friday, November 11, 2011 and Saturday, November 12, 2011. This is being offered in honor of US military personnel, veterans and their families as part of November 11, 2011 Veteran’s Day.

The free day use is at North Fork Recreation Area, along the North Fork of the White River in Ozark County; Markham Springs Recreation Area, along the Black River in Wayne County, and Deer Leap Boat Launch on Current River outside of Doniphan in Ripley County.

Free camping is for non-reserved sites at Cobb Ridge Campground in the Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Area in Christian County.

Many other campgrounds and day use areas are open year-around with no fees, including day use river accesses on the Eleven Point Scenic River; Watercress boat access on the Current River; all recreation areas on Cedar Creek Ranger District in Calloway County, and Berryman Recreation Area in Washington County.

Hunters and campers are reminded that the fall and spring hunting seasons are also the peak fire seasons in Missouri’s Ozarks. These are the times when wild fires are most likely to occur due to dry conditions and the abundance of dry, burnable forest fuels.

Mark Twain National Forest’s fall fire season generally starts around October 10 and ends around December 10.

Here are a few simple rules to make your National Forest visit safe and enjoyable:

• Keep camp fires away from low overhanging branches.
• Use an existing fire ring if possible.  If not, establish one using rocks around your campsite.
• Clear at least a 5-foot area around the fire ring, removing all burnable leaves and debris down to the mineral soil.
• Avoid building campfires on dry, windy days.
• Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby in case of an emergency.
• Stack your firewood upwind and well away from the campfire.
• NEVER leave a campfire unattended.
• DO NOT bury coals.  They can smolder for hours, even days, and surface again to start a forest fire.
• When you leave, make sure the campfire is completely out by drowning the fire and surrounding area with water; stir the campfire with a shovel or stick, and pour water on it again until the fire is cold to the touch.

Be sure to check for dead trees and limbs where you are camping or hunting, especially in areas that have been recently prescribed burned or had a wildfire.  Dead limbs and trees can pose a safety hazard, falling on you, your vehicle or on your camper or tent.

All Missouri Department of Conservation laws are in effect on Mark Twain National Forest.   State and federal law enforcement officers are working with forest officials to enforce rules relating to issues that occur year after year.  These illegal activities include:

• Baiting game species on the national forests.
• Shooting from or across a county, state or federally-maintained road.
• Possessing or consuming alcohol during any hunting activity, or while operating a motorized vehicle, including off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

Hunters are also reminded that:

• All hunting stands must have the owner’s name and address affixed.  Stands must be removed from the forest two weeks after the end of the bow hunting season, which ends January 15, 2012.
• Campsites may be in place for up to 14 days as long as they are occupied.  At the end of the 14 day period, campsites must be completely dismantled and moved off government lands for at least 7 days.  The 14-day period begins the first day any item is placed at the campsite.  Campsites may not be reserved.

Mark Twain National Forest visitors are asked to follow rules that govern motor vehicle use on National Forest System lands.

You may ride on these Forest Service Roads in counties where ATV or UTV county permits are issued providing you abide by Missouri State motor vehicle regulations. Not all counties encompassing the Mark Twain NF offer permits.  Motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs must meet Missouri State motor vehicle regulations to be allowed on open Forest Service numbered roads.

Open Forest Service numbered roads will be physically numbered with a post or sign.  Roads not shown as open on the forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) may not be ridden or driven.  These regulations can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf.  Click on the Recreation Tab on the left hand side of the web page.

Motorized Vehicles are NOT permitted off routes depicted on the MVUM, as “Open to Highway Legal Vehicles”. The MVUM can be viewed and downloaded at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mtnf/map/mvum.

OHV operators can pick up a free MVUM at the Ranger District office nearest the area where riding, or at Mark Twain National Forest Supervisor’s office in Rolla.

For more information on hunting the Mark Twain National Forest consult the hunting regulations published by Missouri Department of Conservation  http://mdc.mo.gov/.

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