Crash of F-15 Fighter Jet in Dent County May Require Hunters to Change Their Plans

First posted on 11-08-2007

Deer Hunters Will Find Part of the Mark Twain National Forest Closed

SALEM, Mo.-Deer hunters headed to the Ozarks for Missouri’s firearms deer season need to know that the Mark Twain National Forest has closed an 11-square-mile area in Dent, Iron and Reynolds counties.

The USDA Forest Service closed the area 20 miles east of Salem in response to the crash of a fighter jet in the area Nov. 2. The closure is expected to remain in effect for 45 days, while state military and federal officials investigate the crash near the Iron and Reynolds county lines.

The Missouri Air National Guard F-15-C Eagle crashed in an area south of the community of Boss. Acting Mark Twain National Forest Supervisor Paul Strong issued Closure Order 05-20 Nov. 5. Until the order is lifted, only local, state and federal officers or emergency personnel in performance of their duties will be allowed onto National Forest land in the area. Private lands are not affected by the closure order.

The November Portion of Firearms Deer Season opens Nov. 10.

“We know that this will affect some hunters’ plans,” said Salem District Ranger Thom Haines. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this will cause them.”

More information is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain/publications/regulations/mt_regs/
or by calling Forest Service Public Information Officer Bill Paxton,
(573) 429-5193. For general information about the Mark Twain National Forest, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain.