How Much Is Hunting Land Worth in Missouri in 2026?

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How Much Is Hunting Land Worth in Missouri in 2026?

If you’re buying or selling hunting land in Missouri right now, this is the question everyone asks:

What’s it actually worth?

Not what your neighbor thinks.
Not what someone saw on Facebook.
Not what one big buck story suggests.

Real value comes down to data, layout, access, and demand.

Here’s how hunting land values are shaping up across Missouri in 2026.

Average Price Per Acre in Missouri (2026 Snapshot)

Hunting land prices vary by region, but generally:

• Southwest Missouri: $3,000 to $6,500 per acre
• Ozark timber tracts: $2,500 to $5,500 per acre
• North Missouri premium whitetail ground: $4,500 to $9,000+ per acre
• River bottom recreational farms: Higher depending on tillable percentage

These are broad ranges. Every tract is different.

What Actually Drives Value

1. Access

Deeded road frontage increases value.
Landlocked or questionable access lowers value immediately.

2. Layout and Usability

80 acres shaped correctly can outperform 120 acres shaped poorly.

Buyers evaluate:

• Entry and exit routes
• Stand locations
• Food plot potential
• Topography
• Wind strategy

Usable ground is valuable ground.

3. Water

Creeks, ponds, springs, or river frontage increase demand.

Year-round water is stronger than seasonal drainage.

4. Timber Quality

Marketable timber adds measurable value.
Overgrown brush does not.

Species mix and accessibility matter.

5. Income Potential

Properties with:

• Crop leases
• Cattle leases
• CRP payments

Often support stronger appraisals.

6. Improvements

Cabins, barns, utilities, fencing, gravel drives all help.

Raw timber is the hardest to finance and the hardest to move at premium pricing.

What Does Not Automatically Add Value

• A single trail cam photo
• A big buck harvested once
• A story about “what used to be there”
• Emotion

Buyers in 2026 are educated. They’re looking at comps.

Market Trends in 2026

Demand for Missouri hunting land remains strong because:

• Out of state buyers continue relocating
• Recreational land is seen as a long term asset
• Interest in self reliance and rural living is increasing
• Limited supply of quality tracts

However:

Overpriced properties are sitting longer.

Well positioned, correctly priced properties are still moving.

How to Estimate Value Properly

To determine realistic value, evaluate:

• Recent comparable land sales
• Price per acre adjusted for improvements
• Access type
• Timber value
• Water features
• Topography
• Local demand

Not all 100 acre tracts are equal.

Final Thoughts

Missouri hunting land remains one of the strongest long term rural investments in the Midwest.

But pricing it correctly in 2026 requires more than guessing.

If you’re buying:
Make sure the numbers support the land.

If you’re selling:
Price based on facts, not emotion.

Quality hunting property in Missouri will always attract buyers. The key is understanding what that quality is actually worth.