Legends of the Outdoors - Bill Cooper | Three Rivers Publishing

Largemouth bass are on a feeding spree, getting ready for winter.

If you are an experienced fisherman, you know that some days are memorable. Those are the days when everything goes right. The weather is good, distractions and interruptions are at a minimum and you … more

By Bill Cooper | 9/22/26

Kayaks are great platforms from which to fish both rivers and lakes.

Kayak’n for bass along the rivers and streams in the Ozarks

By Bill Cooper Kayaks have become the craze for anglers across the country over the last two decades. From the Alleghenies to the Keys, and from the Appalachians to the Rockies, fishermen are … more

By Bill Cooper | 9/15/26

Enjoying the Mo Vets Outdoors dove hunt

I joined three other veterans and one emergency responder from the Ft Leonard Wood area for an opening day dove hunt near Roby, Missouri. All are members of Mo Vets Outdoors. Mo Vets Outdoors, … more

By Bill Cooper | 9/8/26

Darrel Hindman (left) and Darren Hilyer (right) each outbid the crowd for a signed Ted Nugent guitar at the recent Legends of the Outdoors Banquet and induction ceremony.

Darrell Hindman Wins Ted Nugent Guitar at Legends of Outdoors

Darrell Hindman, of Living the Dream Outdoors Properties in Leasburg, placed a winning 5-digit bid for one of Ted Nugent’s guitars at the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame banquet held at … more

By Bill Cooper | 8/18/26

Don Ogden gives Spencer Hutson Gist Ranch history.

Touring Gist Ranch Conservation Area

I’ve heard of Gist Ranch, in Texas County, ever since the Missouri Department of Conservation purchased the 11,240 acre property from Smith Flooring in 1997. I had never laid eyes on it until last … more

By Bill Cooper | 8/11/26

The Buffalo River, near Ponca, Arkansas, offers some spectacular views of limestone bluffs up to 500 feet high.

Buffalo National River a Treasure

Located in the Ozark Mountains of Northern Arkansas, the Buffalo National River flows 135 miles through one of the most scenic and protected regions in the country. As the first National River in the … more

By Bill Cooper | 8/11/26

Dian Cooper enjoys a comfortable camp and good food along the Current River.

Float Camping Requires Planning

Floating season is here again. Floating one of our exquisite Ozarks streams is a favorite summertime activity in the Missouri Ozarks. Camping is equally popular. Combine the two activities and … more

By Bill Cooper | 7/28/26

Raging Floods Hit Southeast Missouri

Dreadful downpours and devastating floods have become more common in the Ozarks and around the country. From 1980 to 2024 the U.S. sustained 403 weather and climate disasters where overall damages … more

By Bill Cooper | 7/21/26

Kayaking three streams in one day

Kayaking is a rapidly growing outdoor pursuit in the Ozarks. There is no better place to enjoy this great outdoor adventure than in the Cuba-Steelville area of the Missouri Ozarks. … more

By Bill Cooper | 7/14/26

Adam and Shane Staples, and Steve Ziess appear on stage at the NWTF Convention in Nashville to receive the L. A. Dixon award on behalf of the Upper Meramec Longspurs.

Upper Meramec Longspurs Receives L.A. Dixon Award

The local National Wild Turkey Federation Chapter, the Upper Meramec Longspurs, received the prestigious L. A. Dixon Award during the 50th annual convention of the NWTF in Nashville on February … more

By Bill Cooper | 2/25/26

Jet basting in the winter has benefits including solitude, clear water and visibility.

Find some solitude on the river during the winter months

Our Ozark rivers, including the Meramec, stay packed with visiting canoers, kayakers and jet boaters during the summer months. The winter months, however, are a different story. If you need a bit of … more

By Bill Cooper | 2/18/26

The wild horses of Shannon County are a protected part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Wild horses roam free in Shannon County

The history of wild horses in Shannon County is steeped in myths and romanticism. Some contend the horses that still roam free there are descendants of stock left behind by the Spaniards. Most … more

By Bill Cooper | 2/11/26

Modern outdoor magazines are far different than the magazines of old, but still offer entertaining, informative articles.

The Best Outdoor Magazines

I began paying for my own subscription to Outdoor Life Magazine at age eight. I read every issue cover to cover several times over. Every month I walked the quarter mile to our rural mailbox in … more

By Bill Cooper | 2/4/26

Fun Winter Activities in the Ozarks

While cabin fever is not a clinical diagnosis, it’s a real thing. It’s a common winter malady of becoming “stir crazy” from being indoors too long, leading to irritability, lack of … more

By Bill Cooper | 1/28/26

Extended drought, climate change, and changing food sources are having a negative impact on duck hunting as it has been known in the past.

Where Have the Ducks Gone?

Duck hunters are concerned. Duck hunting has changed dramatically in some regions over the last decade or more and duck hunters aren’t happy. “I’ve been duck hunting for many years and … more

By Bill Cooper | 1/7/26

UTVs are extremely popular among today's outdoorsmen.

Best Christmas Gifts for the Outdoorsman in Your Family

The Christmas holidays are upon us again. It’s the greatest time of the year, when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gift giving is a grand tradition and there is no … more

By Bill Cooper | 12/17/25

Outdoor adventures are available every month of the Year in the Missouri Ozarks. You can hear about them on the Living the Dream Outdoors podcast.

Year End Reflections

The end of the year is always a time of reflection for me, and this year is no exception. It’s been a year of excitement, disappointments, new adventures, health issues and new … more

By Bill Cooper | 12/10/25

Support staff and volunteers celebrate Judy Velton’s deer harvest at the Arcadia Valley Baptist Home.

A Deer Hunt for Seniors

Arcadia Valley lies within the shadows of one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America, the St. Francois Mountains. Here, on the Ozark Plateau of Iron County, lies the scenic and historic … more

By Bill Cooper | 12/2/25

Tough Deer Season for Many Hunters

“Deer movement is unpredictable, influenced by local factors like food, rut stage, hunting pressure, and time of day, and is not easily solved,” so said an article I was reading … more

By Bill Cooper | 11/26/25

Jimmy Houston, Garry Mason, and Bill Cooper enjoyed a classic South Dakota pheasant hunt.

Legends of the Outdoors TV Hosts South Dakota Pheasant Hunt

Winner, South Dakota is just across the border from Nebraska, and is the home of Prairie Legends Outfitters. A dozen outdoorsmen from across the southern United States gathered there recently … more

By Bill Cooper | 11/19/25