Major League Archery isn't a traditional outfitter—it's a membership-based whitetail bow hunting community. Founded by Brian "Smitty" Smith and now in its inaugural 2025-26 season, this SW Missouri operation fundamentally rethinks what a hunting club can be. "There is absolutely nothing out there th...
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Full description and what we offer
Major League Archery isn't a traditional outfitter—it's a membership-based whitetail bow hunting community. Founded by Brian "Smitty" Smith and now in its inaugural 2025-26 season, this SW Missouri operation fundamentally rethinks what a hunting club can be.
"There is absolutely nothing out there that remotely resembles what we are trying to accomplish here at Major League Archery. We truly challenge the bow hunter to just be better." — Brian D. Smith
Major League Archery operates differently than typical hunting outfitters:
Major League Archery controls 2,340 acres of diverse SW Missouri whitetail habitat spread across seven different farms in Barton County near Lamar:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Season | Sept 15 – End of MO bow season |
| Days per membership | 14 days (flexible dates) |
| Bonus days | 2 additional days earned by harvesting 2 does before Oct 31 |
| Annual cost | $5,900 (monthly payment plans available) |
| Gold upgrade | $2,000–$3,000 for first 6 days of rifle season (limited to 3 members) |
| Gold membership total | $9,500 |
| Payment schedule | 25% due by March 31; 25% due by June 15; balance by August 1 |
| Blackout dates | 2 days before rifle season through Tuesday after Thanksgiving |
| Late-season hunting | Open period after Thanksgiving; max 8 of 12 days allowed then |
Loyalty Discount: Members who renew for three consecutive seasons receive 50% off their fourth year.
Trent Baugh, full-time habitat manager and Farm/Land General Manager, oversees property maintenance with a boots-on-ground approach. His focus:
Major League Archery runs approximately 60 trail cameras from late summer through one month after bow season. Camera access is controlled:
Members can stay at the well-appointed lodge on the farm for $60 per night. Reservations required at least 5 days in advance. Maximum capacity: 8 members at once. The club does not provide meals.
Every member automatically qualifies for the competitive payback system. Cash awards and incentives help manage the deer herd, build age structure, and reward ethical, disciplined hunting. All payouts are issued as 1099 income (or can be credited to next year's membership to avoid tax liability).
Major League Archery is grounded in faith, family, and conservation. The operation reflects values of ethical hunting, land stewardship, and building long-term relationships with members who return year after year. The club's mission is explicit: provide conservation-minded bow hunters an opportunity to hunt superior whitetail habitat under controlled pressure while earning money back for exercising discipline and hunting alongside like-minded hunters.
The club is currently accepting applications for 2025-26 inaugural memberships. Interested hunters should expect a personal interview as part of the selection process.
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