You should also check the regs closely to see if the 4 tine on one side restriction is in effect where you plan to hunt. I am guessing that it is, and that is a good thing if you are wanting to see a good buck. MO seems to really have the deer management figured out. I was stationed on the west side of the state as my last base and had great luck killing deer there. A 125+ inch buck on public land is not an easy task though... I hope you can get up there and do plenty of scouting prior to the season. Tags are very easy to buy there, but make sure you have your hunters safety license and everything with you when you go there. I was fortunate enough to get resident tags, due to being stationed there. Good luck though! Plenty of big bucks in MO.