I have rescued ferns from many locations in my area and transplanted those in my woodland garden or grow them in pots. Have not had a problem with them adapting to a different type of habitat, even from bogs to pots. There is a web site that lists, with photos, over 1000 native plants of Missouri, including Ferns and grasses, that may be helpful(Link below). Some of the ferns listed require special soil conditions, but since they are on your property, you could bring a large measure of soil with those when you transplant. I would look for books about native Ferns by authors John Mickel and Edgar T. Wherry.I have volumes by both and they are very helpful in identification and culture. You might also check on the Peterson Field Guide of Ferns by Broughton Cobb. It covers ferns of NE & Central NA.

Here is a link that might be useful: Missouri Plants

Thank you so very much for the information. I have that sight bookmarked now for reference.

Hubby and I go morel mushroom hunting and I'll see a fern and go........"ooooh" and he says, "Did you find one?" I'll say, "yep, but it's a fern" and he just shakes his head...........now he comes home from turkey hunting telling me how many ferns he has found.........LOL

It's a little addicting.

HHH

Easiest time to transplant or divide ferns is just before the fronds leaf out--I do it just when they start to swell. That's when it's easy to see where you can take divisions.

There's a fern forum!

Here is a link that might be useful: Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams