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Kansas City Region · MDC rules 2026-27
Vernon County Hunting
Hunting Vernon County in 2026-27: the county deer rules MDC set for 2026, deer and turkey harvest by year, CWD testing results, 15 listed public areas and the help close to Nevada.
Photo: Nick Varvel (CC BY 2.0)
How MDC rules apply in Vernon County
With Nevada as its seat, Vernon County spans 826 square miles of the Kansas City metro and the Osage Plains west of the Missouri River bend. Roughly 19,787 residents share it, after a +0.4% change since the 2020 count. Vernon County carries a 4 deer fill limit for firearms antlerless permits in 2026. Antlerless-only firearms days return to Vernon County on Oct. 9-11 and again on Dec. 5-13. MDC lists Vernon County under the feed and mineral ban, so deer feed and mineral sites are illegal here all year. Deer donated to Share the Harvest from Vernon County must be CWD tested first; participating processors handle the test. Vernon County was inside the CWD Management Zone in 2025-26; MDC removed the zone, the CWD portion and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
| Item | In Vernon | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless fill limit | 4 deer | All firearms portions |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Oct. 9-11, Dec. 5-13 |
| Mandatory CWD sampling | Not this year | Day of harvest |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes | Year-round |
| Share the Harvest test | Required | Before donating |
| November dog rule | No | November portion, daylight |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Oct. 1-31 |
| Elk hunting county | No | Carter, Reynolds, Shannon |
| Black Bear Management Zone | 3 | Oct. 17-30, by permit |
| Waterfowl zone (map layer) | Middle / South | 2021-2025 layer |
| SE flood closure zone | None | Gauge-based |
| CWD portion | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
| Antler-point restriction | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
County rules from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county table, the Wildlife Code 3 CSR 10-7 (antlerless limits and portions), CWD rules and stations, fall turkey counties, dog rule, bear digest, waterfowl digest. Checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Vernon County
Vernon County deer harvest, 2015 to 2025
MDC counted 3,131 deer from Vernon County for 2025, with 1,210 does and 1,709 antlered bucks. Compared with 3,183 in 2024, the count moved -2%. 2022 tops the chart at 3,427 deer, while 2017 sits at the bottom with 2,568. Statewide, Vernon County came 33rd of 114 by deer checked in 2025. Archery accounted for 714 deer (23%) and the November portion for 1,694.
| Year | Antlered bucks | Buttons | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,709 | 212 | 1,210 | 3,131 |
| 2024 | 1,811 | 174 | 1,198 | 3,183 |
| 2023 | 1,569 | 236 | 1,392 | 3,197 |
| 2022 | 1,678 | 298 | 1,451 | 3,427 |
| 2021 | 1,580 | 228 | 1,170 | 2,978 |
| 2020 | 1,641 | 247 | 1,216 | 3,104 |
| 2019 | 1,316 | 221 | 1,150 | 2,687 |
| 2018 | 1,308 | 332 | 1,213 | 2,853 |
| 2017 | 1,243 | 290 | 1,035 | 2,568 |
| 2016 | 1,186 | 290 | 1,134 | 2,610 |
| 2015 | 1,176 | 320 | 1,182 | 2,678 |
Vernon County harvest split by season portion
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 721 | 714 |
| Early youth | 147 | 179 |
| Early antlerless | 37 | 38 |
| Opening weekend* | 807 | 729 |
| November portion | 1,868 | 1,694 |
| CWD portion | 188 | 227 |
| Late youth | 19 | 15 |
| Late antlerless | 121 | 169 |
| Alternative methods | 82 | 95 |
| Managed hunts | — | 0 |
Per square mile, Vernon County gave up 4.4 deer in 2025 compared with the Kansas City Region mark of 4.5.
Telechecked harvest from the MDC 2025 deer harvest summary and earlier deer harvest summaries (2015-2025); density from the 2025 Missouri Deer Season Summary and Population Status Report. Checked October 29, 2026.
Drawings and zone lines for Vernon County
Bear zone facts for Vernon County
The bear season in Vernon County is Oct. 17 to 30, 2026, open only to residents drawn for a Zone 3 permit.
| Zone | Share of county | Permits 2026 | Quota 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | 100% | 250 | 8 |
| Year | Statewide bears |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Vernon County duck season zone
For waterfowl, Vernon County reads as the Middle Zone and South Zone on the layer MDC published with the 2021-2025 lines.
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks, split 1 | Middle | Nov 7–Dec 13 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Middle | Dec 19–Jan 10 |
| Ducks, split 1 | South | Nov 26–Nov 29 |
| Ducks, split 2 | South | Dec 7–Jan 31 |
Wetland draws in Vernon County
Hunting on these wetlands needs a daily tag from the reservation system or the morning drawing.
| Wetland | Acres | Area phone | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Rivers | 13,929 | 417-853-4593 | — |
| Schell-Osage | 8,633 | 417-853-4595 | Waterfowl hunting closed for 2026-27 (wetland renovation). |
Managed hunts skip Vernon County this year; Cedar, St. Clair and Dade are the nearest counties on the list.
Managed hunts from the 2026 managed deer hunt tables; bear from the 2026 Black Bear Hunting Digest and MDC bear reports; elk from the 2026 Elk Hunting Digest; waterfowl and wetlands from the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest. Checked October 29, 2026.
Vernon County calendar for deer, turkey, birds and furbearers
Filter the table by species; dates come straight from the 2026 MDC booklets and the waterfowl digest.
| Game | Portion | Where | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early antlerless | Antlerless county | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early youth | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, November | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late youth | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late antlerless | Antlerless county | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, alternative methods | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 3 | Bear zone 3 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | Open county | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth quail | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth pheasant | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock season | Statewide | Oct 18, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | South Zone | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | South Zone | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Early Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Statewide | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote hunting | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Bullfrogs and green frogs | Frogging | Statewide | Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, early | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Rails | Rail season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation), checked October 29, 2026.
Vernon County turkey numbers and disease testing
Vernon County gave up 528 turkeys in the spring 2026 regular season. 2025 leads the spring column at 581 birds. Fall hunters checked 8 with guns and 25 with bows in 2025. Spring 2026 is history; MDC had not set the spring 2027 dates at the last check.
| Year | Spring youth | Spring | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 73 | 528 | — | — |
| 2025 | 68 | 581 | 8 | 25 |
| 2024 | 64 | 553 | 12 | 10 |
| 2023 | 34 | 502 | 18 | 20 |
| 2022 | 40 | 390 | 20 | 28 |
| 2021 | 25 | 354 | 16 | 22 |
| 2020 | 39 | 482 | 26 | 24 |
| 2019 | 39 | 469 | 23 | 27 |
| 2018 | 19 | 551 | 34 | 20 |
| 2017 | 55 | 513 | 36 | 22 |
| 2016 | 72 | 563 | 56 | 43 |
CWD surveillance in Vernon County
1,840 deer from Vernon County have been tested since 2016 on the MDC dashboard, and 0 were positive. Vernon County has no first-positive year on the MDC list.
| Year (July-June) | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 74 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 83 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 549 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 694 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 93 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 88 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 80 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 89 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 31 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 57 | 0 |
Turkey harvest from the MDC 2026 turkey harvest summary and earlier turkey harvest summaries; CWD from the MDC CWD sampling results layers and the MDC CWD page. Checked October 29, 2026.
Places open to hunting in Vernon County
Vernon County has 15 listed places open to some hunting, led by August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area (13,939 acres). About 4.9% of the county (25,936 acres) is public on the state and federal layers. Private land in MRAP adds 2 tracts to the public list. We left out 4 places where hunting is not allowed.
| Area and kind | Acres | Deer methods | Antlerless | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers CA · Conservation area | 13,939 | Archery only | antlerless OK | morning draw, 2 dove fields |
| Schell-Osage CA · Conservation area | 8,635 | Archery only | antlerless OK | morning draw, 4 dove fields |
| Bushwhacker Lake CA · Conservation area | 4,790 | Muzzleloader, archery | archery antlerless | — |
| Osage Prairie CA · Conservation area | 1,545 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Clear Creek CA · Conservation area | 972 | Muzzleloader, archery | archery antlerless | — |
| Douglas Branch CA · Conservation area | 511 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Stilwell Prairie Tract (MRAP) · MRAP tract | 375 | — | — | youth only |
| Balltown Access · Public access | 194 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Marmaton Bottoms Tract (MRAP) · MRAP tract | 172 | — | — | youth only |
| Flight Lake CA · Conservation area | 159 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Bristow CA · Conservation area | 158 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Cephas Ford Access · Public access | 107 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Gama Grass Prairie CA · Conservation area | 80 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Little Osage Prairie · Conservation area | 80 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Big Drywood Creek CA · Conservation area | 12 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
Nearby areas in other counties
- Buffalo Wallow Prairie CA16 miles · 1,113 ac · Barton County
- Edward B. and Marie O. Risch CA16 miles · 162 ac · Barton County
- Comstock Prairie CA17 miles · 320 ac · Barton County
- Harmony Mission Lake CA17 miles · 1,080 ac · Bates County
- Peabody CA18 miles · 299 ac · Bates County
- Ripgut Prairie Natural Area18 miles · 280 ac · Bates County
Areas from our Missouri land list (MDC area pages and the MDC area deer quick regs, USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS records); acres by kind from MDC, USFS, USFWS, PAD-US and NPS GIS layers (GIS measures, not official acreages); MRAP from the MDC MRAP program. Checked October 29, 2026.
Vernon County contacts, towns and shops
Hunters in Vernon County fall under the Kansas City Region, whose office sits in Lees Summit. The closest MDC office open to the public is El Dorado Springs Office, about 17 miles from mid-county.
Vernon County hunting towns
Help for Vernon County hunters
Listings come from MDC lists (Share the Harvest processors, CWD sampling partners, commercial permits) and directories; call before you drive.
Vernon County neighbours
- Barton CountySouthwest
- Bates CountyKansas City
- Cedar CountySouthwest
- St. Clair CountyKansas City
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
What Vernon County has on the hunting calendar
County total as of October 29, 2026: 1 upcoming event.
Dates ahead
| Date | Event | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 5, 2027 | Osage Prairie Thunderin Toms NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | East Austin Blvd — Nevada | Buy tickets | Source |
Vernon County ranges and shoot dates
Cards for Vernon County carry each range’s access rule (1 range in all).
Nearest public range: Golden Valley Shooting Range (Truman Reservoir Management Lands, Grand River Bottoms) in Henry County, about 44 miles from the Vernon County centre. Details
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
When legal light starts in Vernon County
MDC publishes sunrise and sunset for Jefferson City only; Vernon County sits 9 minutes later by the 13.5-mile rule.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:14 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:51 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:59 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:34 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:34 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
Hours rule and the Jefferson City sunrise and sunset table from the MDC Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest (same table in the Fall Deer and Turkey booklet), adjusted 1 minute per 13.5 miles east or west as MDC directs; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Things hunters ask about Vernon County
Must archers wear orange in Vernon County during gun season?
Yes in firearms portions, with some exceptions listed in the booklet.
Is Vernon County closed to the October and December antlerless portions?
No, both are open.
Must Vernon County deer go to a CWD station in November 2026?
No. The county is outside the 28-county mandatory list this year; free voluntary testing is offered all season.
Where does Vernon County land in the statewide deer harvest ranking?
33rd out of 114 counties for 2025.
How many spring turkeys came from Vernon County in 2026?
528 in the regular season.
Could I draw an elk permit for Vernon County?
No. Elk hunting is limited to Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties.
How much public land is there in Vernon County?
About 25,936 acres by GIS, with 15 listed areas.
Where can I buy hunting permits near Vernon County?
Online, in the MO Hunting app, at permit vendors or at an MDC office.
Is there a Share the Harvest processor near Vernon County?
Check the tags in the services band; C&B Family Meats is closest on our list.
Answers from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, the county rules table, the hunter orange rule, Telecheck rules, MDC harvest summaries and the sources above. Checked October 29, 2026.
Vernon County trip reminders
Rules here are for the 2026-27 permit year; the booklet and Wildlife Code win where they differ.
Sources: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, MDC hunting, Census and the sources in each section. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).