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Bluff Springs Conservation Area hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Cedar County (415 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Bluff Springs Conservation Area
Bluff Springs Conservation Area, the essentials
Its acreage is 415, inside Cedar County. Line up the 5 conservation areas in Cedar County by acres and Bluff Springs Conservation Area comes 2nd. Staff of the MDC Golden Grasslands district, in the Southwest Region, manage Bluff Springs Conservation Area.
MDC also notes camping (designated camping sites) at Bluff Springs Conservation Area.
Habitat notes from the source: Most of the area is forested but includes a 135-acre restored savanna. The savanna is maintained through periodic prescribed burning. The area is home to numerous wildlife species, including deer, turkey, and squirrel. The native grasses present in the understory of the savanna unit provide important nesting habitat for various ground nesting birds. Primitive camping is available on the south edge of the property in a designated area located just north of the parking lot.
Game listed: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Squirrel.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bluff Springs Conservation Area
Bluff Springs Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Bluff Springs Conservation Area; together they add 3,845 acres, and Turkey Creek Conservation Area is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey Creek CA | Conservation area | 160 | Cedar | 4.5 mi | east |
| Blackjack Access | Public access area | 212 | St. Clair | 5.9 mi | north |
| Birdsong CA | Conservation area | 430 | St. Clair | 5.9 mi | northeast |
| Brush Creek CA | Conservation area | 158 | Polk | 7.6 mi | east |
| Monegaw Prairie CA | Conservation area | 270 | Cedar | 12 mi | west |
| Sky Prairie CA | Conservation area | 200 | Cedar | 12 mi | southwest |
| Twenty-Five Mile Prairie CA | Conservation area | 334 | Polk | 13 mi | east |
| Stockton State Park | State park hunt | 2,081 | Cedar | 13 mi | south |
Points: MDC Conservation Area Centroids layer (https://gisblue.mdc.mo.gov/arcgis/rest/services/Discover_Nature/MDC_Administrative_Areas/FeatureServer/4). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Area rules at Bluff Springs Conservation Area
MDC area rules for Bluff Springs Conservation Area, as published for 2026-27.
| Species | Methods here | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
For deer, Bluff Springs Conservation Area is open to archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used. Turkey methods on Bluff Springs Conservation Area: archery and firearms. Bluff Springs Conservation Area allows black bear by archery and firearms during the October season, permit holders only. The FDT area table lists Bluff Springs Conservation Area with code A (antlerless permits allowed). Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; Bluff Springs Conservation Area is on it.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Bluff Springs Conservation Area season calendar
County dates from Cedar County that fit Bluff Springs Conservation Area, matched to its game list.
| Species | Portion | Covers | Begins | Through | 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 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 |
Duck zone rows come from the MDC zone layer; check the digest near a line.
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026. All Missouri seasons.
Deer rules that reach Bluff Springs Conservation Area
| Rule | Cedar County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 3 |
| Duck zone | South / Middle |
Bluff Springs Conservation Area takes its deer rules from Cedar County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4. Antlerless portions run here in October and December. Any deer killed in Cedar County on Nov. 14 or 15 has to be presented at a sampling station; the county has 2 stations. Cedar County falls under the CWD feed and mineral ban. BMZ 3 reaches Cedar County; the zone has 250 permits and closes early if 8 bears are taken. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction.
- El Dorado Springs MODOT Facility, 3865 E. Hwy. 54, El Dorado Springs
- Stockton Lake – Crabtree Cove Park, 17630 ECT-1, Stockton
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Bluff Springs Conservation Area: towns and supplies
Stockton is 7.0 mi from Bluff Springs Conservation Area, the nearest town on this site. Bolivar is the biggest town in that list, 11,549 residents in 2024. Route from the area page: From Stockton, take Route J north 6 miles, then County Road 752 west 0.50 mile, County Road 1701 north 0.25 mile, then County Road 724 west 0.25 mile. Drive 15 mi to El Dorado Springs Office in El Dorado Springs for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton | Cedar | 1,841 | 7.0 mi | south |
| El Dorado Springs | Cedar | 3,674 | 15 mi | west |
| Fair Play | Polk | 450 | 15 mi | southeast |
| Osceola | St. Clair | 979 | 18 mi | north |
| Bolivar | Polk | 11,549 | 23 mi | southeast |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json (MDC offices and business listings, chain stores and permit vendors left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 29, 2026.
County harvest around Bluff Springs Conservation Area
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 2,334 deer were Telechecked in Cedar County, 949 of them does. Cedar County turkey hunters took 632 birds in spring 2026; 70 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 4 CWD positives in Cedar County across the years in the table, the first in 2017-2018.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,211 | 174 | 949 | 2,334 |
| 2024 | 1,107 | 210 | 874 | 2,191 |
| 2023 | 1,289 | 209 | 1,160 | 2,658 |
| 2022 | 1,318 | 218 | 1,169 | 2,705 |
| 2021 | 1,230 | 170 | 987 | 2,387 |
| 2020 | 1,321 | 228 | 1,106 | 2,655 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 632 | 70 | 92 | – | – |
| 2025 | 546 | 63 | 60 | 44 | 13 |
| 2024 | 469 | 41 | 64 | 46 | 17 |
| 2023 | 479 | 56 | 28 | 28 | 24 |
| 2022 | 386 | – | 41 | 27 | 26 |
| 2021 | 333 | – | 34 | 23 | 18 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 98 | 0 |
| 2024 | 253 | 1 |
| 2023 | 864 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1,046 | 1 |
| 2021 | 870 | 2 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
When legal light starts in Bluff Springs Conservation Area
Deer, bear, elk and fall archery turkey may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, doves and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:12 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:49 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:57 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:32 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:32 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:19 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.
Bluff Springs Conservation Area in pictures
Bluff Springs Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Bluff Springs Conservation Area, 37 miles separates hunters from Andy Dalton range, the closest public range. Club lanes within 30 miles fill the next cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Bluff Springs Conservation Area, quick questions
Turkey hunting at Bluff Springs Conservation Area: what is allowed?
MDC allows archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31.
Do I need a CWD sample for deer from Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Mandatory sampling applies Nov. 14-15; feeding and minerals are banned all year.
When does legal light start and end at Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Deer hunters get 6:26 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 5:02 p.m..
Does a bear zone include Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Only with a Zone 3 permit from the drawing; season Oct. 17-30.
Which town sits closest to Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Stockton lies 7.0 mi away.
Is there other public land around Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Try Turkey Creek Conservation Area (4.5 mi), Blackjack Access (5.9 mi) and Birdsong Conservation Area (5.9 mi).
Can hunters camp on Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Camping is listed; hours 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
How large an area is Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (415 acres).
Is hunting legal on Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Yes. The area page names deer, black bear, turkey and squirrel.
What should I buy before a Bluff Springs Conservation Area hunt?
Missouri hunting permits for each species; there is no separate area permit for most MDC land.
How many does may be taken around Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Cedar County: firearms antlerless limit 4, antlerless portions open.
What are the deer hunting methods at Bluff Springs Conservation Area?
Deer may be taken by archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Bluff Springs Conservation Area final checklist
Carry your permit, notch it or the MO Hunting app right away, and Telecheck a deer or turkey by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); mostateparks (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0).