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Missouri conservation area
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area, a hunter guide
14,912 acres of conservation area across Lewis County and 5 other counties: area rules, season dates and nearby land.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Upper Mississippi Conservation Area
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area basics
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area measures 14,912 acres on the map and sits in Lewis, Lincoln and 4 other counties. MDC lists Upper Mississippi Conservation Area in its Great Rivers district, St. Louis Region. Non-hunting activities on the area page: fishing (white bass, walleye/sauger, sunfish, catfish) and trapping (special use permit).
The area page says: The Upper Mississippi Conservation Area, rich in wildlife and habitat diversity, stretches from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam at Alton, Illinois, to LaGrange, Missouri. It is composed of 87 tracts of federal lands totaling over 11,000 acres and managed under a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Accumulating silt reduced the productivity of this wetland area, and navigation and recreational boating helped move bottom sediments into backwaters and chutes, reducing the number of wetland habitats. In an effort to balance navigation needs and the need for wildlife habitat, Congress authorized the Environmental Management Program in 1986. This federal program is designed to protect the resources and guide future river management. One of the elements of this program was the construction of Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Projects. Water regulation is now possible depending on river elevations, further improving habitat for fish and wildlife.
Species named: Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Upper Mississippi Conservation Area
How Upper Mississippi Conservation Area may be hunted
Area methods and permits for Upper Mississippi Conservation Area, condensed from MDC.
| Game | How | Extra rule |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area portions in the booklet table
| Part | Deer methods | Code | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angle, Blackbird, Blackburn, Ducher, Gilbert, Mozier, Pharrs, North and South Fritz Islands | Firearms | A | Both |
| Bay Island | Archery | A | Both |
| Cottonwood Island | Firearms | A | Both |
| Fabius, Orton, Poage, Whitney, Ziegler Islands | Firearms | A | Both |
| Dresser Island | Archery | A | Both |
| Pool 26 Tracts | Firearms | A | Both |
| Stag, Sterling, Westport Islands | Firearms | A | Both |
The deer rule for Upper Mississippi Conservation Area is archery methods only, and antlerless permits may be used here. Turkey on Upper Mississippi Conservation Area: archery and firearms under the area listing. Deer rules differ by portion of Upper Mississippi Conservation Area (7 booklet rows); A, B and C mark the antlerless permit status. Only areas on the MDC deer list allow deer hunting; Upper Mississippi Conservation Area made the list.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area: the Lewis County rules
| Rule | Lewis County | Lincoln County | Marion County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer | 4 deer | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Open | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No | Mandatory | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes | No | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required | No | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Open | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule | No rule | No rule |
| Elk county | No | No | No |
| Bear zone | None | None | None |
| Duck zone | North | North / Middle | North |
The county is the deer unit here. Lewis County allows 4 firearms antlerless deer this year. Lewis County is one of the 100 counties open during the antlerless portions. The year-round feed and mineral ban covers Lewis County. Three older rules are gone for 2026: the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point rule. Upper Mississippi Conservation Area reaches more than one county, so check which county you stand in before filling an antlerless permit.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Dates that apply at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area
12 rows for Upper Mississippi Conservation Area (9 species), cut down to its game list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular ducks | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| 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 |
Archery is the only deer method on Upper Mississippi Conservation Area, so firearms rows are gone. Hunter orange (hat plus vest, coat or shirt) is required during the firearms deer portions.
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.
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area: blinds, draws and duck dates
Open waterfowl hunting applies on Upper Mississippi Conservation Area, so arrive early for a spot. MDC names "Upper Mississippi (Bay Island Unit)" in its list of additional waterfowl areas. Lewis County falls in the North Zone on the MDC zone layer; the 2026-2030 lines changed, so check the digest map near a boundary. Nontoxic shot is required for all waterfowl and coot hunting.
| Window | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Regular ducks | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
Public places ringing Upper Mississippi Conservation Area
Head southeast about 5.5 mi and you reach Clarence Cannon NWR, the nearest listed neighbor of Upper Mississippi Conservation Area.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarence Cannon NWR | Wildlife refuge | 3,761 | Pike | 5.5 mi | southeast |
| Prairie Slough CA | Conservation area | 584 | Lincoln, Pike | 10 mi | southeast |
| William G. and Erma Parke White Memorial WA (810 acres) | Conservation area | 810 | Lincoln | 13 mi | southwest |
| B. K. Leach Memorial CA | Conservation area | 4,308 | Lincoln | 14 mi | southeast |
| William R. Logan CA | Conservation area | 1,798 | Lincoln | 16 mi | southwest |
| Vonaventure Memorial Forest and WA | Conservation area | 203 | Lincoln | 17 mi | southwest |
| Kessler Memorial WA | Conservation area | 157 | Lincoln | 18 mi | south |
| Ted Shanks CA | Conservation area | 4,026 | Pike | 19 mi | northwest |
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.
What hunters took around Upper Mississippi Conservation Area
MDC reports by county.
Deer checked in Lewis County: 2,407 in 2025 and 2,502 in 2024. Spring 2026 turkey harvest in Lewis County: 330, with 34 from public ground. Lewis County CWD testing: 1,388 samples in the years shown, 2 positives; first positive year 2024-2025.
| Year | Antlered | Buttons | Does | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,066 | 198 | 1,143 | 2,407 |
| 2024 | 1,134 | 236 | 1,132 | 2,502 |
| 2023 | 1,006 | 250 | 1,103 | 2,359 |
| 2022 | 1,125 | 243 | 1,081 | 2,449 |
| 2021 | 1,011 | 178 | 874 | 2,063 |
| 2020 | 1,025 | 223 | 914 | 2,162 |
| Year | Spring | Spring, public land | Spring youth | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 330 | 34 | 43 | – | – |
| 2025 | 309 | 38 | 34 | 6 | 5 |
| 2024 | 301 | 52 | 31 | 8 | 10 |
| 2023 | 232 | 44 | 19 | 16 | 9 |
| 2022 | 184 | – | 18 | 13 | 11 |
| 2021 | 196 | – | 17 | 4 | 6 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0 |
| 2025 | 495 | 1 |
| 2024 | 546 | 1 |
| 2023 | 100 | 0 |
| 2022 | 119 | 0 |
| 2021 | 117 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Nearest help for Upper Mississippi Conservation Area hunters
4.0 mi separates Upper Mississippi Conservation Area from Clarksville. Bowling Green tops the population column at 4,380. MDC directions: This area consists of 87 scattered tracts adjacent to the Mississippi River and some river islands. Ashburn hosts the MDC office nearest Upper Mississippi Conservation Area (Ted Shanks Conservation Area Field Office, 22 mi).
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | Pike | 376 | 4.0 mi | northwest |
| Elsberry | Lincoln | 2,084 | 12 mi | south |
| Louisiana | Pike | 3,244 | 14 mi | northwest |
| Silex | Lincoln | 265 | 18 mi | southwest |
| Bowling Green | Pike | 4,380 | 19 mi | west |
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.
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
William R. Logan CA range is the nearest public range to Upper Mississippi Conservation Area, about 15 miles away. Beside it, two gun clubs within 30 miles.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area legal shooting light
Legal light for deer at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:36 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:48 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:03 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:40 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:48 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:23 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:23 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:10 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.
Calendar dates around Upper Mississippi Conservation Area
The property itself or a spot within about 10 miles hosts 1 upcoming event (youth managed deer hunt). Checked October 29, 2026.
Upcoming here
| Date | Event | Miles | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Clarence Cannon NWR Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 6 | Event details | Source |
Images near and like Upper Mississippi Conservation Area
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area, quick questions
What county deer limit applies at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
The county rule is 4 antlerless deer with firearms; the antlerless portions are open.
What CWD rules apply at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
Lewis County has no mandatory sampling this year and a year-round feed and mineral ban.
How may turkeys be hunted on Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
Yes, by archery and firearms; fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31 here.
How does waterfowl hunting work at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
The North Zone calendar and open hunting.
When can I shoot at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area on opening day?
Opening day of the November portion runs 6:15 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. there.
What backup public land is near Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
Within reach: Clarence Cannon NWR (5.5 mi), Prairie Slough Conservation Area (10 mi) and William G. and Erma Parke White Memorial Wildlife Area (13 mi).
Closest community to Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
The closest town page is Clarksville (4.0 mi).
How large an area is Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
14,912 acres in all; the manager is Missouri Department of Conservation.
When may I be on Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. No camping listed.
Which Missouri permits do I need at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
Statewide MDC permits apply; managed hunts need the drawn permit as well.
Does Upper Mississippi Conservation Area allow hunting?
Yes, for deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl; deer hunting is allowed because the area is on the MDC list.
How may deer be hunted on Upper Mississippi Conservation Area?
MDC lists archery methods only for deer. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Upper Mississippi Conservation Area: checks before you go
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Upper Mississippi Conservation Area shortly before the trip.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Jacob Norlund (CC BY 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).