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Corps lake land · Missouri 2026-27
Stockton Lake Management Lands hunting
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this MDC-managed Corps lake land in Cedar County and 2 neighboring counties, 16,572 acres.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Stockton Lake Management Lands
Parking, trailheads and gates near Stockton Lake Management Lands
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Stockton Lake Management Lands profile
Expect about 16,572 acres of public ground at Stockton Lake Management Lands, Cedar, Dade and Polk counties. No other MDC-managed Corps lake land in Cedar County appears in the records. Stockton Lake Management Lands is Corps land licensed to MDC, so MDC area rules govern hunting here.
Besides hunting, the MDC area page lists trails (biking, horseback, hiking), dog training, fishing (white bass, walleye/sauger, sunfish, catfish) and trapping (special use permit).
What the area page says about it: Stockton Lake, located on the Sac River, is nestled among the rolling, tree covered hills at the western edge of the Missouri Ozarks. This area was historically controlled by the Osage Indians. Construction of the 24,900 acre lake began in 1963, and was completed in 1969. Over 16,000 acres of the wildlife area surrounding Stockton Lake is leased to the Missouri Department of Conservation for management and public use. The MDC managed portion has a diverse mix of open grasslands, timbered areas, glades, and old fields. A variety of opportunities exist for all outdoor enthusiasts. Hunting opportunities are available for turkey, deer, doves, quail, rabbit, squirrel, and waterfowl as well as other species. Bank fishing opportunities are available at the end of many of the gravel roads. Mushroom hunters find Stockton Lake appealing as well. Bird watchers will find an abundance of Bald Eagles during the winter months. A waterfowl and shorebird viewing blind is located in the Aldrich Refuge. A multi-use trail is available for horseback/bicycling/hiking on the Big Sac Arm of the Lake.
Listed game: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail, Waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Bobwhite Quail
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Stockton Lake Management Lands
Stockton Lake Management Lands: methods MDC allows
The rules below are what MDC lists for Stockton Lake Management Lands on top of statewide seasons.
| Game | Allowed methods | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader, archery | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | Nontoxic for doves |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
Stockton Lake Management Lands, portion by portion
| Portion | Deer rule | Code | Turkey rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sac Unit | Firearms | A | Both |
| Little Sac Unit | Muzzleloader | A | Both |
Area-specific Code rules, Stockton Lake Management Lands
- Portions of this department area are closed to protect waterfowl from October 15 through the end of the last segment of the appropriate zone's duck season.
- Unless otherwise posted, bicycles, including electric bicycles as defined in the Missouri Wildlife Code ( Chapter 20- Definitions) , are allowed on roads open to vehicular traffic and service roads (designated in the online conservation atlas). Bicycles must stay on roads open to vehicular traffic or service roads, or on multi-use trails posted as open to bicycles. Bicycle use is not allowed on service roads passing through designated natural areas (designated in the online conservation atlas). Groups of 10 or more people using bicycles on a department area must obtain a special use permit.
- This department area also has multi-use trails open to equestrian use. Horses may be used year-round on multi-use trails designated as open to equestrian uses.
Deer hunters on Stockton Lake Management Lands are limited to muzzleloader and archery methods; antlerless permits may be used. Stockton Lake Management Lands is archery and firearms for turkey. For drawn bear hunters, Stockton Lake Management Lands is archery and firearms. Check which portion you hunt: Stockton Lake Management Lands has 2 booklet rows, and the antlerless code (A, B or C) can differ between them. The booklet lists Stockton Lake Management Lands as a nontoxic area for doves. On MDC land, deer hunting is legal only where the area is listed; Stockton Lake Management Lands qualifies.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Stockton Lake Management Lands: Corps and MDC units
Other pages linked to Stockton Lake Management Lands on the same lake.
| Place | Type | Acres | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Cedar, Dade |
lands.json related records (MDC atlas and Corps Lakes Gateway); checked October 29, 2026.
Stockton Lake Management Lands county rules for 2026-27
| Item | Cedar County | Dade County | Polk County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer | 4 deer | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Open | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| 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 | Zone 3 | Zone 3 | Zone 3 |
| Duck zone | South / Middle | South | South |
County rules apply on Stockton Lake Management Lands; Cedar County has a firearms antlerless limit of 4 for 2026-27. In Cedar County, the Oct. 9-11 and Dec. 5-13 antlerless portions apply. Cedar County is one of the 28 mandatory sampling counties: present deer shot Nov. 14-15 for testing. Feeding deer and placing minerals is banned year-round in Cedar County. The bear zone here is 3: 250 permits, quota 8, season Oct. 17-30. Removed for 2026: the CWD portion, the management zone and the antler-point restriction. Hunting near a county line on Stockton Lake Management Lands? Use the column for the county you are in.
- 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.
Who hunts Stockton Lake Management Lands by drawing
MDC drew 25 hunters for 1 managed hunt on Stockton Lake Management Lands this season. By category the hunts break down as people with disabilities (1). Drawn hunters were picked from applications due Jul 31, 2026.
| Number | Category | Days | Drawn | Bag code | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Nov. 7–8 | 25 | B | Nov. 7 |
MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; checked October 29, 2026.
Stockton Lake Management Lands: what is open when
Filtered for Stockton Lake Management Lands by its game list: 13 species, 27 season rows.
| Species | Season | Applies | 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| 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 |
During firearms portions, Stockton Lake Management Lands allows muzzleloaders, not modern guns. Spring 2027 turkey dates were not published when these pages were checked.
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.
Ducks and geese on Stockton Lake Management Lands
Waterfowl hunting on Stockton Lake Management Lands is open hunting: no draw, first come first served under statewide rules. MDC zone mapping puts Cedar County in the South Zone; zone lines moved for 2026-2030, so confirm near the edge. Waterfowl loads must be nontoxic, statewide.
| Duck dates | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
Doves on Stockton Lake Management Lands
For 2026 the dove layer shows 5 fields and 41.3 acres on Stockton Lake Management Lands, mostly sunflower. MDC marks the fields open to all hunters. MDC names Stockton Lake Management Lands a dove management area. No lead for doves on this ground. Hunt doves from Sep 1, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026.
MDC 2026 dove field layer and Dove Management Areas; checked October 29, 2026.
Map around Stockton Lake Management Lands
Crow-flight distance from Stockton Lake Management Lands to Corry Flatrocks Conservation Area is 1.4 mi (south); the table runs outward from there.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corry Flatrocks CA | Conservation area | 140 | Dade | 1.4 mi | south |
| Stockton Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Cedar, Dade | 5.0 mi | northwest |
| Stockton State Park | State park hunt | 2,081 | Cedar | 7.3 mi | north |
| Fiddlers Ford Access | Public access area | 49 | Dade | 9.3 mi | southwest |
| Dr. O. E. and Eloise Sloan CA | Conservation area | 320 | Dade | 12 mi | southwest |
| Phenix Access | Public access area | 155 | Greene | 13 mi | southeast |
| Indigo Prairie CA | Conservation area | 40 | Dade | 13 mi | southwest |
| Niawathe Prairie CA | Conservation area | 320 | Dade | 14 mi | west |
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.
Stockton Lake Management Lands area harvest by year
Whole-county counts.
Hunters in Cedar County checked 2,334 deer in 2025, against 2,191 the year before; there is no figure for Stockton Lake Management Lands alone. The spring 2026 count for Cedar County was 632 turkeys (70 on public land). Recent CWD results for Cedar County: 4 positives, first detected in 2017-2018.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Season | Spring | Public | Youth | Firearms (fall) | Archery (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Year | Samples | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Towns, MDC offices and shops by Stockton Lake Management Lands
From Stockton Lake Management Lands, Greenfield is 8.9 mi away. Largest of the five: Bolivar, 11,549 people. Directions on file: This 24,900-acre lake extends into Cedar, Dade, and Polk Counties and has many accesses. Please see map. For specific information, contact MDC's Southwest Regional Office, 2630 N. Mayfair, Springfield, MO 65803, (417) 895-6880. Bolivar Office (Bolivar) sits 17 mi from Stockton Lake Management Lands, closer than any other MDC office.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | Dade | 1,214 | 8.9 mi | southwest |
| Fair Play | Polk | 450 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Stockton | Cedar | 1,841 | 14 mi | north |
| Ash Grove | Greene | 1,523 | 15 mi | southeast |
| Bolivar | Polk | 11,549 | 18 mi | northeast |
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.
Stockton Lake Management Lands hunters: public range and clubs
Drive about 18 miles from Stockton Lake Management Lands to reach Andy Dalton range, the nearest public lanes. Nearby gun clubs fill the other cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Legal hours for Stockton Lake Management Lands
Rabbits are sunrise to sunset, migratory birds half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the extra half hour after sunset.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Scenery to match Stockton Lake Management Lands
Stockton Lake Management Lands questions with sourced answers
Duck hunting at Stockton Lake Management Lands: how?
South Zone dates apply; the area uses open hunting.
Bear hunting near Stockton Lake Management Lands?
Bear here means a Zone 3 permit (quota 8).
How much dove field is on Stockton Lake Management Lands?
5 fields totalling 41.3 acres.
How do I get into a managed hunt at Stockton Lake Management Lands?
Yes, 1 in 2026-27, 25 spots, applied for in July.
Stockton Lake Management Lands crowded: where next?
Next in line: Corry Flatrocks Conservation Area (1.4 mi), Stockton Lake (Corps) (5.0 mi) and Stockton State Park (7.3 mi).
What are deer hours at Stockton Lake Management Lands on Nov. 14?
Nov. 14 at the Stockton Lake Management Lands point: 6:26 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. for deer (sunrise 6:56 a.m.).
Stockton Lake Management Lands: size and manager?
Missouri Department of Conservation handles it, and it spans 16,572 acres.
How far is the nearest town from Stockton Lake Management Lands?
Greenfield is the nearest town we cover, 8.9 mi off.
Stockton Lake Management Lands: which permits apply?
The right MDC permit: Archer's or Firearms for deer, Small Game for small game, Migratory Bird for doves and ducks.
Can hunters camp on Stockton Lake Management Lands?
No camping listed, and the area is open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
Can I use a rifle for deer on Stockton Lake Management Lands?
Muzzleloader and archery methods on this area. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is Stockton Lake Management Lands open for hunting this season?
Yes, deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail and waterfowl, following statewide seasons and any area limits.
What are the CWD rules around Stockton Lake Management Lands?
Bring opening-weekend deer to a station. Do not feed deer or put out minerals.
What is the firearms antlerless limit around Stockton Lake Management Lands?
4 antlerless deer with firearms permits, under the Cedar County rule.
Can I hunt turkey on Stockton Lake Management Lands?
Use archery and firearms. Fall gun season: Oct. 1-31.
Other photos on this page: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).