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Out of Butler County
Public tracts and season dates near Poplar Bluff, MO
Every public tract within reach of Poplar Bluff, the deer methods MDC permits on each, the Butler County deer rules, season dates, legal light and nearby shops.
Photo: Nearby stand-in from Mark Twain National Forest, beside Poplar Bluff. Forest Service, Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Poplar Bluff is where the Butler County courthouse stands, in MDC’s Southeast Region. Mark Twain National Forest starts right at the town limits, so Poplar Bluff is its obvious base. Of the towns around Poplar Bluff Conservation Area, Poplar Bluff came out closest, the edge 3.2 miles out. Population, per the mid-2024 estimate: 16,177. 5 listed areas and about 23,698 mapped public acres sit within 10 miles of Poplar Bluff. Mapped public land in Butler County totals about 59,178 acres, among them 12,282 acres of MDC land, 46,899 acres of Mark Twain National Forest and 1 acres of state parks and historic sites. Before any other area, a straight line from Poplar Bluff reaches Mark Twain National Forest, which reaches into town.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over MDC, USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS boundaries (places.json). MDC region from the MDC Regions layer. Checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff county-by-county deer guide
Missouri has no deer units below the county, so a county line can change the antlerless limit within a short drive of Poplar Bluff.
| County | Firearms antlerless | Oct./Dec. portions | Mandatory CWD | Feed, minerals | Fall gun turkey | Bear zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County this county | 1 | Closed | No | No | Open | Zone 2 |
| Oregon County | 4 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2, Zone 1 |
| Ripley County | 4 | Open | Nov. 14-15 | Yes | Open | Zone 2 |
| Iron County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 |
| Carter County | 1 | Closed | Nov. 14-15 | No | Open | Zone 2 + elk |
The firearms antlerless fill limit in Butler County is 1. The antlerless portions do not open in Butler County. In Butler County dogs may not be used for squirrels or rabbits during daylight hours of the November portion. Black Bear Management Zone 2 covers 100% of Butler County; MDC issues 750 permits there with a quota of 22 bears. Duck zone by the old GIS layer: South Zone (66%) and Middle Zone (34%). Counties near a line should check the new 2026-2030 map.
Where to sample
| Site | Street | City | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redman Creek Recreation Area: Bill Emerson Visitor Center Shelter #3 | 10276 Rte. T | Wapapello | Wayne | 13 mi |
| Doniphan MDC Forestry Office | 109 Ripley 21-N-1 | Doniphan | Ripley | 23 mi |
| USFS Pinewoods Lake | 31620 Hwy. 60 | Ellsinore | Carter | 23 mi |
County rules from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county table; CWD sampling counties and stations from the MDC CWD pages; bear zones from the 2026 Black Bear Hunting Digest; elk from the 2026 Elk Hunting Digest; duck zones from the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2021-2025 MDC zone layer. Checked October 29, 2026.
Poplar Bluff land list
Rows run by nearest boundary, then by mapped-point miles; each land page carries the area regulations, directions and its county deer rules.
| Name | How far | Land type | Manager | Deer rule | Antlerless | Size (ac) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain National Forest main area | at town | National forest | USFS | Statewide rules | – | 1,510,740 | – |
| Stephen J. Sun CA | 3.1 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 485 | – |
| Poplar Bluff CA main area | 3.2 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 1,107 | – |
| Dan River Access | 5.8 mi SE | Public access | MDC | – | – | 68 | – |
| University Forest CA | 8.4 mi N | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Archery only | 7,151 | – |
| Coon Island CA | 15 mi S | Conservation area | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 3,223 | – |
| Bradley A. Hammer Memorial CA | 16 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Muzzleloader, bow | Archery only | 344 | – |
| Corkwood CA | 16 mi SW | Conservation area | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 434 | – |
| Otter Slough CA | 17 mi E | Conservation area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 4,859 | Managed wetland |
| Mudpuppy CA | 17 mi W | Conservation area | MDC | Bow and gun | Allowed | 1,404 | – |
The heavyweight here is University Forest Conservation Area: 7,151 acres. Within 10 miles you will find 3 conservation and natural areas, 1 public access and 1 federal area. Deer hunters at Stephen J. Sun Conservation Area are held to archery and firearms, and only archery antlerless permits are valid there. Otter Slough Conservation Area runs MDC’s managed waterfowl program: reservations for residents and a morning draw for everyone. Hunting is allowed across Mark Twain National Forest under Missouri seasons, away from residences and developed sites.
Area notes
- Stephen J. Sun CA: Poplar Bluff and Stephen J. Sun Conservation Areas are located in Butler County,two miles east of Poplar Bluff on U.S. Business 60, then 3.50 miles north onRoute NN.
- Poplar Bluff CA: Poplar Bluff and Stephen J. Sun Conservation Areas are located in Butler County,two miles east of Poplar Bluff on U.S. Business 60, then 3.50 miles north onRoute NN.
- Dan River Access: This area is mostly forest with a small wetlands.
- MDC directions to Stephen J. Sun CA: From Poplar Bluff, take Business Highway 60 northeast for 2.9 miles, then turn left onto Highway NN and head north for 2.3 miles. Turn left onto County Road 544 and head west for 1.5 miles to the area.
Lands from MDC area pages and GIS layers, USFS, USFWS, NPS, Corps and Missouri State Parks records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source). Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped point. Deer methods and antlerless permit status from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet area table and the MDC area deer quick view. Checked October 29, 2026.
Poplar Bluff deer and turkey numbers
Each bar is one permit year for Butler County, archery through the alternative methods portion. Telecheck came to 1,852 deer in 2025 and 1,490 in 2024. Of those 2025 deer, 887 were antlered bucks. Hunter density there ran 6.1 firearms and 2.4 archery hunters per square mile in 2025. Hunters checked 130 spring turkeys in Butler County in 2026, 43 of them on public land. Fall 2025: 6 turkeys by firearms and 9 by archery. Across the dashboard years, Butler County logged 223 CWD samples and 0 positives.
| Year | All deer | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,916 | 1,032 | 153 | 731 |
| 2023 | 2,045 | 968 | 169 | 908 |
| 2024 | 1,490 | 691 | 127 | 672 |
| 2025 | 1,852 | 887 | 171 | 794 |
| Season part | Checked |
|---|---|
| Archery | 563 |
| Early youth | 159 |
| November | 986 |
| Late youth | 20 |
| Alt. methods | 121 |
| Managed hunts | 3 |
| Year | Spring birds | On public |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 99 | 43 |
| 2024 | 141 | 50 |
| 2025 | 175 | 91 |
| 2026 | 130 | 43 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39 | 0 |
| 2024 | 100 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
Deer from the MDC 2025-2026 deer harvest summary and earlier summaries (harvest.json; 2017-2019 county totals exclude managed hunts); density from the MDC 2025 deer season report; turkey from the MDC turkey harvest summaries; CWD from the MDC CWD dashboard. Checked October 29, 2026.
Seasons open near Poplar Bluff
The November firearms portion runs Nov. 14 to 24 in every county; the antlerless portions in October and December are set by county, and Butler County is closed to them.
| Game | Portion | Where | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 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, alternative methods | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | 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.
Poplar Bluff managed hunt list
Butler County hosts 1 managed deer hunt; applications ran in July. The 2026 application window ended Jul 31, 2026.
| Site | Hunt | Dates | Drawn | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wappapello Lake ML | People with Disabilities – Firearms | Oct. 17–18 | 25 | A |
From the MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; limit codes are explained there. Checked October 29, 2026.
Poplar Bluff legal shooting light
Rabbits are sunrise to sunset, migratory birds half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the extra half hour after sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:31 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:01 a.m.–8:02 p.m. | 6:01 a.m.–7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–7:40 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:58 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–7:14 p.m. | 6:28 a.m.–6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:35 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–5:25 p.m. | 6:05 a.m.–4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:43 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–5:19 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:18 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:17 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–4:47 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:18 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:35 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:05 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.
Poplar Bluff processors and shops
Missouri does not license hunting guides, so the guide rows are preserves holding MDC permits and directory listings; call before you drive. Ole Bandit LLC / Country Road Market is the closest Share the Harvest processor. Cane Creek Taxidermy (8.9 mi) is an MDC voluntary CWD sampling partner. The nearest name on the taxidermy list is Sportsman's Trophy of Poplar Bluff. First retail stop on the list: Shooters Shack of Poplar Bluff. The nearest hunting preserve or guide business is Baker Bucks, LLC, about 22 mi from Poplar Bluff.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | Distance | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer cutting | 3 | 9 | The Deep Freeze INC (top pick) | at town | Poplar Bluff |
| Taxidermists | 5 | 14 | Sportsman's Trophy (top pick) | 1.2 mi NE | Poplar Bluff |
| Hunting retailers | 5 | 10 | Shooters Shack (top pick) | 1.6 mi NW | Poplar Bluff |
| Guide businesses | 0 | 1 | Baker Bucks, LLC (top pick) | 22 mi NW | Ellsinore |
Deer cutting
Taxidermists
Hunting retailers
Guide businesses
Processors from the MDC Share the Harvest processor lookup, MDC CWD sampling partners, the MDC commercial permit listing and Yellow Pages; taxidermists, shops and preserves from MDC permits, chain store locators and Yellow Pages (services.json). Checked October 29, 2026; hours were not checked.
Events a short drive out of Poplar Bluff
Counted within some 30 miles of town on October 29, 2026: 4 upcoming events (DU gun bingo, managed hunt, youth with disabilities, mentored waterfowl hunt and youth managed deer hunt).
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7–8, 2026 | Mingo NWR Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 21 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 7–8, 2026 | Mingo NWR Youth with Disabilities Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · managed hunt, youth with disabilities | 21 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Bluff City Mallards Bingo Bash! · DU gun bingo | 0 | Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge — Butler County | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Mentored Game Bird Hunt: Youth Wing Shooting Program and Duck Hunt · mentored waterfowl hunt | 26 | Duck Creek Conservation Area — Puxico | Sign up | Source |
Poplar Bluff: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
Black River Shooting Supplies heads the Poplar Bluff list (2 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
MDC staff near Poplar Bluff
Piedmont Office in Piedmont is the public MDC office nearest the centre of Butler County. Above the local offices sits the Southeast regional office in Cape Girardeau. Offices sell permits and answer questions about conservation areas and managed hunts.
MDC Otter Slough Conservation Area Field Office, a 17 mi drive east
MDC Duck Creek Conservation Area Field Office at 19 mi, heading northeast
Offices from the MDC offices open to the public, the MDC regional offices page and the MDC field office layer (services.json, counties.json). Checked October 29, 2026.
Asked about Poplar Bluff
Which MDC office handles Butler County?
Piedmont Office (Piedmont) is the nearest public office.
When does the managed hunt drawing take applications?
July 1-31; results post from Aug. 15.
What are the closest towns to Poplar Bluff on this site?
In order: Fisk, Fairdealing, Qulin and Neelyville.
Which public tract is the shortest trip from Poplar Bluff?
Mark Twain National Forest, which reaches into town. Second is Stephen J. Sun Conservation Area, its closest boundary 3.1 miles out.
How many hunting tracts sit inside 10 miles of Poplar Bluff?
5 listed tracts covering about 23,698 acres.
What is the firearms antlerless fill limit for Butler County?
In Butler County the firearms antlerless fill limit is 1; archery antlerless rules are statewide.
Are the early and late antlerless portions held in Butler County?
No, it is one of the 14 closed counties.
Is opening-weekend CWD sampling required around Poplar Bluff?
No, Butler County is outside the sampling counties.
Does Poplar Bluff lie in Missouri bear country?
Yes: bear zone 2.
At what time may I shoot a deer near Poplar Bluff on Nov. 14?
On Nov. 14, 2026, deer hours at Poplar Bluff start at 6:13 a.m.
What is the Telecheck deadline for Missouri deer?
10 p.m. on the day of harvest, or sooner if you process the deer or leave the county of harvest.
Will orange camouflage satisfy Missouri’s rule?
No. Camouflage orange does not meet the rule.
Where can I drop a deer for cutting near Poplar Bluff?
The Deep Freeze INC (Poplar Bluff) heads our list at at town; call ahead.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations; Telecheck from the booklet, hunter orange from booklet p. 4. Checked October 29, 2026.
Poplar Bluff trip checklist
Before leaving Poplar Bluff, confirm the county you will hunt in, its antlerless limit and any area method rule.
Other photos on this page: Good Fire Photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0); darin_kuntze (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); LeeAnne Adams (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0).