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The Missouri River hills around Columbia and Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks
Callaway County Hunting
Plan a Callaway County season from the county row in the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet: a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4 deer, the the Missouri River hills around Columbia and Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks setting, harvest since 2015 and the public ground inside the line.
Photo: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)
Callaway County regulations that change by county
The county takes in 835 square miles of land plus 13 under water, run from Fulton. County population reached 45,126 in the 2024 estimate (+1.9% on 2020). Firearms antlerless permits can be filled up to 4 deer in Callaway County during the 2026-27 firearms portions. Firearms antlerless hunting gets two extra windows in Callaway County: early October and early December. In Callaway County the CWD feed ban rules out grain, salt and mineral licks for deer in every month. A CWD test is required before a Callaway County deer can go to Share the Harvest. A Callaway County deer killed on Nov. 14 or 15 has to reach a CWD station before the day ends. Last season Callaway County fell in the CWD Management Zone, but that zone no longer exists for 2026.
| Rule for 2026 | This county | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless fill limit | 4 deer | All firearms portions |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Oct. 9-11, Dec. 5-13 |
| Mandatory CWD sampling | Nov. 14-15 | 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 | None | Oct. 17-30, by permit |
| Waterfowl zone (map layer) | Middle / North | 2021-2025 layer |
| SE flood closure zone | None | Gauge-based |
| CWD portion | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
| Antler-point restriction | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
Sampling stops in Callaway County
| Station | Town | Address | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mokane Lions Club Park | Mokane | 301 River St. | Map |
| North Callaway High School | Kingdom City | 2700 Thunderbird Dr. | Map |
| Whetstone Creek Conservation Area | Williamsburg | 3215 County Road 1003 | Map |
| New Bloomfield Schools Bus Lot | New Bloomfield | 314 Redwood Dr. | Map |
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.
Deer checked in Callaway County by year
Telecheck records show 5,197 deer taken in Callaway County during 2025. 2024 had 4,440, so 2025 came in 17% higher. Since 2015 the highest total was 5,775 in 2023, the smallest 4,334 in 2016. Callaway County ranked 3rd of 114 counties for deer harvest in 2025. The November portion supplied 2,490 of the 2025 deer and archery 992.
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,360 | 437 | 2,400 | 5,197 |
| 2024 | 1,785 | 410 | 2,245 | 4,440 |
| 2023 | 2,255 | 626 | 2,894 | 5,775 |
| 2022 | 2,303 | 506 | 2,628 | 5,437 |
| 2021 | 2,268 | 523 | 2,667 | 5,458 |
| 2020 | 2,012 | 531 | 2,445 | 4,988 |
| 2019 | 2,205 | 534 | 2,607 | 5,346 |
| 2018 | 2,423 | 596 | 2,529 | 5,548 |
| 2017 | 2,323 | 552 | 2,096 | 4,971 |
| 2016 | 2,072 | 486 | 1,776 | 4,334 |
| 2015 | 2,198 | 510 | 1,979 | 4,687 |
Portion totals for Callaway County
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 871 | 992 |
| Early youth | 230 | 332 |
| Early antlerless | 107 | 165 |
| Opening weekend* | 1,087 | 1,086 |
| November portion | 2,465 | 2,490 |
| CWD portion | — | 349 |
| Late youth | 49 | 35 |
| Late antlerless | 391 | 516 |
| Alternative methods | 182 | 284 |
| Managed hunts | 145 | 34 |
MDC's 2025 status report puts Callaway County at 6.6 deer per square mile, against 5.5 for the Central Region as a whole.
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.
Callaway County hunts by permit and zone
Managed deer hunts in Callaway County
Drawn hunts in Callaway County: 5 hunts at Prairie Fork CA — Women Only (573-522-4115, ext. 3420 by Sept. 18. Hunters will be accompanied by an MDC-approved mentor during hunt.) and Whetstone Creek CA, each with its own dates, method and bag code.
| Hunt | Location | Type | Dates | Drawn | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Whetstone Creek CA | Archery | Oct. 23–Nov. 12 | 75 | 3, 1 antlered |
| 99 | Whetstone Creek CA | Firearms | Oct. 16–18 | 65 | 2 antlerless |
| 100 | Whetstone Creek CA | Firearms | Nov. 19–23 | 50 | 3, 1 antlered |
| 101 | Whetstone Creek CA | Firearms | Dec. 4–6 | 65 | 2 antlerless |
| None | Prairie Fork CA — Women Only (573-522-4115, ext. 3420 by Sept. 18. Hunters will be accompanied by an MDC-approved mentor during hunt.) | Beginner Hunters – Firearms | Oct. 10–11 | 5 | Regular permits |
Duck zone for Callaway County
On MDC's zone map layer Callaway County falls in the Middle Zone and North Zone. The lines were redrawn for 2026-2030, so hunters near a boundary should read the digest map.
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regular ducks | North | Oct 31–Dec 29 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Middle | Nov 7–Dec 13 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Middle | Dec 19–Jan 10 |
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.
Season windows in Callaway County
Statewide rows and the county-limited ones that include Callaway County are merged here, earliest first within each species.
| Species | Season or portion | Covers | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular ducks | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| 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.
Turkey and CWD records for Callaway County
The regular spring season in 2026 produced 926 Callaway County turkeys, against 873 in 2025. Spring harvest peaked in 2026 (926). Fall 2025 harvest: 30 firearms, 27 archery. Fall 2026 figures are not out yet, and spring 2027 dates had not been published when this page was checked.
| Year | Spring youth | Spring | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 90 | 926 | — | — |
| 2025 | 87 | 873 | 30 | 27 |
| 2024 | 74 | 824 | 40 | 24 |
| 2023 | 49 | 801 | 39 | 41 |
| 2022 | 44 | 616 | 34 | 36 |
| 2021 | 68 | 707 | 41 | 61 |
| 2020 | 60 | 700 | 38 | 50 |
| 2019 | 46 | 672 | 29 | 69 |
| 2018 | 31 | 574 | 43 | 54 |
| 2017 | 92 | 697 | 39 | 39 |
| 2016 | 105 | 713 | 53 | 34 |
Callaway County deer tested for CWD
Testing in Callaway County totals 3,898 samples in the dashboard years and 1 CWD detection. First positive on record: 2024-2025.
| Sample year | Deer tested | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 30 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 1,009 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 232 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | 192 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 178 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 202 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 143 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 198 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 194 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 220 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 1,300 | 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.
Callaway County land open to the public
Hunters can choose from 7 areas in Callaway County, and Whetstone Creek Conservation Area is the biggest with 5,208 acres. Public ownership covers some 23,739 acres, near 4.4% of the land area. About 12,725 acres belong to the Mark Twain National Forest. 7 more public places in Callaway County are not open to hunters.
| Public area | Acres | Deer hunting | Antlerless | Also |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whetstone Creek CA · Conservation area | 5,208 | — | — | 3 dove fields, 4 managed hunts |
| Reform CA · Conservation area | 3,580 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Prairie Fork CA · Conservation area | 920 | — | — | 1 managed hunt |
| Little Dixie Lake CA · Conservation area | 733 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Tate Island CA · Conservation area | 422 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Moores Mill Access · Public access | 101 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Earthquake Hollow CA · Conservation area | 87 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest) · Mark Twain National Forest
Public areas past the Callaway County border
- Smoky Waters CA18 miles · 1,041 ac · Cole County and Osage County
- Loutre Lick Access18 miles · 163 ac · Montgomery County
- Grand Bluffs CA19 miles · 236 ac · Montgomery County
- Three Creeks CA20 miles · 1,711 ac · Boone County
- Ben Branch Lake CA20 miles · 563 ac · Osage County
- William Lowe CA22 miles · 133 ac · Audrain 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.
Getting help in Callaway County
Regional staff for Callaway County work out of Columbia ((573) 815-7900). Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center in Columbia is the nearest public MDC office, 20 miles away in a straight line.
Where to stay in Callaway County
- Fultonpop. 12,573 · seat
- New Bloomfieldpop. 744
- TebbettsCDP
Callaway County hunting businesses
Each listing shows its source tag; hours change in deer season, so phone first.
Next to Callaway County
- Audrain CountyCentral
- Boone CountyCentral
- Cole CountyCentral
- Montgomery CountyCentral
- Osage CountyCentral
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
Hunting events held in Callaway County
Booked inside the county: 2 upcoming events and 1 printed result, namely NWTF chapter dinner and bird dog championship.
Upcoming here
| When | Listing | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 4, 2027 | Summit Ridge Beard Hunters NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | Jefferson City | Buy tickets | Source |
| Feb 26, 2027 | Kingdom of Callaway Limbh NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | Fulton | Buy tickets | Source |
Latest winners
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 2026 | NBHA Midwest Regional Championship 2026 · bird dog championship | Indian Creek Spur, winner in NBHA Midwest Regional Championship Flint Ridge Ranger, runner-up Running With Scissors (NBHA Open Puppy) | Source |
Callaway County sight-in spots and shoot dates
Within Callaway County the guide finds 4 ranges; each card says who may shoot.
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Callaway County hunting hours on key dates
Big game hours in Callaway County start 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset; migratory birds and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:37 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:49 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:04 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:41 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:49 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:24 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:24 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:11 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.
Callaway County, answered
Are rabbit dogs allowed in Callaway County during the November portion?
Yes. The November dog rule names other counties.
When is spring turkey season 2027 in Callaway County?
MDC had not published the spring 2027 dates when this page was checked.
Who do I call about poaching in Callaway County?
Operation Game Thief or the MDC regional office.
Which public area in Callaway County has the most acres?
Whetstone Creek Conservation Area, 5,208 acres.
Are Sunday hunts legal in Callaway County?
Yes. Missouri sets no Sunday limit on hunting.
Which meat processor is the shortest drive from Callaway County?
R & R Processing, by straight-line distance.
Does the deer feed ban cover Callaway County?
Yes. It is one of 85 counties where grain, salt and minerals for deer are banned all year.
How many deer can a resident hunter take in Callaway County?
Two antlered deer in total (only one in firearms portions), plus antlerless deer within the 4 deer county firearms limit and unlimited archery antlerless permits.
How many antlered bucks did Callaway County hunters Telecheck in 2025?
2,360, plus 437 button bucks.
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.
Last details for a Callaway County outing
Dates on this page cover 2026-27 only; a new booklet comes out each summer.
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: Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0).