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2026-27 county rules
Camden County Hunting
A Central Region county guide to Camden County: county deer rules, 2025 harvest of 3,714 deer, spring turkey numbers, managed hunts, conservation areas and services near Camdenton.
Photo: Richard Ricciardi (CC BY 2.0)
Camden County deer and county rules for 2026-27
Measured by the Census Bureau, Camden County holds 656 land square miles, and Camdenton hosts county government. Some 44,135 people call it home by the 2024 estimate, +3.3% against 2020. Hunters may fill up to 4 deer on firearms antlerless permits in Camden County across all firearms portions combined. The early and late antlerless portions both include Camden County this year. Grain, salt, minerals and other deer feed are banned year-round in Camden County, one of the 85 feed-ban counties. Share the Harvest takes Camden County deer only after a CWD test. The CWD Management Zone that covered Camden County through 2025-26 is gone, along with the CWD portion.
| Rule | Setting | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless fill limit | 4 deer | All firearms portions |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Oct. 9-11, Dec. 5-13 |
| Mandatory CWD sampling | Not this year | 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 | 3 | Oct. 17-30, by permit |
| Waterfowl zone (map layer) | Middle | 2021-2025 layer |
| SE flood closure zone | None | Gauge-based |
| CWD portion | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
| Antler-point restriction | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
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.
Camden County Telecheck history
Hunters Telechecked 3,714 deer in Camden County in the 2025 permit year: 1,777 antlered bucks, 295 button bucks and 1,642 does. Against 2024 (2,963 deer) the change was +25%. Highlighted on the chart: 2023, the top year at 3,863; 2022 was the weakest at 2,953. Among the 114 counties MDC reports, Camden County placed 17th in 2025. Bowhunters checked 895 deer, about 24% of the county total, while November firearms hunters took 1,816.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,777 | 295 | 1,642 | 3,714 |
| 2024 | 1,320 | 346 | 1,297 | 2,963 |
| 2023 | 1,910 | 325 | 1,628 | 3,863 |
| 2022 | 1,399 | 252 | 1,302 | 2,953 |
| 2021 | 1,813 | 363 | 1,481 | 3,657 |
| 2020 | 1,523 | 430 | 1,741 | 3,694 |
| 2019 | 1,505 | 392 | 1,564 | 3,461 |
| 2018 | 1,320 | 394 | 1,541 | 3,255 |
| 2017 | 1,568 | 484 | 1,537 | 3,589 |
| 2016 | 1,530 | 432 | 1,705 | 3,667 |
| 2015 | 1,555 | 435 | 1,745 | 3,735 |
How Camden County deer were taken, by portion
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 738 | 895 |
| Early youth | 146 | 202 |
| Early antlerless | 35 | 115 |
| Opening weekend* | 694 | 898 |
| November portion | 1,632 | 1,816 |
| CWD portion | 152 | 248 |
| Late youth | 20 | 36 |
| Late antlerless | 125 | 238 |
| Alternative methods | 89 | 139 |
| Managed hunts | 26 | 25 |
Harvest density in Camden County was 6.1 deer per square mile in 2025; the Central Region averaged 5.5.
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.
Special hunts and zones around Camden County
Camden County managed hunts by drawing
Camden County has 1 managed deer hunt for 2026-27; the drawing for them closed on July 31.
| Hunt | Location | Type | Dates | Drawn | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Lake of the Ozarks SP | Firearms | Dec. 5–7 | 20 | 3, 1 antlered |
Bear season reach in Camden County
MDC issued 2,000 bear permits statewide for 2026 with a 60-bear quota; Camden County falls in Zone 3.
| Zone | Share of county | Permits 2026 | Quota 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | 100% | 250 | 8 |
| Year | Statewide bears |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Camden County waterfowl zone
MDC's 2021-2025 zone layer shows the Middle Zone over Camden County; the 2026-2030 boundaries shifted a little.
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Camden County dates by species for 2026-27
The list covers hunting seasons only; trapping-only rows and falconry dates for Camden County are on the species pages.
| Quarry | Hunt | Applies | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Camden County gobblers, fall birds and CWD samples
MDC counted 612 spring turkeys from Camden County in 2026. The top spring in the table is 2025, with 715 turkeys. Autumn 2025 saw 76 turkeys checked in Camden County. The spring 2027 booklet was not yet released, and fall 2026 numbers come after the season.
| Season year | Youth spring | Regular spring | Fall guns | Fall bows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 67 | 612 | — | — |
| 2025 | 57 | 715 | 52 | 24 |
| 2024 | 50 | 644 | 37 | 14 |
| 2023 | 31 | 648 | 33 | 25 |
| 2022 | 48 | 451 | 14 | 17 |
| 2021 | 48 | 547 | 29 | 32 |
| 2020 | 39 | 535 | 33 | 36 |
| 2019 | 33 | 574 | 22 | 21 |
| 2018 | 24 | 529 | 19 | 20 |
| 2017 | 48 | 589 | 44 | 23 |
| 2016 | 60 | 618 | 66 | 41 |
CWD testing in Camden County
The dashboard lists 1,873 Camden County samples and 0 positive results. The MDC list shows no CWD case in Camden County so far.
| Year | Samples | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 130 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 64 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 76 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 544 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 773 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 52 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 99 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 76 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 20 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 29 | 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.
Camden County public ground and acreage
Lake of the Ozarks State Park (21,143 acres) heads the list of 8 public areas in Camden County. The layers show 18,628 public acres in Camden County (4.4% of land). Closed to hunting: 4 other places.
| Name and type | Size (ac) | Deer rule | Does | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake of the Ozarks SP · State park (managed hunt) | 21,143 | — | — | 1 managed hunt |
| Mule Shoe CA · Conservation area | 2,829 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Fiery Fork CA · Conservation area | 1,609 | Archery and firearms | archery antlerless | — |
| Toronto Springs CA · Conservation area | 890 | Archery and firearms | archery antlerless | — |
| Burnt Mill Cave CA · Conservation area | 340 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Larry R. Gale Access · Public access | 193 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Alice Ahart Mansfield CA · Conservation area | 80 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Branch Towersite · Towersite | 40 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
Neighbouring public ground
- Mary Lawson CA12 miles · 52 ac · Laclede County
- Lead Mine CA15 miles · 7,761 ac · Dallas County
- Barclay CA17 miles · 426 ac · Dallas County
- Coffin Cave CA18 miles · 68 ac · Laclede County
- Wigwam School Access20 miles · 78 ac · Morgan County
- Proctor Towersite20 miles · 115 ac · Morgan 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.
Camden County MDC office and businesses
MDC runs the Central Region, including Camden County, from Columbia. Nearest public MDC office: Camdenton Office, 1 mile out.
Camden County base towns
- Camdentonpop. 4,035 · seat
- Climax SpringsCDP
Camden County hunting trade listings
Ranked by county first, then neighbours, by straight-line distance.
Bordering county guides
- Benton CountyKansas City
- Dallas CountySouthwest
- Hickory CountySouthwest
- Laclede CountySouthwest
- Miller CountyCentral
- Morgan CountyCentral
- Pulaski CountyOzark
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
Camden County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
The guide lists 2 ranges in Camden County; Camdenton Conservation Service Center Archery Range is on MDC land.
Dates in this county
| Day and event | Discipline | Enter |
|---|---|---|
| May 28-30, 2027 | Gun show | Calendar |
| May 28-30, 2027 | Gun show | Calendar |
| Sep 3-5, 2027 | Gun show | Calendar |
| Sep 3-5, 2027 | Gun show | Calendar |
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Legal hours for Camden County
The rows below shift MDC's Jefferson City times by +2 minutes for the centre of Camden County.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:40 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:52 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:07 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:44 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:27 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:27 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:14 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.
Camden County FAQ
Does MDC hold a drawn deer hunt in Camden County?
Yes, 1 hunt; the July 2026 application window has closed.
May I deer hunt any conservation area in Camden County?
Deer hunting is allowed only on areas on MDC's list, with methods set area by area as the table shows.
What is the MDC regional phone for Camden County?
(573) 815-7900 (Columbia).
Where might a Camden County hunter drop off a deer for cutting?
Native Meats LLC is the first stop on our distance list.
From what time to what time may deer be hunted in Camden County?
From 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
How many antlerless deer can I take on firearms permits in Camden County?
4 deer across all firearms portions; archery antlerless permits are unlimited.
Is a salt or mineral block for deer legal in Camden County?
No. Salt and minerals for deer are part of the year-round ban in this county.
Is Camden County deer harvest trending up or down?
3,714 in 2025, 2,963 in 2024 and 3,735 back in 2015.
Can I hunt turkeys with a bow in fall in Camden County?
Yes, Sept. 15-Nov. 13 and Nov. 25-Jan. 15 statewide.
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.
Camden County season reminders from the booklet
Carry your permit, notch it right away and Telecheck by 10 p.m.
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: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).