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2026-27 · Fall Deer and Turkey rules
Clay County Hunting
Clay County under the 2026-27 MDC rules: a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4 deer, antlerless portions open, 1,139 deer Telechecked in 2025, 15,576 mapped public acres and the nearest MDC office.
Photo: Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The 2026 county row for Clay County
Census maps give Clay County 398 square miles of land; Liberty is the county seat. Its population estimate for 2024 stands at 263,370, a 4.0% rise from 2020. In Clay County the county fill limit on firearms antlerless permits is 4 deer. Clay County is among the 100 counties open for the October and December antlerless portions. The year-round feed and mineral prohibition covers Clay County. Donations to Share the Harvest from Clay County carry a CWD testing step. Clay County belonged to the CWD Management Zone in 2025-26; for 2026 that zone and the CWD portion were dropped.
| County rule | Status | When |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
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.
Harvest trend for Clay County deer
In 2025, 1,139 deer from Clay County went through Telecheck; antlered bucks made up 52% of them. The year before, 2024, ended at 1,059 (+8% change). Across 11 permit years the peak came in 2022 (1,146) and the low in 2016 (819). That total ranks 102nd among 114 Missouri counties for 2025. 39% of the 2025 deer came during the November portion and 36% with archery tackle.
| Permit year | Antlered | Button | Doe | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 596 | 101 | 442 | 1,139 |
| 2024 | 567 | 71 | 421 | 1,059 |
| 2023 | 603 | 82 | 432 | 1,117 |
| 2022 | 594 | 108 | 444 | 1,146 |
| 2021 | 602 | 73 | 407 | 1,082 |
| 2020 | 620 | 71 | 411 | 1,102 |
| 2019 | 504 | 74 | 409 | 987 |
| 2018 | 450 | 88 | 380 | 918 |
| 2017 | 462 | 59 | 316 | 837 |
| 2016 | 423 | 55 | 341 | 819 |
| 2015 | 395 | 126 | 386 | 907 |
Which portions produced Clay County deer
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 368 | 413 |
| Early youth | 24 | 36 |
| Early antlerless | 24 | 24 |
| Opening weekend* | 199 | 194 |
| November portion | 453 | 442 |
| CWD portion | 38 | 48 |
| Late youth | 5 | 4 |
| Late antlerless | 43 | 34 |
| Alternative methods | 23 | 22 |
| Managed hunts | 81 | 116 |
For 2025 MDC measured 3.8 deer per square mile in Clay County (4.5 regionwide).
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.
Clay County managed hunts and zones
Managed hunt draws in Clay County
Smithville Lake ML and Smithville Lake USACE (816-389-3947) hold 4 managed hunts this season; hunters were drawn from applications taken July 1-31, 2026.
| Hunt | Location | Type | Dates | Drawn | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106 | Smithville Lake ML | Beginner Hunters – Firearms | Dec. 12–13 | 5 | 2, 1 antlered |
| 107 | Smithville Lake ML | Beginner Youth Hunters – Firearms | Dec. 12-13 | 10 | 2, 1 antlered |
| 119 | Smithville Lake ML | Youth – Firearms | Dec. 12–13 | 20 | 2, 1 antlered |
| None | Smithville Lake USACE (816-389-3947) | Disabled hunters – Firearms | Nov. 21–22 | 60 | 2, 1 antlered |
Waterfowl dates in Clay County
MDC's map layer places Clay County in the Middle Zone and North Zone; zone lines changed for 2026-2030.
| 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.
Every 2026-27 season that reaches Clay County
Rows that depend on county lists (antlerless portions, fall firearms turkey, bear, elk, duck zones) are already filtered for Clay County.
| Species | Window | Reach | From | Through | 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 | |
| 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.
Turkeys and CWD testing in Clay County
Spring 2026 turkey hunters checked 104 birds in Clay County during the regular season, after 13 in the youth season. The best spring since 2016 was 2016 with 170. The fall 2025 count was 6 birds across both portions. Fall 2026 is still under way or unreported, and the spring 2027 season has no published dates yet.
| Year | Youth days | Spring season | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 104 | — | — |
| 2025 | 13 | 110 | 3 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 | 140 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 133 | 3 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 | 126 | 3 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 | 118 | 1 | 11 |
| 2020 | 15 | 128 | 8 | 14 |
| 2019 | 6 | 112 | 2 | 13 |
| 2018 | 3 | 105 | 6 | 9 |
| 2017 | 11 | 101 | 3 | 6 |
| 2016 | 13 | 170 | 9 | 11 |
Clay County CWD record
MDC's CWD dashboard records 644 samples from Clay County across the sample years shown, with 0 positives. No CWD detection is on record for Clay County.
| Sample year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 62 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 208 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 60 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 86 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 113 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 44 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 24 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 5 | 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.
Public areas you can hunt in Clay County
4 public areas inside Clay County make our Missouri list, with Cooley Lake Conservation Area the largest at 1,345 acres. Mapped public land adds up to about 15,576 acres, or 6.1% of Clay County. MRAP walk-in land: 1 tract. 15 other public places here allow no hunting.
| Area | Acres | Deer allowed | Antlerless | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooley Lake CA · Conservation area | 1,345 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Liberty Bend CA · Conservation area | 140 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Nebo Hill Tract (MRAP) · MRAP tract | 79 | — | — | youth only |
| Smithville Lake (Corps) · Corps lake | — | — | — | 4 managed hunts |
Close to Clay County, across the line
- McGee Family CA16 miles · 1,032 ac · Clinton County
- Platte Falls CA18 miles · 2,424 ac · Platte County
- Anthony and Beatrice Kendzora CA19 miles · 877 ac · Buchanan County and Platte County
- Burr Oak Woods CA20 miles · 1,071 ac · Jackson County
- Parma Woods Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center20 miles · 200 ac · Platte County
- Crooked River CA21 miles · 1,420 ac · Ray 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.
Who serves Clay County hunters
For regional questions, Clay County hunters call the Kansas City office in Lees Summit at (816) 622-0900. The office nearest Clay County is Lake City Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center (19 miles).
Towns in Clay County
- Libertypop. 31,245 · seat
- Smithvillepop. 10,971
Clay County deer processing and gear
Businesses inside the county come first, then those just across the line.
Counties that border Clay County
- Clinton CountyNorthwest
- Jackson CountyKansas City
- Platte CountyKansas City
- Ray CountyNorthwest
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
Events on file for Clay County
This county shows 4 upcoming events; kinds are DU chapter dinner, NWTF chapter dinner, beginner youth managed hunt and youth managed deer hunt.
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12–13, 2026 | Smithville Lake Management Lands Beginner Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · beginner youth managed hunt | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 12–13, 2026 | Smithville Lake Management Lands Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | Event details | Source | |
| Feb 26, 2027 | Springtown Wattlenecks NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | Smithville | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Smithville Lake Dinner · DU chapter dinner | Smithville American Legion Post 58 — Clay County | Buy tickets | Source |
Clay County ranges and shoot dates
Up to six Clay County ranges appear as cards; any more are in the table below.
Platte Falls Conservation Area Archery Range (public, free) is the public range nearest Clay County, 18 miles away. Range page
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Clay County legal shooting light
For ducks, geese and doves in Clay County the day ends at sunset; deer, bear and elk hunters get another half hour.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:14 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:51 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:59 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:34 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:34 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:21 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.
Clay County hunting, common questions
Can I hunt state parks in Clay County?
Only parks with an MDC managed deer hunt allow hunting.
Is Clay County North, Middle or South for duck season?
Middle Zone and North Zone on MDC's map layer; the 2026-2030 lines moved, so read the digest map near a boundary.
Who will skin and cut a Clay County deer?
Brendle's Butcher Block LLC heads our distance list.
How do I check a deer in Clay County?
Notch the permit, then Telecheck online, in the MO Hunting app or by phone by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
Are the antlerless portions open in Clay County?
Yes, Oct. 9-11 and Dec. 5-13, 2026.
Does camo orange count in Clay County?
No. Camouflage orange does not meet the rule.
Which permit year gave Clay County its biggest deer harvest since 2015?
2022, at 1,146 deer.
Can a Clay County deer be donated to Share the Harvest without a CWD test?
No. Deer from this county need a CWD test, which participating processors arrange.
Is fall firearms turkey open in Clay County?
Yes, Oct. 1-31, 2026.
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.
Double-check list for Clay County
MDC can change rules after the booklet prints; recheck the county table before a Clay County hunt.
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).