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Ozark Region county guide
Douglas County Hunting
Douglas County sits in the MDC Ozark Region. This page lists its 2026 deer rules, every dated season, harvest and CWD results by year, its public areas with acres and the offices that serve it.
Photo: SlapTheWorld (CC0 1.0)
What MDC set for Douglas County this season
Ava anchors Douglas County, a county of 814 square miles in the MDC Ozark Region. Census Vintage 2024 counts 12,290 residents, 6.2% more than the April 2020 base. The firearms antlerless fill limit for Douglas County is 4 deer for 2026-27; archery antlerless permits are not capped by county. The county is open during the early antlerless portion (Oct. 9-11) and the late antlerless portion (Dec. 5-13). Douglas County is inside the 85-county feed and mineral ban, which applies all year. Hunters donating venison from Douglas County through Share the Harvest need a CWD test result. Rules tied to the old CWD Management Zone no longer apply in Douglas County; MDC dropped the zone for 2026.
| Rule | Douglas County | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 | Oct. 17-30, by permit |
| Waterfowl zone (map layer) | South | 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.
Douglas County deer totals by permit year
Douglas County closed out 2025 with 3,695 deer on the Telecheck books, 1,820 of them antlered bucks and 1,612 does. A year earlier the county logged 3,048, a 21% smaller number. Totals ranged from 2,653 (2018) to 4,138 (2023). Its 2025 total put Douglas County 18th statewide out of 114 counties. By portion, 1,997 came in the November firearms days and 606 in archery season.
| Season | Antlered | Buttons | Does | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,820 | 263 | 1,612 | 3,695 |
| 2024 | 1,373 | 272 | 1,403 | 3,048 |
| 2023 | 1,867 | 351 | 1,920 | 4,138 |
| 2022 | 1,563 | 345 | 1,441 | 3,349 |
| 2021 | 1,730 | 316 | 1,450 | 3,496 |
| 2020 | 1,655 | 290 | 1,309 | 3,254 |
| 2019 | 1,629 | 295 | 1,377 | 3,301 |
| 2018 | 1,341 | 279 | 1,033 | 2,653 |
| 2017 | 1,544 | 409 | 1,421 | 3,374 |
| 2016 | 1,569 | 311 | 1,182 | 3,062 |
| 2015 | 1,715 | 321 | 1,370 | 3,406 |
Douglas County portion table
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 458 | 606 |
| Early youth | 216 | 316 |
| Early antlerless | 76 | 141 |
| Opening weekend* | 706 | 790 |
| November portion | 1,862 | 1,997 |
| CWD portion | 205 | 275 |
| Late youth | 43 | 42 |
| Late antlerless | 114 | 197 |
| Alternative methods | 73 | 121 |
| Managed hunts | 1 | 0 |
At 4.6 deer taken per square mile, Douglas County ran level with its region (4.6) in 2025.
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.
Douglas County draw hunts, bear, elk and ducks
Douglas County bear hunting by permit
Douglas County is bear country under the 2026 digest: Zone 1, Oct. 17-30, permit by drawing.
| Zone | Share of county | Permits 2026 | Quota 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 100% | 1,000 | 30 |
| Year | Statewide bears |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Which duck zone Douglas County is in
Douglas County is South Zone country by the GIS layer, but the new 2026-2030 boundary text governs near the line.
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks, split 1 | South | Nov 26–Nov 29 |
| Ducks, split 2 | South | Dec 7–Jan 31 |
Douglas County drew no managed hunt this year, so the closest options sit in Ozark, Greene and Shannon counties.
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.
Douglas County open and close dates
Each row below is a dated MDC season that applies in Douglas County; the status column compares it with today.
| Animal | Season | Area rule | Start | Finish | Right 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 1 | Bear zone 1 | 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 | South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 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 | |
| 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.
What Douglas County turkey and CWD data show
In spring 2026 the county recorded 485 turkeys in the regular season. Looking back to 2016, 2016 had the most spring birds (567). Fall 2025 added 16 firearms and 5 archery turkeys. Spring rows for 2026 are a season already past; spring 2027 dates are still to come from MDC.
| Year | Youth | Spring | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50 | 485 | — | — |
| 2025 | 44 | 540 | 16 | 5 |
| 2024 | 44 | 452 | 19 | 12 |
| 2023 | 18 | 423 | 23 | 16 |
| 2022 | 20 | 293 | 7 | 13 |
| 2021 | 32 | 353 | 14 | 26 |
| 2020 | 22 | 359 | 7 | 15 |
| 2019 | 34 | 347 | 18 | 9 |
| 2018 | 16 | 328 | 14 | 14 |
| 2017 | 53 | 428 | 31 | 28 |
| 2016 | 56 | 567 | 40 | 18 |
Douglas County CWD samples by year
Across the sample years shown, Douglas County hunters and staff submitted 2,144 samples; positives number 0. No positive deer from Douglas County appears in MDC's results.
| Season | Tests | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 600 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 609 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 99 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 93 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 96 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 115 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 156 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 82 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 141 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 140 | 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.
Where to hunt in Douglas County
The table below covers all 4 public hunting areas we list in Douglas County. Roughly 42,573 acres, 8.2% of Douglas County, are public by GIS measure. Some 40,286 acres are Mark Twain National Forest. 2 additional sites bar hunting and are not listed.
| Area | Acres | Deer | Antlerless | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shannon Ranch CA · Conservation area | 1,565 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Rippee CA · Conservation area | 419 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Richard Massengill CA · Conservation area | 207 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Vera Cruz Access · Public access | 80 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest) · Mark Twain National Forest
Next-door areas for Douglas County hunters
- Cedar Gap CA14 miles · 431 ac · Wright County
- Caney Mountain CA18 miles · 7,899 ac · Ozark County
- Camp Branch Access22 miles · 28 ac · Wright County
- Odin Access23 miles · 124 ac · Wright County
- Patrick Bridge Access26 miles · 171 ac · Ozark County
- Timber Knob Towersite26 miles · 40 ac · Ozark 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.
MDC offices, towns and services for Douglas County
The MDC Ozark Region office is in West Plains, phone (417) 256-7161. MDC offices sell permits; the nearest one to Douglas County is in West Plains, about 39 miles off.
Towns near Douglas County land
- Avapop. 3,184 · seat
Douglas County processors, mounts and gear shops
Share the Harvest and CWD partner tags come from MDC lists; other shops come from business directories.
Douglas County adjoining counties
- Christian CountySouthwest
- Howell CountyOzark
- Ozark CountyOzark
- Taney CountySouthwest
- Texas CountyOzark
- Webster CountySouthwest
- Wright 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.
Douglas County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
Douglas County has 1 listed range, including the MDC range at Grundy Memorial Wildlife Area.
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
First and last shooting light in Douglas County
Use these Douglas County times for the key opening and closing days; rabbits are sunrise to sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:39 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:51 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:06 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:43 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:51 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:26 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:26 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:13 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.
Douglas County questions and short answers
Which of the eight MDC regions takes in Douglas County?
The Ozark Region, with its office in West Plains.
Are there MRAP walk-in tracts in Douglas County?
None in this county.
Can I use a crossbow in Douglas County during archery season?
Yes. Crossbows are legal archery methods.
Which processors on this page sit closest to Douglas County?
Green's Wild Country Cuts LLC, Campbell's Custom Butchering and Williams Meat, nearest first; phone before dropping off a deer.
Is there a confirmed CWD case on record for Douglas County?
MDC's first-positive list, current to June 2026, does not include this county.
What is the firearms antlerless fill limit in Douglas County?
4 deer for 2026-27.
How many fall turkeys were taken in Douglas County in 2025?
16 with firearms and 5 with archery.
How many does came out of Douglas County in the 2025 season?
1,612 does, by the MDC county table.
Does the 2026 Missouri bear season reach Douglas County?
Yes. Residents drawn for a Zone 1 permit can hunt Oct. 17-30, 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.
Before you hunt Douglas County this fall
Where this page and MDC differ, MDC is right.
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 Mountain Prairie (Public domain).