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Seat: Lebanon · Southwest Region
Laclede County Hunting
Before a Laclede County trip: a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4 deer, the open antlerless portions, turkey and duck zone facts, 3,328 deer checked in 2025 and 6 public areas to hunt.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Laclede County rules at a glance
Laclede County covers 765 square miles of land and 3 of water, with the courthouse in Lebanon. Population ran to 36,738 in mid-2024, a shift of +1.9% from the 2020 base. MDC caps firearms antlerless permits in Laclede County at 4 deer this season, counting every firearms portion together. From Oct. 9 to 11 and again from Dec. 5 to 13, Laclede County hunters can fill firearms antlerless permits in the antlerless portions. Placing feed, salt or minerals for deer is prohibited all year in Laclede County because the county lies within 10 miles of a CWD detection. For Share the Harvest, deer from Laclede County must be tested for CWD, which the processors arrange. For 2026 the CWD Management Zone was removed, so Laclede County no longer has zone rules or a CWD portion.
| MDC rule | Here | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 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 / 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.
Deer Telechecked in Laclede County, 2015-2025
Laclede County produced 3,328 checked deer in 2025 (1,680 antlered, 1,648 antlerless). That is 5% above the 2024 total of 3,168. The best year in the 2015-2025 run was 2015 with 4,357; the lowest was 2024 with 3,168. By 2025 harvest, Laclede County sits 26th of 114. Archery and crossbow hunters logged 594; the November portion added 1,817.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,680 | 282 | 1,366 | 3,328 |
| 2024 | 1,482 | 294 | 1,392 | 3,168 |
| 2023 | 1,854 | 329 | 1,818 | 4,001 |
| 2022 | 1,556 | 276 | 1,353 | 3,185 |
| 2021 | 1,807 | 346 | 1,348 | 3,501 |
| 2020 | 1,725 | 331 | 1,633 | 3,689 |
| 2019 | 2,011 | 379 | 1,585 | 3,975 |
| 2018 | 1,657 | 347 | 1,338 | 3,342 |
| 2017 | 1,973 | 439 | 1,685 | 4,097 |
| 2016 | 1,742 | 400 | 1,473 | 3,615 |
| 2015 | 1,976 | 562 | 1,819 | 4,357 |
Laclede County deer by portion, 2024 and 2025
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 616 | 594 |
| Early youth | 186 | 234 |
| Early antlerless | 57 | 89 |
| Opening weekend* | 794 | 859 |
| November portion | 1,815 | 1,817 |
| CWD portion | 209 | 230 |
| Late youth | 27 | 29 |
| Late antlerless | 145 | 199 |
| Alternative methods | 94 | 121 |
| Managed hunts | 19 | 15 |
The Southwest Region figure was 4.6 per square mile, while Laclede County posted 4.5.
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.
Draws, zones and wetlands in Laclede County
Black bear hunting in Laclede County
Laclede County lies in Black Bear Management Zone 3. The 2026 season runs Oct. 17-30 for permit holders drawn in the May 1-31 application period.
| 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 |
Laclede County and the North, Middle and South zones
Duck dates in Laclede County follow the Middle Zone and South Zone, judged from the older map layer; check the digest map if you hunt near a zone edge.
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks, split 1 | Middle | Nov 7–Dec 13 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Middle | Dec 19–Jan 10 |
| Ducks, split 1 | South | Nov 26–Nov 29 |
| Ducks, split 2 | South | Dec 7–Jan 31 |
Laclede County has no managed deer hunt for 2026-27; look to Camden, Miller and Hickory for the nearest.
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.
Laclede County seasons, opener to closer
Laclede County gets 40 dated rows this permit year, from the September dove opener to the conservation order in spring.
| Game | Segment | Scope | Opening day | Closing day | 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 | |
| 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.
Laclede County turkey harvest and CWD results
Telecheck shows 673 Laclede County gobblers and bearded hens in the 2026 regular spring season. 729 turkeys in 2025 is the spring high mark here. In fall 2025, 37 turkeys came on the firearms portion and 8 with archery. No fall 2026 harvest is listed yet; the 2027 spring season dates are pending.
| Year | Spring youth | Spring regular | Firearms fall | Archery fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 88 | 673 | — | — |
| 2025 | 70 | 729 | 37 | 8 |
| 2024 | 61 | 683 | 35 | 20 |
| 2023 | 50 | 696 | 51 | 40 |
| 2022 | 51 | 535 | 50 | 26 |
| 2021 | 64 | 574 | 38 | 44 |
| 2020 | 51 | 651 | 53 | 43 |
| 2019 | 56 | 635 | 59 | 58 |
| 2018 | 34 | 623 | 47 | 25 |
| 2017 | 60 | 671 | 68 | 58 |
| 2016 | 74 | 722 | 85 | 40 |
Chronic wasting disease results, Laclede County
Laclede County CWD testing: 2,517 samples, 0 positive, by the MDC layer. MDC lists no CWD-positive deer from Laclede County through June 2026.
| Sample year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 7 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 55 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 110 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 190 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 831 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 895 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 116 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 124 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 39 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 139 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 11 | 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.
Laclede County conservation areas and public ground
There are 6 listed hunting areas in Laclede County; Goose Creek Conservation Area tops them at 880 acres. GIS layers map about 34,583 public acres in the county, roughly 7.1% of its land. Mark Twain National Forest owns about 30,673 acres here, open to hunting under statewide rules. Another 9 MDC or state places in the county are closed to hunting and left off the table.
| Place | Acres | Deer methods | Antlerless | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek CA · Conservation area | 880 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Bear Creek CA · Conservation area | 728 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Osage Fork CA · Conservation area | 280 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Coffin Cave CA · Conservation area | 68 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Mary Lawson CA · Conservation area | 52 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Drynob Access · Public access | 17 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest) · Mark Twain National Forest
Public areas just outside Laclede County
- John Alva Fuson, MD CA14 miles · 1,534 ac · Wright County
- Rader Access16 miles · 62 ac · Webster County
- Bennett Spring Access16 miles · 178 ac · Dallas County
- Alfred Newton Gossett CA17 miles · 671 ac · Dallas County
- Barclay CA18 miles · 426 ac · Dallas County
- Williams Ford Access20 miles · 40 ac · Dallas 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.
Laclede County offices and local help
Springfield hosts the Southwest Regional Office that covers Laclede County. About 27 miles from the county centre, Camdenton has the closest MDC office open to visitors.
Laclede County town guides
- Lebanonpop. 15,538 · seat
- Bennett SpringsCDP
Services near Laclede County
Confirm hours and venison policies by phone; November is the busy month.
Around Laclede County
- Camden CountyCentral
- Dallas CountySouthwest
- Pulaski CountyOzark
- 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.
Laclede County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
1 range are on file for Laclede County, from MDC lines to clubs and indoor lanes.
Laclede County shoot dates
| Date and shoot | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 28-29, 2026 | Gun show | Posted at |
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Shooting hours in Laclede County
Times for Laclede County come from the MDC Jefferson City table, moved by the longitude rule MDC prints with it.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Hunter questions on Laclede County rules
What is the nearest MDC office to Laclede County?
Camdenton Office in Camdenton.
Which deer processors serve Laclede County?
Carnivores Meat Market, Ruger's Wild Game Processing LLC and K & K Meat Processing, ranked by distance.
What orange must I wear in Laclede County during the firearms portions?
A hunter orange hat plus an orange shirt, vest or coat, visible from all sides.
Can I shoot a doe with a gun in Laclede County this season?
Yes, up to 4 deer on firearms antlerless permits, plus any-deer permits.
Does the old CWD Management Zone still affect Laclede County?
No. MDC dropped the zone and the CWD portion for 2026, so no zone rules apply anywhere.
What was the 2025 Telecheck total for Laclede County?
3,328 deer in the 2025 permit year.
What time does spring turkey hunting end on public land in Laclede County?
1 p.m. on public land.
Is Laclede County inside Black Bear Management Zone 1, 2 or 3?
Zone 3, going by the GIS overlay of the 2026 bear zones.
Where is the nearest public land outside Laclede County?
John Alva Fuson, MD Conservation Area, about 14 miles from the centre.
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.
Laclede County reminders for the 2026-27 season
Ask before hunting private land in Laclede County; written permission avoids trouble.
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).