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Southeast Region · MDC rules 2026-27
Madison County Hunting
Hunting Madison County in 2026-27: the county deer rules MDC set for 2026, deer and turkey harvest by year, CWD testing results, 4 listed public areas and the help close to Fredericktown.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
How MDC rules apply in Madison County
With Fredericktown as its seat, Madison County spans 494 square miles of the Bootheel lowlands, the St. Francois Mountains and Mingo Swamp. Roughly 12,852 residents share it, after a +1.8% change since the 2020 count. Madison County carries a 2 deer fill limit for firearms antlerless permits in 2026. Antlerless-only firearms days return to Madison County on Oct. 9-11 and again on Dec. 5-13. MDC lists Madison County under the feed and mineral ban, so deer feed and mineral sites are illegal here all year. Deer donated to Share the Harvest from Madison County must be CWD tested first; participating processors handle the test. Beagles and squirrel dogs stay home in daylight during the November portion in Madison County. Madison County was inside the CWD Management Zone in 2025-26; MDC removed the zone, the CWD portion and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
| Item | In Madison | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless fill limit | 2 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 | Yes | November portion, daylight |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Oct. 1-31 |
| Elk hunting county | No | Carter, Reynolds, Shannon |
| Black Bear Management Zone | 2 | 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Madison County
Madison County deer harvest, 2015 to 2025
MDC counted 2,892 deer from Madison County for 2025, with 1,390 does and 1,213 antlered bucks. Compared with 1,887 in 2024, the count moved +53%. 2025 tops the chart at 2,892 deer, while 2024 sits at the bottom with 1,887. Statewide, Madison County came 40th of 114 by deer checked in 2025. Archery accounted for 495 deer (17%) and the November portion for 1,623.
| Year | Antlered bucks | Buttons | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,213 | 289 | 1,390 | 2,892 |
| 2024 | 743 | 251 | 893 | 1,887 |
| 2023 | 1,034 | 318 | 1,350 | 2,702 |
| 2022 | 914 | 297 | 1,048 | 2,259 |
| 2021 | 1,238 | 324 | 1,119 | 2,681 |
| 2020 | 1,210 | 352 | 1,306 | 2,868 |
| 2019 | 1,046 | 360 | 1,202 | 2,608 |
| 2018 | 1,130 | 350 | 1,067 | 2,547 |
| 2017 | 1,034 | 274 | 920 | 2,228 |
| 2016 | 1,079 | 286 | 912 | 2,277 |
| 2015 | 962 | 217 | 783 | 1,962 |
Madison County harvest split by season portion
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 355 | 495 |
| Early youth | 111 | 129 |
| Early antlerless | 64 | 170 |
| Opening weekend* | 546 | 675 |
| November portion | 1,111 | 1,623 |
| CWD portion | 96 | 185 |
| Late youth | 15 | 27 |
| Late antlerless | 88 | 173 |
| Alternative methods | 47 | 90 |
| Managed hunts | — | 0 |
Per square mile, Madison County gave up 6.0 deer in 2025 compared with the Southeast Region mark of 4.0.
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.
Drawings and zone lines for Madison County
Bear zone facts for Madison County
The bear season in Madison County is Oct. 17 to 30, 2026, open only to residents drawn for a Zone 2 permit.
| Zone | Share of county | Permits 2026 | Quota 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | 100% | 750 | 22 |
| Year | Statewide bears |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Madison County duck season zone
For waterfowl, Madison County reads as the Middle Zone on the layer MDC published with the 2021-2025 lines.
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks, split 1 | Middle | Nov 7–Dec 13 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Middle | Dec 19–Jan 10 |
Managed hunts skip Madison County this year; Wayne, Cape Girardeau and Stoddard are the nearest counties on the list.
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.
Madison County calendar for deer, turkey, birds and furbearers
Filter the table by species; dates come straight from the 2026 MDC booklets and the waterfowl digest.
| Game | Portion | Where | Opens | Closes | 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | 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.
Madison County turkey numbers and disease testing
Madison County gave up 313 turkeys in the spring 2026 regular season. 2025 leads the spring column at 335 birds. Fall hunters checked 40 with guns and 14 with bows in 2025. Spring 2026 is history; MDC had not set the spring 2027 dates at the last check.
| Year | Spring youth | Spring | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 36 | 313 | — | — |
| 2025 | 23 | 335 | 40 | 14 |
| 2024 | 16 | 261 | 16 | 10 |
| 2023 | 13 | 218 | 27 | 27 |
| 2022 | 13 | 190 | 11 | 18 |
| 2021 | 19 | 214 | 17 | 24 |
| 2020 | 20 | 229 | 15 | 10 |
| 2019 | 20 | 230 | 15 | 14 |
| 2018 | 21 | 247 | 17 | 14 |
| 2017 | 25 | 259 | 25 | 17 |
| 2016 | 31 | 318 | 38 | 20 |
CWD surveillance in Madison County
1,972 deer from Madison County have been tested since 2016 on the MDC dashboard, and 0 were positive. Madison County has no first-positive year on the MDC list.
| Year (July-June) | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 40 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 449 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 50 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 560 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 25 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 43 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 28 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 39 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 712 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 23 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 3 | 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.
Places open to hunting in Madison County
Madison County has 4 listed places open to some hunting, led by Amidon Memorial Conservation Area (1,878 acres). About 17.6% of the county (55,771 acres) is public on the state and federal layers. National forest land accounts for about 53,040 acres of it. We left out 2 places where hunting is not allowed.
| Area and kind | Acres | Deer methods | Antlerless | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amidon Memorial CA · Conservation area | 1,878 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Millstream Gardens CA · Conservation area | 916 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Thompson Ford Access · Public access | 84 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Marquand Access · Public access | 63 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
Mark Twain National Forest · Potosi / Fredericktown Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest)
Nearby areas in other counties
- Knob Lick Towersite13 miles · 80 ac · St. Francois County
- Coldwater Access14 miles · 79 ac · Wayne County
- Hawn Access14 miles · 81 ac · Bollinger County
- Coldwater CA15 miles · 10,804 ac · Wayne County
- Little Whitewater CA15 miles · 80 ac · Bollinger County
- Graves Mountain CA18 miles · 3,027 ac · Iron County and Wayne 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.
Madison County contacts, towns and shops
Hunters in Madison County fall under the Southeast Region, whose office sits in Cape Girardeau. The closest MDC office open to the public is Piedmont Office, about 28 miles from mid-county.
Madison County hunting towns
- Fredericktownpop. 4,581 · seat
- Cobaltpop. 263
- Cherokee PassCDP
- Mine La MotteCDP
Help for Madison County hunters
Listings come from MDC lists (Share the Harvest processors, CWD sampling partners, commercial permits) and directories; call before you drive.
Madison County neighbours
- Bollinger CountySoutheast
- Iron CountySoutheast
- Perry CountySoutheast
- St. Francois CountySoutheast
- Wayne CountySoutheast
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
What Madison County has on the hunting calendar
County total as of October 29, 2026: 1 upcoming event.
Dates ahead
| Date | Event | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2026 | Deer Hunting: Field to Freezer: Beginner Venison Summer Sausage Masterclass · field-to-freezer deer program | Fredericktown High School — Madison County | Register | Source |
Madison County ranges and shoot dates
Cards for Madison County carry each range’s access rule (1 range in all).
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
When legal light starts in Madison County
MDC publishes sunrise and sunset for Jefferson City only; Madison County sits 7 minutes earlier by the 13.5-mile rule.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:31 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:58 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:35 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:43 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:18 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:18 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:05 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.
Things hunters ask about Madison County
How much public land is there in Madison County?
About 55,771 acres by GIS, with 4 listed areas.
Where can I buy hunting permits near Madison County?
Online, in the MO Hunting app, at permit vendors or at an MDC office.
Is there a Share the Harvest processor near Madison County?
Check the tags in the services band; Country Outback LLC is closest on our list.
Must archers wear orange in Madison County during gun season?
Yes in firearms portions, with some exceptions listed in the booklet.
Is Madison County closed to the October and December antlerless portions?
No, both are open.
Must Madison County deer go to a CWD station in November 2026?
No. The county is outside the 28-county mandatory list this year; free voluntary testing is offered all season.
Where does Madison County land in the statewide deer harvest ranking?
40th out of 114 counties for 2025.
How many spring turkeys came from Madison County in 2026?
313 in the regular season.
Could I draw an elk permit for Madison County?
No. Elk hunting is limited to Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties.
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.
Madison County trip reminders
Rules here are for the 2026-27 permit year; the booklet and Wildlife Code win where they differ.
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: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).