Home › Missouri › Counties › Ozark County
Seat: Gainesville · Ozark Region
Ozark County Hunting
Before a Ozark County trip: a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4 deer, the open antlerless portions, turkey and duck zone facts, 2,819 deer checked in 2025 and 8 public areas to hunt.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Ozark County rules at a glance
Ozark County covers 745 square miles of land and 10 of water, with the courthouse in Gainesville. Population ran to 9,090 in mid-2024, a shift of +6.3% from the 2020 base. MDC caps firearms antlerless permits in Ozark County at 4 deer this season, counting every firearms portion together. From Oct. 9 to 11 and again from Dec. 5 to 13, Ozark County hunters can fill firearms antlerless permits in the antlerless portions. Placing feed, salt or minerals for deer is prohibited all year in Ozark County because the county lies within 10 miles of a CWD detection. For Share the Harvest, deer from Ozark County must be tested for CWD, which the processors arrange. For 2026 the CWD Management Zone was removed, so Ozark 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 | 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ozark County
Deer Telechecked in Ozark County, 2015-2025
Ozark County produced 2,819 checked deer in 2025 (1,457 antlered, 1,362 antlerless). That is 7% above the 2024 total of 2,633. The best year in the 2015-2025 run was 2023 with 3,257; the lowest was 2022 with 2,473. By 2025 harvest, Ozark County sits 45th of 114. Archery and crossbow hunters logged 468; the November portion added 1,562.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,457 | 199 | 1,163 | 2,819 |
| 2024 | 1,227 | 231 | 1,175 | 2,633 |
| 2023 | 1,538 | 241 | 1,478 | 3,257 |
| 2022 | 1,172 | 243 | 1,058 | 2,473 |
| 2021 | 1,336 | 247 | 1,145 | 2,728 |
| 2020 | 1,242 | 223 | 1,147 | 2,612 |
| 2019 | 1,334 | 262 | 1,180 | 2,776 |
| 2018 | 1,281 | 233 | 1,102 | 2,616 |
| 2017 | 1,484 | 299 | 1,405 | 3,188 |
| 2016 | 1,669 | 289 | 1,152 | 3,110 |
| 2015 | 1,635 | 264 | 1,274 | 3,173 |
Ozark County deer by portion, 2024 and 2025
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 395 | 468 |
| Early youth | 131 | 204 |
| Early antlerless | 79 | 88 |
| Opening weekend* | 641 | 706 |
| November portion | 1,634 | 1,562 |
| CWD portion | 153 | 193 |
| Late youth | 10 | 17 |
| Late antlerless | 88 | 149 |
| Alternative methods | 79 | 85 |
| Managed hunts | 64 | 53 |
The Ozark Region figure was 4.6 per square mile, while Ozark County posted 4.6.
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 Ozark County
Ozark County managed hunt list
MDC scheduled 2 managed deer hunts in Ozark County for 2026-27 at Caney Mountain CA — Inside Fenced Portion.
| Hunt | Location | Type | Dates | Drawn | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Caney Mountain CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Archery | Dec. 5–13 | 100 | 2, 1 antlered |
| 80 | Caney Mountain CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Muzzleloader | Oct. 17–18 | 200 | 2, 1 antlered |
Black bear hunting in Ozark County
Ozark County lies in Black Bear Management Zone 1. 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 1 | 100% | 1,000 | 30 |
| Year | Statewide bears |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Ozark County and the North, Middle and South zones
Duck dates in Ozark County follow the 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 | South | Nov 26–Nov 29 |
| Ducks, split 2 | South | Dec 7–Jan 31 |
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.
Ozark County seasons, opener to closer
Ozark County gets 37 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 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.
Ozark County turkey harvest and CWD results
Telecheck shows 260 Ozark County gobblers and bearded hens in the 2026 regular spring season. 355 turkeys in 2016 is the spring high mark here. In fall 2025, 5 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 | 38 | 260 | — | — |
| 2025 | 32 | 344 | 5 | 8 |
| 2024 | 29 | 287 | 9 | 4 |
| 2023 | 13 | 265 | 9 | 6 |
| 2022 | 20 | 167 | 1 | 9 |
| 2021 | 23 | 195 | 3 | 9 |
| 2020 | 23 | 195 | 6 | 12 |
| 2019 | 19 | 211 | 9 | 5 |
| 2018 | 13 | 211 | 3 | 5 |
| 2017 | 34 | 252 | 20 | 16 |
| 2016 | 37 | 355 | 21 | 22 |
Chronic wasting disease results, Ozark County
Ozark County CWD testing: 4,291 samples, 1 positive, by the MDC layer. MDC lists no CWD-positive deer from Ozark County through June 2026. Ozark County logged 1 positive in 2025-26.
| Sample year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 43 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 96 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 170 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 111 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 580 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 682 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 133 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 735 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 741 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 809 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 191 | 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.
Ozark County conservation areas and public ground
There are 8 listed hunting areas in Ozark County; Bull Shoals Lake Management Lands tops them at 34,736 acres. GIS layers map about 66,600 public acres in the county, roughly 14.0% of its land. Mark Twain National Forest owns about 39,237 acres here, open to hunting under statewide rules. Another 7 MDC or state places in the county are closed to hunting and left off the table.
| Place | Acres | Deer methods | Antlerless | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Shoals Lake Lands · Corps lake land (MDC) | 34,736 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Caney Mountain CA · Conservation area | 7,899 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | 2 managed hunts |
| Norfork Lake Lands · Corps lake land (MDC) | 4,861 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Patrick Bridge Access · Public access | 171 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Tecumseh Towersite · Towersite | 40 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Timber Knob Towersite · Towersite | 40 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Bull Shoals Lake (Corps) · Corps lake | — | — | — | — |
| Norfork Lake (Corps) · Corps lake | — | — | — | — |
Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest) · Mark Twain National Forest
Public areas just outside Ozark County
- Rippee CA15 miles · 419 ac · Douglas County
- Vera Cruz Access19 miles · 80 ac · Douglas County
- Richard Massengill CA21 miles · 207 ac · Douglas County
- Shannon Ranch CA22 miles · 1,565 ac · Douglas County
- Archie and Gracie Vanderhoef Memorial State Forest33 miles · 140 ac · Howell County
- Tingler Prairie CA33 miles · 240 ac · Howell 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.
Ozark County offices and local help
West Plains hosts the Ozark Regional Office that covers Ozark County. About 34 miles from the county centre, West Plains has the closest MDC office open to visitors.
Ozark County town guides
- Gainesvillepop. 778 · seat
- PontiacCDP
- SundownCDP
- WasolaCDP
Services near Ozark County
Confirm hours and venison policies by phone; November is the busy month.
Around Ozark County
- Douglas CountyOzark
- Howell CountyOzark
- Taney CountySouthwest
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
Ozark County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
2 ranges are on file for Ozark County, from MDC lines to clubs and indoor lanes.
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Shooting hours in Ozark County
Times for Ozark 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 | 6:39 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.
Fishing in Ozark County
Lakes, rivers, boat ramps and bait shops for Ozark County are on State Fishing Spots, our sister site.
Hunter questions on Ozark County rules
What time does spring turkey hunting end on public land in Ozark County?
1 p.m. on public land.
Is Ozark County inside Black Bear Management Zone 1, 2 or 3?
Zone 1, going by the GIS overlay of the 2026 bear zones.
Where is the nearest public land outside Ozark County?
Rippee Conservation Area, about 15 miles from the centre.
What is the nearest MDC office to Ozark County?
Ozark Regional Office in West Plains.
Which deer processors serve Ozark County?
Green's Wild Country Cuts LLC, West Plains Processing and Barnett's Meat Processing, ranked by distance.
What orange must I wear in Ozark 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 Ozark County this season?
Yes, up to 4 deer on firearms antlerless permits, plus any-deer permits.
Does the old CWD Management Zone still affect Ozark 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 Ozark County?
2,819 deer in the 2025 permit year.
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.
Ozark County reminders for the 2026-27 season
Ask before hunting private land in Ozark 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: Yellowstone National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0).