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Ozark Region · MDC rules 2026-27
Pulaski County Hunting
Hunting Pulaski 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 Waynesville.
Photo: Jason Chung (CC BY 2.0)
How MDC rules apply in Pulaski County
With Waynesville as its seat, Pulaski County spans 547 square miles of the Ozark hills, the Current and Eleven Point rivers and the Mark Twain National Forest. Roughly 53,964 residents share it, after a +0.0% change since the 2020 count. Pulaski County carries a 4 deer fill limit for firearms antlerless permits in 2026. Antlerless-only firearms days return to Pulaski County on Oct. 9-11 and again on Dec. 5-13. MDC lists Pulaski 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 Pulaski County must be CWD tested first; participating processors handle the test. Pulaski 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 Pulaski | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 Pulaski County
Pulaski County deer harvest, 2015 to 2025
MDC counted 2,501 deer from Pulaski County for 2025, with 1,041 does and 1,241 antlered bucks. Compared with 2,085 in 2024, the count moved +20%. 2023 tops the chart at 3,028 deer, while 2024 sits at the bottom with 2,085. Statewide, Pulaski County came 62nd of 114 by deer checked in 2025. Archery accounted for 554 deer (22%) and the November portion for 1,334.
| Year | Antlered bucks | Buttons | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,241 | 219 | 1,041 | 2,501 |
| 2024 | 940 | 193 | 952 | 2,085 |
| 2023 | 1,354 | 271 | 1,403 | 3,028 |
| 2022 | 1,102 | 247 | 1,022 | 2,371 |
| 2021 | 1,332 | 290 | 1,152 | 2,774 |
| 2020 | 909 | 281 | 1,022 | 2,212 |
| 2019 | 1,158 | 299 | 1,303 | 2,760 |
| 2018 | 928 | 277 | 1,029 | 2,234 |
| 2017 | 1,155 | 353 | 1,263 | 2,771 |
| 2016 | 1,000 | 301 | 1,002 | 2,303 |
| 2015 | 1,006 | 349 | 1,236 | 2,591 |
Pulaski County harvest split by season portion
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 481 | 554 |
| Early youth | 100 | 118 |
| Early antlerless | 45 | 65 |
| Opening weekend* | 459 | 606 |
| November portion | 1,140 | 1,334 |
| CWD portion | 141 | 190 |
| Late youth | 15 | 15 |
| Late antlerless | 86 | 123 |
| Alternative methods | 77 | 102 |
| Managed hunts | — | 0 |
Per square mile, Pulaski County gave up 4.9 deer in 2025 compared with the Ozark Region mark of 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.
Drawings and zone lines for Pulaski County
Bear zone facts for Pulaski County
The bear season in Pulaski County is Oct. 17 to 30, 2026, open only to residents drawn for a Zone 3 permit.
| 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 |
Pulaski County duck season zone
For waterfowl, Pulaski 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 Pulaski County this year; Miller, Camden and Cole 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.
Pulaski 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 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 | |
| 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.
Pulaski County turkey numbers and disease testing
Pulaski County gave up 502 turkeys in the spring 2026 regular season. 2025 leads the spring column at 635 birds. Fall hunters checked 25 with guns and 8 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 | 47 | 502 | — | — |
| 2025 | 42 | 635 | 25 | 8 |
| 2024 | 48 | 504 | 23 | 8 |
| 2023 | 32 | 586 | 43 | 26 |
| 2022 | 29 | 420 | 32 | 17 |
| 2021 | 40 | 457 | 44 | 38 |
| 2020 | 24 | 455 | 33 | 23 |
| 2019 | 36 | 441 | 33 | 29 |
| 2018 | 25 | 396 | 30 | 17 |
| 2017 | 47 | 471 | 47 | 48 |
| 2016 | 46 | 507 | 57 | 27 |
CWD surveillance in Pulaski County
2,597 deer from Pulaski County have been tested since 2016 on the MDC dashboard, and 3 were positive. CWD was first found here in 2020-2021.
| Year (July-June) | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 38 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 184 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 620 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 552 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 720 | 1 |
| 2020-21 | 309 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 58 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 53 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 53 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 9 | 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 Pulaski County
Pulaski County has 4 listed places open to some hunting, led by Fort Leonard Wood (60,817 acres). About 11.5% of the county (40,383 acres) is public on the state and federal layers. National forest land accounts for about 39,691 acres of it. We left out 5 places where hunting is not allowed.
| Area and kind | Acres | Deer methods | Antlerless | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Leonard Wood · Military land | 60,817 | — | — | — |
| Gasconade Hills CA · Conservation area | 371 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Roubidoux Creek CA · Conservation area | 178 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Fort Leonard Wood Towersite · Towersite | 67 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest) · Mark Twain National Forest
Nearby areas in other counties
- Bohigian CA15 miles · 437 ac · Phelps County
- Madden Ford Access17 miles · 164 ac · Miller County
- Rinquelin Trail Lake CA18 miles · 286 ac · Maries County
- Clifty Creek CA19 miles · 256 ac · Maries County
- Drynob Access19 miles · 17 ac · Laclede County
- Clifty Creek Natural Area19 miles · 230 ac · Maries 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.
Pulaski County contacts, towns and shops
Hunters in Pulaski County fall under the Ozark Region, whose office sits in West Plains. The closest MDC office open to the public is Camdenton Office, about 34 miles from mid-county.
Pulaski County hunting towns
- Waynesvillepop. 5,493 · seat
- Richlandpop. 1,729
- Fort Leonard WoodCDP
Help for Pulaski County hunters
Listings come from MDC lists (Share the Harvest processors, CWD sampling partners, commercial permits) and directories; call before you drive.
Pulaski County neighbours
- Camden CountyCentral
- Laclede CountySouthwest
- Maries CountyCentral
- Miller CountyCentral
- Phelps CountyOzark
- Texas 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.
Pulaski County ranges and shoot dates
Within Pulaski County the guide finds 3 ranges; each card says who may shoot.
Nearest public range: Beaver Creek Conservation Area Archery Range in Phelps County, about 23 miles from the Pulaski County centre. Details
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 Pulaski County
Pulaski County lies close enough to Jefferson City that MDC's table needs no adjustment.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:38 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:50 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:05 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:42 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:50 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:25 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:25 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:12 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 Pulaski County
Where does Pulaski County land in the statewide deer harvest ranking?
62nd out of 114 counties for 2025.
How many spring turkeys came from Pulaski County in 2026?
502 in the regular season.
Could I draw an elk permit for Pulaski County?
No. Elk hunting is limited to Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties.
How much public land is there in Pulaski County?
About 40,383 acres by GIS, with 4 listed areas.
Where can I buy hunting permits near Pulaski County?
Online, in the MO Hunting app, at permit vendors or at an MDC office.
Is there a Share the Harvest processor near Pulaski County?
Check the tags in the services band; Carnivores Meat Market is closest on our list.
Must archers wear orange in Pulaski County during gun season?
Yes in firearms portions, with some exceptions listed in the booklet.
Is Pulaski County closed to the October and December antlerless portions?
No, both are open.
Must Pulaski 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.
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.
Pulaski 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: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).