Home › Missouri › Counties › Shannon County
2026-27 · Fall Deer and Turkey rules
Shannon County Hunting
Shannon County under the 2026-27 MDC rules: a firearms antlerless fill limit of 2 deer, antlerless portions open, 3,030 deer Telechecked in 2025, 259,998 mapped public acres and the nearest MDC office.
Photo: 16porkchops (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The 2026 county row for Shannon County
Census maps give Shannon County 1,004 square miles of land; Eminence is the county seat. Its population estimate for 2024 stands at 7,275, a 3.4% rise from 2020. In Shannon County the county fill limit on firearms antlerless permits is 2 deer. Shannon County is among the 100 counties open for the October and December antlerless portions. The year-round feed and mineral prohibition covers Shannon County. Donations to Share the Harvest from Shannon County carry a CWD testing step. Mandatory CWD sampling applies in Shannon County on Nov. 14-15, 2026: take the deer or its head to a station on the day of harvest, with the hunter present. Shannon County is on the November dog rule list: no dogs for rabbit or squirrel hunting in daylight Nov. 14-24. Shannon County belonged to the CWD Management Zone in 2025-26; for 2026 that zone and the CWD portion were dropped.
| County rule | Status | When |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless fill limit | 2 deer | All firearms portions |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Oct. 9-11, Dec. 5-13 |
| Mandatory CWD sampling | Nov. 14-15 | 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 | Yes | Carter, Reynolds, Shannon |
| Black Bear Management Zone | 2 | 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 |
Shannon County sampling sites
| Site | Town | Address | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eminence Elementary School | Eminence | 17794 Hwy. 106 | Pin |
| Timber Volunteer Fire Department Shed | Timber | 39245 Hwy. 19 | Pin |
| MDC Twin Pines Conservation Education Center | Winona | 20086 Hwy. 60 | Pin |
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.
Harvest trend for Shannon County deer
In 2025, 3,030 deer from Shannon County went through Telecheck; antlered bucks made up 46% of them. The year before, 2024, ended at 2,069 (+46% change). Across 11 permit years the peak came in 2023 (4,146) and the low in 2024 (2,069). That total ranks 36th among 114 Missouri counties for 2025. 58% of the 2025 deer came during the November portion and 16% with archery tackle.
| Permit year | Antlered | Button | Doe | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,388 | 279 | 1,363 | 3,030 |
| 2024 | 875 | 199 | 995 | 2,069 |
| 2023 | 1,530 | 358 | 2,258 | 4,146 |
| 2022 | 1,295 | 351 | 1,576 | 3,222 |
| 2021 | 1,615 | 280 | 1,467 | 3,362 |
| 2020 | 1,510 | 324 | 1,409 | 3,243 |
| 2019 | 1,571 | 355 | 1,440 | 3,366 |
| 2018 | 1,359 | 313 | 1,265 | 2,937 |
| 2017 | 1,393 | 385 | 1,419 | 3,197 |
| 2016 | 1,373 | 329 | 1,247 | 2,949 |
| 2015 | 1,296 | 313 | 1,332 | 2,941 |
Which portions produced Shannon County deer
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 330 | 499 |
| Early youth | 128 | 219 |
| Early antlerless | 49 | 108 |
| Opening weekend* | 393 | 587 |
| November portion | 1,264 | 1,760 |
| CWD portion | 122 | 168 |
| Late youth | 14 | 14 |
| Late antlerless | 80 | 131 |
| Alternative methods | 71 | 119 |
| Managed hunts | 11 | 12 |
For 2025 MDC measured 3.1 deer per square mile in Shannon County (4.6 regionwide).
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.
Shannon County managed hunts and zones
Managed hunt draws in Shannon County
Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion holds 3 managed hunts this season; hunters were drawn from applications taken July 1-31, 2026.
| Hunt | Location | Type | Dates | Drawn | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Archery | Nov. 4–8 | 175 | 2, 1 antlered |
| 86 | Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Muzzleloader | Dec. 5–6 | 200 | 2, 1 antlered |
| 118 | Peck Ranch CA — Inside Fenced Portion | Youth – Firearms | Oct. 10–11 | 65 | 1 either sex |
Shannon County and the bear zones
Bear hunting reaches Shannon County through Zone 2; residents applied for permits in May, and the season is Oct. 17-30, 2026.
| 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 |
Shannon County in the elk zone
Only 5 elk permits were issued for 2026, valid in Shannon County and the other two elk counties outside the Peck Ranch refuge.
| Portion | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery portion | Oct 17–Oct 25 |
| Firearms portion | Dec 12–Dec 20 |
| Year | Elk taken statewide |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Waterfowl dates in Shannon County
MDC's map layer places Shannon County in the South Zone; zone lines changed for 2026-2030.
| 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.
Every 2026-27 season that reaches Shannon County
Rows that depend on county lists (antlerless portions, fall firearms turkey, bear, elk, duck zones) are already filtered for Shannon County.
| Species | Window | Reach | From | Through | 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 | |
| Elk | Archery portion | Elk zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Elk | Firearms portion | Elk zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 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.
Turkeys and CWD testing in Shannon County
Spring 2026 turkey hunters checked 237 birds in Shannon County during the regular season, after 26 in the youth season. The best spring since 2016 was 2025 with 451. The fall 2025 count was 22 birds across both portions. Fall 2026 is still under way or unreported, and the spring 2027 season has no published dates yet.
| Year | Youth days | Spring season | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 | 237 | — | — |
| 2025 | 33 | 451 | 17 | 5 |
| 2024 | 17 | 347 | 10 | 2 |
| 2023 | 17 | 383 | 48 | 22 |
| 2022 | 17 | 218 | 12 | 7 |
| 2021 | 29 | 318 | 13 | 14 |
| 2020 | 26 | 305 | 13 | 13 |
| 2019 | 25 | 369 | 18 | 13 |
| 2018 | 16 | 375 | 16 | 7 |
| 2017 | 42 | 381 | 21 | 8 |
| 2016 | 17 | 366 | 31 | 16 |
Shannon County CWD record
MDC's CWD dashboard records 1,386 samples from Shannon County across the sample years shown, with 1 positive. No CWD detection is on record for Shannon County. Surveillance in 2025-26 turned up 1 in the county.
| Sample year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 444 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 363 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 158 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 55 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 62 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 98 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 82 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 59 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 53 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 8 | 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.
Public areas you can hunt in Shannon County
8 public areas inside Shannon County make our Missouri list, with Ozark National Scenic Riverways the largest at 80,546 acres. Mapped public land adds up to about 259,998 acres, or 40.5% of Shannon County. The Mark Twain National Forest share is roughly 82,866 acres. 2 other public places here allow no hunting.
| Area | Acres | Deer allowed | Antlerless | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways · National scenic riverway | 80,546 | — | — | 2 managed hunts |
| Rocky Creek CA · Conservation area | 42,184 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Sunklands CA · Conservation area | 40,383 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Angeline CA · Conservation area | 39,603 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Peck Ranch CA · Conservation area | 29,567 | Archery and firearms | archery antlerless | 3 managed hunts |
| Current River CA · Conservation area | 29,371 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Logan Creek CA · Conservation area | 13,170 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Birch Creek CA · Conservation area | 5,646 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
Doniphan / Eleven Point Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest) · Mark Twain National Forest · Salem Ranger District (Mark Twain National Forest)
Close to Shannon County, across the line
- Barn Hollow Natural Area18 miles · 251 ac · Howell County and Texas County
- Midvale CA19 miles · 80 ac · Texas County
- Cedar Grove CA21 miles · 880 ac · Dent County
- Gist Ranch CA22 miles · 11,266 ac · Texas County
- Mountain View Towersite23 miles · 27 ac · Howell County
- Carter Creek CA27 miles · 407 ac · Carter 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.
Who serves Shannon County hunters
For regional questions, Shannon County hunters call the Ozark office in West Plains at (417) 256-7161. The office nearest Shannon County is Twin Pines Conservation Center (12 miles).
Towns in Shannon County
- Eminencepop. 531 · seat
- Winonapop. 988
- Birch Treepop. 562
- MontierCDP
Shannon County deer processing and gear
Businesses inside the county come first, then those just across the line.
Counties that border Shannon County
- Carter CountyOzark
- Dent CountyOzark
- Howell CountyOzark
- Oregon CountyOzark
- Reynolds CountySoutheast
- 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.
Shannon County ranges and shoot dates
Up to six Shannon County ranges appear as cards; any more are in the table below.
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Shannon County legal shooting light
For ducks, geese and doves in Shannon County the day ends at sunset; deer, bear and elk hunters get another half hour.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:02 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:39 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:47 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:22 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:22 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:09 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.
Shannon County hunting, common questions
Can I hunt state parks in Shannon County?
Only parks with an MDC managed deer hunt allow hunting.
Is Shannon County North, Middle or South for duck season?
South Zone on MDC's map layer; the 2026-2030 lines moved, so read the digest map near a boundary.
Who will skin and cut a Shannon County deer?
Stein's Meat Processing heads our distance list.
How do I check a deer in Shannon County?
Notch the permit, then Telecheck online, in the MO Hunting app or by phone by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
Are the antlerless portions open in Shannon County?
Yes, Oct. 9-11 and Dec. 5-13, 2026.
Does camo orange count in Shannon County?
No. Camouflage orange does not meet the rule.
Which permit year gave Shannon County its biggest deer harvest since 2015?
2023, at 4,146 deer.
Can a Shannon County deer be donated to Share the Harvest without a CWD test?
No. Deer from this county need a CWD test, which participating processors arrange.
Is fall firearms turkey open in Shannon County?
Yes, Oct. 1-31, 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.
Double-check list for Shannon County
MDC can change rules after the booklet prints; recheck the county table before a Shannon County hunt.
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: Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0).