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2026-27 county rules
St. Clair County Hunting
A Kansas City Region county guide to St. Clair County: county deer rules, 2025 harvest of 3,383 deer, spring turkey numbers, managed hunts, conservation areas and services near Osceola.
Photo: pfly (CC BY-SA 2.0)
St. Clair County deer and county rules for 2026-27
Measured by the Census Bureau, St. Clair County holds 675 land square miles, and Osceola hosts county government. Some 9,848 people call it home by the 2024 estimate, +6.1% against 2020. Hunters may fill up to 4 deer on firearms antlerless permits in St. Clair County across all firearms portions combined. The early and late antlerless portions both include St. Clair County this year. Grain, salt, minerals and other deer feed are banned year-round in St. Clair County, one of the 85 feed-ban counties. Share the Harvest takes St. Clair County deer only after a CWD test. Opening weekend of the November portion brings mandatory CWD sampling to St. Clair County. The CWD Management Zone that covered St. Clair County through 2025-26 is gone, along with the CWD portion.
| Rule | Setting | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless fill limit | 4 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 | 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 |
St. Clair County CWD drop points
| Site | City | Street | Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDC Osceola Wildlife Shop | Osceola | 3815 NE. Hwy. 13 | Route |
| Dains Fish Farm | Taberville | 2550 Hwy. H | Route |
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.
St. Clair County Telecheck history
Hunters Telechecked 3,383 deer in St. Clair County in the 2025 permit year: 1,631 antlered bucks, 297 button bucks and 1,455 does. Against 2024 (3,309 deer) the change was +2%. Highlighted on the chart: 2023, the top year at 3,990; 2024 was the weakest at 3,309. Among the 114 counties MDC reports, St. Clair County placed 24th in 2025. Bowhunters checked 732 deer, about 22% of the county total, while November firearms hunters took 1,750.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,631 | 297 | 1,455 | 3,383 |
| 2024 | 1,658 | 275 | 1,376 | 3,309 |
| 2023 | 1,806 | 371 | 1,813 | 3,990 |
| 2022 | 1,722 | 362 | 1,678 | 3,762 |
| 2021 | 1,797 | 363 | 1,597 | 3,757 |
| 2020 | 1,892 | 364 | 1,583 | 3,839 |
| 2019 | 1,706 | 324 | 1,388 | 3,418 |
| 2018 | 1,744 | 369 | 1,478 | 3,591 |
| 2017 | 1,806 | 391 | 1,335 | 3,532 |
| 2016 | 1,415 | 444 | 1,563 | 3,422 |
| 2015 | 1,447 | 442 | 1,779 | 3,668 |
How St. Clair County deer were taken, by portion
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 717 | 732 |
| Early youth | 166 | 222 |
| Early antlerless | 78 | 90 |
| Opening weekend* | 893 | 791 |
| November portion | 1,887 | 1,750 |
| CWD portion | 222 | 246 |
| Late youth | 14 | 34 |
| Late antlerless | 136 | 215 |
| Alternative methods | 89 | 93 |
| Managed hunts | — | 1 |
Harvest density in St. Clair County was 5.3 deer per square mile in 2025; the Kansas City Region averaged 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.
Special hunts and zones around St. Clair County
St. Clair County managed hunts by drawing
St. Clair County has 1 managed deer hunt for 2026-27; the drawing for them closed on July 31.
| Hunt | Location | Type | Dates | Drawn | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | Truman Dam and Reservoir ML (660-438-7317) | Disabled hunters – Firearms | Nov. 6–8 | 25 | 2, 1 antlered |
Bear season reach in St. Clair County
MDC issued 2,000 bear permits statewide for 2026 with a 60-bear quota; St. Clair County falls in Zone 3.
| 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 |
St. Clair County waterfowl zone
MDC's 2021-2025 zone layer shows the Middle Zone and South Zone over St. Clair County; the 2026-2030 boundaries shifted a little.
| 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 |
Managed wetlands in St. Clair County
Waterfowl hunters on these areas check in for the morning draw or hold a reservation, and parties top out at four.
| Wetland | Acres | Area phone | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schell-Osage | 8,633 | 417-853-4595 | Waterfowl hunting closed for 2026-27 (wetland renovation). |
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.
St. Clair County dates by species for 2026-27
The list covers hunting seasons only; trapping-only rows and falconry dates for St. Clair County are on the species pages.
| Quarry | Hunt | Applies | Begins | Ends | Open 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.
St. Clair County gobblers, fall birds and CWD samples
MDC counted 572 spring turkeys from St. Clair County in 2026. The top spring in the table is 2016, with 878 turkeys. Autumn 2025 saw 47 turkeys checked in St. Clair County. The spring 2027 booklet was not yet released, and fall 2026 numbers come after the season.
| Season year | Youth spring | Regular spring | Fall guns | Fall bows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 70 | 572 | — | — |
| 2025 | 63 | 623 | 24 | 23 |
| 2024 | 43 | 463 | 20 | 13 |
| 2023 | 23 | 491 | 25 | 30 |
| 2022 | 33 | 415 | 13 | 16 |
| 2021 | 30 | 401 | 15 | 28 |
| 2020 | 28 | 521 | 22 | 25 |
| 2019 | 25 | 539 | 22 | 32 |
| 2018 | 18 | 617 | 37 | 19 |
| 2017 | 52 | 646 | 52 | 28 |
| 2016 | 85 | 878 | 81 | 57 |
CWD testing in St. Clair County
The dashboard lists 8,179 St. Clair County samples and 12 positive results. St. Clair County has had CWD on the books since the 2016-2017 sample year.
| Year | Samples | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 609 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 208 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | 938 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 1,004 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | 1,129 | 1 |
| 2020-21 | 410 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 1,141 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 1,354 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 1,319 | 4 |
| 2016-17 | 62 | 2 |
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.
St. Clair County public ground and acreage
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge (11,852 acres) heads the list of 16 public areas in St. Clair County. The layers show 52,503 public acres in St. Clair County (12.2% of land). Closed to hunting: 1 other place.
| Name and type | Size (ac) | Deer rule | Does | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Lake NWR · National wildlife refuge | 11,852 | — | — | 2 managed hunts |
| Schell-Osage CA · Conservation area | 8,635 | Archery only | antlerless OK | morning draw, 4 dove fields |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Sac Osage) · Corps lake land (MDC) | 5,375 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Salt Creek) · Corps lake land (MDC) | 4,152 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie · Conservation area | 3,504 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Weaubleau Creek) · Corps lake land (MDC) | 3,136 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Linscomb Wildlife Area · Conservation area | 2,385 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Gallinipper Creek) · Corps lake land (MDC) | 2,265 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Valhalla) · Corps lake land (MDC) | 1,765 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Taberville Prairie CA · Conservation area | 1,680 | Muzzleloader, archery | antlerless OK | — |
| Birdsong CA · Conservation area | 430 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Kings Prairie Access · Public access | 285 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Blackjack Access · Public access | 212 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Dave Rock CA · Conservation area | 133 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Lichen Glade CA · Conservation area | 30 | — | — | — |
| Harry S. Truman Lake (Corps) · Corps lake | — | — | — | 1 managed hunt |
Neighbouring public ground
- Chapel View Prairie CA13 miles · 384 ac · Henry County
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brownington)14 miles · 1,428 ac · Henry County
- Monegaw Prairie CA16 miles · 270 ac · Cedar County
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Deepwater Creek)16 miles · 5,631 ac · Henry County
- Bluff Springs CA17 miles · 415 ac · Cedar County
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Gouge Eye)18 miles · 573 ac · Henry 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.
St. Clair County MDC office and businesses
MDC runs the Kansas City Region, including St. Clair County, from Lees Summit. Nearest public MDC office: El Dorado Springs Office, 18 miles out.
St. Clair County base towns
- Osceolapop. 979 · seat
- Appleton Citypop. 1,080
St. Clair County hunting trade listings
Ranked by county first, then neighbours, by straight-line distance.
Bordering county guides
- Bates CountyKansas City
- Benton CountyKansas City
- Cedar CountySouthwest
- Henry CountyKansas City
- Hickory CountySouthwest
- Polk CountySouthwest
- Vernon CountyKansas City
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
St. Clair County ranges, clubs and shoots
The guide lists 1 range in St. Clair County.
Henry County holds the public range closest to St. Clair County: Golden Valley Archery Range (Clinton Office), 21 miles off. See the range
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Legal hours for St. Clair County
The rows below shift MDC's Jefferson City times by +6 minutes for the centre of St. Clair County.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:44 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:11 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:48 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:56 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:31 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:31 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:18 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.
St. Clair County FAQ
Where might a St. Clair County hunter drop off a deer for cutting?
Rs & C Processing is the first stop on our distance list.
From what time to what time may deer be hunted in St. Clair County?
From 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
How many antlerless deer can I take on firearms permits in St. Clair County?
4 deer across all firearms portions; archery antlerless permits are unlimited.
Is a salt or mineral block for deer legal in St. Clair County?
No. Salt and minerals for deer are part of the year-round ban in this county.
Is St. Clair County deer harvest trending up or down?
3,383 in 2025, 3,309 in 2024 and 3,668 back in 2015.
Can I hunt turkeys with a bow in fall in St. Clair County?
Yes, Sept. 15-Nov. 13 and Nov. 25-Jan. 15 statewide.
Does MDC hold a drawn deer hunt in St. Clair County?
Yes, 1 hunt; the July 2026 application window has closed.
May I deer hunt any conservation area in St. Clair County?
Deer hunting is allowed only on areas on MDC's list, with methods set area by area as the table shows.
What is the MDC regional phone for St. Clair County?
(816) 622-0900 (Lees Summit).
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.
St. Clair County season reminders from the booklet
Carry your permit, notch it right away and Telecheck by 10 p.m.
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: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).