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Dunklin County · Conservation area
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area hunting
Seasons, methods and access for this conservation area in Dunklin County.
Photo: Nyttend (Public domain)
Getting to Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area profile
Dunklin County is home to the 1,331 acres of Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area. In acreage it places 3rd among 5 conservation areas in Dunklin County. Management sits with MDC: MS Lowlands East district, Southeast Region.
When hunting is slow, Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area offers fishing (white bass, sunfish, catfish, crappie) and trapping (special use permit), per MDC.
In the agency's words: Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area is in Dunklin county, six miles west of Highway 412 on Route A. The Route A and Highway 412 junction is three miles south of Kennett. This 1,443-acre area is located in the St. Francis River floodplain and contains 1,210 acres of lowland forest, 44 acres of swamp and 195 acres of open fields. Cash Swamp Natural Area is located on the south end of the area and includes 310 acres of high quality, remnant tupelo-cypress bottomland forest. The Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area is one of the few vestigial bottomland hardwoods forest in the Bootheel and contains an extremely diversified floral community. This conservation area was acquired in part through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Species on the record: Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area methods and area rules
Methods for Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area come from the MDC area page and the deer quick view.
| Quarry | Methods | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader, archery | Not allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area: Code paragraphs
- Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
The deer rule for Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area is muzzleloader and archery methods, and antlerless permits may not be used here. For turkey, MDC allows archery and firearms on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area. Antlerless code C applies to Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area, so antlerless permits not allowed. MDC limits deer hunting on its areas to the listed ones, and Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area is listed.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area waterfowl hunting
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area offers open waterfowl hunting outside the managed wetland system. The South Zone sets duck dates here, based on the older zone layer; hunters near a line should read the digest map. Federal rules require nontoxic shot for waterfowl and coots everywhere.
| Season | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
Dunklin County rules on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area
| County rule | Dunklin County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | None |
| Antlerless portions | Closed |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | No |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | No |
| Fall firearms turkey | Closed |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | South / Middle |
| Flood closure zone | 5A, 5B |
For deer, Dunklin County sets the rules on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area: firearms antlerless limit 0. Dunklin County sits out both antlerless portions this year. Bear hunters drawn for Zone 2 may hunt Dunklin County (750 permits, 22 bears). Dunklin County sits out the October firearms turkey season. No CWD portion, no CWD Management Zone and no antler-point restriction this season.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Open dates on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area
Open-now status is in the last column; 18 rows apply to Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area.
| Quarry | Season | Where | Opening | Closing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 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, alternative methods | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| 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 |
Firearms deer portions on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area are muzzleloader only. Archery deer is closed during the November firearms portion, Nov. 14-24.
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026. All Missouri seasons.
Dunklin County deer and turkey harvest near Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area
County-level data from MDC.
MDC reports deer harvest by county, not by area: Dunklin County checked 496 deer in the 2025 permit year, 4% more than in 2024. Public land gave up 9 of the 22 spring 2026 turkeys in Dunklin County. CWD samples from Dunklin County turned up 0 positives in recent years.
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 252 | 32 | 212 | 496 |
| 2024 | 253 | 36 | 188 | 477 |
| 2023 | 297 | 34 | 209 | 540 |
| 2022 | 300 | 34 | 206 | 540 |
| 2021 | 236 | 31 | 148 | 415 |
| 2020 | 267 | 35 | 175 | 477 |
| Year | Spring | Public land | Youth | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 9 | 1 | – | – |
| 2025 | 14 | 4 | – | – | – |
| 2024 | 27 | 10 | – | – | 2 |
| 2023 | 21 | 10 | – | – | – |
| 2022 | 20 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 2021 | 18 | – | – | 0 | 3 |
| Year | Deer tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 36 | 0 |
| 2023 | 20 | 0 |
| 2022 | 17 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
Hornersville Swamp Conservation Area (12 mi, southeast) tops the neighbor list for Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area, measured as the crow flies.
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornersville Swamp CA | Conservation area | 3,382 | Dunklin | 12 mi | southeast |
| Frisbee Cutoff Access | Public access area | 92 | Dunklin | 14 mi | northeast |
| Warbler Woods CA | Conservation area | 89 | Dunklin | 15 mi | southeast |
| Little River CA | Conservation area | 1,013 | Dunklin, Pemiscot | 15 mi | east |
| Chalk Bluff Trail Access | Public access area | 82 | Dunklin | 22 mi | north |
| Wilhelmina CA | Conservation area | 1,520 | Butler, Dunklin | 25 mi | north |
| Coon Island CA | Conservation area | 3,223 | Butler | 27 mi | north |
| Big Cane CA | Conservation area | 2,155 | Butler | 28 mi | northwest |
Points: MDC Conservation Area Centroids layer (https://gisblue.mdc.mo.gov/arcgis/rest/services/Discover_Nature/MDC_Administrative_Areas/FeatureServer/4). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Getting supplies near Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area
Nearest town with its own page: Senath, 4.1 mi. For a hardware store or a motel, Kennett (10,137 people) is 10 mi away. Getting there, per MDC: From Kennett, take Highway 412 southwest, then Route A west, then County Road 516 west over the St. Francis River levee to the parking area. The closest MDC office on file is Otter Slough Conservation Area Field Office, about 38 mi from Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senath | Dunklin | 1,514 | 4.1 mi | southeast |
| Kennett | Dunklin | 10,137 | 10 mi | northeast |
| Hornersville | Dunklin | 505 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Hayti | Pemiscot | 2,273 | 26 mi | east |
| Qulin | Butler | 468 | 29 mi | north |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json (MDC offices and business listings, chain stores and permit vendors left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 29, 2026.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area hunting hours on key dates
MDC prints one sunrise and sunset table for Jefferson City and tells hunters to adjust it by 1 minute for every 13.5 miles east or west. For Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area that means subtract 8 minutes.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:30 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:42 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:57 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:34 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:42 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:17 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:17 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:04 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.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Butler County has the public range nearest Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area: Poplar Bluff Conservation Area Archery Range (45 miles).
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Photo strip for Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area hunter FAQ
Which antlerless rule covers Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
Missouri sets it by county; Dunklin County allows 0 on firearms permits. Antlerless portions are closed.
Is deer feeding banned near Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
CWD rules in Dunklin County: sampling not mandatory, feed ban no.
Is Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area good for fall turkey?
Turkey is archery and firearms; fall firearms is closed.
What bear rules apply at Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
Zone 2 covers the county (750 permits); bear is not on the area list.
What waterfowl rules apply at Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
Waterfowl here is open hunting, with South Zone dates.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area shooting hours for the November opener?
Roughly 6:12 a.m. until 5:18 p.m., worked out for this spot.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area crowded: where next?
In order of distance: Hornersville Swamp Conservation Area (12 mi), Frisbee Cutoff Access (14 mi) and Warbler Woods Conservation Area (15 mi).
Nearest town with services to Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
Senath (Dunklin County), about 4.1 mi away.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area: size and manager?
The record lists 1,331 acres; Missouri Department of Conservation is in charge.
Can hunters camp on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
Hours are 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.; no campsites listed.
Is there an area permit for Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
Missouri permits for the game you hunt; deer need an Archer's or Firearms permit, migratory birds a Migratory Bird permit.
May the public hunt at Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
Open for deer, turkey and waterfowl, with the methods shown in the rules section.
What deer methods are allowed on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area?
The deer rule is muzzleloader and archery methods. Antlerless permits are not allowed.
Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area final checklist
Signs on the ground outrank any web page; look for posted refuge and closed zones on Ben Cash Memorial Conservation Area.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Nyttend (Public domain); Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0); Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0).