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Conservation area · Central Region
Hunt Canaan Conservation Area
Conservation area in Gasconade County, 1,425 acres, MDC Central Region.
Photo: Carl Belken (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Getting to Canaan Conservation Area
About Canaan Conservation Area
At 1,425 acres, Canaan Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Gasconade County. Gasconade County has no second conservation area in the data. The Osage district (MDC Central Region) handles habitat work on Canaan Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Canaan Conservation Area also shows trails (biking, horseback, hiking), camping (designated camping sites), dog training, field trials (special use permit) and trapping (special use permit).
MDC describes the area this way: Canaan Conservation Area is located in Gasconade County, near Bland. Take Route A about 1.2 miles north from Bland to the Conservation Area's southern most access road. A sign on Route A shows the turn to the east; or stay on Route A an additional 1.7 miles to the north past this turn to Boettcher Road. Go east on Boettcher Road 1.5 miles to main entrance on right. The area has six parking areas. The Conservation Department purchased this property in 1980. Canaan Conservation Area contains 1,435 acres, 77 percent of which are forested or woodland and glade. The area includes 1.4 miles of Clear Fork Creek, 1.2 miles of Sulphur Branch Creek, several small springs, and a deep muck fen. The area also features a scenic north-facing slope adjacent to Sulphur Branch and a glade/woodland complex. The first inhabitants of the area were nomadic Indians, who hunted here. Through the efforts of the German Resettlement Society, German immigrants then settled here and began working farms in the 1800s. The conservation area is composed of two of these working farms.
Hunted here: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Canaan Conservation Area
How Canaan Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Canaan Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader, archery | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
Code rules for Canaan Conservation Area
- Unless otherwise posted, bicycles, including electric bicycles as defined in the Missouri Wildlife Code ( Chapter 20- Definitions) , are allowed on roads open to vehicular traffic and service roads (designated in the online conservation atlas). Bicycles must stay on roads open to vehicular traffic or service roads, or on multi-use trails posted as open to bicycles. Bicycle use is not allowed on service roads passing through designated natural areas (designated in the online conservation atlas). Groups of 10 or more people using bicycles on a department area must obtain a special use permit.
- This department area also has multi-use trails open to equestrian use. On multi-use trails designated as open to equestrian use, horses and horseback riding is prohibited during all portions of the firearms deer hunting season and during shooting hours of spring turkey hunting seasons.
Plan on muzzleloader and archery methods for deer at Canaan Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. The turkey rule on Canaan Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. MDC lists black bear on Canaan Conservation Area, archery and firearms, for hunters drawn for that zone. In the booklet table Canaan Conservation Area carries antlerless code A: antlerless permits allowed. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Canaan Conservation Area is on the deer list.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Canaan Conservation Area dove fields
The 2026 MDC dove field layer maps 1 field on Canaan Conservation Area, 4.3 acres planted as sunflower. Each field is tagged open to all hunters. Canaan Conservation Area is on the MDC list of dove management areas. Dove season runs Sep 1, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026 statewide.
MDC 2026 dove field layer and Dove Management Areas; checked October 29, 2026.
County deer rules for Canaan Conservation Area
| Topic | Gasconade County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 3 |
| Duck zone | Middle |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Gasconade County is the unit for Canaan Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Gasconade County. No grain, salt or mineral sites in Gasconade County: the ban runs all year. For bear, Gasconade County is in BMZ 3 (250 permits drawn, quota 8). The CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction were removed for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Canaan Conservation Area by season
These 15 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Canaan Conservation Area and its game list.
| Species | Hunt | Scope | First day | Last 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 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
Use a muzzleloader in the firearms portions on Canaan Conservation Area. Youth portions are for hunters 6 to 15 years old.
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.
Harvest numbers near Canaan Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Gasconade County gave up 4,073 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 662 turkeys were checked in Gasconade County, 5 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Gasconade County shows 2 positives over the years listed (first year 2022-2023).
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,988 | 330 | 1,755 | 4,073 |
| 2024 | 1,499 | 271 | 1,398 | 3,168 |
| 2023 | 1,942 | 349 | 1,811 | 4,102 |
| 2022 | 1,761 | 358 | 1,566 | 3,685 |
| 2021 | 1,887 | 376 | 1,527 | 3,790 |
| 2020 | 1,466 | 388 | 1,388 | 3,242 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 662 | 5 | 108 | – | – |
| 2025 | 790 | 15 | 107 | 37 | 19 |
| 2024 | 688 | 8 | 92 | 53 | 25 |
| 2023 | 756 | 22 | 60 | 65 | 27 |
| 2022 | 606 | – | 60 | 52 | 23 |
| 2021 | 618 | – | 58 | 43 | 39 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 166 | 0 |
| 2024 | 739 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1,116 | 0 |
| 2022 | 135 | 1 |
| 2021 | 820 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Canaan Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Canaan Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Cooper Hill Conservation Area at 7.5 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Hill CA | Conservation area | 204 | Osage | 7.5 mi | northwest |
| Spring Creek Gap CA | Conservation area | 1,819 | Maries | 17 mi | southwest |
| Ben Branch Lake CA | Conservation area | 563 | Osage | 19 mi | northwest |
| Dr. Bernard Bruns Access | Public access area | 77 | Osage | 22 mi | northwest |
| Noser Mill CA | Conservation area | 211 | Franklin | 23 mi | east |
| Long Ridge CA | Conservation area | 1,813 | Franklin | 24 mi | east |
| Little Prairie CA | Conservation area | 342 | Phelps | 24 mi | south |
| Grand Bluffs CA | Conservation area | 236 | Montgomery | 26 mi | north |
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.
Who is nearby at Canaan Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is Bland, 2.8 mi out. 3,932 people live in St. James, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From Bland, take Route A north about 1.20 miles, then east on the area's southern most access road (the road north of Rehmert Road). North access is on Highway A north an additional 1.70 miles, then east on Boettcher Road 1.50 miles. MDC permits and advice: Rolla Office, Rolla, 28 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bland | Gasconade | 500 | 2.8 mi | southwest |
| Linn | Osage | 1,431 | 17 mi | northwest |
| Vienna | Maries | 579 | 21 mi | southwest |
| Westphalia | Osage | 393 | 23 mi | west |
| St. James | Phelps | 3,932 | 23 mi | south |
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.
Shooting hours in Canaan Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Canaan Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Canaan Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Huzzah CA range (public, free) is 30 miles from Canaan Conservation Area. Beside it, two gun clubs within 30 miles.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
A visual feel for Canaan Conservation Area
Canaan Conservation Area, quick questions
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Canaan Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, plus the feed and mineral ban.
Are antlerless portions open near Canaan Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Gasconade County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Can I hunt bear on Canaan Conservation Area?
Gasconade County is in Bear Management Zone 3 (250 permits, quota 8); the area lists bear.
Is fall turkey open at Canaan Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
First and last shooting light at Canaan Conservation Area?
6:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 4:54 p.m..
Dove hunting fields on Canaan Conservation Area?
MDC mapped 1 dove fields (4.3 acres).
Town nearest Canaan Conservation Area?
Bland, 2.8 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Canaan Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Cooper Hill Conservation Area (7.5 mi), Spring Creek Gap Conservation Area (17 mi) and Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area (19 mi).
Open hours at Canaan Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Camping is listed on the area page.
How large an area is Canaan Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 1,425.
Canaan Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel and dove, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Canaan Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Canaan Conservation Area?
Muzzleloader and archery methods. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Canaan Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Canaan Conservation Area can change; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); Scott Heron (CC BY-SA 2.0); Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0).