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Missouri conservation area
Caney Mountain Conservation Area, a hunter guide
7,899 acres of conservation area in Ozark County: area rules, season dates and nearby land.
Photo: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Caney Mountain Conservation Area
Caney Mountain Conservation Area basics
Caney Mountain Conservation Area measures 7,899 acres on the map and sits in Ozark County. Our list holds just this one conservation area for Ozark County. MDC lists Caney Mountain Conservation Area in its Bryant Creek district, Ozark Region.
Non-hunting activities on the area page: shooting range (archery, rifle or pistol), trails (biking, horseback, hiking), camping (designated camping sites, individual campsites), tours and trapping (special use permit).
The area page says: Caney Mountain Conservation Area is in Ozark County, five miles north of Gainsville. This 7,899-acre area is characterized by unusual geology, including the roughest parts of a precipitous range of hills. These hills are a remnant of an old elevated plateau that has been dissected by numerous feeder streams. From area roads, visitors can view numerous prominent peaks, including Bear Cave Mountain, High Rock Mountain, Morrison Knob, Long Bald, and Tater Cave Mountain. The area also includes unique plant communities. Glades, savannas, forest openings, and old growth forest cover the rugged terrain along the small creek bottoms. Several of the state's rare and endangered species are being protected on the area. Caney Mountain was a stronghold of the eastern wild turkey in Missouri, even when the state population dropped to less than 2,500 birds. The area was acquired as a turkey refuge in 1940, and A. Starker Leopold, son of Aldo Leopold, the pioneer of modern wildlife conservation, prepared the first wildlife management plan.
Species named: 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 Caney Mountain Conservation Area
How Caney Mountain Conservation Area may be hunted
Area methods and permits for Caney Mountain Conservation Area, condensed from MDC.
| Game | How | Extra rule |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Managed hunts only | Drawing only |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
Caney Mountain Conservation Area portions in the booklet table
| Part | Deer methods | Code | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Fenced Portion | Managed | – | Both |
| Outside Fenced Portion | Firearms | A | Both |
Caney Mountain Conservation Area area regulations
- 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.
- An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s).
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs.
Turkey on Caney Mountain Conservation Area: archery and firearms under the area listing. Black bear methods here: archery and firearms, with a zone permit from the drawing. Deer rules differ by portion of Caney Mountain Conservation Area (2 booklet rows); A, B and C mark the antlerless permit status. Only areas on the MDC deer list allow deer hunting; Caney Mountain Conservation Area made the list.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Caney Mountain Conservation Area: the Ozark County rules
| Rule | Ozark 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 1 |
| Duck zone | South |
The county is the deer unit here. Ozark County allows 4 firearms antlerless deer this year. Ozark County is one of the 100 counties open during the antlerless portions. The year-round feed and mineral ban covers Ozark County. Ozark County lies in Black Bear Management Zone 1, where 1,000 permits were issued against a quota of 30. Three older rules are gone for 2026: the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point rule.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Caney Mountain Conservation Area: drawn deer hunts
Managed deer hunting on Caney Mountain Conservation Area: 2 hunts, 300 spots. Caney Mountain Conservation Area hunt categories: archery (1) and muzzleloader or cap-and-ball firearms only (1). The drawing used applications filed by Jul 31, 2026.
| No. | Type | When | Hunters | Code | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Archery | Dec. 5–13 | 100 | B | – |
| 80 | Muzzleloader or Cap-and-Ball Firearms Only | Oct. 17–18 | 200 | B | – |
MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; checked October 29, 2026.
Dates that apply at Caney Mountain Conservation Area
7 rows for Caney Mountain Conservation Area (5 species), cut down to its game list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear | Bear, zone 1 | Bear zone 1 | 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 |
Only drawn hunters take deer on Caney Mountain Conservation Area, so statewide deer dates are not shown. Hunter orange (hat plus vest, coat or shirt) is required during the firearms deer portions.
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.
Public places ringing Caney Mountain Conservation Area
Head south about 9.0 mi and you reach Timber Knob Towersite, the nearest listed neighbor of Caney Mountain Conservation Area.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber Knob Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Ozark | 9.0 mi | south |
| Patrick Bridge Access | Public access area | 171 | Ozark | 12 mi | east |
| Rippee CA | Conservation area | 419 | Douglas | 13 mi | north |
| Tecumseh Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Ozark | 13 mi | southeast |
| Norfork Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Ozark | 13 mi | southeast |
| Norfork Lake Management Lands | Corps lake land | 4,861 | Ozark | 13 mi | southeast |
| Vera Cruz Access | Public access area | 80 | Douglas | 16 mi | north |
| Richard Massengill CA | Conservation area | 207 | Douglas | 18 mi | northeast |
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.
What hunters took around Caney Mountain Conservation Area
MDC reports by county.
Deer checked in Ozark County: 2,819 in 2025 and 2,633 in 2024. Spring 2026 turkey harvest in Ozark County: 260, with 42 from public ground. Ozark County CWD testing: 1,682 samples in the years shown, 1 positive.
| Year | Antlered | Buttons | Does | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,457 | 199 | 1,163 | 2,819 |
| 2024 | 1,227 | 231 | 1,175 | 2,633 |
| 2023 | 1,538 | 241 | 1,478 | 3,257 |
| 2022 | 1,172 | 243 | 1,058 | 2,473 |
| 2021 | 1,336 | 247 | 1,145 | 2,728 |
| 2020 | 1,242 | 223 | 1,147 | 2,612 |
| Year | Spring | Spring, public land | Spring youth | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 260 | 42 | 38 | – | – |
| 2025 | 344 | 65 | 32 | 5 | 8 |
| 2024 | 287 | 55 | 29 | 9 | 4 |
| 2023 | 265 | 44 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| 2022 | 167 | – | 20 | 1 | 9 |
| 2021 | 195 | – | 23 | 3 | 9 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 43 | 0 |
| 2025 | 96 | 1 |
| 2024 | 170 | 0 |
| 2023 | 111 | 0 |
| 2022 | 580 | 0 |
| 2021 | 682 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Nearest help for Caney Mountain Conservation Area hunters
5.9 mi separates Caney Mountain Conservation Area from Gainesville. Ava tops the population column at 3,184. MDC directions: Zone 1 (Inside the fenced portion-Old Refuge): From Gainesville, take Highway 181 north 5 miles, then Caney Mountain Refuge Drive west 0.50 mile to the area headquarters. Zone 2 (Outside the fenced portion): From Gainesville, go north on 5 Hwy 1 mile to CR 107, follow 2 miles to entrance. Zone 3 (Outside the fenced portion): From Gainesville, go north on 5 Hwy 10 miles to Hwy Y. East on Y for 2 miles until pavement ends, continue east 1.5 miles on CR 116 to the conservation area. Gainesville hosts the MDC office nearest Caney Mountain Conservation Area (Caney Mountain Conservation Area Field Office, 2.3 mi).
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | Ozark | 778 | 5.9 mi | south |
| Wasola | Ozark | – | 9.7 mi | northwest |
| Sundown | Ozark | – | 15 mi | southwest |
| Pontiac | Ozark | – | 15 mi | southwest |
| Ava | Douglas | 3,184 | 22 mi | northwest |
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.
Sight in at Caney Mountain Conservation Area
Caney Mountain Conservation Area has its own MDC shooting range (MDC unstaffed range); target shooting on the area is allowed only there.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026; target shooting rule from MDC area rule 3 CSR 10-11.150 on the area page.
Caney Mountain Conservation Area legal shooting light
Legal light for deer at Caney Mountain Conservation Area runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:39 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:51 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:06 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:43 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:51 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:26 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:26 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:13 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.
Images near and like Caney Mountain Conservation Area
Caney Mountain Conservation Area, quick questions
What CWD rules apply at Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Ozark County has no mandatory sampling this year and a year-round feed and mineral ban.
How may turkeys be hunted on Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Yes, by archery and firearms; fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31 here.
Does a bear zone include Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
BMZ 1, 1,000 permits drawn. Bear hunting is listed here.
How many managed hunts does Caney Mountain Conservation Area hold?
Yes. Apply July 1-31 for the next season; this year has 2 hunts.
When can I shoot at Caney Mountain Conservation Area on opening day?
Opening day of the November portion runs 6:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. there.
What backup public land is near Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Within reach: Timber Knob Towersite (9.0 mi), Patrick Bridge Access (12 mi) and Rippee Conservation Area (13 mi).
Closest community to Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
The closest town page is Gainesville (5.9 mi).
How large an area is Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
7,899 acres in all; the manager is Missouri Department of Conservation.
When may I be on Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Camping is offered.
Which Missouri permits do I need at Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
Statewide MDC permits apply; managed hunts need the drawn permit as well.
Does Caney Mountain Conservation Area allow hunting?
Hunting is by managed-hunt drawing only.
What county deer limit applies at Caney Mountain Conservation Area?
The county rule is 4 antlerless deer with firearms; the antlerless portions are open.
Caney Mountain Conservation Area: checks before you go
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Caney Mountain Conservation Area shortly before the trip.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0); David Nichols (CC BY-SA 2.0).