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Carter Creek Conservation Area hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Carter County (407 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Carter Creek Conservation Area
Carter Creek Conservation Area, the essentials
Its acreage is 407, inside Carter County. Line up the 3 conservation areas in Carter County by acres and Carter Creek Conservation Area comes 3rd. Staff of the MDC Scenic Rivers East district, in the Ozark Region, manage Carter Creek Conservation Area.
MDC also notes camping (open camping – walk-in/float-in/backpack) at Carter Creek Conservation Area.
Habitat notes from the source: This is a forested area with a permanent stream, Bear Spring.
Game listed: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Squirrel.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Carter Creek Conservation Area
Carter Creek Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Carter Creek Conservation Area; together they add 83,919 acres, and Clearwater Conservation Area is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater CA | Conservation area | 11,211 | Reynolds | 6.9 mi | northeast |
| Hunter Towersite | Towersite | 75 | Carter | 11 mi | south |
| Current River CA | Conservation area | 29,371 | Carter, Reynolds | 12 mi | northwest |
| Clearwater Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Reynolds, Wayne | 13 mi | northeast |
| Peck Ranch CA | Conservation area | 29,567 | Carter, Shannon | 13 mi | west |
| Clearwater Lake Management Lands | Corps lake land | 12,659 | Reynolds, Wayne | 13 mi | northeast |
| Lon Sanders Canyon CA | Conservation area | 130 | Wayne | 16 mi | northeast |
| Flatwoods CA | Conservation area | 907 | Wayne | 19 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.
Area rules at Carter Creek Conservation Area
MDC area rules for Carter Creek Conservation Area, as published for 2026-27.
| Species | Methods here | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Archery only |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
For deer, Carter Creek Conservation Area is open to archery and firearms, and only archery antlerless permits may be used. Turkey methods on Carter Creek Conservation Area: archery and firearms. Carter Creek Conservation Area allows black bear by archery and firearms during the October season, permit holders only. Carter Creek Conservation Area shows code B in the booklet, archery antlerless permits only. Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; Carter Creek Conservation Area is on it.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Carter Creek Conservation Area season calendar
County dates from Carter County that fit Carter Creek Conservation Area, matched to its game list.
| Species | Portion | Covers | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | 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 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 |
Duck zone rows come from the MDC zone layer; check the digest near a line.
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.
Deer rules that reach Carter Creek Conservation Area
| Rule | Carter County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 1 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Closed |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory |
| Feed and mineral ban | No |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | No |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No squirrel, rabbit dogs |
| Elk county | Yes |
| Bear zone | Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | South / Middle |
Carter Creek Conservation Area takes its deer rules from Carter County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 1. In Carter County, the Oct. 9-11 and Dec. 5-13 antlerless portions do not apply. Any deer killed in Carter County on Nov. 14 or 15 has to be presented at a sampling station; the county has 2 stations. BMZ 2 reaches Carter County; the zone has 750 permits and closes early if 22 bears are taken. Elk may be hunted in Carter County by drawn permit holders (archery Oct. 17-25, firearms Dec. 12-20), except on the Peck Ranch refuge. Carter County bans squirrel and rabbit dogs in the November portion. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction.
- Van Buren MODOT Facility, 9721 Hwy. 60, Van Buren
- USFS Pinewoods Lake, 31620 Hwy. 60 , Ellsinore
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Carter Creek Conservation Area: towns and supplies
Van Buren is 4.9 mi from Carter Creek Conservation Area, the nearest town on this site. Route from the area page: Two tracts. From Van Buren, take Highway 60 east 8 miles to the south tract which is on both sides of the highway. From Van Buren, take Highway 60 east 5 miles, then Highway 21 north 1.50 miles, then County Road 21-306 west 0.25 to the north tract. Drive 13 mi to Ellington Office in Ellington for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren | Carter | 775 | 4.9 mi | west |
| Hunter | Carter | – | 11 mi | south |
| Ellsinore | Carter | 417 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Fremont | Carter | – | 14 mi | west |
| Ellington | Reynolds | 766 | 15 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.
County harvest around Carter Creek Conservation Area
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 2,210 deer were Telechecked in Carter County, 956 of them does. Carter County turkey hunters took 152 birds in spring 2026; 53 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 0 CWD positives in Carter County across the years in the table.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,036 | 218 | 956 | 2,210 |
| 2024 | 757 | 165 | 617 | 1,539 |
| 2023 | 1,276 | 260 | 1,406 | 2,942 |
| 2022 | 941 | 199 | 712 | 1,852 |
| 2021 | 910 | 181 | 704 | 1,795 |
| 2020 | 1,261 | 264 | 1,018 | 2,543 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 152 | 53 | 18 | – | – |
| 2025 | 282 | 178 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| 2024 | 182 | 108 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 194 | 127 | 14 | 22 | 40 |
| 2022 | 152 | – | 14 | 11 | 11 |
| 2021 | 140 | – | 11 | 8 | 10 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 0 |
| 2025 | 70 | 0 |
| 2024 | 65 | 0 |
| 2023 | 111 | 0 |
| 2022 | 101 | 0 |
| 2021 | 70 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
When legal light starts in Carter Creek Conservation Area
Deer, bear, elk and fall archery turkey may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, doves and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:00 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:37 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:45 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:20 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:20 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:07 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.
Carter Creek Conservation Area in pictures
Carter Creek Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Carter Creek Conservation Area, 12 miles separates hunters from Current River CA range, the closest public range.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Carter Creek Conservation Area, quick questions
Elk hunting near Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Only with an elk permit from the drawing; the Peck Ranch refuge is excluded.
Can hunters camp on Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Camping is listed; hours 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
Is hunting legal on Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Yes. The area page names deer, black bear, turkey and squirrel.
What should I buy before a Carter Creek Conservation Area hunt?
Missouri hunting permits for each species; there is no separate area permit for most MDC land.
How many does may be taken around Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Carter County: firearms antlerless limit 1, antlerless portions closed.
What are the deer hunting methods at Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Deer may be taken by archery and firearms. Only archery antlerless permits may be used.
Turkey hunting at Carter Creek Conservation Area: what is allowed?
MDC allows archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31.
Do I need a CWD sample for deer from Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Mandatory sampling applies Nov. 14-15; the feed ban does not cover this county.
When does legal light start and end at Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Deer hunters get 6:15 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 4:51 p.m..
Does a bear zone include Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Only with a Zone 2 permit from the drawing; season Oct. 17-30.
Which town sits closest to Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Van Buren lies 4.9 mi away.
Is there other public land around Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Try Clearwater Conservation Area (6.9 mi), Hunter Towersite (11 mi) and Current River Conservation Area (12 mi).
How large an area is Carter Creek Conservation Area?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (407 acres).
Carter Creek Conservation Area final checklist
Carry your permit, notch it or the MO Hunting app right away, and Telecheck a deer or turkey by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0); Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).