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Conservation area · Missouri 2026-27
Donaldson Point Conservation Area hunting
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this conservation area in New Madrid County, 5,945 acres.
Photo: Nyttend (Public domain)
Getting to Donaldson Point Conservation Area
Donaldson Point Conservation Area profile
Expect about 5,945 acres of public ground at Donaldson Point Conservation Area, New Madrid County. By size it ranks 1st of the 2 conservation areas we list in New Madrid County. MDC manages it from the MS Lowlands East district of the Southeast Region.
Besides hunting, the MDC area page lists camping (open camping – walk-in/float-in/backpack, designated camping sites, individual campsites), fishing (white bass, sunfish, catfish, crappie) and trapping (special use permit).
What the area page says about it: Donaldson Point Conservation Area is about six miles southeast of New Madrid. The area can be accessed from county gravel roads off Route WW and Route AB. The area's 5,945 acres are at the north end of Donaldson Point, which is formed by the New Madrid Bend Loop of the Mississippi River. This same loop isolates a portion of the state of Kentucky. The Mississippi River forms part of the east and west boundaries of the conservation area and provides about seven miles of river frontage. Construction of the levee created about 60 acres of ponds that are open to the public. The land is nearly flat. During seasonal flooding, large portions or all of the area may not be accessible. The forest trees on Donaldson Point include cottonwood, willow, ash, elm, maple, pecan, sycamore, boxelder, hickory, and some bottomland oak species. Donaldson Point also is home to several species not usually seen in the Mississippi lowlands. These include the endangered Swainson's warbler that nests in giant cane, Mississippi kites, bald eagles, interior least terns, swamp rabbits, and cotton mice.
Listed game: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Donaldson Point Conservation Area
Donaldson Point Conservation Area: methods MDC allows
The rules below are what MDC lists for Donaldson Point Conservation Area on top of statewide seasons.
| Game | Allowed methods | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Not allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery only | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
Area-specific Code rules, Donaldson Point Conservation Area
- This department area is closed during periods of high water.
- Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
Deer on Donaldson Point Conservation Area: archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may not be used. Donaldson Point Conservation Area is archery only for turkey. Code C in the conservation-area table: antlerless permits not allowed on Donaldson Point Conservation Area. The booklet names Donaldson Point Conservation Area among the all-shotgun nontoxic areas. On MDC land, deer hunting is legal only where the area is listed; Donaldson Point Conservation Area qualifies.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Donaldson Point Conservation Area county rules for 2026-27
| Item | New Madrid 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 |
County rules apply on Donaldson Point Conservation Area; New Madrid County has a firearms antlerless limit of 0 for 2026-27. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are closed in New Madrid County. The bear zone here is 2: 750 permits, quota 22, season Oct. 17-30. Only archery for fall turkey in New Madrid County. Removed for 2026: the CWD portion, the management zone and the antler-point restriction.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Donaldson Point Conservation Area: what is open when
Filtered for Donaldson Point Conservation Area by its game list: 10 species, 17 season rows.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | 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 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 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 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 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 | |
| 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 |
Spring 2027 turkey dates were not published when these pages were checked.
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.
Ducks and geese on Donaldson Point Conservation Area
Waterfowl hunting on Donaldson Point Conservation Area is open hunting: no draw, first come first served under statewide rules. MDC zone mapping puts New Madrid County in the South Zone; zone lines moved for 2026-2030, so confirm near the edge. Waterfowl loads must be nontoxic, statewide.
| Duck dates | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Map around Donaldson Point Conservation Area
Crow-flight distance from Donaldson Point Conservation Area to Seven Island Conservation Area is 9.8 mi (northeast); the table runs outward from there.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Island CA | Conservation area | 1,376 | Mississippi | 9.8 mi | northeast |
| Ten Mile Pond CA | Conservation area | 3,765 | Mississippi | 14 mi | northeast |
| John L. and Georgia Girvin CA | Conservation area | 748 | New Madrid, Pemiscot | 14 mi | southwest |
| Swift Ditch Access | Public access area | 146 | New Madrid | 15 mi | north |
| Wolf Bayou Unit of Black Island CA (276 acres) | Conservation area | 276 | Pemiscot | 19 mi | southwest |
| Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island CA (6,430 acres) | Conservation area | 6,430 | Pemiscot | 21 mi | southwest |
| DeSoto Unit of Black Island CA | Conservation area | 719 | Pemiscot | 21 mi | south |
| Gayoso Bend Unit of Black Island CA | Conservation area | 968 | Pemiscot | 24 mi | southwest |
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.
Donaldson Point Conservation Area area harvest by year
Whole-county counts.
Hunters in New Madrid County checked 323 deer in 2025, against 405 the year before; there is no figure for Donaldson Point Conservation Area alone. The spring 2026 count for New Madrid County was 96 turkeys (23 on public land). Recent CWD results for New Madrid County: 0 positives, none on record.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 210 | 16 | 97 | 323 |
| 2024 | 219 | 27 | 159 | 405 |
| 2023 | 255 | 18 | 132 | 405 |
| 2022 | 207 | 25 | 118 | 350 |
| 2021 | 199 | 18 | 93 | 310 |
| 2020 | 202 | 20 | 102 | 324 |
| Season | Spring | Public | Youth | Firearms (fall) | Archery (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 96 | 23 | 10 | – | – |
| 2025 | 63 | 19 | 2 | – | 6 |
| 2024 | 127 | 43 | 7 | – | 4 |
| 2023 | 118 | 35 | 6 | – | 3 |
| 2022 | 77 | – | 5 | – | 2 |
| 2021 | 48 | – | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Year | Samples | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Towns, MDC offices and shops by Donaldson Point Conservation Area
From Donaldson Point Conservation Area, New Madrid is 6.7 mi away. Largest of the five: Caruthersville, 5,170 people. Directions on file: From New Madrid, take Route WW east, then Route AB south, and County Road 405 to the area. Otter Slough Conservation Area Field Office (Dexter) sits 39 mi from Donaldson Point Conservation Area, closer than any other MDC office.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Madrid | New Madrid | 2,597 | 6.7 mi | northwest |
| East Prairie | Mississippi | 2,859 | 17 mi | north |
| Charleston | Mississippi | 4,447 | 26 mi | north |
| Hayti | Pemiscot | 2,273 | 27 mi | southwest |
| Caruthersville | Pemiscot | 5,170 | 28 mi | southwest |
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.
Donaldson Point Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Donaldson Point Conservation Area, Holly Ridge Conservation Area Archery Range is the nearest MDC or other public range (34 miles).
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Legal hours for Donaldson Point Conservation Area
Rabbits are sunrise to sunset, migratory birds half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the extra half hour after sunset.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:28 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:40 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:55 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:32 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:40 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:15 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:15 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:02 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.
Scenery to match Donaldson Point Conservation Area
Donaldson Point Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
What are the CWD rules around Donaldson Point Conservation Area?
No mandatory station visit in this county. The feed ban does not apply.
What is the firearms antlerless limit around Donaldson Point Conservation Area?
0 antlerless deer with firearms permits, under the New Madrid County rule.
Bear hunting near Donaldson Point Conservation Area?
Bear here means a Zone 2 permit (quota 22). The area does not list bear.
Can I hunt turkey on Donaldson Point Conservation Area?
Use archery only. Fall gun season: closed.
What are deer hours at Donaldson Point Conservation Area on Nov. 14?
Nov. 14 at the Donaldson Point Conservation Area point: 6:09 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. for deer (sunrise 6:39 a.m.).
Duck hunting at Donaldson Point Conservation Area: how?
South Zone dates apply; the area uses open hunting.
How far is the nearest town from Donaldson Point Conservation Area?
New Madrid is the nearest town we cover, 6.7 mi off.
Donaldson Point Conservation Area crowded: where next?
Next in line: Seven Island Conservation Area (9.8 mi), Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area (14 mi) and John L. and Georgia Girvin Conservation Area (14 mi).
Can hunters camp on Donaldson Point Conservation Area?
Yes, camping is listed, and the area is open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
Donaldson Point Conservation Area: size and manager?
Missouri Department of Conservation handles it, and it spans 5,945 acres.
Is Donaldson Point Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes, deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl, following statewide seasons and any area limits.
Donaldson Point Conservation Area: which permits apply?
The right MDC permit: Archer's or Firearms for deer, Small Game for small game, Migratory Bird for doves and ducks.
Can I use a rifle for deer on Donaldson Point Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms on this area. Antlerless permits are not allowed.
Last word on Donaldson Point Conservation Area
Confirm methods, permits and the New Madrid County deer rules for Donaldson Point Conservation Area before the drive.
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); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).