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Frost Island Conservation Area hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Clark County (1,233 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Frost Island Conservation Area
Frost Island Conservation Area, the essentials
Its acreage is 1,233, inside Clark County. Line up the 7 conservation areas in Clark County by acres and Frost Island Conservation Area comes 3rd. Staff of the MDC Fabius River district, in the Northeast Region, manage Frost Island Conservation Area.
MDC also notes camping (open camping-walk/float/backpack(no deer/turkey), designated camping sites) and fishing (catfish) at Frost Island Conservation Area.
Habitat notes from the source: In 1996, seven tracts totaling 916 acres were acquired as part of the Emergency Wetland Reserve Program (EWRP), which was initiated after the flood of 1993 which lasted for 175 days. This flood damaged the area's farmland by depositing large amounts of silt and sand in some areas and scouring in other areas. Flood protection levees were not repaired to allow future flood waters to inundate the area and reduce flood damage downstream. An adjacent upland tract and a small tract along the Des Moines River was purchased later to bring the area to its present size of 1,232 acres. The Des Moines River bounds the area on the north and east sides, providing two miles of river frontage, but there is no boat ramp. The lowland areas of Frost Island CA contain old crop fields, food plots, grass plantings, and some bottomland hardwood forest. The upland portion of the area is a high sandy terrace. Unique natural features exist on the area. A natural oxbow slough, locally known as "McGuire's Hole," is on the area's south boundary.
Game listed: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail, Waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Bobwhite Quail
- Ducks
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Frost Island Conservation Area
Frost Island Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Frost Island Conservation Area; together they add 8,139 acres, and William E. Crawford Conservation Area is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William E. Crawford CA | Conservation area | 88 | Clark | 5.2 mi | northwest |
| Rose Pond CA | Conservation area | 382 | Clark | 8.0 mi | south |
| Great River NWR (Missouri portion) | Wildlife refuge | 2,786 | Clark, Pike | 9.1 mi | south |
| Fox Valley Lake CA | Conservation area | 2,158 | Clark | 13 mi | west |
| Neeper CA | Conservation area | 315 | Clark | 14 mi | southwest |
| Clark CA | Conservation area | 626 | Clark | 17 mi | west |
| Wyaconda Crossing CA | Conservation area | 148 | Lewis | 18 mi | south |
| Charlie Heath Memorial CA | Conservation area | 1,636 | Clark | 20 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.
Area rules at Frost Island Conservation Area
MDC area rules for Frost Island Conservation Area, as published for 2026-27.
| Species | Methods here | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader, archery | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | Nontoxic shot |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | Nontoxic for doves |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
Wildlife Code entries for Frost Island Conservation Area
- Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
MDC allows muzzleloader and archery methods for deer on Frost Island Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. Turkey methods on Frost Island Conservation Area: archery and firearms. The FDT area table lists Frost Island Conservation Area with code A (antlerless permits allowed). Lead shot is out for any shotgun hunting on Frost Island Conservation Area. Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; Frost Island 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.
Frost Island Conservation Area season calendar
County dates from Clark County that fit Frost Island 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 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth quail | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Statewide | Nov 1, 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 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular ducks | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| 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 rows apply to muzzleloaders only on Frost Island Conservation Area. 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.
Frost Island Conservation Area: fields for doves
Frost Island Conservation Area has 1 managed dove field this year: 12.9 acres of other crops. Layer note: Open to All Hunters. The dove management area list includes Frost Island Conservation Area. Use nontoxic loads for doves here. Doves are open Sep 1, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026.
MDC 2026 dove field layer and Dove Management Areas; checked October 29, 2026.
Duck season on Frost Island Conservation Area
Ducks and geese on Frost Island Conservation Area fall under open hunting rules. Duck dates for Frost Island Conservation Area follow the North Zone (from the 2021-2025 zone layer; the new 2026-2030 line text may differ near the edge). Ducks, geese and coots may be shot only with nontoxic shot.
| Zone season | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Youth waterfowl days | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Regular ducks | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
Deer rules that reach Frost Island Conservation Area
| Rule | Clark 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 | None |
| Duck zone | North |
Frost Island Conservation Area takes its deer rules from Clark County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4. Antlerless portions run here in October and December. Clark County falls under the CWD feed and mineral ban. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD 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.
Frost Island Conservation Area: towns and supplies
St. Francisville is 1.9 mi from Frost Island Conservation Area, the nearest town on this site. Kahoka is the biggest town in that list, 1,973 residents in 2024. Route from the area page: From Wayland, take Highway 27 north 4 miles, then on gravel road 198 east 1 mile. Drive 51 mi to Hannibal Office in Hannibal for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francisville | Clark | – | 1.9 mi | west |
| Wayland | Clark | 417 | 4.0 mi | southwest |
| Kahoka | Clark | 1,973 | 9.5 mi | west |
| Medill | Clark | – | 12 mi | west |
| Williamstown | Lewis | – | 20 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.
County harvest around Frost Island Conservation Area
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 2,750 deer were Telechecked in Clark County, 1,274 of them does. Clark County turkey hunters took 401 birds in spring 2026; 26 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 7 CWD positives in Clark County across the years in the table, the first in 2023-2024.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,243 | 233 | 1,274 | 2,750 |
| 2024 | 1,235 | 232 | 1,283 | 2,750 |
| 2023 | 1,278 | 227 | 1,202 | 2,707 |
| 2022 | 1,292 | 192 | 1,141 | 2,625 |
| 2021 | 1,160 | 186 | 913 | 2,259 |
| 2020 | 1,246 | 190 | 1,004 | 2,440 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 401 | 26 | 56 | – | – |
| 2025 | 366 | 30 | 54 | 3 | 10 |
| 2024 | 367 | 26 | 40 | 4 | 6 |
| 2023 | 331 | 33 | 24 | 2 | 21 |
| 2022 | 305 | – | 36 | 8 | 17 |
| 2021 | 256 | – | 23 | 2 | 21 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 0 |
| 2025 | 522 | 2 |
| 2024 | 715 | 4 |
| 2023 | 205 | 1 |
| 2022 | 608 | 0 |
| 2021 | 510 | 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 Frost Island 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 | 6:36 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:48 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:03 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:40 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:48 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:23 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:23 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:10 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.
Frost Island Conservation Area in pictures
Frost Island Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Frost Island Conservation Area, 13 miles separates hunters from Fox Valley Lake CA range, the closest public range. Club lanes within 30 miles fill the next cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Frost Island Conservation Area, quick questions
Can hunters camp on Frost Island Conservation Area?
Camping is listed; hours 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
How large an area is Frost Island Conservation Area?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (1,233 acres).
Is hunting legal on Frost Island Conservation Area?
Yes. The area page names deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail and waterfowl.
What should I buy before a Frost Island 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 Frost Island Conservation Area?
Clark County: firearms antlerless limit 4, antlerless portions open.
What are the deer hunting methods at Frost Island Conservation Area?
Deer may be taken by muzzleloader and archery methods. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Turkey hunting at Frost Island 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 Frost Island Conservation Area?
Sampling is voluntary here; feeding and minerals are banned all year.
Are there dove fields at Frost Island Conservation Area?
Yes, 12.9 acres in 1 fields.
Is there a draw for ducks at Frost Island Conservation Area?
Open hunting; zone: North Zone.
Is there other public land around Frost Island Conservation Area?
Try William E. Crawford Conservation Area (5.2 mi), Rose Pond Conservation Area (8.0 mi) and Great River NWR (Missouri portion) (9.1 mi).
When does legal light start and end at Frost Island Conservation Area?
Deer hunters get 6:17 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 4:53 p.m..
Which town sits closest to Frost Island Conservation Area?
St. Francisville lies 1.9 mi away.
Frost Island 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 · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Jacob Norlund (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).