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Texas County · Conservation area
Hunting at George O. White State Forest Nursery
Seasons, methods and access for this conservation area in Texas County.
Photo: Inklein (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to George O. White State Forest Nursery
George O. White State Forest Nursery profile
Texas County is home to the 754 acres of George O. White State Forest Nursery. In acreage it places 4th among 7 conservation areas in Texas County. Management sits with MDC: Ozark Plains district, Ozark Region.
When hunting is slow, George O. White State Forest Nursery offers fishing (sunfish, catfish, black bass) and tours, per MDC.
In the agency's words: Nursery tours are available by prior arrangement. Facilities/features: Quercus Flatwoods Natural Area (48 acres of post oak flatwoods), picnic area, and fishable 4.5 acre lake.
Species on the record: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove, Quail.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Bobwhite Quail
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around George O. White State Forest Nursery
George O. White State Forest Nursery methods and area rules
Methods for George O. White State Forest Nursery come from the MDC area page and the deer quick view.
| Quarry | Methods | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
George O. White State Forest Nursery: Code paragraphs
- Special hours apply on this department area. This area is open to public use only as authorized by posting.
Plan on archery and firearms for deer at George O. White State Forest Nursery; antlerless permits may be used. For turkey, MDC allows archery and firearms on George O. White State Forest Nursery. A bear permit holder may hunt George O. White State Forest Nursery with archery and firearms. Antlerless code A applies to George O. White State Forest Nursery, so antlerless permits allowed. MDC limits deer hunting on its areas to the listed ones, and George O. White State Forest Nursery is listed.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Texas County rules on George O. White State Forest Nursery
| County rule | Texas 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, Zone 2, Zone 1 |
| Duck zone | South / Middle |
For deer, Texas County sets the rules on George O. White State Forest Nursery: firearms antlerless limit 4. Antlerless portions: open in October and December for Texas County. Leave the feeders home: Texas County bans feed and minerals all year. Bear hunters drawn for Zone 3 may hunt Texas County (250 permits, 8 bears). No CWD portion, no CWD Management Zone and no antler-point restriction this season.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Open dates on George O. White State Forest Nursery
Open-now status is in the last column; 19 rows apply to George O. White State Forest Nursery.
| Quarry | Season | Where | Opening | Closing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 1 | Bear zone 1 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Archery deer is closed during the November firearms portion, Nov. 14-24.
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.
Texas County deer and turkey harvest near George O. White State Forest Nursery
County-level data from MDC.
MDC reports deer harvest by county, not by area: Texas County checked 4,974 deer in the 2025 permit year, 21% more than in 2024. Public land gave up 86 of the 659 spring 2026 turkeys in Texas County. CWD samples from Texas County turned up 1 positive in recent years.
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,475 | 395 | 2,104 | 4,974 |
| 2024 | 1,997 | 353 | 1,771 | 4,121 |
| 2023 | 2,548 | 511 | 3,131 | 6,190 |
| 2022 | 2,101 | 475 | 2,124 | 4,700 |
| 2021 | 2,634 | 542 | 2,306 | 5,482 |
| 2020 | 2,452 | 447 | 2,028 | 4,927 |
| Year | Spring | Public land | Youth | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 659 | 86 | 100 | – | – |
| 2025 | 860 | 198 | 94 | 17 | 20 |
| 2024 | 780 | 144 | 78 | 28 | 8 |
| 2023 | 781 | 214 | 64 | 52 | 42 |
| 2022 | 587 | – | 61 | 32 | 26 |
| 2021 | 737 | – | 71 | 56 | 60 |
| Year | Deer tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 | 992 | 0 |
| 2024 | 378 | 1 |
| 2023 | 257 | 0 |
| 2022 | 67 | 0 |
| 2021 | 151 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
George O. White State Forest Nursery and nearby public land, mapped
Peter A. Eck Conservation Area (7.9 mi, west) tops the neighbor list for George O. White State Forest Nursery, measured as the crow flies.
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter A. Eck CA | Conservation area | 371 | Texas | 7.9 mi | west |
| White River Trace CA | Conservation area | 2,044 | Dent | 9.6 mi | northeast |
| Montauk Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Dent | 10 mi | east |
| Horseshoe Bend Natural Area | Natural area | 233 | Texas | 14 mi | south |
| R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and WA | Conservation area | 520 | Dent | 15 mi | northeast |
| Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District | Ranger district | 210,393 | Phelps, Texas | 15 mi | northwest |
| Gerhild and Graham Brown CA | Conservation area | 189 | Dent | 15 mi | northeast |
| Piney River Narrows Natural Area | Natural area | 258 | Texas | 17 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.
Getting supplies near George O. White State Forest Nursery
Nearest town with its own page: Licking, 4.0 mi. For a hardware store or a motel, Salem (4,726 people) is 20 mi away. Getting there, per MDC: From Licking, take Highway 63 north 0.50 mile, then Shafer Road west 4 miles to the area. The closest MDC office on file is George O White Nursery Field Office, about 0.3 mi from George O. White State Forest Nursery.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licking | Texas | 2,969 | 4.0 mi | south |
| Houston | Texas | 2,191 | 17 mi | south |
| Plato | Texas | 89 | 19 mi | west |
| Fort Leonard Wood | Pulaski | – | 19 mi | northwest |
| Salem | Dent | 4,726 | 20 mi | east |
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.
George O. White State Forest Nursery hunting hours on key dates
MDC prints one sunrise and sunset table for Jefferson City and tells hunters to adjust it by 1 minute for every 13.5 miles east or west. For George O. White State Forest Nursery that means subtract 1 minute.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:37 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:49 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:04 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:41 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:49 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:24 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:24 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:11 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.
Where George O. White State Forest Nursery hunters zero a rifle
Dent County has the public range nearest George O. White State Forest Nursery: Shawnee Mac Lakes Conservation Area Archery Range (21 miles). Two club ranges follow.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Photo strip for George O. White State Forest Nursery
George O. White State Forest Nursery hunter FAQ
What hours does George O. White State Forest Nursery keep?
Hours are 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.; no campsites listed.
Is there an area permit for George O. White State Forest Nursery?
Missouri permits for the game you hunt; deer need an Archer's or Firearms permit, migratory birds a Migratory Bird permit.
May the public hunt at George O. White State Forest Nursery?
Open for deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove and quail, with the methods shown in the rules section.
What deer methods are allowed on George O. White State Forest Nursery?
The deer rule is archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Which antlerless rule covers George O. White State Forest Nursery?
Missouri sets it by county; Texas County allows 4 on firearms permits. Antlerless portions are open.
Is deer feeding banned near George O. White State Forest Nursery?
CWD rules in Texas County: sampling not mandatory, feed ban yes.
Is George O. White State Forest Nursery good for fall turkey?
Turkey is archery and firearms; fall firearms is open.
What bear rules apply at George O. White State Forest Nursery?
Zone 3 covers the county (250 permits); bear is on the area list.
George O. White State Forest Nursery shooting hours for the November opener?
Roughly 6:19 a.m. until 5:25 p.m., worked out for this spot.
Which public areas neighbor George O. White State Forest Nursery?
Next in line: Peter A. Eck Conservation Area (7.9 mi), White River Trace Conservation Area (9.6 mi) and Montauk Towersite (10 mi).
Nearest town with services to George O. White State Forest Nursery?
Licking (Texas County), about 4.0 mi away.
George O. White State Forest Nursery: size and manager?
The record lists 754 acres; Missouri Department of Conservation is in charge.
George O. White State Forest Nursery final checklist
Signs on the ground outrank any web page; look for posted refuge and closed zones on George O. White State Forest Nursery.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0).