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Conservation area · Missouri 2026-27
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area hunting
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this conservation area in Dent County, 189 acres.
Photo: Inklein (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area profile
Expect about 189 acres of public ground at Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area, Dent County. By size it ranks 5th of the 5 conservation areas we list in Dent County. MDC manages it from the Northern Ozarks district of the Ozark Region.
Besides hunting, the MDC area page lists fishing (sunfish).
What the area page says about it: This is a primarily forested area with some open fields and a permanent stream, Dry Fork, at the southern edge.
Listed game: 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 Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area: methods MDC allows
The rules below are what MDC lists for Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area on top of statewide seasons.
| Game | Allowed methods | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery only | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
Plan on archery methods only for deer at Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area is archery and firearms for turkey. For drawn bear hunters, Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area is archery only. Code A in the conservation-area table: antlerless permits allowed on Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area. On MDC land, deer hunting is legal only where the area is listed; Gerhild and Graham Brown 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.
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area county rules for 2026-27
| Item | Dent 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 squirrel, rabbit dogs |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 2 |
| Duck zone | Middle / South |
County rules apply on Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area; Dent County has a firearms antlerless limit of 4 for 2026-27. In Dent County, the Oct. 9-11 and Dec. 5-13 antlerless portions apply. Feeding deer and placing minerals is banned year-round in Dent County. The bear zone here is 2: 750 permits, quota 22, season Oct. 17-30. The November dog rule covers Dent 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.
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area: what is open when
Filtered for Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area by its game list: 7 species, 11 season rows.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 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 | |
| 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 |
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area is archery only, so the table shows archery deer dates alone. 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.
Map around Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area
Crow-flight distance from Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area to White River Trace Conservation Area is 5.7 mi (southwest); the table runs outward from there.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White River Trace CA | Conservation area | 2,044 | Dent | 5.7 mi | southwest |
| R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and WA | Conservation area | 520 | Dent | 8.6 mi | northwest |
| Montauk Towersite | Towersite | 40 | Dent | 11 mi | south |
| Short Bend Access | Public access area | 87 | Dent | 13 mi | northeast |
| George O. White State Forest Nursery | Conservation area | 754 | Texas | 15 mi | southwest |
| Beaver Creek CA | Conservation area | 157 | Phelps | 15 mi | northwest |
| Indian Trail CA | Conservation area | 13,503 | Dent | 16 mi | east |
| Cedar Grove CA | Conservation area | 880 | Dent | 18 mi | south |
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.
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area area harvest by year
Whole-county counts.
Hunters in Dent County checked 2,659 deer in 2025, against 2,584 the year before; there is no figure for Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area alone. The spring 2026 count for Dent County was 506 turkeys (80 on public land). Recent CWD results for Dent County: 0 positives, none on record.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,208 | 268 | 1,183 | 2,659 |
| 2024 | 1,105 | 274 | 1,205 | 2,584 |
| 2023 | 1,508 | 339 | 2,018 | 3,865 |
| 2022 | 1,457 | 381 | 1,513 | 3,351 |
| 2021 | 1,789 | 449 | 1,948 | 4,186 |
| 2020 | 1,463 | 394 | 1,556 | 3,413 |
| Season | Spring | Public | Youth | Firearms (fall) | Archery (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 506 | 80 | 57 | – | – |
| 2025 | 692 | 162 | 56 | 42 | 15 |
| 2024 | 557 | 83 | 40 | 38 | 7 |
| 2023 | 608 | 153 | 38 | 86 | 37 |
| 2022 | 451 | – | 40 | 48 | 13 |
| 2021 | 582 | – | 56 | 72 | 50 |
| Year | Samples | CWD found |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 636 | 0 |
| 2024 | 653 | 0 |
| 2023 | 180 | 0 |
| 2022 | 98 | 0 |
| 2021 | 185 | 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 Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area
From Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area, Salem is 7.0 mi away. Largest of the five: Rolla, 20,660 people. Directions on file: From Salem at the junction of Highway 72/Route H, take Route H west 3.50 miles, then Route DD north 3 miles. George O White Nursery Field Office (Licking) sits 15 mi from Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area, closer than any other MDC office.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | Dent | 4,726 | 7.0 mi | east |
| Licking | Texas | 2,969 | 17 mi | southwest |
| Rolla | Phelps | 20,660 | 20 mi | north |
| Newburg | Phelps | 336 | 21 mi | northwest |
| St. James | Phelps | 3,932 | 23 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.
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area, Shawnee Mac Lakes Conservation Area Archery Range is the nearest MDC or other public range (8 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the other cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Legal hours for Gerhild and Graham Brown 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 | 6:35 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:02 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:39 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:47 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:22 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:22 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:09 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 Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
Is Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes, deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove and quail, following statewide seasons and any area limits.
Gerhild and Graham Brown 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.
What is the firearms antlerless limit around Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area?
4 antlerless deer with firearms permits, under the Dent County rule.
Can I use a rifle for deer on Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area?
Archery methods only on this area. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Can I hunt turkey on Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area?
Use archery and firearms. Fall gun season: Oct. 1-31.
What are the CWD rules around Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area?
No mandatory station visit in this county. Do not feed deer or put out minerals.
What are deer hours at Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area on Nov. 14?
Nov. 14 at the Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area point: 6:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. for deer (sunrise 6:48 a.m.).
Bear hunting near Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area?
Bear here means a Zone 2 permit (quota 22).
How far is the nearest town from Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area?
Salem is the nearest town we cover, 7.0 mi off.
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area crowded: where next?
Next in line: White River Trace Conservation Area (5.7 mi), R. F. Clement Memorial Forest and Wildlife Area (8.6 mi) and Montauk Towersite (11 mi).
Can hunters camp on Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area?
No camping listed, and the area is open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area: size and manager?
Missouri Department of Conservation handles it, and it spans 189 acres.
Last word on Gerhild and Graham Brown Conservation Area
Confirm methods, permits and the Dent County deer rules for Gerhild and Graham Brown 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: Forest Service, Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); Robert Engberg (CC BY 2.0).