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Conservation area · 2026-27
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Andrew County, in one page.
Photo: Benjamin White (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area 2,207 acres in Andrew County. Of 7 conservation areas in Andrew County, Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area is number 2 by acreage. It belongs to the Loess Hills management district, MDC Northwest Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area: camping (individual campsites) and fishing (sunfish, catfish, crappie, black bass).
From the MDC area description: The Conservation Department established the Happy Holler area in 1980 with the purchase of 622 acres, primarily along the One Hundred and Two River. With subsequent purchases, the area has grown to it's present size. A portion of the area has traditionally been known as "Happy Holler." Open fields are managed with farming, haying, prescribed burning, and discing. Wetland and timber management are also practiced here as is intensive habitat development through tree, shrub, and grass plantings. The area provides both upland and bottomland habitat for wildlife. Because of its large size and land diversity, the area is managed for multiple game and non-game species and for a variety of public uses consistent with resource management.
Game species: 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 Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area
Neighbors of Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area on the map
Count on Hadorn Bridge Access as the first fallback, 2.5 mi northwest of Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hadorn Bridge Access | Public access area | 93 | Andrew | 2.5 mi | northwest |
| Elrod Mill Access | Public access area | 57 | Andrew | 3.6 mi | east |
| James D. Christie CA | Conservation area | 174 | Andrew | 5.4 mi | north |
| The Eva N. Davis Memorial CA | Conservation area | 30 | Andrew | 5.8 mi | northwest |
| Crooked Creek (MRAP) | MRAP tract | 382 | DeKalb | 9.7 mi | southeast |
| Honey Creek CA | Conservation area | 1,448 | Andrew | 12 mi | west |
| Worthwine Island CA | Conservation area | 585 | Andrew | 13 mi | southwest |
| Caroline Sheridan Logan Memorial WA | Conservation area | 40 | Buchanan | 13 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.
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area hunting methods
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Not allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area; antlerless permits may not be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area appears 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.
Calendar of hunts for Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area gets 20 dated rows once the Andrew County calendar is trimmed to its game list.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 |
Rabbits may be hunted sunrise to sunset; trapping seasons are on the species pages.
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.
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area dove ground
Dove hunters will find Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area on the MDC dove area list. Missouri dove dates are Sep 1, 2026 to Nov 29, 2026.
MDC 2026 dove field layer and Dove Management Areas; checked October 29, 2026.
Waterfowl at Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area
MDC lists Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area as open waterfowl hunting, with no reservation or draw. North Zone dates apply to Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area per the 2021-2025 layer; read the digest for the new line wording. No lead shot for ducks, geese or coots.
| Segment | 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.
Which county rules govern Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area
| Rule | Andrew 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 rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | None |
| Duck zone | North |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area follows Andrew County: up to 1 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Andrew County is one of the 14 counties closed during the antlerless portions. Opening-weekend deer from Andrew County (Nov. 14-15) must be sampled for CWD. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
- Andrew County Youth Building and Fairgrounds, 201 S. Banyon St., Savannah
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area town and service list
Savannah lies closest, about 5.0 mi as the crow flies. St. Joseph counts 71,098 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: The area is composed of three tracts. Lake entrance: from Savannah, take Route E east 4 miles, then Route D north 6 miles to the parking lot. Refer to map for directions to tracts 2 and 3. Need MDC staff? Northwest Regional Office in St Joseph is 16 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah | Andrew | 5,076 | 5.0 mi | southwest |
| King City | Gentry | 832 | 13 mi | east |
| St. Joseph | Buchanan | 71,098 | 16 mi | south |
| Oregon | Holt | 832 | 20 mi | west |
| Maysville | DeKalb | 1,088 | 22 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.
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 1,065 deer (660 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area. 19 public-land birds out of 152 in spring 2026, Andrew County. 0 positive deers in Andrew County in the sample years shown.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 660 | 62 | 343 | 1,065 |
| 2024 | 612 | 64 | 363 | 1,039 |
| 2023 | 676 | 79 | 360 | 1,115 |
| 2022 | 648 | 68 | 375 | 1,091 |
| 2021 | 673 | 68 | 415 | 1,156 |
| 2020 | 628 | 73 | 347 | 1,048 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 152 | 19 | 8 | – | – |
| 2025 | 103 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 3 |
| 2024 | 118 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | 131 | 14 | 8 | – | 5 |
| 2022 | 113 | – | 5 | – | 4 |
| 2021 | 115 | – | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 51 | 0 |
| 2024 | 44 | 0 |
| 2023 | 73 | 0 |
| 2022 | 46 | 0 |
| 2021 | 79 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
First and last shooting light in Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and add 10 minutes for Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:49 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:16 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:53 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 7:01 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:36 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:36 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:23 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.
Missouri scenes for Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area, Riverbreaks CA range is the nearest MDC or other public range (20 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.
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
Is Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail and waterfowl on Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are not allowed.
What is the antlerless limit for Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
Andrew County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 1, and its antlerless portions are closed.
Does the feed ban cover Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
For Andrew County, sampling is required on Nov. 14-15 and the feed ban does not apply.
What turkey rules apply on Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Andrew County.
Is duck hunting allowed on Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
Yes: open hunting, North Zone season dates.
How long is the legal day at Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:30 a.m. until 5:36 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Hadorn Bridge Access (2.5 mi), Elrod Mill Access (3.6 mi) and James D. Christie Conservation Area (5.4 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
About 5.0 mi to Savannah.
How large an area is Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
Roughly 2,207 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area hours and camping?
MDC lists camping.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Leaving for Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Happy Holler Lake Conservation Area, and wear hunter orange in the firearms portions.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Public domain); Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) (CC BY-SA 2.5); Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0).