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Conservation area · Northwest Region
Hunt Hardin Conservation Area
Conservation area in Ray County, 238 acres, MDC Northwest Region.
Photo: MoBikeFed (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Hardin Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hardin Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
About Hardin Conservation Area
At 238 acres, Hardin Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Ray County. Among the 3 conservation areas of Ray County, it sits 2nd for acres. The Pony Express district (MDC Northwest Region) handles habitat work on Hardin Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Hardin Conservation Area also shows camping (individual campsites), fishing (catfish, crappie) and trapping (special use permit).
MDC describes the area this way: This area is a wetland area on the Crooked River.
Hunted here: Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Hardin Conservation Area
How Hardin Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Hardin Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery and firearms | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
The deer rule for Hardin Conservation Area is archery and firearms, and antlerless permits may be used here. The turkey rule on Hardin Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Hardin Conservation Area is on the deer list.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Hardin Conservation Area duck rules
No draw is needed for ducks on Hardin Conservation Area; it is open hunting. Use North Zone dates for Hardin Conservation Area, but check the digest if you hunt close to a zone line. Federal law makes nontoxic shot mandatory for waterfowl.
| Season | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
County deer rules for Hardin Conservation Area
| Topic | Ray 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 / Middle |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Ray County is the unit for Hardin Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Ray County. No grain, salt or mineral sites in Ray County: the ban runs all year. The CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction were removed for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Hardin Conservation Area by season
These 20 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Hardin Conservation Area and its game list.
| Species | Hunt | Scope | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular ducks | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 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 |
Youth portions are for hunters 6 to 15 years old.
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.
Harvest numbers near Hardin Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Ray County gave up 1,800 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 218 turkeys were checked in Ray County, 12 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Ray County shows 1 positive over the years listed (first year 2022-2023).
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 994 | 143 | 663 | 1,800 |
| 2024 | 930 | 83 | 575 | 1,588 |
| 2023 | 1,031 | 130 | 585 | 1,746 |
| 2022 | 973 | 121 | 605 | 1,699 |
| 2021 | 894 | 98 | 575 | 1,567 |
| 2020 | 923 | 113 | 525 | 1,561 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 218 | 12 | 20 | – | – |
| 2025 | 173 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 5 |
| 2024 | 181 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 8 |
| 2023 | 167 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 8 |
| 2022 | 168 | – | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 2021 | 150 | – | 7 | 5 | 11 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | 0 |
| 2024 | 282 | 0 |
| 2023 | 486 | 0 |
| 2022 | 108 | 1 |
| 2021 | 88 | 0 |
| 2020 | 77 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Hardin Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Hardin Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Frank E. Wagner Conservation Area at 9.7 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank E. Wagner CA | Conservation area | 130 | Ray | 9.7 mi | north |
| W. L. Schifferdecker Memorial CA | Conservation area | 241 | Carroll | 12 mi | northeast |
| Baltimore Bend CA | Conservation area | 1,202 | Lafayette | 14 mi | east |
| Crooked River CA | Conservation area | 1,420 | Ray | 15 mi | northwest |
| Upper Higginsville City Lake (Higginsville) (40 acres) | Cooperative area | 40 | Lafayette | 15 mi | southeast |
| Higginsville City Lake | Cooperative area | 150 | Lafayette | 16 mi | southeast |
| Maple Leaf Lake CA | Conservation area | 827 | Lafayette | 18 mi | south |
| Sni-A-Bar CA | Conservation area | 80 | Lafayette | 20 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.
Who is nearby at Hardin Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is Lexington, 5.3 mi out. 5,939 people live in Richmond, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From Hardin, take Route J south 0.75 mile to area entrance. MDC permits and advice: Lake City Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, Buckner, 25 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | Lafayette | 4,595 | 5.3 mi | south |
| Richmond | Ray | 5,939 | 7.2 mi | west |
| Rayville | Ray | – | 14 mi | northwest |
| Waverly | Lafayette | 816 | 18 mi | east |
| Carrollton | Carroll | 3,491 | 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.
Shooting hours in Hardin Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Hardin Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:12 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:49 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:57 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:32 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:32 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:19 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.
Hunts, classes and dinners by Hardin Conservation Area
Near this ground on October 29, 2026: 1 upcoming event.
Dates ahead
| Held on | Event | Away | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2027 | Ray County Shortspurs NWTF Banquet · NWTF chapter dinner | 7 | Richmond | Buy tickets | Source |
Hardin Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Landahl Park Archery Range (public, local) is 25 miles from Hardin Conservation Area. Beside it, two gun clubs within 30 miles.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
A visual feel for Hardin Conservation Area
Hardin Conservation Area, quick questions
Are antlerless portions open near Hardin Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Ray County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Hardin Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Hardin Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Hardin Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, plus the feed and mineral ban.
First and last shooting light at Hardin Conservation Area?
6:27 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 5:03 p.m..
Which duck zone covers Hardin Conservation Area?
Hunt ducks under open hunting; the county is in the North Zone.
Town nearest Hardin Conservation Area?
Lexington, 5.3 mi by straight line.
Where is the next public ground after Hardin Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Frank E. Wagner Conservation Area (9.7 mi), W. L. Schifferdecker Memorial Conservation Area (12 mi) and Baltimore Bend Conservation Area (14 mi).
Open hours at Hardin Conservation Area?
Open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Camping is listed on the area page.
How large an area is Hardin Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 238.
Hardin Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, turkey and waterfowl, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Hardin Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Hardin Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Hardin Conservation Area can change; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Jena Fuller (CC BY-SA 2.0); MoBikeFed (CC BY 2.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0).