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Conservation area · 2026-27
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Texas County, in one page.
Photo: Inklein (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area 1,724 acres in Texas County. Of 7 conservation areas in Texas County, Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area is number 3 by acreage. It belongs to the Ozark Plains management district, MDC Ozark Region.
Other uses MDC lists for Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area: dog training and trapping (special use permit).
From the MDC area description: Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area is in Texas County on the Texas/Wright County line, approximately 19 miles west of Houston. The area was donated to the Conservation Department in 2018 by Mr. Carson Lamberson. The area is contained in one contiguous tract and is about 80% forested and 20% open land that is in the process of being converted into wildlife friendly native grasses and forbs. Visitors to the area will find deer, turkey, rabbits, furbearers, and other wildlife species. The Conservation Department is working to enhance wildlife habitat by implementing forest, woodland and old field management practices.
Game species: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area
Neighbors of Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area on the map
Count on P. F. Barnes Conservation Area as the first fallback, 5.9 mi east of Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P. F. Barnes CA | Conservation area | 120 | Texas | 5.9 mi | east |
| Houston Towersite | Towersite | 17 | Texas | 8.2 mi | east |
| Buzzard Bluff Access | Public access area | 89 | Wright | 8.6 mi | west |
| Wilbur Allen Memorial CA | Conservation area | 380 | Wright | 9.9 mi | northwest |
| Piney River Narrows Natural Area | Natural area | 258 | Texas | 13 mi | east |
| Camp Branch Access | Public access area | 28 | Wright | 13 mi | west |
| Horseshoe Bend Natural Area | Natural area | 233 | Texas | 14 mi | east |
| Odin Access | Public access area | 124 | Wright | 21 mi | west |
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.
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area hunting methods
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | – |
| Mourning Dove | Statewide methods | – |
MDC allows archery and firearms for deer on Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Bear hunting is listed on Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area (archery and firearms) for permit holders in the right management zone. Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area shows code A in the booklet, antlerless permits allowed. The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and Lamberson Memorial 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 Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area gets 17 dated rows once the Texas 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 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 | |
| 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 |
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.
Which county rules govern Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area
| 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 |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area follows Texas County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Texas County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Texas County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 3 covers Texas County: 250 permits and a 8-bear quota for Oct. 17-30. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area town and service list
Plato lies closest, about 12 mi as the crow flies. Houston counts 2,191 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: From Houston, MO take Hwy 17 west 7 miles to Hwy 38. Travel 12 miles down Hwy 38 to reach the CA. Lamberson Memorial CA is on the north side of 38 Hwy and is 1 mile east of the Texas/Wright County line. Need MDC staff? George O White Nursery Field Office in Licking is 25 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plato | Texas | 89 | 12 mi | north |
| Houston | Texas | 2,191 | 15 mi | east |
| Cabool | Texas | 2,059 | 16 mi | southeast |
| Hartville | Wright | 626 | 16 mi | west |
| Norwood | Wright | 613 | 19 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.
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 4,974 deer (2,475 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area. 86 public-land birds out of 659 in spring 2026, Texas County. 1 positive deer in Texas County in the sample years shown.
| Permit year | 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 harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | 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 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
First and last shooting light in Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and no change for Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Missouri scenes for Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area, Gist Ranch CA range is the nearest MDC or other public range (27 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.
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
How long is the legal day at Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:20 a.m. until 5:26 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
The three nearest: P. F. Barnes Conservation Area (5.9 mi), Houston Towersite (8.2 mi) and Buzzard Bluff Access (8.6 mi).
Where do I buy gas near Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
About 12 mi to Plato.
How large an area is Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
Roughly 1,724 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area hours and camping?
Area hours: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Camping is not listed.
What paperwork covers a hunt at Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel and dove on Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery and firearms. Antlerless permits are allowed.
What is the antlerless limit for Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
Texas County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
For Texas County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Texas County.
Which bear permits work at Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
The county is BMZ 3; bear is listed for the area.
Leaving for Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt Lamberson Memorial Conservation Area, and wear hunter orange in the firearms portions.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Scott Heron (CC BY-SA 2.0).