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Conservation area · Kansas City Region
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area, a hunter guide
Conservation area in Platte County, 440 acres, MDC Kansas City Region.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Independence Trail TrailheadTrailhead · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Gosling Lake TrailTrailhead · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Gosling Lake Trail TrailheadTrailhead · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 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.
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area basics
At 440 acres, Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area is part of the public ground of Platte County. Among the 5 conservation areas of Platte County, it sits 3rd for acres. The Missouri River district (MDC Kansas City Region) handles habitat work on Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area.
The atlas entry for Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area also shows trails (hiking).
MDC describes the area this way: On July 4, 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition passed by what is now Little Bean Marsh Natural Area. At that time, the marsh was part of an oxbow lake that was connected to the Missouri River in a vast riverine landscape of marshes, oxbows, wet prairies, and bottomland forest. The highly-altered Missouri River of today would be unrecognizable to Lewis and Clark as the once vast complex of wetlands associated with the river are largely gone. Little Bean Marsh Natural Area contains one of the last remnants of this system still present along the Missouri River flood plain.
Hunted here: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Waterfowl.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
How Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area may be hunted
Read these before a first trip to Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area; posted signs still govern.
| Species | Allowed | Permit note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | Nontoxic shot |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
Code rules for Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
- Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun on this area. Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited.
MDC allows archery methods only for deer on Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. The turkey rule on Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area reads archery and firearms. In the booklet table Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area carries antlerless code A: antlerless permits allowed. Nontoxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting on Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area. Listed or not matters on MDC ground: Little Bean Marsh 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.
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area duck rules
No draw is needed for ducks on Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area; it is open hunting. Use Middle Zone dates for Little Bean Marsh 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 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 1 | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 |
2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest, managed areas; area page; checked October 29, 2026.
County deer rules for Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
| Topic | Platte County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| 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 | Middle |
There are no deer units in Missouri; Platte County is the unit for Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area, with a firearms antlerless limit of 4. The early (Oct. 9-11) and late (Dec. 5-13) antlerless portions are open in Platte County. 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.
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area by season
These 14 rows are the 2026-27 seasons that fit Little Bean Marsh 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 | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 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 |
Gun portions are dropped: deer on Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area are archery only. 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 Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
Totals are for the whole county.
Platte County gave up 1,153 deer in 2025; the table runs back to 2020. In spring 2026, 217 turkeys were checked in Platte County, 20 of them reported from public land. For CWD, Platte County shows 0 positives over the years listed.
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | County total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 654 | 62 | 437 | 1,153 |
| 2024 | 602 | 74 | 426 | 1,102 |
| 2023 | 649 | 77 | 483 | 1,209 |
| 2022 | 669 | 65 | 427 | 1,161 |
| 2021 | 606 | 61 | 406 | 1,073 |
| 2020 | 609 | 61 | 461 | 1,131 |
| Year | Spring | Public | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 217 | 20 | 18 | – | – |
| 2025 | 189 | 8 | 29 | 6 | 4 |
| 2024 | 199 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 13 |
| 2023 | 197 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 9 |
| 2022 | 164 | – | 10 | 6 | 12 |
| 2021 | 169 | – | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Year | Samples | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| 2024 | 37 | 0 |
| 2023 | 58 | 0 |
| 2022 | 68 | 0 |
| 2021 | 66 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area: the surrounding public ground
The map pins Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area with the 8 closest public areas, led by Bluffwoods Conservation Area at 10.0 mi.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffwoods CA | Conservation area | 2,281 | Buchanan | 10.0 mi | northeast |
| Guy B. Park CA | Conservation area | 380 | Platte | 13 mi | southeast |
| Bluffwoods CA – Goodell Memorial Annex | Conservation area | 63 | Buchanan | 13 mi | northeast |
| Bee Creek CA | Conservation area | 109 | Buchanan | 14 mi | east |
| Wilfrid V. and Anna C. Kneib Memorial CA | Conservation area | 40 | Buchanan | 16 mi | north |
| Dr. Frederick Marshall CA | Conservation area | 169 | Platte | 16 mi | southeast |
| Platte Falls CA | Conservation area | 2,424 | Platte | 16 mi | southeast |
| Belcher Branch Lake CA | Conservation area | 405 | Buchanan | 17 mi | east |
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 Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
The short run for gas and food is Faucett, 14 mi out. 71,098 people live in St. Joseph, the largest town within reach. Driving route: From Kansas City, take Highway 45 north 30 miles, then Westside Drive west to access area. MDC permits and advice: Platte Falls Conservation Area Field Office, Platte City, 16 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faucett | Buchanan | – | 14 mi | northeast |
| Tracy | Platte | 319 | 15 mi | southeast |
| Platte City | Platte | 4,867 | 17 mi | southeast |
| St. Joseph | Buchanan | 71,098 | 21 mi | northeast |
| Smithville | Clay | 10,971 | 25 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 Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
Sunrise in the Bootheel and in the Kansas City area can be 20 minutes apart, so use the adjusted times for Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area.
| Day | Hunt | Sun up | Sun down | Big game window | Migratory window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:48 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 8:19 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 7:00 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:57 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:15 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:52 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 7:00 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:35 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:35 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:22 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.
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
Platte Falls Conservation Area Archery Range (public, free) is 17 miles from Little Bean Marsh 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 Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area, quick questions
Where is the next public ground after Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
Closest public options are Bluffwoods Conservation Area (10.0 mi), Guy B. Park Conservation Area (13 mi) and Bluffwoods Conservation Area – Goodell Memorial Annex (13 mi).
First and last shooting light at Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
6:31 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. for deer on opening day; ducks end at 5:07 p.m..
How large an area is Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
In charge: Missouri Department of Conservation. Acres: 440.
Town nearest Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
Faucett, 14 mi by straight line.
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area: open to hunters?
It is open to hunting: deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl, under statewide seasons and the area rules.
Permits needed for Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
MDC permits by game: Small Game, Archer's, Firearms Any-Deer or Antlerless, Migratory Bird.
Are antlerless portions open near Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
Up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits in Platte County; antlerless portions run in October and December.
Which weapons are legal for deer at Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
Archery methods only. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Is fall turkey open at Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
Archery and firearms for turkey; the October firearms season is open in the county.
Is there mandatory CWD testing near Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
No mandatory sampling, and no feed ban.
Which duck zone covers Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area?
Hunt ducks under open hunting; the county is in the Middle Zone.
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area: confirm these first
Area rules, closures and managed hunt notices on Little Bean Marsh 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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).