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Missouri conservation area
Little Black Conservation Area, a hunter guide
3,093 acres of conservation area in Ripley County: area rules, season dates and nearby land.
Photo: Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Little Black Conservation Area
Little Black Conservation Area basics
Little Black Conservation Area measures 3,093 acres on the map and sits in Ripley County. Ripley County has 5 conservation areas on our list; this one is the 2nd largest. MDC lists Little Black Conservation Area in its Scenic Rivers East district, Ozark Region.
Non-hunting activities on the area page: shooting range (archery), trails (hiking), camping (open camping – walk-in/float-in/backpack), dog training and fishing (sunfish, black bass).
The area page says: Little Black Conservation Area is four miles south of the historic Grandin Mill site and was one of the first areas harvested for that mill in the 19th century. Remnant pine stumps from that harvest and pine woodland indicator species are commonly found. Historically, this region supported shortleaf pine and pine-oak woodlands with associated diverse ground flora. Post oak flatwoods were present on the broad ridges. The tree species present are typical for oak-hickory and oak-pine forest types and include white oak, scarlet oak, southern red oak, post oak, black oak, hickory, and shortleaf pine. The 700-acre Little Black Woodland Bird Habitat Restoration Project was initiated in 2006 to restore woodland habitat by reducing heavily stocked tree stands. On this area, the Fern Nook Natural Area has unique and high quality forest resources dominated by old growth stands with little or no disturbance. It may be the earliest example of old growth management in the Ozarks.
Species named: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Little Black Conservation Area
How Little Black Conservation Area may be hunted
Area methods and permits for Little Black Conservation Area, condensed from MDC.
| Game | How | Extra rule |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | – |
Little Black Conservation Area area regulations
- An unstaffed range is located on this department area. Target shooting is not allowed anywhere on this area except for designated shooting range(s).
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs.
- Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all ranges and associated parking lots.
- Groups of more than 10 people must obtain a special use permit prior to using the range. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed for this area in the area details section.
Deer hunters on Little Black Conservation Area are limited to archery and firearms; antlerless permits may be used. Turkey on Little Black Conservation Area: archery and firearms under the area listing. Black bear methods here: archery and firearms, with a zone permit from the drawing. Booklet code A for Little Black Conservation Area means antlerless permits allowed. Only areas on the MDC deer list allow deer hunting; Little Black Conservation Area made the 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 Black Conservation Area: the Ripley County rules
| Rule | Ripley County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | Mandatory |
| 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 | South |
The county is the deer unit here. Ripley County allows 4 firearms antlerless deer this year. Ripley County is one of the 100 counties open during the antlerless portions. Ripley County hunters must have opening-weekend deer sampled, at one of 2 stations in the county. The year-round feed and mineral ban covers Ripley County. Ripley County lies in Black Bear Management Zone 2, where 750 permits were issued against a quota of 22. In Ripley County, no dogs for squirrels or rabbits during Nov. 14-24. Three older rules are gone for 2026: the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point rule.
- Gatewood School, 11111 Hwy. 142 , Gatewood
- Doniphan MDC Forestry Office, 109 Ripley 21-N-1, Doniphan
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Dates that apply at Little Black Conservation Area
14 rows for Little Black Conservation Area (5 species), cut down to its game list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 |
Hunter orange (hat plus vest, coat or shirt) is required during the firearms deer portions.
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.
Public places ringing Little Black Conservation Area
Head southeast about 5.3 mi and you reach Mudpuppy Conservation Area, the nearest listed neighbor of Little Black Conservation Area.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mudpuppy CA | Conservation area | 1,404 | Ripley | 5.3 mi | southeast |
| Hunter Towersite | Towersite | 75 | Carter | 9.6 mi | northwest |
| Hemenway CA | Conservation area | 172 | Ripley | 16 mi | southeast |
| Bradley A. Hammer Memorial CA | Conservation area | 344 | Wayne | 19 mi | northeast |
| Corkwood CA | Conservation area | 434 | Butler | 20 mi | southeast |
| Poplar Bluff Ranger District | Ranger district | 157,884 | Wayne, Butler | 20 mi | northeast |
| Carter Creek CA | Conservation area | 407 | Carter | 20 mi | north |
| Sand Pond CA | Conservation area | 202 | Ripley | 20 mi | southeast |
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.
What hunters took around Little Black Conservation Area
MDC reports by county.
Deer checked in Ripley County: 3,088 in 2025 and 2,848 in 2024. Spring 2026 turkey harvest in Ripley County: 174, with 45 from public ground. Ripley County CWD testing: 1,326 samples in the years shown, 0 positives.
| Year | Antlered | Buttons | Does | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,221 | 286 | 1,581 | 3,088 |
| 2024 | 1,093 | 308 | 1,447 | 2,848 |
| 2023 | 1,390 | 383 | 2,045 | 3,818 |
| 2022 | 1,260 | 345 | 1,539 | 3,144 |
| 2021 | 1,117 | 360 | 1,398 | 2,875 |
| 2020 | 1,657 | 460 | 1,816 | 3,933 |
| Year | Spring | Spring, public land | Spring youth | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 174 | 45 | 27 | – | – |
| 2025 | 248 | 113 | 33 | 9 | 7 |
| 2024 | 201 | 67 | 24 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | 195 | 82 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| 2022 | 161 | – | 18 | 4 | 12 |
| 2021 | 145 | – | 15 | 0 | 8 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detections |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 42 | 0 |
| 2024 | 44 | 0 |
| 2023 | 637 | 0 |
| 2022 | 592 | 0 |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Nearest help for Little Black Conservation Area hunters
9.2 mi separates Little Black Conservation Area from Doniphan. MDC directions: From Doniphan, take Highway 21 north 8 miles, then Route NN east to the area. Two new tracts: from Doniphan, take Highway 21 north 6 miles, then Route K east 5 miles to County Road K-4. Doniphan hosts the MDC office nearest Little Black Conservation Area (Doniphan Office, 7.1 mi).
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doniphan | Ripley | 1,782 | 9.2 mi | south |
| Hunter | Carter | – | 9.3 mi | north |
| Fairdealing | Ripley | – | 12 mi | southeast |
| Ellsinore | Carter | 417 | 13 mi | north |
| Williamsville | Wayne | 272 | 20 mi | northeast |
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.
Sight in at Little Black Conservation Area
Little Black Conservation Area has its own MDC shooting range (MDC unstaffed range); target shooting on the area is allowed only there.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026; target shooting rule from MDC area rule 3 CSR 10-11.150 on the area page.
Little Black Conservation Area legal shooting light
Legal light for deer at Little Black Conservation Area runs 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; for ducks it starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game legal | Waterfowl legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:00 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:37 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:45 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:20 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:20 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:07 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.
Images near and like Little Black Conservation Area
Little Black Conservation Area, quick questions
What county deer limit applies at Little Black Conservation Area?
The county rule is 4 antlerless deer with firearms; the antlerless portions are open.
What CWD rules apply at Little Black Conservation Area?
Ripley County has mandatory CWD sampling on Nov. 14-15 and a year-round feed and mineral ban.
How may turkeys be hunted on Little Black Conservation Area?
Yes, by archery and firearms; fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31 here.
Does a bear zone include Little Black Conservation Area?
BMZ 2, 750 permits drawn. Bear hunting is listed here.
When can I shoot at Little Black Conservation Area on opening day?
Opening day of the November portion runs 6:14 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. there.
What backup public land is near Little Black Conservation Area?
Within reach: Mudpuppy Conservation Area (5.3 mi), Hunter Towersite (9.6 mi) and Hemenway Conservation Area (16 mi).
Closest community to Little Black Conservation Area?
The closest town page is Doniphan (9.2 mi).
How large an area is Little Black Conservation Area?
3,093 acres in all; the manager is Missouri Department of Conservation.
When may I be on Little Black Conservation Area?
4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Camping is offered.
Which Missouri permits do I need at Little Black Conservation Area?
Statewide MDC permits apply; managed hunts need the drawn permit as well.
Does Little Black Conservation Area allow hunting?
Yes, for deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit and squirrel; deer hunting is allowed because the area is on the MDC list.
How may deer be hunted on Little Black Conservation Area?
MDC lists archery and firearms for deer. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Little Black Conservation Area: checks before you go
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Little Black Conservation Area shortly before the trip.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Chris M Morris (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Scott Heron (CC BY-SA 2.0).