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Little Compton Lake Conservation Area hunting in Missouri
Public hunting ground in Carroll County and 1 neighboring county (515 acres), with the county deer rules that apply there.
Photo: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain)
Getting to Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- South TrailTrailhead · 3.7 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 Compton Lake Conservation Area, the essentials
Its acreage is 515, inside Carroll and Chariton counties. Line up the 4 conservation areas in Carroll County by acres and Little Compton Lake Conservation Area comes 2nd. Staff of the MDC Lower Grand district, in the Northwest Region, manage Little Compton Lake Conservation Area.
MDC also notes camping (individual campsites), dog training, fishing (white bass, sunfish, catfish, crappie) and trapping (special use permit) at Little Compton Lake Conservation Area.
Habitat notes from the source: Little Compton Lake Conservation Area is in northeastern Carroll County. This area includes 1.5 miles of frontage on the north bank of the Grand River and a 40-acre lake, which is managed to provide public fishing. The lake contains a variety of species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, carp, and buffalo. The Conservation Department purchased this area in 1983 to provide the public with good quality outdoor activities, which include fishing, hunting, and nature enjoyment. The upland areas are managed to protect the lake's watershed and to provide upland game hunting. Approximately 120 acres of bottomland forest along the Grand River are managed to protect the river bank and to provide habitat for deer, turkey, and other forest wildlife.
Game listed: Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Quail, Waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Northern Bobwhite Quail
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area and nearby public land, mapped
8 other public places sit inside a 45-mile circle around Little Compton Lake Conservation Area; together they add 24,209 acres, and Yellow Creek Conservation Area is nearest.
| Area | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Creek CA | Conservation area | 618 | Chariton | 4.0 mi | northeast |
| Helen K. Wiese CA | Conservation area | 104 | Chariton | 5.5 mi | south |
| Swan Lake NWR | Wildlife refuge | 11,852 | Chariton, St. Clair | 7.0 mi | northeast |
| Fountain Grove CA | Conservation area | 8,122 | Linn, Livingston | 12 mi | north |
| McKinny CA | Conservation area | 120 | Carroll | 12 mi | south |
| Nannie B. Floyd Memorial CA | Conservation area | 20 | Chariton | 15 mi | northeast |
| Slater Branch (MRAP) | MRAP tract | 78 | Chariton | 15 mi | northeast |
| Bunch Hollow CA | Conservation area | 3,294 | Carroll | 17 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.
Area rules at Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
MDC area rules for Little Compton Lake Conservation Area, as published for 2026-27.
| Species | Methods here | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader, archery | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | Statewide methods | – |
| Ducks | Open Hunting | Nontoxic shot |
MDC allows muzzleloader and archery methods for deer on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area; antlerless permits may be used. Turkey methods on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area: archery and firearms. Deer and turkey may be hunted only on MDC areas that appear in the booklet table; Little Compton Lake Conservation Area is 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.
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area season calendar
County dates from Carroll County that fit Little Compton Lake Conservation Area, matched to its game list.
| Species | Portion | Covers | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Firearms deer rows apply to muzzleloaders only on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area. Duck zone rows come from the MDC zone layer; check the digest near a line.
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.
Duck season on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
Ducks and geese on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area fall under open hunting rules. Duck dates for Little Compton Lake Conservation Area follow the North Zone (from the 2021-2025 zone layer; the new 2026-2030 line text may differ near the edge). Ducks, geese and coots may be shot only with nontoxic shot.
| Zone season | 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.
Deer rules that reach Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
| Rule | Carroll County | Chariton County |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule | No rule |
| Elk county | No | No |
| Bear zone | None | None |
| Duck zone | North / Middle | North / Middle |
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area takes its deer rules from Carroll County, where the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4. Antlerless portions run here in October and December. Carroll County falls under the CWD feed and mineral ban. For 2026 MDC dropped the CWD portion, the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction. Rules can change at the county line inside Little Compton Lake Conservation Area; the table compares them.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area: towns and supplies
Hale is 5.6 mi from Little Compton Lake Conservation Area, the nearest town on this site. Carrollton is the biggest town in that list, 3,491 residents in 2024. Route from the area page: From Hale, take Highway 139 south 4 miles, then County Road 140 east 3 miles, then County Road 361 south to area entrance. Drive 11 mi to Fountain Grove Conservation Area Field Office in Meadville for the nearest MDC counter.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hale | Carroll | 373 | 5.6 mi | northwest |
| Carrollton | Carroll | 3,491 | 17 mi | southwest |
| Meadville | Linn | 419 | 17 mi | north |
| Keytesville | Chariton | 447 | 20 mi | east |
| Dawn | Livingston | – | 21 mi | northwest |
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.
County harvest around Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
These are county numbers.
In 2025, 2,358 deer were Telechecked in Carroll County, 873 of them does. Carroll County turkey hunters took 426 birds in spring 2026; 27 came off public land. The MDC dashboard lists 9 CWD positives in Carroll County across the years in the table, the first in 2022-2023.
| Year | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,350 | 135 | 873 | 2,358 |
| 2024 | 1,278 | 162 | 971 | 2,411 |
| 2023 | 1,408 | 194 | 1,143 | 2,745 |
| 2022 | 1,367 | 176 | 1,131 | 2,674 |
| 2021 | 1,324 | 169 | 911 | 2,404 |
| 2020 | 1,222 | 207 | 940 | 2,369 |
| Year | Spring total | On public land | Youth | Fall gun | Fall bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 426 | 27 | 42 | – | – |
| 2025 | 383 | 30 | 32 | 7 | 9 |
| 2024 | 336 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 11 |
| 2023 | 342 | 29 | 17 | 11 | 16 |
| 2022 | 290 | – | 27 | 8 | 15 |
| 2021 | 279 | – | 15 | 12 | 27 |
| Sample year | CWD samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 0 |
| 2025 | 439 | 2 |
| 2024 | 865 | 4 |
| 2023 | 857 | 2 |
| 2022 | 138 | 1 |
| 2021 | 148 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
Within ten miles of Little Compton Lake Conservation Area, events
Rows marked on site use this ground as the venue; the rest sit within about 10 miles. In all, 1 upcoming event.
Next on the calendar
| When | Listing | Distance | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4–6, 2026 | Swan Lake NWR Youth Managed Deer Hunt 2026 · youth managed deer hunt | 7 | Event details | Source |
When legal light starts in Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
Deer, bear, elk and fall archery turkey may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, doves and fall firearms turkey stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:10 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:47 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:55 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:30 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:30 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:17 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.
Photo strip for Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Little Compton Lake Conservation Area, 37 miles separates hunters from Poosey CA range, the closest public range. Club lanes within 30 miles fill the next cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area, quick questions
Turkey hunting at Little Compton Lake Conservation Area: what is allowed?
MDC allows archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey runs Oct. 1-31.
Do I need a CWD sample for deer from Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Sampling is voluntary here; feeding and minerals are banned all year.
When does legal light start and end at Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Deer hunters get 6:24 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 14; sunset is 5:00 p.m..
Is there a draw for ducks at Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Open hunting; zone: North Zone.
Which town sits closest to Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Hale lies 5.6 mi away.
Is there other public land around Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Try Yellow Creek Conservation Area (4.0 mi), Helen K. Wiese Conservation Area (5.5 mi) and Swan Lake NWR (7.0 mi).
Can hunters camp on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Camping is listed; hours 4 a.m. to 10 p.m..
How large an area is Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Missouri Department of Conservation runs the ground (515 acres).
Is hunting legal on Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Yes. The area page names deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, quail and waterfowl.
What should I buy before a Little Compton Lake Conservation Area hunt?
Missouri hunting permits for each species; there is no separate area permit for most MDC land.
How many does may be taken around Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Carroll County: firearms antlerless limit 4, antlerless portions open.
What are the deer hunting methods at Little Compton Lake Conservation Area?
Deer may be taken by muzzleloader and archery methods. Antlerless permits are allowed.
Little Compton Lake Conservation Area final checklist
Carry your permit, notch it or the MO Hunting app right away, and Telecheck a deer or turkey by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); MoBikeFed (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).